Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ's sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It's because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God. –I Peter 1:18-21 (MSG Bible)
Dear Friend,
It’s a Sunday night and I can’t sleep. I pulled out some old photos, reminiscing over a past that was not all that bad. Met Kirk Franklin – he even heard my group and gave me some awesome critiques which I hold close to my heart & ministry to this day. I see pictures of me with Derrick Milan, Darius Twyman, Darryl Weathers, Michael Fletcher, Chris Jones, Joe Smith, Larry Callahan, Stephanie Pride, my spiritual parents from back in the day Marvin & Vickie Winans, my god dad Donnie McClurkin and many other people who have touched my life in one way or another—my peeps who I still look up to, to this day. My bro Kevin, Sis Teresa & Devon—my fam fa sho. There are millions of pics of me with my choir, VDPP & AC and even members of the Atlanta extension choir “The Exalted Praise Chorale”. Fam shots, my beautiful mom, grand moms, aunts—my fly lil brothers and my “ride-or-die” daddy (lol) who I know loves me! All these wonderful memories and I can remember and ask myself—“why was I so unhappy at times within my younger years? What was I searching for? What was this “it” that I was in pursuit of that kept me awake sometimes at night?”
I could remember many times thinking that I was not handsome enough, that I was not good enough—that I was not worthy enough. You know, the insecurities that most face when getting to know themselves (I’ve been though a few of these stages in my life thus far…). Either we are too short, or too fat, or just not right no matter how you chop it up, which causes us to constantly look externally for things to validate and strengthen us. BUT my friends, what I realized by looking through those old photos that contained many style changes, hair styles, hair colors (lol), attitude changes, taste changes, etc.,--what I thought I wasn’t was there all along (inside and out).
I believe that it was Kanye West that said it like this “everything I'm not may be everything I am.” Friend, I want to encourage you by daring you to live! Live by grabbing life by the horns, with all your issues and insecurities and make the best of it! So what you messed up—you’re going to mess up again & may even know you are about to mess up—get over it! Often times we mess up by trying to create a lifetime or a lifestyle out of what was meant to just be a season.
Friends, I can finally say “I know who I am.” Because it hit me life a ton of bricks—everything I thought I wasn’t, everything I was searching for in everybody and everything else…it was already inside of me. I just had to go through and be diligent so that I would become Christ’s image and not my own or someone else’s. Because, honestly if I would have thought that I was all that, I probably wouldn’t have worked as hard—but God has a way of keeping us grounded, doesn’t He?!?!
Not saying that I’ve arrived to my destined point, but I am penning you to let you know that there is someone just like you, who has gone through image and all other kind of issues and I made it through on the love of the great and awesome God I serve. No matter what you face, He can and will turn the tables—so the then underdog and victim is now the victor! The word says it like this…If I had not been for the Lord on our side, now may Israel say, if it had not been for the Lord I would have been swallowed up…Psalms 124.
My friend remember this, when you change the way you look at things—the things you look at change. You already have IT inside of you. What is this IT I keep speaking of? You have the power, anointing, ability, strength, will to do, love, peace, joy, long suffering, gentleness, kindness, meekness, beauty, faith, humbleness, etc., when Christ created you He equipped you to have everything you need already within you through Christ! So relax and know that if you work it, it will happen because… IT’S ALREADY IN YOU! (Laughing out loud...) It was there all along!
Much Love,
Clyde L. Webster
He Will Come!
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. –1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV
No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it. –1 Corinthians 10:13 MSG
Good Day Friend!
Do you believe that Gods got your back?
There are times in life when our challenges begin to challenge our faith and tempt us to give in. You’re not necessarily a bad person, your heart is right, your motives pure…year after year you have been faithful and trusting and believing; all of a sudden it seems like you hit a wall and years of patients, diligence and pressing gets lost in the shuffle of life’s vicissitudes, fatigue and sometimes even loneliness. My brother, my sister I need to encourage you that God is about to breathe on your situations, your callings, your aspirations, your life. You have experienced years of disappointment, lets downs, financial ruin, and failed relationships, etc., that have left you flat out tired and burned out. THOSE DAYS ARE OVER BABY! God is getting ready to show up in a mighty way for you! With Him He is bringing hope, love, new opportunities, a new mate (the right mate!)…and yea honey, He’s gonna bring some money too! (SMILE!)
You know, growing tired, having our faith tested, growing weak and feeling like falling off track are all normalcy’s in this life. Sometimes we get side tracked and distracted by how we feel RATHER than by what God has said. My friend, don’t allow the wait to cause you to faint. Waiting on God is usually not an easy task, especially if you are anything like me (or what I am growing out of rather). Because like most people, I wanted what I wanted, how I wanted it and when I wanted it PRONTO! (LOL!) But God has a way of working into us greater patience which allows us to be better prepared for His arrival. Waiting PATIENTLY on God has taught me so much. You never know how much insight you can receive even in long periods of waiting. Waiting on God will reveal all the phonies in your life. The wait pulls us out of the “God is a genie in a bottle” mentality. Waiting can also show us how we might not be quite ready for what we thought we were.
Just know that God wont let you down! He’s going to come through for you! He is not a God that is not in touch with how it feels to feel like you have failed. He is not foreign to the fear that comes with stepping out and sometimes making a change in your course in order for change to occur in your life. He is going to show up for you and it wont be long! Keep that locked in your heart. No matter how tempted we may be to give up, give in and burn up the towel…we have to keep focus and know that he has already made the way for you to escape or come through whatever you face in this life. Its just that simple…HOLD ON….and remember HE WILL COME! And with Him is coming everything you need. So work while its day (or continue to work the vision for your life) and then sit back and chill out….God’s got your back on this one!
Enjoying The Journey,
Clyde L. Webster
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“Don’t look for love, look forward to it!” (Thanks Teyon!)
SONGS OF ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE MONTH
He Will Come (Larry Callahan & SOG)
My Name Is Victory (Johnathan Nelson)
Let Go, Let God! (Dewayne Woods & WSM)
I'll Make It (Bishop-Elect Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship)
No Weapon (Zak Williams and 1 Akord)
Every Little Things Gonna Be Alright (Tye Tribbett & GA)
No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it. –1 Corinthians 10:13 MSG
Good Day Friend!
Do you believe that Gods got your back?
There are times in life when our challenges begin to challenge our faith and tempt us to give in. You’re not necessarily a bad person, your heart is right, your motives pure…year after year you have been faithful and trusting and believing; all of a sudden it seems like you hit a wall and years of patients, diligence and pressing gets lost in the shuffle of life’s vicissitudes, fatigue and sometimes even loneliness. My brother, my sister I need to encourage you that God is about to breathe on your situations, your callings, your aspirations, your life. You have experienced years of disappointment, lets downs, financial ruin, and failed relationships, etc., that have left you flat out tired and burned out. THOSE DAYS ARE OVER BABY! God is getting ready to show up in a mighty way for you! With Him He is bringing hope, love, new opportunities, a new mate (the right mate!)…and yea honey, He’s gonna bring some money too! (SMILE!)
You know, growing tired, having our faith tested, growing weak and feeling like falling off track are all normalcy’s in this life. Sometimes we get side tracked and distracted by how we feel RATHER than by what God has said. My friend, don’t allow the wait to cause you to faint. Waiting on God is usually not an easy task, especially if you are anything like me (or what I am growing out of rather). Because like most people, I wanted what I wanted, how I wanted it and when I wanted it PRONTO! (LOL!) But God has a way of working into us greater patience which allows us to be better prepared for His arrival. Waiting PATIENTLY on God has taught me so much. You never know how much insight you can receive even in long periods of waiting. Waiting on God will reveal all the phonies in your life. The wait pulls us out of the “God is a genie in a bottle” mentality. Waiting can also show us how we might not be quite ready for what we thought we were.
