How Should I Be, When I Don’t Know How To Be?

Posted on July 7, 2016 by joseph beach

How should I be, when I don’t how to be? I know this is an odd question, but in the wake of the latest police shootings, it seems to be justified. As I write this, I am trying to understand where I am emotionally about the whole matter. I want to be Angry, Mad, Upset, Hurt, In Pain, and Sick to the pit of my Soul, but in actuality I’m NUMB from it all! It’s almost like being beaten for so long that your nerve endings no longer can feel, because they are so damaged. How should I be, when I don’t know how to be?

Living in a nation that has hated me before I was even born, because the color of my skin makes them uncomfortable and fear who I will become. Afraid that I will become too WISE to the lies they have told themselves about me, or that I will become too SMART for them to trick me into believing that I am nothing because they tell me so. Even Satan understands the POWER in the TRUTH, so much so that he uses deceit to conquer those who are willing to believe the lie.

How should I be, when I don’t know how to be? When they try to destroy the GREATNESS that I will become. They try hard to make me play the FOOL for them, and renounce the KING I am to become. They dangle FALSE promises in front of me, trying to DISTRACT me from SEEING the TRUTH. They use TRINKETS and MONEY in order to buy my AFFECTIONS and LOYALTY. But none of that matters, because I know WHO I am, and WHOSE I am! How should I be, when I don’t know how to be?

How should I be, when I don’t know how to be? Before any man saw me, or touched me, My GOD knew me. He SHAPED me, He NAMED me and gave me my GREATNESS, because He knows, how I should be, when I don’t know how to be. He CALLED me by my NAME, and I ANSWERED. He has GIFTED me to HELP those who SUFFER, through use my WORDS, WORKS and my LIFE. How should I be, when I don’t know how to be? I WILL BE WHAT HE HAS CALLED ME TO BE, I WILL BE ME…….

Posted in CHARACTER, CHOICES, LIFE, LOVE AND RESPECT, Personal Growth, RELATIONSHIPS, Uncategorized, VALUE, WORTH | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Alive, but Not Living…

Posted on March 26, 2016 by joseph beach

Lately life seems a little mundane, almost as if everything has just come to a standstill. Yet when I look around I notice that the world is still moving, and people are moving and making things happen. What I don’t understand is even though I’m doing things, I’m not moving, or at least it feels that way.

As I sit here typing this, I realize that I have stopped living, I’m very much alive and my body is being active, but my mind, emotions and spirit are at a halt, not moving forward nor backwards, just sitting in limbo. I know God is working, because I can see it all around me, but I just don’t feel like I am a part of what He is doing. I know that it all can be just an illusion that the enemy has put before me just to make me feel as if life is passing me by. The question is, is it real, have I plateaued and there is nothing left for me to do? I don’t believe that to be true, but it is how I feel! I know that God has so much more for me to do, and so many more people to help, but I think I’m going about it the wrong way. I have been doing things my way, believing it’s the way God wanted it done (big mistake…). God was and is Intentional in what He calls us to be and do, we must be careful in how we go about His task, because He will bring you to a Standstill until you get back on track.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says; “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven!” somewhere along the way I lost my sense of time. As it says in Jeremiah 29:11; “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I forgot that I live through Christ, in Christ, and for Christ, and when I deviate from that my world comes to a standstill until I get back to Him. Stop living for man, and even yourself, because they will wither away and die. Focus on what God called you to be and what He called you to do.  Stop just being alive and walking among the living, begin living the way God has called you to…..

He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. (Matthew 28:6)

Rise from your place of death, God has resurrected you!

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Story From a $20 Bill!

