I had a lucid dream early this morning and in that, the Lord revealed the heart of a person close to me. Now, before you think that I am being petty, hear me out. It is important to know the hearts, minds, and spirits of those whom you work alongside. If not, you can inadvertently set your heart to be pierced through with many sorrows. 

In the podcast, I share some of the details of my dream and the interpretation thereof, but the lesson learned was one I could hardly keep to myself. I feel it needed to be shared. 

Basing this lesson from a short, but challenging season in Gideon's life, I believe there are some rich takeaways that can bless your life and mine. Listen and be blessed.

​My baby boy commutes to college and since his car is down, I have been transporting him back and forth to campus. This morning, in particular, while waiting at the stop light, I turned to my right and saw a gentleman who appeared to be under the influence. My first thought was, “What in the world is wrong with him?” As if to interrupt my thoughts, the Father spoke expressly and said, “That is My son. I love him but he is bound by drug demons.” I felt convicted in my spirit and immediately began to pray for “God’s son who was bound by drugs.”
Last night, in my studies, I came across a scenario in scripture that talked about the mercy of God. After my experience this morning, I knew it was confirmation to what the Lord wanted me to share today on my podcast. I titled the message “The Art of Mercy” because we are not born merciful; we must be taught how to have compassion on others. In the message, I expounded on Proverbs 6:16-19; Luke 11:5-8, and James 2:13 as I attempted to bring an understanding as to why God expects us to be compassionate. I used some personal examples, too, that I hope will inspire you to consider the matter, weigh it against your own actions and see what God reveals to you about you. Let the message bless you. 

​Today, I felt led to talk about the grace for relationships and what they look like when they are about to expire. I used Jesus’ relationships with Judas and Peter as a foundation for the message and examined them through the lenses of what renders a relationship sustainable and what the indicators are for when a relationship is expiring. You will hear tactical solutions for handling your own ‘complicated’ relationship seasons and perhaps walk away with a greater appreciation for the relationships that lasted. You will understand why some had to end, and you will also learn the importance of being honest with your own emotions in the process. Let the message bless you.

Today’s message deals with the frustrating concept of waiting on God to perform a promise He’s made. Israel had wandered for forty years and now they were finally approaching a moment of breakthrough. I am sure they were excited to break out into their own, to finally build, plant, and establish but then God says, “little by little!” What? When you’ve waited years for a thing and then it is revealed to you in increments, how do you respond? Or when God promises you something great, but it seems like you can’t get past the small thing, how do you deal with that?
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In this podcast, I talk about what the anxiety and frustration looks like when it seems as if God is taking too long, the breakthrough is dripping and not flowing, and when it seems as if there are still people in your way of what belongs to you. Take a listen and be blessed by today’s message.

​There are some of us who have taken entirely too long to do what God has called us to. We have procrastinated, made excuses, became complacent, and did everything else except what was required. Those are cases where we had frustrated the grace of a season when God destined for a thing to be done. You may never know whose lives are affected by your decision to NOT conform to God’s word. You may never know whose lives may never improve; they may never reach heights in their spiritual, physical, financial, or personal walk if we were the ones slated to help them get there and we resisted the timing of the Lord.
Moses reminded Israel that their wilderness season should have only lasted eleven days, not forty years. People died, battles were fought, and family relationships were destroyed because Israel took an eleven-day promise and made it into a forty-year problem. Do not let that be your portion. Agree with God, cooperate with Him, and partner with Him to bring His will into the earth without Him having to fight you along the way. Let this word bless you!

Ruth was a woman who demonstrated the laws of reciprocity. She lived a sacrificial life and as a result, God opened the heavens for her. Ruth was a young woman, young enough to remarry and bear children after the untimely death of her husband, but she chose instead to serve her destitute and distraught mother-in-law, Naomi. Even after Naomi urged Ruth to return to her family, Ruth denied herself that pleasure and maintained her loyalty to Naomi. Ruth became a seed. She didn't just sow seed; Ruth became seed in Naomi's life and God, who cannot be mocked, was obligated by virtue of His own word, to reward Ruth substantially.
Take a listen at today's podcast on the lesson of sowing and reaping as it pertains to Ruth's life and let it challenge you in any area where you may need it. Let it inspire you to be your best in all you do that God will take delight in you and bless your life accordingly. 

Have you ever asked God for something in prayer and when He answers it, the answer looks nothing like what you asked for? I know I am not the only one! I have been praying for a particular thing for quite a while, but I had no idea how God was going to manifest it. (In fact, I just felt my inner man leap because I feel an answer to another prayer is on the way! Hallelujah!) Anyway, I had been lifting this certain thing before the Lord for quite some time, and though He tarried, I waited. All of a sudden, it happened. Only, it did not come as I expected! In fact, I had to be convinced of the answer to my own prayer! Can you believe that?

While I was totally surprised by how God manifested my answer, I was grateful. He heard me, and He answered me; that was all that mattered, but it sure made for a teachable moment. I am certain I am not the only who envisions what our answered prayer will look like. Like our Heavenly Father, we have the visionary capacity. We see what we want and then as prophetic people, we move in faith towards its manifestations. However, what happens when the thing you believed for comes wrapped in an awkward box? What happens when what you were waiting on looks nothing like what you expected? Father knows best so trust me, you will rejoice, nonetheless.

Isaiah said it plainly, and we cannot miss it. He tells us not to even bother with trying to figure out the ways of our God. He will always surpass our understanding. The Jews of Jesus’ day assumed He would make His grand entrance riding on the back of a stallion. To their frustration, He rode the back of a borrowed donkey! Go figure! God does His own thing!
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Whatever you do, my friend, do not underestimate the cleverness of our God. He will come through for you, yes, but He will also perform that thing how He deems fit. So brace yourself to welcome the answer to your prayers but in that, remain cognizant of the fact that God is a wonder all by Himself. He has His way in the whirlwind, and when He postures Himself to see about you, He will blow your mind. Get ready!

Friends, here is today's blog. It's my podcast that I am sharing for your listening pleasure. I am talking about The Spirit of Counsel: The Demoniac's Story. This is based out of Mark 5:18-21 as I shared above and this message highlights the needs, responsibilities, and boundaries of those graced with the spirit of counsel. I share a personal testimony here that changed my approach to leadership. Leaders, I encourage you to not take it lightly. In my zealousness, I found myself in trouble with the Lord but thank God, I escaped! Don't make that same mistake. Take a listen, share it with someone who needs it, and be blessed by it.