Losses to Gains

But God's free gift is not at all to be compared to the trespass...For if many died through one man's falling away--his lapse, his offense--much more profusely did God's grace and the free gift [that comes] through...Jesus Christ, abound and overflow to and for [the benefit of] many.

– Romans 5:15

If you ever, ever need someone to tell you how to turn things around... the go to person is: God. Believe me, He's an expert on the subject. He has suffered more losses than anyone who's ever lived. True?

Just take a quick second to think about it. 

He lost Lucifer, His top-ranked, most anointed angel. And He lost at least a third of His other angels as well when Lucifer fell. 

Then He lost the man and woman He had created (Adam & Eve); and because He'd given them dominion over the earth, when He lost them, He lost it too. 

It don't matter which way you slice the pie,(mmmm Pie!!)  that's a lot of real estate lost!!!

Yet, in spite of all that, God is not a loser. (Go ahead, put the "L" up to your forehead, you know you want to...haha) 

He's the greatest winner of all time. 

Do you know why? 

Because He knows how to turn things around. He knows how to use the law of giving and receiving to transform losses into gains. Yes!!!

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over" (Luke 6:38).

That's Crazy? He has the Power to redeem His things, those things He lost. 

He had all wisdom and all power available to Him. Out of all that, the law of giving is what He chose to use. (What??)

He gave the most irreplaceable thing He had: His only Son (Jesus). Then He backed that gift with His own faith. And when the law of giving and receiving had done its work, the Almighty God received not only His first begotten Son, but millions of other sons and daughters as well.

That Preaches!!! Good Preachin' White-Boy!!

Don't despair over your losses. Redeem them the same way God redeemed His. Give and put the most powerful principle in the universe to work for you.

Sow... You need finances, sow finances... You need love, sow love... You need help, sow serving. God is on your side and wants the very best for your life!!!

Until next time, chew on this Soul Food.

Blessings,

Burk

You Are Special

What we have seen and [ourselves] heard we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And [this] fellowship that we have (which is a distinguishing mark of Christians) is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

– 1 John 1:3

Did you know that you were created as something really special? 

He is made you and I in the image of Himself. 

We were designed and made to have fellowship with God.

I've actually heard people say that God made man just so He'd have someone to dominate and lord over. 

Yo!! Really??

God is not a dominator. God is love (the bible says that) and love needs to give to someone. That's why God made man.... He made us so He could give us His love.

God could have given His love to the angels, and He did that. But giving to angels didn't provide total fulfillment. Why? Because angels aren't made in His image.

You know we're made the same way. It's true!!!

Here's an example: you have a puppy as a pet. (Mine jsut happens to be Leah my Bully!!) You can fellowship and love on that little pet... just so much... but then there comes a time when you need to talk to somebody. (Your puppy becomes Wilson..Cast Away) There comes a time when you need to have communication on your own level.

The reason you're like that is because you've been created in the image of God. That's how He is. That's what He does. He has a desire to fellowship with someone like Himself... That's good preachin'!!

This week, today, strive to believe you're something really special --a one-of-a-kind creation made by God in His very own image. Reach out to receive His love and expect to be able to love Him back!!!

You are Special....

Have a blessed week, and enjoy this Soul Food Blog!!!

Blessings,

Burk

Is your Devotion out of Desperation or Love?

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

– Colossians 3:2

We as Americans strive so hard in life... just so we can posess "Things"!!!

More, more, more!!! Things, things, things!!! A better job. More Money. A bigger house. New clothes for the kids. A New i-phone 4. A new i-pad 2 . A bigger, better television. Surround Sound... (In my case, new Studio Gear!! haha)

You feelin' me?

As Christians we have learned to believe God to prosper us in such a degree that we have too many "Things" that keep us distracted. 

We end up spending all our time and energy on the "things" in our lives that we give our attention and affections to this natural world... instead of the things of the Spirit.

Whoa!!! Whoa!!! (I'm not against these things.... Hear me out)

When Kian and I first started living by faith, life was TOUGH!!! 

We were young and broke,(some of you right now are sayin'" Hey, I'm young and broke too..") so it was easy for us to dedicate ourselves to prayer and to the Word. 

But as we began to honor God's Word, He began to honor and prosper us. 

We came to the place where we were no longer desperate. (I see your wheels turnin'...)

Then came the real test of our faith. 

Are we serving God out of our love for Him... instead of our desperation?

Through this whole process we found one thing: It takes a lot more dedication to serve God when you're prosperous than it takes when you're desperate!!!

(I don't care who you are... That Preaches!!)

There's a constant temptation to get caught up in earthly "Things" that your desire for the things of the Spirit fade into the background.

As the blessings of the Lord come your way, remember, God has not trained you in His Word so you can consume it on your own selfish lusts. 

He has revealed His Word to you, so you can walk in the Spirit and do the job, He's called you to do.

Don't let the "Things" of this world cause you to miss out on the things of the Spirit. Get your priorities in line with God being the first. 

Set your mind on things above, and you'll discover just how great life was really meant to be!!!

Have a blessed week, and chew on this Soul Food!!!

Burk