Hey everyone, hope you're having a blessed week and making it over the hump. Today's nugget of #WednesdayWisdom is a continuation of the Y.E.S. Exchange.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. - Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
In last week's post, I introduced the Y.E.S. Exchange acronym, (Y)ielding (E)nsures (S)uccess. This acronym explains how the path to success begins with a choice to yield, or submit, to God's will for your life. When you yield, He'll yield (provide) to you the necessary tools to reach your destiny. This week, I've discovered a new YES formula (thanks, in part, to Travis Greene's sermon this past Sunday at Forward City Church):
(Y)ielding
(E)ntails
(S)trength
Pastor Travis covered a lot of ground in that message, but one thing in particular really stuck with me, and I took it and ran with it. He said, "The devil always sends resistance to anything that's progressing and moving forward." Remember how I said there's no fine print when we say yes to God? That's true, because the end result will be victory--that's the kind of God we serve--but we have to work to get to that end. (Y)ielding (E)nsures (eventual) (S)uccess, but (Y)ielding (E)ntails (S)trength because your YES doesn't guarantee that the road to success will be easy.
On the path to success, we have to be able to discern and differentiate between what (and who) was sent by Satan versus what (and who) was sent by God. Testing will come from both, because Satan wants you to break before you reach the promise, and God wants to see if you're strong enough for where He's about to take you. Either way, you'll need strength because the distance between your initial yes to God and your promise land is a training ground, a process, however short or long, that will prepare you for elevation. It's important that you don't quit, no matter how long you've been in this stage! God knows where He's taking you, and guess what...so does the enemy. Keep in mind that just as God knows in advance how important your Kingdom assignment is, Satan knows a threat when he sees one. So when you give God your yes, expect to be attacked on every side. That yes activates resistance, but it comes with the territory that God is in the process of enlarging. While you're going through (and you WILL get through this!) take comfort in knowing that while God didn't say the weapons wouldn't form, He DID promise they'd never prosper. 💪🏾 #WednesdayWisdom
***One more thing: How fitting that this week's post is inspired by Travis Greene, just like my very first (official) post was one year ago. Music, Message, Messiah turned one year old November 4th! When God literally woke me up out of my sleep last year and told me to reopen this site and start writing, I had no idea what He was up to. I'd left it dormant for two years, but somehow I knew this was "not your average blog," and ironically, I chose that name "randomly" back in 2013. One year of consistent posts (and a name change) later, I'm so grateful for what He has allowed me to share on this platform. I pray that my content has blessed those who read it as much as it has blessed me to write it. May the messages always be simplified, the music be diversified, and most importantly, Christ be glorified. Here's to many more blog birthdays!
Where music is diversified, message is simplified, and Christ is glorified
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
#WednesdayWisdom: The Y.E.S. Exchange
Hey everyone, hope you're having a blessed week and making it over the hump. Today's nugget of #WednesdayWisdom explains how God will give you His "yes" when you give Him yours.
"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground." - Psalms 143:10 (NIV)
This is the Y.E.S. exchange:
(Y)ielding
(E)nsures
(S)uccess
God gave me that acronym back in 2014, but I've been led back to it several times in the past three years. Looking back, I realize that God typically brings me back to it whenever I'm in a season of transition, so maybe this post is just for me. Anyway, most recently, it's been echoing in my spirit for the past two weeks, so I thought I'd share it here. I pray that it reaches whoever else needs to hear it. Yielding ensures success. It's proven every time.
The word yield has two definitions: 1) to surrender, submit, or give in, and 2) to produce or provide. By the first definition, when we do what we're told to do, what we're called to do, it always pays off. It might not pay off exactly when you think it should, but that's part of the surrender. You're not the one controlling it. God is. When He tells you to do something, to go somewhere, to follow what looks like an unmarked trail, you do it. You go, no questions asked, even when you don't know where or how or why, even when nobody else is going there or doing that, even when they say it doesn't make sense...it makes sense to God. Go.