Just know that God wont let you down! He’s going to come through for you! He is not a God that is not in touch with how it feels to feel like you have failed. He is not foreign to the fear that comes with stepping out and sometimes making a change in your course in order for change to occur in your life. He is going to show up for you and it wont be long! Keep that locked in your heart. No matter how tempted we may be to give up, give in and burn up the towel…we have to keep focus and know that he has already made the way for you to escape or come through whatever you face in this life. Its just that simple…HOLD ON….and remember HE WILL COME! And with Him is coming everything you need. So work while its day (or continue to work the vision for your life) and then sit back and chill out….God’s got your back on this one!
Enjoying The Journey,
Clyde L. Webster
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“Don’t look for love, look forward to it!” (Thanks Teyon!)
SONGS OF ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE MONTH
He Will Come (Larry Callahan & SOG)
My Name Is Victory (Johnathan Nelson)
Let Go, Let God! (Dewayne Woods & WSM)
I'll Make It (Bishop-Elect Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship)
No Weapon (Zak Williams and 1 Akord)
Every Little Things Gonna Be Alright (Tye Tribbett & GA)
Elevation
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. –Isaiah 40:31 KJV
Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, "God has lost track of me. He doesn't care what happens to me"? Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening? God doesn't come and go. God lasts. He's Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind. –Isaiah 40:27-31 MSG
Good Day Friend!
Are you determined to wait?
Often time when we hear the word elevation we get an instantaneous vision of more, newer, greater, higher, etc. More success, newer acquisitions, greater exposure, higher levels of living, etc., and we envision receiving all this (and more) quickly. We see ourselves instantly healed, free, etc., but we don’t normally envision the process, the changes and the price tag that comes with elevation. Don’t get me wrong, I love it when God does things suddenly, but I thank Him for all the times He said “no” and “wait” because I wasn’t really ready for the things that I thought I was. There have been times that I have cried countless hours for God’s elevation and favor and when He didn’t answer when I thought He should, I would pout and get an attitude with God. Not realizing that the reason why I hadn’t yet stepped into my promises and elevation was because God usually always elevates us in a fashion that our character can withstand. Just think about it, if you always got what you wanted as a child, you would probably be spoiled rotten. But it’s the “waits”, “hold ons” and _____________________________________________ (that’s supposed to be silence) that teaches, grooms and prepares us properly for the elevation of the Lord. Truth be told, if we got everything we wanted when we wanted it, we would be a mess. But thanks be unto our God who knows how to hold back the blessing until we are prepared for that which has been prepared and predestined for us.
Elevation (or its root word elevate) is defined by the Webster’s dictionary as: the state of being elevated, to move or raise to a higher place or position; lift up, to raise to a higher state, rank, or office; exalt; promote, to raise to a higher intellectual or spiritual level. But when combined with the “ion” suffix it now takes on the practical meaning of the action or process of being elevated or the result of the action or process of being elevated. One becomes eligible for the Lord’s elevation by first putting their mindset on the channel that I'm not satisfied with where I am right now, I'm worth more than what I'm experiencing now and I want all that God has promised me. And upon that confession we must begin to follow the word and directives of God in order for our life to line up where we ultimately want to be. Whether it’s spiritual, natural or a combination of both, your faithfulness, dedication and tenacity towards and for the things of God will always determine the level and delivery of your elevation and even how high you will go in God after you receive the elevation.
Some think that elevation just all of a sudden one day pops up, but in all actuality when you do it the Lord’s way, everything you experience up to your point of elevation was to position you properly to be able to receive the elevation; remember no matter how long it takes, you have to work until your change comes. Elevation is more than just simply moving from one place to another. It costs to go higher and sometimes what you sacrifice can seem more valuable than the promise. You have to sacrifice anyway! Because with God, what’s to come is definitely better than anything than you have already experienced!
My friend, I know you have been waiting and you have been enduring…don’t give up now! Scripture affirms us, if we wait patiently on the Lord He has promised to renew our strength because He even knows that the process of elevation can make one grow weary and tired. But He has declared a promise to those who wait on Him in the midst of the pain, agony, fear, doubt, tears, etc. Moreover, He has promised that one of the rewards of waiting on Him is you will begin to spread your wings and soar as an eagle even in the middle of the process. Then after while you will forget that you are waiting on the Lord for something and instead of waiting on His hand you begin to seek His FACE! Then you will be able to run this race and not get weary--because seeking after things and promotion will make one grow tired and weak, but seeking God's face strengthens. No, I may not have the promise yet but I'm walking and not fainting because I understand that the elevation is just a result of the RELATIONSHIP that I have built with God while waiting, serving and working.
The process that we endure and the prices we pay for God’s elevation will never hurt us (as to destroy us) but it breaks away our will and ultimately makes us humble and grounded. Thus, when God begins to do great things through us we can realize that it is because of Him that we are where we are and who we are! No, the process doesn’t usually feel good and most of the time feels too long but there is greater glory to be revealed to those who endure the fire and the process as a good soldier knowing that Christ is all and the center of all and that He knows what’s best for us. So if you have been wondering when you are going to receive better, more, bigger…it’s when you value and love Christ more than His blessings!
Waiting on the Lord pays off my friend! I'm a witness!
Love & Life,
Clyde L. Webster
Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, "God has lost track of me. He doesn't care what happens to me"? Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening? God doesn't come and go. God lasts. He's Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind. –Isaiah 40:27-31 MSG
Good Day Friend!
Are you determined to wait?
Often time when we hear the word elevation we get an instantaneous vision of more, newer, greater, higher, etc. More success, newer acquisitions, greater exposure, higher levels of living, etc., and we envision receiving all this (and more) quickly. We see ourselves instantly healed, free, etc., but we don’t normally envision the process, the changes and the price tag that comes with elevation. Don’t get me wrong, I love it when God does things suddenly, but I thank Him for all the times He said “no” and “wait” because I wasn’t really ready for the things that I thought I was. There have been times that I have cried countless hours for God’s elevation and favor and when He didn’t answer when I thought He should, I would pout and get an attitude with God. Not realizing that the reason why I hadn’t yet stepped into my promises and elevation was because God usually always elevates us in a fashion that our character can withstand. Just think about it, if you always got what you wanted as a child, you would probably be spoiled rotten. But it’s the “waits”, “hold ons” and _____________________________________________ (that’s supposed to be silence) that teaches, grooms and prepares us properly for the elevation of the Lord. Truth be told, if we got everything we wanted when we wanted it, we would be a mess. But thanks be unto our God who knows how to hold back the blessing until we are prepared for that which has been prepared and predestined for us.
Elevation (or its root word elevate) is defined by the Webster’s dictionary as: the state of being elevated, to move or raise to a higher place or position; lift up, to raise to a higher state, rank, or office; exalt; promote, to raise to a higher intellectual or spiritual level. But when combined with the “ion” suffix it now takes on the practical meaning of the action or process of being elevated or the result of the action or process of being elevated. One becomes eligible for the Lord’s elevation by first putting their mindset on the channel that I'm not satisfied with where I am right now, I'm worth more than what I'm experiencing now and I want all that God has promised me. And upon that confession we must begin to follow the word and directives of God in order for our life to line up where we ultimately want to be. Whether it’s spiritual, natural or a combination of both, your faithfulness, dedication and tenacity towards and for the things of God will always determine the level and delivery of your elevation and even how high you will go in God after you receive the elevation.