Posted on February 25, 2016 by joseph beach

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.” Psalm 139:13-15

The last few weeks I have been struggling with feeling unappreciated, almost invisible, as if no one could see me for who I really am. I found myself getting aggravated, because people seemed to value me for less than who I am. Then I realized it wasn’t their fault, it was my own, because I didn’t know my own worth. I gave others permission to value me at whatever value they saw fit. Because of things that were going on in my life I began to feel less than, and I even spoke it over myself, so this allowed others to value me in the same manner or even less. I do believe that I am not the only one feeling this way. With all the things that are going on in the world, poverty, loss of employment, issues finding employment, or just the burden of everyday life. These things have a way of making people feel less than. But (I Love this word), God doesn’t see us the way we view ourselves or even the way others may view us! He knows what He has placed in us, and what His purpose is for our lives.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

I once had a friend (Chad) do a demonstration in front of a group he was facilitating. He pulled out a $20 bill and asked them what was it? And they answered a $20 bill. Then he asked who wants it? And every hand went up. He then took the $20 bill crumpled it up, threw it on the floor, and asked them for the second time, what is it? Again they answered, a $20 bill. The he asked, who wants it? Again every hand went up. At this point, he picks up the $20 bill, and says; “Did you noticed that even though the $20 bill was crumpled up and thrown on the floor, it never lost its value?” The only way for the value to change, you must change the $20 bill. Which means you either have to take away from it, which no longer makes it a $20 bill, or you must add to it, now making it Greater than a $20 bill. God doesn’t usually take from us, except for those things that can devalue us. God loves to add to our value, making us even greater than we were before. Even when Satan tries to make us believe no one wants us because we have no value, God shows us just how valuable we are to Him!

God knows what He made us, He knows our value and our worth! Just like with the $20 bill, no matter what anyone else may think about you, their thoughts about you doesn’t change the value of who you are in God’s eyes. We all have been in a place where we feel like we have been crumpled up and thrown on the floor, but it doesn’t matter because we still hold our True value, the one that God has placed in us!

So when you begin to feel less than, remember God sees the True vale He has placed in you. Don’t allow others to treat you, or use you for less than the value God has placed in you. This doesn’t mean you should think more highly of yourself than what God has made you to be, but understand the Value you have in God!

SO WHAT ARE YOU WORTH?

 

 

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Take Off The Mask

Posted on February 16, 2016 by joseph beach

Paul Lawrence Dunbar says it best in his infamous poem “We Wear the Mask,” depicting how African Americans would hide behind false smiles and grins to hide their hurt, disgust and pain.

This isn’t about race or slavery, it’s about people hiding the Truth of  who they are and what is really happening in their everyday lives. Dawning beautiful falsehoods to hide the pain, hurt, and brokenness that they face every day, but not just the hurt, they hide the Greatness as well.

I asked myself, “Why doesn’t anyone hear my cry, can’t they see the pain I’m in?” Then I realize that I’ve been wearing the mask too long. That I have become accustomed to hiding myself from the people who really care for me. I have hidden myself so well that they don’t recognize me any more and I don’t recognize my own true self, the person that God has created me to be. It’s difficult to be honest and true to others when you won’t be true to yourself.

It’s hard sometimes to allow oneself to be vulnerable and transparent with people, but how can God send someone to help you if you never remove the mask. The mask that once protected you now has become the very thing that hinders you. Remove the mask, let the person that God has created you to be Shine and be a light unto those who need you, and stress beacon to those you may need.

Stop lying to yourself, the mask is no longer protecting you, it is consuming you……

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Masked

Posted on January 20, 2016 by joseph beach

Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. Luke 12:2-3

You ever have a smell in your house that just seem to be annoying? So we run to our cabinets or our cupboards to find the smell good spray or a plug in, so we can get rid of the odor, but in reality we are just masking over the real issue, the smell. I chuckle every time I see a Febreze or Glade commercials, which tries diligently to persuade us that their products get rid of smells just with the mere present of it. Of course in the commercials, the people act as if they never noticed any smell of any kind except for the product. If you ever stayed in a hotel where smoking is allowed, went to visit a friend who smokes, or rode in a smokers car, you know that no matter what they try to do to get rid of the smell, the odor lingers on. And as innocent as it may seem this odor has an effect on other people especially if they are sensitive to smoke or maybe have asthma, it can be damaging to their breathing. Well sin has that same effect as well.

