'Let's Make a Deal'

Sitting, sipping, and pondering again. That’s my morning ritual as you may realize by now. Question - “Have you ever tried to make a deal with God?” Let’s be real! We know it’s not the norm, but in dire times of need and comfort, we might say, “Lord if I can only get this job, I will... or, Lord if you bring me, my child, or my friend through this, I promise You, I will…” Yes, these are the types of deals we make with the Master!

Don’t you realize that Jesus is the author and finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2)?  A lot of times we don’t need to know what the finished product will be, but have faith He will fix it. If you’re anything like me, I’d try to change the outcome if I knew it in advance. Lol. Remember, we don’t hold the future in our hands. Enrich your faith in Him and grow in spiritual maturity. He will do the rest.

No Bartering

I wasn’t supposed to know

I wasn’t supposed to find out until now

I wasn’t supposed to know

This was about His timing and how

He wanted me to grasp

He wanted me to ask

He wanted me to depend

He wanted me to defend

what HE stood for in my life

and when it was all said and done

He wanted me to know that

He was the One!

Not because ‘I’ did anything great

hence, He would make life easier

NO! He wanted me to be tried and tested

He wanted me to know

He was the One

who brought me out

who allowed me to evolve 

through these experiences

while being tossed to and fro

learning lessons, being instructed

in the midst of the strain

but not all in vain

And as I come out of it, I will gain 

I will grow with it

and not have had to barter

but just ‘pay it forward’ as I go

God doesn’t make a deal.

 “God is the REAL DEAL!”

PJ Payne

FORTITUDE

The Devil LOVES it when he thinks he has won and you’re down for the count. Don’t give him an inkling of credit!  When ‘life happens’, it hits hard. My suggestion- "take the lick’n and keep on kick’n”!

Don’t give the Devil the glory for anything you feel has gone wrong in your life. When you do that, you are opening yourself up for more disasters, more mistakes, more wrong decisions, more seemingly unresolvable issues. Don’t let him in! Close that door of negativity. Leave no room for advancement of unconstructiveness, and pessimism. After you close the door, keep it under lock and key! 
Circumspectly, we even open ourselves up for blunders when we trust people. On the other hand, we just "open mouth, insert foot"!  Don’t leave access and room for disaster.   And by that I mean, watch the company you keep, you train of thoughts, your daily travels, circle of friends; even you facial expressions… sometimes the face tells the whole story; usually one you are not prepared to let go- “that’s a whole other book!” Lol.

Now, an optimistic view of the ‘stuff’ that happens is, maybe God is allowing it. You do know that He does allow us to go through difficult times, right? We may not understand it at the time, but ‘in His time’ we will understand.

Remember that adversity is always waiting; a happenstance away, therefore some things, we just can’t prevent. But for those in which we can, stomp on ‘em! 

Get an ATTITUDE of FORTITUDE and march on!

Blessings,

-PJ Payne

GOD CAN

Who do you depend on when it seems everything you touch and do goes wrong? What do you do to keep motivated? When do you realize you need help or a backup plan? Where do you find hope and inspiration? Why would you say enough is enough… I GIVE UP?

Some of you may remember the five W’s …Who,  What, When, Where, Why and then there is How. Usually they apply to writing and journalism, but this application is about life!

In many aspects of our lives, at some point, we hit brick walls, get knocked off our feet, dumbfound and have no obvious explanation or answer for the delimma in which we find ourselves. Is that when we throw our hands up in despair? “Uh, Yea, we’re human”.  But just when you think you have no answer, you relinquish, release and let go and find the HOW.  

HE is the how in your life! He knows how to relieve the pain. He knows how to give you strength. He knows how to take your burdens.  He knows how to put the right words in your mouth when you’re face with what you consider unanswerable questions.  He knows how you will get that next meal, how you will get to work, how you will fare on that pending court date, how you will mend fences in your marriage, relationship, family dissension... So don't give up! He knows how and He Can!

Life reminds me how sweet it is to know that ‘God can’-

God can pick you up

When you’re lower than low

God can fight your battles

In struggles against the foe

God can renew that hope

When the little you had diminishes

God can complete the order and flow

from start to finish

God can allow you to exhale

when exhaustion overtakes you

God can mend the pieces

When disappointment tears apart and breaks you

He replenishes and renews your spirit

when you’ve fallen and cannot stand

This brings back to remembrance and

“It’s good to know, God can.”