This is IT

Today is the day that the Lord has made, and yesterday is the day that you can learn your life lessons from.  Keep praising Him through the midst of the storm and you will find that the colors of the rainbow that you see will be brighter than you could have imagined.  There is no testimony without a test so study your lessons, pull out your #2 pencils and get started.  Today is your chance to make the honor roll!

Good day to you all!  Let us pray that the time that we spend with family and friends is not taken for granted.  Sometimes the things that we cannot buy are the most priceless and valuable.

Sometimes the smallest words can say the most.  One word that is made up of only two letters that says so much is the word “it”.  Often we will use the word “it” to replace another longer word or phrase.  If someone asks “How was the movie?” Without thinking we may respond by saying, “Oh, it was good.”  Often times the word or phrase that “It” is replacing is understood, so often times there is no need for an explanation.  Well, Dear Reader, I feel that I may have to explain myself today when I say, “This is IT”.  There is so much that you can take from that statement, and without any pre-text the phrase may seem incomplete.  However, I will say again Dear Reader, This is IT. 

Dear Reader, I want to encourage you to have a “This is IT” moment today.  Understand that It means “Internal Testimony”.  When you internalize your testimony and you can realize what you have and where you came from, when it is time to verbalize your testimony you can be more affective. You can be a good witness to the goodness of the Lord.  Sometimes we don’t understand how blessed we are until we see someone that does not have as much as we have.  However, it you have a This is IT moment, you have wake up and realize that you are breathing the breath the God gave you and you are here to see another day.  When  you realize That This is IT you can stop and look at what God has done and is doing. Sometimes you have to remind yourself of where you have been in order to tell someone else where you have been.  I know that sometimes things can seem impossible, however when you have a This is IT moment you can look back on the impossible missions that you have been on and survived, and you can encourage someone else to keep holding on.  I just told myself this morning that there is a blessing coming my way, and then I thought about the people that didn’t get to see this morning, and then I testified to myself about the mornings that I was under the weather.  When I thought a little harder about the  blessing that was to come, then I looked in the mirror and said, “This IS IT”.  To be loved, to be loved, oh what a feeling to be loved. God opened up a window and poured me out a blessing and when I look at my hands, and my feet,  when I look at my family, when I think about the people that are praying for me, I have to say, “This is IT”.  This is my blessing, and this is my day to realize that my blessings are all around me.  Dear Reader don’t look any further, look around today, Internalize your Testimony, and say to yourself THIS IS IT!

You are beautiful, loved and blessed

John Reed   

Time to Trim the Tree

On this day before we gather with family, I want to let you know that I appreciate everyone that takes the time to read what I send to you on a daily basis.  I appreciate those that send me friendly reminders when I am late, and the people that send me encouragement.  My words to you each day come from what God has put on my heart and I am honored and humbled to be put in a position to help.  In this season of Thanksgiving, to each of you, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Good day to each of you! As the food begins to cook, and the Turkey is in its final stages of thawing, take a moment to count each one of your blessings and give God the praise for what He has done.  You are still in the midst of being blessed so track your progress, and watch the increase that God can deliver in a year.

It’s the end of November and Thanksgiving is about to pass us. Christmas time is a sacred time of the year for those of us who believe in the birth of Jesus.  We start to see decorations and lights go up all around town and there is Christmas music being played everywhere that we go.  One of the things that I remember fondly about Christmas is decorating the Christmas tree.  My mother would pull the tree out of the attic the day after Thanksgiving and we would proceed to get to trim the tree.  We would place the lights on the limbs and look for the dark spots.  We would take the extra lights that we had and we would put them in those dark spots. What started as a plain and dull artificial tree would end up being a grand light and decoration display when we got done.  Oh what a sight it was to see. 

Dear Reader I want to encourage you on this day to decorate your tree and let your light shine. God has given you a light that was meant for the world to see.  I want you to look for the dark spots that you may have and fill them with the light of praise.  Remove anything from your tree that does not enhance its beauty.  If you have something that is hanging on your branches that is causing sadness, get rid of it.  If you have something hanging on your branches that is causing depression, get rid of it. If there is something that is causing confusion, get rid of it.   Let this Holiday season be a season of change for the better in your life.  Give all of those broken bulbs to God, and He will replace them with brighter lights that will never go out.  And when you look at what the lights spell out you will read the word “joy”.  The same joy to the world that was brought about when the Lord was born, shall be born into you to keep for the rest of your life.  You are just one prayer away from a miracle.  Heartbreak is over.  Worry is over.  Let your heart be decorated with the Glory of God.  You may feel like your life is just a plain old life, but when God touches you and lights up your life anyone that looks at you will be amazed at the transformation.  Oh what a sight to see you will be.  I am excited about your future, not just for this season, but for every season in your life to come.  Trust in God and watch your light shine.  Happy Thanksgiving!

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed (Thankfully)

John Reed

Your Treatment Plan

Welcome to another day starring you! There is no need to keep looking back when there is promise in what is in front of you!  God has put a light in you and when you let it shine, everything that you are looking for will be revealed.  Pull those lampshades off and discover the treasure that is you!

