Archive Devotionals  "What’s In A Name?" "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." Luke 2:52 What’s in a name? The word "name" in the Greek means character. Character means reputation or personality. So, what does your reputation say about you? I know that may not seem really important to us, but it is. I remember saying things like “they don’t pay my bills, so why should I care what they think”. The Bible says in Luke 2:52, that Jesus grew in favor with God and men. Guess what? There will be a time in our lives that we will have to deal with people. Yes, people! All kinds of people, black people, white people, rich people, mean people and/or nice people. Think about it this way. Who does God use to bless us? People! In Luke 6:38 it says “give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together and running over shall men give into your bosom….”. That is why it is so important to have a good reputation among people.   Most people don’t like dealing with someone they cannot trust or who is not true to their word. What if God dealt with us like that? What if God gave us a promise and then didn’t show up when it was time to be fulfilled?   It’s really pretty simple, if you say “I will be there at 6:00 PM, then you should be there at that time, if you say “I’ll call you so we can do lunch”, you should call so you can do lunch. I know this sounds so petty, but staying true to your word speaks so much about who you truly are. We must realize when we say something and don’t hold true to it, we are lying, not fibbing, or just trying to be nice to people and tell them what they want to hear, but we are lying.    Now don’t get me wrong, I know things will happen, and emergencies come up, but I’m talking about unreliability on a regular basis. Can people trust you? Do you have a reputation for being honest and reliable? The Holy Spirit is telling me right now that someone is saying “I don’t do that”. He asked me to remind you of all the times you have signed a contract (credit card, car loan, mortgage loan etc…), and promised to pay it back at a certain time each month and didn’t. We have all been there, and done that. However, my goal today is to never go back there again. How? By turning from my old ways. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. So, when we turn from our old ways God will step in and help us.   Let’s apply it:  1.      Think of all the areas in your life that you have been a truce breaker (not showing up on time or not at all, not paying bills on time or just straight up lying to people) write them down. 2.      Pray over each one and ask God to give you wisdom on how to over come each one.  3.      Take one situation at a time and work on it: For example: If it’s being late all the time , then set your alarm clock at least 30 to 45 minutes earlier than you normally do, be very realistic about how long it takes you to get ready, prepare as much as possible the night before (get clothes ready, pack lunch, load car etc…). You will begin to see very dramatic changes in your life and relationships. People will feel that you value your word and will begin to value who you are. That’s when a good reputation kicks in. So, what’s in a name? A whole lot!!!! I would love to hear your testimonies and/or comments. Write to me at ladyshay@rebirthchristian.org and let me know how your life is improving. Due to the volume of e-mails I receive, I may not be able to respond to all of them, but I will read them. In His Name, Lady Shay ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  “How To Love My Life When It Doesn’t Seem Lovable” "(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were."  Romans 4:17  Are you living a life that you don’t really love?  I feel that is one of the issues that a lot of women are facing today.  We are living life but no loving life.  There is an internal mechanism in us that programs us to cook, clean, do dishes, raise children and a whole host of other tasks.  The interesting thing about that is, we can do all of these things and still be miserable, and not truly enjoy where we are in our life.  Well, how do we change from being natural robots to being Spiritual overcomers?   First, we have to change the lives we have.  I know that sounds impossible when all we can see is where we are right now.  However, the Bible says that we can call those things that be not as though the were.  So to me that means, if I’m not happy in my marriage, I can change it just by speaking the Word over it.  For example, “Lord I thank You for my new creation marriage, I thank you that my husband is mighty and valiant, and I am virtuous whole.  I thank You that we are one and we love each other unconditionally, and what God has joined together no man can put asunder.”  Now I used marriage for this example, but you can take any situation and begin to confess the Word over it.  See, that’s the awesome part, God said all we have to do is say it and it will come to pass.  Just imagine if we line our mouth up with God’s word, our lives would be dramatically different.  Proverbs 18:21 says “death and life are in the power of the tongue.”  Listen ladies, its time to start speaking our way to victory.  Frustration will only produce frustrated results.  Listen, if you have to cry, cry.  It will make you feel better to release those negative feelings.  However, once you finish crying, get up and start speaking life to your situation.  Let’s try this:  Think of one area in your life that frustrates you the most. Write it down. Get your concordance, if you need it. (If you don’t have one purchase one or use a good Bible web site) Find a scripture that matches your situation. For the next 21 days every time that situation arise, quote the scripture, out loud.  (You must quote the scripture every time the situation arises, not just once a day or at bedtime, unless those are the only times the situation comes up) I want you to watch and see your situation begin to turn around and you will begin to love a life you hate.  If you truly see the positive results, don’t stop there.  Take another situation and do it all over again.  Take one step or situation at a time.  I would love to hear your testimonies and/or comments.  Write to me at ladyshay@rebirthchristian.org and let me know how your life is improving.  Due to the volume of e-mails I receive, I may not be able to respond to all of them, but I will read them.  In His Name, Lady Shay ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Becoming A Woman of The Word "She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night [of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust]." Proverbs 31:18 Amplified In Proverbs 31:18 it says that “her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night”.  The word lamp means revelation or light.  How do we get revelation or become enlightened?  By understanding and operating according to the Word of God.  As virtuous women of God, we must understand how to become the Word of God.  That means that the Word of God should be more real in our lives than anything else.  We must eat the Word, talk the Word, sleep the Word, live the Word, laugh the Word, and enjoy the Word.  What does the Word of God do for me?   Hebrews 4:12 says “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” So, first the Word is quick, which means the Word of God will do a quick work in our lives.  When we start operating according to the word of God, what would have normally take years will take only months.  Second, the Word is powerful.  The Word of God allows us to operate in areas beyond our natural means.  It gives us the power to stand before great mean and proclaim the goodness of Jesus.  Third, the Word of God is sharp and piercing.  The Word of God will convict us in our wrong doing and make us feel terrible when we do things that don’t glorify Him.  Fourth, the Word is a divider, He will divide all of the foolishness out of our lives.  The Word of God will separate us from worldly people, places, jobs and influences.  Now, that’s awesome because some of us need lots of help in that area.  Fifth, the Word of God judges and discerns our heart.  That means He know what we are thinking at all times.  Don’t try to hide your feelings because according to Hebrews 4:12, He is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Now we know what the Word does for our lives, let’s take some time to apply it.  1.      Start living life according to what the Word of God says. 2.      Do not compromise, even when people talk about you. 3.      See the Word as a benefit and not a hindrance to your fun. 4.      Love God enough to be obedient to His Word. I would love to hear your testimonies and/or comments.  Write to me at ladyshay@rebirthchristian.org and let me know how your life is improving.  Due to the volume of e-mails I receive, I may not be able to respond to all of them, but I will read them.  In His Name, Lady Shay

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