Making Love In the Right Position!!!

Dear Friends in the Faith:

Wait!!! Don't delete this message. It is not pornographic as the subject may suggest. But, it is prophetic for the relationally confused times in which we now live. Okay, let's clear the air and get it out so we can talk about it. God made sex and it is His idea. But, when the idea of "making love" rises to the front of our conversation numerous issues surface. Love songs from the past are partially the blame. The songs from the 70's that caused us to slow dance but, contained questionable ethics. Lenny Williams begged a sister until he got what he wanted from her. Here's how he put it, "Girl you know I, I, I, I, I love you....!!!" That legend Teddy Pendergrass alias Teddy P shouted it when he exclaimed with passion "Turn off the lights and light a candle. Rub me down with some hot oil baby....turn them off!!!" The music moved us but no one stopped to ask was the woman Lenny begging his wife. And no one bothered to inquire about the woman in Teddy P's shower. From these paradigms comes the missed instruction of "love making."

Today when subject of "love making" come up people call it the "nasty." It can suggest everything from two women in bed together, two men in bed together, an unmarried man with a married women in bed together, and two unmarried people in bed together just to name a few. The point here is this, our culture has been making love in the wrong position so long until we no longer see this beautiful God given act of love the way that it was meant to be shared! HBO recently did a documentary on teenage sexuality of middle schoolers in the US and the findings were staggering. 5 out of 10 of them were sexually active by the age of 12; 7 out of 10 had encountered some form of sexual contact by the age of 12; and, 9 out of 10 had encountered some form of sexually explicit material on the internet to include nude photos and pornography! In short, what they are being taught is love from the wrong position.

A devotional like this one is godly and necessary! In fact, if you are not married and you are sexually active and yet you stand under that banner of Christianity you are in the wrong position. If you are married and you are involved with anyone except for your covenanted spouse, you are in the wrong position. If you are involved in any behavior that would displease God and bring harm to you and your family, you are in the wrong position. But, if you are married, sharing your faith and your future with a spouse of the opposite sex then according to scripture you are indeed making love, and you are making love in the right position. The Bible says, "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it bewith consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment" (I Cor. 7:1-6, KJV).

But, here's the question for today, what's the right position for love in the eyes of God?

Position #1-Spiritual Compatibility. Hear this word of warning. Be careful around people that do not love the Lord like you do. Be cautious entering a relationship with someone that will tell you that they do not do the church thing! It is dangerous and my advice for you is to run!!! In the passage Paul gives us an elliptical of the cause. That is where the given truth is not openly stated. Here is that given truth, people should always be equally yoked together. If you are with someone and they tell you "it ain’t gonna hurt just this one time...." That's the wrong position! If you are near someone and they tell you "Jesus won't mid if we bump and grind...." That's the wrong position! If you are with someone that is really good looking but they tell you "I don't believe in Jesus Christ perse...." That's the wrong position! And, if you come across someone that is in church but will put their religion down to hook up other fleshly motives...." That's the wrong position. What makes love great is when both persons (male and female) are in Christ Jesus and He is in them. That's the right position and it pleases God!

Position #2-Serious Commitment. Listen, love is NOT a game! I do not know who did it, but somebody made love a game and it's been killing us. The end result of the game is children born out of wedlock due to a heated moment that was a one night stand, broken families, STD's and an increasing divorce rate. Love is a decision that you make that says I am with you no matter what! Real Love says I am not quitting on you no matter how hard things maybe. The sin in the passage is fornication. This occurs when people touch without a covenant being present. The problem is that the act is designed for those who are going to be together permanently, but it has been used by many of us temporarily. So when you gain temporary satisfaction from an act that was designed by God to be permanent you commit fornication. People say all of the time, "but Pastor what about a sample?" My answer is no! People often ask, "Well what about a test run?" My answer, no! You cannot pick a person like a rental car…….. sign a weekend contract, drive them hard and then drop them off when you’re done! In the eyes of God this is the wrong position. If you want love in the right position, it is covenanted love that is designed to last a lifetime!

