Devotions - Prayer

A Hopeful Future

By Bob / February 6, 2012

*God can and will Reverse, Restore, Revive and Renew.

Don’t give up on the God who’s never given up on you!  Life is hard– God is still God— Don’t give up!

*Out of struggle comes strength; out of strength comes discipline; out of discipline comes integrity; out of integrity comes inheritance.
*Know that your heavenly Father is looking down the road for you.

Job 42:1 “Then Job replied to the LORD: ‘I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.’
verse 5 …My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.”
Job 42:12  So the LORD blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning…

*As convinced as Job was, we must realize that God spoke and it came into being.  God is the creator and we, the created.
*Therefore God has the final say in all things especially those things which we have no understanding of.

Romans 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Sometimes I don’t fully trust God has prepared good things. For me, for family, for friends, for others.
*I’m not sure He can redeem the pain, recover what’s lost, heal all that’s broken. Can He truly fit the pieces of this past year into a hopeful future?

Right now, circumstances suggest otherwise. And if I rely on what circumstances currently imply, I’m apt to believe the answer is no, the Lord is not able.
*BUT circumstances tell Tales that are prone to change in a moment.

And the truth of the matter is: God never changes. His power to give a future and hope never change. His Word never changes. So when life weaves stories of doubt and hopelessness in God’s authority over circumstances, I reread accounts of His faithfulness and redemption. I refer back to the Truth…

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the lord’s purpose that prevails.

All the while Job’s family, home, crops and health demolished…God was preparing to give him double of what was killed, stolen, lost and damaged.

The time Joseph was a slave and prisoner…God was planning for him to be second in command over Egypt.

When Ruth was a homeless, barren widow…God was creating a home in Boaz’s heart for her to be a wife, and mother, and great, great, great-grandmother to His Son.

As Lazarus was bound in grave clothes…God was forming the breath that’d give him new life.

The moment David laid down in adultery…God was laying the groundwork for him to rise up in repentance.

Every time Saul crucified Christians…God saw Paul preaching the crucified Christ.

With each strike that Sarai beat Hagar with…God saw Sarah beating her jealousy, pride and doubt with the birth of Isaac.

When Esther was an orphaned girl shaking in fear for her life…God made a way for His daughter to shake a kingdom and save His people.

As Rahab welcomed men into the shelter of her bed…God saw her sheltering the spies on her roof.

When Peter lost faith and denied Christ…God saw him bringing many to faith as he proclaimed Christ.

As Moses killed an Egyptian with his hands…God saw him chiseling the Ten Commandments with those same hands.

At the time Mary saw Jesus die…God saw Jesus resurrected and seated on His heavenly throne!

No matter what the dire, dreary circumstances, God turned each into a hopeful future.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Our key verses in Job 42 assures us, none of His plans can be thwarted. Despite what is happening in life, these stories of redemption and hope speak the truth.

And Job 42:12 reminds us that the blessings Job lists in Chapter 29 are just table scraps compared to the riches and blessings God lays on Job in his latter years.

*You know you are healed, when you can Thank God for the pains of the Past!

I submit, not for blessings sake alone, but for the sake of the knowledge of God, when God walks with you through trials and struggles so that you might KNOW Jesus better than you ever could have imagined.  Repent for what you thought you knew of God and were wrong about, and then rejoice in what you now know about God.

Can’t wait for Heaven when no veil remains, and I can finally say with Job, “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you! And the blessings of eternity will far surpass anything I call riches here in this life.

*God can and will Reverse, Restore, Revive and Renew.
*God sees beyond the present troubles and is sparking a fire to light up the future with Hope.

As we begin this New Year, let’s be on the lookout for His plans to come to pass. And trust Him that He can take any circumstance and use it for our good and His glory.
*Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

What was Jobs final destiny?
* Job was walking out his destiny– Job didn’t stop at the roadblocks.

Dear Lord, I’m so grateful You not only see my future, but You’ve planned it. Thank You for Your faithfulness last year. And for recording these stories of lives You turned dreary pasts into hopeful futures. I ask that You do the same for all our circumstances this New Year please-for Your Glory and our joy . In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Half-hearted Commitments?

By Bob / February 6, 2012

Half-hearted commitments can end in disaster.

2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ. 3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.

Half-hearted commitments can end in disaster. I’ve seen it happen over the years, in areas of life ranging from sports to marriage, from friendships to business.
* All of us, at one time or another, have probably been hurt by others who have made half-hearted commitments.

Why is it important to walk in wholehearted, simple commitment to Jesus?
*Because the things we DO as Christians can easily become the focus of our faith.
*It is all too easy to end up committed to a Christian program or denomination rather than being committed to Christ. *Programs and churches can let people down.
**Jesus never does!!!!!

It’s all too easy to commit to following the Rules of Christianity rather than being committed to Christ.
* Following rules can become sterile and confining.
**Following Jesus is about Relationship not rules.
**Following Jesus brings freedom and life!!!
I’m not saying that you should neglect your commitments to your church, but what I am saying is that your commitment to Christ should be the drive for your life-long commitment to God!
*** When you become wholeheartedly committed to Christ, all other commitments you’ve made, become Enhanced and Noticeable.
*Revelation 3:16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!
*** BE COMMITTED!
“it is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. he makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. he trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. you give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.” psalm 18:32-35

What is your current status?
*HOT – you are growing— your faith is growing your love for one another increases.
*COLD – you do not know God, no personal relationship.
*LUKEWARM – you are drifting-backsliding.