Good day to each and every person in view of this message!  Today is going to be great because you are great!  Today is going to be blessed because you are blessed!  There is change coming because you are constantly growing!  Praise God for today!

“The wise man knows he doesn’t know, the fool doesn’t know he doesn’t.”-Lao Tzu

As humans we are very intelligent.  I must say that human innovation has made a lot of things that were previously inconvenient very convenient.  From the way that we travel to the way that we entertain ourselves, there have been a number of breakthroughs that we still marvel at today.  Even though human engineering has  made many strides, it cannot compare to the greatness and the perfection of God’s engineering.  When I look at how tree’s grow, and how the rain comes down,  I know that it could only have been created by an all powerful God.  There are many that want to dispute how the world came to be, however there is no doubt in my mind that God’s hand created everything. Not only did He create everything, but in His creation everything has a plan and a purpose.

Dear Reader, don’t think that you are an accident.  I want you to be encouraged today that just as the rain and the clouds are planned by God Himself, the same planning went into the creation of you.  The blessings that you are able to see and the ones that you are not able to see are all a part of what God has for your life.  I want you to think of God as your doctor or dentist.  Some people go and get a check up every now and then to prevent problems, and some people only show up when they have got a problem.  I have been on both sides, but either way you come, He never turns a patient away.  When you decide to go the Holy Doctor He is going to prescribe a treatment plan.  Some people are going to follow the treatment plan to the letter, but you know as well as I do, Dear Reader, that some people are going to do what they want to do.  God’s treatment plan is only meant to help you get through what you are going through, and make you better.  His treatment coordinator is a man named Jesus.  I know that sometimes there can be some difficult procedures on the treatment plan, but I will tell you that all of these things are working for your good. Don’t worry about the bill because there is no insurance that covers you better than the assurance that the Holy Spirit will be there to comfort you through it all.  I want you to know today that you are not lost, you are not a failure, you are not what they said that you were.  When you are looking around and nothing seems to be working out, tell yourself that you are in treatment.  Every once and a while you may need to go through something in order to get healed. Stick to the plan and I guarantee you will come out better than you were before.  Praise His name when you are in the middle of it, because there is victory on the other side.  Keep on praying and stick to your treatment plan.

You are beautiful, loved and blessed

John Reed

Lessons From a Tenor

This is the day that the Lord has made, you are the gift that the Lord has given.  You should rejoice in the fact that God saw fit to make you unique and one of a kind.  Praise Him for every dimple and every birth mark.  Praise Him for everything that makes you who you are because to someone you are a gift.  Let the joy of the Lord fill your heart today and always.

Good day to you all! I know that the weather is changing, but when God is in your heart your spirit will forever be as warm and inviting as the summer sun.  Continue to shine no matter what the weather and no matter what the forecast say!  You are blessed!

There was a woman that joined a church choir because she thought that her voice would be a great addition.  She thought that she would be great as an alto.  She came to the rehearsals faithfully, but the alto section leader noticed that she was not quite singing on pitch.  She worked with the woman one on one and it seemed to do no good.  After weeks of working with the woman the choir director decided to move the woman to the tenor section.  The tenor section was on the other side of the choir so the woman seemed to blend in just fine in her knew section.  After a few weeks of her being in the tenor section, the alto section leader came to the choir director and commented that the woman seemed to have gotten better.  The choir director told her that the section leader that the woman had not gotten better, the distance had made the difference.  She was still singing in the same tone, but she was just harder for her to hear.

Dear Reader I want you to know that once decide to take a closer walk with God you may notice some of the things that you used to do, don’t seem that bad.  It may seem that the places that you used to go, don’t seem that bad.  It may seem like the negative friends that you used to be around , don’t seem like they were that bad to be around.  On today I want you to take a lesson from that tenor that thought she was alto.  When you are in harmony with God and His word it is not hard to tell you in not singing in the same pitch.  It is very easy to tell who is out of tune.  Just because they are singing the same song does not mean that they need to sing next to you.  As a matter of fact sometimes distance is the best way to keep the best harmony going. Don’t let the distance fool you.  If your song is better without certain things in your life, let those things keep their distance.

I want to encourage you to forgive and reconcile with people that you did not think that you could forgive.  I want to encourage you to let go of the grudges that you have been holding on to for so long.  Forgiveness does not equal relationship so you can let go and let God and continue on with your life.  Go on in harmony today and always!

You are beautiful, loved and blessed

John Reed

Undefeated

You are surrounded by love so do not let anyone separate you from the source of that love.  God is still in control and still in the business of changing situations.  Don’t give up on you because God still has your back.  Let the fact that you are here today, still blessed and still highly favored, be the evidence you need of His love.

