Word of Encouragement

I just want to give a word of encouragement. Do not be ashamed of your accomplishments or success just because others are not where you are. People may view you differently, say things about you or decide that they don't like you. Don't let other peoples' attitude or negative mindset allow you to become stagnant in your goals. The problem is not you it is them. If you're making good grades in school keep making those good grades. If you are successful in your career remain successful. If you are making a change in your life, whether it's physical or spiritual, continue to make that change. You should not feel like you have to lower your standards to someones level in order to please them. Instead, make them step up to your level.  Do you think Tyler Perry will stop making movies or plays because they become Box Office hits or sell out shows? No, he's moving forward and climbing higher. That's the direction we all should go, up not down. We all have our own choices. If you choose to do better and accomplish more in life, then be persistent in the choice that you have made. Be a leader not a follower. Remember who you are. You are Royalty.

How Well Do We Know Him?

For those of you that live in Spartanburg, SC, I know that you may be aware of all the senseless violence that is taking place in our city. If you don't live in this area, then I'm sure that you can relate to senseless violence in your community as well. We are dealing with violence all over the country. People are losing their children, parents, siblings, family and friends. This is ridiculous. This should not be. I know that violence is not anything new, but matters are getting worse when we as a community should be striving to make it better.
I asked God what makes us commit actions or make decisions that will bring harm to others? The answer was simple,"you don't know Me" What do we know about God? What do we know about God's personality or character? We know that He is faithful, compassionate, mighty, merciful and most of all God is love. I John 4 verse 7 says, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." (KJV) We are made in the image of God.( Genesis 1verse 26) We have the same qualities as God, but we don't recognize those qualities because we fail to recognize who God is. If we don't have love for others then we don't know God. God may not like our ways or the things that we do but He loves us. We've all been hurt some kind of way by somebody or we have caused pain in someone else life. Imagine how God must feel when He look upon the sins of His people. The people that He created in His image.Those that He has given dominion over the earth. It hurts Him to His heart. Genesis 6verses5,6 "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart." After all our mess, it grieves the Lord, but He still loves us. God has no respect of person. He shows no favoritism, but we just bring some actions upon ourselves. God does not pick and choose who He loves. So how dare we pick and choose who we love. How dare we hate someone because of where they are from, what they do, where they live, decisions they have made, the color of their skin and so on. We are not perfect. How can we hate on someone because of their imperfections? What gives us the right to take some one's life because we want to? Knowing that we would not want someone to take our life or our loved ones. How can we decide who gets to keep their life or lose their life? That is not love. Love is of God not hatred. Our actions determines how well we know God.
I pray that we will gain knowledge of God on a personal level. That we will read, take heed to His Word and come to know the truth. That we will forgive those who have hurt us just as God has forgiven us so that we may walk in love.