Through the Fire

Today is the day that the Lord has made so rejoice in the fact that you are here and there is so much for you to do today!  Celebrate the people that are with you today because when you take loved ones for granted you are missing the point of living and loving. God is love and love is in each of us, so when you have the opportunity to let some of the power of God out through your words and your actions, you are embracing your ability to heal, and to restore.  Keep your faith and grow your love, today and always!

Good day to you all!  I am praying for each of you on this day.  Pray for each other, and the world will change for the better!

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 1 Peter 4:12-16

Through the fire
To the limit, to the wall
For a chance to be with you
I'd gladly risk it all
Through the fire
Through whatever, come what may
For a chance at loving you
I'd take it all the way
Right down to the wire, even through the fire-Chaka Khan ”Through the Fire”

As a Floridian I grew up with hot weather.  I can tell you that I have experienced some of the hottest summers imaginable.  During the summertime you would not see that many people during the day because everyone was trying to stay out of the heat.  However, I can tell you that there were times when it was necessary to be in the heat.  There were times when the grass needed to be cut, or the groceries needed to be brought up, or there was shopping that needed to be done.  As a child I did not like the hot weather, but even as a child I was not surprised when summer time came around and the temperature went up.  As a Floridian I understood that there were certain changes in the weather that I could expect every year.  It was uncomfortable for a little while, but we always knew that no matter how hot the summer was, the summer was only here for a season. I knew that if I just suffered a few hot days that cooler weather would come.

Dear Reader as a child of God you will grow up spiritually with some hot weather.  You will find yourself under attack and in some hot situations. I want to tell you from experience that when things get hot you may look around to see if there is anyone else who is in the heat with you, and you won’t find a soul.  I can tell you that when it comes to following Jesus Christ there are times when it is necessary to be in the heat.  Jesus was in the heat a lot for the sole purpose of saving our souls.  It may be necessary to be in the heat for justice.  It may be necessary to be in the heat to stand up for the poor.  I tell you Dear Reader you may find yourself in the heat simply because you love the Lord.   Don’t be surprised when it happens.  It is not a strange thing for the world to want to see the righteous suffer.  I want to encourage you Dear Reader not to give up when it gets hot, because Jesus went through the fire for you.  He took it to the limit and to the wall, and it was for the chance that one day you would be with Him.  On Calvary He gladly risked it all! So when you doing the work that Jesus left for us to do here on earth you will face some suffering, but just like Jesus you will also see glory!  When you suffer in His name, your reward will be great!  Cooler weather is coming, so do not give up when you are going through the fire.  Jesus is right there with you, and will protect you today and always.

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed

John Reed

Unsung

Walk boldly knowing that each and every step is guided by the Lord.  Pray with a sense of expectation because we serve a God who is more than capable to get us through any situation.  Live with a sense of purpose because there are so many live that you are meant to touch, and so many hearts that you were put here to heal. Let your laughter be fueled with the joy that only God can supply. Today is yours so make the most of every moment.

Good day to you all!  I know that today may seem like a normal day, but God is working in an abnormal way to show that in an ordinary world He is an extraordinary God! Praise His name today for the things that God has already worked out for tomorrow!

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  Colossians 3:16

Everyone has a favorite song.  Everyone may not be a singer, but everyone has a favorite song.  When we have a song that we enjoy we don’t even have to sing it out loud.  Sometimes we hum to the melody to ourselves, and sometimes we just move to the beat, but when we have music in us some where it has to come out in some way.  Imagine if there was a song that was in you that went unsung.  Imagine you had Stevie Wonder on the brain, but you could not express your songs in the key of life.  Can you imagine what it would be like to have a Prince moment, and not be able to sing Purple Rain? Every now and then I need to sing a little Al Green, cause I could imagine life without a little love and happiness. I may not be the best singer in the world, but if you catch me at the right time, you might catch me singing about Grandma’s Hand with Mr. Bill Withers.  They call it Soul music for a reason.

Dear Reader do not let the song that God has placed in your heart go unsung.  Do not hold back the melody of joy by worry about tomorrow.  Let your song of praise be heard through the love that you show to someone who is hurting.  Sing your song of faith by staying strong when others expect you to be weak. Dear Reader you have a song to sing, but you may not have to use your voice at all.  You can sing a song of salvation by feeding someone who is hungry.  You can sing a song of forgiveness by smiling at someone who has done you wrong.   The worst thing that you could do is let your song go unsung.  What a tragedy it would be if you were a victim of human nature and allowed a smooth criminal to steal your joy.  I want to encourage you to sing a song that will heal the world, and make it a better place, for you and for me, and the entire human race.  You have the power to do it; can you feel it?  You are a child of God and there is no question about who is loving you. Don’t make it complicated because it’s easy as ABC, and as simple as 1-2-3. When God is in your heart anytime you leave the room the people will say I want you back. When you allow God to be instrumental in your life you can tell your enemies to beat it because you know who’s bad. Dear Reader sing a song that will move Earth Wind and Fire. When I think about how good God has been to me I get like Lionel Richie cause I want to praise His name all night long. When you are moving in the same rhythm as God you will make sweet music everywhere you go.  You are in harmony with heaven so Dear Reader do not let your song go unsung.