Some think that elevation just all of a sudden one day pops up, but in all actuality when you do it the Lord’s way, everything you experience up to your point of elevation was to position you properly to be able to receive the elevation; remember no matter how long it takes, you have to work until your change comes. Elevation is more than just simply moving from one place to another. It costs to go higher and sometimes what you sacrifice can seem more valuable than the promise. You have to sacrifice anyway! Because with God, what’s to come is definitely better than anything than you have already experienced!
My friend, I know you have been waiting and you have been enduring…don’t give up now! Scripture affirms us, if we wait patiently on the Lord He has promised to renew our strength because He even knows that the process of elevation can make one grow weary and tired. But He has declared a promise to those who wait on Him in the midst of the pain, agony, fear, doubt, tears, etc. Moreover, He has promised that one of the rewards of waiting on Him is you will begin to spread your wings and soar as an eagle even in the middle of the process. Then after while you will forget that you are waiting on the Lord for something and instead of waiting on His hand you begin to seek His FACE! Then you will be able to run this race and not get weary--because seeking after things and promotion will make one grow tired and weak, but seeking God's face strengthens. No, I may not have the promise yet but I'm walking and not fainting because I understand that the elevation is just a result of the RELATIONSHIP that I have built with God while waiting, serving and working.
The process that we endure and the prices we pay for God’s elevation will never hurt us (as to destroy us) but it breaks away our will and ultimately makes us humble and grounded. Thus, when God begins to do great things through us we can realize that it is because of Him that we are where we are and who we are! No, the process doesn’t usually feel good and most of the time feels too long but there is greater glory to be revealed to those who endure the fire and the process as a good soldier knowing that Christ is all and the center of all and that He knows what’s best for us. So if you have been wondering when you are going to receive better, more, bigger…it’s when you value and love Christ more than His blessings!
Waiting on the Lord pays off my friend! I'm a witness!
Love & Life,
Clyde L. Webster
I'll Make It
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. –Philippians 1:6
Good Morning Friend!
When was the last time you really encouraged yourself?
Sometimes you just have to flat out remind yourself that everything is going to be alright! You have to speak over yourself and rehearse to yourself what God has already declared towards you, begun in you and will finish in you. Sometimes, I must admit, its hard to encourage myself (let lone others) when right in the middle of doubt and confusion, hurt and disappointment, tiredness and pain, but its during these times that you have to stand "sure footed" (as I used to hear the elders say) and remind yourself that "I'm going to make it through this!" This week begin to speak over yourself and your situations, looking pass what you see and heard and prophecy (or confess) pass what you know and what's been confirmed and assure yourself that with the Lord on your side and working on your behalf that you are going to make it. And I'm not just speaking in a "I'm going to be successful and wealthy" sense but sometimes we need to just remind ourselves that we are going to make it through the daily adversities that come to knock us off our square, steal our joy and peace and even try to attack our mind.
I encourage you now that you are going to make it through the pain, the rain, the haters and even the baiters (those who try to discourage you & lure you into sin and away from your destiny). You are going to make it through the high gas prices and an ever decreasing economy. You're going to make it through the divorce, the loss (death) and the break-up. You are going to make it through the doctor's unfavorable diagnosis and through your own personal doubts of "if God can" or "if God will". You are going to make it through the eviction and the shut-off notices. You are going to make it through the bad credit, the disappointments of not finishing school, and even through the unemployment (or the underemployment). God is not slack (or inefficient) concerning His promises towards you. He is not sleeping on the job. He has not forgotten about you my brother, my sister! You will make it through whatever you are facing right now or will face in the future. All you have to do is this one thing (and I'm a major witness) and that thing is
You're gonna make it through this baby! HOLD ON! You're change is on the way!
Much Love,
Songs of Encouragement In The I-Pod This Week
- Encourage Yourself (Donald Lawrence)
- Let Go (Dewayne Woods &
- He's Gonna Work It Out/Oh To Be Kept/Walk In Your Victory (Darryl Weathers & SSAB) www.myspace.com/spiritualsistersabrother
- I'll Make It (Bishop-Elect Hezekiah Walker & LFT)
You Have to At least Try (Or It Will Die!)
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
–James 2:20
Are you willing to be shown [proof], you foolish (unproductive, spiritually deficient) fellow, that faith apart from [good] works is inactive and ineffective and worthless? –James
Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That's just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?
–James 2:19-20 (MSG)
Good Morning Friend,
Do your dreams seem lifeless?
Could it be because you aren't putting any [good] work into that which you are believing for? Often times we receive a dream and/or vision from the Lord or to even have personal goals/aspirations and we believe God for the increase but we don't give Him anything to work with. This can be out of laziness, fear, doubt or even through not having the know-how to carry the work of the dream out effectively. I want to encourage you this week no matter what the reason you haven't been working on or towards your dream(s) to AT LEAST
In the focus scripture, James The Great who was a major leader in the early church and is believed to be Jesus' step-brother (not to be confused with James the brother of John and the son of Zebedee) declares simply that you can have all the faith in the world, but if you don't rise from your place of "do nothing" and put some work, energy and effort behind your faith it (your faith and your dream) will ultimately die. James admonishes the church that having faith, hope and belief separate from some action is like having a body without a spirit; it's just a corpse [a lifeless shell] such is faith without works.
My friend it is important to have strong faith…VERY IMPORTANT. But strong faith is useless unless you have some strong works that will cause you to need to draw on your faith in difficult or faith shaking times. Have you ever met (or are you) someone who is always talking about what they are going to do, going to get or going to accomplish but you never see them putting any effort into doing, going or becoming? Don't allow discouragement, discontentment, the fact that others around you failed at their dreams, or others trying to tell you it wont work for you detour you from becoming what it is that you desire so bad to become. Most of the time that's easier said than done…I know that first hand! But here are some pointers that help me whenever I feel discouraged or detached from working towards my dreams:
- If you lack wisdom, ask the Lord for it and He will give it to you. Sometimes all we need is to be pointed in the right direction at the right time. Before checking with a board or asking others for advice have a conversation with the Lord. We will always steer you on to the right path and give wisdom to those who ask for it. (James 1:5)
- Surround yourself with positive and confident thinkers, speakers and doers. Being around other movers and shakers will keep you motivated and encouraged to continue to work your work.
- Surround yourself with critical thinkers and those who have expertise in the area in which you are embarking. If your car broke down would you take it to a baker or a tailor? Absolutely not! You would find a mechanic who can properly diagnose the problem and then fix it accurately. Likewise when it comes down to whom you allow to impart knowledge into you, your dreams and visions. Place yourself around people who will add value to you and your vision and will leave you buoyant and thinking on a higher level.
- Keep a listening ear, open mind and a receptive heart. Don't think you know it all. You can learn a lot from basically anybody and out of any situation if you just listen, take the limits off your mind and the prejudices off of your heart. I have had many good examples of what to be and do and even what NOT to be and do just by listening, being observant and being receptive. You can avoid a lot of pitfalls by observing and learning from others mistakes. Something that my grandmother taught me still helps me today; when it the presence of wisdom, keep your mouth shut, listen and absorb what it is that is being said to you. Even if it is not prevalent now it may be something that can and will help you along your journey.