Good day to you all!  I want to take a moment to let each of you reading this know that I appreciate your kind words and your prayers.  I know that there are some that I don’t hear from and I appreciate you for taking time out of your day and reading.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

This past weekend, all of my football teams won.  That really doesn’t happen very often so I was excited about that happening.  Usually one of them will let me down at some point during the weekend.  However this weekend was different.  This weekend I went undefeated. I know that sometimes in life it can seem that we suffer through some setbacks and disappointments.  I know that it can seem like you are not winning.  I understand that sometimes we wish that in our day to day lives we too could be undefeated.  Our dreams can seem like they are dead.  Our relationships can feel like they are dead.  We have happiness and joy that we think is buried deep. Don’t give up.  Jesus is still in the resurrection business.

Dear Reader I want to give you the secret to an undefeated life.  If you stay connected to the coach that has the longest win streak in history, I guarantee He will turn your whole program around.  His name is Jesus, and He wants you to live an undefeated life.  His track record is impeccable.  Death could not defeat Him.  He healed the blind and preached hope to the poor.  So when you are feeling like you are about to take a loss, and the odds are stack against you, be encouraged. I want to tell you to have no fear. Never look at the odds stacked against you when you have a God that is working for you.  When you are about to strike out in the bottom of the 9^th trust in God.  He will adjust your swing and your enemies will be left trying to figure out where your power came from.  When you are facing bill collectors and it’s 4^th down, in the 4^th quarter, look to the one that came from Mary for a miraculous Hail Mary. Don’t be surprised if you get a pass interference call that keeps you in the game. The road may not be easy, but there is not a champion out there that had an easy run for the ring.  The one thing that every champion has in common is a coach that can see them through the tough times and keep them focused on victory.  Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and Dear Reader you will be victorious, you will have joy.  Dear Reader you will be undefeated.

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed

John Reed

Don't Blame the Cage

I want to congratulate everyone for making it as far as you have!  There is greatness in each and every one of you, so make the most of what you have the ability to do.

This is the day that the Lord has made!  Let us rejoice for every good thing that that we have around us, and pray about the rest.

The Florida Panther is a magnificent creature that roams the forest area’s of Florida.  They are strong and beautiful animals that are not only fierce on the ground, but they also have the ability to climb.  When I was a small child I remember going to a small zoo in south Florida and toward the back of the zoo there was a very large Panther in a very small cage.  There was just enough room for the panther to walk around, but he was unable to move the way that he was used to moving. Research has shown that if an animal is caged for too long, that animal will be too unsure of himself to go back into the wild.  What was once a place of captivity, has become home.

Dear Reader on this Wednesday afternoon I want you to know that God is opening up the door to the cage that is keeping you captive.  If you have made your cage your home, that’s your choice.  However, if you start to feel the a little cooped up, don’t blame the cage.  We all have our dreams and sometime we get caught up in where we are instead of making our way to where we should be.  Prayer is the key to what has you imprisoned.  When you gain relationship with the Master there is nothing, or no one that can get in your way.  You will find that you are an unstoppable force with unlimited potential when you are walking with the favor of God on you.  You are strong and you are beautiful and there is nothing that will be able to keep you from climbing to the top.  With God there is nothing that you cannot accomplish.

You are beautiful, loved and blessed

John Reed

A Beautiful Mess

You are beautiful because God made you that way.  You are loved because God loves you more than you could possibly understand.  You are blessed because God loved you enough to make you beautiful and He shows you His grace and mercy every day.  Keep looking up because God has got His ever loving eye on you!

Good day to you all!  I know that everyday there is a struggle that you have to face, but I want you to know that someone is praying for you.  I want you to know that as you face your trials someone is praying for you.  When you feel like you are going through it alone, someone is praying for you.  Don’t give up on your because those prayers are being answered.  Look for a change to come.

I am in no way an art expert.  I do enjoy fine art and I know some facts about some artists, but when I go to a museum I am not the one that you want to ask about the paintings on the wall.  There are some that majored in art in college and have degree’s in the subject, but when it comes to it I either know what it is in the picture or I don’t.  I was talking to someone who has an eye for art and he told me that sometimes you have to tilt your head slightly, and move back a little bit, and you can see what the artist was trying to do.  He said that sometimes the key to understanding art is perspective.  I told him that the only thing that I was able to make out was a mess of colors.  I did tell him that it was a beautiful mess because the colors were so vivid and the arrangement made sense because each color did go together, but to me the art just made no sense.  I was looking at a priceless piece of art, yet  I could not make sense out of that beautiful mess.

