My Feet Are Off The Ground

This post was sent to me by my cousin Barbara France.  Please read and enjoy:

My Feet Are Off The Ground'

From Tyler Perry: Writer and Actor

This morning I awoke and was so frustrated about all of the stuff that I'm dealing with in trying to get this studio open. I was about to open my mouth & start complaining when I remembered something that happened to me a year ago.

I was walking to my car when this woman who appeared to be homeless started walking towards me. I'm ashamed to say this but I thought, 'I don't feel like being hustled today.' Then I got quickly convicted. I felt guilty so I started digging in my pocket for some money. As she got closer I noticed that she had the kindest eyes that I had ever seen.

As I was reaching into my pocket she started to speak. I thought, 'Here goes the sales pitch'. She said 'Excuse me sir, I need some shoes. Can you help me?' My eyes filled with water because I remember being out on the streets and having only one pair of run over shoes. I was taken aback for a second.

I took her inside the studio and had my wardrobe people find shoes in her size. As she put the shoes on she started crying, praising God and thanking Jesus, and saying, 'My feet are off the ground! My feet are off the ' ground! Several of the wardrobe people started crying. I was crying. But I never forgot those words. 'My feet are off the ground!' I thought, 'Wow! All she wanted was some shoes.' She quickly disappeared and never asked me for a dime. I realized that I still had the money in my hand so I went out looking for her. She was gone just that quick so I looked all around the neighbourhood for her. I found her standing on a corner looking down at her shoes, still crying. I was so touched. I asked her how she had gotten homeless. She told me that she had AIDS and that she was waiting to get into a shelter.. She said that her family had turned their backs on her and that she had no place to go, but she knew that God would make a way for her. I said to myself, 'He just did'  Her faith and her praise moved me. I took her to a nearby hotel and put her up until she was able to get on her feet I had someone that worked for me to check on her from time to time and to make sure that she had food and clothes. After about a month or so we lost touch, but I never forgot her.

This past summer I was shooting 'Daddy's Little Girls' and this woman walks up to me smiling. I didn't recognize her face, but her eyes were familiar. She had on a really nice dress and her hair was done. It was her! She told me that the little help that I had given her had changed her life.

She was in a house now and doing very well. I said all of that to say this. After I met this woman, every time I think about complaining and mumbling I remember, 'My feet are off the ground!'

I wanted to share this with you just to let you know that when I say that I am thankful for you, I mean it. And when I say that you are a blessing to me, I mean it.

We take so much for granted sometimes that I just wanted all of you to know that I am grateful to God for you every day. Thank you for being in my life.

~Tyler Perry~

Freedom

The dictionary defines freedom this way: 

1. the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint

2. exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.

3. the power to determine action without restraint.

4. political or national independence.

5. personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery

 

Now as I compared this to Galatians 5:1 which reads: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. I came to the realization that many believers spend alot of their time being slaves instead of being free.  We are slaves to our jobs, slaves to our goals, slaves to our families, slaves to other peoples perceptions and views of us.  REALLY?!?  The word of God reminds us that whom the Son has set free is free indeed (John 8:36). 

 

So why do we continuously allow ourselves to be placed in bondage?  Is slavery so comfortable that freedom seems foreign to us?  Freedom requires responsibility and accountability.  It is the lack of excuses and scapegoating.  It requires us to seek God for ourselves and not trying to find a priest or minister to go to Him for us. 

 

We will not walk in the fullness of our gifts or our abundance while in slavery.  It is just not possible.  God can not be contained and he can not be boxed in....not even in the confines of our slave like existence.  He must be free to move and do as He pleases and He desires that we be free as well.  It is wonderful to have goals and objectives and family...but is God the head of it?  Is He the one leading and guiding or are you trying to have Him follow your pace and your path?

 

Getting free is one thing...staying free is another!  It is a conscious choice that has to be made consistently throughout the day...EVERY DAY!!  So as you go through your day...choose to stand firm in your freedom within God ...knowing that He has placed you as the head and not the tail.  Knowing that He has placed within you everything you need to fulfill your divine purpose.  Knowing that when you call He will answer.  Knowing that He will never leave you nor forsake you and that if you abide in Him, He will definitely abide in you!

