Author Archives: Ozzie

PRINCIPLES OF GIVING 

​Fundamental Principles of the Word of God stands sure , true,and forever . 

Principle: is a fundamental truth that serves as the foundation for beliefs and behaviors. 

-Anything you want to gain in life, you must  give towards it.

-A desire to receive without giving and a desire to reap without sowing is irrational thinking, selfish desire and covetousness. 

Galatians 6:7 

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. 

Luke 6:38 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. For with the same measure that all of you mete likewise it shall be measured to you again”. 

 However, Ruth  2:12 puts it this way,

“The LORD recompense your work, and a full reward be given you of the LORD God of Israel, under  whose wings you are come to trust”. 

“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full–pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. (NLT) -Luke 6:38

Be generous with your generosity to others. Whether in word, deed, action, or object, gift others often. Yes, it’s true some people will be more grateful than others. But we really shouldn’t be giving solely to have someone indebted towards us. Your gift can be anything such as time, kind words, friendship, babysitting, transportation and on and on. The next time you find yourself clinging to something, that’s the time to give it away. It will only come right back”.

•Continue to let the WORD of God be the standard for your life. Always LOVING others like Christ Jesus loves us while keeping our faith, trust and confidence in Him. 

•BLESSED you are and BLESSED you will always be and to God be all the GLORY. Amen!

LAZINESS WILL LEAD TO POVERTY  

​Proverbs 13:4 says , 

The soul of the sluggard (lazy) desires, and has nothing: but the soul of the diligent (persistent) shall be made fat (abundantly supplied). 

A lazy, irresponsible and undisciplined person is not one that does nothing, but one that does what he wants, when he wants. Eventually and gradually they become dependent on others for their living. 

 Laziness, irresponsibility and undisciplined comes about through bad habits, and bad habits have short-term benefits but long-term consequences.

“But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. But as  for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all”.{2 Thessalonians 3:6‭-‬16}

In Matthew CH-25, the parable of the talents, the Lord took account of His servants. He called the servant that did nothing wicked and slothful (lazy). The Lord associates Laziness with Wickedness. The Wicked will always be punished. 

Remember the Lord is well pleased with servants and stewards who are faithful, diligent and wise.

Continuing to show consistency and diligence in your prayers, church attendance, tithings, in your work at home, school and on the the job, etc.

Blessed you are and blessed you will always be and to God be all the glory. Amen!

Empower yourself 

​”But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We  are  hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we  are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal”.{2 Corinthians 4:7‭-‬18}

Accepting that life is challenging is a given.  Understanding that life is always going to throw you a curve ball does not mean that you stand by while the people most important to you treat you poorly.  That is called settling.  You are betraying yourself when you accept poor behavior.  You accept poor behavior because you tell yourself “that’s just how mama is and always will be” or ” they really don’t mean any harm”.  Believe it or not, it does cause harm. Each day that you settle and accept poor behavior towards you from your spouse, partner, friend, co-worker or whomever, it slowly chips away at who you are.  It chips away at your soul like a cancer, and if multiple people are constantly chipping away then slowly you will find that your soul has nothing left.  You have that numb feeling of indifference in your heart.
You know it’s happening.  It’s those days when you feel like crying and you have no idea why. Those days when you feel like you gave everything of yourself and you have nothing left to give.  It’s those days when you see the text messages coming in yet you don’t want to reply.  Or even those days when you are out with your friends or having a quiet night with your lover yet you still feel empty.  
There comes a time when you have to feed and replenish your soul.  You pray to heal the person mistreating you and yet nothing seems to change. It may seem as if your prayers are answered when they treat you well for a couple days but then it’s right back to the same stuff.  I challenge you to pray for your own strength and encouragement to make the changes you need to replenish your soul. Pray to gain insight and clarity so you can overcome whatever the fear is that is rendering you powerless to remove yourself from the people chipping away at your soul.  It is not selfish to take care of yourself and your needs.  You can no longer betray yourself.
It is time to take action without fear of judgement but with empowerment. As always, the choice is yours.
Jamillah Foulkes~Empower U

HOW TO WALK WITH GOD

Just a Closer Walk with the Lord
Genesis 5:24
And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
+How can we have a closer walk with the Lord?
John 14:23
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man LOVES me, he will KEEP my words: and my Father will LOVE him, and WE will come unto him, and make OUR abode with him.
ABODE: a place where someone lives or temporarily stays. 
+A closer walk with the Lord starts with total and complete Love for God and Obedience  to His Word.

THE BEST WAY IS TO DO THIS  IS TO BE OBEDIENT. THEREFORE , 

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which  is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”(Romans 12:1‭-‬2).

LISTEN

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with  her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with  Him. Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who  is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s”(1 Corinthians 6:15‭-‬20).

ALSO

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.[1 John 2:15‭-‬17]

+May we continue to love and obey the Lord Intentionally, Purposefully, Deliberately and Consistently. 
+And surely our lives will not only be an abode for the Lord but also a place where His Presence is Manifested.
•Continue to let the WORD of God be the standard for your life. Always LOVING others like Christ Jesus loves us while keeping our faith, trust and confidence in Him.
•BLESSED you are and BLESSED you will always be and to God be all the GLORY. Amen!

WHAT TO DO WHEN IT SEEMS  GOD IS SILENT

Sometimes our problems overwhelm to a point where we think that God don’t hear us,we forget that during a test the teacher is silent,yet watching closely at our every move.