Dear Reader I know that there are times when we feel that our life is just a mess.  We look at what we don’t have, and we look at what we need.  We look at what we could have had, and we think about our past dreams.  We blame ourselves for our failures. Sometimes it seems as though everything is going wrong and only getting worse.  I am speaking from experience today.  I am telling you that at one time I saw my life as just a mess.  However, Dear Reader I can tell you that when I took my mess to God, He did not see my mess the same way that I saw my mess.  What I called failure He called not good enough.  If I had gotten things the way that I wanted them I would have ended up with less than the best, and when you are a child of God 99 and a half won’t do.  When I thought that things were getting worse, God was teaching me to rely on Him because as my Father He will do what 99 and a half won’t do.  What we see as a mess, God steps back, and tilts His Holy Head slightly and moves back a little bit and sees the beauty that is there.  Your situations are lined up in the right order and they are going to work out for your good.  You are a priceless piece of art even though you feel like life is not going the way that you think that it should, and you can’t make any sense out of the mess that you are in. Even though you may see nothing but darkness God is always offering you a light.  Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and you will then start to see how beautiful you are.  Your will then be able to step back tilt your head slightly and make sense out of what you thought was just a mess of colors. You will be able to see the whole picture that God was painting.  I know that it may not seem like there is any rhyme or reason for the things that you are going through, but I promise you that if you give it to God you will see a change for the better.  All things are working for your good, Dear Reader, and you will find that you are right where God wanted you to be.  You are more than a beautiful mess, you are an undiscovered treasure, you are a masterpiece because in you there is a piece of the Master.  You are beauty in its uncut form.  Keep looking up Dear Reader and know that your mess is just another reason for God to bless.  Now go forth and be beautiful today, and always.

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed

John Reed

I Rest My Case

My soul says yes!  I want to invite you to a special church, and you don’t have to wait for Sunday to get here in order to attend service.  I want to invite you to the spiritual revival that is going on in your heart.  Jesus will bring you a revival everyday of the week because just as everyday is new, everyday your faith will be renewed.  Let the praises go up and watch the blessings come down.

Good day to you all!  I am praying for each of you because with prayer everything that is in your way will move. Everything that does not move, you will find that you have the ability to either go over or go around.  You are in God’s hands and there is no better place for you to be!

With courtroom television shows gaining in popularity it is easy to gain new perspective on how our court system works.  We no longer have to rely on fictional shows such as Perry Mason, or Matlock to understand how judges and juries make their decisions.  One of the things that is pivotal in most court cases in a good witness.  The words of a good eye witness can change the complexion of a case.  Then again, if there is a bad witness that is unreliable and has a shaky testimony it can ruin the case that the prosecution or the defense has worked so hard to build. 

Dear Reader in the case of God verses the world who’s witness list will you be on?  Will you help the prosecution who says that they is no God, or that there is a limit to what God can do?  Or will you stand up for the one true creator of the universe?  Will you testify with your testimony of how God saw you through moments when the outlook was bleak?  Every day when you walk out of the house you are on the stand.  There is someone that you can influence for or against the word of God.  I want to encourage you to keep your smile, keep your faith, keep your joy.  I want the evidence of God to be so strong in you that when they question if there is God in you, your testimony and your life will leave your critics with speechless. The gavel will bang and God will say, “Well Done, and I Rest my case”.  Your smile means so much to so many.  Your prayers are getting someone through at this very moment.  Your words of wisdom have stopped someone from doing something foolish.  Continue to be a good witness, and you will see that when the world tries to mount up a case against you, and against your faith, God will come into the courtroom and it will be an open and shut case. I am an eye witness to the miracles that God can work. I am standing boldly on His word, and Dear Reader I invite you to stand with me.  Don’t be afraid to take the stand.  I rest my case.

You are beautiful, loved and blessed

John Reed 

Stand By Me

There is a breakthrough coming for each of you.  I pray that today your field of dreams is fertilized with the spirit and your destiny begin to take root. Let’s make the most of this day!

Good Day to Everyone!  

If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry, no I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me-“Stand By Me”-Ben E King

The above lyrics are from a song that was not meant to be a gospel song, but I see the gospel all in those words. When things are going the way that they are supposed to go, it is human nature to take God’s grace for granted.  I am guilty of that myself.  However over the last year, my sky’s have fallen and I have had mountains fall around me. I have had people that I thought I could count on turn their back on me.  Let me just tell you that I did not cry, I did not cry, no I did not shed one tear, because I knew that my God would stand by me.

There was a little boy that was walking in his neighborhood one day.  In his neighborhood there were many stray dogs, that roamed around.  As the little boy was on his way home, a large dog came from around the corner and begin to growl at the little boy.  Just when the dog was about to attack the little boy raised his arms and made a loud noise.  The dog then looked up, got frightened and began to run away. The little boy began to feel good about himself and he continued to walk home in confidence.  What the little boy did not know was that his father had been watching him walk the whole time, and when he saw danger he stepped behind he son holding a large stick.  The little boy thought that the dog was looking at him, but he saw his father standing right behind him.

Dear Reader when you are facing something that is bigger than you that is ready to attack, and all of a sudden that situation backs down.  Don’t think that it was your own power that got you out of that situation, recognize that God was standing by you.  Walk with confidence knowing that your problems are only temporary, and that joy comes in the morning.  Give God the praise when things are up, because when your mountains fall to the sea, The Master will be standing by you.

Be blessed, today and always

John Reed

Still

Your beauty is on purpose so don’t let anyone or anything try to convince you that you are not what God made you to be.  I know that sometimes the mirror seems like your enemy, but if you look past what you don’t like and look at the goodness that God put in you, your reflection will be your best friend.  Stay focused on what you have, and the have not’s will not seem as important!