 

Prayer:

Father God in the name of Jesus, we thank you for the sacrifice that you have given us in your son Jesus the Christ.  We decree right now that we shall walk in freedom and shall no longer be in any form of slavery.  We decree that every yoke and every form of bondage that has slowed us down, separated us from you, caused us to detour shall be terminated right now in the name of Jesus.  Instead God we bind ourselves to your joy, your peace, your unfailing love, your perfect will...God we bind ourselves to YOU!  We glorify you and exalt because you are truly wonderful and the best thing that continues to happen to us.  In Jesus' name...Amen!

 

 

Get Out of Your Way

As I reflect this morning on various things happening in my life and past occurrences...I can't help but chuckle.  I have listened to countless people and their issues..various Sunday morning sermons and there seems to be a pattern of the 'blame game'.  But the reality is, the only obstacle in our way is US!  If the Word of God is true, and I know it to be, it clearly states that "No Weapon Formed Against Me Shall Be Able To Prosper".  It also states that "Greater Is He That Is In You Than He That Is In And Of The World".  It also states that "If God Be For Me Then Who Can Stand Against Me"  WOW!  We are our own obstacle.  Now I am not saying that trials and tribulations don't come and I am not saying that Satan isn't busy...but none of the above have any power over our promise or God's divine plan for our lives.  It's almost like a mosquito bite...yes you felt it...yes it itches..and yes it leaves a mark but you don't stop pressing forward.  Paul made the statement that "nothing shall separate me from the love of God which is Christ Jesus".  NOTHING...not even himself.  So encourage yourself today and know that nothing can get in the way of you and your God and His perfect plan for your life but you.  Realize the awesomeness that God has placed in you and the authority and power that He has given you as His child and most precious possession.  Everything that God says must come to pass and everything that He speaks is true.....so when He says that you are more than a conqueror....YOU ARE!

Prayer:  Father God in the name of Jesus, I come before you God submitting my heart, my mind, my spirit to your way of thinking and your way of doing things.  I encourage myself right now that I am fearfully and wonderfully made because you made me and you shaped me and you formed me.  Regardless of the valleys that I must walk through and the mountains I must climb...I will trust you and I decree and declare that victory shall be mine!  As of this moment, I get out of my way so you can have your way in every area of my life!  Amen!

Blessings and Love!

Doing God's Plan Your Way

Doesn't the title in and of itself sound weird?!  How in the world would someone think to do God's plan their way?  The reality is that it happens all of the time ...honestly more often than not.  What tends to happen is that we pray to God for guidance and for Vision and we get so excited about what He is doing that we start to rely on our past experiences and our skillsets to figure things out or implement parts of His Vision.  OR..we find ourselves at a stopping point and instead of seeking God for the next steps and patiently waiting for his guidance and direction...we freestyle or play it by ear.  If it closely resembles something that we have done before we go back to that and then wonder why we hit a wall or things began to fail.  God says in Isaiah 43:19 "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland"

Let's point a few things:  He is doing it and it is NEW!  Let God be God and meditate on this text as you make up in your mind daily to do His plan His way!

Prayer:  Father God in the name of Jesus, I praise you on this day that you know what you are doing not only in my life but you know what you are doing period.  I praise you that you are consistently doing something new in my life.  That you bless me, forgive me, strenthen me, and restore me daily.  I decree right now that my body, soul, and spirit shall be on one accord with you and if ever I get to a point that I am not walking where I should, I give you permission to put me back where I should be.  Continue to lead me and guide me as I run this race that you have placed before me.  To the honor and glory of your name..Amen!

