The Incubation Period

When babies are born too early, they are called premature infants or preemies. Preemies are placed in an incubator. The incubator simulates the mother's womb in the way that it keeps the preemie warm, allows the preemie to grow and nurture. The preemie does not come out of the incubator until that nurturing and growth takes place. I like to call this the Incubation Period.
Many of us go through an incubation period and don't realize what it is. You may ask, "Carol, what are ...you talking about?" I am talking about a spiritual incubation period. Sometimes, we go through an incubation period (problems, a personal struggle) so we can take time out to be nurtured and grow within the Word. During that incubation period you may struggle in your finances, your relationships, struggle in life, period. That incubation period gives you an opportunity to allow God to nurture you, so you can grow in the Word and grow your relationship with God. Those who you believe you can depend on may fall away during your incubation period but that is alright because God is all you need. We have God to depend on. He wants us to lean and to depend on Him concerning all matters within our lives.

Many have asked me what have I done to cause many of my struggles. My answer today is I needed an incubation period. Thank you Lord for my incubation period! Thank you for the opportunity to learn more about You, to grow in You and to grow my relationship with You! Thank you for loving me and never leaving me! Thank you for allowing me to realize that You are all I need! Thank you Lord for taking me out of the incubator! This is my time and my season!. Thank you for planting the seeds within me so I may always have a harvest! Thank You most of all for your grace and your mercy!
I hope this message reaches someone who needs to hear this today. May God bless.

When Tragedy Strikes

     Life is filled with ups and downs, hills and valleys. Globally, we are faced with recent tragedies such as the deaths of young children left in cars, the fighting in Ukraine and Israel and  the airplane crash of Malaysia flight 17. First, I would like to offer my sincerest condolences to all of those who have lost loved ones within the aforementioned tragedies, as well as others not listed. May God grant you peace during your time of mourning.

     We as humans are born to die and leave this earth, but what about our spiritual lives?  When I learned of these tragedies, my first thought was to pray for their souls. In my prayer, I claimed that each of those individuals knew Jesus Christ and reached out to Him during their last moments. My next prayer was for the families and loved ones of those who died to receive God's mercy, grace, peace and comfort. No doubt, the pain, anger and void felt by those who mourn is simply unmeasurable but there is nothing left to do for those who are lost to us. My focus and concern  now rests on those left behind.

     As Christians, we are prime targets for Satan. He wants you to believe that God will not stand by His promises and that God's Word is a lie. He will use tragedies such as these to attempt to convince you of this. Satan's primary goal and only objective is to steal, kill and destroy. It is during these times that we need to hold-fast to what we know is true. What do we know?

          "Now may God himself, the God of peace, make you pure, belonging only to him. May your whole self - spirit, soul and body- be kept safe and without fault when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. You can trust the One who calls you to do that for you." I Thessalonians 5:23-24

            "I am with you and will protect you everywhere you go and will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." Genesis 28:15

           "The only temptation that has come to you is that which everyone has. But you can trust God, who will not permit you to be tempted more than you can stand. But when you are tempted, he will also give you a way to escape so that you will be able to stand." I Corinthians 10:13

     As long as you do the will of Satan and live under the Spirit of the Law of Sin and Death, Satan will not come for you because he already has you. But, as long as we believe in Jesus Christ and live according to His word, then Satan will come after us with everything he's got. Once Jesus Christ died on the cross, not only did he save us from all of our sins but He also took Satan down. Satan no longer has a hold on you through sin unless you invite him. This is what the Word says:

            "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his great power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can fight against the devil's evil tricks. Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world's darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world. That is why you need to put on God's full armor. Then on the day of evil you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing." Ephesians 6:10-13

          "Dear children, do not let anyone lead you the wrong way. Christ is all that is right. So to be like Christ a person must do what is right. The devil has been sinning since the beginning, so anyone who continues to sin belongs to the devil. The Son of God came for this purpose: to destroy the devil's work."         I John 3:7-8