Good day to you all!  Today is another opportunity for you to touch someone that needs a human understanding.  Today is another opportunity to for you to uplift someone that is feeling down.  Let today be the day that you do unto others as God has done unto you.

Superman is an American icon.  He has been nicknamed the man of steel.  In both the comic books and the movies, Superman is unstoppable and is able to do almost anything.  He can fly through the sky.  If you shoot at him the bullets will bounce off of his chest.  He is strong enough to pick up a car or a bus.  When he is not saving lives, Superman hides his identity by assuming the role of Clark Kent.  However, once there is a call for help, or there is a disaster approaching, Clark Kent does a quick change and becomes Superman.  The only thing that can stop Superman is Kryptonite. Kryptonite leaves Superman powerless. His enemies know this and they use this knowledge to their advantage.  Out of the range of the Kryptonite Superman is indeed just that he is a superman.  He is the man of Steel.

Dear Reader, Jesus is a biblical icon.  I often refer to Him as the man of still.  I would like to offer evidence to you on this day that my man of still, is better than the fictional man of steel.  Jesus is the unstoppable force that told Lazarus to walk out of his grave after he had been dead and buried for two days.  Jesus told the cripple man to get up and walk, He put some mud on the blind man’s eyes so that he could see again.  Don’t you know that sometimes God has to make things a little muddy so that you can see things clearly sometimes? Jesus didn’t need acts of strength to show His power, He only needed acts of faith.  His faith in the Father was as strong as steel, but I call Him the man of still because He told the storm, “Peace be still”.  I must say that there have been times in my life that I have been in the middle of the storm and a small still voice simply said “Peace be still” and the storm became quiet.  He lived on earth so long ago, but when it comes to performing miracles He is STILL making the impossible possible.  When I was living my life outside of His word He loved me still.  Sometimes when I don’t know what to do in a situation He tells me to be still.  I don’t know if I have given you enough to go on.  I don’t know if I have presented a strong enough argument this morning.  Let me give you the other side Dear Reader. He is all powerful, however, Dear Reader, the one thing that can cancel out His power in your life is a lack of faith.  A lack of faith is just like Kryptonite to Superman.  He cannot bless you, or quiet your storms if you do not put all of your faith in Him.  Your enemies know this and will do what they have to do to shake your faith. I want to encourage you to put your faith in God, and when you do, put your enemies on high alert because you have an unstoppable force on your side.  He is able to leap over death in a single bound.  Able to go to Calvary and carry the sins of the world on His shoulders.  He is Jesus Christ the man of Still.  Keep your faith in the Father as strong as steel and God will show you that He loves you…..still.

You are beautiful, you are so loved, and you are indeed blessed

John Reed

Family Matters

I cannot tell you enough that you are special no matter what anyone else has to say….you are still here and you are still at your best…smile for me!

Good day to you all!  Be determined today that you are not going to let anyone put a lampshade over the light that God has put in you.  When you shine you are lighting someone else’s path.

I know that sometimes our family can be a challenge. We all have people in our family that can be difficult to deal with at times, but we love them still because they are related to you by blood. Whether it’s a demanding aunt, or a selfish cousin, we find ourselves over looking their flaws and loving them anyway. 

Dear reader on this Thursday morning I want to give you something to smile about today.  Do you know that the one that created the seas, the mountains, and the wind, considers you to be His family? The King of Kings has a crown for you that no man can take off of your head. Think about that the next time that someone judges the outside and does not see what is inside of you. God wants you to look at Him like a father, and believe me when I tell you that to God almighty, Family Matters. 

Sometimes it can feel like no one cares about you, or what is going on in your life.  I know that at times it is difficult to find an ear that will listen and not judge. Whenever you feel like that, stop and look up. You don’t have to look up with physical eyes, but with eyes of the spirit, and talk to your Father.  He has promised that He will be faithful to be there for us, and provide us with everything that we need.  Even though sometime we can be a challenge, a little demanding at times, and sometimes a little selfish, God still loves us because we are related to Him by the blood of Jesus Christ.  God not only over looks our flaws, but He will often times use our flaws for His good. Try God and I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

I am your brother, and I am praying the best for each and every one of you

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed

John Reed

Who's Loving You

Today is the day that the Lord has made.  Today is another day and another chance to give the Lord above all of the praise for the blessings that surround you in your life.  If you wake up giving praise and being thankful for the good things that you have, there is no way that negativity can creep into your thoughts.  Positive praise and negativity cannot exist in the same place.  Praise Him with a might voice on this day!

Good day to you all! I know that today is going to be an awesome day because God is favoring you.  Be prepared for unexpected miracles and a long awaited breakthrough to happen. Be not troubled, God is working it out for you!

