Does God Have A Purpose For Your Life? Absolutely! (Part 4)

Don’t be led by your gifts; Make them follow you.

So far I have shared the following three steps with you about achieving God’s purpose for your life:

1. It’s not about you, it is about God.
2. Obedience is mandatory.
3. Know and Understand God’s Word

The next thing you must occupy yourself with is your God given gifts and how to use them for His glory.

Don’t be led by your gifts; Make them follow you. Many of you are saying ‘What?’ What do you mean don’t be led by your gifts? I thought that is why God gave them to us. I thought the word says that your gifts will make room for you? While it is true that God has given us all gifts and those gifts to assist us in achieving our destiny, He did not intend for us to worship our gifts or the gifts of anyone else for that matter. God says do not put any other gods before him. Not even the gifts He gave you. Our gifts can’t come before anything God commands us in His word. Study His word! Proverbs 18:15-17 (KJV) ; Exodus 20:2-4 (KJV)

Too many times we allow a gift to lead us on various journeys in our lives instead of relying on God for direction. Don’t think so? Proverbs 3:5-7 (KJV)

To illustrate my point of reference, take a look at the music industry today. There are many polarizing personalities out there that I could call by name, but I will not join the coalition of calling people out. I believe much of that is fruitless anyway. The word is clear when it says ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” So while you are huffing and puffing about what your favorite rapper you love to hate said on his latest album release, the real issue has blown by you. We all need salvation and that only comes from Christ. Start a coalition of prayers or something. Come together and pray against the wickedness and evil of this world. Stand up to the sin, but offer Christ to the sinner. Ephesians 6:11-13 (KJV)


This presents me with a perfect example of why you should not be following your gifts without following God first. Say what you want about any superstar out there. Pick one, I don’t care who it is. You might not like what they have to say or the way they choose to live their lives, but one thing you will have to admit is that about 90% of the time they are gifted. You might hate their lyrics. You might hate the messages they put on blast for the consumer to take in, but they are nevertheless, talented. I am not complimenting their lifestyles, I am only stating what I think is obvious. You can’t get to those levels and not be gifted in some capacity. Herein is the crux my point. They are gifted, but are they in God’s will? Can you fulfill your purpose and be out of God’s will? Absolutely not! Not if you’re going to call Christ your savior. Their talent will not win them a free pass from obeying God’s laws and commands. This is not Monopoly, God is not handing out get out of Hell free cards when it comes to obeying Him. They will be judged just like you and me. God’s gift used out of His plan will pervert the destiny He put in you. Proverbs 17:22-24 (KJV)

So what are we to make of this? How can someone be so talented, but be so far away from Gods will. How can someone be so incredibility blessed with a talent we could only dream about, but be a monster at home to his wife or bring complete dishonor to her home as a wife. My father was amazingly gifted. He could read something once and not forget it. He began being prepared for ministry at age fourteen. His intelligence level was off the meter. He was gifted with confidence and spoke with eloquence, but he trusted his gifts more than the gift giver (God). He thought he had the mental power to overcome the addictive nature cocaine. He thought he could put excessive alcohol drinking in the choke hold and subdue it with his gift of self control. None of these gifts saved him from being a drug addict, alcoholic, and dying in the prison with cancer. No, his gifts couldn’t save him and yours can't save you either. I can say with confidence that that was not God’s plan for my father’s life.

Why did my father allow himself to become all these things? I can’t say for certain. Maybe he lost control and felt like he couldn’t ask for help. Instead of reaching out he drowned in his addictions until they eventually suffocated him and took his life. It’s sad and I still feel the pain of his life even now as I write this. I too have felt the way my father felt. My gifts made me different at a very young age. My thoughts were different. What God gave me was beyond me and who I was. If I’m going to be completely honest; sometimes God’s gifts can feel like a burden too heavy to carry. Thank God for his life preservers though, without them I would not be here. Matthew 11:29-30 (KJV)

