Pinch of Positivity

Let Go of the Past

CJ Montgomery — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 07:00:00 +0000

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-14
Key Verse: Philippians 3:13

When I was a small child, I remember going on walks at night with my family around our neighborhood. One night in particular, I thought I would try to mimic the big kids and walk backwards so that I could see everyone while they were talking. I was so into the conversation that I was upset when my backwards walking made me crash into a light post. The light post was planted there long before I ever was and could have been easily avoided if I was paying attention to what was ahead of me. I wanted to be mad at everyone, for not warning me, and I was in so much pain. I just wanted to go home. Even though I didn’t realize it in the moment, this was my first lesson on letting go of the past. I had spent so much time focusing on what was behind me that I couldn’t prepare myself for what was ahead. In Philippians chapter 3, God reminds us to let go of our past so that we can prepare ourselves for the future He has designed for us.

I think it is fair to say that we all have a past. Whether we are proud of it or not is a completely different conversation for another day. Right now, we need to acknowledge that our past and all of its highs and lows should be used as an example to learn from (v.7-8). Before we knew Christ, we had a different understanding of the world. We engaged in certain sins because they weren’t immediately or tangibly harmful without realizing that they were discrediting our character and impeding upon our salvation. Some of us spend a significant amount of time looking back on “the good ‘ole days.” We often get so wrapped up in the fantasies of the past that we run into avoidable obstacles placed in our future. Think about it. How many times have you “reconnected” with old friends who only tried to drag you back to your old sinful lifestyle and made the excuse that it was because you missed them? We cannot allow these relationships to hold weight in our lives. We have to value Christ above all.

I know that I make it sound easy, but it all begins with faith (v.9). In series four, Understanding Faith, we unpacked why faith was significant and how to utilize it. Here again is one of those situations where having faith is crucial. We must have a deep-rooted desire to want to follow Christ and leave our sinful pasts behind. It can’t stop there though. It isn’t sufficient enough to do the right thing because anyone can do the right thing and not be saved. We must remember the relationship we developed with Christ to redirect our minds toward our future.

Then once you have refocused, you must remain humble (v.12). We will never be truly perfect because Jesus was and will forever be the only perfect person to roam the Earth. We are just striving to be more like Him every day. We are not throwing around our salvation as a cover up for our sinful past. But what we are saying is God has forgiven us of our mistakes so that is enough for us to forgive ourselves. We must acknowledge that this is just the beginning of a long journey that cannot be walked backwards (v.13). While there we be many cracks in the sidewalk that cannot be avoided, there will also be all kinds of preexisting light posts that we can avoid if we are looking ahead. Then one day we will be able to return home and it won’t be because we are hurting, but because the journey is complete (v.14). We will be able to reunite with those who have also had their eyes on their purpose and the path God has paved. However, it all begins with the decision to let go of the past.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this day. Thank you for the purpose you have placed in front of me and the path that you have paved for my life. Lord today I want to stop walking backwards. I am ready to focus on the prize you have for me. I want to place you above any and everything that used to be significant in my life. Lord as I am on this journey help me to keep my faith and remain humble as I grow. Use me for your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Trust God’s Process

CJ Montgomery — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 07:00:00 +0000

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30

Key Verse: Matthew 13:30a

As this year comes to a close, I asked God to give me one final word for His people. I wanted a word that will carry them into the new year feeling stronger than ever before because if I’m being honest, what I planned to release on today felt rushed. God had given it to me, but something about it wasn’t right. So, I went back to the drawing board and prayed again for understanding as I always do, and the Lord led me to a passage that I hadn’t read in a while. It is a parable that Jesus used to make clear for people the paths to heaven and hell, but today God wants me to use His words to tell you to trust His process.