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed

John Reed

Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This

And again I say rejoice!  You are the star that shines bright in someone’s midnight sky!  And again I say rejoice!  You are victorious in all things through Jesus Christ!  And again I say rejoice!  The battle has already been fought on your behalf!  God has dried up your tears so again you may laugh!  God is adding more to your life so it’s easy to do the math! AND AGAIN I SAY REJOICE!

Good day to you all!  Take a look at what you have accomplished and know that God is not done yet!  Know that you are in the midst of a miracle, and once God starts to move forward there is no turning back!  Smile for today, and give Him praise for tomorrow!

So, I don't worry, 'cause...
Mama said there'll be days like this,
"There'll be days like this," my mama said.
(Mama said, mama said.)
Mama said there'll be days like this,
"There'll be days like this," my mama said-The Shirelles

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18

I am going to make an epic statement today!  Today I am going to reveal something that is so ground breaking and earth shattering, that you may not be able to take it.  Today I tell you: Every day is a good day!  It doesn’t matter if it is a Monday that you wake up to with thunderstorms and flat tire, or a Wednesday when you find out that there are lay off’s at your job, I am making the case to you that every day is a good day when you are in step with God. Blessing can be like an Easter egg hunt. Some blessings are easy to see because they are obvious, and out in the open.  Some blessing are hidden, and not easily seen.  I want you to know that just because you have picked up on the blessings that are out in the open, it doesn’t mean that blessings that you can’t see are not there.  What some people call a bad day, is merely a day that the blessings are not as easy to see, but please believe me when I tell you that they are there!  You are blessed every day!

Dear Reader, I want you to know that God does not wait for any particular time or place to bless you.  My mama told me that God is good all the time.  It always confused me when people would say that God is good all the time (and all the time God is good), but then I would hear those same people tell me about what a bad day they just had.  Circumstances should not change your outlook.  I want to encourage you today to look at the Brightside.  Jesus said “I am the light of the world”. When you are at your darkest, turn to the light.  I want to encourage you to keep searching for your blessings with persistence of a child looking for a golden Easter egg.  When you seek, Dear Reader, you shall find!

Mama said there would be days that I would have to praise Him through my tears.  Mama said that I would have to praise Him through my fears.  Mama said there would be days that I would have to trust Him with all of my heart even though my eyes told me that there was not hope.  Mama said that I would have to listen to His voice when there was nothing but silence!  Mama said there’d be days like this.  On those Monday’s when the thunder has come and the rain is falling, God is cooling down what would have been a hot day.  When you get that tire fixed, God is using you to bless a tire shop that was one customer away from going out of business.  Isn’t it a blessing to be a blessing?  I am a witness that just because your job lays you off, it does not mean that God has put you down. Never forget where the source of your blessings comes from. Sometimes we have to know when we are being pushed out of the nest.  When a baby bird is pushed out of the next it has to flap it’s wings otherwise it will hit the ground.  The next time you get pushed out the nest start flapping your wings of praise and God will be the wind beneath your wings and you will fly higher than the nest from which you came.   Yes Dear Reader, my mama told me about those days, but she also told me that God would never leave me or forsake me.  Mama told me that no matter what I went through there would never be a day that God would let me down.  I am on the right side of salvation and on the Brightside of dark situation.  I praise His name every day. Every day is a good day and I am so glad that mama told me there’d be days like this!

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed

John Reed

The Voice

You are a blessing to someone, and your importance cannot be understated!  You are a complex, and complicated creation and sometimes your purpose may misunderstood. You are a star that shines so bright that in the someone’s night is not the same without your light.  Count it as joy when you are called upon to make someone else’s day better, because you are a part of God’s plan and that in its self is a blessing!

Good day to you all!  Take an opportunity today to move a little closer to God!  He knows all about you, take a moment today to find out a little bit more about Him!

Then the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of words, but saw no form; there was only a voice. Deuteronomy 4:12

I was watching a singing competition television show called “The Voice”.  On this show the contestants would come out on stage and start singing.  The judges have their backs turned to the stage.  They listen to the person singing on the stage and as soon as they hear something that catches their ear, the judges have a button that they press that turns their chairs around, and they can see who it is that is singing. The judges then put that contestant on their team.  They don’t see who it is until they press the button, and they don’t press the button to turn around until they hear the right voice.  Reporters asked the judges how do you know when you hear a voice that you want to work with, and they all replied that they couldn’t really describe what it is that they are listening for, but they will know it when they hear it. There are so many that walk off the stage disappointed because no one turned around.  They walk away with their hopes and dreams dashed because no one heard what they thought was a beautiful voice.  Sometime the contestants that don’t get picked will question what kind of voice the judges were looking for because their voice seemed like it was just fine.  We can learn a lesson from “The Voice”.