That's what I got out of the acronym the first time it came to me, but it's even more profound now that I've realized it's double-sided. (Y)ielding (E)nsures (S)uccess because God answers your YES with His. Yielding also means providing, so when you yield to His will, when you submit to His vision for your life, He will give you His YES in exchange for yours, and yield provisions for your journey. Look at it this way: In life, we sign contracts for a lot of things--cars, houses, etc. When we sign, we have to remember to read the fine print to make sure we know what we're getting ourselves into. The good news is, there's no fine print with God. We don't have to know what we're getting ourselves into because He ALWAYS causes us to triumph! He'll never call us to something He won't bring us through, so we can move when He says move without worry of where the resources are coming from or where the road leads. Our paths have already been set. God's promises are yes and amen. That means, YES, He has it covered, and AMEN, it's already done! Give Him your yes and He'll do the rest. Trust Him.
When Your Spirit speaks to me,
With my whole heart I'll agree,
And my answer will be yes, Lord, yes!
#WednesdayWisdom
"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground." - Psalms 143:10 (NIV)
This is the Y.E.S. exchange:
(Y)ielding
(E)nsures
(S)uccess
God gave me that acronym back in 2014, but I've been led back to it several times in the past three years. Looking back, I realize that God typically brings me back to it whenever I'm in a season of transition, so maybe this post is just for me. Anyway, most recently, it's been echoing in my spirit for the past two weeks, so I thought I'd share it here. I pray that it reaches whoever else needs to hear it. Yielding ensures success. It's proven every time.
The word yield has two definitions: 1) to surrender, submit, or give in, and 2) to produce or provide. By the first definition, when we do what we're told to do, what we're called to do, it always pays off. It might not pay off exactly when you think it should, but that's part of the surrender. You're not the one controlling it. God is. When He tells you to do something, to go somewhere, to follow what looks like an unmarked trail, you do it. You go, no questions asked, even when you don't know where or how or why, even when nobody else is going there or doing that, even when they say it doesn't make sense...it makes sense to God. Go.
That's what I got out of the acronym the first time it came to me, but it's even more profound now that I've realized it's double-sided. (Y)ielding (E)nsures (S)uccess because God answers your YES with His. Yielding also means providing, so when you yield to His will, when you submit to His vision for your life, He will give you His YES in exchange for yours, and yield provisions for your journey. Look at it this way: In life, we sign contracts for a lot of things--cars, houses, etc. When we sign, we have to remember to read the fine print to make sure we know what we're getting ourselves into. The good news is, there's no fine print with God. We don't have to know what we're getting ourselves into because He ALWAYS causes us to triumph! He'll never call us to something He won't bring us through, so we can move when He says move without worry of where the resources are coming from or where the road leads. Our paths have already been set. God's promises are yes and amen. That means, YES, He has it covered, and AMEN, it's already done! Give Him your yes and He'll do the rest. Trust Him.
When Your Spirit speaks to me,
With my whole heart I'll agree,
And my answer will be yes, Lord, yes!
#WednesdayWisdom
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
#WednesdayWisdom: Heart Strings - All-access Pass?
Hey everyone, hope you're having a blessed week and making it over the hump. Today's nugget of #WednesdayWisdom is a word on the body's most important muscle: the heart. Who, if anyone, gets an all-access pass to yours?