     One cannot allow grief and anger regarding your personal tragedy, to separate you from the love of God for He cares for you. If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, there is no better time like the present. Psalm 91:14-15 says, " The Lord says, "Whoever loves me, I will save. I will protect those who know me. They will call to me and I will answer them. I will be with them in trouble: I will rescue them and honor them." Also, 2 Corinthians 4:9 says, "We are persecuted, but God does not leave us. We are hurt sometimes, but we are not destroyed." Satan may use this tragedy to come after you but you don't have to follow him. Instead, follow The One who created you, gave you life and has protected you even from the womb. He knows all about you and wants nothing but the best for you. You may be going through a storm right now but God cares for you and will not leave you to handle it all alone. Trust God and He will carry you through this and every other storm that lies ahead.

Prayer of Salvation
"Dear Jesus,

I believe in You. I believe You are the Son of God, that You died for my sins, and that You were buried and rose again as written in the Bible. I'm sorry for sinning against You. Forgive me for all my sins. Come into my heart. Take charge of my life and make me the way You want me to be. I repent of my sins. I confess You now as my Lord and Savior. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Thank You, Jesus! In Jesus' Name, Amen.



READ     *    PRAY    *     TRUST     *     OBEY  

Living in Your Faith

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen"( Hebrews 11:1). As believers in Christ Jesus, you have already exhibited faith in a man you have never met. You believe that He died on the cross for you and took your sins to the grave with Him. You also believe that he rose on that 3rd day and is preparing a place for you in heaven. This is the basis of Christian faith. Now, how much has your faith increased since you have taken this great leap of faith? Does it still go beyond what you can see? Does your faith go beyond what you can do?

You will find, as I have, that not all Christians believe or have the same amount of faith that you have. Some Christians still believe that God's grace and mercy is gained through what you do or don't do. Others believe regardless of what they do, God's grace and mercy are always available. Which do you believe? I believe what my Bible tells me. Everyone has to live according to their beliefs. Just because your faith isn't at the same level as mine and vice versa doesn't mean either of us is wrong. I cannot judge you for where you are in God and no one can judge me either. Judgment is God's job. But it is my pleasure to let you know that you don't have to limit your blessings from God.

The past year and a half has been a great struggle for me in the sense that I was unemployed with two small children to care for. I had no income since October 2013, was unable to gain an interview much less a job, I was losing the home I had for my family and my car was stolen. I was in a great deal of physical pain from the fall I had taken in March of the same year and was receiving little to no help from anyone I thought I could depend on.  I would always read my Bible but it was sporadic and I didn't really take the words and message into my heart. I didn't allow God's Word to manifest and reap a harvest.

Then one day while I was watching Creflo Dollar on TBN, I had an ah-ha moment. I realized I had to forget what I thought to be true all of my life. I would always hear in the church that faith without works is dead. It would be explained to me that you had to do something in order for God to do something for you.  Knowing all of the sins I committed in my lifetime, I thought there would never be anything I could do to gain favor with God. And I was right.

That ah-ha moment changed my life and allowed my faith to increase. Through Creflo Dollar, God allowed me to realize that there is nothing I can physically do to receive the blessings He has in store for me. I didn't save myself, I am saved through Jesus Christ. I didn't make myself righteous, holy, victorious, more than a conqueror, prosperous or worthy. God did it all because of my faith in Jesus Christ. So how would I receive what was mine? READ PRAY TRUST OBEY. I am not worthy to receive anything from God but because of my faith in Jesus Christ, I have everything the Word says that I have. I learned I had to read God's word, put Him FIRST above every one and everything, including my children, seek Him in all things; cast my cares on Him, leave them with Him and trust Him to work them out. (Little did I know at the time it was already done as a finished work of Christ Jesus on the cross. Hallelujah! but we will discuss that at another time.)

