WHAT TO DO WHEN IT SEEMS LIKE LIFE IS FALLING APART

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path…..Psalms 119:105 KJV

Everyone needs encouragement from time to time. We all face crises, challenges, setbacks, oppositions, and adversities at some point in life. Problems and troubles do not discriminate. There are three enemies that normally work against us: satan, Murphy’s law, and the enemy within, which is self.

First, there is satan. However, there are some who fail to believe that there is literally a devil. But, I am convinced by the Word of God that satan does exist. If Jesus believes that there is a devil, then there is a literal devil that exists. In Matthew 4:1-11, it expresses how Jesus was confronted by satan three times. The first time satan challenged Christ to focus on the physical source of life. Holding strong to his faith, Christ responded with, “man shall not live by bread alone”. The second challenge satan presented him with was to test His power and jump off the pinnacle of the temple. Jesus responded, “thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God”. Finally, the third challenge satan presented Christ with was to serve him and not Jehovah God. Still standing strong in the word, Jesus answered him by saying, “thy shall worship the Lord thou God and Him only shall thou serve”.

Second, you have Murphy’s Law. (Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong) EXAMPLE: Here you are working on a project and the first part of the project goes smoothly with no problems and with ease. However, in the final stage, it seems like everything that can go wrong, goes wrong. It only took you fifteen(15) minutes to complete the first part. Now, here it is an hour has passed and you still have not completed the final stage. To me, that is Murphy’s Law at work.

Finally, you have the enemy within, which is self. Now we may find this hard to believe, but usually, this is the worst enemy. Why, you may ask? I will tell you why. You eat with “self”. You talk to “self”, daily. You sleep with “self”. You carry “self” everywhere you go. No matter what you do, “self” is always with you.

In closing, let me tell you how to keep life together when it seems like it is falling apart. My answer is simple. In all of life’s situations, learn to encourage yourself. Let me share a story with you. In 1 Samuel 30:1-25 we see David in distress. David and his company of six hundred(600) men had been off at war. They returned to Ziklag to find it torn to pieces and burned to the ground. The women, young and old, their sons, and daughters had been captured and taken as prisoners. David was deeply distressed. To add to the stress the men of his company plotted to kill him. Because if they had not been with him, they would have been home. But, what did David do? David strengthened himself with trust in his God. In verse six, it tells us that, “But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” He put on the Ephod and prayed to God. He asked if he should go after the raiders and if he would catch them. God answered and told him yes to go after them and yes he would catch them. Not only would he catch them, God told him he would rescue them. David and his men went after the raiders and caught them and rescued their families, ALL of them.

If we would learn to trust God and respect His word, He will strengthen us in whatever life situation we face. Remember, the key is to Encourage Yourself in the Lord.

~Dr.Lorenzo Carter

ASPIRE to INSPIRE before you EXPIRE!

ASPIRE means to seek to attain or accomplish a particular goal.

EXAMPLE: When Abraham Lincoln was a boy he husked corn for three days to pay for a second-hand book of, “The Life of Washington”. After he had read the book he said, “I don’t intend to shuck corn and split rails all my life.” When asked what he aspired to be, he said, “Someday I will be President of the United States.” They laughed at young Abe. Yet, we do not laugh, do we? We know the rest of the story.

Big thoughts come from big passion. Passion is associated with the word “desire”.

Psalm 37:4 “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Another example is when Nehemiah was directed with the task to rebuild the dilapidated walls of Jerusalem. Even though he was faced with severe opposition and criticism, he still persevered. He credited the success to the people’s sincere desire. For he said in Nehemiah 4:6, “So we rebuilt the wall till all of it was restored, for the people worked with all their heart.”

God’s “mode of operandum” is to work the same way in our lives. As long as we (ASPIRE) desire to please Him, we will succeed in whatever we do.

INSPIRE means to breathe or blow into or upon.

Someone asked Michael Jackson what abled him to be successful in the music industry for as many years as he had. His answer was very profound. He simply said, “I searched for things to inspire me.”

This is a good reason to watch the people you socialize with. (Are they building you up or tearing you down?)

This is why we should read the word of God REGULARLY. It can inspire us.

In 2 Timothy 3:16, the Apostle Paul makes the statement that “All scripture is inspired by God…”

EXPIRE means to breathe one’s last breath or to die.

Hebrews 9:27 states, “And as it is appointed unto men one to die, but after this the judgment.”

All of us should strive to be the best that we can be, to do as much as we can do, to help as many people as we can, and to live as close to the example of Christ as we can.

Life is too precious to waste. When we say this, we are not only talking about death and tragedy. We are also speaking of wasted talent, wasted work, wasted effort, and wasted opportunities.

Therefore, we all should strive to ASPIRE to INSPIRE before we EXPIRE.

So, Lord teach us to number our days. (James 4:14)

How to Counter-Attack Satan’s Attacks Against You!

Once we accept Christ as our personal Savior, the adversary who is satan, will increase his attacks on our lives. The question then is “What shall we do or how must we counter-attack satan’s attacks against us?” The answer begins when we come to understand who the enemy is. St John 10:10a states, “The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy”. Satan desires to gain benefits through every device he uses against God’s children. Ignorance and blindness to the truth are just a few of his devices which have great power when they are activated in the life of a believer. Hosea 4:6a states, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”. On the other hand, when the believer submits, turn to God, and pray He gives us power to overcome the attacks of enemy. St John 10:10b states, “I am come that they might have life and that they might have life more abundantly.
God has given the believer spiritual weapons for the attacks that satan bring. To name a few: 1. The Word of God (reading, studying, & meditating) 2. Prayer and Fasting 3. Praise & Worship
If you are under attack from the enemy,satan, do not fret nor give in to his schemes because the victory lies within you as a child of God. Behold, I give to you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you(Luke 10:19). You shall not be defeated!
Began reading God’s word on a daily basis.
Scripture references to apply when you are under an attack from satan:
Matthew 4:1-10, Isaiah 5:6-7, Mark 9:28, II Chronicles 20:3 Psalm 1:1-3 & Joshua 1:8

Building a Bridge That Leads to Success for 2013

Over the years we have heard of and read history of the many types of bridges there are in the world which we live in. Among those bridges, we have the suspension bridge, which has one of the longest distances of travel from 2,000 to 7,000 feet far longer than any other kind of bridge. Then there’s the arch bridge known for its curved arch, the cable stay bridge -one of the largest bridges in France, and the truss bridge which is one of the oldest types of modern bridges around. The Brooklyn and the Golden Gate bridge are among the most famous bridges around. However, they all have and are known for their uniqueness. To get from one end to the other of each one of these bridges, there must be a starting and finishing point.

In life, we too have bridges we must cross to reach our destinies of success.  Gen. 39:3-4

Success in life requires many elements but time must be taken to build, study, develop and prepare a strong foundation for your future. To build a bridge that leads to success in life you must have priority(God 1st), controlled anger(Be ye angry and sin not), integrity, discipline, forgiveness and favor. From all the above, a key thing to remember and know: that is, from time to time you will face a point in life where you experience failure or it may appear to be failure. This is when you must stand firm on Matt. 6:33, Proverbs 3:5-6. and Psalm 1:1-3.

In 2013, Choose to build a bridge that leads to a life of success now and in the future. Face the CHALLENGE & past the TEST!

Until next time……………Have a Wonderful & Prosperous New Year walking in the Expected, Accelerated Favor of God!