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 HOLD ON!

You're gonna make it through this baby! HOLD ON! You're change is on the way!

Much Love,

Clyde L. Webster

Songs of Encouragement In The I-Pod This Week

1. Encourage Yourself (Donald Lawrence)
2. Let Go (Dewayne Woods & WSM)
3. He's Gonna Work It Out/Oh To Be Kept/Walk In Your Victory (Darryl Weathers & SSAB) www.myspace.com/spiritualsistersabrother NEW ALBUM COMING SOON!
4. 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 2:20 (AMP)

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 TRY! You may fall a few times along the way, you may even fail at the task and things may not come out like you necessarily thought they would but when its all said and done you will at least have the experience of trying something new. But look at the flip side of it, you can try and work hard towards your dreams and more likely than not you will find success, effectiveness (yourself and others being blessed through your efforts) and a sense of accomplishment in what it is that you are doing.

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:

1. 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)

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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,

Clyde L. Webster

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 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,

Clyde L. Webster

It’s going to Work out for My Good!

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. –Romans 8:28

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,

Clyde L. Webster