Getting Answers from God

You cannot fast as you do today
   and expect your voice to be heard on high.
Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
   only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
   and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
   a day acceptable to the LORD?

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
   and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
   and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
   and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
   and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
   and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
   and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
   you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. – Isaiah 58:4-9

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 56-58; 2 Thessalonians 2

you ever tried to fast and pray for a spell and wonder why you didn’t hear from God? I mean good gracious what was all that hunger and misery for anyway if you didn’t get anything out of it?

I know that I have and I can tell you this. That’s a really wack feeling.

Fool's Gold

Who has believed our message 
   and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 

He grew up before him like a tender shoot, 
   and like a root out of dry ground. 
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, 
   nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 

He was despised and rejected by mankind, 
   a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. 
Like one from whom people hide their faces 
   he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Isaiah 53:1-3

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 53-55; 2 Thessalonians 1

Oftentimes greatness doesn’t come in a nice and neat package, though we would like it too.

Finding Peace

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 50-52; 1 Thessalonians 5

I was really frustrated at work the other day. It seemed like everyone wanted to work my last nerve. Folks were making unrealistic demands of my time, trying to force me to approve things that should not be approved; and when I resisted, went over my head to my bosses.

Just another day at the job I suppose.

I was lamenting about it all to my friend and she asked me “have you prayed about it yet?”

Knuckle-headed Tendencies

“Listen to this, you descendants of Jacob,
   you who are called by the name of Israel
   and come from the line of Judah,
you who take oaths in the name of the LORD
   and invoke the God of Israel—
   but not in truth or righteousness—
you who call yourselves citizens of the holy city
   and claim to rely on the God of Israel—
   the LORD Almighty is his name:
I foretold the former things long ago,
   my mouth announced them and I made them known;
   then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.
For I knew how stubborn you were;
   your neck muscles were iron,
   your forehead was bronze.
Therefore I told you these things long ago;
   before they happened I announced them to you
so that you could not say,
   ‘My images brought them about;
   my wooden image and metal god ordained them.’
You have heard these things; look at them all.
   Will you not admit them? - Isaiah 48: 1-6

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 47-49; 1 Thessalonians 4

Oh my… this is troubling.

So God will let you go through suffering so that you will recognize who is who and what is what?

#TeamJesus

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. 1 Thessalonians 3:7-10

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 45-46; 1 Thessalonians 3

For those of you who have used twitter before you are probably familiar with trending topics. Trending topics are the topics that are being talked about the most at any given time on Twitter. When someone on twitter wants to start a new topic or conversation they tend to state the topic starting with a “#” symbol. This way if someone likes the particular tweet then they can click on that tag and see other ones on the same topic.

Well, a while back I stumbled upon “#TeamJesus”.

Life Lessons from Step Up

...we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. – 1 Thessalonians 2:8

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 43-44; 1 Thessalonians 2

I was watching this movie the other day called Step Up. I’ll start by saying that it is not a very good film; however, it was highly entertaining.

Judge me if you like.

One of the more interesting things about the movie was the relationship between the main character’s best friend and his little brother.

The Champ is Here

The LORD will march out like a champion,
   like a warrior he will stir up his zeal;
with a shout he will raise the battle cry
   and will triumph over his enemies.- Isaiah 42:13

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 41-42; 1 Thessalonians 1

When I read passages like this one my mind starts to wander into fantastic territory. I imagine being stuck in a Lord of the Rings type of setting. I’m surrounded by all kinds of fiendish figures and here comes my very own savior to rescue me from the dangers of darkness.

A Letter to Hezekiah, The FOOL.

At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery. Hezekiah received the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine olive oil—his entire armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.

Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, “What did those men say, and where did they come from?”

   “From a distant land,” Hezekiah replied. “They came to me from Babylon.”

The prophet asked, “What did they see in your palace?”

   “They saw everything in my palace,” Hezekiah said. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.”

 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD Almighty: The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”

“The word of the LORD you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.” – Isaiah 39:1-8

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 39-40; Colossians 4

What up Hezekiah?

Man you’re a dummy, and a selfish dummy at that!

Wait... I've Gotta do What?

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 37-38; Colossians 3

I’ve never liked this one but finally I’m starting to understand its value.

Be Firm In Your Faith

“Do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, ‘The LORD will deliver us.’ Have the gods of any nations ever delivered their lands from the hand of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand? Who of all the gods of these countries have been able to save their lands from me? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”

But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, “Do not answer him.” Isaiah 36:18-21

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 34-36; Colossians 2

Don’t let anyone steal your faith from you.

Get In The Game!

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. -  Colossians 1: 9-12

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 32-33; Colossians 1

I have had many people tell me that they have issues with this church or that church, this or that dogma or ideology. They cannot connect with Christianity because of the history of its church leaders, Islam because of “terrorists”, Hinduism because of the caste system or what not. They look down upon organized religion as foolish pursuits of uneducated or unenlightened people.

And you know what… part of me gets that. I know I was feeling really confused and discouraged when it came to how people have used religion for power.  

But part of me also thinks… that’s hogwash. Hogwash I say!

Hogwash.

We Can Do All Things

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Phil 4:10-13

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 30-31; Philippians 4

I want to get like that. To be content in any circumstance… what an amazing thing for one to say. It really sounds almost unbelievable, especially when I think about the fact that Paul was under house arrest when he wrote these words.

