I STILL NEED TO PARTY LORD, THEN I'LL BE THERE!

I remember my party days.  I wasn't going to let anything get in the way of my Friday nights, and Saturday nights, and Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights as well. Let's be honest, I was a party animal in the worst way.  I couldn't wait to get to the next club, mainly karaoke.  I figured out in advance how much sleep I would get before work the next day.  Then I figured I could make it through the next day well enough on that amount of sleep.  I had to because I was NOT going to stop partying.  

Fast forward to today and I look back on all of that and realize how much God had my back.  I realize that I drove drunk many, many times before I was finally arrested.  That still didn't do it for me because I was arrested again a year later for the same thing! Man was I hard-headed!  Thank God I was never arrested when I was going back and forth to the drug house to get more drugs to get my "high" on.  Imagine getting caught carrying all that back to the house! 

During that time I often felt the urge to go to church.  But I rarely did because I didn't want people to smell the alcohol or drugs on me.  I used to say, "As soon as I'm done partying Lord, I'll be there."  Everything was more important than serving the God who could set me free if I just asked Him.  I must have been out of my mind! Actually I didn't know what i didn't know.  God was using me as a motivational speaker during those times, and now I realize that everything I was saying was based on Biblical principles! You mean to tell me I was preaching without putting God in it? I was a nice person but I was not respecting God at all.  I convinced myself that if I was nice enough and helped enough people I didn't necessarily need God. If I died God would recognize all the people I helped and He'd let me into heaven.  After all, He's not that mean right? 

Well God said in His word that He doesn't want to lose ANY of His children.  "The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9 AMP)God is "extraordinarily patient" with us but there will come a time when Jesus will return for His church.  We just don't know when that will be.  No one knows when it will be so we should be vigilant and ready. The Bible says, "You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Luke 12:40 NIV)

Come to Jesus now! Don't wait until you're "finished partying and having fun". Partying is limited to your short life here on earth. But eternity is forever. Where will you spend your eternity? With Jesus or the devil? We have to get our lives right today, not keep on partying as long as we can because we just don't know when He's coming back.  He may come back when you're in the middle of your mess. What will you tell Jesus then? Nothing. Because by then, it will be too late! You won't have time!

 “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed." (Luke 17:28-30 NIV)

God bless you!

Robert T Sells

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About the author: Robert T. Sells (aka The Anointed Poet) is the co-owner, with his wife Marlas, of Words of Inspiration Ministries in Merrillville, Indiana. He is known for his gift of prose and has been spreading the message of the Gospel through poetry and song around the country. Sells is also the author of several books in the Words of Inspiration poetry series and a Christian spoken word CD. For more information about his ministry or to purchase products and/or services, visit his website at www.robertsellsonline.com.

SO I WAS WORRYING FOR NOTHING THEN LORD!

Many years ago I was walking through a bad part of the city on my way to a friend's house when I went in to a neighborhood store to get something to snack on.  I was confronted by some rough people when I went in but didn't think anything about it because I had seen people in that neighborhood before that were really just bullies.  I got what I needed in the store but when I came out there were 11 guys waiting for me.  They immediately came at me and I fought with everything in me to get past them until there was only one left.  Well the one guy pulled out a gun and pointed it at me.  I just turned and walked away because that's all I could do.  But when the guy went to shoot me the gun jammed and he couldn't get it working! 

Why am I telling you this story?  Because it really did happen to me years ago but here's what I didn't know.  God had sent angels there to even the fight up and deliver me from my oppressors!!  There were warrior angels all around me participating in the Spiritual battle! Then He plugged up the barrel of that gun so I wouldn't get shot!  God is truly amazing!! All of this was happening and I didn't even know it at the time because I didn't know God then.  I just thought I was incredibly lucky! We think when we go through things sometimes that God is not there but He is ALWAYS there, watching out for us whether we ask Him to or not! My God was faithful then when He wasn't a priority in my life and He is still faithful now when I put Him first in everything I do.  There's nothing God won't do for you.  There's no alley too dark that He won't walk along side of you.  Even when your friends choose to abandon you sometimes when you're going through something, GOD IS ALWAYS THERE!! He said He'll"...never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5) 

Look at this passage and see how God has fortified His army around Elisha! 

"When the servant of the man of God rose early and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was around the city. Elisha's servant said to him, Alas, my master! What shall we do? Elisha answered, Fear not; for those with us are more than those with them. Then Elisha prayed, Lord, I pray You, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the young man's eyes, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, Smite this people with blindness, I pray You. And God smote them with blindness, as Elisha asked." (2 Kings 6:15-18 AMP)

In the end Elisha asked God to blind his enemies so they couldn't see them.  So not only did He provide protection for His servant Elisha with a myriad of chariots carrying Spiritual warriors, He worked on Elisha's behalf to disable his enemy on a spoken word from Elisha!  

We have the power to defeat our enemies every time! Not because of our power but because of God in us.  We are God's children whom He loves unconditionally and He will NEVER stop looking out for us.  So trust God when you're going through a storm, when you're wading through dangerous waters, when you're traveling down dangerous roads and God will deliver you from your enemies.  "Fear not, for I AM with you!"  God repeats this statement throughout the bible as He's talking with different men of faith.  He said it in Genesis, Exodus, Deutermony, Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zecharaiah, Malachi, and Matthew! Why did He repeat this so many time to so many different men in the Bible? He wanted to keep them encouraged as they went through their trials and tribulations. He wanted them to know that even though they didn't see Him, that He was there! And He will do the same for you if you trust God! Live your life for God and you will never live it alone again! 