I used to tell my co-workers all of the time that God has equipped you with everything you will ever need to go through any obstacle or crisis you face. Little did I realize the same applied to my supply. What supply, you ask? God knew us before the world began. He knows what we like, who we are in our hearts, all of the things we have done in the dark and the light. In spite of our sinful nature, He loves us and wants the best for all of us. Being that He is our creator, He has a storehouse filled with all that we will ever need in this life. Look at it this way. That new Samsung Galaxy 5 you just purchased has multiple accessories available for it as well as replaceable parts.  All were created, designed by the manufacturer, Samsung. If you want  a new battery, Samsung has it. If you need ear buds, Samsung has it. If your new device doesn't work the way it should, what do you do? You pull out the manufacturer's guide to find a solution. Do you see where I am going with this? God is our manufacturer and has all of our replaceable parts (salvation, a renewed spirit) and accessories (blessings) available. All we have to do is use the manufacturer's guide He has provided (the Bible) to find the answers.

We all have a supply of our needs, wants, desires just waiting on us. We don't receive them because we limit ourselves through our beliefs Most Christians don't utilize what God has in supply because they still believe their matters are left under their own will, what they can or cannot do about a situation. Do you realize that when you take matters into your own hands, you remove it from God's? You stop Him from doing a great work for you. You are essentially telling God that He can't do it but you can. You end up blocking your own blessings.

I began to believe in my heart that God can and will do anything for me. He says it in His Word           (Matthew 6:25-34; Deuteronomy 28:11-13; Philippians 4:19; Psalm 24:1; Psalm 34:10; Psalm 23:1). Once I realized that I needed to depend on God and God alone, read His Word, trust in Him and obey His Word, I began to work hard on this revelation. I read my Bible more. I prayed more. I talked to God as if He was my best friend, Cindy. I cried to Him. I began to remove the wrong people out of my circle and remove sinful things out of my life. It was time for some spring cleaning  and I became Florence from The Jeffersons. Soon, things started happening for me. Little by little I could see how He had worked things out for me. The more I depended on Him and less on man, the more everything came into focus. Man gave me what he thought I deserved but God gave me what He promised to me.

My faith in Jesus today is unshakeable! Since October 2013, my children and I have not gone hungry or went without any basic need. God supplied it all! Any new obstacles that appeared in my path, I didn't continue to worry and pull my hair out because of it. I gave it to God and left it there. How did I leave it and not pick it back up? Every time the issue would come to my thoughts I would begin to recite the 23rd Psalm. By the time I would finish it, any anxiety, worry and/or fear I had disappeared. I focused my thoughts and spoke of God. It works! Just try it. You may have another scripture that speaks to your circumstance...use that. Just remember to focus on God. Speak to your situation using your "manufacturer's guide" and your worry will dissipate.

I still have storms. I still have a tendency to worry. Negative thoughts still enter my mind. That is just Satan trying to get me back to where I was. Not happening! I now have the tools to deal with such times. God never promised a easy path in life but he did promise He would help you through if you have the faith. Keep reading, praying, trusting, depending and obeying God and all that He has for you will be yours.

Prayer of Salvation

Good Morning Believers and Non-Believers Alike!

I feel compelled today to post about salvation. The prayer of salvation allows you to be free of sin, forever connect you with God the Father through  faith in Jesus Christ and to declare who you choose as the Lord of your life. This prayer, and all the like, frees you. How does it free you? 

Once you make the decision to align your life with that of Jesus Christ and not Satan, confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that you believe in Him, confess your sins and ask for forgiveness for your sins, then your spirit is freed from the Law of Sin and Death. The "steps" to salvation (not necessarily in this order) are not as hard as some would have you to believe. The following are the "steps" to salvation and the scriptures that provided the information I am sharing with you today:

1. Conviction of Sin - John 16:8
2. Repentance (turning) from sin to God - Luke 15: 7,10; 2Corinthians 7:10
3. Commitment of Faith to Christ - John 3:16, 36
4. Confession of Jesus Christ as Lord - Acts 2:21; Romans 10:9-10

To be saved or to receive salvation through Jesus Christ affords those who are Christians "salvation from the wrath of God's final judgment" Romans 5:9-10.