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. - Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
Given the way the world works these days, it would be so easy to use the above Bible verse to close yourself off from relationships, both platonic and romantic. So much of culture and society glorifies being a one-man-show, the idea that we don't need anybody else and we can do everything by ourselves. The way the world works can cause us to think that we are the only ones who have our own best interests at heart, and teaches us not to set ourselves up to be "played": taken advantage of, used, hurt, etc. Of course no one wants to be played, but if we're honest with ourselves, we don't want to be alone either. Yes, it is true that at some point in life, you will be faced with the reality that everybody doesn't have the same heart as you. You can't expect everyone to treat you as nicely as you treat them. Here's the kicker, though: Even after you come to terms with the fact that you will never be treated EXACTLY the way you want to be treated, you still can't close your heart off to people in fear of being hurt, because as Christians, we are called to love everyone as Christ does. It's a tough but necessary pill to swallow. Yes, absolutely, guard your heart. Making yourself accessible to everyone can be detrimental to your emotional and spiritual health; however, make sure you know the difference between a guard and a wall. Guards can be let down, but walls, made of brick and mortar, are sturdy and designed to keep everything out. Don't protect yourself from being hurt so much that you end up hurting yourself. Sometimes, your "protection" can keep you from something great. God knows what and who you need in your life. Stop being afraid and ask Him to help you put yourself out there. Ask for discernment and trust Him enough to open your heart and let the good stuff in. #WednesdayWisdom
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. - Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
Given the way the world works these days, it would be so easy to use the above Bible verse to close yourself off from relationships, both platonic and romantic. So much of culture and society glorifies being a one-man-show, the idea that we don't need anybody else and we can do everything by ourselves. The way the world works can cause us to think that we are the only ones who have our own best interests at heart, and teaches us not to set ourselves up to be "played": taken advantage of, used, hurt, etc. Of course no one wants to be played, but if we're honest with ourselves, we don't want to be alone either. Yes, it is true that at some point in life, you will be faced with the reality that everybody doesn't have the same heart as you. You can't expect everyone to treat you as nicely as you treat them. Here's the kicker, though: Even after you come to terms with the fact that you will never be treated EXACTLY the way you want to be treated, you still can't close your heart off to people in fear of being hurt, because as Christians, we are called to love everyone as Christ does. It's a tough but necessary pill to swallow. Yes, absolutely, guard your heart. Making yourself accessible to everyone can be detrimental to your emotional and spiritual health; however, make sure you know the difference between a guard and a wall. Guards can be let down, but walls, made of brick and mortar, are sturdy and designed to keep everything out. Don't protect yourself from being hurt so much that you end up hurting yourself. Sometimes, your "protection" can keep you from something great. God knows what and who you need in your life. Stop being afraid and ask Him to help you put yourself out there. Ask for discernment and trust Him enough to open your heart and let the good stuff in. #WednesdayWisdom
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
#WednesdayWisdom: Stay In Your Lane
Hey everyone, hope you're having a blessed week and making it over the hump. Today's nugget of #WednesdayWisdom is a word on comparison: Stay in your lane!
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
- Psalms 139:13-16 (NIV)
We've all had a moment (or several) in our lives where we're doing something we love, something we do well, and as we're enjoying it, someone else comes along who does it "better" according to society's standards. Newsflash: In everything you do, there's going to be someone "better" than you, and someone else who wishes they were as good as you. Don't worry about them. Just be YOU. Stop looking for people to validate you and tell you how great you are. Walk in your greatness & believe in yourself. Someone else's success is not a threat to your own. Another person's gifts and talents don't diminish yours. You're still enough even when they're great. You're still enough when you think they're getting the level of acknowledgement that you deserve. There's enough room for both of your gifts to be necessary. Don't get intimidated in your lane when you see a newer, more expensive car riding beside you. If that car is merging into your lane, so what? You're both going in the same direction. Even if the other car gets there before you, when you reach YOUR sweet spot, nobody will be able to do YOUR thing exactly the way YOU do it. Keep your eyes on the road, and don't get distracted! The only person you're competing with in this race is the version of yourself you see in the rear view mirror. God has tailor made your gifts to fit your purpose, so doubting your gifts means doubting Him. He hasn't forgotten about you. He knows exactly where you're going, and exactly when you'll get there. Your "arrival" time is not an estimate; your location is permanently programmed in His (G)odly (P)ositioning (S)ystem. Stay in YOUR lane, in YOUR position, and watch God work when it's your turn. In the meantime, turn on some worship music in your car and give Him a destination praise in advance. Claim the promise ahead of time! #WednesdayWisdom