Dear Reader I want to encourage you to listen very carefully to The Voice. Sometimes in this life we get caught up in a Star Search that makes us create these American Idols where our thirst for truth is nothing, but image is everything.  Sometimes we have to turn our back to the world because the world offers a lot of optical illusions.  When our eyes continually deceive us sometimes we have to take on the difficult task of relying on our ears so that we can hear The Voice.  Dear Reader you will hear so many voices, but I want to encourage you to be wise about to whom you turn your chair around.  You may not be able to describe what you are listening for, but when God speaks you will know His voice when you hear it.  Sometimes we hear God’s voice, but we don’t turn around.  I want to encourage you on this day that when you hear the voice of God turn around.  You got caught up in the hype before,  You were fooled because you thought that everything that was glittering all around you was gold.  Your American Idols have fooled you long enough.  Your star search has yielded you nothing.  The only thing that you can do now is listen for the voice of God to speak to your spirit so that you can get your life together. God is speaking to you Dear Reader so turn your life around when you hear The Voice.

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed

John Reed

I'm Still Here

You are the beautiful song sung by the angels above.  You are God’s greatest creation.  Your smile is an extension of His grace and your words are an extension of his power!  When you realize the power that God has embedded within your spirit, you will open the doors of opportunity wide enough for yourself and others. You are a leader not because of who follows you, but who you follow.  Follow Jesus example, and everything that you do will shine!

Good day to you all!  I know that you are in the middle of a situation, but do not fear.  God has worked it out for you.  He has spoken to the storm on your behalf so peace is on the way!

I may be poor, black, and made to be ugly. But dear God, I'm here! I'm here! Celie “The Color Purple

The Color Purple is one of my favorite movies.  I remember going to see it in the theater in 1985, and I think at that point in my life, I had never seen a movie cover as many controversial topics that this movie did.  The one thing that stuck out to me as I watched the movie for the first time was how Mister did everything that he could to keep Celie down.  He abused her mentally, and physically.  He wouldn’t even let her check the mail.  He separated her from the only family that she had when he kicked her sister Nettie out of his house. One of the most inspirational moments in the film is when Celie finally stands up to Mister, after all of the years of abuse, and fear, and she tells him in essence that no matter what you may think about me, and after everything that you have done to me, I am still here.  Everything that he had done to break her spirit up to that point in the movie had not worked.  She made a declaration before God and in front of the one who would seek to hold her down, that she was still here!

Dear Reader, take a moment to look around and find your Mister. You may be held back by Mr. Fear.  You may be being abused by Mr. Self Esteem.  Mr. Depression may be working in conjunction with Mr. Dream Killer to keep you in the house of despair.  Dear Reader, you are the best you that there will ever be.  Once you realize that God is in control of your life and your situation you can stand up to Mister.  You have been abused long enough. Good news was coming your way, but you couldn’t even check the mail.  See, what Mister does is separate you from everything that you love, and everything that loves you.  Mister can kick your sister out of the house, but there is one thing that he cannot do.  Mister cannot keep you away from your Father.  I want to encourage you today to stand up to whatever or whoever is holding you down.  Dear Reader I had to tell the enemy, “I may not be the best looking, or the smartest. I may not have the degree’s that someone else has, and I may not drive the fanciest car. I may not be from a big city, and I may not have a lot of money, but Dear God, I’m STILL HERE!”  I had to let the enemy know that you cannot get rid of me that easy. It may seem like you have been held down for the longest time, but Galatians 6:9 tells us: And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.  Tell Mister that in spite of what he may see on the outside, God has planted, joy, grace, and power deep on the inside. Dear Reader claim your power! Don’t give up on you! Claim your power today!  Let Mister know that you may not be Shug Avery. You may not be the picture that the world wants to paint. You may not be what people want you to be, but Dear God, YOU ARE STILL HERE!

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed

John Reed

You Are Not Alone

Your journey has just started so do not think that God is done with you.  You are an important part of a plan that is unfolding right before your eyes.  I know that sometimes it may be hard to see, but you have to know that God did not put you here by accident, and your existence is not a coincidence.  You are a piece of a puzzle that is going to come together to be a masterpiece.  Don’t spend too much time looking at who you are not.  Dedicate more time embracing who you are.  The fingerprints of His love are all over you, so let that be your reason to smile today!

Good day to you all!  There is so much for you to be thankful for today!  There are so many people that you were meant to touch today!   Do not allow anyone to bury your joy today!  Do not allow anyone to put a cloud in front of the Son today! Move forward, and be a blessing on purpose because that is the purpose of your blessing!

