Opportunity Knocks

Most of us are prepared when opportunity knocks. I've always heard people say, "you don't have to get ready if you stay ready." If we are actively preparing ourselves for what's next, we welcome opportunities to grow and improve ourselves. What if you find yourself unprepared? You've got to start somewhere. Chalk it up as a missed opportunity and learn from your mistakes. What can you do today to better yourself? Take a class. Learn that new language. Update your resume. Do something. Prepare. Opportunity is knocking. 

Open Door

Revelation 3:8 ESV “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

 

Sometimes, opportunities disguise themselves as change. It may be a new school, a new job, a new house, or simply something outside of your comfort zone. God usually blesses us outside of our realm of understanding, comfort, and ability. Don't sell yourself short. Don't limit yourself. Don't overthink it. Be obedient. Listen. Move when God says move. Speak when God says speak. Go where God tells you to go. It won't make sense, but it will work out. Be patient. Every door isn't your door. Know that when it's your time, no one can hinder you. Walk boldly through your open door.

What's Next?

Perspective is everything. Do you have an optimistic or pessimistic perspective? Is the glass half full or half empty? Are you hopeful or do you expect the worst? Do you feel that the game is rigged or do you have a fighting chance? What's next? Do you have plans? Are you moving forward or are you waiting on life to happen? Are you defeated or did you just lose one battle? What's next? Do you see God's favor or do you simply see another closed door? Do you understand God's providence and sovereignty or do you only see consequences? Is your God punishing you or preparing you? What's next? Is your latter greater? What's next? Are you looking forward to what's next or focusing on what's already happened? What's next? Are those dreadful words of damnation or declarations? What's next?

Neutral

Revelation 3:15-16 "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."

I've only put my car in neutral when I needed my car to be towed. I've only used that gear when I wanted to relinquish control of my vehicle to another party. Many of us live our lives in neutral. We don't pass go. We don't stay parked. We just exist. We give others the reins. We give others permission to say and do as they wish concerning our lives. We give away our power when we remain in neutral. We are lukewarm when we are undecided. We are lukewarm when we are not passionate. We are lukewarm when we feel defeated. We are lukewarm when we watch injustice in silence. We are lukewarm when we are neutral. 

New Normal

New Normal is a term in business and economics that refers to financial conditions following the financial crisis of 2007-2008 and the aftermath of the 2008–2012 global recession. The term has since been used in a variety of other contexts to imply that something which was previously abnormal has become commonplace.

What's your new normal? What is America's new normal? I remember when profanity was not a commonplace for primetime tv. I remember when songs had clean versions not just radio edits. I remember when games were criticized for excessive violence. I remember when rap music was the subject of congressional hearings. I remember when social meant human interaction. I remember when "live entertainment" did not include being a witness to murder and police brutality. Our new normal has desensitized us. Our new normal doesn't value life. Our new normal doesn't value family. Our new normal doesn't celebrate our differences. Our new normal is fear. Our new normal has created no expectation of justice. Our new normal is depression. Our new normal is violence. Our new normal is distraction. Our new normal is self destruction.

Malum

Ephesians 6:12  (KJV) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

I think that sometimes we forget that Lucifer was an angel. I think we are ignorant of the fact that spiritual warfare is real. I think we substituted faith for crystals. We use "energy" in the place of spirit. We have forgotten that the battlefield is in our minds. Our souls are at stake. Our humanity is being challenged. Our character is being tested. Execution is the cost of fear. Detention is the cost of being an immigrant. Torment is the cost of being a minority. 

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) 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.

Mass Incarceration

• 1921 -Black Wall Street Internment Camps
• 1934- Holocaust Jewish Internment Camps
• 1942 -World War II-Japanese Internment Camps
• 2018- Immigrant Child Detention Facilities

There is nothing new under the sun. The world has an ugly history of hate. This hate has been directed at minorities for years. Fear what's different. Rape. Pillage. Colonize. We've always stolen each other's resources. We've always been afraid of change. We've always enslaved. We've always murdered and lynched under the guise of medical experiments or government sanctions. We have a history of oppression and privilege masked as tradition and laws. This is America. This is the world we live in. What are we gonna do about it?