When I had you, I treated you bad and wrong my dear,

And since, since you been gone

Don’t you know I sit around

With my head hanging down

And I wonder, who’s loving you-“Who’s Lovin’ You”-The Jackson 5

The above lyrics are from a Jackson 5 song in which a young Michael Jackson poses a question to a woman who he loved and lost.  He admits that he has done the woman wrong, and now after realizing that she was a good woman, he now is left to wonder who is loving her. When I listen to this song I often think about it from the perspective of this woman.  I can’t blame her for leaving.  In this song young Michael admits to making her cry and treating her bad.  Whoever she is, I applaud her for getting away from such terrible treatment.  I am quite sure that if she could respond to Michael she would tell him, the person that is loving me is not making me cry.  I know that if she was happy with the person she is with she would tell him, he only wants to treat me good, he only has my best interest at heart.  She might even tell him the person’s name and in a very proud voice end her sentence with, ‘and that is who is loving me’.

Dear Reader, I want you to give Fear a song to sing to you.  I want you to leave Fear right were Fear is.  I want you to have your enemies, and anyone that is in opposition to you asking, ‘Who’s loving you?’ Dear Reader don’t you know that your enemies have treated you bad.  Fear and hopelessness has made you cry.  I want you to bounce back and realize that you deserve better.  I want you to wrap yourself in God’s love and don’t look back.  He will protect you from all harm.  When you are tired of being mistreated by this world, and when Fear just keeps doing you wrong, don’t think that you have to keep taking it.  When Fear is standing in the way of your joy, you don’t have to write a song about it, just leave.  Replace that fear with faith. Drop that zero and get a Holy Hero. God’s arms are open and waiting.  When the world has used and abused you long enough, you don’t have to be frustrated any more. God is waiting to restore you.  I know that sometimes change can be hard, but I can tell you Dear Reader, it will be the best thing that you could ever do.  His love will make you whole. Your enemies notice that you are missing from the table of misery.  They were ready to serve you up another plate of despair.  When they come to you singing you a sad song about how much they miss you, I want you to declare in a mighty voice that you have moved on and found better. I am applauding you for taking the steps needed to get a closer to God. So, when they ask who’s loving you, you can tell them Jesus.  The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Let Fear know that the one that is loving you now is the one that was loving you the whole time. God is waiting on you to accept His love and put your faith in Him, so that He can show you who is really loving you.

You are beautiful, loved and blessed

John Reed

The First 48

Let your praise be as bright as the sunshine, so that you can light someone’s dark sky at night.  God loves you and is with you during the storm, and He will be there to dry you off when you come out of the rain.  Let today be the day that you walk just a little closer to the Master. Praise Him, and again I say Praise Him!

Good day to you all!  I am feeling that familiar feeling of change, and it has nothing to do with the weather.  If you are in sight of this message, I want you to know that a change is going to come.  Your life is under construction, and God is a God of completion.  Hold on because there is a breakthrough coming sooner than you think.

One of my favorite “reality” shows is The First 48.  I think that it is fascinating that a crime can be committed and there can be no witnesses, and with a little bit of evidence the detectives can piece together how the crime happened and more importantly, who did it.  Sometimes a surprise witness will show up and will give the detectives a some help.  At the beginning of the show the narrator says that the crime becomes harder to solve if the detectives cannot make an arrest in the first 48 hours. 

Dear Reader, I know that sometimes it is easy for us to feel like no one cares about our situation.  However, Jesus gave us plenty of evidence of His love.  Understand that if you are trying to piece together His love it’s as easy as the first 48.  Jesus was hung falsely accused and hung on a cross.  They whipped Him and they beat Him.  On His head they placed a crown of thorns.  Dear Reader it doesn’t take a detective to see that the first 48 hours is the evidence of His love.  They hung Him up on a Friday and then in two days the angel rolled away the stone and Jesus walked out of the tomb.  When Mary and friends came back to the tomb they saw a surprise witness that was waiting there.  The angel that rolled back the stone told them that the Jesus that they were looking for was not there.   The crime scene investigators could have wrapped up their case right then and there.  God raised Jesus from the dead so that you and I could have eternal life. 

Dear Reader, love cannot hide itself. Whenever love is present it always leave evidence.  Jesus showed us the evidence of His love for us in the First 48 hours.  He continues to show His love in the midnight hour, in the hours that we are going through our struggles, and in the hours that we are in pain.  His love for you is evident in the blessing that are around you.  Praise His name and put all faith in God, and watch the difference you see in your life.  Your C.S.I. moment is when you realize thatChrist’s Saves In spite of our sins.  Trust, believe, and be blessed.

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed

John Reed

Happy Travels

Do unto others as God has done unto you!  That means that you should be a blessing to someone even if they have not been a blessing to you!  Take time on this beautiful day to reach out to someone who is unable to reach back.  Give to someone that is in need and don’t expect to be paid back.  Everything that you do that helps someone else uplifts the name of God.  Go and be fruitful on this day!

Good day to you all! Speak positive things and you will find positivity all around you.  Let the negative voices, idea’s and people around you go, and don’t feed into the poison that they are serving.  Keep your mind focused on what is good and what is true and watch the difference it will make in your life.

