Don’t Wait

....until the last minute to do what you were called to do....because, it may be too late.

The slaves in the parable had no idea when the owner would return, just as I have no idea when the pandemic will end or when the Lord will return. The Lord led me to read the bible, Matthew chapter 25, the Parable of the Talents. In the parable, three slaves were entrusted with the owner's possessions while the owner went on a journey. I believe The Lord was reminding me that He had given me, along with all His children, gifts, thoughts, resources, ideas, visions, talents, etc. and when He returns, He will want to know what we did with them while He was away. How was your time of isolation spent? Will you have something to present to The Lord? The Lord invested in you. Will you be able to provide a return on His investment? Or will you sit on the visions, ideas, thoughts and dreams that The Lord entrusted you with because you're full of excuses? "I don't have the time; I don't have the resources; I don't have enough money; I don't know how to accomplish it; I have children; I have to work; I'm too busy; I have to cook; You don't know what my life is like and worst of all, I'm just not interested." If you reside in the city of excuses located with the United States of Self, here are a few scriptures to help you get started.

Without revelation people run wild, but one who listens to instructions will be happy. - Proverbs 29:18 A person's pride will humble him, but a humble spirit will gain honor. - Proverbs 29:23 The fear of man is a snare, but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected. Proverbs 29:25 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your sons. - Hosea 4:6 Please do not allow excuses or the shame of your past to keep you from getting started. God is fully aware that you can't fix yourself. He wants you to come to Him and rely on Him and not your own power. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit. - Psalm 34:18

“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (2) We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. (3) And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, (4) endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. (5) This hope will not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (6) For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly. (7) For rarely will someone die for a just person-though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. (8) But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! - Romans 5:1-8

“ FATHER, I PRAY THAT YOU WILL COUNT ME WORTHY OF YOUR CALLING, AND THAT BY YOUR POWER I MAY FULFILL EVERY GOOD PURPOSE OF YOURS AND THAT EVERYTHING I DO, WILL BE PROMPTED BY FAITH IN YOU. I PRAY THIS SO THAT THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS MAY BE GLORIFIED. “

DON'T WAIT... PART 2

....until the last minute to do what you were called to do....because, it may be too late.

Perhaps after reading all of this, you've said to yourself, "The Lord hasn't given me any dreams, visions, ideas, thoughts, task, etc. He hasn't given me any assignments. I don't know what His voice sounds like. If He told me to do anything, I am unaware. What do I do now?" Take heart friends. I assure you, the Lord has not been silent nor has He forgotten you. Until you are able to hear His voice clearly, and until you are aware of the task or vision that He has given to you, move.

What do I mean by move? Matthew 25:31-46. The bible is rich with things that we should be doing, to contribute to the work of the Lord. In Matthew Chapter 25, the Lord encourages us to feed those who are hungry and thirsty, take strangers in, clothe the naked, take care of the sick, and visit those in prison. The Lord said, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me." In short, we all have the task of being the Lord's hands and feet on earth; using the resources He provided to take care of His people.

When was the last time you were driving down the road and saw someone holding a sign asking for food or money? When was the last time you donated your gently used clothes or furniture to a non-profit? On a hot summer day, when was the last time you drove around and provided the homeless community with cool water? If you are unable to visit the local prison, when was the last time you visited or encouraged someone you knew was in mental bondage or depressed? When was the last time you visited residents at a local nursing home or children in an orphanage? It’s important to remember that there are people without family and not everyone has someone to visit them. When was the last time you took someone into your home, your car, or your life? When was the last time you mentored some youth? When was the last time you gave someone a ride who did not have a vehicle or their transportation was out of use? When was the last time you became a part of someone's life for the betterment of them? As you can see, there's plenty of work to be done. Invest in your life. Christ invested in You!

Send your bread on the surface of the waters, for after many days you may find it. (2) Give a portion to seven or even to eight, for you don’t know what disaster may happen on earth. (3) If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain on the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or the north, the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. (4) One who watches the wind will not sow, and the one who looks at the clouds will not reap. (5) Just as you don’t know the path of the wind, or how bones develop in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you don’t know the work of God who makes everything. (6) In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hand rest, because you don’t know which will succeed, whether one or the other, or if both of them will be equally good. - Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 (HCSB)

This passage really stands out to me. I believe it's encouraging us to avoid stagnation. It's imperative that we not view life as "waiting for the perfect time to do this or that." Just as we do not know the path of the wind, or how bones develop in the womb of a pregnant woman, we do not know the work of God. It is our responsibility to sow seeds. We do not know when they will produce; so start somewhere. Start now. Perhaps your schedule is insanely busy. If you can't go, then give. I encourage you to give. Pay tithes and give to your local church. Also, take a moment and think about the non-profit companies in your area and take them into consideration.

We are for you. praying Will you join in?

The prayer of a righteous person is both powerful and effective; It will avail much!

HEAVENLY FATHER, I THANK YOU ...

... that You are my Father and I am your child. You said I can come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and to find grace to help in my time of need. Lord, I am in need of Your forgiveness. Forgive me for not being the good steward You have called and entrusted me to be. For ALL things are gifted from You, Lord; my time, my resources, my talents, my imaginations. You have given me all these and so much more because You love me. Father, I ask You to speak to me. I repent of every excuse I have made to not obey Your Word. Revive me, Oh Lord, with a renewed mind as I humbly obey your precepts. I resist living in guilt, and shame for I am under the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and self-control. Help me to draw so close to You that I will hear the desires of Your heart and give of myself for Your service. Be merciful to me, for I have acted in ignorance and unbelief. I accept the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ that is abundantly being poured on me. Thank you, Father. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

— S. Andrews