What good are our gifts then? They deceive us. They lead us down the wrong roads if we let them drive. They charm us into believing that we are more than what we really are. They can be overbearing and overwhelm us. They can isolate us and make us feel alone. What good are they? Remember this if you don’t remember anything else in the post. A person’s talents and gifts are not an indication that they possess a certain type of character, it is merely an exhibition of the gift given to them by God. A man or woman can be amazingly gifted, but extremely evil or very shallow. Even the ones that say they do it in Jesus name. Their gift can make you think their deep, but when you pull the covers back on them you would be amazed at what you find. Trusting in your gifts alone will leave you startlingly short sighted. Putting your trust in someone just because they are gifted will leave you emotionally vacant and bankrupt when you discover who they really are. Matthew 7:21-23 (KJV)

Relying solely on the gifts God gives to lead us to His destiny for our lives has the potential to mislead us. They can overwhelm us. This is why I am careful not to get caught up in anyone’s gift or my own for that matter. Instead we must stay caught up in the gift giver (God) and use the gifts He has graciously supplied us with for his glory. Don’t follow your gifts; Make them follow you as you follow Christ. Our gifts have been given to us by God to help us achieve His will in our lives. Trust God and use your gifts for his glory, it will make a world of difference in your life.

..To be continued..

© 2010 Lynn A. Jackson

Does God Have A Purpose For Your Life? Absolutely! (Part 3)

Know and Understand God’s Word

So far I have shared the following two steps with you about achieving God’s purpose for your life:
1. It’s not about you, it is about God.
2. Obedience is mandatory.

The next thing you must occupy yourself with is the Word of God. You must know and understand God’s Word. If you don’t you can be severely misled. Understanding God’s Word is crucial to achieving your God given purpose. Without understanding God’s Word you could cost yourself years off of your life by chasing the wrong things. This is serious! Study the Word. Ask God to line your understanding up with His. I can’t stress how important this step is for your destiny. For years I believed there was scripture that said; The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but he who endures to the end. While the bible does make this statement it is not in the same verse or the same book. Ecclesiastes 9:10-12; Matthew 24:12-14 Because I heard so many people say it, I took it for granted that it was so. Without knowledge and understanding of God’s Word you will obey the wrong thing. That could be dangerous.

I have known since I was a little boy that God has chosen me to do great things and speak in high places. One of the teachings I received on stepping into my gift was that I needed to wait for a pastor (man) to ordain me first, and then I could preach. I was taught that this was God’s order. You could not be a preacher until some other pastor, preacher, or evangelist said so, and ordained you . So I waited for my turn. I helped other men in their ministries, patiently waiting for my own. Patiently waiting to see what God had shown me in my dreams. I submersed myself into God’s Word to ensure I would study to show myself approved. I needed to be ready when my name was called upon to take the mantle and run with it. While I waited, I wanted to serve God and continue to become a better man, a stronger man. “Pursue God’s destiny for your life”, is what I kept hearing. In my mind I was more than ready, but I had to be obedient. That’s God’s Word right?

I turned away from many things. I stopped talking to the friends I had, although they had done nothing wrong to me. They were in need of a Savior just like I was. I couldn’t see that then. I was too busy listening to the pastor and not paying enough attention to the Word I poured over on a daily basis. My soul vision was to be what God showed me in my dreams. I just had to wait my turn. Or so I thought.

In my isolation I had issues though. I loved women. I felt like I couldn’t live without them. Women became my comfort instead of the God I professed. I had to hide it. I couldn’t be a pastor having sex with multiple women. I wouldn’t be ordained if they knew this secret of mine. So I hid it, but not from the ladies. They knew, because they were willing participants to my weakness. I kept praying and praying, repenting and repenting. I was doing everything I knew to do, but nothing was working. I was sinking. As a matter of fact I sank. I remember sitting and saying to myself, ‘All I want to do is preach God’s Word.’ Why was that so difficult? Maybe if I could have just preached I wouldn’t be in this mess. Maybe I wouldn’t feel so separated from myself. If I could just do the one thing I believe I was created to do. Oh well, I guess I just had to wait my turn. Or so I thought.

