"I Did It"

Three simple words that I do not hear very often: "I did it."  The ability to accept responsibility for our own actions, decisions and choices seem to be a missing commodity. It's always someone else's fault. He did it. She did it. They did it. It's my mama's fault. It's my daddy's fault. It's my neighbor's fault. It's the dog's fault.  What about, "It's my fault. I did it?"

Accountability seems to be a lost art, a character trait that is very rare, yet very valuable. But, why is it rare, a lost art, a missing commodity? Because it's painful. It's painful to acknowledge our weaknesses, our faults and our short comings. We live in a society where people will use our weaknesses against us, a society where our conversations and life choices are broadcast on social media.

Nothing seems private anymore. Our secrets are not kept a secret, but are spread by the click of a key board or the pushing of a button. And, we don't like being exposed.  Yet, sometimes, we expose others. We wrongfully accuse others. We say, "they did it," so that we will not be exposed.  We say, "she did it," so that no one knows that we were the one who actually did it.   We say, "it's her fault," or "they made me do it," because we know what will happen if our secrets get out.  People will talk about us, make fun of us, we could possibly lose out on a promotion, lose our job, or more.  We repeat it so much, to ourselves and to others, that we begin to believe it to be the truth.

Yet, it is not the truth. We did it. We said the wrong thing,  made the wrong choice, accused the wrong (or right) person, took something that didn't belong to us.  Simply say, "I did it."  Will there be consequences? Yes.  Painful? Sometime. But, the more we accept responsibility for our own actions, right or wrong, the more we will begin to make less wrong choices, and more right choices. At least, that's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.  :)

The Earth - It Takes a Licking But Keeps on Ticking

     Psalms 119:90  Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

     God established the earth. He made the earth. It continues to be here. In spite of everything that man has done to this earth, it is still here. Man cannot destroy this planet. According to Proverbs 8, Wisdom was with God when He created the heavens and the earth.  When we operate in the Wisdom of God, Wisdom will help us establish our every endeavor.  She will help us establish our home, our business, our ministry, our schooling, etc. Whatever God (Wisdom) has established, has built, has made, it will last.  Like the earth, it might take a licking, BUT it will keep on ticking!

Don't Limit the Prophetic

     Don't limit your prophetic call to solely in the pulpit.  A prophetic friend of mind has dreams about current people and events (word of knowledge), and future events (word of wisdom). She's a professional lady entrepreneur. Together, she and her husband are successful business owners. God has equipped her with natural intelligence, spiritual gifts and college education to be a successful person, AND to help her husband be a success.  Additionally, they use their gifts and talents to win souls for Christ.  It is so cool watching God work through them in the business and professional arena. No limitations.

A Prophetic Word Still Speaks

     A number of years ago, a member of the church my family attends gave a prophetic word.  She said that everything we need is in the church.  That word was spoken more than 20 years ago.  Yet, it still speaks to me today. It's letting me know that,

1.  I will have needs.
2.  God has already made provisions for my needs to be taken care of.

     God's Word is living. It is powerful.  It never grows old.  It never dies. Hebrews 4:12 says "For the word of God is quick, and powerful..."  The word "quick" is alive.  The Word of God is alive, it is living.  I believe it.

The Compassion of God

by
Moses & Annette Price

Follow after love and desire spiritual gifts…. I Corinthians 14:1

            As church elders, we are to pray for the sick. We are to join our faith with the congregational members as they believe God for their healing.

 Is any sick among you?  Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord;  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.  (James 5:14-15)

             A person’s healing can manifest in various ways.  It can come through anointing with oil and the prayer of faith (James 5:14-15), the gifts of healing and working of miracles (I Corinthians 12:9-10), speaking to the mountain of illness and disease (St. Mark 11:22-23), laying hands on the sick (St. Mark 16:15-18), speaking the Word of God, changing our diet, exercising, medication, surgery or, a combination of any of these. 

            Recently, my husband and I took my mother to the doctor for an appointment.  The following are the thoughts that he shared with me as we waited for her.  I thought that it would be good to share them with the readers of this blog. My prayer is that you will be enlightened, encouraged and edified as you read this excerpt.

"As we set and waited for mom to finish with the doctor, I observed people coming and going from the medical building.  Some walked very slowly. Others walked with assistance from family or friends.  Some were in wheelchairs. One person was even brought in by ambulance.

            But, it was their facial expressions that captured my attention.  I saw tiredness and sadness.  It was not the normal tiredness or sadness that I saw.  It was as if those I was observing had grown weary of fighting whatever disease they were afflicted with. Or, perhaps it was the weariness from the treatment that had exhausted them and drained them of their energy and strength.  Either way, tiredness and weariness was present on their faces.

            My heart was moved with the compassion of God as I sat and watched the people come and go.  I wanted to help them.  I wanted to pray with them. I wanted to ask them if they were aware of any dietary changes that could help strengthen their bodies, giving them the physical energy to continue on in the fight.  I wanted to encourage them to pray and ask God for peace of mind.  But, most of all, I wanted each of them to be whole, disease free and enjoying life. 

            I do not know any of their names.  Chances are I will never see them again. However, the compassion of God moved me to pray for them.  God knows each of their names and their addresses.  He knows what disease or illness that has afflicted each of them.  He knows what would help manifest their healing, causing them to be made whole and disease free."

            As my husband shared his thoughts with me, I could see the effect God’s compassion was having on him.  It was so strong in him that tears were in his eyes as he recounted his experience.

            I had to judge myself.  Was I allowing God’s compassion to move on me to help others, to pray for others, to let God supply their needs through me?  Or, was I so focused on myself that my bowels of compassion needed a laxative, meaning that I needed the Holy Spirit to again reveal the love of God to me? I do know one thing, I want God’s love to move me.  I want Him to use me to manifest Himself to others so that they can know His goodness and His mercy in an even greater way.

            I have decided to follow after love, to be moved by His compassion.  At the end of that flow of love will be God.

Elder Price’s Prayer:

Father God, in the Name of Jesus, I ask that You would manifest each of their healings, from the top of their heads to the soles of their feet.  I pray for them to have peace of mind and peace in their families.  I pray that You would grant any and all medical personnel who have anything to do with their treatment the wisdom to treat them expertly and precisely, in the Name of Jesus.  Amen.