Position #3-Submitted To Christ. Here's a great devotional question. Why is it so wrong for two consenting adults to just do what they want to do and do it until they are both just happy? Here's the answer, because you can tell who you worship by looking at who you spend the night with! Worship is not just clapping your hands and singing a song or two. Worship is what you do with your body. This is why your love should always be done in the right position. It is your worship! Paul is addressing this matter because the people in Corinth are worshipping foreign gods that are not the Lord. They are pagan gods of the underworld and the people are honoring these strange gods by embracing strange sexual encounters that please these strange gods. But, Paul says if you want to make God happy let a husband have a wife and let them touch! This act honors God and it blesses the man and woman involved. It is Holy in the eyes of God and it is the right position!

The greatest news of the day is this, for those in the wrong position God has a holy habit of letting people start over! I John 1:9 teaches us that God will forgive your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteous if you confess your sins to Him. This is shouting news at its best! If you are in the wrong position now is the time to make it right!

Your Friend and His Servant,


Dr. John R. Adolph

www.jradolphministries.org

The Sweetest Rose I've Ever Head!!!

Dear Friends in the Faith:

Okay let's get right down to the point here. In just a few days it will be Valentine's Day and it can be one of the most depressing days in the year. This is the time of year our nation celebrates people that we love. Even though the scriptures teach us that we should love people all year long this holiday pushes it to the limit. People buy all types of things all in the name of love. We buy things like diamonds, cards, dinners, trips, clothes, chocolates and most of all flowers. In fact, yahoo.com stated that roses were the most popular gift of all during this time of year! Over 1 trillion roses are sold during Valentine's Day weekend each year alone in the United States. And, it can be difficult for you if all of those roses go out as gifts in the name of love and you don't get one of them. But, remember this if no one gets you a rose, with Jesus Christ you already have the sweetest rose of all for He is your Rose of Sharon.

Sharon is located in North Palestine between Mount Tabor and Lake Tiberias. It is a low lying country that is known for its beautiful vegetation. In short, beautiful flowers would sprout all over this region and paint for its visitors the handy work of God. To visit Sharon at the right time of year was like being in a part of heaven! Many have described it as heaven on earth. As the writer shares passionate thoughts of love and tenderness in Song of Solomon the writer is careful to mention that he is "...the Rose of Sharon..." (Song of Solomon 2:1, KJV). But what does it really mean for Jesus Christ to be your Rose of Sharon?

It means that He is easily accessible. You see, the flower that is described in this passage did not grow in a green house or some gated area. It grew in the field. It was a symbol that it had been placed by God and available to any one that wanted it. Hear this, Jesus is your Rose. That means that He is saying "I am here for you! I love you! I think of you all of the time! I want to hold your hand! I want to wipe your tears! I want to carry you and your load! I want to be near you!" Get this, the Rose of Sharon is here for you. The question right now is this, do you want Him? If you want Him He is here for you right now. This flower grew in a place that simply said to any one, I am accessible to you if you want me. (Read Matthew 11:28).

It means that He is the bench mark of a new season in your life. The "Rose" that is mentioned in the passage is not a rose in the American sense of a flower. It was a crocus. This was a dark red flower that only blossomed after the winter was over. In fact, people in that region knew when the winter was passed because the crocus would bloom. You see, it marked the beginning of a new season. This is shouting news for those that really love the Lord! If Jesus is your Rose of Sharon His entry into your life marked the beginning of a season. The winter is over. He is your spring time. If you are like most, you have had a lot of things that have happened to you in this life. Some of us have been wounded trying to love people that never learned to love us back. Others have been let down by people that we just knew we could depend on. And, still there are others that have gone through more difficulty than the google search engine could keep up or Wikipedia could define. Yet, after all that you have been through if you have Jesus in your life you can truthfully say that Jesus is the best thing that has ever happen to me! His entrance marked the beginning of something new, something spiritual, something meaningful and something that leads to blessing at every point in your life! (Read Galatians 6:9).