Paul encountered God by being knocked off his feet by God’s great light and was blinded for three days. After God sent Ananias to remove the scales from Paul’s eyes, he got up, spent some time with the local disciples, and started preaching. He didn’t talk it over with anyone. I guess he just figured he needed to go tell somebody about his story. He needed to tell someone what God had done for him. In telling the story of how Christ changed his life, one of the most dynamic ministries known to man was birthed. All without the approval of the leaders of the church of his day. Acts 9:1-22

I am not suggesting that order is not necessary within the church, but what I am saying is that you don’t need a person to let you know its okay to lift up the name of Jesus. Paul lifted up the name of Jesus and look at what happened as a result. After years of making bad decisions based on a flawed understanding of God’s Word, I cried out to God. I told God that I was tired of the direction my life was moving in. I couldn’t take the hypocritical church anymore. Of course, I had become a chief hypocrite. Knowing God’s Word, but not acting on it because I didn’t have a piece of paper saying I could. Amazing!!!!!

God saw me in my mess. He saw me in my illusional state. He heard me cry and reached out to me. I asked Him; What should I do Lord? He said, ‘Read My Word and tell the story that is in you.’ Enter: “The Day Jesus Spoke Hip Hop”; a vision exposed ten years after its original inception. It’s not just about hip hop, it’s about Christ meeting you where you are. He met me where I was and saved me. This, from the heart of a man that has faced many challenging things in my life. I thank God for His Word and Him allowing me to understand it. You want your destiny? Know and Understand God’s Word.
..To be continued..
© 2010 Lynn A. Jackson

The Beast is Hungry

John 10:10

Birthed into disorder
Some may say mayhem
I didn’t think either was true
I loved the love I knew
I never considered it wrong
Raised by and in deception
I thought it was truth
Now there’s a real song
Poverty was only an indicator of need
It didn’t have to be who I was
My innocence stolen away
Before I realized I was supposed to value it
My purpose never considered
I became a waterless seed
Dying but not aware of it
I thought this was life as it should be
I thought this was my portion
I made it my creed
Thoughtless is my attempts to differ from my plight
Why should I
This seems to be the path chosen for me
Death all around me
But I couldn’t see it
Normalcy ripped my sight away
I didn’t see it as losing breath
It was the way it was
My homies said so
My music said so
Shoot, Kill, Murder, Steal, Drink, Sex, Lie, Cheat
Bumping and grinding in the club
Listening to: Shoot, Kill, Murder, Steal, Drink, Sex, Lie, Cheat
Spewing life giving fluid in the parking lot
Listening to: Drink, Sex, Lie, Cheat
Telling her I love her when I know I don’t
Listening to: Drink, Sex, Lie, Cheat
Still I continued
Shots ring out
Somebody’s Son, Brother, Friend, or Father
Takes one to the head
Listening to: Shoot, Kill, Murder, Steal, Drink
They killed him because he stepped on some shoes
All while listening to: Shoot, Kill, Murder, Steal, Drink
Still it continues
Confusion all around
No one trying to sort it out
To wrapped up in what they like
To wrapped up in their own sound
Virginity misplaced @ 9
Pornography presented for consumption @ 10
Sexually misused @ 11
Stickin and Movin @ 12
Stealing and lying @ 12
By 21 my life was incarcerated by death and destruction
All while listening to: Shoot, Kill, Murder, Steal, Drink, Sex, Lie, Cheat
Lost before I knew I could be found

Then came Jesus
Married me in my mess
Alcohol still on my breath
Her perfume still on my clothes
Somebody’s naked daughters picture burned into my mind
Still listening to: Shoot, Kill, Murder, Steal, Drink, Sex, Lie, Cheat
He spoke to me anyway
He made his vows to me
An adulterous man I was
In some ways I still am

The Beast is Hungry
He wants your daughter
On the front cover of a magazine
With a man’s extension shoved into her mouth
On the next page
He wants her pictured with
Life giving fluid all over her face
All to satisfy his other customers

The Beast is Hungry
He wants your young men
Glued to the front of the magazine
He wants the man to fantasize about your daughter
He wants him to want what he sees
So the man runs out to find a woman to supply his induced needs