Sin is that bad odor to God, and every day someone is trying to mask the smell of their sins from God, as if He will be fooled like the people in the Febreze commercial. I remember when I was addicted to crack, I would do everything I could to mask the smell of my addiction, only to realize that the more I tried to cover it the worst the smell became. When we try to mask over our sins, it only makes the smell worst for God and your love ones. The scent of the spray or smell good (as I like to call them) lulls us into a false sense of comfort, making us believe that we have fooled people, but instead we have made the smell worse. Sometimes sprays and plug-ins aren’t enough, sometime we must buckle down and clean up, so we can get rid of the stench.

I remember as a child, every Spring my mother would open up the doors and windows and air out the house, and then prepare us for the task of Spring Cleaning. This should also be done in our own lives. The opening up is to allow God access to the ugliness inside of us, so He can cleanse us of the odor that we have gotten comfortable with. The Spring Cleaning allows God to throw out anything that is keeping us held in captivity. God wants us to be cleansed of the smell, and not just let us keep masking over it.

It’s time to let go of the Febreze and plug-ins in our lives, and open up the windows and doors so we can clean house!

 

Do you still wear the mask?

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You’ve Been Approved

Posted on January 16, 2016 by joseph beach

“but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2:4”

I never realized just how much of an impact growing up without my father in my life had on me. I’m not speaking about him missing my games or my birthdays, but the affect it had on my ability to move forward in certain areas of my life.

Before I go on I must say this, I am not angry with my father, nor do I hate him, in fact I have more Love for him now than ever before. God helped me to understand my father’s purpose in my life and I Thank him for that.

Most of my childhood and part of my adulthood has been seeking approval from man to justify who I am and what I am to do in my life. The problem with that is man will not always approve what they feel may be a threat to their own existience. This left me in a place where I began to feel like I wasn’t worthy of what God has called me to be. My mistake was seeking the approval of man, when God had already Approved me!

I’m not speaking about getting aproval to get credit or buy a house, because those things can be govern by the way I handle my finances. It’s not about if I can get enough votes to become a councilman in my city, because that can be regulated by how I treat people. The approval I had been seeking was to find out if I was doing what I heard God telling me to do.

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galations 1:10″

In my journey of being a Christian I found myself seeking the approval of other men, but didn’t realize that they didn’t always have my best interest at heart, nor were they listening to God concerning their part in my journey. But that wasn’t their fault, the blame falls on me, because instead of doing what God had already Approved me to do, I went seeking approval of those who didn’t have the authority to give me approval…

Don’t take this as a reason to be disrepectful to your leaders or people who have authority over you, but be mindful of what God has called you to do. One also has to be careful of seeking their own approval, which would cause them to be selfish in trying to do work for God.

When God asked the question in Isaiah 6:8, “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” He already knew who would answer the call and He has already given His Approval….

 

 

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86,400

Posted on December 30, 2015 by joseph beach

Before I get started I would like to thank Pastor G, for the lesson on 86,400, so Thanks for imparting the knowledge!

Here we are at the end of another year, and as I look through social media I see how many of the post channel the essence of the usual New Year Resolution theme, (New Year, New Me/ Time for a Change/ Lose Weight/ Quit Smoking, etc.). These are all great endeavors, but most of the time they end in failure, trust me I know, because I have fail some of them myself (lol). I realize the reason I failed at them wasn’t because I didn’t try, but because my thinking was distorted, and that made my change become a job instead of a goal. When a change becomes like a job, people tend to get frustrated or discouraged and this unfortunately can lead to giving up.

I want to give you all something to help you to continue working towards your goals, even when they begin to seem like a job instead of a goal, and that is 86,400!

Let’s say that God decided to give you $86,400 every day, but it came with a stipulation, and that stipulation is that you must use the entire $86,400 every day. But at the end of the day whatever was left over would just disappear and you couldn’t get it back. How would you use it, would you but multiple houses or cars, would you invest it, maybe use it to help others, or would you just waste it because you know that you will be getting another $86,400 tomorrow? Most of us would just waste it because we knew we would be getting another $86,400 the next day!