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
- Psalms 139:13-16 (NIV)
We've all had a moment (or several) in our lives where we're doing something we love, something we do well, and as we're enjoying it, someone else comes along who does it "better" according to society's standards. Newsflash: In everything you do, there's going to be someone "better" than you, and someone else who wishes they were as good as you. Don't worry about them. Just be YOU. Stop looking for people to validate you and tell you how great you are. Walk in your greatness & believe in yourself. Someone else's success is not a threat to your own. Another person's gifts and talents don't diminish yours. You're still enough even when they're great. You're still enough when you think they're getting the level of acknowledgement that you deserve. There's enough room for both of your gifts to be necessary. Don't get intimidated in your lane when you see a newer, more expensive car riding beside you. If that car is merging into your lane, so what? You're both going in the same direction. Even if the other car gets there before you, when you reach YOUR sweet spot, nobody will be able to do YOUR thing exactly the way YOU do it. Keep your eyes on the road, and don't get distracted! The only person you're competing with in this race is the version of yourself you see in the rear view mirror. God has tailor made your gifts to fit your purpose, so doubting your gifts means doubting Him. He hasn't forgotten about you. He knows exactly where you're going, and exactly when you'll get there. Your "arrival" time is not an estimate; your location is permanently programmed in His (G)odly (P)ositioning (S)ystem. Stay in YOUR lane, in YOUR position, and watch God work when it's your turn. In the meantime, turn on some worship music in your car and give Him a destination praise in advance. Claim the promise ahead of time! #WednesdayWisdom
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
#WednesdayWisdom: Saying No to "Yes" Men
Hey everyone, hope you're having a blessed week and making it over the hump. Today's nugget of #WednesdayWisdom is a word on friendship: how to say no to "yes" men.
"Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." - Proverbs 27:5-6 (NIV)
I don't know about y'all, but I need some more positive, encouraging friends in my life. I've always had a small but strong circle (if you're reading this, you know who you are), but in this season of my life, I find myself desiring friendships that, above all else, push me closer to Christ. As an optimist, I naturally gravitate toward positive people, but as I'm growing in my Christian walk, I'm looking for "lifters": Those who lift His name on high and who can effectively lift me up in prayer. Good friends should edify one another, hold each other accountable, and offer constructive criticism. I've always prided myself on being the blunt friend. I try to always tell my friends the truth, even if it hurts, because it'll help them in the long run. Be careful here, though. Tell your friends what they need to hear, not what they want to hear; but when you correct them, correct them with love. Constructive criticism can be tricky. It's not just what you say, but how you say it. You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. Don't correct so harshly that your relationships with others become negative, but be honest with people. I'd rather have a friend tell me I'm doing something wrong than to "protect" my feelings by not correcting me & letting me mess up. Don't surround yourself with "yes" men who sugarcoat stuff. If they don't tell you when you're making poor choices, they're not true friends. Those "no" friends who say 'No, that's not a good choice, situation, person, etc.' even when you don't want to hear it, those are the ones who care. Find those friends and keep them close. Lift and be lifted. Iron sharpens iron. #WednesdayWisdom
"Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." - Proverbs 27:5-6 (NIV)
I don't know about y'all, but I need some more positive, encouraging friends in my life. I've always had a small but strong circle (if you're reading this, you know who you are), but in this season of my life, I find myself desiring friendships that, above all else, push me closer to Christ. As an optimist, I naturally gravitate toward positive people, but as I'm growing in my Christian walk, I'm looking for "lifters": Those who lift His name on high and who can effectively lift me up in prayer. Good friends should edify one another, hold each other accountable, and offer constructive criticism. I've always prided myself on being the blunt friend. I try to always tell my friends the truth, even if it hurts, because it'll help them in the long run. Be careful here, though. Tell your friends what they need to hear, not what they want to hear; but when you correct them, correct them with love. Constructive criticism can be tricky. It's not just what you say, but how you say it. You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. Don't correct so harshly that your relationships with others become negative, but be honest with people. I'd rather have a friend tell me I'm doing something wrong than to "protect" my feelings by not correcting me & letting me mess up. Don't surround yourself with "yes" men who sugarcoat stuff. If they don't tell you when you're making poor choices, they're not true friends. Those "no" friends who say 'No, that's not a good choice, situation, person, etc.' even when you don't want to hear it, those are the ones who care. Find those friends and keep them close. Lift and be lifted. Iron sharpens iron. #WednesdayWisdom
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
#WednesdayWisdom: Encouragement for Encouragers
Do you know what today is? It's hump day! Here's a little #WednesdayWisdom to get you over the hump: You can't pour from an empty cup.