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Just the other night
I thought I heard you cry
Asking me to come
And hold you in my arms
I can hear your prayers
Your burdens I will bear
But first I need your hand
Then forever can begin-Michael Jackson “You Are Not Alone”

Sometimes the world can feel so big.  No matter how many friends we have or how much family we surround ourselves with, in this big world, there are times when we feel alone.  There may be a situation that we feel that no one will understand, or there may be times when we fear what others may think, so we keep our situations to ourselves.  It is a cold feeling when you feel like you are all alone. There are times when we need a little alone time, and it is good when we can close a door to achieve solitude, but it is a different situation when we are in need of a shoulder to lean on and there is no one there.  There are times when we are walking in a crowd, but it feels like we are on a desolate street. 

Dear Reader, I want to encourage you to rejoice on this day!  On this day, I want you to know that you are not alone!  I want you to know that God hears you when you cry.  He hears your prayers, and your burdens He will bear.  The first thing that you need to do is reach out and give Him your hand, and Dear Reader your forever will begin.  YOU ARE NOT ALONE!  God is waiting on you to give Him your problems.  God is waiting on you to give Him your concerns.  You don’t have to worry about a thing.  When you are going through those situations that you feel like you cannot tell another person, God is there for you.  When you feel like no one will understand, God is there for you. Fear not because He is there for you, and He will strengthen you when you feel weak.  When you feel like you just can’t make it God will give you strength.  Just like the Gatorade “G” series.  When you your spirit is tired you just need to take a sip of God-aid, because Dear Reader it’s what’s in you that counts.  I want you to be encouraged today that the spirit of the Lord is with you always.  You are not alone!  When you walk into a room, He has sent a legion of angels in front of you, and the Holy Spirit walks beside you.  You have protection that the President would be jealous of, when you give God your hand.  You have a friend in Jesus who will stick closer to you than a brother. When your family let’s you down, or when your friends cannot be found, always know that God is with you always.  Walk boldly in the big world, because Dear Reader, you are not alone!

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed

John Reed

Wash Rinse Repeat

From the bottom of my heart to the depths of my soul, I will say ‘Yes, Lord!’  Keep your head up and keep your heart open.  Everything that you do reflects what you have inside of you so the Holy Spirit close to you so that you can comfort and bless every situation that you are involved in.  God has given you a so seek to use it for His purpose!

Good day to you all!  Start the day off with a good thought and you will end the day with a good thing!

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer Romans 12:12

I must admit that I don’t pay too much attention to commercials advertising hair products.  I keep a clean shave most of the time so I don’t especially have a need for any shampoo’s or conditioners.  However, I was half sleep when a hair product commercial came on.  I don’t remember much about it, but what I do remember is the spokesperson was saying that she was having an issue with her hair before she used this particular product.  When she tried this product she had hope that it would work, and now after her success, she said she now has proof that it works.  She said, “I had hope, but now I have proof”.  I tell you that I woke up a little bit when I heard this because in my mind it told a story that was deeper than shampoo. At the risk of sounding cliché, that statement told my story in a nutshell.  You see, I started out with hope, but now I have proof.  I started out with the hope that God would save me, and prosper me, and now after all of this time, I have proof.  Sometimes people don’t believe your story so you have to show them proof. Sometime you won’t believe what happened yourself, so you have to give yourself proof.  Every time I look in the mirror, I offer myself irrefutable proof that miracles do sprout up from the seeds of hope that are planted.

Dear Reader, I want you to know that you don’t have to start out with a lot.  You just have to start out with some hope. I want to encourage you to take that hope and cover it with a little bit of faith.  Make sure that you let the faith set in real good.  Let your faith clean out all of your doubts.  The next step is to rinse in the blood of the Lamb.  When you follow these steps you will find that the hope that you started with has now turned into proof. You started out with the hope of finding a new job, you washed yourself over with faith, rinsed in the blood of Jesus, and now you have proof that God has all power in His hands.  You started out with the hope of getting out of debt, then you turned over your finances to an accountant who is the author and finisher of your faith, and now you have proof that God is a provider.  Dear Reader, I started out with the hope of reaching out to some people in an email, and the fact that you are reading message on this day, is proof that I was a part of His plan.  I tell you again that if you put your hopes, and your dreams in the hands of God almighty, you will have the proof that you need that God is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and you will have proof that He loves you!

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed

John Reed

The 13th

If you can look at today as an opportunity instead of an obstacle then you will guarantee yourself the victory! Claim your future right now.  Take your destiny out of the hands of those who don’t want to see you be all that you can be.  Put your destiny in the hands of the one who made you the person that you are.  God is only a prayer away so use the power of your praise in times of weakness, and He will give you strength. 

Good day to you all!  If you keep a word of praise in your heart, and an keep an uplifting word on your tongue, then you are having church every day.  God has spoken, so let the church say amen!