Glory to God!

Robert T Sells

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About the author: Robert T. Sells (aka The Anointed Poet) is the co-owner, with his wife Marlas, of Words of Inspiration Ministries in Merrillville, Indiana. He is known for his gift of prose and has been spreading the message of the Gospel through poetry and song around the country. Sells is also the author of several books in the Words of Inspiration poetry series and a Christian spoken word CD. For more information about his ministry or to purchase products and/or services, visit his website at www.robertsellsonline.com.

GOD WILL CHANGE YOU FROM THE INSIDE OUT!

Let's face it. A caterpillar is a disgusting creature.  It's a worm on steroids. LOL! It is a lowly creature that inches along the ground at a ridiculously low pace. It inches along by moving sections of it's body up then pushing alternate sections forward. This is a very agonizing and pain-staking process. The caterpillar gets it's entire lower side extremely dirty because there is not one inch of it's body that doesn't touch the ground constantly. Eventually at the right time it inches it's way up into a tree and begins to build a cocoon around itself. This becomes it's temporary home that keeps it safe from the elements while it is transformed slowly.  The humility of the caterpillar is amazing because of it's position.  During the transformation period it is completely cut off from the world so nothing may touch it.  Then at the proper time it breaks through the casing, falls out, and spreads it's wings and becomes a beautiful butterfly! 

The same is truly with us.  When we humble ourselves before God, the world often talks about us.  They drag us through the mud because we won't conform to the patterns of the world.  So we drag along the ground getting ourselves dirty as we serve and obey God.  We are reading our bibles everyday and praying for God to help us through these storms.  At some point, God begins to elevate us until eventually he gets us high above the concerns of the world and we begin to build a cocoon around us to protect us from the storms, the wind and the rain that comes down all around us. During this time we are in communion with God while He is transforming us through the power of His Word, the Bible! This process can be long and takes patience, but with patience comes humility. This is what we learn while God is working on us.  

Then one day when we are ready and God has built up our spiritual muscles, we are finally able to break out and shine the light of God on everything we touch and everywhere we go.  God is able to use us in major ways to reach out to His people and minister to the lost.  To those who are in storms, you appear as a beautiful butterfly, shining the light of Jesus on everything you touch! 

So allow God to work in you.  Allow God to take you through the times when you will feel like a caterpillar dragging yourself along the ground. Then one day if you remain humble, God will thrust you out into the world and you will shine like a beautiful butterfly, spreading God's Word everywhere you go. And everywhere you go, God will get the glory because all they will see is God and His light, not you!!

Glory to God!

Robert T. Sells

"But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests.11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 14:10-11 NIV) 

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About the author: Robert T. Sells (aka The Anointed Poet) is the co-owner, with his wife Marlas, of Words of Inspiration Ministries in Merrillville, Indiana. He is known for his gift of prose and has been spreading the message of the Gospel through poetry and song around the country. Sells is also the author of several books in the Words of Inspiration poetry series and a Christian spoken word CD. For more information about his ministry or to purchase products and/or services, visit his website at www.robertsellsonline.com.

SORRY, I JUST GOT HERE LORD ... I'M IN RIGHT?

  This morning after dropping my wife off at the train station I was approaching the entrance to I-65 so I put on my right turn signal to make the turn onto the expressway.  There were no cars behind me at all and a police car in the lane next to me and in front of me.  There was another car directly in front of me as well. I was almost there when this big truck sped past me and tried to jump in front of me, nearly running me off the road.  I swerved to avoid the collision and after almost crashing he realized he was going too fast and settled in behind me where there was plenty of room. 

     The Lord showed me through this experience that this is how some people will try to get into heaven.  There are so many people who profess Christianity but they are not walking the walk.  They are carelessly driving 90mph on the "grace track" thinking this will last.  Then at the last minute they will try to get in and change their ways but by the time they make the decision it will be too late.  It will be like trying to cut off another saint while running to the gates which are closing.  This of course is a metaphor but the reality is there won't be time to cut someone off.  The Bible says that the Lord will come like a flash. "For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." (Matthew 24:27 NIV)

     The earth is filled with people who either have accepted Jesus and continue living in unrepentant sin or people who have heard the message of Jesus who refuse to accept it because it infringes on their "sin-filled lifestyles", or people who have never heard the message of Jesus. Don't wait until you "see the last saint caught up" and then try to knock them out of the way to try and muscle your way into heaven. It doesn't work like that. YOU WON'T GET IN!  Accept Jesus today, and if you already have accepted Him, repent of your sins and be forgiven. Then begin to live a righteous life. Do it today!  If you wait until tomorrow, it may be too late. 

God bless you!

Robert T Sells

"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality." (1 Corinthians 15-51-53 NIV)

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About the author: Robert T. Sells (aka The Anointed Poet) is the co-owner, with his wife Marlas, of Words of Inspiration Ministries in Merrillville, Indiana. He is known for his gift of prose and has been spreading the message of the Gospel through poetry and song around the country. Sells is also the author of several books in the Words of Inspiration poetry series and a Christian spoken word CD. For more information about his ministry or to purchase products and/or services, visit his website at www.robertsellsonline.com.

I CAN JUMP OVER ANY HURDLE…RIGHT?