The Beast is Hungry
He wants us to Kill for nothing
He wants us to Kill and think nothing
He wants us to Drink
He wants us to Drink more than our share
This will aid the man and woman in their hunt of each other

The Beast is Hungry
He will use anyone or anything
He wants to us all to Steal, Kill, and Destroy ourselves and each other
All while listening to: Shoot, Kill, Murder, Steal, Drink, Sex, Lie, Cheat

Get Jesus and Get Free

© 2010 Lynn A. Jackson

Does God Have A Purpose For Your Life? Absolutely! (Part 2)

When I last spoke to you about God having a purpose for your life, the first thing I said to you was that, ‘it’s Gods will and not your own’. That remains true. Sometimes I have to learn to get out of God’s way to receive a blessing he may have for me. This is crucial that you understand this. It is God’s will and not your own.

The second thing you should know is that God expects us to obey His Word. He expects us to obey Him and His Word. Rom. 6:15-17 ; Rom. 2:7-9. Just like that, God commands and wants us to submit to it. He doesn’t coddle you. I’m sure there is someone out there that believes that God is rubbing them on their head pleading with them to obey Him, but He is God. He doesn’t ask us to obey Him if we feel like it. He just says obey and expects it to be done. I know that might not be how your pastor says it to you, but that is exactly what God expects. I know that doesn’t jive with the image of Jesus that they have been giving you, but that is the way it is. God is not asking. He is commanding obedience. Remember, the winds and the sea obeyed Him. Matthew 8:26-27. What do we look like not obeying Him. Meditate on that for a minute.

Of course we all know that obedience is not what always happens, but that is God’s expectation of us. Thank God that He has mercy on us wayward creatures that never seem to want to do right. OK, maybe I should just speak for myself. There are times when I don’t want to do right. I will freely admit that it is a categorical struggle for me to submit to God’s will and obey Him at all times. Thank God for Jesus though. Rom. 5:18-21. We are blessed that we live with goodness and mercy. Psalm 23:6. If not for just these two things, God would be taking most of us out for our sometimes undisciplined lifestyles.

Obeying God is a key part of doing His will in your life. If you’re not obeying, then how can you be fulfilling the will of God for you life? How can you walk in your intended purpose without obedience to God? How can the creation know its intended design without the creator?

Through Christ we have redemption and we can now repent and find forgiveness. This is a gift, not a birth right. Remember we are born into sin. We act like God owes us life unto salvation just because we are here. I’m telling you; if you want God to be effective in your life, allow Him to affect your life with His Word and submit to His will.
…to be continued…

© 2010 Lynn A. Jackson

The Writers Block

Word of the Day:  Impossible

By: Keith T. Nolen

Is there anything that our God cannot do?  Believe it or not, the answer is YES!  And it is a resounding yes.  Every preacher in the pulpit will argue this but they are the ones that are contradicting themselves.  The one thing that is impossible for our God to do is lie. 

Click here to read the entire writing on 'The Writers Block' 

Does God Have A Purpose For Your Life? Absolutely!

Passion…I feel it everyday. It’s stirring up inside of me. My thoughts are consumed by it everyday. It’s permanently etched on my mind. I concentrate on it with great fervor. I desire it like breath to my body. I long for it like the touch of my woman. The older I get the more I feel I have to have it. My resistance is now futile. I’m speaking of my purpose, of course. It seems as though I am completely obsessed with it. There are times when it seems so elusive and at other times it seems so right where I am. I can’t explain it without saying it’s overwhelming. So many thoughts running through my head. Am I doing the right thing? Am I waiting too long (procrastinating)? How do I know what’s right for me? What is the will of God for my life? I get tired just thinking about it.