I have never been a believer in superstitions.  I have heard the explanation of them, and I know people who go out of their way to avoid them, but I cannot subscribe to the theory of superstitions.  There are people who will avoid walking under a ladder, and cringe when they see a black cat cross their paths, but will then turn around a question the Bible.  I was born on the 13^th of September, so that means that every now and then my birthday falls on Friday the 13^th.  I can tell you that I have heard all of the bad luck that is supposed to be associated not only with that date, but also that number.  Numerologist will tell you that 12 is good luck, while 13 is notoriously bad.

Dear Reader I want to give you the exception to the rule of 13.  I want to tell you about the good that the 13^th holds.  There is power in the 13^th.  There was a group of 12 men who called themselves disciples, and in the midst of the 12 there was man number 13.  He may have looked like the other men, but this man was the son of God.  His name was Jesus.  I am so glad that He walked with 12 and took on the role of number 13.  He sat down and had one last supper with the 12 and told them that one of them would betray Him. He told them that this would be the last supper that He would share with them.  He told them to eat the bread and drink the blood in remembrance of Him.   There were 12 men which was good, but the blessing for you and I came in the power of the 13^th.  Jesus was betrayed, denied, beaten, and crucified.  But just when the enemy thought that it was over, Jesus rose from the grave.  He defeated death on the 3^rd day so that you wouldn’t have to worry about having bad luck on the 13^th day.  God’s grace and mercy is covering you on this day and everyday!  I am grateful that there was 12 but I praise God for the 13^th!

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed

John Reed

A New Paint Job

Make a joyful noise on this day that the Lord has made!  You are one in a million and God loves you!  There is so much for you to do today!  There are so many people that you can touch today!  You are someone’s miracle, so that means that you are instrumental in God’s plan.  Rejoice for the things that God has not done, and sing praises for the things that God has already done!  Make a joyful noise!

Good day to you all!  There is so much for you to do today!  I can’t tell you enough how important you are to someone today!  If you are reading this right now, then ask God to guide your steps and you will be in the path of a blessing.  You will wither be blessed or you will be a blessing to someone else today!

There is nothing that catches your eye quicker than a shiny car.  New cars that have just come off of the assembly shine because they are brand new.  After a while the cars paint is exposed to weather and harmful elements that cause the paint to be dull, and lifeless.  Often times you can apply wax, and try to buff the shine back, but sometimes it is too late, and the only thing that will make that car shine again is a new paint job.  Now, the body shop does not just paint over the old paint.  They have to start by taking the car in, and they have to strip the old paint off.  The paint will only stay on and look it’s best if it is bonded to the body of the car.  It doesn’t matter how old the car is, or what kind of car it is, there is nothing better than a car with a fresh coat of paint.

Dear Reader I want you to know that God has a Holy body shop waiting on you.  You may have come off of the assembly line with new paint, fresh, and ready for the world.  However, you have been exposed to some rough elements.  You have seen some harmful ultra violent ways of the world around you.  You need to get a new paint job.  I know that you might think that you just need a touch up, but Dear Reader you have suffered more damage than you know.  I am telling you that God is not just going to put new paint on old paint.  God is going to strip that old paint off.  Your old ways, and your old attitudes.  Those things that were keeping you from shining will be stripped away.  It may be a little scary at first, but you will see that the new you is going to shine life never before.  I want you to be the best you that you can be.  That is why I want to encourage you to bring yourself in and let God give you a new paint job.  Not only will you have a new coat of paint, but God will give you some UV protection so that when the world gets ultra violent you will find that the blood of Jesus will cover you like a clear coat of protection. The ultra violent will bounce off like it was ultra violet.  Don’t be afraid to have your old paint taken off because you will shine the brightest with a new paint job!

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed

John Reed

Material Witness

When I think about how good God has been to me, I can only smile and sing His praises.  I want to encourage you to think about how good God has been to you, and when you do that you will find that there is nothing that can make you have a “bad” day.  When things don’t seem like they are going right stop and thank God for the final outcome.  All things work together for the greater good that God has planned for you. 

Good day to you all!  Today is the day that you worried about yesterday!  What you worried about for today you will laugh about tomorrow.  Go ahead and laugh about today, today!

A man and his son were walking.  The man had fallen on hard times and he could not afford to keep his car. The car payments had proven to be too much for him to handle.   His son was 7 years old and although he liked the car that they once had, he also enjoyed walking with his father. One day the man, and his son were walking to the store to pick up a few things for dinner. 