It means that He is the source of your joy. The bright beauty of the crocus was used as a symbol of joy. They were often used in celebrations and festivals due to their bright red color. They could simply light up an entire mountain side. Thus, because of their illuminating properties they were the flower that symbolized joy. But, here's what so rich about this plant. The more it rained the richer the color became. Are you shouting yet? If Jesus is your Rose of Sharon He is the source of your joy! Your joy does not come from what flower you received, it does not come from a diamond that someone bought you, your joy does not come from any special day that happened or did not happen. Your joy comes from the presence of the Lord that is your Rose. And, the more it rains in your life the brighter your Rose gets. You can't shout about this unless you have seen some rainy days in your life! We all see storms from time to time, but when you have the joy that your Rose brings, you learn how to dance in the rain. Yes, you may have to cry sometime. In fact, you will have to cry sometime but with Jesus you have a Rose that gives you joy and it gets brighter with every rain drop! (Read Psalms 126:5).

It means that He is your greatest love and sacrifice. The second most popular gift for Valentine's Day is perfume. But, if you don't get a bottle of it, don't trip. You have the sweetest fragrance that money will never buy. You see, the crocus was indeed a gorgeous red flower and it was beautiful to the eye. But it also had a wonderful fragrance that came from it. In fact, its aroma was known throughout the region. However, the only way to gain the fragrance from the crocus was to crush it. Yes, it would smell wonderful after it had been crushed. Can you see where this is headed yet? You see, if Jesus is your Rose of Sharon He made His love evident for you by being crushed for your love! When was He crushed you ask? At cavalry, where He gave it all so that you could be blessed with the sweet aroma of His love for ever! (Read Rom. 5:8).

So Saint Valentine might have started all of this foolishness with a day for those that you love called Valentine's Day. And Rudolph Valentino may have symbolized it with his sex appeal. But, our God put the lid on it with His love forever. You see, real love is much more than lip service, a box of candy, a flower, some perfume or a balloon. You can tell me how much you love me all day long. But, if what you say does not match what you do, that is not love it is hypocrisy at its finest. But, Jesus is your Rose of Sharon and He put it all on the line. If you don't get a card on the 14th you already have a Rose that is there for you! If you do not get a love letter on the 14th you already have a Rose that is your joy! If you don't have a hand to hold on the 14th don't complain. Your Rose is accessible to you! If you don't get a vase of flowers don't shed one tear. The one Rose that you have has marked a new season for you and because of Him your life will never ever be the same! And, if you don't get a bottle of your favorite fragrance on the 14th so what, you already have the sweetest perfume that money will never buy you. Shout this phrase in victory if you have Jesus in your heart "He is my Rose of Sharon!"

Your Friend and His Servant,


Dr. John R. Adolph

Why Some Good Men Love Bad Women!!!

Dear Friends in the Faith:

Some people hate them, while others despise them, many people discuss them, religious women often ridicule them, and still other sisters seek to duplicate them. They have ruined more marriages than the law will allow, they have wrecked more relationships than I have room to mention in this devotional lesson, their dress is not just sexy it is seductive, their tattoos are enticing, their walk is like watching poetry in motion, their intentions are dangerous, their motives are often hidden, their appearance is often times seen as purely innocent, their morals are loose, their values are lacking, their habits are not always holy and yet they have their place on the canvas of the pages of Holy Writ. Who are they you asked? They are bad women!

A good woman can spot her a mile away, older men are often taken swiftly by their mischief, young men get caught up in what she presents, and our culture makes millions on her body and her beauty. Who are they you asked? They are bad women! Make no mistake about it every woman is not a good woman. Some women are bad. And, the problem is that there are good men that have good women, but instead of being faithful to the good woman that they have they sometimes fall like fools for the bad woman that means them no good at all! But, why??? Why do some good men fall for bad women?

Before you leap into this thought provoking dialogue with your personal views and humble opinions let's look to the scripture for the answers that God would want us to have. You see, there is a good man in the Bible that falls for a bad woman. Here's what the scripture says, "And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver. And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee. And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man. Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them" (Judges 16:4-8, KJV). Though Delilah meant Samson absolutely no good at all, he still fell face flat for her even though she was a bad woman. And, it is my belief that the same reason why he fell for his bad woman is the exact same reason why men fall for bad women today. So what makes a good man fall for a bad woman?