Job got to that point,but he never gave up on God. He said , 

 “Even today my complaint is bitter; My hand is listless because of my groaning. Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat! I would present my case before Him, And fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which He would answer me, And understand what He would say to me. Would He contend with me in His great power? No! But He would take note of me. There the upright could reason with Him, And I would be delivered forever from my Judge. “Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him. But He knows the way that I take; When  He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food. “But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever  His soul desires, that He does. For He performs what  is  appointed for me, And many such things  are with Him. Therefore I am terrified at His presence; When I consider this, I am afraid of Him. For God made my heart weak, And the Almighty terrifies me; Because I was not cut off from the presence of darkness, And He did not hide deep darkness from my face”{Job 23:2‭-‬17}.

David’s  actions  when he got  to that point,

“Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. So David inquired of the Lord , saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all. ”{ 1 Samuel 30:1‭-‬8}.

Jesus  reaction when He got to that point  

“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.”  And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will. ” Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?  Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”  And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words”.[Matthew 26:36‭-‬44]

Those are three  examples, testimony ,and actions  of three people  who  went  through  the  test ,how they handle  it  and survive ,now go and do likewise .  NEVER GIVE  UP  ON  GOD,HE PROMISED  NEVER  TO LEAVE  NOR FORSAKE US.

LORD USE ME FOR YOUR GLORY

​Revelation 4:11 

You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for you have created all things, and  for your pleasure they are and were created. God has created all things for His pleasure. Is God getting pleasure from the life we are living?

We often go to God to ask Him for things. How about going to God and say to Him Lord what can I do for You? What can I give you? How can I serve you? Better yet Lord How can I please You?

To please God is to serve Him in His purpose, His will and His desires. For examples:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which  is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.(Romans 12:1‭-‬2)

Mark 12:30

Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. 

Oh, give thanks to the Lord , for He  is good! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the Lord of Lords! For His mercy endures forever: To Him who alone does great wonders, For His mercy endures forever; To Him who by wisdom made the heavens, For His mercy endures forever; To Him who laid out the earth above the waters, For His mercy endures forever; To Him who made great lights, For His mercy endures forever— The sun to rule by day, For His mercy endures forever; The moon and stars to rule by night, For His mercy endures forever. Who remembered us in our lowly state, For His mercy endures forever; And rescued us from our enemies, For His mercy endures forever; Who gives food to all flesh, For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.

Psalms 136:1‭-‬9‭, ‬23‭-‬26 

LISTEN

John 13:34 says to,

Love one another like Christ loves us.

Colossians 3:23 says,And whatsoever all of you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.

As proverbs 3:6 tells us, acknowledge Him in all our ways. Give Him thanksgivings, praises and worship. Let us not just continue to serve Him, but to serve Him only in ways that that please and give Him pleasure. Amen!

Blessed you are and blessed you will always be and to God be all the glory. Amen.

JUST PRAY

Prayers go where we can’t go,do what we can’t do,and above all it gives God permission to act or move on our behalf. He did say we have not because,we ask not. DID YOU PRAY ABOUT IT?

God said :

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” {Philippians 4:6‭-‬7}.

HOWEVER HE ALSO SAID:

“You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” {James 4:2‭-‬4}

THEREFORE:

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is  faithful, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us” [1 Thessalonians 5:16‭-‬25]

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel…..(Ephesians 6:14‭-‬19)

GODLY ADVISE:

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward those who  are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be  with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one”[Colossians 4:2‭-‬6]

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart…..(Luke 18:1)

HEALER 

Ask Jesus to heal you. Because, When Jesus heals,there is no side effects,nor after effects.

Heal me, O Lord , and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.{Jeremiah 17:14}

O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me. O Lord , You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Sing praise to the Lord , you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is  but  for a moment, His favor is  for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.{Psalms 30:2‭-‬5}

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord  for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing.[Psalms 107:19‭-‬22]

But He was  wounded for our transgressions, He  was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.[Isaiah 53:5]

who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed.[I Peter 2:24]

HOW TO GET RID OF YOUR BURDENS

​Getting  rid of stress,burdens ,and problems  is easy  as one ,two,three. God says to give it to Him.

“Cast your burden on the Lord , And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved” (Psalms 55:22).

Don’t  allow  the devil to tell you anything  different  from  what God said .  God said it,accept  it,believe  it , and do it .

GOD ALSO  SAID TO:

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.  To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.{1 Peter 5:6‭-‬11}

JESUS  PUTS IT THIS WAY:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”{Matthew 11:28‭-‬30}

What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. I know that nothing is  better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God. I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him. That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been; And God requires an account of what is past. Moreover I saw under the sun: In the place of judgment, Wickedness was there; And in the place of righteousness, Iniquity was there. I said in my heart, “God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, For there  is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”[Ecclesiastes 3:9‭-‬17]

CHILD OF GOD,LISTEN:

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? [1 John 5:2‭-‬5]

BENEFITS  OF FORGIVEN SINS

GOD PROMISE THAT.

“IF  My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place” {2 Chronicles 7:14‭-‬15}​.

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.{1 John 1:7‭-‬10}

when  we confess our sins,He forgives us,and the door  to His blessings  are open.

LISTEN  :
Blessed is  he  whose  transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord  does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there  is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord ,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters They shall not come near him. You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you. Many sorrows shall  be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the Lord , mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart! {Psalms 32:1‭-‬11}

Bless the Lord , O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord , O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So  that  your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. He will not always strive with  us, Nor will He keep His  anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As  for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the Lord  is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.[Psalms 103:1‭-‬7‭, ‬9‭-‬18]