God does give us 86,400 every day, He gives us 86,400 seconds of life every day, and most of us waste it because we believe that we will get another 86,400 seconds tomorrow. But what we don’t realize is we can never get that wasted time back, so that ball game that your son played but you missed because you chose to do overtime instead, you can’t get that back. The dance recital your daughter had the lead in, but you chose to miss because you were too tired, you can’t get that back. Your spouse is getting an award from her company, but you didn’t go because you had an argument that morning, you can’t get that back. These are precious treasured moments that you can’t get back!

Now earlier I spoke on New Year Resolutions, changes, and goals, well these are a part of the 86,400 seconds we receive each day, but again they get wasted. Many of us say I’m going to school, but still haven’t filled out an application for school. Some say they’re going to start a business, but haven’t even done a name search to see if that name is available for business. Some of us begin the process but get distracted and give up on our goals. But many of us just get stuck in the valley of nothingness, doing absolutely nothing, not moving forward or back, not even at least moving side to side, no movement at all. Wasting our 86,400 seconds on nothing! Wasting our 86,400 seconds on PlayStation, X box, Reality TV, FaceBook, Jobs whose only concern is the Revenue you bring, and People who don’t have our best interest at heart! Remember you can’t get it back!

What if when we wake up in the Moring we ask God; “What would You like to be done with Your 86,400 seconds today Lord?” Try taking thirty minutes from the TV and read a book, or work on your goal. Take an hour and talk with your children or your spouse. Start taking back what you have been giving away so freely. It’s your 86,400 seconds use it Wisely, don’t allow outside things to distract you from your Goals! Remember they are Goals not a chore, find enjoyment in what your Purpose is. Be the Gift, Treasure, and the Purpose that God has Called you to be, don’t waste your 86,400 seconds on nothing!

 

What are you going to use your 86,400 seconds on?

 

 

 

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Intentional

Posted on December 15, 2015 by joseph beach

All things are working for my good, He’s Intentional, never failing!

                                                                                                “Travis Greene”

There are times in my life when I feel like God isn’t listening or He’s just not there, but the Truth of the matter is that God is Always there! We can become so consumed by our situations that we end up missing the Big picture. We focus on what the problem is and forget that God is forever working to make us better.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Just because things seem like they’re falling apart doesn’t mean God isn’t working for our good, it’s just a part of the Process. The issue is we get distracted by what’s happening or not happening, instead of focusing on the One that makes all things happen. We begin to trust in things that can’t be trusted, people, homes, cars, bank accounts, jobs, or possessions. All of these things have a tendency to fade away after time, but God is forever.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Think about it this way; you lose your job, rent is due, the refrigerator is empty and you just don’t know where your next meal is coming from. But then there is a knock at the door and a friend says to you; “you were on my mind and I thought I’d stop by and bring you a little something, or you go to the mailbox and there is an unexpected check.” That’s God working for your good.

But here is the Intentional part, that job you lost was causing you to have stress, the late nights were causing issues between you and your spouse, things that you should be giving time to have just gone undone. But now you have the time to handle the task that were just sitting gathering dust, you’re not as tired as you once were, and you can give your family some much needed attention. Now you have your own business, and you’re making your own hours, your bills are getting paid, and you haven’t missed a meal.

God understood that where you were you would not prosper, so He had to remove you from that situation, because if it were left up to you, you may not have ever left because it was comfortable. It’s the same when God removes someone from your life that was keeping you from growing. It doesn’t feel good at first, but after a while you begin to see why it needed to happen.

Always remember God is Intentional in His purpose for your life, but you must be Intentional as well! Don’t mourn the loss, Embrace the Change…..

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FEAR: Distracting and Deadly

Posted on December 8, 2015 by joseph beach

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

The greatest weapon that Satan uses against us is Fear, because he knows that it can keep us from accomplishing the task that God has given to us. Let me explain what I mean by this, because fear is used in so many ways to alter what we should be doing for God and our families.

With all that is going on in the world today, it is surprising that we come outside or interact with others at all. Fear deals with loss, and it can be seen in so many different situations. People fear losing their life, finances, home, car, family, job, children and this is to be expected. When Adam and Eve at of the tree and heard the voice of the Lord, they hid from Him. Why did Adam eat the fruit with Eve, he could have said no and then let God deal with her? But Adam was afraid that he would lose Eve, the part that God had removed from him, so he part took of the fruit with her. Instead he sacrificed his relationship with God for the fear of losing her. Adam became distracted from what was truly important to him (God)! His fear allowed sacrifice to become more important than obedience.