Being baptized, as an individual act, does not constitute being saved. In fact, baptism is a symbol of the salvation you have already received. Baptism is a public demonstration of regeneration (Titus 3:5; 1Peter 3:21). Regeneration is defined by the Holman Concise Bible Dictionary as the spiritual change in which God changes you from a condition of spiritual death to a renewed condition of holiness and life. This regeneration is noted in the Bible as, "put off old way of life; clothed with new way of life; process of having one's mind renewed in its thinking, reasoning and willing" Ephesians 4:17-32. This regeneration or spiritual change takes place when the steps to salvation have been completed, not simply through baptism alone.

What gives us the opportunity to be saved? Jesus Christ's completed work and his sacrificial death. The other day I was watching Joseph Prince on TBN (Trinity Broadcast Network) and he was testifying to a revelation he received of Jesus Christ on the cross. He had his creative team create a dramatization of this revelation. It will be hard for me to describe what I saw and I guess for him the feeling was the same. He stated he had issues with trying to make what his spiritual mind saw come to fruition in a video. The video showed Jesus Christ on the cross. You could see his body worn from the beatings and physical maltreatment He received. You could see the nails in His hands and feet, the crown of thorns on His head and His body saturated with His blood. Bruised but not broken, you can see Him, hanging there. His pain was not only from the beatings He received but also from the burden and pain of carrying our sins.

On the video, Joseph Prince allows you to visualize how our sins caused Jesus so much pain. As He hung there on the cross you can see His earthly body consume all of the world's sins: our lies, our fears, sloth, greed, gluttony, envy, idolatry, jealousy, promiscuity, sexual immoralities....all of them for all the world. As He consumed each and every sin we have and will ever commit, He cried out. As I watched the video, I believe the consumption of our sins caused more pain than the ripping away of His flesh.  Have you ever sat down and really thought about what Jesus Christ has done? Have you ever really thought about the fact that while He was on that cross He paid the price for the lives of everyone who would ever grace this earth? Oh, the burden and pain He must have felt.  My heart aches at the thought, which is small in comparison. I know how badly I would feel when I would take on my own sin. Imagine how He felt carrying everything for everyone.

With His death on the cross also died all of the world's sin for all time, past, present and future. All He requires is our faith and belief in Him. Below, you will find the prayer of salvation. If you have not already, I  urge you to say this prayer aloud not only because you owe your very existence to Him but also for your eternal peace.

Prayer of Salvation
"Dear Jesus,

I believe in You. I believe You are the Son of God, that You died for my sins, and that You were buried and rose again as written in the Bible. I'm sorry for sinning against You. Forgive me for all my sins. Come into my heart. Take charge of my life and make me the way You want me to be. I repent of my sins. I confess You now as my Lord and Savior. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Thank You, Jesus! In Jesus' Name, Amen.



READ     *    PRAY    *     TRUST     *     OBEY  

Being a Christian is a wonderful experience. One of thee most important aspect of being a Child of God is "The Process". I say this because everyone has a purpose and a destiny. Within the destiny comes the process. Inside of the process is something called trials, tribulations, testing of your character, and molding. God has to shape you and mold you to who he wants you to be and sometimes it is tough, but in the end it will be beneficial because God knows what is best. Always remember that the beauty does not lie in the destination, but the beauty are in the things along the way.

Min. Andrell Collier-Greene

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Today marks 41 years God has blessed me to be on this earth. I thank you Lord for all 41 years, the bad and the good. I would not change a thing, especially the bad times. Why not the bad? The bad times teach me to appreciate the good. The bad times bring me closer to God. The bad times are tests that lay the foundation for my testimony.
Thank you Lord for another year! Thank you for allowing the mess in my life to become a message and making me the messenger! Somebody praise Him!!! I have yet another day to tell someone how awesome my God is!!! I am who I am because He is!!! Happy Birthday to me!!!!

I would like to take this time to introduce a guest author to Baby Christian! Min. Andrell Collier-Greene primarily caters to the youth but ministers to all. He has agreed to share his love of God and the Christian faith with each and everyone of us. Let us welcome, Min. Greene to Baby Christian!






READ      *     PRAY     *     TRUST     *     OBEY