No More Nervous Moments! It is incredible in the day in which we live to know that there are so many fighting a war on a daily basis with their nerves. This is the age of the prescription drug, Dr. Phil, and any of a number of remedies for the shot nerves of many in this age. My message to those of you that are battling with nerves, twitches, and feeling things crawling on you is that the tormenting fear of the enemy is a trick from the pit!
Summa Cum Laude From the School of Hard Knocks! With Honors from the University of Adversity! With all due respect to those who matriculated with honors from the many prestigious institutions in our land, there are scores more that have triumphed over Hell and High Water to Make It! There is a remnant that has overcome bad breaks, and hard times to succeed! For those of us that fit this description, I am proclaiming today as the Awards and Honors Day for you! Some of us didn’t graduate Summa… Continue
Added by Stephen F. Smith on March 3, 2009 at 3:02am —
No Comments
Can't Sleep Until I Mess Someone Else Up? There is a passage of scripture in the Wisdom Literature of the Bible that amazingly resonates with what my cousin and I had discussed for years when we were running the streets. While we were out there we often discussed that there were people that literally stayed up all night plotting on others. We used to say that they would be up plotting while others are sleeping. Well we didn't know as heathens then, that we were all over the Word of God in that… Continue
Added by Stephen F. Smith on March 3, 2009 at 2:51am —
No Comments
I have always been an individual that has loved to see others feel good about themselves. I have never enjoyed seeing others going through tough times. I am just not one that enjoys or relishes seeing others hurt. It is not like I am living in some Nirvana or Utopia where I don't feel any pain at all on a weekly basis, but I can withstand any enemy onslaught when I know that those around me are feeling well. Since time and chance will come to all men, one must be mature enough to know that… Continue
There are countless people that have been laboring for many a season to overcome some of the harsh words that have been spoken over their lives. It has been said that sticks and stones will break my bones, but talking or words will never hurt me. This has been one of the greatest fallacies in history. There are people that are still fighting to overcome some of the negative words that were spoken over their lives back 2 or 3 decades back. The pains of being called fat, ugly, dumb, and any of a… Continue
Walking By Faith in Turbulent Times! Child of God, I wholeheartedly believe that this is the time that many of us should be walking by faith as no other time before. While so many in this age are walking by the ways and modes of this world’s systems, we must be among the remnant that will walk by the precepts of God’s Word. In this day where so many who once believed are all over the place, are you one of those who are bold to truly walk by faith? Are you one that will take the Bible as the… Continue
Let Them Name It, You Just Walk in It! I have never seen a day where so many are title crazy. I have seen so many who are looking for the next realm in titles, we now have Bishops, Arch-Bishops, and Senior Arch-Bishops. I am looking for potentates and finally and then someone that will call themselves Pope! Yet there are times that others will give us titles to belittle us. I have been an ordained Elder in The Church of God in Christ, Inc. since 1999, yet there are still those who seek to"… Continue
Can You Shout a Victory Shout in the Midst of a Struggle? The Bible is a book that is full of people who were not ashamed to praise, magnify, and worship God at all times. The Bible is also full of people that were given to much expression in their renderings of praise to their God! There are not many in the Holy Writ that were given to deep contemplative thought. The Bible is full from cover to cover with people who were unabashed in their praise and worship of their God. Why would one see a… Continue
Does one's faith get its greatest test when the skies are exceptionally beautiful, or does one's faith shine the clearest when there are severe storms looming? I have never seen a day where so many people seem to be looking for direction as to which way to go in this blinding storm that we call life. The litmus test for any believer's wherewithal is how that man or woman responds in tense times. We are now living in a day of panic attacks, pill popping, and so many nervous maladies that one can… Continue
Added by Stephen F. Smith on February 17, 2009 at 7:42am —
No Comments
My Prayer Against the Valentine Blues! The enemy is so clever and subtle in his maneuverings. He is always on his tippy toes to do his dirty work of stealing, killing and destroying the inhabitants of this world. I am now praying against the Valentine Blues. So many can be made to feel lower than low because they didn't receive the goodies that a coworker, friend, or family member did. Vases of roses, nice jewelry, and boxes of candy are sent to those that some call their sweetheart. Don't feel… Continue