Yep… dude was locked up.

Keep It Moving

Listen and hear my voice;
   pay attention and hear what I say. 

When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually?
   Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil?
When he has leveled the surface,
   does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin?
Does he not plant wheat in its place,
   barley in its plot,
   and spelt in its field?
His God instructs him
   and teaches him the right way.

Caraway is not threshed with a sledge,
   nor is the wheel of a cart rolled over cumin;
caraway is beaten out with a rod,
   and cumin with a stick.
Grain must be ground to make bread;
   so one does not go on threshing it forever.
The wheels of a threshing cart may be rolled over it,
   but one does not use horses to grind grain.
All this also comes from the LORD Almighty,
   whose plan is wonderful,
   whose wisdom is magnificent. Isaiah 28:23-29

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 28-29; Philippians 3

I went to a networking mixer recently for a group that is working toward building a strong network for men of color in the entertainment industry. I got there pretty early so I had the opportunity to have some in depth conversations with the other early arrivals.

There were two conversations that really stuck with me.

Stop Whining

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Phil 2:3-4

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky Phil 2:14-15

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 26-27; Philippians 2

Paul delivered two heavy hitters in one short chapter. They happen to be two things that I am not so great at.

Good Intentions Don't Amount to Much

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. - Philippians 1:15-18

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 23-25; Philippians 1

As I was growing up I put a ton of weight on people’s intentions. For me it was all about what was in a person’s heart. We all make mistakes right? But did you intend to hurt me or did it happen on accident?

My perspective on that has changed a bit.

Stop Throwing The Bible At Me!

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 20-22; Ephesians 6

I can’t stand it when folks take scriptures out of context.

It is literally one of my pet peeves. When folks do this they are clearly doing it for their own reasons. I know that I’m guilty of it just like everyone else who enjoys the Bible but we really gotta be careful about this. We have to make sure that we look at the passages in context rather than in isolation. When viewed in isolation the Bible can seem like a very hateful and evil book.

Here are two examples of what I mean in Ephesians 6.

Are You Ready To Get Married?

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 17-19; Ephesians 5:17-31

So a couple years ago when I picked up the Bible again I had just come out of a pretty up and down relationship. Going through that I thought that I had what it took to embark on the marriage path.

Until I read the passage above…

Do you get what he is saying here? Do you understand how serious this is?

Snowball Effect

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. - Ephesians 5:3-5

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 14-16; Ephesians 5:1-16

Ok…

How does this jive with what Paul said earlier about all things being permissible, but not everything is beneficial?

At least I think that’s the obvious question. The standard held here seems on the surface to be different than what he said earlier. But really it is not. There is one part of this passage that really hit me hard:

Be Nice!

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 11-13; Ephesians 4:29

My buddies and I get into these extended gmail conversations. They tend to start out with an email that has a link to some entertaining topic; but they end up devolving into all kinds of silliness that helps us get through the day.

A couple of days ago we were about sixty or so emails into an email string and the homie sent this clip of a young woman falling on her face while competing in one of those “reality” dance shows.

We Are All Leaders

Those who guide this people mislead them,
   and those who are guided are led astray.
Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men,
   nor will he pity the fatherless and widows,
for everyone is ungodly and wicked,
   every mouth speaks folly. – Isaiah 9:16-17

       

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 9-10; Ephesians 3

Being a leader is no joke.

 People aspire to leadership roles for a multitude of reasons. Some folks want to help as many folks as they can in whatever given enterprise they are engaged in. Others simply want to get paid. Others want power. They love the feeling that they get when they can stand before a crowd of folk hanging on their every word.

But leadership is serious business.

What is "Right" and "Wrong"?

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste – Isaiah 7:14-16

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 7-8; Ephesians 2

So I was reading this passage and I just couldn’t get past it. It is so fascinating to me.

Us Christians believe that Jesus is the Immanuel that God is speaking of through Isaiah. So, of course as I got here to this passage I was like oh nice! Let me see what he has to say. Then I came to the 15th verse:

He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right – Isaiah 7:15

Whoa whoa whoa! Wait a minute!

Doing the Dirty Work

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

   And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”Isaiah 6:8

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 5-6; Ephesians 1

This passage is crazy to me when it is read in context. Here is God asking someone to volunteer to do a task for Him and Isaiah steps up. But the cold part about it is that the task is not so nice and will most likely make him an enemy of powerful people. Sure he loved God but I’m not so sure that he desired to do the task. Nevertheless he did it anyway.

One thing that I am learning is that the purpose we have for our lives is filled with all kinds of various activities.

2011 Dream Starter Kit!

Happy New Year everyone! 

Let’s make 2011 the best year yet. Every day is a new day to take another step forward on the path toward our dreams.

With this in mind I thought I would help us get 2011 started off on the right foot. Here are some of my and your favorite posts from last year on faith and pursuing our dreams. Check them out and be encouraged!

Let’s work together to make these dreams become a reality. And never forget, if you can see it in your dreams then it can become the live that you live. Believe, work hard and have courage in the face of fear.

Yes get it!

Go Big!

Live By Faith

Just Do It

Do Your Part

So Be It

The Universal Law of Faith

Do You Deserve It?

Staying in the Light