Just Standing

What do you do?
When you've done all you can
And it seems like it's never enough?
And what do you say
When your friends turn away,
You’re all alone?
Tell me, what do you give
When you've given your all,
And seems like
You can't make it through?

Stand and be sure
Be not entangled in that bondage again
You just stand, and be sure.
God has a purpose.
Yes, God has a plan.

Tell me what do you do
When you've done all you can
And it seems like you can't make it through
Child you just stand
You just stand
Stand
Don't you give up
Through the storm, through the rain
Through the hurt, through the pain

I understand your traditional daily devotion quote scriptures not song lyrics
but this is what best describes my situation, and anyone who knows me can tell you I am anything but traditional.

I haven't been writing these devotions lately because of all I have been going through, because of all I am going through. It is often hard to be an inspiration to someone else when you are going through something and need some inspiring yourself. But this is exactly what I need to be doing at this time.

I won't put all my personal family business out there in this entry, but I will say the enemy has been attacking from every angle. Let me re-state that, I can't continue to give the enemy that much power. Some things God lets you go through, to sharpen you, to strength you, to build you up to your blessing. My pastor, Dr. George D. Crenshaw always says (if I may paraphrase a little) 'God will bring you up to your blessing He will never bring your blessing down to you' and 'We pray to go to another level, for our territory to increase, but are we prepared to do what God requires of us to get there'

It takes some preparation. God has to sharpen you, another minister, Rev. Darren Moore of Greater Centennial AME Zion Church in Mount Vernon, New York while preaching at a revival here in Georgia compared the process to a brand new pencil being sharpened in an electric pencil sharper.

That pencil had to be cut, grinded and sharpened to go from the state it was in the box or desk drawer. From a rounded piece of wood to be able to be used as a writing instrument. The same is true with us.

I posted the lyrics to Donnie McClurkin's hit song Stand
because with all that is goin on in my life. I have decided to take God at His word, and stop looking for the plan b, c, and d and truly put my life in Gods hands and lean on him instead of on my own understanding.

I could never understand people who said stuff like that when I was younger; I actually thought something was wrong with them to tell the truth. Or better yet always looked at it as something people just say to you when they have nothing better to say. But it has taking me along time to get here but this is where I find myself this morning.

I am goin to Stand and not give up
Through the storm, through the rain
Through the hurt, through the pain

I am goin to praise and pray my way out of this
and outside all earthly reasoning and human logic
I know everything is going to be ok,
actually much better than ok
I know on the other end of this storm
I am goin to be much better and much stronger,

For the first time the light is actually the other end of the tunnel and not an oncoming train as has been the case for a while.

My former pastor Louis Hunter, who went on to be Bishop always said (and again I am paraphrasing)
Your current situation or predicament is not your permanent position!

Why am I writing this, and what does this have to do with any of you
I am trying to explain and show by example
It is much easier to minister to other, speak inspirationally or just give advice when you are doing well. But God wants us to share our testimonies not only after the storm but sometime while we are goin through the storm.

A few people because God has used me as an instrument to say just what they needed to get them through that day or maybe the rest of the week, give them the strength to go on, because they didn’t know me before, look at me at some I wont use the word saint but like I have it all together.

The point of this exercise to let them know I am just a work in progress just like them
And even after all I have said to them
I was trying to do it all on my own
And I had to just Stand!

Let Go and Let God is more than a cause popular spiritual saying on a bumper sticker now, I actually know what that means and I am trying hard to but that into action.
For those who want to judge me for my many mistakes I quote Steve Harvey
DONT TRIP, HE AINT THROUGH WITH ME YET

and to all of you who wanna know and have been asking me how I'm doin.....
I am just standing right now!!!!!!