I'm not claiming these to be a "fix all" but utilizing these principles will definitely get you closer to your destiny than sitting discouraged wondering why your dream isn't coming to pass or why you don't have a desire to become or do what you once did. My friend, I know it can be hard when working towards destiny but you have to at least try or unfortunately it (your faith, hope, dreams, drive, abilities, etc.) will die.
Love & Life,
Are You Disabled?
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. –Proverbs 29:25 (KJV)
The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that. –Proverbs 29:25 (MSG)
The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that. –Proverbs 29:25 (MSG)
The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever leans on, trusts in, and puts his confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high. –Proverbs 29:25 (AMP)
Good Morning Friend!
Has your fear(s) disabled you?
F-e-a-r…fear is defined by the Webster's dictionary as a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid. Have you been so afraid of something (or someone) that the thought of it (or them) literally freezes you? I remember when I was younger my eldest brother told me that there was a ghost living under the stairs that led to the basement of our parents house. Me being the smart individual that I am (even at 6 years old…SMILE!) responded back with assuredly "no there isn't." One day I went in the basement to get my bike so that I could go outside and play with my friends. As I walked down the stairs I felt a hand grab one leg and another hand rub the other leg. Needless to say this caught me off guard (even with my brothers warning still in the back of my head) and scared me so that I ran back up the stairs, through the house, darted upstairs and locked myself in the bathroom. I was now so scared that I couldn't even explain to my mom what had happened to me or what I was running from. (Don't laugh…I was just a baby then.) I was so scared (even months later) that I couldn't push myself to go into the basement to get my bike, play with any of my toys, etc. Fear kept me away from and situated its self right in-between myself and those things I loved to do so much. This is what happens when we allow the opinions, thoughts and emotions of others to control us. When we fear what others will say, do, think, how they will respond and act towards us— we stifle our individual growth, exposure and progress.
The bible warns us that the fear of our fellow man in the sense of their opinion and judgment will immobilize, hinder, render us inoperative and yes DISABLE us. Isn't it odd that we will allow what people think to stop us right in the middle of what GOD SAID? When we allow the opinions of others to halt us from doing the will of God we say loud and clear "what others think matters more to me than what God said." (Oh that was good…imma give myself an offering for that one.) However, scripture gives the remedy to this quandary in the B-clause of Proverbs chapter 29 verse 25. It declares "but whoever leans on, trusts in, and puts his confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high." Trusting in God always secures you and gives you the courage needed to go on. You may be a little nervous at first (that's always my indication that it's not "I" but the Christ who lives in me that is about to perform the work needed), but once you begin to work you will "feel your help coming on" as the preachers used to say back in the day. Meaning you will begin to feel the supernatural power of God flow through you, empowering you to go forth—removing all doubt and fear.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6) When we trust in God we take ourselves and what we "think" others are going to say about us out of the equation. Trusting God simply says to God that you have total confidence in Him. Moreover when we move in the flow of the Lord we are in return saying "thank you" to God for choosing us to work through (what a privilege). May it be in ministry or our secular involvements, when we keep our eyes on God, as well as the promise and destiny He has pronounced over us, we won't fall prey to the opinions of man. Keep your focus and trust in the Lord my friend…you're almost there!
Love and Life,
It’s going to Work out for My Good!
Do you know that good can come out of anything?
And we know…what a powerful statement. To know something or to have knowledge is to have acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles, as from study or investigation [& experience]; the fact or state of knowing; the perception of fact or truth; clear and certain mental apprehension. My friend there should come a time in every believer’s life where you get to a point where your faith cannot be shaken. Regardless of what you see, hear, experience, go through—there should be a point where what you believe becomes what you KNOW! Unfortunately, many remain at this “fairytale-ish” form of faith where they read and hear the Word of God but they don’t totally believe that God can do. I have come to a place in my walk with Christ where I undoubtedly believe that God can do ANYTHING but fail. This outlook has become totally real to me because I choose to wholeheartedly believe and stand on God and His Word.
Do you know that there is nothing too hard for our God. We recite that line often in the Christian faith, but do we REALLY believe and know that absolutely NOTHING is too hard for our God. Cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, a broken heart, a failing marriage, money problems, etc., NOTHING is too hard for God to be able to work through. Actually, it’s in these situations and the hard times that God can really show Himself strong. If you never got sick, how would you KNOW Him to be a healer? If you never had lonely times, how would you KNOW Him to be a comforter? If you never had financial problems, how would you KNOW Him to be a provider? Furthermore, how would (or could) we grow without experiencing certain vicissitudes in our lives? This is where scripture becomes real and life applicable, when we can sit back and be right in the midst of turmoil and anguish and still know without a shadow of a doubt that “this is going to work out for my good!”
My friend, it’s not until we totally trust in the God of our Salvation that we can say and know this fact with absurdity. Catch this, if you always have the answer to the problem or if you within yourself can always fix everything, there would be no need for a God in your life. But aren’t you glad that you don’t have to have all the answers or fixes to all of life’s problems—because you have a God that has it all under control. Even in the worst possible situations, you can remain calm and keep your sanity because you KNOW that Gods got your back and that someway, somehow, He is going to add a silver lining to this dark cloud or space in your life. What a mighty God we serve!!!
Check this out, when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change! Simply put, no matter what we go through in life good can come from it; it just depends on your outlook. Your perception during your trial will make or break your experience. Living a victorious life is up to you, not your social-economic status, not who your parents are or even what church you belong to. A victorious life starts with you knowing, trusting and believing that no matter what you face in life, God is big enough to handle anything that we encounter. Remember He [God] won’t put more on you than you can bear. If God allowed it then you have everything you already need to make it through it. Work your faith my brother, my sister and remember no matter what “It’s going to Work out for Your Good!”
Love & Life,
You're Gonna Win The Race...BUT You Gotta Run!
Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary. --I Corinthians 9:26 AMP
Good Morning Friend!
What are you running towards?
To run in the sense of the text means to work, to build in-spite of, to overcome, to stand up to a challenge (never backing down or crumbling) and to do it continuously. Some who are desiring something better than what they are in [at times] run without understanding and clarification. Running towards material, non-fruitful opportunities and even some spiritual "appearing" agendas to define how they are ultimately supposed to run their individual race. And we run baby, head forward for what we want. Hitting snags along the way and now things are not as fabulous as they once appeared. All to come to the realization that all along you were running the wrong way. OH MY GOD! That like a crazy feeling to know all you invested in, work hard for and towards SEEMS like it has hindered your race and now you're stuck in-between where you though the promise was and where you were and seemingly farther away from your promise. I want to encourage you that all is not lost...its not over! Set your eyes and will on the Lord's will for your life (not what everybody said you were supposed to be...you feel me) and YOU RUN BABY!
What are you running towards?
To run in the sense of the text means to work, to build in-spite of, to overcome, to stand up to a challenge (never backing down or crumbling) and to do it continuously. Some who are desiring something better than what they are in [at times] run without understanding and clarification. Running towards material, non-fruitful opportunities and even some spiritual "appearing" agendas to define how they are ultimately supposed to run their individual race. And we run baby, head forward for what we want. Hitting snags along the way and now things are not as fabulous as they once appeared. All to come to the realization that all along you were running the wrong way. OH MY GOD! That like a crazy feeling to know all you invested in, work hard for and towards SEEMS like it has hindered your race and now you're stuck in-between where you though the promise was and where you were and seemingly farther away from your promise. I want to encourage you that all is not lost...its not over! Set your eyes and will on the Lord's will for your life (not what everybody said you were supposed to be...you feel me) and YOU RUN BABY!