As they walked through the parking lot of the supermarket, they passed by a beautiful luxury car.  It looked as though it had just been polished, and the sun glistened off of the paint.  On the back of the car there was a vanity license plate that said “blessed”.  The man and his son were both looking at the beautiful vehicle, when the little boy looked up at his father and said, “I want one of those”.  The man felt embarrassed because he was in no position to get a car, let alone a car as expensive as the one that they were both admiring.  The father said nothing to his son as they walked into the store and picked up the few things that they came to get for dinner.  As they walked out of the store there was a big SUV that looked like it just came off of the car lot.  There was another front tag on that car that said, “blessed”. Again his son looked at the SUV and said, “I want one of those.”  The man closed his eyes and said a silent prayer.  He prayed that God would bless him like the people who drove those vehicles.  After he prayed the man looked down at his son, and said, “maybe one day”. 

They walked home, and the son immediately ran to his room. The father thought it necessary to talk to his son about what they could and could not afford at this time, and he called his son out so that he could have a heart to heart talk with him.  When his son came from his room he was wearing a piece of paper tied with a piece of string around his neck.  The father also noticed that the boy had written something on the bottom his shoes.  The man was shocked by what his son had done. The little boy stood there with a piece of paper attached to a string around his neck with the word “blessed” written in crayon.  On his shoes was written “I’m blessed too.” 

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”  Luke 12:15

Dear Reader I don’t want you be a material witness.  Don’t let the evidence of God’s blessings be in a car or in a house.  People who have no faith get cars and houses all the time.  Let the evidence of God’s power be in your words, and in your love.  The little boy understood that he was blessed to have a father who cared about him, and a house to bring groceries back to, and food to eat.  He had to let his father know that when he said, ‘I want one of those’, he wanted a tag to let the world know that he was blessed as well.  Dear Reader you may be walking right now, you may not have the car that you want, or the job that you want, however, I want you to stop looking at the world from the eyes of the father in the story, I want you to look at the world from the eyes of this young child.  Who appreciated walking with his father.  Sometimes, I have to walk through some things in life, but during those times, I give thanks that I can walk with my Father.  Material things are nice, and I thank God for every good thing that I have, but when you lose those things, do you still feel blessed.  Or are you a material witness.  The little boy may not have been as educated and experienced as his father, but he knew enough to thank God for His shoes.  I want to encourage you to thank God for the blessings that are coming your way.  I want you to praise Him for the breakthrough that is coming, but while you are waiting on those things to happen, thank God for your shoes.  Thank God that you are making it right now.  When you feel like looking for a miracle, I want you to stop by the mirror.  The miracle will look back at you.  When you walk by someone who is going through something and they see your sweet spirit of gratitude, they will look up and say, “I want one of those”  They will want what you have, and that is the love , peace and joy, that comes from walking with your Heavenly Father. 

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed

John Reed

Someone's Child

The grace of God has brought you this far so today is the perfect day to give God the praise!  You are on a collision course with your destiny, and God has covered you in His favor.  Keep your head up during the challenges because within the challenges lies your strengthening. It is during your weakness God shows His power so give thanks when you are in the midst of the storm because there is about to be peace very soon.

Good day to you all!  Maybe God is trying to tell you something.  Pay attention to the whispers that you hear, after prayers have been said.  I tell you, maybe God is trying to tell you something!

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1

On September 13^th 1976, I was born to Johnnie and Marie Reed in the city of Pensacola, Florida.  I am their child.  I grew up, but no matter how old I get, my mother always reminded me that I will always be her child.  Always wanting to make sure that I did not get out of line, she would remind me that no matter how old I got, she would always be older. I always listened.  When we are out in the world, and we are interacting with our peers it is so easy to forget that the person that you are dealing with is someone’s child.  You may not know who the parent is, and the person may or may not still have their parents with them, but nonetheless everyone is someone’s child.  When you talk bad about someone, that is someone’s child.  When you look down on someone you are looking down on someone’s child.  Think about how your own parents would react if they saw someone mistreating their children.  The typical reaction would be to protect their child from all harm.  I know that is what Marie Reed would do, and still tries to do to this very day.  I am so happy to be someone’s child. 

Dear Reader, I want you to be happy that you are someone’s child.  I do not speak of your mortal parents here on earth.  I tell you that those parents continued what God had already started.  You are now and will always be a child of God.  God loves you more than you will ever understand, and He is waiting on you to call on Him for guidance. I can’t imagine the pain that Mary felt as she watched her son hang on the cross.  Being convicted of a crime that He did not commit.  Being punished and mocked simply because He was doing the work that His Father had sent for Him to do.  Jesus was someone’s child.