The first thing you have to do while trusting God’s process is to plant some seeds (v.24). You have to align yourself with the will of God and begin to walk in it. I want to be very transparent with you all and say that the year 2019 was not easy for me. I hit an extremely low point where I couldn’t sleep and had to force myself to eat. I felt like the entire world was out to get me because the people I wanted in my life the most no longer had a desire to be there. You see, I felt like the farmer. I was planting a lot of good seeds early in 2019. I started this series. I began to take my spiritual health more seriously by reading my bible more often, getting involved in religious activities, and surrounding myself with a strong Christian community. I tried to mend broken relationships. I went after the dreams that God spoke to me. I thought that I had checked every box on the list that God had handed me. But, as shown in the parable, that wasn’t enough to protect me from the realities of this world.

Beyond planting seeds you have to look to God to guard the things that you began according to His will because as humans we all have flaws (v.25). While I was checking all the boxes during the summer, I hit a low. It was as if all the preparation that got me to that point had gone out the window. I lost one of my aunts and my oldest sister within a week of each other. I was in another state away from family and many of the people who I considered to be my friends were too busy to comfort me in the way that I wanted to be comforted. So even though I had gotten an internship in my field, something I never dreamed possible, I was hurting. It feels strange to even put this on paper, but I was watching my hurt and joy try to compete for my attention every day (v.26). These feelings are real. You do not have to ignore them. Sometimes friends no matter what you do life will happen. This isn’t God punishing you, but He is testing your faith. He knows that the weeds and grain will try to grow together. Trust me I wanted to quit. I wanted to tell God that I was done and that I should just join my aunt and sister in heaven. I felt like he had left me and that He didn’t see me growing weary of faking a smile at work only to come home and cry myself to sleep at night. Even once I returned to school in the fall, I felt empty because I still hadn’t processed the events that had occurred only weeks prior. This is when real faith has to kick in.

Once you look to God to guard your plans you won’t be as distracted by the words of people who don’t understand spiritual warfare (v.27). You see, when I returned to school, people were commending me on my role as class president and all of my works and were confused about why my energy seemed so different. They wanted to know where that energy came from. I didn’t realize it then, but I am glad I realize it now, but that was only the enemy. He couldn’t stand how much time and energy I was giving to God. You have to redirect that frustration and sadness the same way the farmer did so that God can get the glory.

Today friends, I want you to realize that 2019 may have been rough. It may have thrown punches at you even though you thought you were planting good seeds, but don’t pull up those weeds. Those weeds of depression, heartbreak, anxiety, and disappointment are a part of a greater testimony that God wants to use to get the ultimate glory (v.29). If you never had those experiences, you wouldn’t be the person you are today. Pulling out the weeds and forgetting those experiences may seem like the best option right now because those memories are hovering over you like a dark cloud and really weighing you down. However, God wants to be the one to sort through the mess (v.30). He wants you to come to Him as you are because it says in His word that His strength is made perfect in weakness. So the moment that we quit pretending to be strong and acting like we can figure it out on our own, God can do His job and heal us all around. In fact, He even gave us help on Earth like therapists and counselors to help us process through the weeds. Friends that sounds like great news to me. So before we end 2019, can you commit to continuing to plant good seeds in 2020 no matter what weeds sprout up along the way? Can you commit to giving God your all? Can you let Him see the full you and harvest out the good from the bad? He loves you. Will you trust His process today?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for this year. Lord thank you for your grace and your mercy that allows me to even pray to you today. Lord, I admit that I am broken and there are weeds trying to ruin the good seeds that were planted this year. Lord, I don’t want these weeds to ruin my ability to serve you wholeheartedly. Help me to use that as part of my testimony to draw more people to you. Forgive me for my sins. Help me to leave those actions and words in the past. I love you God and you are worthy of the praise. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God’s Investment

CJ Montgomery — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 03:04:00 +0000