First of all, she knows how to handle him. Okay this may seem harsh but it is true none-the-less. Most good women need courses on "man handling." Get this, if a man is a real man (and he is not gay, weak, or sorry) you cannot handle him just any kind of way. Here's a secret that all good women can learn from bad ones. Always handle a man like he's a man. By this I mean, God gave men position and He gave women influence. Use your influence to get what you want from him and let him keep his position. In short, give him what all men must have
R-E-S-P-E-C-T and when you give him what he needs you will always get what you want. If you don't think that this works look at Delilah! She was a bad woman that got what she wanted from Samson by simply handling him like a man!

Secondly, she knows how to talk to him. Now this is going to get me into trouble, but at the risk of being honest, truthful, godly and helpful I am going to say it. If a man is a real man (and he is not lazy, stupid and shallow) you cannot talk to him just any kind of a way. Bad women know how to talk to a man. Here's a huge secret that all good sisters need to know, screaming and yelling makes him change stations and switch satellites! But, if you know how to say, "Baby....listen....I need something from you....", you will get it every single time! I know, we have been taught that Diva's put their hands on their hips, roll their necks and get a brother told right? But, that's why most Diva's don't have a descent dude. Please get this and hold on to it forever, if you know how to talk to a man you can have it all! His mind, his body, his soul, his money, his heart and his resources. If you can't talk to him right there is a bad woman that will!

Thirdly, she knows how to use her femininity to her advantage. Since I am already in hot water I may as well say one more thing before this devotional is over. If a man is a real man (and he is not on the down low, not foggy in his sexuality and stable in God his given manhood) he loves every facet of a real woman. He loves her hips, her hands, her legs, her chest, her neck, her eyes, and her feet. So what am I saying here? I am saying that bad women know how to wear it and present it. All too often good women do what it takes to get a good man. But, once they have him they swap every good habit for a bad one. In short, if it is ashy grab some lotion. If it is nappy, dread it or perm it. If it is tacky fix it up. If it is rough smooth it out. If it is doesn't fit don't wear it. And, if it is not your best feature camouflage it! Please here this, in a real man's mind there is no greater creation on the planet other than true womanhood. So be a woman and be a beautiful one!

For every sister reading this devotional that has a good man use these principles to keep him right where he is and know that the only way for you to be the queen is for you to crown him king! And, for every sister that is single that wants a good man remember this, you don't have to be bad woman to get a good man, but there are some good habits that you can learn from bad women that can help you be the best you that you can be! Use these habits and let the Lord do everything else!

Your Friend and His Servant,


Dr. John R. Adolph

Why Some Good Sistas Get Hurt!!!

Dear Friends in the Faith:

Not long ago while in Kroger I spoke to a sister that was on my aisle. She looked up with a grim disposition and a partial smile. When we got to the checkout stand she said, "You're Pastor Adolph aren't you?" And of course I answered yes. She then asked me an ontological question that has theological roots and sociological fruit. Here's what she asked me while getting a basket full of grocery to feed her two kids "Why do I keep getting hurt? I am a good sista and I desire a committed relationship, but I just keep getting hurt over and over again."

I have nearly 4,000 Facebook Friends and I have noticed that when it comes to relationships many of my female Facebook Friends will list themselves under the "Relationship" category in very interesting way. They do not say that they are engaged, they do not say that they dating, they list their relationship status as "COMPLICATED." In my opinion it is just another way of saying "I have been hurt before in relationships and I am trying to make sure that I don't put myself in that position again."

I cannot count the number of beautiful sisters that I have counseled in the private chambers of my office that have been seriously wounded in a relationship, trying to love a man that will not love them back nor give them the love that they deserve. The tears from my office could run a 26 mile marathon. The hurt is real and it runs deep. But, all of the damage is NOT the fault of a no good man that sought to take advantage of a good sista. In fact, most of it is not. All too often good sista's get hurt because of relational error and lack of applied positional principle that leads them to abyss of relational hell every single time.