I have always been a big fan of track & field.  One of my favorite events is the high hurdles.  I just love watching the men and women jump over those hurdles while maintaining such a fast pace.  I remember my first time looking at a high hurdle.  I was a sophomore in high school and I walked out on that track one day and they had the high hurdles set up.  I backed up and took off running toward the hurdle.  In my mind I was Jesse Owens! Nothing was going to stop me from jumping over every hurdle and finishing the race with my hands held high in the air! Well now back to reality.  I managed to stop then jump over the first hurdle, I stumbled to the second one, jumped up and my foot got caught, I fell down and hit the ground hard, injuring myself.  OUCH!!! 

I thought when I looked at those hurdles that I could do what I saw the people do on the track and field events.  But what I didn’t think about was all of the time, years even, that those people put into perfecting the ability to jump over those hurdles. 

You see when we see people who are very successful in their ministries and the things they’re doing for God we tend to think we can do the same even though God hasn’t prepared us yet.  We want to jump right over the fire, the storms, the trials and tribulations, and the tests and go right to the prize – an award-winning ministry with books written, and speaking or singing all over the world.  And we want it right now!  The problem is that it is in the preparation that God is refining us and getting us ready to jump over the hurdles that the devil puts in our path as we walk out God’s path for our lives.  And just like a hurdler has to start by jumping in the air without the hurdles there to perfect his leap, landing, and number of steps he takes between each hurdle, we have to go through the storms and the tests because it is during those tests that we learn when to jump, where to land, and how many steps to take before we get to the next test.

So while you are being sharpened in the fire, praise God for the trial and thank Him for the road ahead that He’s preparing you for.  God has already seen the hurdles you are going to have to jump over.  So be willing to go through the practice because when you’re done, God will use your testimony to show others what He’s done for you.  It is your testimony that God will use to deliver and set many people free.  How do you jump over the hurdles of the devil? You read your bible and pray every day.  Spend time with God building a relationship so you can hear Him when He speaks.  He will guide you over, around, or through every hurdle the devil brings your way!

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)

Glory to God!

Robert T Sells

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About the author: Robert T. Sells (aka The Anointed Poet) is the co-owner, with his wife Marlas, of Words of Inspiration Ministries in Merrillville, Indiana. He is known for his gift of prose and has been spreading the message of the Gospel through poetry and song around the country. Sells is also the author of several books in the Words of Inspiration poetry series and a Christian spoken word CD. For more information about his ministry or to purchase products and/or services, visit his website at www.robertsellsonline.com.

PUT THE TOOTHPASTE BACK IN!

      Have you ever tried to put toothpaste back in the dispenser after you squeezed it out?  It is virtually impossible.  You can try to push it back into the cap but all it will do is spread out over your hand and make a big mess.  You can try to cut the back end and put it in that way and that will actually work.  But the problem is now you have an open tube that will constantly leak every time you try to push more out of the front end. 

     When we are quick to anger we tend to say things that we shouldn’t say.  And just like the toothpaste that comes out of the end, when we allow evil things to come out of our mouths they are out there and we can’t put them back now.  Words can be very damaging.  The Bible is very specific about words,“From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:20-21 NIV)

And sometimes we try to take the damaging things we’ve said and put them back in another way.  The problem is just like the other end of that toothpaste container we try to mend our relationships with people after hurting them by stitching up the hole we created or placing the proverbial “duct tape” on it for a temporary fix.  The problem is when that toothpaste container is built up with pressure, the toothpaste will eventually leak out from that end that we tried to temporarily fix. 

     When you’ve spoken in a mean manner to someone or about someone the best way to fix it is to start over again with a new tube of toothpaste and throw the old one away.  What do I mean by that?  Start by going to them with a heartfelt apology then asking if they can forgive you.  It may take time but coming straight forward with them and acknowledging what you did wrong and asking for forgiveness goes a long way toward building a bridge to a lasting relationship, whether it’s a friend, family member, business associate, mate, spouse, or fellow employee. 

     Rebuilding broken relationships can be very difficult because you are rebuilding trust that has been abused.   However it will be much easier if you watch what comes out of your mouth in the first place.  Read and meditate on this scripture and put it to memory and you will no longer need to try to push the toothpaste back in the dispenser. 

     “Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God's righteousness doesn't grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.”  (James 1:19-21 MSG)

God bless you!

Robert T Sells

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About the author: Robert T. Sells (aka The Anointed Poet) is the co-owner, with his wife Marlas, of Words of Inspiration Ministries in Merrillville, Indiana. He is known for his gift of prose and has been spreading the message of the Gospel through poetry and song around the country. Sells is also the author of several books in the Words of Inspiration poetry series and a Christian spoken word CD. For more information about his ministry or to purchase products and/or services, visit his website at www.robertsellsonline.com.

TAKE THOSE BOTTLES OFF THE SHELF!!

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14 NIV)

Wait a minute! You mean to tell me God came down from His glorious throne in heaven just for us? What kind of love is that? And all He wants is for us to love people enough to tell others what He did for them? And we just have to use the gifts He already gave us to do it? That's it?  Ok then why aren't we doing it then?

Why do we go to church every Sunday and sit under good teaching (sometimes), get our praise on (sometimes), fellowship with other believers (sometimes) and then leave with all that God has given us, put it on a bottle and set it on the shelf with our "Words from God" Collection? Why do we feel in all of our selfish nature that we are the only ones who deserve to hear this incredible good news? Why do we get to be in the "in group with God" and shut out others who are hurting and living life by the skin of their teeth without hope?

People we have got to take those bottles of the shelf, break them on the floor, and let the Holy Spirt flow from that Word and envelope us completely. We have an obligation to take what we've learned and let someone else know about it.  Because the very people God assigned to us as mature believers are the next ones He's going to use to help expand His kingdom! When they are delivered by God and set free from the bondage they were in because we told them how they can have hope in Christ Jesus they will be like ignorance on fire and just tell others all about what God did for them! Remember God doesn't favor one person over another. Acts 10:33-35 NIV says, "Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right."