The soldiers mocked Jesus, and they beat Him, but what they did not know that pain was a part of the plan.  They thought that death was the end of the story of Jesus, but we know that death was an intermission.  Death was the commercial break.  They may have recognized that He was someone’s child, but they did not recognize whose child He was.  Dear Reader, I want to encourage you on this day not to pay attention to those who would seek to do you harm.  I would encourage you to pray for those you have you eat from the plate of injustice.  I want you to look past those who set barriers in front of you. They just don’t know who your daddy is. Smile at the fact that you are the child of God almighty.  If the world knew God and knew God’s power they would not mess with you.  If the world knew that there was resurrection in your bloodline they would not waste their time trying to kill your dreams.  If the world knew that there was healing in your DNA they would not try to write you off just because of what the doctor said.  If the world knew that you were the child of a King they would treat you like royalty instead of looking down on you.  Right now there is someone mocking you, and doubting you.  Don’t fall for it Dear Reader, you are someone’s child.  Pray for them that would seek to destroy you because they don’t have the power.  They don’t have the final say.  God is still in control, and you are still His child.  Keep your head up, and don’t let anyone turn you around.   You are the child of a King, proceed as royalty!

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed

John Reed

In the Still of the Night

True strength is not measured by how much you can pick up; true strength is measured by how much you can let go.  There is nothing wrong with letting go of negativity, bad friends, bad habits, and bad thoughts.  If you let Jesus be your strength, and you follow His example, you will find that you can put down sin, and you can put down anger.  Jesus put down His life so that He could pick it back up and give the glory to God. There is strength in what the world calls weakness.  There is life in what the world would see as dead.  Stay in His word and stay in your faith, and when you find yourself holding on to something that is holding you back, LET IT GO, and what you pick up next will be for the glory of God.

Good day to you all! It’s a wonderful day that God has made, and we are privileged and blessed to share it together! You are making a difference to someone today so never let that smile, or that thoughtful word fall to the wayside!  Someone needs what you have in order to make it through today!

In the still of the night
I held you
Held you tight
'Cause I love
Love you so
Promise I'll never
Let you go
In the still of the night-The Five Satins “In the Still of the Night”

And to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19

Sometimes it can be scary in the dark.  At one time or another in this life we will find ourselves in the dark.  Being from Florida I can tell you that when a hurricane comes through it takes out all of the lights.  There are no street lights there are no stars, and there is no moon.  The hurricane its self blocks out the sky, so you are in total and complete darkness.  During those moments you hear more than you can see.  Power lines are down and there is nothing but darkness until the sun comes up.  After the storm has passed there is a certain stillness that settles in the night.  You literally can hear a pin drop.

Dear Reader I want to let you know that after the storm in the still of the night, God will hold you tight.  God has promised in His word that He will never let you go.  While you are waiting on the sun to come up there is no need to fear. You will find that sometimes after the storm has passed there is still some darkness that you have to do through.  I want to encourage you not to fear.  God has wrapped His loving arms around you and is holding you tight.  You has promised you that He will not let you go.  I am reminded of what Joshua told us in chapter 1 verse 9: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.  Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.  Dear Reader, God is with you even in the still of the night.  Sometimes when you are going through some things you will hear more than you can see!  You will hear all of your enemies telling you that you can’t make it, and that you have failed.  You may hear some things that are attacking your character, but I tell you to wait on the peace and the tranquility of the stillness of the night.  It may seem like you are left without any power.  I can tell you that sometimes the sun is all the light that you need to see.  Understand, Dear Reader, that sometimes the SON is the only light that you need to see.  When you do see the light and after you made it through, always know that in the still of the night God held you, held you tight, cause He loved you, loved you so, and He promised that he would never let you go, in the still of the night.

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed

John Reed

Remember The Titans

There is always room for praise.  There is always time to give thanks.  There is always time to show love. There is always time for prayer.  Let not your heart be troubled.  Know that God is watching over your situation and He will always be there on time.  You are closer to your breakthrough today, than you were yesterday!  There is power in your praise!

Good day to you all!  Never fear the unknown, because within the confines of the unknown often lies a miracle.  Your blessings may lay in wait in unfamiliar places, and the words of wisdom that you need may come from strange tongues.  Be receptive to all things that cross your path.

Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Hebrews 13:3

We lose the chance to reach people when we put our positions in front of the person that we are, and forget that it is a privilege to be a part of God’s plan.  If we would let go of our positions and show them that you don’t have to be perfect because when we ask for forgiveness our sins are pardoned, we would reach people and give them God’s power and in turn they would give God the praise. 

How many times do we forget about the Titans?  The Titans are Greek mythology, but the story is interesting nonetheless.  The Titans were all powerful.  The Titans thought that because they held the power they could do whatever they wanted to do.  They thought that they would rule forever.  The Titans were so big, that the Titanic was named after them. According to Greek mythology the Titans ruled until they were defeated by a younger group of Olympians defeated them.  It was an upset victory because the Titans thought that they were unable to be defeated. 

Dear Reader, today and every day, I want you to remember the Titans.  If you don’t know that much about Greek mythology, I want you to remember Goliath.  Anytime some person, some thing, some job, some problem, some debt, is claiming that they rule over you and they don’t think that they can fall, remember the Titans.  I want to encourage you to think of yourself as an Olympian. I want you to remember what the Bible says in Isaiah 40:31: but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. There is a gold medal waiting on you if you put your faith in the Lord, and remember how the Titans fell, and remember how Goliath fell. I tell you again Dear Reader, remember the Titans.  The ones that feel that they are too big to fall.  Let them know that our God is too big to fail.  Keep your eyes on God and the Titans will fall.