Blessings and Love,

Rev. Smith

New Era Dawning

I have been asked several times about daily devotionals.  Basically whether or not I offer them and I haven't in the past because of the hecticness of my life and because there are some revelations that God gives me and I forget to share them after I write them down in my journal.  So I am going to try and start doing devotionals...I can't promise that they will be everyday...but they will be.  LOL

I pray you enjoy them and please get the word out so that others can subscribe to this blog and get on our Virtual Bible Study every Wednesday.  Join me on FB to find out the number to call and the exact times for your time zone.

Peace and Blessings!

Rev. Smith

Aha Moment

So this past Sunday, I attended Williams Memorial CME Church in High Point, NC  where the pastor is Rev. Robert Williams Jr.  And Rev. Williams said something in the middle of his sermon that has stuck with me.  He said that our faith should be in the Gospel and not the gossiper.  WOW!  It really stopped and made me think for a second.  Because we do put too much stock into what people say and receive it as the Gospel and will spread it like wildfire.  And half of the time, the truth has not been told.  The Bible reminds us that there is power in the tongue...life and death.  Hmmmmm.  So we must watch what we say and also guard what we allow to enter into our inner atmosphere. (If you have been on the Virtual Bible Study calls you would know what I am talking about ;)  )  All of this affects our worship,which also affects our relationship with God.  Put your stock in the Word of God and silence the gossip (er) in your life---even if it is YOU! It is a slow poison that will ultimately cause you grief, heartache, and pain. 

Blessings and Love!

State of Confusion

I just read an article concerning Lamar Odom and the tragic accident concerning a car that he was being driven in.  According to the article Lamar was in NY for his cousin's funeral and he hired a transportation company to drive him around the city.  The driver of the car hit a motorcycle and the motorcycle flew into the air and hit a 15 yr old pedestrian.  The young man was rushed to the hospital but the head injuries were too severe.  He died the next day.  All I could say was "Oh My God!"  It is times and situations like these that we ask God what was the purpose?  Why did the 15 yr old boy have to die and why did this situation have to involve Lamar Odom?  A person with such a huge heart!  The frustrating thing is that we may never get the answers to these questions.  There are things in our own lives that have happened to us or someone close to us and we don't know why they happened.  None of it makes even the slightest bit of sense.  So this is the time where our trust and faith in God has to kick in.  We have to trust that God knows what He is doing and that He will bring comfort to all families involved.  That they will have peace of mind inspite of this trajedy that came out of nowhere.  I have heard testimonies of people who turned situations like this into something positive by donating organs or bringing awareness to things that people weren't paying attention to prior to the incident. I don't know what will come out of this but I am asking all believers and prayer warriors to lift these families up in prayer.

Blessings and Love!

Focusing on the Wrong Things

As a preacher of the gospel, a mentor, a teacher, a prophet, a spiritual mother...I often tell people to stay focused.  Keep your eyes on God and don't let things distract you.  I tell them that everyone slips and falls and stumbles, but if or when  you do...learn from it, get up, and keep it moving.  So I would be wrong to not share my slip and fall while I was have my intimate time with the Lord.  As I was talking with the Lord and He was ministering to me I began to cry and tell the Lord that I was tired of this and tired of that.  We all do it and it doesn't seem at the time that anything is wrong with it.  Why?  Because we are just expressing the truth to God.  Well before I could finish...the Lord convicted me.  He began to flood me with thoughts of things He worked out for me on my behalf...doors that only He would have been able to open and I immediately begged His forgiveness and began to praise Him!  I felt like a spoiled brat complaining about trivial stuff that wasn't stopping any miracle from happening in my life.

Children of God let me help you....everything you are tired of pales in comparison to what God has done and is doing.  If you were to line it up you would see that God has given you more joy and made more ways out of no way than you realized.  So instead of focusing on what you are tired of....praise Him for what He has done and is doing.  He is an awesome God and He is greater than any trial or tribulation that you have or are going through.  He took you through THAT....so you would be ready to go through THIS.  And because He brought you through THAT....you know THIS ain't nothing for Him! 

As soon as I began to praise Him...the burden of my THIS went away and the joy of the Lord overpowered me!  Stay focused on the right things so that you don't become a hinderance to yourself.

Blessings and Love,

Pastor Nichica Smith