If you have ever been on vacation, you know that there are a lot of things that can go wrong if you plan it yourself.  Some hotels are crafty enough to take pictures at the right angles to make their rooms look bigger.  Some resorts know just the right wording to make their property seem nicer than it really is.  You unknowingly book your room, and find out when you get there that the room is super tiny, and the resort is miles away from everything and in a bad neighborhood.  Imagine if you had a personal trip planner, who took the time to know you, know what you wanted, and could then plan the best trip for you.  You would have the time of your life, but you would have to be willing to let this person be in control of every aspect of the trip. 

Dear Reader, God want to plan this trip called life.  How many times do we have to try to book the trip ourselves based on our own limited knowledge.  Imagine letting God, who knows us better than we know ourselves, take control of our lives and put us exactly where we need to be.  When God is in control you don’t have to worry about super tiny careers. God has got a deluxe resort for you if you believe in Him enough to let Him be in control.  If we put the trip in God’s hands we would have to worry about meeting people with deceptive wording who are miles away from anything that they said that they were.  When we put our faith in God, and let Him shape our lives happiness and joy are on the way. Joy is awaiting you.

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed

John Reed

Standing Up to Fear

When you smile I smile, because when you smile it means that the harmony of joy that is in your heart is starting to sing out. Put your issues in the hand of the Master and let all worries fall to the wayside.  Today is a new day so don’t bring old worries with you.  Keep smiling because like the rays of sunshine that come down from the sky, you never know who you going to touch.

Good day to you all!  I am going to pray for you sight unseen.  I may not know what you are going through, but God does, so I am going to pray for you.  Don’t forget to pray for yourself.

At some point we have all been afraid.  Sometimes it is the unknown that makes us the most fearful.  When we look back on what people went through in order to make sure that we all had freedom, sometimes it might be easy to over look how fearful they must have been.  They were standing up to authority, and that is something that takes a lot of courage.  Dear Reader I dare say that it takes a lot of faith as well.  One of my favorite stories in the Bible tells of Peter and John who were healing people and proclaiming Jesus when they were arrested.  They  stood in front of the council and when asked who gave them the authority to heal people and preach the word, it was Peter who replied, ”let it be known to all of you and to all of the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who God raised from the dead-by him this man is standing before you well.  This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, which has become the cornerstone.”  I love the way that Peter specified under whose authority he was acting. He may have been facing fear but He was filled with the Holy Spirit so He was not facing fear alone.

Dear Reader I want you to know that you too can stand up to fear.  Every time someone does something to glorify God, there is always someone there to question them.  I think they call them “haters”. When you uplift someone they will question your motives.  When you feed someone that’s hungry there are going to be people that are going to question where did you get enough food to give. When you love someone who the world has cast on the doorsteps of hate, there are going to be people that are going to ask who gave you the authority to love.  I don’t want you to leave them hanging.  I want you to answer them boldly.  You don’t have to answer in these words, but here is what  I like to tell them.  I say, “It is Jesus, the same Jesus that fed you when you where hungry.  The same Jesus that loved you enough to die on the cross and defeat death so that you could have life everlasting.  The same Jesus that lifted you up when you were down.  Under this authority do I do these things.  Under the authority of a living Jesus do I stand up to fear.”

Dear Reader when you doing what God told you to do, don’t fear what others may say to you or about you.  When you stand up to fear you will never stand alone.

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed

John Reed

Are You Smarter Than a 3rd Grader

The victory is yours, and with that thought in mind you should praise Him in the middle of whatever situation you are dealing with.  You are on your way down the path that God has for you and your steps are guided.  Get excited about you because God has not lost His enthusiasm for His most beautiful creation.

Good day to you all!  I am praying that on today you hear that still soft voice that is God speaking and guiding.  I am praying for what is cloudy in your life to clear up with the clarity that could only come from God.  Stay strong

When I was in the third grade I had an issue with a bully on the school bus.  I was being targeted by someone who thought that I was weaker than him.  This particular boy did not know me and he had a history, and a reputation for being a trouble maker.  Day after day I received threat after threat from this little boy.  One day I told my father what was going on.  I told him about the little boy and how on a daily basis he would harass me.  Keep in mind, in my eyes this boy was a menace.  To me,  from my point of view, he was a terrorist, a monster, and a villain.  However to my father, he was just another little boy.  My father went to the bus stop with me the next day, and he stepped on that school bus and said in a loud voice, “Who is bothering my son?” Silence was all you could hear on that bus on that morning.  On the day after that my former bully became one of my best friends and we are still in touch to this day.

Dear Reader I want you to know that when this world starts to bully you, call on your Heavenly Father.  When you are facing financial terror, or a monster called unemployment let your Father know what is going on. You may be harassed by heartbreak and depression, and that villain called betrayal. Once you call on your Father whatever you are up against will have to fall back when He steps up and says, “Who is bothering my child?”  Understand Dear Reader, what you see as a problem God does not see as a problem.  God looks at your problems the way that my father looked at that little boy.  Now the little boy came to his senses and left me alone, and if your enemies were smarter than a 3^rd grader they would do the same.  Proverbs 1:7 says, “The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.”  