Please know that such a story is not uncommon. There is a woman found on the pages of Holy Writ that got hurt and she too was a good sista. Here is how the story flows, "And he (Abram) went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee. But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face" (Gen. 16:4-6, KJV).

There is no doubt that Hagar was a good sista but she got hurt for the same reason that many good sista's today are wounded in relationships. So why do some good sista's get hurt?

The first reason that good sista's get hurt is because they fall in love with a man that is what they like but is not what they really need. There is a documentary on YouTube that features five beautiful sista's that are well educated, financially solvent and well to do. Their problem is that they cannot find a compatible mate. As I listened to them discuss what they wanted in a man I was clear on one thing. Not one of them knew what to look for. Please hear this, what you like and what God wants you to have are not always the same thing! In fact, in many instances they are quite different. Hagar makes a common mistake that I have found in good sista's everywhere. She falls for a man that is not husband material. Remember this please, if God has not made a man a husband before you get to him a sista, (no matter how good she is) will make him one.

Secondly, good sista's get hurt because they settle for temporary satisfaction instead demanding a lifetime of love. Here's the real truth of the matter, sista's are guilty of settling! Please remember this, if you learn to settle you will always get what you have settled for so don't be upset with what you have settled with! Settling is very dangerous and it makes a woman look desperate. Hold to your standards and never ever compromise them for any reason. Hagar settles for another woman’s husband. A disaster from the start. But, there are others that settle for various reasons. Some sistas settle for a man that is not saved, but is good looking. Still others settle for a brother that is broke and is headed nowhere and wants to take you with him. And, there are even more that settle for a man that will never make a full commitment to you. So they end up being the special day woman or a part-time love. Remember this, if you settle you will get what you have settled for!

Thirdly, good sista's get hurt because they give too much of themselves too soon. Okay let's cut through the chase and just say it, we are having a promiscuity problem. This is not the case in every circumstance. But, in most cases the problem is sex too soon. Here's the best advice that I could give any godly woman that desires God's best for their lives, keep your dress down, your pants up, and never put yourself in a position for your moral virtue to be compromised! If Hagar had done this, her life would have avoided the hurt of having a baby out of wed lock for a man that would never marry her in the first place. Sista's if a man needs a license to ride a motor cycle he should have a license if he wants to go for a ride with you! NO FREE RIDES! NO TEST DRIVES! NO TEST RUNS! Remember this, if you treat yourself like a treasure, then men that dare come near you would treat you like a treasure too! Treasure your body and if he wants to play, get a license and make him stay!

Lastly, good sista's get hurt because they allow themselves to be engulfed in relationships that are bad from the start. The worse lie that you will ever believe is the one that you will convince yourself is true. Do not ignore the warning signs in a relationship and then come unglued when things fall apart. Hagar knew that Abram was married, but she ignored all of the signs. She got caught up! Please hear this, sista's often get hurt because they get caught up! Here's some life saving advice, open your eyes and observe. Open your ears and listen. Jesus put it like this, "...watch and pray..." In almost every case, sista's that got hurt knew what they were dealing with before they got hurt. For some crazy reason they thought that things would be different with them! Remember this, whatever a person does with you they will soon do to you. It is only a matter of time before it happens! So get this, don't get caught up in something that you can see the warning signs of ruin in from the beginning.

Your Friend and His Servant,


Dr. John R. Adolph

I Need A Do Over!!!

Dear Friends in the Faith:

Back in the day life things were different. We ate fish every Friday, the ice cream man came by at least once every evening, and the games we played involved everyone. No we did not have a Wii or a play station. But, we played non-the-less. Do you know what I mean? We played "Red Light, Green Light", "Simon Says", "Jacks", "Marbles", "Street Baseball", "Freeze", "Tag", "Hide and Seek (ready or not here I come), "Street Basketball (with a piece of ply wood nailed to a tree with a bicycle rim for a hoop)", Street Football (touch in the street and tackle in the grass), "Dodge Ball", and "Kick Ball".