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30
Key Verse: Matthew 25:21

Whenever I purchase something at a store, I always question if it’s worth the sales price. I go back and forth about whether or not I actually need the item or if I something I currently own will suffice. There are very few times that I actually buy something for myself, but when I do you know that it will serve it’s intended purpose. In essence, I am trying to make sure it’s a good investment. In the parable of the bags of gold, God shows us the importance of the investment He makes on our lives. However, the great thing about His investment is that it is all rooted in His love.
First, we must understand the intentionality of the investment. God invests in each person in a different way (v.15). He is a God that will supply all of our needs while still giving us more blessings than we have room enough to receive. Life would be very bland if God blessed us with all the same things despite us having different needs as individuals. So instead, He sees us as individuals, responds accordingly, and send us on our way. From that point on, as we can see in the scriptures, it is up to us what we do with the investment.
Once we understand the intentionality, we should aspire to put God’s investment to work (v.16-17). God invests in us with the expectation that we will return unto Him more than what we started with. Let’s think about this utilizing the example of time. There are 24 hours in a day and 365 days in a standard year. If you are good at math or are like me and use a calculator, you can see that there are 8760 hours in a year. If we subtract out daily recommended sleep and time for work, we are still left with quite a lot of time that we could be giving back to the one who made us. Giving God back time may not always mean opening up your Bible and studying the word. While that should be a key component of what you do with your time, understand that time should also be sent serving God’s people. If we plug the word time into verse 21, we can hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a little time; I will put you in charge of more time.” In other words, He can bless you with a longer life, if you are willing to spend the life you currently have doing His work.
Maybe you are paralyzed with fear about doing it wrong. So instead of using the time God gave you to do His work, your only focus is your own self-preservation (v.24). Self-care is important. However, you are not the only person on this Earth, and you cannot survive in this world alone. God wants to help you serve His people. His constant love for us was the reason behind His investment. He wants to use you to share that love with others so that they can be exposed to His glory. He doesn’t want you to get so caught up in your worldly existence that you forget that Earth is only a temporary home.
God wants us to see that the only way we can be blessed with more is if we are responsible for what He has already trusted us with (v. 29). It does not matter if you have all the time in the world or you barely have an hour a week to sacrifice. It’s just like the store purchase. God wants to ensure that those that He loves can be shown off to the world and ultimately point back to Him. He wants us to be proud of the relationship we have and know that He didn’t send His son to die just for fun but because He cares. I can’t think of a better way to say thank you Jesus for your investment besides leading others to Him.
Prayer: Lord thank you for this day. Thank you for being patient with me as I figure out how to acquire interest on your investments in my life. Lord, I want to give more of myself to you whether that is with my finances or with my time. I recognize that your investment in me was no mistake and that you are trusting me to do great things. Have your way in my life God and use me for your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Who Deserves Your Love?

CJ Montgomery — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 03:00:00 +0000

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37
Key Verse: Luke 10:33

When I was younger, my mom always used the saying “treat others the way you would want to be treated.” For the longest, I just assumed that she just didn’t want me to retaliate against the mean girls at school who made me miserable. However, as I grew older, I realized she was teaching me a valuable lesson about love and respect. She was showing me that, no matter who the person was or what they could do for me in return, I should always value everyone’s existence and treat them kindly. As I go through my day to day life, I don’t judge people on what they lack or what they have. I simply try to always address them with respect and show them the love that they deserve. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus shows us how not to treat strangers that may be less fortunate.
The first thing Jesus shows us is that we never know how someone got in the situation they are in (v.30). This detail is so important. When we see homeless people on the street or people who aren’t living up to our standards, we often make assumptions about how they got there. Well, here is a reality check. I do not believe that the average person grows up saying that they want to be a drug addict, homeless, or have a family that struggles to make ends meet. We all have these elaborate dreams that include having a decent income and good health and strong romantic and/or platonic relationships. We do not know what happened in their life, and quite frankly it does not matter. The mistakes that they made in their life is not justification for any of us to treat them poorly. God has the power to humble you and put you in their shoes. Showing them love is a way to show God that you are grateful for all of His many blessings.
The second thing that Jesus shows us is that the people who claim to be religious don’t always make the best decisions (v.31-32). We are quick to use what other people, especially people in leadership, are doing as justification for our own actions. God called us to follow Him first. So, if the pastor of your church isn’t truly following Jesus, then you need to evaluate your membership. If the director of your ministry isn’t following what God says, you need to realign your life with Christ. Walking past the wounded, whether that is physically, spiritually, or emotionally, is unacceptable regardless of what others are doing. Everyone deserves love. There are no limits to God’s love and, since we are made in His image and striving to be more like Him every day, we shouldn’t have limits either.
The third thing that Jesus shows us is that we need to care for people where they are (v.33). It is easy for us to love those who are in our social circles or “on our level,” but it takes a special kind of heart to get out of your comfort zone and show love. We must help nurse the person back to health. Jesus even shows us that being busy is no excuse for not helping because the Good Samaritan then finds someone else to help with the situation (v.34). Even in situations where we feel that we can’t be of assistance, there is always someone available that can help. The question is: How willing are we to find those resources when it doesn’t benefit us directly?
God wants us to love others without limits. He doesn’t want us to cast judgment upon their situation. He doesn’t want us to use poor leadership as an excuse not to help others. Instead, He wants us to meet people where they are and help them see their value. God loves you. Can He trust you to share His love with others?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for this day. Thank you for loving me unconditionally. Lord, please help me to work on my biases towards people. Help me to grab hold of what you want me to do with my time on Earth. I want to love people where they are and nurse them back to life with your power. Lord, I love you and I praise you in advance for the miracles that are about to happen. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Show Some Mercy