So take your bottles of "Word" off the shelf today and open them up so you can be prepared when God sends someone your way to minister to.  We didn't get saved for ourselves, but to be used by God to bring others to Christ. Tell someone today what God did for you.  You may not be the one to lead them to Christ, but you will sow a seed in their heart that God will continue to water until they give their lives to Christ.

God bless you!

Robert T Sells

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About the author: Robert T. Sells (aka The Anointed Poet) is the co-owner, with his wife Marlas, of Words of Inspiration Ministries in Merrillville, Indiana. He is known for his gift of prose and has been spreading the message of the Gospel through poetry and song around the country. Sells is also the author of several books in the Words of Inspiration poetry series and a Christian spoken word CD. For more information about his ministry or to purchase products and/or services, visit his website at www.robertsellsonline.com.

I WANT TO BE LIKE CHRIST!

"But friends, that's exactly who we are: children of God. And that's only the beginning. Who knows how we'll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we'll see him—and in seeing him, become like him. All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus' life as a model for our own." (1 John 3:2-3 MSG)

When I was little I used to imitate everything my father did.  I would follow him around the house, lie down on the couch like him, cross my legs like him and pretend to read the paper, and even wear his clothes, especially his shoes!  Yes I wanted to be just like him because I loved him so much.  I wanted to be the exact image of my father because he was the world to me. 

In these end times, if you’ve allowed Christ into your life, you should at some point begin to show the aspects or characteristics of Christ.  We should feel an unending desire to be more like our Father in heaven because we love Him and want to be like Him.  Here’s the awesome thing about that though.  I always wanted to be like my father when I was young but there was no residual benefit from it.  Now as I conform to the ways of Christ, I am learning more every day why I need to be like Christ.  Because there is a residual affect that is unlike anything else on earth!  One of the greatest things about being like Christ is it creates other people who want to be like Christ! Why is that?  Because it is not your actions that are affecting people, but the Spirit of God that is affecting people through your actions!

Allow yourself to be totally controlled by God.  Every thought, desire, word and even action can affect someone for Christ.  Because when you follow Christ and desire to be more like Him, it will cause a ripple effect to grow throughout your street, your job, your town, your state, your country and eventually this entire world!

Become an imitator of Christ today.  God needs you in the fight.  Don’t wait until you die and go before God to answer the all-important question, “What did you do with what I gave you?”  You can reach people for Christ today without even having to talk in some cases.  It is your Christ-like nature that will cause God to move on people’s hearts.  God will draw people to Himself through the things you do and show people every day. 

God bless you!

Robert T Sells

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About the author: Robert T. Sells (aka The Anointed Poet) is the co-owner, with his wife Marlas, of Words of Inspiration Ministries in Merrillville, Indiana. He is known for his gift of prose and has been spreading the message of the Gospel through poetry and song around the country. Sells is also the author of several books in the Words of Inspiration poetry series and a Christian spoken word CD. For more information about his ministry or to purchase products and/or services, visit his website atwww.robertsellsonline.com.

GOD WANTS TO TRANSFER YOUR EXCITEMENT!

I remember not too long ago when I used to be a party animal. Back in the day I used to get uncontrollably anxious when Friday was coming around because I knew that within the next 8 hours I would be in somebody’s club with a drink in my hand and partying down man!!! Whew! I would literally get so excited I couldn’t even think about my job that day. I’d find my mind wondering on who I would be talking to that night, what dance I would do, what suit I would wear, what song I would sing. Yes I was a slave to the “party thoughts” that ruled my mind. I would call my friends and make sure they are getting ready early because I wanted the best seats at the club or bar. I made sure that all details were covered and there wouldn’t be anything that could possibly go wrong that night.


My car clean and full of gas – check!
My suit picked up from the cleaners – check!
My supply of breath mints replenished – check!
My money withdrawn from the ATM – check!
My phone book ready to go – check! I was ready man!!

Let’s do it!!
Now here are a few questions I have for you. Why is it so easy for us to be excited about what happening in the world but we can’t be excited about the things of God? What would happen if we took this excitement and transferred it to the things of God? How many people would we call to be sure they’re coming to church this week? How much time would we spend ministering to people about the goodness of Jesus?
I thank God for His transforming power. He has changed me from someone I used to be to someone who is ready and willing to serve God and His people. God has transferred my excitement from the things of the world to the things of Him and I am extremely excited to tell it to everyone who will listen!! Why? Because if He did it for me, He will do it for everyone!!
"Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right." (Acts 10:34-35 NIV)
Glory to God!!
God bless you!
Robert T Sells

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About the author: Robert T. Sells (aka The Anointed Poet) is the co-owner, with his wife Marlas, of Words of Inspiration Ministries in Merrillville, Indiana. He is known for his gift of prose and has been spreading the message of the Gospel through poetry and song around the country. Sells is also the author of several books in the Words of Inspiration poetry series and a Christian spoken word CD. For more information about his ministry or to purchase products and/or services, visit his website at http://www.robertsellsonline.com/.

I'M TAKING THE WIDE ROAD LORD... WHAT DO YOU MEAN NO?

The other day I was out on the highway in our area. From 2007 - 2009 it has changed a lot. I-80/I-94 has been widened tremendously, adding 2 more lanes on both the westbound and eastbound directions. Since then there has been a huge increase in the number of speeders on the highway every day, with some drivers exceeding speeds of 85 mph on a 55mph stretch of highway! Why do they go so fast? The answer is simple.