Now I loved playing Kick Ball the most because every now and then you would miss your kick. And when you would miss your kick or mess everything up you could ask for a do-over! Yeah, you could get another chance to get it right. I mention this as we share this devotional moment together because as we start the year of 2010 some of us need a do-over. If you were broke last year and you are starting off this year broke, you need a do over. If you were involved in a bad relationship last year and you stayed just because you did not want to be by yourself, you need a do over. If you are losing ground spiritually and you have lost your spiritual fire and some of your old habits that you thought were dead are starting to come back on you like a yo-yo on a short string, you need a do-over. And, if you are ready for this year to be better than last year was, then what you need is a do-over!

If you need a do-over, do not be embarrassed. You are actually in great company. The Bible is loaded with people that needed a do-over. Adam needed a do-over when he ate the forbidden fruit; Eve needed a do-over when the serpent got her to disobey God; Abram needed a do-over when he lied about Sarai to Pharoh; Noah needed a do-over when he got drunk after the flood; David needed a do-over he had sex with Basheba; and Solomon needed a do-over when he realized that no matter how many women he had none of them could love him like God could. Here's a good question for you. Do you need a do-over? Here's a good do-over verse for you to consider. Psalms 116:12-13 says, "What shall I render unto the Lord for all of His benefits towards me? I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord." So how can you get God to let you have a do-over?

You get a do-over by acknowledging that you need one. Being lied to can really hurt your feelings. But, it is even worse when you're the giver and the receiver of the fallacy. May I ask, have you ever lied to yourself? There should come a moment in your life when the truth makes you realize that you owe God because He has given you more do-overs that you could ever have imagined, And total honesty (if you don't lie to yourself) says you need another one right now! The passage says "What shall I render unto the Lord for all of His benefits towards me..." The question is a probing interrogative that suggest that there is a debt owed and the only way to pay it is to be honest enough to admit that you need owe a favor to the source that you got your last favor from. Do you need more favor from God this year than you got last year? Then hear this, admit to God that you need a do-over!

You get a go-over by accepting what God has to offer. The Lord offers salvation to those who believe on Him. Contrary to popular opinions about God, He has much more to offer than money, material possessions, and mansions that look like the homes on MTV Cribs! He offers healing for the sick, hope for the hurting, strength for the weak, light for those that are trapped in darkness, and salvation for those need deliverance. If we were to be completely honest, all of us have at least one habit that we need to get rid of. And we get rid of it, by taking the cup. The passage calls it the "...cup of salvation..." It is the sweetest cup in the world! In this cup is an empty cross, a vacant tomb, the blood of the Lamb, and a power that takes what you used to be to redemptively create what God has called you to be. If you need a do-over you have to accept the cup!

And lastly, you get a do-over by admonishing the Lord in public. There are those of us that treat God like an ugly blind date that's loaded with money. He's okay to pay bills and help us out in private, but He is not really worth being seen with in public. Here's a good question for you. If you were in a room full of unbelievers would they know that Jesus is the love of your life? The passage says that we are to "...call upon the name of the Lord." This phrase is a premeditated praise offered to God where others can see you and know that you are blessing Him. In short, when you need a do-over you have to praise God in public like you want Him to bless you in private. I dare you to do it right where you are right now! Do it with your heart on Him, your hands lifted to Him, and your spirit lifted towards Him! Your do-over depends on it!

There are two types of people reading this message right now. Those that have had a do-over and those that needs one. Now if you have had one you should help me spread the word. We serve a God that allows do-overs! And if you need a do-over I have even better news for you. God is still letting people start over! And this includes you and the year that lies before you right now! Your do-over is up to you!!!

Your Friend and His Servant,


Dr. John R. Adolph

Dr. Adolph's Book Signing - "I'm Coming Out of This" @ Barnes & Nobles

To My Friends in the Faith!

