Warrior Seeds for Obstacles...

Proverbs 10:22
The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Isaiah 58:2
Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.

Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah

Psalm 61:8
So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

Proverbs 16:9
A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

Proverbs 3:5-7

⁵Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

⁶In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

⁷Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Matthew 17:19-21

¹⁹Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

²⁰And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

²¹Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Obstacles: How Do You Know When To Give Thanks or Gear Up Your Faith?

Hello again.  The Warrior's Table is set once again after a brief delay.  It may be another few weeks for another posting, but, for now, let's dig in. 

In April 1989, my parents and I visited the campus of Huston-Tillotson University (it was College back then) and figured it was the next step in my educational path after I graduated from Brookhaven that May with my Associate's Degree.  But then my parents ran into some challenges when it came to how this was going to be possible financially.  I remember my mother coming to me on Sunday, August 6, 1989, sad to tell me that I might not be able to go to HTC in the Fall, but in the Spring.  But Gregory Forster, Jr. was not going to take this lying down, not if Matthew 17:20-21
had anything to do with it.  I went to fasting and praying from that point, believing God was going to work it out.  Monday, no new news; Tuesaday, no new news; Wednesday, no new news.  I still was determined to go to Austin, Texas and have this new experience.  Thursday came, with no new news, but that Friday, August 11,here comes my mother to tell me to pack!  We leave for Austin in the morning!

Let's fast-forward 20 years to see this same individual about to graduate with his Master of Arts in Teaching from Dallas Baptist University.  He had plans to teach some aspiring 5th graders who needed to master English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) in their educational pursuits.  I felt like I built good rapport with this age group and this would be my entry into the same educational arena from which his grandparents and aunt.  Besides having to find an internship at a school somewhere to complete certification, all I had to do was to pass the practice test with an 85% or better, both in the ELAR arena and Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) area.  I passed the PPR without a problem, but thatr ELAR test kept defying me.  The highest score I was able to get was 74%, and that was at the 4th atrtempt.  My score was MUCH lower on the 5th and last try.  I fasted and prayed like I did in 1989 to move that mountain out of my way, but then it came to me:  you REALLY DO NOT have the proper countenance for these type of kids.  You get easily irritated with the way most behave as 10 or 11 or 12-year-olds, you know, natural tendencies.  Uh, no, sir.  You have the ability to teach others, yes, but not 4-8 ELAR.  God showed His faithfulness to me (Proverbs 3:5) by making me "fail" the practice test for ELAR so as to avoid making myself and those boys and girls miserable, possibly making the school focus on me at the next round of layoffs. 

Take a look and see if there have been many challenges in your life that either caused you to lean on The LORD and grow or that might hav come about because you continue to fight for something that GOD doesn't want you to have.  Either way, folks, He gets ALL the glory because of His goodness.  He wants us to go down the right paths that benefit you and your family, even your own company.  Look at what Proverbs 16:9 says, "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps." And if we say we trust Him, we need to know what is happening in our day-to-day lives.  That is why we need to be in His face EVER' day so that we hear His voice (Psalm 61:8, Psalm 68:19, Isaiah 58:2) and know that, uh, yeah; He knows what IS best for us.  I ever will go as far as to say that He even will put us in a situation so that Satan know who truly does have a relationship with Him and will not renounce their faith in Him, no matter what, just like in Job 1.  And when we do make it to the other side, we give Him praise... and the devil a black eye.

So take assessment, ladies and gentlemen, and really look at things.  What things are sharpening your faith in Him?  Then look at the things that "aren't working".  If you really think about it, filtering the "obstacle" through Proverbs 10:22, how does it play out?  Would their be too many things sacrificed or taken away that adversely affect you and the family?  How would it affect your health, especially your spiritual health?  If you hear that Holy Ghost "No." or "Not yet", don't fight it.  Accept it, then let Him take you doen the right path