They go faster because they have more room. They go faster because they have a wider road so they can be less careful than they had been.

The same is true of Christians. We tend to want the “easy way to God”. So we fly down the wide path doing 90 mph, praying microwave prayers and giving God a “time limit” to get our blessing to us. We get to church late on Sunday and we leave early (you know what I mean, before we get stuck in the line of cars) so we can be the first ones to get a table at the “local buffet”. God is not really the thought in a lot of Christian's lives but the afterthought. All of this “putting God on the backburner and expecting forefront blessings” business is called TRAVELING DOWN THE WIDE ROAD.

Where does one end up when they travel down the wide road? They end up on a path to destruction. The Bible says in Matthew 7:13-14 (AMP), “Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it.”

So let’s learn to develop a passion for entering through the narrow gate and following the narrow road. I love the amplified because it says the narrow gate is “contracted by pressure”. In other words, we won’t get through the narrow gate without trials. Jesus said in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” So trouble comes no matter what. But when it comes, how will you respond to it. On the wide road, you’d ride around it real fast only to run into another traffic jam later on down the road. But on the narrow road, you’d be forced to face it, push through it, and eventually succeed because of God in you. So take the narrow road every time. God will show you how to navigate through the narrow gate to get to your destiny. The trip will be slow, arduous, rigorous and often painful. But it will be the best journey you will ever go on. And through it you will become all that God desires you to be.

God bless you,
Robert T. Sells

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About the author: Robert T. Sells (aka The Anointed Poet) is the co-owner, with his wife Marlas, of Words of Inspiration Ministries in Merrillville, Indiana. He is known for his gift of prose and has been spreading the message of the Gospel through poetry and song around the country. Sells is also the author of several books in the Words of Inspiration poetry series and a Christian spoken word CD. For more information about his ministry or to purchase products and/or services, visit his website at www.robertsellsonline.com.

EVERYONE YOU NEED IS COMING TO YOU!

Exodus 2 begins the story of Moses and how he was born to lead his people out of the bondage of Egypt.  He didn't know this until later.  And when God spoke to Him at the burning bush he found it hard to believe that God would want to use him.  Here's the thing: God already had everyone set in place who would help Moses to follow God's path for his life.  But Moses didn't find this out until he left everything he knew, all of his vast riches and position as prince of Egypt and fled to Midian after the Pharoah tried to kill him for killing an Egyptian. He married Zipporah, became and shepard and tending the herd for many years before he was called into the ministry to rescue his people. It was then that God sent everyone Moses needed to carry out God's plan.

 It amazes me how God can introduce people into your life who will change it forever.  I remember some time ago I asked God to bring the people into my life who will help me to advance forward in His plan for my life.  And God showed up!  Marlas and I have been so blessed by people who have entered our life seemingly out of the blue sometimes.  Everytime we pray for God to show us what to do next He sends someone with the answer.

People are in your life for either a reason, a season, or even a lifetime.  The key is to understand what part each person is playing in your walk with God.  Begin to trust God and know that He understands when you go through trials.  He loves us so much that He doesn't want us to suffer as we face trials. So He sometimes sends someone with an encouraging word, an answer to a question we've had, provision for a bill or to get your book published, transportation to get to and from church, an accountability partner to keep you from falling back into the sin you may have struggled with, helping you to understand a scripture He gave you, instructions on how to produce a CD He's called you to create. 

And the list goes on and on...

So ask God during your prayer time for discernment of spirits.  That way when God send you someone you'll know it, and when the devil sends you someone, you'll know it.  TRUST GOD!!

God bless you!
Robert T. Sells

About the author: Robert T. Sells (aka The Anointed Poet) is the co-owner, with his wife Marlas, of Words of Inspiration Ministries in Merrillville, Indiana. He is known for his gift of prose and has been spreading the message of the Gospel through poetry and song around the country. Sells is also the author of several books in the Words of Inspiration poetry series and a Christian spoken word CD. For more information about his ministry or to purchase products and/or services, visit his website at http://www.robertsellsonline.com/.

WORSHIP GOD BECAUSE HE'S GOD!

I love every opportunity I get to worship God! It doesn’t matter where I am. I can be at home in my room, at the computer, in my car on the way to the office, or on the stage at church. Regardless of where I am the experience is the same. It’s so wonderful to worship God. When we worship God we are telling Him who He is. We are blessed when we worship God because it is an unselfish offering. “Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord.” (Psalms 128:4 AMP)

When we worship God favor falls on us because we are telling God who He is in our life and what He means to us. “The Lord takes pleasure in those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy and loving-kindness.” (Psalms 147:11 AMP) It’s the sacrifice of worship that changes our lives and our circumstances. When we worship God sacrificially it’s not really a sacrifice because we are so excited to be in His presence and we look forward to hearing from Him. "Which hope [of the Messiah and the resurrection] our twelve tribes confidently expect to realize as they fervently worship [without ceasing] night and day.” (Acts 26:7 AMP) We should be grateful for those times when we can go into a place of worship with the Father. We can rest in the knowing that God will be pleased when we worship Him. And it is because of that reason that we worship Him without ceasing. “I thank God Whom I worship with a pure conscience, in the spirit of my fathers, when without ceasing I remember you night and day in my prayers…” (2Timothy 1:3 AMP)

So take some time every day to offer worship to God and it will show in every area of your life. When you worship God, He reveals Himself to you. And once you’ve been in the presence of God, truly the old you will be no more and you will increase in God. Then when you come into contact with others they want to know what’s different about you. It is then that you can tell them about the good news of Jesus and all He did for you!!