CJ Montgomery — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 02:55:00 +0000

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35
Key Verse: Matthew 18:27

There isn’t a single day on this Earth where someone somewhere doesn’t do something wrong whether it is an accident or intentional. We may say something to someone that we think is appropriate and offend them. We might jokingly hit someone and trigger their anger. Someone may borrow something with the intent of returning it and forget that it is in their possession. Regardless of the situation or who commits the action, we must be willing to forgive and show mercy because that is what God does for us daily.
In the parable of the unmerciful servant, Jesus illustrates that we cannot have limits to forgiveness (v.22). While the verse says seventy-seven times, this is an exaggeration because we shouldn’t be keeping count of the offenses of others. I’m sure that even if we tried, we would lose count somewhere along the way.
Beyond the practicality of the scripture, it is important to acknowledge the natural desire “to settle accounts” with those who have wronged us (v.23). There is nothing wrong with wanting closure or giving closure to tense situations, but you must check your heart in the process. When you approach the person who wronged you, you can’t assume the worst because you never know why the situation unfolded in a particular way. For example, we may have been truly been hurt by a person’s words but that wasn’t their intent. In that moment, both people can learn a valuable lesson about communication. In the scriptures, however, we see that the king had already decided on the servant’s fate before the servant had a chance to explain himself (v.25). The rushed decision was harsh and allowed no room for rebuilding or redemption.
Let’s look at the dynamics of the opening few verses. The servant owed the king money. Money or the lack of it can bring out a completely different side of some people. When the king realized the servant was unable to pay, the king wanted to go to the extreme to get his money back. I bet if you really think about it there is probably a time in your life where you went to the extreme to get even with someone as well.
Another way to look at it is by examining the positions of the people. The king was above the servant. In life, there are some people who are below us in status and this parable shows us that we shouldn’t treat them cruelly because of their status. We watch the servant beg for mercy and the king changes his mind (v.26-27).
As children of God, we must be careful of punishing someone for an action that we were just forgiven of (v.28). Despite being forgiven of his debt, the servant took it upon himself to go collect the debt someone owed him. The same grace we are shown is what we must extend to others.
If we choose not to show mercy, someone will notice and even if no one on Earth notices, God does (v.31). We should want to show mercy to others. We should want to see others live a prosperous life. A mentality rooted in forgiveness is a great start to being able to show mercy.
God shows each of us mercy every day. He protects us from dangers seen and unseen. He allows us to have breath in our bodies. He even gives us multiple chances even when we promise not to repeat the same action. It is only fair that we extend that same kindness to others. Saying, “I forgive you” is not enough. The scripture reminds us that forgiveness must come from the heart (v.35). So, we can’t hold a grudge and toss back in the person’s face later. It must be authentic. We must show mercy.