I have spent countless hours pondering over this sometimes seemingly elusive destiny of mine. I mean, God does have a will, and I don’t mean the one your grandparents left you. No, He has a designed purpose for all of us. You don’t think so. Why would He create man on the sixth day and not on the seventh? Gen. 1:26-31. He’s God, he could have chilled on the eighth day. I mean He was the one speaking it all into existence. Gen. 1:1-3. What’s difference did it make? Why would he allow Moses to flee Egypt fearing his for life only to bring him back as His leader of choice? Why would He choose a murderer and a cast away to lead His people out of Egypt? Ex 2:11-25 and Ex 3 the whole chapter. Go figure. Why did he put up with Gideon asking all those questions before he would go to war? Judges 6:36-40. Seems to me He could have just picked one of them lapping like a dog dudes, but He didn’t. Judges 7:5-7.

Clearly God had a plan in all of these instances. If He didn’t that would make Him dangerously like us. You know how we just love to just do stuff and think about it later. No plan. No nothing. Some of us like to call the just doing stuff a plan. That is kind of suspect if you ask me. Fortunately for us, God does not operate like us. God, who is a God of order, would not create us without a reason or purpose. It would not make sense to me if he did. That theory would be too expensive for me purchase even in a thriving economy. God’s not like your local restaurant advertising. They dress the food up for the picture, only to get you into the restaurant and serve you something that does not look like what caused you to select it in the first place. What’s more amazing, most of us say nothing about it when it arrives like a waffle house waffle only three fourths of the actual size. That was not cool my friends. You know I got ready to send it back, but my gracious friend sitting across the table decided to weather the waffle storm for me. What is that about? Have we decided that a beautiful picture of a dish is good enough. Even though it doesn’t resemble the picture when they bring it out to you? Or is it something deeper? Maybe we think it’s too good to be true. So we lower our expectations and accept what comes to us. Well, I can’t do that with my life. Life is way too expensive for that approach. I am like a professional linebacker looking to clean the clock of life. No holds bared in this cage match baby! I must force my purpose into submission! I must make my destiny tap out!

I once heard a Pastor say, he did not want to go to the grave with any unfinished thing in him. That’s the place I have arrived in. I’m tired, but that’s okay. I have to keep moving. I can’t turn back now. I have waited too long to express my voice. It’s time to empty myself of all that He put in me. I have opened the lid and asked Him to pour me out. He said; ‘So be it’. So as the Christian rap group GRITS, says: ‘Get your cups up’. Its time to drink for the well that never goes dry my friends.

The first thing you need to know about Gods will is: it’s Gods will and not your own. You may be thinking to yourself, Lynn, come on man, that is simple bro. Not so fast my friends. Many of us will do Gods will as long as it doesn’t interfere with our own will. Know this right now. Gods will is not negotiable. You will not get Him to change His price no matter how much you try haggle with Him.     …to be continued…








© 2010 Lynn A. Jackson

The Poetic Circle

Why I Love Him like I do

He is everything to me
My morning, My evening
My days end
Did I forget my beginning
My Love for Him goes beyond
Mere mortal words that can never
Tell the whole story
My life and who I am is because of Him
My joy and my peace is due to His Love for me
I need Him, I need His Love
I can’t do with out it
Why should I
I was born to be inhabited by it

Random Bits of Wisdom from the M.O.G. - The Series

Random Bits of Wisdom from the M.O.G. - The Series

Fellas, no matter what she tells you: It’s not a secret when God can know it. Remember, He is the one who will judge you in the end.

© 2010 Lynn A. Jackson

 

The Cyber BackPacker

What up good people? I just wanted to let you all know of a great new blog for techies. If you are down with technology, like I am, you will enjoy this site. It is hosted by a well respected colleague of mine, Eric Jones. The site is called The Cyber BackPacker. Go out and check out the site and let Eric know what  you think.

Until the next time stay strong and stay saved!

The Writers Block

Word of the Day:  Talents

By: Keith T. Nolen

We all have them.  Some have a lot, some have a few and some only have one.  If our talents are highly advanced then we take no shame in bragging about them.  Whatever your talent may be, use it for all that you can but do not neglect your responsibility to give back to the Lord.  He is the one that gave you your talent in the first place.
 

It took a good friend of mine to remind me of one of my talents:  writing.  The Lord blessed me with it at a young age and for a long time that is all that I did.  Then,

Click here to view the complete post on the 'Writers Block'

Random Bits of Wisdom from the M.O.G. Part II

Random Bits of Wisdom from the M.O.G. (Man of God) Part II

What up good people. I am back again with some wisdom from the well of my life. Enjoy the drink.