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed

John Reed

Dream Catcher

There is a spirit of triumph in the air today!  You may not see it coming, but that does not mean that a miracle is not on the way.  I pray that God makes whole what is broken in your life. I pray that the Holy Spirit comforts you in the mist of heartache and sorrow.  The solution to the problem that you are pondering was formed before the problem came to be.  God is moving on this day!

Good day to you all!  You will find that happiness is a choice that we often get into the habit of turning down.  Let today be the day that you choose happiness, and seek joy!  Your situation is about to change for the better!

For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words. Ecclesiastes 5:3

We all have dreams.  Some of us dream about career, relationships, or life in general.  Some of our dreams are personal, and private.  Some dreams we tell to the whole world.  Dr. Martin Luther King had a dream at a time when nightmares where prevalent.  Dr. King had a dream of equality, and peace for all people.  With that dream there was much work that needed to be done.  There were many walls of injustice that needed to come down.  There was great lake of hate that needed to have a bridge of love built over it so that all could walk into the land of opportunity.  Martin Luther King had a dream, but the dream was not the finish line, it was just the start of the race.

Dear Reader I want to encourage you to dream.  I want to encourage you to dream big dreams, and pursue them in a big way.  I want to warn you that there will be people who will just be talkers.  They have had a dream, but they have also remained asleep. It is important that along the way you distinguish your believers vision from a foolish voice.  Be prepared to work hard, and make sure that you surround yourself with like-minded individuals.  Pray that God be with you and that His will be done.  Once you do that you are going to see that dream come to pass.  Don’t let anyone separate you from your dreams.  Don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot accomplish what God has sent you to do.  There will be people that will try to talk you out of your dreams, but I want to encourage you to be a dream catcher.  Once you have in your head, and your heart, it will soon be in your hands.

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed

John Reed

State of the Union

You are the star that shines in someone’s midnight sky.  On some days you are the only light that they will see.  Your smile means the world to someone who needs joy.  Your kindness can cure someone who is sick of the way the world has treated them.  Think back on the times that someone lifted you up!  Think about how great that feeling was, and now rejoice because you have the ability to cause that type of joy in someone’s spirit.  You are exactly what someone needs today!

Good day to you all!  There is so much for us to do today!  Keep your mind focused on your mission and your ministry!  God is ready to move on your behalf!

It is in the constitution of the United States of America that the President shall make a speech to congress giving them a report of the state of the union.  In his speech the President lets the congress know how strong the state of the union is.  Traditionally he will do this once a year. When the President gives this speech he will usually get applause from members of his own party.  The opposing party will usually sit in silence.  Once the speech has been given, there is usually an opposition response.  The opposition to the President will prepare a speech that will often times contradict what the President has said.  If the President says that the union is on its way up, the opposition will find ways to convince that the union is on its way down.  If the President says that the union has a brighter future ahead, the opposition will do whatever they can do to convince that there is gloom and doom ahead. 

Dear Reader, I am glad to report to you on this day, that the state of the union is strong.  I can’t tell you about the state of the union of this country, I can only tell you about the union of me and God almighty.  I am happy to let you know that the union between me and the Holy Spirit is intact. Yes there are some things that I need to work on, however I rejoice because in the Holy Constitution that we call the Bible it says: Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, Acts 3:19.  So I keep pressing forward.  I want to encourage you to give your report.  If the Lord has been good to you, then give your report.  You don’t have to give an annual report. There is someone that is wondering how this union between you and God is going.  They may see you struggling.  They may see you under the weather.  You can let the world know that the Holy Union that you have with the Father is strong.  I will tell you now, that the opposition will be ready with a response.  See, when you are giving God the praise the only people that are going to clap are the people who are affiliated with your party.  The opposition will sit in silence. The next time you give God the praise about something that He has done in your life, pay attention to who is celebrating with you and who is sitting in silence. You have a bright future, and your dreams are alive and well.  The enemy will try to convince you that there is nothing but gloom and doom ahead. The opposition will go through great pains to give you an opposition response which is designed to convince you of the opposite of your praise report.  When you tell them that God has blessed you financially, they will ask why did God let you get financially strapped in the first place.  When you tell them that God has made your family well, they will ask you how could a God that loves you, let your family fall ill in the first place.  Turn to II Corinthians 12:9 and let them know what God said:  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Do not allow anyone or anything come between you and your Holy Union.  You are more than a survivor, you are more than a conqueror, you are a child of the ever loving, and ever living God.  You tell them that the state of the union is Strong, it is Powerful, and with God on your side there aint no stopping you now! 

You are beautiful, loved, and blessed

John Reed