Stop Trying To Measure Up and Start Looking Up

Spring is approaching in a few weeks, and if you love the season like I do, you are anticipating all the new flower blossoms, the littering of Blue Bonnets all over our city and the feel and fragrant winds that announces new beginnings are, uh, beginning.  I think about this and I say to myself, "Every year, this event has always taken place.  Treee and flowers and grasses do this every dawining of Spring without thought or podering.  I wouldn't believe that they wonder if they will truly be the best blossom or the longest branch or the tallest tree or flower.  It's God's will to have these things done these things at the appropriate time and accordance to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

So, why don't we take a lesson from the flora and fauna that surrounds us, shall we?  What do we know about the flowers, the trees, the shrubs and other plants?  First thing, the were made in their unique design as God designated them to have, they were created to not only show God's glory but to also continually lift themselves up to give God His due praise and worship, they maintain their beauty in the midst of any storm and were meant to be shared so that others can experience and appreciate their beauty.  This requires sacrificing what would be considered familiar surroundings or "habitat", if you will, being cut off of the familiar and transporting to an unfamiliar land to serve a higher purpose. 

When you are "thrown" into certain things in life, especially if a promotion, marriage, becoming a new parent, or even a new job comes through, you need to remember to look up and say, "Thank you, Lord," just like it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18.  I know it sounds crazy or even idiotic to do so, especially if thins ain't going too good, but guess what that does?  It allows The Lord room to come in and help you (Proverbs 3:5), it confuses the devil (Ephesians 4:26-27) and it makes it possible for you to be encourgaed and empowered to make it through (Psalm 71:20-22).  Apparently, God has turned the "heat" up a little so as to develop more of Him in you and to bring you closer to that victory you have been seeking Him for (1 Corinthians 3:13-15; James 1:2-4).  So, like the flowers and trees which need rain to grow,  give God thanks.

You need to remember who and what you are in God.  You were made in His image (Gen 1:26-27), He took great care in your own unique design (Psalm 139:14), and already knew not just what you would look like, but the things you would go through (Isaiah 46:9-10, Ecclesiastes 3:14, Jeremiah 29:11).  You may have just gotten married recently or a new bundle of joy has entered your world, or maybe you have had a burden put upon your heart to begin a ministry or to do something to enhance the one in which you are participating.  It is natural to feel a little inadequate at first if you are even properly equipped or qualified for those or other tasks.  But check it out:  "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness, and If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him, and Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." 

It's real simple, folks.  You don't have it within yourself to do any task of any kind.  It's only by God's grace that gets the job done, the things that come without thinking as well as the things that drive you to your knees to ask the LORD, "How am I supposed to do this?"  Just like the new flowers and tree blossoms, you need to get rooted and grounded in Christ (Colossians 2:7) so that you are steadfast and unmovable, especially in a storm (1 Cor. 15:58) and still come up beautiful and radiant (Job 23:10).  So when you have that aroma of Spring come across your nose, remember to smile and say, "I'm not going to worry about measuring up.  I'm just going to look up."

Stop Trying To Measure Up - Wisdom Seeds

Romans 8:28



²⁸And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

¹⁸In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you

Proverbs 3:5

⁵Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Ephesians 4:26-27

²⁶Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

²⁷Neither give place to the devil

Psalm 71:20-21

²⁰Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

²¹Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

1 Corinthians 3:13-15

¹³Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

¹⁴If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

¹⁵If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

James 1:2-4

²My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

³Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

⁴But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Gen 1:26-27

²⁶And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

²⁷So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Psalm 139:14

¹⁴I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Isaiah 46:9-10

⁹Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

¹⁰Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

 Ecclesiastes 3:14

¹⁴I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

 Jeremiah 29:11

¹¹For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Colossians 2:7

¹¹For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

1 Cor. 15:58

⁵⁸Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Job 23:10

¹⁰But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Humility: The Greatest Offense

