WHAT ABOUT NAME < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

2 Samuel 9:1-13

Not long ago, you had all that it takes to live life and to live it well because everything was in place for you. Hardship had no place in your dictionary and anything you wanted was in place. Things have now changed compared to where you were then. Forgotten; no-way out; help is not in place neither in sight; hope dwindles; faith is failing; stagnation; living in shame and it just does not seem like there is a way out to where one as a believer wants to be. Above all this, without any iota of doubt, God is God. He is a wonderful God and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). Remember that and that will solve the whole pain. The name of Jesus is what makes the difference. He made us in His image (Genesis < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>1:27). He that names us in His image has a name that is meaningful, A name that transforms; a name that breaks through and a name that is power. If man has been made in His image, man should also answer a name that is meaningful; a name that communicates positively. Mephibosheth the grandson of King Saul, son of Jonathan answers a name that makes the whole difference in his life. The meaning of Mephiboseth is, ÒOne who destroys shameÓ. Once a grandson of the King, he lost his father, Jonathan, at age 5 and became grounded for years. Shame struggled to keep him down, but shame could not prevail because he was named a name that would make the difference. Most men, if not all, that were vessels of honor in the Bible answered and lived to the full meaning of their name. As a child of God, what is keeping you grounded? Mephibosheth because of his name and the grace of God caused King David to wake up one day without any prior notation to move to favor him. 2Samuel 9:1, ÒNow David said, ÔIs there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for JonathanÕs sake?ÕÓ God is a listener too. They called Mephibosheth shame destroyer and there was no choice but to go out of the way of shame. What people call you will make you. What is your name?

KNOW YOURSELF< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Exodus 17:1-7

When there is a clear understanding of what you are doing outside of God, then a work by the grace of God will be in place for readjustment. The book of Proverbs records in Proverbs 21:9, ÒIt is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, than in a house shared with a contentious woman.Ó Does this fit your description? To be contentious is a railroad for complaint to ride on. In the journey of life, the spirit of complaining will not give life, but rather absolute death. In the midst of unforeseen situation, who are you to complain to? What is it that can justify complaint over what you cannot control? The spirit of complaining is nothing but a negative approach unto the One and only One God that is in control of heaven and earth. Why roll over into complaining when you can ride on into praising and thanking Him for what He has done. When praising and thanking God for what He has done, His hand will be provoked to move in what you want from Him. The children of < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Israel who were delivered from Egypt were the greatest victim of complaint. Complaining did not take their life away in bondage, but it took it after they were out of bondage. What a victim! Complaint will not announce itself before it establishes itself inside the life of its victim. As recorded in Exodus 17:2-3, ÒTherefore the people contended with Moses, and said, ÒGive us water, that we may drink.Ó So Moses said to them, why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the LORD? 3 And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, ÒWhy is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?Ó It is evident that they started with contention before taking it to the level of complaining. Ask God to deliver you from every spirit of complain. Stay on track and do not get derailed. Commend Him and do not complain. Keep on praising Him and He will keep on raising you.

ENTER< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Matthew 14:22-33

After the feeding of five thousand, Jesus must have felt the need to put the disciples through a test of faith. To test them, He led them into a journey where He must have been aware of what was going to happen. The Bible records that, ÒImmediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes awayÓ (Matthew < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>14:22). He made them to go into the middle of a storm. After the boat was in the middle of the sea, in the middle of the night, at a point of no return, wind took over and fear and panic eroded faith. It was at the point of the troubling wave that Jesus began to take His walk on the water towards the disciples on the boat. Is your boat far from the land and in challenges where you cannot back out? If you can see that Jesus is already walking on top of your storm, you will be encouraged and strengthened. Jesus approached the disciples and gave them His Word not to be afraid. At that point, Peter asked from Jesus to join Him on the water. Jesus gave Peter the command to join on Him on the water. Peter entered into the command of God because it was given to him by Jesus, but Peter could not stand in what the Lord had given him because when he took his focus off of Jesus and looked into the storm, he saw fear and he was carried away by the fear. 2Timothy 1:7, ÒFor God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.Ó The Word did not say that He will give but the Word is saying He has given us a spirit of power, love and sound mind. What the Lord has given is in place for us to enter and to be in control over challenges. God is not a liar and His Word is true and amen. When a believer begins to take a conscious step into the promises of God, victory will always be in place. He has given us all that it takes to prevail if we will enter by faith. God is true and faithful to His Word.

ALL ABOUT NEEDS< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Exodus 16

What the Lord wants for you is to meet your needs. When a believer begins to seek after wants, the believer will be in want. The Psalmist confessed that, ÒThe Lord is my shepherd I shall not wantÓ (Psalm 23:1). All of the wanting zone is a dangerous zone for any believer that wants to avoid temptation. In the wilderness journey of the children of < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Israel, wanting what they left behind in Egypt instead of trusting God to meet their needs eventually led them into a death trap. The children of IsraelÕs remembrance of what they  were eating in Egypt (fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic – Numbers 11:5) was an evidence of  wants in them. In the case of the children of Israel, wanting what was not at hand landed them in a state of complaining. Complaining, which is an act of rebellion, is an every journey-terminator from getting to the Promised Land. GodÕs provision is always on time and always meeting needs. Paul, the apostle, confirmed it when he prayed in Philippians 4:19, ÒAnd my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.Ó The children of Israel, after their desire for a pot of meat and bread, were fed as God gave them His kind of bread and meat with the instruction to not to take more than needed  Despite GodÕs instruction that was enough for  meeting needs, some went above and beyond GodÕs instruction by taking more than needed. As a result of not following instruction, all the children that took more lost all that was taken (Exodus 16:18-21). God is a faithful God.  Are you experiencing a wilderness journey? Rest assured that God will not fail in supplying your needs. God is interested in meeting your needs if you will allow your want to rest for now until you get to the Promised Land. It is all about needs and the Lord God Almighty has everything we need.

FEET WASHER< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

John 13:1-20

Jesus was the Master of Masters that washed feet. As the feet washing Master, He passed it down to those who would follow Him; not just those that wanted to be a member of the multitudes. To learn and become a master feet washer, one has to be sitting at the feet of the Master at times without number. It is at the feet of Jesus where every believer will have to sit before learning to become a true follower of Jesus. Jesus confirmed in Luke < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>10:42, ÒBut one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.Ó Jesus was letting Martha know that it was not all about the work of service. At the feet of Jesus, a believer will get what cannot be taken away. Also, it is at the feet of Jesus that a believer can sit and learn all that it takes to become a master feet washer. Jesus preached by example and was demonstrating by example when He offered to wash His disciplesÕ feet. Peter attempted to deny Jesus from washing his feet. John 13:8-9, ÒPeter said to Him, ÒYou shall never wash my feet!Ó Jesus answered him, ÒIf I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.Ó 9 Simon Peter said to Him, ÒLord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!Ó As a believer who has answered the call of salvation, without being schooled at the school of washing feet, there will be no way to having a part with the Lord. Jesus has released all the lessons that it takes for a man to be a feet washing master. If a believer will learn to constantly go to the feet of Jesus that is embedded in the Bible, they will become a master washing feet. Have you been called to be a master that washes feet? Any struggle with self in getting down and washing the feet of those who the Lord has placed under your calling is a demonstration of emptiness. Jesus is the Word of God and the Word that He spoke to them in the Bible days is still speaking to all who have been called to follow today. To know how to wash feet is all it will take for pride not to prevail over humility. Spend time on the Word of God and you will discover that it is all about humility.