Prayer: Lord, today I want to thank you for the mercy that you have shown me. As your humble servant, I realize I owe you so much. I pray that you help me to forgive others the way you forgive me. Help me to move past grudges and start over again. If I have wronged anyone in word or in deed, help me to ask their forgiveness so that I may move forward in life. I thank you in advance for the great works you are about to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

What Are You Building On?

CJ Montgomery — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 07:00:00 +0000

Scripture: Luke 6:46-49
Key Verse: Luke 6:48

Rumors suck. I mean if you really think about it hearing something about a subject, a person, or a particular group of people can ruin your entire perception of them. So many people have turned away from the Christian faith without trying it for themselves because they heard of someone else’s bad experience. Well, today I want to challenge you to check your foundation. So many people get caught up in the rules and procedures of the religion and miss the most important part— the relationship. Are you currently building on top of rumors or do you really know Christ for yourself?
It is a very common trend to see people requesting prayer or calling out to God when things go wrong. However, on a normal day to day basis those same people don’t stop to thank God for the air they are breathing or try to align themselves with His will for their life (v.46). God is not a toy. You should not just pick Him up when it feels convenient or to follow a trend. He wants to know you. He wants to mend the broken pieces of your life. Understand that there are people on this Earth who claim to love God and do all manners of evil in His name. They do not have the solid foundation that you are reading about right now. Those people who cast you away as an individual because of sins you engaged in are not God. They do not have a heaven or hell to put you in. They need to evaluate their foundation.
The first type of foundation in this passage is the solid foundation. The first man dug down deep before laying his foundation on the rock (v.48). We must be willing as followers of Christ to dig down deep inside of our hearts and really push past all of the surface level frustrations we may be feeling. We cannot base our faith and our love for Christ on how we are feeling because feelings are inconsistent. We have to dig down and find the solid part. The solid part is constructed when we create intentional time in our lives for God through reading His word and praying. While these devotions are great, it is not enough to read these once a week and go to church on Sunday and not interact with God any more than that. While Christianity is the religion, Christ desires relationship.
The second type of foundation is the weak foundation where the man started building a house without setting a platform to build upon (v. 49). This is the same as paying more attention to what popular culture says about how you live your life instead of consulting God first and applying the word of God. There are even times where you critique the religion without consulting the bible to see if it has been twisted to fit a particular audience. People with weak foundations don’t dig deep, which is why the collapse every time a trial comes their way. They have nothing to support what they have built.
God wants you to have a solid foundation. He doesn’t want to try to build your relationship upon rumors. He wants you to consult His word. He wants you to talk with Him in prayer. He wants you to develop a sincere relationship that can’t be swayed by the things of this world. So as you go through the rest of your week, ask yourself what are you building on?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for this day. Thank you for the opportunity to begin establishing a foundation in our relationship. Thank you for helping me to make it this far even when I didn’t acknowledge your presence. I love you, Lord. I want to move past the aspects of religion and work on the relationship. Help me to dig deep and make room for you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

It’s Okay to Come Back

CJ Montgomery — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 07:00:00 +0000