Glory to God!!

Robert T Sells
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About the author: Robert T. Sells (aka The Anointed Poet) is the co-owner, with his wife Marlas, of Words of Inspiration Ministries in Merrillville, Indiana. He is known for his gift of prose and has been spreading the message of the Gospel through poetry and song around the country. Sells is also the author of several books in the Words of Inspiration poetry series and a Christian spoken word CD. For more information about his ministry or to purchase products and/or services, visit his website at www.robertsellsonline.com.

"MOTHERS" - A Mother's Day Poem

God knew how important
Mothers would be
To all of society you see
He gave us Mary,
The most important mother of all
Who gave birth to a son named Jesus
Who would set all mankind free
You see it was a mother gave birth
To every important man in the Bible
Peter, Philip, Nathaniel and John
Timothy, James, Andrew, and Paul
King Solomon, King David, Jeremiah, and Isaiah
Isaac, Jacob, Esau, Joel, and Obadiah
Gideon, Sampson, Abraham and Lot
Noah, Moses, Samuel, Joshua, Job and Zechariah
Amos, Jonah, Micah and Zephaniah
Enoch, Nahum, Elisha and Elijah

All of these men were great men of God
Yet all of them came from the womb of a woman
No matter how great any man on this earth may have been
Without mothers there would be no one.
Who is a mother?
She is that one we all depend on
The one the whole family leans on
The one who loves completely and unconditionally
Without needing to have a reason

I am so thankful for my mother
For without her where would I be?
Her constant reassurances
During my times of feeling defeated
Her loving nods that let me know
That no matter what may happen
My mistakes didn’t have to be repeated
I can remember so many times
When I wasn’t sure which direction to go
What decision to make
What valuable things I should know
Those were the times my mother was there
Always showing me who I can be
Instead of whom I am now
Always telling me not to accept
Just living day by day just because I can
She always urged me to push harder
Reach farther and think larger
Than my current situation
Because where I was wasn’t where I needed to end up
Where I was didn’t define me as washed up
My mother always told me she loved me
Even when she punished me
Even when I didn’t feel like hearing it she’d lavish me
With her constant statements of love for me
Even during those times when it embarrassed me
In front of my friends

But one day she was laid down to rest
And that’s the day I remember best
The day she went home to be with the Lord
From that day forward I began to realize
The impact she had on my life
The mold she had planted so indelibly in my mind
For the type of woman I’d eventually want to be my wife

You see that’s what mothers are
They are valuable people in our lives
Who guide and direct us through the
Turbulent times
They show us how to strive
For the top and never settle for less.
They are the ones who constantly let us know
That in spite of what we go through
When we put God first we will survive

That’s what my mom taught me
How to think about God first
And not get caught up with thinking about me
For it is through God all things happen
It is through God that our blessings come to be

So if you haven’t thanked your mother lately
For the day she brought you here
And if you haven’t shown gratitude to your mother
For the direction she guided you in life
For dealing with all of the things you did
And still loving you more than any other

So mothers we salute you on this day
For always giving of yourselves to see us through
Mothers we love you completely for all you have done
And for everything you been to us we will always honor you

© 2008 Robert T Sells – All rights reserved

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About the author: Robert T. Sells (aka The Anointed Poet) is the co-owner, with his wife Marlas, of Words of Inspiration Ministries in Merrillville, Indiana. He is known for his gift of prose and has been spreading the message of the Gospel through poetry and song around the country. Sells is also the author of several books in the Words of Inspiration poetry series and a Christian spoken word CD. For more information about his ministry or to purchase products and/or services, visit his website at http://www.robertsellsonline.com/.

HE ROSE - An Easter Poem

This world was lost

Full of people on the way
To an eternity in hell
Separated from you forever
Doomed to live a life of torture
Too many unspeakable acts to tell

Knowing the path of destruction
We were on
You sent your son
From the holiest place
He came down from glory
At His place by Your side
To live among us for 30 years
Before He even began his ministry
And at the right time

Jesus! You rose
And began to do miracles
You healed the sick
Cast out demons
And brought the dead to life
People came from everywhere around
To hear your message of hope
Crowds often too big to count
Filled homes, and streets, buildings and beaches
To hear you teach

You rose
Against the Pharisees and teachers of the law
You rose
Against the practices of religion
And everyone then saw
Then after everything you did
You were betrayed
By the one closest to you
Yes it was one of your own
Who turned You in
When the soldiers came
To take you away
You rose
In faith knowing the time was here
To redeem all mankind

You rose
Time and again after being struck
And knocked to the ground
You were unfairly tried
And the very people you loved
Turned You over to be flogged
While they let a criminal go
Who should’ve died

You rose
And approached the place
Where you knew you would suffer pain
Then after being beaten
Nearly to death
Having been taken to the edge of sanity
Your tears flowed like rain

Still You rose
And made the long walk
Carrying the cross
To Your body’s final resting place
You yelled in pain
As they nailed Your hands and feet to the cross
They stood You up and pierced Your side
Dislocated Your shoulder
So You couldn’t even lift
Yourself to catch a breath

Still you rose
And said a prayer
You asked for forgiveness
For those who tortured you
And as you breathed your last
You said, “It is done.”
And committed Your spirit To God
And Your body to the grave

Still You rose
And for 3 days
You went down to hell
And battled the devil and his demons
With all authority in heaven you weren’t afraid
Buried them so deep
Served them up on a plate like a waiter
You chained them down and they couldn’t move
And all they could do is weep.
You rose
And because You rose
We win
You defeated death and shut down hell
For all who believe in You
And we as believers
Will go out and tell
So others will have the chance to receive You