On this day, I want to encourage you to not let people or the things they do get to you.  When you know the Lord is your shepherd, when you know that God is able to work a way out of no way out.  When you put your faith in He that has created all things, Dear Reader you can look at your enemies and your situations and ask, “Are you smarter than a 3^rd Grader??” You can look at them and say, “Don’t you know that my Father is going check on His child and find out who is bothering me??” Don’t be surprised when the ones that had intentions to harm you becomes friends of your cause. Fear not Dear Reader, you are in God’s hands and anyone that would want to do any harm to His anointed must not be smarter than a 3^rd grader.  They better be cool and stay in school.

You are beautiful, you are loved, and you are blessed

John Reed

Above and Beyond

Rejoice with a loud voice and let your praise be heard!  It is Monday and there is not a cloud big enough to keep the Son from shining in your life.  I pray for you, and I pray from those that are close to you.  You are one step closer on your journey with the Master, so if you need a reason to smile today let that fuel your joy!

Good morning to everyone! I hope that today you will discover the joy that is already in your life.  Claim it in the name of Jesus, and it will be yours!

Sometimes we can feel like we are under attack.  It is not always the bad things that happen to bad people.  On this walk with Jesus the road is not promised to be easy.  As a matter of fact when you walk with Jesus, you will find that your enemies will try to go above and beyond their normal measures to try to break you down.  They will go above and beyond in order to try to shake your faith.  Sometimes it will feel like you are being attacked from every angle, and you are being turned every which way, but loose. 

Dear Reader I am here to encourage you today.  I am here to let you know that in spite of your enemies spite for you, God has got your back.  The God that we serve is still watching out for the righteous.  When you are being forced to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I want you to fear no evil.  God is with you.

 Your enemies may go above and beyond to bring you down, but when Jesus stepped down from Heaven, He went above and beyond to lift you up!  Jesus is there with us when we are being attacked, because His enemies went above and beyond when they tried to kill Him.  They could have just took Him to the cross, but they went above and beyond and whipped Him  They could have just got to the point and hung Him up, but they went above and beyond to mock Him by putting a crown of thorns on His head.  They put Him in a tomb and they thought it was over.  Dear Reader here is the part that makes me want to shout.  Jesus could have got down from that cross at any time, but He died for you and I.  His love for you goes above and beyond anything that your enemies can do to you. When He walked out of that tomb early that Sunday He lifted the debt of sin that we all have to pay.  He died so that you and I can have the victory.  The Lord is my shepherd what should I fear?  Who should I fear? What can flesh do to me?  I shall fear no evil.  Stay strong Dear Reader and know that God is there and when He lifts you, and anoints you He will take you above and beyond.

You are indeed beautiful, loved and blessed

John Reed

The Point of It All

The road may not be easy, but if we can love, laugh, and pray together, we can make it to where we want to go.  I am thankful on this Thursday that I am travelling on this road, through this week with people that are highly favored.  Stay strong because I may need you to encourage me!  We started with a spark so lets finish the week with a bang!

Good day to you all!  I am praying that today will be full of blessings and peace for each of you! 

Anthony Hamilton is one of my favorite artist.  If you have never heard his music he has a rich soulful sound and he delivers each song in such a heartfelt way.  It is almost impossible to not feel the emotion that he is trying to convey in each of his songs.  The name of his last album is “The Point of it All”, this also happens to be the name of my favorite song on the album.  In the song he eloquently makes the case that the point of everything that he goes through is that he has a very deep love for the woman in his life. 

Dear Reader, spiritually God wants us to realize, “The Point of it All”.  In the Bible He delivers His message in such a heartfelt way.  The Son of God stepped down from Heaven and was born in a barn. He lived his life amongst the poor.  He walked with the common man.  He healed the sick, and He gave the blind their sight.  He fed the hungry.  He committed no crime yet He was sentenced to death. He spoke the truth but was convicted as a liar.  The Son of the all powerful God allowed Himself to be hung on a cross between two criminals.  He was put into a tomb where His critics thought they had Him right where they wanted Him.  He stayed in that tomb for 2 days and He rose on the third with all power in His hand. Dear Reader God wants you to know on this Thursday, that the point of it all, the reason for it all, is He loves YOU!  Jesus went into that tomb, but to put it the way Mr. Anthony Hamilton sang it, He couldn’t stay away too long.  He defeated death so that when you go into this world in the name of Jesus, mountains will move, and enemies will quiver.  Lions will close their mouths and not even growl at you. The waters of the sea’s that stand between you and your promised land will part so that you can pass. The point of it all is that God has written the victory in your song.  It is almost impossible to look at what He has brought you through and not feel the emotion that He is trying to convey in your life. I pray that you don’t miss the point of it all.  I pray that you understand that He may not come when you call, but He can’t stay away too long.  He will be there right on time.   God has a deep and soulful love for each and every one of you.  Never stop looking up, because you may just miss the point of it all.

You are beautiful, you are loved, and you are blessed

John Reed