1. Need direction? Serve God with the gifts he gave you. I heard they would make room for you. Once the room has been made for your gifts, let them guide you to your destination.
2. Don’t expect God to bless sin. He is not in that business.
3. Ladies, if you give a man everything without setting a standard, he will treat you like you have no standards.
4. Fellas, you just found the lady of your prayers. Treating her like she’s your last misfortune? Here is some advise for you. New can’t be new if you keep treating it like it’s old. Get over yourself and the other lady so you can see this answered prayer with ‘good thing’ clarity.
5. If you don’t have Jesus now don’t wait until later. He is not candy (Now&Later). He is your necessary Savior.

© 2010 Lynn A. Jackson 

Coming Soon: Jesus The Birth  Part I

The Writers Block - Word of the Day: Technology

Word of the Day:  Technology
By Keith T. Nolen

Technology?  What could this brother be talking about that could lead him down the road to pull out a topic like technology regarding the Lord?  Truth of the matter is, everything we do centers around it.  Take for instance, texting.  This is probably the number one form of communication today.  Think what it could do with a group of believers or non-believers.

Take this analogy:  you are playing PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360; you make it to the last level.  Just when you think that you are about to conquer the final obstacle or challenge, you lose.  And that was your last life.  If you don’t curse, there is a very high chance that you will say, “Lord have mercy”.  Or as we say down south, Lord hammercy.

As young Christians trying to make it through each day and elude the wiles of the Devil, wouldn’t it be cool if God would text you?  Text you when you were messing up or when you needed to focus.  When you put yourself in positions that you don’t need to be, wouldn’t it be cool to just say, “Father please text me and remind me of all that I have to lose before I make a huge mistake”.

We are using technology as a crutch and fail to realize that God has already texted us.

The Writers Block

What up good people? I hope all is well with you all and you're living well. It is my desire to introduce as many different elements to the Blog as possible and still keep the message in tack. Christ meeting you where you are and bringing you to where he is is the central message of this Blog. With that said, I would like to introduce 'The Writers Block'. I would like to use the venue to hear from you. To give you an opportunity to express what God has done for you and hopefully encourage someone else with your testimony.

No fiction, just facts. If you think your story is insignificant, let God be the judge of that. Just put it out there and let God use it and you how he pleases. Send all writings to 'lynn.jacks7@gmail.com'. Please note that not everything you send me will be posted.

For this venture I have created a separate page on the Blog with a link on top of my photo on the left hand side of the page.

Random Bits of Wisdom from the M.O.G.

Random Bits of Wisdom from the M.O.G. (Man of God)

What up good people. I was thinking about what to post this week and decided I would give you a few nuggets of wisdom to live by. Although I am from the ‘nowhere near perfert’ mold, I have, however, been through and seen many things. From this well I will share a drink with you.

Here are 10 ten bits of wisdom.

1. Dating? State what you expect. Be what you expect. Expect what you invest.
2. Dating? If they are tripping and acting mental, don’t marry them! I repeat, DON’T MARRY THEM! Direct them to the nearest reputable clinic for help with their issues!
3. Ladies if he walks up to you at church and says, ‘God told me that you are my wife’, run as far away from him as you can! Make sure you hide in a good place. If he finds you in your secret hiding place, then maybe you can be his ‘good thing’. You also might want to repeat number 2 above!
4. Fellas, if she is helpless, she can’t help you.
5. If when you think of Love you only think of yourself. You are not ready for what Love is.
6. If you are married, ‘Go Home’, no matter how fine they are! (I know. This is a tough one sometimes! Stay strong my people! )
7. Fellas, are you dating? Don’t go broke while she gets rich. You don’t have to pay for everything! Plus, no real woman wants to marry a broke man!
8. Ladies, are you dating? If you can’t be Loved in the open, don’t be loved behind the closed door.
9. Never expect perfection from what’s imperfect. You will drive yourself crazy and end up needing number 2 for yourself!
10. You and God are not on the same level. You are mortal, but God is immortal. You only know what you have learned, but God established all knowledge. You need salvation. That only comes through His Son.