The rumors about the disappearance of "The Warrior's Table"are greatly exaggerated.  But the delay of this post somewhat plays into this posting TODAY, the day before the 3rd Anniversary of my wife and I (I love you, baby).  First off, The Word of God is a living book, folks, plain and simple.  It is more than just a string of words in chapter and verse form.  Jesus told us the words that He spoke were spirit and life (John 6:63) and if you truly study this Word daily, it will add life to your, uh, life.  Since I met my wife almost 7 years ago, I learned that the biggest problem I had was pride.  I always thought myself to be better than everyone, lived on a higher plane of existance and because of who I was, I was the man to which you should genuflect.  But she loved me enough to tell me, uh, bring it down, bruh.  It's not that serious.   I had two choices to make:  either I hold on to my pride and continue to think myself a legend in my own mind, or I step back, take a good look at myself and say, "huh.  I guess she's right.  I do need to bring it down, and more than just 1 notch".

So, then, let's really take a look at what that state of mind had brought me:  No close friends, the people of whom I thought I was better actually went on to realize great success in their choice of career, not just working a job, and I had nothing that I said I would have by now.  Putting fear to the side for a minute, this is the fruit of pride, ladies and gentlemen (Psalm 59:12-13, Proverbs 13:10, Proverbs 16:18).  It accomplishes nothing, it is fruitless, it requires too much energy to operate through pride, folks.  And, above all else, it keeps God out of your life (1 Samuel 2:2-4, Psalm 12:3, Psalm 138:6, Proverbs 6:16-17).  It causes family arguments, marriages to break up, friendships to be destroyed, and people who were prominent at a point of time to be vanquished.  Look at King Nebbekinezzer, Moses, John The Baptist, Hitler, Stalin, Al Capone, just to name a few.

Have you taken a look around at the things that have been happening in our world, in our country, in our city?  I would truly be afraid to live this life without God having my back.  So I had to learn that the best way to stay under God and His protection is to humble myself before Him.  If I am going to win the fight, I need to "lose it" by giving it and ME over to the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6).  I am sure that you would agree that if our carnal nature wasn't something with which we need to contend (Romans 8:6-7, Romans 7:5-6) it would be an easy thing to do, yes.  But check this out:  you don't need to rely on your own strength to humble yourself (Matthew 19:26).  I think that is the coolest thing around.  The Lord God that created the universe wants to help us through the Holy Spirit to humble ourselves before Him.  The thing He wants us to do by choice gets propmted in us by that which is not carnal.  That's awesome!

OK, so what does this have to do with humility being the greatest offense?  Well, think about it:
can a contentious person continue to be so if you remain humble and do not raise your voice?  Does it make you a reliable employee when you always show a positive willingness to take on every task you're asked to assume?  Aren't disagreements settled faster when one decides to stop trying to "win"?  and what room does the devil have when you choose to do things in humility?  Proverbs 17 pretty much says it all because humility is a misunderstood form of love.  What does love, patience, and humility do? It forgives (Proverbs 10:12, 17:9), it endures hardship (2 Thessalonians 1:3-5), it brings about promotion and great reward (Job 22:28-30, Proverbs 29:23, Matthew 23:11-12), it bows out of a fight gracefully and let's God fight the battles (Isaiah 54:17-18, 2 Chronicles 20:15, 1 Corinthians 6:7), knows who they are, no matter what words of hate and lies are thrown (Ezekiel 2:5-7, Galatians 3:26-27) and it gives room for God to get and stay involved (2 Chronicles 7:14-15, Psalm 10:17, Isaiah 57:15, Colossians 3:12-13).  If you stay on your knees and cry out to God, how can you lose?

It is the man who refuses to bend that gets knocked down first.  It is the stiff-standing one that the stiff wind can topple.  It is the one who tries to rise above everyone by standing on their heads that has no where else to go but down.  But if you bow down and stay down, you keep yourself on steady and sturdy ground, with your enemies tripping over you and each other.  Why not?  Isn't God bigger that everything life can throw at you anyway? 

Warriors Seeds - Humility: The Greatest Offense

Proverbs 13:9-11

King James Version (KJV)

⁹The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
¹⁰Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
¹¹Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

 

2 Kings 22:18-20

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁸But to the king of Judah which sent you to enquire of the LORD, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard;
¹⁹Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.
²⁰Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.