Added by Stephen F. Smith on February 14, 2009 at 4:29am —
No Comments
I Didn't Sign Up For All of This! Psalm 34:10 records the following words, Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. This verse should become a uplifting verse that promises the deliverance of those who ascribe to righteousness and living right. However; I humbly submit to you that there are just times that one might not always see the B Clause of this verse in action. Many of us that love the Lord are waiting for our various deliverance from our… Continue
Added by Stephen F. Smith on February 13, 2009 at 3:00am —
No Comments
You Must Learn to Love Yourself! I am not trying to get into anyone's Kool-Aid, but I have found over the years that some of the most beautiful people that one has ever seen physically, and spiritually amazingly feel that they are ugly, or less than. Negative self images permeate nearly every cross section of individuals that one can think of. Why is it so hard to love yourself? In creation, there has never been another you! Many of you are walking and talking which places you light years ahead… Continue
Added by Stephen F. Smith on February 13, 2009 at 12:48am —
No Comments
Challenging Days and Trying Nights? How many of you are seeing what seems to be wasted days and trying nights? I will agree with most that we are indeed living in the most trying times in recent history! I guess that maybe over the years many of us has become complacent and fat with some of our successes. We have been prone to consumption at great levels. The belt tightening that many of us are going through right now is the wake up call that many of us needed. Tough Times show the measure of a… Continue
Added by Stephen F. Smith on February 11, 2009 at 2:30am —
No Comments
It's Time to Plan Our Escape! How many of us are tired of seeing the same old same old? Doesn't seeing the mundane and the commonplace get to be a drag after a while? It is totally amazing that many of the dreams of conquering the known world that we all fostered in the the days of our youth sometimes gives way to many of the crushing realities that this world heaps upon all of us! However; I submit to you that you were created for so much more. It is… Continue
Added by Stephen F. Smith on February 6, 2009 at 7:34am —
No Comments
That Greener Grass Still Needs to be Cut! I am sure that everyone has heard the old quote that the grass isn't always greener on the other side! This quote is to remind individuals that someone else's situation may look rosier on the surface, but there is always more than meets the eye. Isn't it amazing that while one seems to be walking through the very valley of the shadow of death; that others seem to be sailing through life on flowery beads of ease? Appearances are far closer to fiction… Continue
Added by Stephen F. Smith on February 2, 2009 at 7:30am —
No Comments
Waving the White Flag? Suicide is Not the Answer! It has been earth
shattering to hear of the larger than normal amount of murder-suicides.
In the day in which we live, many are challenged on a number of fronts
by so many things. Many of the pretty faces and wonderful smiles that
one sees on a daily basis belong to individuals whose minds are being
besieged by so many things. Will things get better? Can things get
better? Can't you just make this overwhelming pain… Continue
Added by Stephen F. Smith on January 30, 2009 at 2:30am —
No Comments
Expecting Breakthroughs in the Age of the Breakdown!
I think we are living in a time where it is incumbent for people of faith to draw on that faith in a greater manner than we ever have before. We are walking daily in one of the most challenging times that man has ever seen. The hearts of men have grown cold, and many of the tenets of old are fading so soon that it would make one’s head to spin. This is not a time for the fearful and the feeble. If there was ever an age for good men… Continue
Added by Stephen F. Smith on January 21, 2009 at 1:56am —
No Comments
I Have to Tell Somebody About How Good God Is! Isn’t it amazing when one looks at the news and sees someone who survives an incredible mishap, only to hear them say it was their lucky day? However; there is a remnant that simply won’t be ashamed about telling the whole world about just how good God is!…
One's strength is not determined by mountaintop experiences! It is determined by how one deals with the valleys of life! How can you possibly know how strong you are, if you haven't been through anything? The proof is in the pudding, don't call yourself a prayer warrior when the times are peaceful. Who attends motivational seminars by those who haven't gone through anything? Grace and Power usually follows those who are not afraid of being in the heat… Continue