Because You rose
You are the God who now lives
And with you we have
The ultimate victory
Because You rose
You are the God who gives
Eternal life to all who want it
Paradise forever walking on streets of gold
Living with you
And praising you eternally
Jesus I am so grateful You rose
You are the God of life
And because you suffered and died
We have the chance
To have everlasting life
Because you suffered and sacrificed
We will live with you forever
As your spiritual wife

When you died you defeated death forever
You rescued all human beings
All we have to do is choose
To welcome you into our life
Eternal happiness is possible
For all who accept you
And for those who choose
To die without knowing you
Death and eternal destruction
Awaits them for sure

All of this we can easily avoid
If we just believe and have faith
In our one true savior Jesus
Salvation is free the price was already paid
This is why Jesus, YOU ROSE

©  Robert T Sells – all rights reserved

NO MATTER WHERE I GO, GOD IS WITH ME!

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THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH!

I have always been a pleasant personality type. I love people and I love talking with them, finding out what makes them who they are. I always have. But even though I was mild-tempered I was not always happy. I spent 15 years of my life in a constant state of depression. I would cry a lot, up to 6 times per day and sometimes I would leave my job to take a break and just go to my car and cry during my midnight shift. I didn’t understand why I was so sad all the time.


There were many nights when I felt like cutting my wrists and I remember going into the kitchen and grabbing the biggest knife I could find and running it across my wrists, lightly to see what it would feel like. I wanted to end it all because I was suffering so much. I couldn’t figure out why I was sad all the time and the depression let to other things like back, neck, and severe stomach pain. Then the headaches followed. So severe to the point where I have been admitted to the hospital several times. So I would take the knife to my wrists because I thought I could end my suffering by ending my life.

When I didn’t have the “guts” to do it I just started cutting myself in other places on my body. I was angry because I was so much of a wimp I didn’t even have the guts to kill myself. At least I thought I was a wimp. I didn’t know I was under a spiritual attack because I didn’t know God then. I mean I knew who He was but I didn’t talk to Him. I didn’t read the bible at all and I definitely didn’t go to church except for twice a year – Easter and Christmas. I laugh now when I think about how I was one of “those type of churchgoers”.

I didn’t realize that there was a war going on in the spirit realm for my soul. Yes God was trying to keep me with Him and the devil was trying to take me with him. Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (KJV) “The thief” is referring to the devil. His only job is to take my life, not all at once, but slowly one day at a time. When I was up late at night it was the devil speaking in my ear to put the knife to my wrists and take my life. When I didn’t do it, he convinced me to make slits on my arms and body.

The “I” refers to Jesus. Jesus said He has come so that we may not just live, but live a wonderful life of overflow, having all we need. It is not God’s will for us to die without knowing Him. He said in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, ‘declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.” So there is the spiritual battle. We must understand that the devil wants our soul bad but God wants us more. The devil sends things like depression, foreclosure, repossession, homelessness, migraine headaches, cancer, etc. to cause us to “want to” end it all. And sadly some of us do. I almost did. When we understand the battle we are fighting we can be victorious every single time. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)

If you don’t believe the devil wants your soul, read the book of Job. The devil and God are talking about Job and is asking God if he can have Job basically! Now I don’t want that conversation about me but this just goes to show how badly the devil wants our souls. But even more importantly it shows how weak the devil really is compared to God! He can’t do anything to you without your permission! So take your authority in God and banish the devil from your life and you will see some incredible things happen as you begin to put your angels on assignment. God will literally works miracles and deliver you from the things that the devil has you bound in.

Trust God only and you will be victorious and you will experience the ultimate joy that can only be found in the Lord! You will experience peace that surpasses all understanding. People will ask you “Why are you so happy all the time?” Then you can tell them why. It’s because of what Jesus did for me! (1 John 5:1-5)

God bless you!
Robert T Sells

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About the author: Robert T. Sells (aka The Anointed Poet) is the co-owner, with his wife Marlas, of Words of Inspiration Ministries in Merrillville, Indiana. He is known for his gift of prose and has been spreading the message of the Gospel through poetry and song around the country. Sells is also the author of several books in the Words of Inspiration poetry series and a Christian spoken word CD. For more information about his ministry or to purchase products and/or services, visit his website at www.robertsellsonline.com.

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HELP ME, I'M SIDETRACKED! AND I CAN'T GET BACK ON!!

     When we were kids old enough to leave our street on our bicycles, we would often ride to the train tracks in our area. (Why do little boys always have to do only the most dangerous things? LOL!) Well we were fascinated by trains and we used to see if we could derail them with our bad little selves!  We would call ourselves placing pennies, nickels, quarters and even small rocks on the track to try to derail them.  Then we would run away from the tracks when we hear the train coming and hide in the bushes to watch the chaos that would most definitely ensue when the train hit our "foreign objects" on the tracks.  Well to our dismay the train would run right over them and smash them completely! The rocks were turned into fine dust.  The coins were as thin and flat as a piece of paper! How could this happen after all of our careful planning?  I mean we thought we knew what we could do to derail this train. 