Just like Adam we also allow our fears to distract us into sacrificing our obedience for something that is far more less than God. The greatest power of fear is not knowing what the end is going to be. The Children of Israel almost didn’t make it into the Promise land because of fear. In this day and time loss is equated as a type of death, when you lose your home that is the death of shelter and safety, when we lose our jobs that is a loss of provision, and when we lose our love ones that is the loss of a secured heart. So we fear losing the things we hold dear to us, and we will sacrifice being obedient to God just to try and hold onto them just a little longer.

What if the loss we fear is just a distraction from what God is really trying to do for us? Like losing your home, because has a better home for you, or the loss of a job, because He wants you to start a business, and yes even the loss of a love one, in order for you to grow into the person He needs you to be.

Nothing last forever, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says:

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2     a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3     a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

4     a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6     a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7     a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8     a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

With that being said, we should be able to understand that there will be a time to lose, but the amazing thing about loss is that it has a positive side to it. Loss also equates to change, in order to change something you must give up something. If you want to save for the future, you must give up spending now. If you want to become healthier, than you must give up poor health choices. If you want to be a successful business person, you have to give up being an employee. If you want to have more time for your family, give up the things that take you away from them.

Understand loss isn’t comfortable, but it is doable! Satan is counting on that you will continue to allow the fear of loss to be a distraction to your dreams and death to God’s plan for your life!

 

What are you fearing that has become a distraction to you, trying to lead your dreams to death?

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Deceitful Distractions

Posted on July 4, 2015 by joseph beach

Distraction: the drawing away of the mind, something that serves as a diversion or entertainment, an interruption; an obstacle to concentration. That which distracts, divides the attention, or prevents concentration.

Why is it so easy for us to become caught up in the latest trend, the latest drama that is in the media, or the newest gadget? Who decides what we should chase after next, what are chasing and why? The answer is Distractions!

Even as I was writing this blog I became distracted with what was going on in social media. Then I realized my main objective, which is to speak about distractions. It is so easy to get pulled into things that have no benefit to us because it appeals to our lustful vision.

“The Eyes are the window to your soul” William Shakespeare

The enemy uses what we see as a distraction to keep us from what we need to see, but it doesn’t just keep us from seeing, it keeps us from the work we should be doing. Television use to be the greatest culprit when it comes to distractions, but now the internet has taken over the number one spot. It uses subtlety as its format, something as simple as a cat playing the piano can send you on a wild goose chase of mindless deceptions.

What began as simple research can become blindsided by pop-ups of  beautiful women, cars, or gadgets that may seem necessary at the time, but are there just to shift our focus from the task at hand. I remember losing endless hours just watching videos on Youtube, WorldStar, or Facebook only to find myself scrambling to get an assignment done on time. This is not to say there isn’t anything good or useful on the internet, but even useful information can become a distraction.

Ask yourself, “how much time do I spend watching television or on the internet?” Is what I am taking in edifying my Spirit or my Soul, or is it keeping me in Bondage? Is it worthy of my attention? Is it true?

God is given us assignments, but the enemy seeks to keep us from our task by using deceitful distractions. Distractions take away from our abilities to be good husbands/wives, good fathers/mothers or good children. Our focus becomes about what we see, and not what we should be doing. It changes our perception of who our spouses are, who our children are, and who we are.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, Ephesians 1:11

Satan knows that God has chosen us to be a help to the world, and he will do everything he can to distract us from our purpose by using any means necessary. Distraction is his best weapon because it’s subtle in its purpose. The serpent distracted Eve by having her focus on one tree, which made her blind to the Glory of the Creation that surrounded her. David was distracted by Bathsheba and it caused him to become a murder and an adulterer. Joseph’s brothers were distracted by a dream, which cause them to sell their brother into bondage. Distractions keep us from seeing the True picture.

What’s your distraction, and what’s trying to keep you from the task God has given you?

 

 

 

 

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