We have all heard the mantra "the race is not given to the swift, nor to the strong, but to the one who endures to the end." So what does this really mean? The "race" is the process that we all have to endure in life no matter who you are, how much money you have, etc. We all have a race or races that we must run in order to progress to higher levels or to gain the experience needed to effectively run future races. Moreover, these "races" that we run in life, although similar to a physical race a marathon runner might experience differ at the point that in this "race" it doesn't matter how fast you run, or how quickly you accomplish, or how much quantitatively you can boast, but its about enduring to the completion of that process in your life. The winners of these races in life might not be the smartest, strongest, or even the most qualified but they endure through the storms, they endure the nay-sayers, they endure the adversities, they don't back down when trouble comes, they don't give in when hit with one problem after the other. But they continuously run the race set before them, no matter how the cards are dealt to them, they keep running. Why? "Why should I keep going when everything around me is going haywire" you may ask. I'm struggling at every end and even dealing with the depression that can come with continuing to work with no results. The answer is simple and it comes when you make up in your mind if you want to continue the way you have been going or are you going to endure as a good soldier and go through the process that is necessary to come out victorious.
Are you going to continue to back down to whatever the enemy throws or are you going to endure and run regardless of the pain, the hurdles you may have to jump over and the fatigue that comes with not giving up? We are not going to tuck our tails and run the opposite way. We are going to run head on, not backing down. Furthermore, we don't continue on because we think we are all that but there is somewhere higher that we we have to get to and something higher within us (Jesus) that wont allow us to settle where we are. You must realize that it doesn't take much effort to be mediocre, furthermore, being mediocre doesn't yield any change, results or anything fruitful in our race. Ascertaining for higher levels will sometimes cost you and cause you to shed people and things from the past (some bad and some good people/things). Leaving us saying "oh God why did I have to loose..." you feel me, like you have a real conversation with the Lord because you are not understanding somethings. You are not understanding why you should continue to stand and to wait and continue to run without any results. You need to understand why you often times wrestle between who you used to be (or what you are trying to walk away from being) and your destiny (where you are running to become). RUN anyhow baby. Run towards destiny. Bump the haters and those who only speak negatively towards you because usually they are talking about you and your process because they are frustrated with their own race and destiny. So they try to bring you down to make themselves feel better because misery does love company. (That's real talk there!) But you RUN right past that mess and you endure!
My friend, I want to encourage you that trouble doesn't last always and there is coming a great time of retribution for those who are enduring their race and are keeping the faith in spite of what happens to them or even through what God allows. I'm talking about major back pay for all the hell you endured, for the times you wanted to let go but you couldn't because there was something holding you, helping you to continue to run when you just wanted to stop, fall out and quit the race. Even while running through dark seasons know that He protects us, reproves us, loves us and takes care of us. Jesus is a wonderful man to have in your life. He's always there waiting for you to take you higher, but will you run towards him or away from him? Some may say "well if God really loved you He would stop the rain, the hurt and the pain." But I've learned (and am learning even more now) how to glory in my tribulations, because at the end of this thing I know that I will be greater than what I was when I started the race. Know that no matter what you face God is always there waiting for you at the finish line, waiting to graduate you to your next level/dimension. But will you run toward him or away from him? Check your fruit! If its constantly dry and not yielding any change or not producing a desire within you to want more out of this race than just for it to be over--then that's good indication that just maybe you are running in the wrong direction. But if you continue to run and to endure to the end, the Lord will set markers in your life to let you know that you are running in the right direction. Soon you are going to see the fruit of your labor. Remember...you are gonna WIN the race but you GOTTA RUN!
Love and Life.
Clyde L. Webster
CDs of Inspiration In The I-POD This Week
1. Tye Tribbett & GA - Stand Out (In Stores Now!) www.tyetribbettandga.com/
2. Dorinda Clark-Cole - Take It Back (In Stores Now!) http://www.dorindaclarkcole.net/
3. JP & Seasons - The Christian Variety Pack http://cdbaby.com/cd/seasonschristianvariety
2. Dorinda Clark-Cole - Take It Back (In Stores Now!) http://www.dorindaclarkcole.net/
3. JP & Seasons - The Christian Variety Pack http://cdbaby.com/cd/seasonschristianvariety
Wait
by Keisha Burnett (C.L. Webster Ministries, Intl. Staff Member)
Psalms 37:34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
How many times have you gone to restaurant to eat, but once inside you heard there was a long wait so you left and decided on something else? Or what about having something in your hand at the register of a store, but putting it down and deciding to do without it because the wait to checkout was so long. Have you done this before? Well, those times are very understandable and you can always eat there on a less crowded night, or buy that thing somewhere else. But in our get it quick society, there are times when we make huge mistakes in the spirit realm because of our lack of patience. We begin to get anxious for things and want to move the hand of God by our actions rather than wait on his divine plan. Our human nature craves things instantaneously and this can cause us to make some big mistakes in our walk with Christ. Abraham had Ishmael because he couldn't wait on Isaac. And many of us are constantly giving birth to illegitimate visions, ministries, and churches because we could not wait on God. We got out of his line and did something else because the wait was too long or we just basically decided to go somewhere else to get what we felt God wanted for us. This is not a good place to be in. Although our flesh cries out for certain things, we must learn the first attribute of Love which is patience. If you truly love God, you will wait on him. The problem with waiting is a lot of times based on what you are waiting for. Although the scriptures tell us plainly that if you wait on God you will be exalted and shall inherit the land, we must realize that this should not be the reason we wait! You don't wait on God just because you know that if you do, he will exalt you one day. If you do that, then you will find yourself with the "Look at me now" complex and you will seek to get from God for your own glorying purposes. You should wait because during the waiting period, you can learn of him and be close to him. God wants a relationship with you, not based on what he can do for you, but what he means to you! We are taught so much that we should give with an expectancy or we should wait knowing that in due season we will be exalted. And even though these things will happen, we should not seek them to happen. That is a very selfish way to live and you will not reap the benefits of knowing God intimately if you live only for what God will do for you. God wants people to have the attitude like the 3 Hebrew boys. They knew God could deliver them, but their attitude was, "if he doesn't" we will still not bow! They loved God to the point that they didn't care what happened and that's why he exalted them. God has a great blessing for you and much in store for you. I'm a living witness that if you wait on him and his perfect plan for your life to unfold, he will bless you. But while I waited, I never looked for the day he would exalt me. I only desired to be close to him and because I got close enough to be trusted by him, he blessed me tremendously. Please people of God, hear my heart. It's definitely okay to know that things will get better for you. But make sure God is more important to you than your own accomplishments and desires. Make sure you are not using God for what you feel he can give you, but you are serving God because you love him and want to do what's right.