© 2010 Lynn A. Jackson

Why do you need Christ? Because He said so!

As I was thinking about how to put this post together, I tried to consider all the different things I would say to someone to convince them to give their life to Christ. I thought about some of the gimmicks we use to get people into the church. Free chicken dinners is a definite crowd favorite. I also thought about saying to the rich person 'even though you're rich you could richer if you get Jesus in your life'. I would say to the person that seemed happy 'you think you’re happy now? Well, if you had Jesus, you would be much happier'. We try to go out of our way not 'offend' people with the Gospel. This is called being 'tolerant' of different types of people with different mindsets towards Christ, who He is, and what it really means to serve Him. We do all these things to get people into the church only to say things like 'God understands your weakness and He is OK with you being that way'. While God does understand your weaknesses, He is not OK with you staying the same. God wants you to change. If you could stay the same what need would there be for a Savior?

As I thought about how I would tell someone why they need Christ, I came to a very straight forward approach on how it should be conveyed. Why do you need Christ? Because HE said so! Christ said that you can do nothing without Him (Jn 15:5). He said that a man must be born again by water and the Spirit (Jn 3:5). He said He was the Door by which you must enter (Jn 10:9). He said He is the Life, Truth, and the Way and that no man can come to the Father, lest he come through Him (Jn 14:6). He is the only One that can give salvation (Luke 19:9-10). He said that through Him, you, the whoever, can be saved (Jn 3:16-17). He also says He has the power to cast you into Hell (Lk 12:5). Now there's a message for you. Get Jesus or face Hell fire upon your exit from this world! Don't believe that? Why not? You believe man when he offers you the Big Bang Theory without concrete proof. You believe the Theory of Evolution because a man said so, again without concrete proof. Let me say right here that I hope you know that God is the creator of man and not the other way around.

Growing up in the south I was only shown pictures of African people with bones in their noses and all Africans being in abject poverty. I believed that because that is what a man showed me and told me. I was blessed to live in London, England for nearly four years and I received  a startling revelation. I encountered many Africans and they were incredibly intelligent, very bold, astonishingly beautiful, and an extremely diverse people. While you can't believe everything a man tells you without first seeking proof, God says you must have faith. Don't tell me that there is no such thing. Atheist say they don't believe in God. To make this statement is a type of faith my friends. It's takes faith to believe that the earth, the moon and the stars, the atmosphere, the axis that keeps us from burning up in the sun comes from nowhere. How can you believe all of this something came from nothing and say you have no faith? You have faith just not in God. Even if you believe in either theories on how human life began, you still need faith to believe in that. So in the end it is simple for me. No tricks. No treats. No gimmicks. Just straight up.

You need Jesus Christ, because He said so! Believe that!

All scripture references taken from the New King James Version

© 2010 Lynn A. Jackson

Don’t just honor God with empty words; Honor Him with your life.

Don’t just honor God with empty words; Honor Him with your life.

In this country and many countries throughout the world we are fascinated with constantly remembering something or someone. We hold birthday parties every year to mark and celebrate our birth and continued gift of life. We get together with our families and bring gifts to the fortunate honoree. For some, a person’s birthday is the one day out of the year they must call that someone. On their birthday! What about the rest of the year? We celebrate the life of many of our leaders on a yearly basis by holding memorials and holidays in their honor. We listen to stories told about them and are moved by their audacious courage. In all of this annual emotionalism some of us become motivated to become more than what we are. Unfortunately, two weeks later we run out of emotional steam and we are back to who we were before. We have quickly become a people who honor God the way we honor our leaders of the past and our loved ones on their birthday.