2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 12:7
And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.

Psalm 9:11-13

King James Version (KJV)

¹¹Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.
¹²When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
¹³Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:

Proverbs 29:22-23

King James Version (KJV)

²²An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
²³A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

James 4:10-11

King James Version (KJV)

 
¹⁰Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
¹¹Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge

"Remember To Love Yourself"

Sunday Morning, February 12, 2012, I had the distinct honor and privilege to share a testimony with the congregants of Lifepointe Church in Crowley, TX.  Pastor Guy Earle, the Pastor of Counseling of my home church, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, invited me to Lifepointe's Recovery Sunday as a way to launch thier new Recovery Ministry for their churchgoers.  I received so much love from Senior Pastor Chuck, Elder Brother Bob and all the people who came to both the early and 2nd service.  After sharing my testimony on how God set me free from things that had me bound and Pastor Earle bringing the sermon about aligning yourself with God and what that brings, brought more love to both of us from those who either knew they needed to be set free, who were on their way to their victory or who were now in "maintenance mode" after being set free and delivered.  God is so awesome, folks.  Do you know the love that our Creator has for you and me?  We sang "Friend of God" this morning and we all just opened up in praise and thanks to Him because He is our BEST FRIEND!  Think about that for a minute.  You are rolling with the One who said, "Let there be..." and made the universe what it is in all its splendor.  But I digress.

I made mention about Tuesday being Valentine's Day and encouraged everyone, as they go on their love missions for that day, that they remember to love themselves.  In this context, I was trying to convey that they need to look at themselves as people of worth, of significance, of one of God's loveliest creations.  One of the best ways to show love to yourself is by taking care of yourself, especially if you have something within yourself that you are struggling with and need to be set free from it.  Look at Proverbs 13:2-3 and Ezekiel 2:5-6 for a second.  A lot of us have grown up with people who didn't love themselves so they said many hurtful things to us, about us and others.  If the latter Scripture was something that was instilled in us while under the barrage of piercing words, perhaps we wouldn't be saying the negative things we say to ourselves when it's just you and the four walls.  Proverbs 13:2-3 tells us that we will live out the words we say duing those times.  It accounts for those of us that are overweight, have an addiction or hangup, have difficulty relating to people, and keeping relationships together.  Take a moment and reflect on that for a moment before going on to the next paragraph.  You might surprise yourself.

Folks, Jesus tell us to love one another, the way that people will know you are his disciples.  Why can't this principle be turned inwardly?  Why can't we do right by ourselves in the same way we show love to other people?  Why can't you tell yourself how special you are?  Why can you not tell yourself you are worth taking care of yourself health-wise?  Why not be honest with yourself and God that you have things in your heart that need to be purged, hangups that need to be hung up permanently, addictions that need to be conquered?  If you are mad at God, tell Him that.  Believe it or not, He wants us to be honest and raw with Him (not Eddie Murphy or Richard Pryor raw); that's why He told us to cast all of our care on Him (1 Peter 5:7) so that He gets the room He needs to help set us free.  We are not to suffer alone, folks.  Hiding yourself away from people does nothing but allow Satan to play the mind games, the blame game, the shame game, and every other game he can to keep you bound.  We can't go out like that.

If the words of Leviticus 19:17-18 do not abide in your heart, tell God first, then seek someone like a counselor or a pastor to confess it so as to be free from it.  If you don't feel God's love around you and in you, tell Him and that same person.  You can't make yourself stand in faith in God's Word?  Speak it out.  Things are not like they were in the 1970s or 1980s when saying you had a problem in the church labels you a heretic, a reprobate, and one who isn't truly walking with God, despite the "church folks" who may say otherwise.  There is freedom to be had and lived day by day.  There IS life to be lived in happiness, joy, and peace.You have to choose to discover it for yourself and DO it for yourself.  Others around you will be blessed when you do because what you do or DON'T do DOES affect other lives besides your own.  Remember that.  Show love to your significant other on Valentine's Day, but starting TODAY, take the time to love yourself and continue therein day by day.