-Keisha Burnett
How many times have you gone to restaurant to eat, but once inside you heard there was a long wait so you left and decided on something else? Or what about having something in your hand at the register of a store, but putting it down and deciding to do without it because the wait to checkout was so long. Have you done this before? Well, those times are very understandable and you can always eat there on a less crowded night, or buy that thing somewhere else. But in our get it quick society, there are times when we make huge mistakes in the spirit realm because of our lack of patience. We begin to get anxious for things and want to move the hand of God by our actions rather than wait on his divine plan. Our human nature craves things instantaneously and this can cause us to make some big mistakes in our walk with Christ. Abraham had Ishmael because he couldn't wait on Isaac. And many of us are constantly giving birth to illegitimate visions, ministries, and churches because we could not wait on God. We got out of his line and did something else because the wait was too long or we just basically decided to go somewhere else to get what we felt God wanted for us. This is not a good place to be in. Although our flesh cries out for certain things, we must learn the first attribute of Love which is patience. If you truly love God, you will wait on him. The problem with waiting is a lot of times based on what you are waiting for. Although the scriptures tell us plainly that if you wait on God you will be exalted and shall inherit the land, we must realize that this should not be the reason we wait! You don't wait on God just because you know that if you do, he will exalt you one day. If you do that, then you will find yourself with the "Look at me now" complex and you will seek to get from God for your own glorying purposes. You should wait because during the waiting period, you can learn of him and be close to him. God wants a relationship with you, not based on what he can do for you, but what he means to you! We are taught so much that we should give with an expectancy or we should wait knowing that in due season we will be exalted. And even though these things will happen, we should not seek them to happen. That is a very selfish way to live and you will not reap the benefits of knowing God intimately if you live only for what God will do for you. God wants people to have the attitude like the 3 Hebrew boys. They knew God could deliver them, but their attitude was, "if he doesn't" we will still not bow! They loved God to the point that they didn't care what happened and that's why he exalted them. God has a great blessing for you and much in store for you. I'm a living witness that if you wait on him and his perfect plan for your life to unfold, he will bless you. But while I waited, I never looked for the day he would exalt me. I only desired to be close to him and because I got close enough to be trusted by him, he blessed me tremendously. Please people of God, hear my heart. It's definitely okay to know that things will get better for you. But make sure God is more important to you than your own accomplishments and desires. Make sure you are not using God for what you feel he can give you, but you are serving God because you love him and want to do what's right.
-Keisha Burnett
I Will Survive The Hard Times
by Pastor Welton T. Smith, IV
Reference Scripture: Psalm 37: 16-19
In 2005, Good Morning America interviewed a young man and his father who had recently been stranded on a boat in the middle of the sea for twenty days. Most physiologists suggest that the most time that a human body could live under those circumstances was eight days. However, without food or shelter these two individuals exceeding the expectation with no questions. While on Good Morning America, the interviewer asked the two "without food, water, or shelter, how did you do it?" The young man that was seventeen years of age replied "I survived by using will-power". The interviewer was quite shocked to hear such a term come from such a young man, so she asked him to define what will-power was. The young man said "I told my mind to tell my body that we would not die in this."
And maybe you have never known what it is like to be stranded at sea, but if you have ever been through any hard times you know something about will-power! Have you ever stopped and took a serious look over your life? Have you ever REALLY considered what God has brought you through? Do you have any idea where you could have ended up? If you have a testimony at all you know you were only able to make it because of the will-power that God put inside of you.
Unfortunately, I don't know where you live as you are reading this inspiration. However, for you that live in Detroit, you are aware that the country has labeled us as the most miserable city. We have the worst economy in the U.S. today. If you have never seen one before, when you look at Detroit right now; these are some hard times. We are leading in the nation's layoffs, pay cuts, and foreclosures. And you may have had a bout with one of these or much other area's, but allow me to suggest a word of encouragement to you; you will survive your hard times.
David at the time that he pinned this psalmic address was stuck in the "Cave of Aijalom", while hiding away in hard times he has a very surprising insight. And he says that in the times of famine, the righteous people will enjoy much. Allow me to try and adjust you perspective on your predicament. When you reflect on all that you have endured thus far…. You are still alive! Do you understand how many other people if they had to contend with your life would have been crazy by now? But now you can say of a truth "what didn't kill me made me stronger!"
Lastly, while you, like David, are stuck in your cave of hard times. There is one thing you need to remember to be thankful for and that is "as bad as it is…it could be worse!"
-Pastor Welton T. Smith IV
New Life Family Church
Walk It Out!
And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him. –Joshua 6:1-5
So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. –Joshua 6:20
Good Morning Friend!
Are you ready for the victory that God promised?
There are many promises that God has made to the believer. There are promises of health, healing, prosperity, wholeness, happiness, comfort, love, peace, joy, and the list goes on. The promises of God are plenty and the possibilities to the believer endless! As a matter of fact the bible declares that the promises of the Lord are "Yea and Amen" (2 Corinthians 1:20). The Message Bible Translation reads verses 20-22 of 2nd Corinthians like this: "Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God's Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete." Yes, God has promised us great things as well He has already gotten us the victory in any circumstances we have or will face in life. Many will ask (and do ask) "well, If God has given me all these promises, why haven't I seen them yet then." The answer is simple and is confirmed all throughout scripture. Yes, God has many promises and victories for the believer but in order for us to access this fullness in God, it requires OBEDIENCE on our part.
You see, sometimes we can get so caught up in the promises of God that we forget to uphold our end of the bargain. I preached before that we serve an "if/then God." Meaning that whatever promises that God gives to the believer, requires the believer to do something in order to access the blessing. He says in his word if we believe on Him then we will have eternal life (John 3:15). If we bring all the tithe into the store house then God will open the windows of heaven and pour us out a blessing that we wont have room enough to receive (Malachi 3:10). If we live a life that is pleasing unto God, then we shall inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). So we see that accessing the blessings of the Lord takes obedience through faith on our part, that what God is saying will work! When we move and follow God's voice and directions we will ultimately have the success that God intended. But when we delay in our obedience or even ignore the instructions of the Lord concerning us, we show God that we really don't believe Him.
Joshua had to make many of the same spiritual and natural decisions back then that we have to make today. In the text Joshua gained the victory because he listened to the voice and the word that God gave to him, brought the instructions of God back to the people and followed through with what the Lord had instructed him to do. Ultimately, because Joshua followed God's instructions precisely (from how many preachers should be there, how many trumpets should be blown and how many days/times the people should walk around the wall down to the positioning of everyone in the line up and the precise time when the people should raise their voice in a shout) the wall of Jericho came down and Joshua and the people of Israel possessed the victory over Jericho as God had promised. Now, I'm sure Joshua had the whisperers saying that him and the people looked ridiculous simply walking around the wall one time, everyday for six days, then the seventh day walking around the walls seven times. I'm sure the army generals of that time didn't see or understand Joshua's strategy and probably criticized him. I'm also sure that some of the people walking with Joshua started out strong but by day 6 grew a little weary of the process and not "seeing" any victory ahead. Regardless to all this, Joshua held on to the promise of the Lord and continued to walk out the plan that God gave him. Friend, there will be some times that no one (including you) will understand the vision that God placed in your belly, but regardless of weather or not you understand and if other accept what God has spoken to you, whatever God gave for you to do, YOU'VE GOT TO WALK IT OUT! See God has ways of taking us through processes that will build us while we are in the midst of uncertainty. Joshua may not have understood why God would have him and the people walk around the Wall for seven days, with seven priest leading, with seven trumpets made out of ram's horns (7 being the number of completion or perfection…look at God!) but with every step they took in the direction that God set out for them they came closer to their victory and perfecting that in them that would in the end carry them to victory. When God speaks we ought to hold on to every word and promise that He gives us and WALK IT OUT until everything that is standing between us and our promises comes tumbling down and everything concerning us is complete and whole!
If God chooses to use us, we must remember that it's an honor to be used by the Father. Furthermore, as I always say, whatever God allows us to face in life is to ultimately prepare us for where He's gonna take us in life. In Joshua and Israel's case, Jericho wasn't really a large city, but it was an important, formidable fortress city. If Israel could defeat Jericho, they could defeat anything else that would face them in Canaan. Again we see the wisdom of God as opposed to human wisdom, in that Israel faces their most difficult opponent first. You need to know that your worst days are truly behind you and what you are facing is not really that big of a thing to conquer…nevertheless this victory is pivotal in the subsequent victories that you are to gain! Just like God did with Joshua, he many times allows us to face our hardest trials at the beginning of our journeys because He knows if we can get through this one, that He can trust us to go the rest of the way and we will have more confidence in Him [God], ourselves, our callings and missions in life. Remember, the greatest battles won always started with one step!