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32
Key Verse: Luke 15:24

Sometimes in life, we need to take a break. We find ourselves overwhelmed by our commitments and relationships, and we just need a break. For some people that break may involve an expensive vacation. For others, it may involve going for a walk in the park. Recently, for me, it meant I had to stop writing and just start listening. I was becoming so consumed by deadlines and my priorities that I forgot why I started P.O.P in the first place. I forgot that this devotional series was supposed to intentionally intensify my personal time with God.
I was so focused on filling other people that I found myself drained and consequently pouring out of an empty cup. I have never felt more connected to the parable of the Lost Son than in this season of my life. While I didn’t run away from my heavenly Father, I was running from the purpose He placed on my life. Consider me a living testimony that it’s ok to come back.
The first thing we must recognize in this parable is that the younger son recognized that He needed a break (v.12). Some of us are still in denial that a break is needed in this season of our life. Even if things are going really well in this season in our life, we may have lost sight of what God wants us to be doing. One of the errors in this parable is that the son did not consult his father or his brother or the servants in his home about his decision. Before you just run off screaming, “I need a break,” consider consulting a spiritual advisor and truly praying to God about what you are dealing with. He will give you clear signs about what your next move will be.
Maybe you are already halfway to the Bahamas. Well it’s probably time for you to come to your senses (v.17). Think about what you ran away from. Did leaving help the situation or make the situation worse. What did you hope to accomplish with this break? Did your plan align with God’s plan for your life? If not, then it’s time for you to return to your Father and apologize (v.18).
We should not just take a break because it sounds nice, but our decisions should be intentional and align with God’s plan. God doesn’t want you out in the world struggling and depressed. He wants to take care of you, but you have to let Him be everything you need. You have to unlock the vulnerable places in your life, and allow Him to enter in.
So, your break is over. Now what? GO HOME (v.20)! God is waiting for you with open arms. He wants to clothe you in His love (v.22). He wants you to become full off of His word (v.23). He wants to celebrate your renewal (v.24). But you must understand that, while God is celebrating, there will be people questioning your journey (v.28-30).
We cannot get caught up in the naysayers. Some of them will be people who are closest to you. Nonetheless, they are irrelevant. We can only focus on the future and use what God has delivered us from as part of our testimony. Who cares if you took a break? It’s in the past. The important thing is that you realized that it was ok to come back.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, today, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for approving my break and for embracing me upon my return. I thank you for a clear mind and open heart towards your Word. I thank you for your peace that is currently covering my life. Please forgive me for not always consulting you. I want to live better for you and use my past mistakes as part of my testimony. I am ready to come home. I love you Lord and I am excited about what you are doing in my life. Have your way, God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

My Clifton Strengths

CJ Montgomery — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 04:39:58 +0000

Relator

“People exceptionally talented in the Relator theme enjoy close relationships with others. They find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal.”- Clifton Strengths

As a relator, I take the relationships that I form very seriously. I always make intentional time for those in my life including my coworkers and peers. When people around me are working on a project, I make it my mission to assist them in whatever way they ask, so they can meet their intended goal.

Responsibility

“People exceptionally talented in the Responsibility theme take psychological ownership of what they say they will do. They are committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty.”- Clifton Strengths

My responsibility trait is most evident when I am scheduling meetings. If I say that I am going to meet with someone in a particular time frame, I arrive prepared and early. In situations where that is no longer feasible, I make a point to communicate the issue as soon as possible and try to arrive at another possible solution that allows the end goal to still be met. When working with a team, people often look to me to complete the more critical tasks because they know that it will be executed well and within a timely manner.

Learner

“People exceptionally talented in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. The process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.”- Clifton Strengths

As a future educator, I feel that my learner trait is probably the one I connect with the most. I am always looking for new ways to solve difficult problems and how I can convey that information to others. I am usually trying to get others to get excited about their academic victories. During my own academic pursuit, completing research has been my favorite part of any project. I often find myself getting lost in books and new information and cannot wait to share my findings with my peers.

Strategic

“People exceptionally talented in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.”- Clifton Strengths

As a strategist, I never see failure as an option. I am always trying to sort through how I can do my best work even if the odds are not in my favor. Before I begin any project, I like to utilize all of my resources to understand what is expected of me and how the task has been completed in the past. I write out a detailed to-do list to ensure that all the necessary components are included in my final product. When I hit a road block, I do not mind asking others for assistance to ensure that the end goal is being met.

Achiever

“People exceptionally talented in the Achiever theme work hard and possess a great deal of stamina. They take immense satisfaction in being busy and productive.”- Clifton Strengths

As an achiever, I often find myself involved in a little bit of everything. As displayed in my biography, I have always been an intentionally busy person holding many leadership roles whenever possible. Even my rest days involve a level of active productivity towards a project that I’m working on. It is important to me that I constantly refine my skills so that I can be a better role model for my future students and any other youth that I may encounter. My goal is to avoid being another inner-city statistic, which is why I have worked so hard for everything that I have accomplished.

Sample Middle School Lesson

CJ Montgomery — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 20:00:06 +0000

Authentic Southern Excellence

CJ Montgomery — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 12:34:10 +0000

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