We come to churches throughout the United States on Saturdays and Sundays with tireless devotion. Within the services we honor God and who He is supposed to be to us. We sing about His Love. We praise Him for all our days. We lift Him up on high. Our Pastors preach about His supreme greatness. Then after the services, for far too many of us, we go back to our lives as they were. We leave with our lives unaffected. God’s presence brings about a true life revolution to the one who hides in it. The way some of us have become reminds me of the local radio station when I was a young child. During the week they would play all kinds of music with all kinds God-less messages coming across the airwaves. However, on Sunday mornings, they would faithfully play Gospel music. After 1pm it was back to the other music until the next Sunday. This irony is amazing to me. Some people think that all they have to do is show up on Sunday, sing a few praise and worship songs, cry a little bit, and it’s all good. They believe they can live their life anyway they want during week, give God a little time on Sunday, and that will be enough. Well, its not!

God is requiring so much more from us. God does not just want you to honor Him with empty words; He wants you Honor Him by serving Him with your life. God doesn’t want an annual memorial and then be forgotten about the rest of the year. Honor God with everyday of your life.  

Stop making excuses and just do it!

Reflect on these: Romans 1:20-25, Romans 12:1-2

© Lynn A. Jackson 2010

Get Liberty!!

Get Liberty!!

By L.A. Jackson

The difference between true spiritual liberty and emotional captivity is perspective. If you are emotionally stuck on the experience(s) that caused you great pain in your past. If you're angry with God for allowing it to happen to you in the first place. You should know right now that that is normal human behavior. It is absolutely reasonable to allow yourself to feel this way. Many of us have faced some extremely hurtful circumstances in our lives. From childhood molestation to multiple divorces to untimely deaths of the people we love. You name it and people have been through it. We wonder sometimes, why God would allow these things to happen. Some of us who profess that we love God and His ways, struggle with these issues from our past. We love God, but we are angry with him for letting those things happen to us in the first place. Let me announce to you today my friends, that if you keep this perspective you will never get past your circumstances and it will stunt your growth in the Kingdom of God. YOU WILL NEVER RUN ALL OUT FOR GOD (CHRIST) IF YOUR HEART REMAINS IN THIS CONDITION! Your vigor will be subdued and your life for Him will be less effective than it should or could be. You can't give 100% to anything you are not completely committed to. If you want real liberty, spend more time focused on the fact that God sent His Truth your way to rescue you from an obviously emotionally harmful situation. Just as he rescued you; He will also restore you (Joel 2:24-26). Remember, God is not the one trying to destroy you. No my friends, He came to give you life in an abundant way. His Word says if you come through his door you will find pasture. That's a place of substance my friends. A place of peace. But you have to do it His Way (John 10:9-11). Change your perspective my friends (Prov 3:5-6). You say how? His Word says to abide in His Word and you will know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free (John 8:31-34). Being made free is like God saying that you will be created as a whole new you. Wow, that's powerful!! You can stay stuck or you can be made free. The choice is yours. Now that's perspective for you. Keep living and praying my friends. God has been, is, and will always be faithful.

The Choice of Destiny 

By L.A. Jackson

I was shaped by many things. My mother, my father (even though I did not spend enough time with him, the time I did spend with him would prove to be very impactful on my life), my grandmother, my music, my Siblings, my hood, my friends, the Television, my School, my Pastors, and my Church. These many influences, as a child, shaped my understanding of life and its issues. My tendencies were formed as outputs from these influences. All of these things affected me in a profound way, but somehow I was supposed to hear God through all of this constant noise. It was quite challenging for me to find my way in life, let alone know and pursue my destiny. These things pulled on me everyday without a pause for commercial. Everyday there was some influence calling me to render myself to it. One of the greatest influences calling to me was the life of my father.

My father was called

Jesus In My Blackness

Jesus In My Blackness
By L. A. Jackson

It rings through my soul
You are a Black Man
With Black Dreams
Dreams that will never be
Dreams that you should
Never expect to see

THE DAY JESUS SPOKE HIP HOP (Part 1)

What up good people? I know some of you are wondering why I named the BLOG the way I did. Well, here it is.

As a young man growing up in Sarasota (Newtown), FL., I absolutely loved rap music. Mannnn, I still remember hearing “The Rapper’s Delight”

Think on these THINGS

My friends the Word says to think on; whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Phil 4:8)

It may sound simple, but