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else,
for each one should carry his own load." -Galatians 6:2-5 (NIV)
We all know at least one person (or maybe we are the person) who is always giving of themselves: their time, energy, love, encouragement, etc. and never asks for anything in return. This is a word of encouragement for encouragers. Self-care is necessary. It's great that God gave you motivation and inspiration to share. That's a gift! It's wonderful to be able to take a walk in someone else's shoes...but don't forget to take those shoes off at the end of the day. You'll be exhausted if you leave them on; they weren't designed to fit you in the first place. Empathy is a beautiful thing, but problems can arise if you find yourself consistently shouldering other people's pain in addition to the things you're dealing with in your own life. Carrying other people's burdens is Christ-like, but please, find balance. Find people who can pour into you as you pour into others--and if you can't find anyone to pour into you, pray and ask God to refill your cup. Help others, yes, but remember to take a break and recharge. Make time for yourself. You can't run on E. Put good in, get good out. Be the encouraged encourager. #WednesdayWisdom
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else,
for each one should carry his own load." -Galatians 6:2-5 (NIV)
We all know at least one person (or maybe we are the person) who is always giving of themselves: their time, energy, love, encouragement, etc. and never asks for anything in return. This is a word of encouragement for encouragers. Self-care is necessary. It's great that God gave you motivation and inspiration to share. That's a gift! It's wonderful to be able to take a walk in someone else's shoes...but don't forget to take those shoes off at the end of the day. You'll be exhausted if you leave them on; they weren't designed to fit you in the first place. Empathy is a beautiful thing, but problems can arise if you find yourself consistently shouldering other people's pain in addition to the things you're dealing with in your own life. Carrying other people's burdens is Christ-like, but please, find balance. Find people who can pour into you as you pour into others--and if you can't find anyone to pour into you, pray and ask God to refill your cup. Help others, yes, but remember to take a break and recharge. Make time for yourself. You can't run on E. Put good in, get good out. Be the encouraged encourager. #WednesdayWisdom
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
#WednesdayWisdom: Humility
Happy hump day, everyone! I'm back after a brainstorming hiatus. I've been trying to think of creative ways to revamp the scope of this blog. If you follow me on Instagram, you know I post a little blurb on there (almost) every Wednesday using the hashtag #WednesdayWisdom. I used to do #MotivationMonday, and I still do from time to time, but I figured we all could use a small nugget of inspiration to get us over the hump. This week's topic is humility.
"A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor." - Proverbs 29:23 (NIV)
God can't fill you if you're full of yourself. When you get to where you're going, when you feel like you've reached your peak, don't forget who allowed you to get there. Reflect and reverence the One who made it all possible. Give the gifts He gave to you back to Him, and do so with your whole heart. You might feel like you have it all materialistically, but remember, without God, you'd have nothing. Make time for Him, even if you feel like you don't need anything. You'll always need Him, and if you think you don't, He'll show you otherwise. Make gratitude your attitude and watch Him bless you even more. God rewards a grateful heart. Humility and thankfulness will take you places. #WednesdayWisdom
"A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor." - Proverbs 29:23 (NIV)
God can't fill you if you're full of yourself. When you get to where you're going, when you feel like you've reached your peak, don't forget who allowed you to get there. Reflect and reverence the One who made it all possible. Give the gifts He gave to you back to Him, and do so with your whole heart. You might feel like you have it all materialistically, but remember, without God, you'd have nothing. Make time for Him, even if you feel like you don't need anything. You'll always need Him, and if you think you don't, He'll show you otherwise. Make gratitude your attitude and watch Him bless you even more. God rewards a grateful heart. Humility and thankfulness will take you places. #WednesdayWisdom
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