     Well when we are on the path that God has for us we need to be moving forward like a fully-loaded freight train. What gives you that unstoppable power when you're moving toward God's goals for you? Well... God of course!! God has put everything you need inside of you to prepare you for your journey. If you've been reading your Word everyday, spent time in prayer and seeking God, then you are ready to move forward to your destiny like a freight train. The freight train is powered by your faith. Your faith pleases God. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6 KJV) Your works demonstrate your faith. God sees this and begins to fuel your train with His power by way of His Holy Spirit. "The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate faith and works and you get the same thing: a corpse." (James 2:26 MSG)


     When you start picking up steam and you get rolling you get to the point where you are unstoppable. God is moving in your life in a major way because you've yielded to the flow of the Holy Spirit and now He is open doors that were once shut. You are getting access to people and places that in the beginning had their doors shut to you. All of the rocks and coins that were on the track are crushed into fine dust and scattered over the track. And if you do fall off for a moment, you can get back on, pick up steam again, and open the gate so the Holy Spirit can flow once again. Keep on trying and eventually the huge boulders that once derailed you become small pebbles. The huge mountain that once stood in your way jumps up and moves when it sees you coming because it knows you will crush it with one mighty spiritual blow. All you have to do is speak to that mountain and it MUST move out of your way. "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith." (Mark 11:23 KJV)


     When you have God on your side the devil's attacks are like those coins and rocks we used to put on the tracks.  The devil will try to derail God's plans for you by placing objects and distractions in front of you.  And they usually will appeal to some fleshly desire you've had.  Learn to recognize the devil's distractions and they will become nothing more than just road signs that you pass by on the way to your destiny and God's plans for your life. 

 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20 NIV)

God bless you!
Robert T Sells

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About the author: Robert T. Sells (aka The Anointed Poet) is the co-owner, with his wife Marlas, of Words of Inspiration Ministries in Merrillville, Indiana. He is known for his gift of prose and has been spreading the message of the Gospel through poetry and song around the country. Sells is also the author of several books in the Words of Inspiration poetry series and a Christian spoken word CD. For more information about his ministry or to purchase products and/or services, visit his website at http://www.robertsellsonline.com/.

ARE YOU ASHAMED OF GOD?

"And Jesus called [to Him] the throng with His disciples and said to them, If anyone intends to come after Me, let him deny himself [forget, ignore, disown, and lose sight of himself and his own interests] and take up his cross, and joining Me as a disciple and siding with My party] follow with Me [continually, cleaving steadfastly to Me]. For whoever wants to save his higher, spiritual, eternal] life, will lose it [the lower, natural, temporal life which is lived only on earth]; and whoever gives up his life [which is lived only on earth] for My sake and the Gospel's will save it [his]higher, spiritual life in the eternal kingdom of God]. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life in the eternal kingdom of God]? For what can a man give as an exchange (a compensation, a ransom, in return) for his [blessed] life in the eternal kingdom of God]? For whoever is ashamed [here and now] of Me and My words in this adulterous (unfaithful) and [preeminently] sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the glory (splendor and majesty) of His Father with the holy angels. (Mark 8:34-38 AMP)


     How many times have we had an opportunity to stand up for what we believe and we shrank back instead? How many times have we been presented with a situation when we could've told someone about the goodness of Jesus and we didn't because we figured they wouldn't like it?

     There have been many times when we, including me, have had opportunities to say something to someone and we just decided for whatever fleshly reason that we weren't going to "shake up the waters" per se. We didn't want to cause a commotion or we didn't want to "stir up trouble". We would think to ourselves, "Maybe it's not the right time" or "I don't want to offend anyone". We cannot be this way when it comes to sharing the good news of the Kingdom. We have to boldly proclaim the name of Jesus!! There are times when we will be presented with opportunities to "diminish" Jesus. Maybe you're an author who wrote a book about Jesus and in order to get the $10,000 sign-on bonus you say, "Okay I will take out the name of Jesus and replace it with something else." Or maybe you're a gospel artist who agrees to take the direct references to Jesus out of your music so it will get more "spins" on the radio. Or maybe you say, "I won't mention Jesus at this speaking engagement that I'm getting paid $15,000 for if I don't say His name then I can be faithful and tithe $1500 to my church!" And then you reason with God by saying, "It will get heard by more folks now or my book will get read by more folks now or I will get more speaking engagements now then when they talk to me I can tell them who I am in Jesus!"

     Well the problem is you already told them who you were when you compromised your values to gain the approval of the world. That's why the scripture says (and I'm paraphrasing for clarity), "...what does it profit a man to gain the approval of the world and lose his spot in eternity?" And even more importantly you told Jesus who you were by deciding not to tell them of Jesus publicly.

     You see we can't shrink back in these last days. We have to remember that it's not about numbers but about "is the message of Jesus reaching those whom God needs it to reach. There may be someone who God needs to get your book or buy your CD or attend your conference that really needs to hear about the delivering and healing power of Jesus. God sends people to you whether it's in a big public forum or just in line at the grocery store or dry cleaners. Every opportunity you get, make sure you first of all recognize it as a "kingdom appointment". Then boldly tell of how Jesus rescued you from where you were and brought you to where you are!

     You never know. Your testimony of how Jesus saved you will eventually save someone's soul. And then when you meet the Lord in the air, you will be able to hear Him say to YOU, "Well done my good and faithful servant, well done!"

God bless you!

Robert T Sells

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About the author: Robert T. Sells (aka The Anointed Poet) is the co-owner, with his wife Marlas, of Words of Inspiration Ministries in Merrillville, Indiana. He is known for his gift of prose and has been spreading the message of the Gospel through poetry and song around the country. Sells is also the author of several books in the Words of Inspiration poetry series and a Christian spoken word CD. For more information about his ministry or to purchase products and/or services, visit his website at www.robertsellsonline.com.