Are you ready to step out of what's been and WALK into what God has promised? All it takes is your initial "yes" to God and obeying is voice and instructions from that point on. No matter how hard it may seem, how strange it may look or how crazy it may sound to others, you continue to WALK OUT the plan that the Lord has set forth for your life. Because when it's all said and done if you can WALK IT OUT then you will definitely be able to WALK ON THROUGH to your destiny…your victory….your freedom…your promise! Don't get tired now, cause you've got to WALK IT OUT!
Much Love,
Clyde L. WebsterWho Cares?
Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to Him and get what He is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. –Hebrews 4:14-16 (Message Bible Translation)
Good Morning Friend,
Have you ever felt like "who really cares"?
Well I know I have and probably more times than I care to remember. You know its funny how people will say "hey I'm here for you", "call me if you need me" or "I'll be there for you until the end" only for you to actually be in need one day and call…but there's no help. This can be very hurting, especially if you are like me and would rather not bother people with your problems and you push yourself to take those people up on their offer…all to get the door slammed in your face. You see, I personally would rather work my own problems out with the least involvement from others possible. That's how I've always been. But there are times when I just need someone to talk to…not pay a bill, not to borrow money or a cup of flour from…but to simply
The bible says in Romans 15:1 that "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves." Meaning that if our brother or sister in Christ (or anyone for that matter) comes to us with a problem, no matter how great or how small they should not leave us feeling like they are alone! Neither should we get pleasure out of our brother or sister going through a problem, hardship, heartbreak, etc. "But I'm going through and have problems of my own" and to you I say SO WHAT! I have found that when I'm in the midst of a pit, the quickest way out of my moment of depression and sorrow is to help someone else through their problem. Sometimes I may not be able to offer anything other than a listening ear, but by doing so God begins to lift me up and becomes stronger in me and consequently strengthens me to be what I need to be for my friend, loved one or maybe even a perfect stranger at that moment. Moreover, when it's all said and done 99% of the time I walk away with a renewed strength, joy and frame of mind because while I was working on someone else's behalf—God was working on mine. Furthermore, because I was not selfish in the time of someone else's need, my need got met at the same time. I'm convinced that people who are hurting and want to reach out for deliverance, freedom and restoration would take off their "I'm alright and got it altogether" masks if they knew that they would have someone who would cover them with their love and understanding; rather than look down on them and judge or measure them by where they are rather than where they are going or the potential that rests on the inside of them (Bishop Bennett, thanks for that revelation that you dropped on Resurrection Sunday! That was some life changing stuff!!!).
Watch this…most of us would take the Romans 15:1 scripture and say well I'm weak right now, I'm in a horrible mess myself, I cant even help myself right now, so how can I help someone else? Believe me, I know how it feels to be burned out and on the edge of breaking down but its not how I feel at a particular moment that makes me strong—its what I have on the inside of me that makes me strong and able to withstand whatever I am faced with. You also need to know that there will be times when you will feel abandoned, all alone and like no one understands, feels your pain or even cares to. But I speak to you just as the Apostle John spoke in 1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN YOU THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD! When you are down to nothing, when you are weak and in despair—you need to remember that I've got something down within me that makes me strong, makes me great, makes me smarter, it even makes me wiser. It encourages me when I'm down and pushes me when I'm ready to give up. What can do all this you may ask…it's God and his precious spirit and all you have to do is access or pull from what is inside of you to make it through. Whenever you feel like giving up, remind yourself "I've got something GREATER in me than what I'm facing or am in right now!"
God convinces me more and more as I live and grow that there is NOTHING that I can or will face in life that He won't strengthen me to go through. Remember God's strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Meaning God is at His best when we don't have the strength to fight anymore. Have you ever been in a situation where you were trying to break up or intervene in a fight or argument? You go to pull your friend or one of the parties away to end the fight but they are so pumped up that they end up beating you up more than their opponent. Sometimes you can control the person and sometimes you can't. So what do you do? To avoid your lip, eye or head from being busted, you loose the individual(s) until they get tired and then you are able at that point to pull the person(s) back, come to their rescue or be able to have your voice heard because now they are weak, out of breath and are starting to "come to themselves." It's the same way with God, He sometimes has to stand back until we "come to ourselves" and become so tired of fighting on our own until we believe, trust and lean solely on him! So the flip side of it all can be that sometimes God doesn't want us to lean and depend on anybody else but him, so he will allow us to face destitute times, loneliness and the such to get us to a place where we find rest and comfort in him…because he understands and HE CARES!
Friend, there is no pain that we can feel that Christ hasn't already felt and isn't willing to see us through. There is no hurt that we can experience that Christ has not felt and cannot heal, neither a void that we can experience that He doesn't understand is not able and very capable of filling. God loves you and cares for you so much—never let anything you face in life tell you or make you feel otherwise. I understand now with even greater appreciation when the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8 "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Yes, at times we need (and desire) that human touch, that listening ear, that heart of compassion from those around us. But if you never get that you will always have it in Jesus! Moreover, the best way to overcome that feeling of loneliness, abandonment and sadness is to become to other what you always wished others would become to you. Before you know it, you will find that someone really does care for you and that you are not the only one who has experienced bad and evil.
Who cares? I
Much Love,
Its Been So Long...
Good Morning Friend,
When was the last time you really laughed and enjoyed life?
You know I was thinking the other day while hanging out with some friends that it had been a while since I really enjoyed life. You know really laughing out loud, enjoying simple things like kicking it with a good friend, stretching out on the couch in my favorite PJs and socks watching TV, taking long walks along the waterfront, enjoying a meal from my favorite restaurant and laughing at something funny that I might have remembered when I was by myself. Life (and the issues of life) can wear on you and literally suck the…well life out of you. Even in our everyday pursuit to "become" and to "make it" if we are not careful our pursuits can get us to a place where we are constantly in search of something and never really just taking time out to breath and to be "human" (if I may) for a minute.
Friend, I want to encourage you today to take time out for YOU this week. If I may be honest with you, there have many times that I have buried myself underneath my work because there were some inner enemies that instead of just dealing with them, I would make myself so busy that (hopefully) I would forget about the pain, the loneliness, the frustrations of dating, the struggles in pursuing a better life and the journey of finding myself and becoming a better me. So I would (and sometimes even now) find myself trying to go into protection mode (as I call it) where my work becomes my best friend and every success becoming my streams of happiness and joy. Until one day this fool proof lifestyle caught up to me and I felt myself having an emotional meltdown right in the middle of all this stuff that I had gained that I thought was making me happy—but it wasn't! Actually, I finally realized that the more I gained, the unhappier I became because I refused to deal with the enemy in me.