Thank you is just not enough to say for all that your presence meant to me on Saturday, June 9, 2010!!! To look at what the Lord has done in my life is a miracle. And, for you to share this miracle with me is an overwhelming blessing. From the depths of my soul, from the annals of my intellect and from the bottom of my heart please accept this whisper of gratitude that I yield to you....thank you!!!!

Special thanks to my loving wife Dorrie, my kids Sumone and Jonathan, my adopted kids Melba and Candice, my office staff, members and dear friends that drove all the way from Houston, Texas, and other parts of the state just to share this momentous occasion with me. And, most of all I give God all of the glory, honor, praise and adoration for what He has done in the life He has given me.

Again I say, thank you!!!

Your Friend and His Servant,

Dr. John R. Adolph

What's To Come Is Better Than What's Been!

Dear Friends in the Faith:

New Year's Resolutions have never really worked. It is because the word resolution means come full circle or to resolve. Thus, every time you do a resolution you end up right back where you started from in the beginning. But, what is more important than a resolution is a revelation. The reason why a revelation is so much more important is because it means to reveal or to disclose. It means to make known.

Now there have been people who have tried to see into your future. Tarot cards readers, astrology guru's, soothsayers, voodoo priests and the like have tried their best to see what the future holds for you. But please hear this, the only way for you to get a good portrait of your future is from the God that gave you your life to begin with! In short, the only revelation that you really need will come from Jesus Christ! Here's the revelation that you need to begin your year with. Place this in your spirit and hide it in your heart, what's to come is better than what's been!

Are you shouting yet? Well, if you are not King David can help you with it. When the King saw the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Israel he celebrated all over the city. Here's what the scripture says, "And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet" (2 Sam. 6:14-15, KJV). So how can you be for certain that the best is still yet to come?

You know that what's to come is better than what's been because God has helped you with at least one problem that only He could fix. Okay, let's be honest for a moment. The year of 09 was was a breeze for some of you sharing this devotional moment right now. To you we say, "God bless you." But, for everyone else 09 was filled with ups and downs, crazy moments, and the only way that you were able to make it to see a new year was with the help of almighty God! It's what has happened to David. The Ark has been missing from Israel for 100 years. It was a problem that David could not fix with his human hands. But, that hand of God fixed so that the people of God would know that what's to come would be better than what's been! Can I ask you a question? Did God fix just one thing for you all of last year? If He did it for you that was His way of saying your tomorrow will be brighter than your yesterday!

Secondly, you know that things are going to get better because you have a presence with you right now that only God can provide. Do you really think that you made through 12 months, 52 weeks, 8766 hours, and 525600 minutes just because you made all the right choices and the best decisions? I hope that you realize that you made it through all of last year simply because the presence of the Lord was with you all year long. It is what happens in the passage. The Ark of the Covenant was a wooden box that was over laid with gold that had two golden angels’ seats on top of it. Inside of the box there was Aaron's rod that budded (it represented the protection of God), the tablets of Moses (it represented the principles of God), and the manna that came from heaven (it represented the provisions of God). In short, the one box represented the very presence of God! And when the presence of God was with His people they shouted because they knew that nothing that was ahead of them was greater than the God that was with them! In short, they knew that the future was bright because the Lord was on their side!

And, lastly you know that what's to come is better than what's been when you thank God for what's going to take place before it ever happens. David is dancing and the people are shouting. In fact, the word shout here in the Hebrew is tee-roo-ah. And, it means to shake. Thus, when you thank God for what He is going to do you should shout until something shakes! It is what happened in Israel and it is what should happen right now as we start the year of 2010 together. You know that it going to be better because your praise is given to Him in advance. I know, it sounds silly right? But, I promise you, if David who was a King could shout like he was a servant, you too can praise the Lord like you ready for His blessings to flow in your life like a river that is running over its banks! Let me ask you a question, how would you respond to God for keeping you an entire year? Bless Him like that right now because your best days are yet come!!!

Here's is your New Year's Revelation that comes from the Lord, what's to come is better than what's been! This is about to be the best year of your entire life! Give God the glory for it right now and know that last year was your time of testing and this year will be your season of blessing!

Your Friend and His Servant,


Dr. John R. Adolph