It wasn't until this point in my life that I realized that God wants (and requires) us to have a balanced life. Where we love and serve him wholeheartedly but where we also enjoy the life that we lead. God wants us to be whole people, not only in our religious pursuits but in our family life, love life (love life…YES I said it LOVE
Think of it this way, every time you refuse to live life to its fullest in every aspect that concerns you, you take the validity out of the stripes that God bore for you. Every time we refuse to simply take time out for self and family and allow life's vicissitudes to beat us down we discount the cost of the blood that Jesus shed for us. I have learned (and am still perfecting) the principles within me that will lead to a quality life. Know your breaking points and try to keep yourself away from those parameters. Find what keeps you sane and what keeps you on focus. It may be reading a good book, exercising, spending time with a special somebody, or maybe even just lounging at home by yourself. Whatever it is—find positive ways to release all the negative energy that bombards us all on a daily basis and take the time to do that which will keep you centered and whole in life and in God.
For me (and you can ask my Personal Assistant/Administrator) I try to make sure that I don't schedule any meetings or anything important on Monday evenings and every other Saturday morning. That is the time that I take out just to see about Clyde L. Webster. During this time I may go to the spa and get a massage, go see my girl Dana and get a mani and pedi (and it aint' nothing wrong with a man taking care of himself…just thought I would drop that out there), do a lil shopping (MY FAVORITE!), sleep in, go out to breakfast with a friend, my mom or one of my little brothers or just spend some quality quiet time at home. During this time I am no longer minister, inspirational author, life coach, confidant or any of the things that I am on a daily basis (which I do enjoy wholeheartedly by the way!). But during these brief moments in time I can forget about graphic designs and marketing, church work and traveling and just enjoy myself and my life. It's these few hours that I take out weekly (along with praying and meditating on the word daily) that help me keep things in perspective, help me keep my passion for the things I do on a daily basis and help keep a brother sane! What do you do or what can you do to make sure that you are remaining in-tuned with yourself? Selah. (Pause and think about that thing for a minute!)
So if its been a while since you have smiled for no reason, laughed out loud until your stomach hurts, danced like you are the only one present, took a picnic, let your hair down and smelled the fresh air…take the time to do so this week. It doesn't cost you a thing to love on yourself! Furthermore, when it's all said and done its all about the QUALITY of life we possess rather than the QUANTITIES we pick up along the way. Now don't get me wrong, I believe that we should be prosperous and abundant—but when the pursuit of things overtake our pursuit and grasp of real joy and happiness its time to put things back into their proper perspectives. So live, laugh, love and know that God gets pleasure out of you living a wholelistic life rather than a life of stress, strain, tension and loneliness. You can do it! And you deserve it! Here's to you and a "whole" new you!
Much Love,
Reach For The Unattainable! (Stretch Forth Your Hand)
And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? —Matthew 14:29-31
Good Morning Friend!
Is it really unattainable?
Think about it. Many times we pursue greater places or states of being, things, people, and levels in life and stop because we become discouraged. We become discouraged and often times too easily—just because what we are ascertaining seems like it's out of our immediate reach, league, educational background, economical vantage point, etc. So we acquiesce to our insecurities and give up saying, "surely I was not meant to live in that community, I wasn't meant to drive that type of car or attend that University or to contend for that job." (This is the conversation that many of us have had with ourselves if we are honest….) "If God wanted me healed he would have done it by now. If it was meant for me to have, the Lord would have made it easier for me. I can't do it like them so it's not going to work for me"…and on and on we go, time after time, talking ourselves out of our inheritance. When all we actually have to do is stretch out our hands and possess that which is already ours.
Now, we all know that sometimes it takes a little more than literally stretching out our hands and taking what we want. Try that if you want and most of the times it will lead you to stretching out in jail. (SMILE!) But in all actuality it's as simple as that analogy. Simply put—you have to do something or go through something to get something! Stretching in this case symbolizes the act of being taken out of ones comfort zone. It symbolizes tearing and resistance, pulling and expansion, being uncomfortable but yet remaining resilient. Stretching shows you some things in you that you would have never known were there (both positive and negative) if it wasn't for the stretch. Stretching is inevitable with growth. You show me somebody who doesn't get stretched or refuses to get stretched and I will show you somebody who chooses to settle, remain stagnate and in the same old place. But you show me somebody who is stretched and goes through the stretching process without quitting or fainting, I will show you someone who is ready and able to handle the blessings of the Lord.
You see, higher levels require higher tolerance levels, greater patience, a stronger relationship with God, greater levels of trustworthiness, faithfulness, diligence and I could go on. But how will you ever develop greater and higher levels in these and the other areas in your life if you don't go through something that ultimately makes you stronger in the end? I look at my life and how there have been many times that I have missed blessings because I got discouraged because not only was what I was reaching for a "hard thing" for me at that time, but I also had to deal with people around me that didn't understand or who were not willing to stretch and reach with me. You have to be careful of who you keep company with when you are reaching for higher levels in God and in life. Ultimately, I would become more discouraged because not only was I carrying the weight of my own personal stretch and the voices of doubt that would try to creep into my head and spirit (and some times successfully) but I had to deal with the doubters around me. Often times it was too much and I would let go and have to start all over again. Fortunately, God allowed me more chances because He knew what was on the inside of me and I'm glad that I allowed myself to get back up in these situations as well. That's the great thing about going through processes, this is usually your training ground where you can mess up and start over without actually being right in the middle of your destiny and messing up. So if you have fallen in your attempt to reach for more…get back up, dust yourself off and stretch out again towards your goal with your new strength and knowledge.
In Matthew 14 we are placed in a one on one encounter with Jesus, His disciples and their faith. The disciples are out on a boat and see Jesus walking on water. They become afraid and confuse the water walking Jesus with a Ghost. Jesus calls out to the fellas and tells them to be not afraid for it was He that they saw. Peter yells out in the midst of this and says to Jesus "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." Jesus tells Peter to come and Peter stepped out of the boat and just on the word of Jesus he begins to walk on the water. Peter starts out strong too…with his eyes set on his destination, which is Jesus. But just like many of us Peter began to experience some turbulence and harsh winds that distracted him from the promise. The more the winds blew and the waves crashed the more Peters faith begins to faint. At this point Peter begins to sink but Jesus stretches out his hand and saves Peter. Jesus then says to Peter "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Seeing that the disciples had just witnessed Jesus feed five thousand men (plus women and children) with five little loaves of bread and two fish, one would think that Peter's faith would still be full from what he had just encountered. But aren't we just like that at times? Here Jesus has done the impossible by feeding thousands with what was originally meant to be a lunch for one and he did it on what the bible calls "a desert place" meaning that there were no other resources available to the people within this particular place but Jesus. Don't you remember how God has blessed you, kept you, fed you, strengthen you and loved you all while you were in a barren place in your life? And look at you now, you are still here throughout all of what you've been through! Now if God blessed you and me in the midst of famine before…and you survived just from "manna" which basically means "stuff" or fragments…don't you KNOW by now that whatever you face GOD'S
When I looked at this passage of scripture verse 31 it jumped out at me the most because it says "and immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand and caught him" meaning that Peter was so close to Jesus (or the goal—which was to get to Jesus) that he could have literally stretched out his hand [Peter] and taken hold of the goal or Jesus. How many times have we been so close to the goal or to victory only to begin to faint right before reaching the promise? My friend I know that in the mist of pursuing we get tired, that's only human. But I want to encourage you and speak to your spirit that its time out for fainting! We are going to make it through this time! I don't care if I have to get over on "broken pieces"! I don't care if I have to cross the finish line cut and bruised…but I declare that I'm going to make it to my goal! It's time out for just looking at life and waiting for a hand out to make it…stretch out your own hands, your mind, your will, your tenacity, your strength, your courage, your creativity, your skills, your FAITH and possess what has already been declared YOURS!
Remember as you go throughout your week…"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Galatians 6:8
Much Love,
Clyde L. Webster
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