“So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.” Hebrews 2:1
***What barrier is keeping you and me from experiencing everything God has for Us?  Yes it is the Sin in our life!
*We need to change our tolerant attitude towards sin and stop making excuses for our sin and stop comparing our sin to others sin.
*We need to find out what disciplines best help us experience God?
1. Accept the BIBLE as your manual for living.
2. Make prayer a part of our everyday life.
“then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the head, that is, Christ” Ephesians 4:14-15

3. We need to go to the root, not the top:
*Put spiritual discipline in our life.
*Make prayer a part, talk to God -saying God I want to do this and failing does not make you a hypocrite, quit using that as an excuse, a barrier
*God is perfect, not me.
*Eliminate barriers in your life that prevent you from having a relationship with GOD.

BE 100 Percent SATISFIED WITH JESUS!
*It is not enough for Jesus to win your heart.
*Jesus has to be the satisfaction of
your heart!
**Yet, there are many believers who have never been satisfied with Jesus.
They’re always up or down according to their circumstances.

That is not a suitable bride for this bridegroom.  No, a certain beauty must
adorn His bride in order to attract Him: “So the King will greatly desire your
beauty” (Psalm 45:11). But what is this beauty?

*This beauty is beheld in God’s eyes; it is what Jesus sees in us that attracts Him.
The Holy Spirit says to the bride of Christ, “If you will lay aside everything,
forget all others and adorn yourself for Him alone, then He will desire your
beauty!”
This means no job, no person, no relationship can come between you!

I heard a godly wife say, “The more godly my husband becomes, the more
attractive he is to me.” Indeed, that is what a godly marriage is all about.
***And, likewise, the more you give yourself in entire devotion to the Lord, the more attractive and beautiful you become to Him.

“So the King will greatly desire your beauty . . .” (Psalm 45:11). What an
incredible thought:
Jesus will not be able to stay away from you! In fact, the Hebrew meaning of beauty here signifies a strong yearning and desire.
* In other words, Jesus will draw close to you—overflowing with desire for you!

I have been to many weddings in my lifetime. And there was never a groom who didn’t smile with delight at his bride, thinking, “She’s all mine!” Now that is the beauty I’m talking about. Our Bridegroom rejoices, saying of His
bride, “I’m the apple of her eye. She’d rather spend time with Me than with
anyone else. And that makes her beautiful to Me!”

Indeed, the bride of Christ has an inner beauty that makes her outwardly
beautiful. She is “. . . all glorious within. . .” (Psalm 45:13) because she is
devoted to her Bridegroom. He knows beyond any shadow of a doubt, “She is all Mine—devoted only to Me! She worships Me and is submissive(help in building a person up to be all God intended that person to be) to Me. I am the only One in her life, the sole focus of her attention. She makes time for Me, is overjoyed in My presence, and desires to be with Me continually.” What
beautiful devotion.

The Holy Spirit is the part of the Godhead that empowers us for service.

God is not asking us to live for Him. He is asking us to let Him live through us (Gal. 2:20).

The Christian life is not a changed life but an exchanged life. (Eph. 2:1-10).
This can only be accomplished when the Holy Spirit is leading and empowering us.

Lord help me daily to get on the alter as a sacrifice to You.
Lord true surrender is hard and at the times I don’t want to surrender– please give me strength to give it ALL to YOU.
I want to be “ALL IN” and committed daily.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

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KNOWING GOD’S PLAN

By Bob / January 30, 2012

Our Identity in Christ!
Who am I? If someone were to come up to me and ask me this, I would probably answer by giving the person my name. Pressed further, I would probably tell the person my occupation, or where I’m from, or that I’m a husband and father. Much of our identity is built on such factors.

But when John the Baptist is asked who he is, he responds by speaking of his PURPOSE.
*John says that he is the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, make straight the path of the Lord.
* John’s identity is based on his calling from God, to be a missionary and evangelist and to lead people to Christ.

We are all called to that same purpose; there are no passive Christians, we are ALL called to be His disciples and followers, to proclaim the good news of Jesus and to declare His holiness to all we meet.  THAT is our true identity!!!

Philippians 2:4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

John 1:23, “He said, I [am] the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.”

*John knew who he was and what he was called to do. This was one of the keys to his success.
*John knew God’s plan and purpose for his life from the beginning and he spent his entire life preparing for it.

God has a plan for your life just as surely as he did for John the Baptist.
*It is not enough to simply “do your own thing” and then ask God’s blessing upon it. Once you know you are doing God’s will, you never have to ask for God’s blessing.
The Lord created you with a purpose in mind. Your talents and abilities were given you to fulfill His purpose. Although you may find limited success using these talents for your own uses, you will never find your true potential until they are directed by and for the Lord.

The good news is that God wants to reveal His perfect plan for your life to you more than you want to know it. You can rest assured that if you ask for knowledge of His plan for your life, you will receive.
Mt. 7:7“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you..
When we understand Gods love for us & His plan for us then we can begin to realize the doors that He wants open for us. But we will only realize these things when we are constantly communicating & listening to Him.
Don’t stress out trying to make things happen on your own (as I try so many times, & fail). Give it all to God as you pray.  Let’s pray & seek Him with all out hearts.
God will show you His good, acceptable and perfect will. Don’t be afraid-let nothing hold you Back. Let God have you live as He has planned for you. Let GO and LET God!  “FAITH”
Rom. 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you THINK. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

*We can make a difference in our own lives and others by allowing Jesus to give us a renewed mind, so that we act in His will and not ours.

The lesson here is to learn daily and complete dependence on God. Use your gifts and abilities through the power of the Holy Spirit. Ask Him daily for direction and wisdom. His ways won’t always line up with conventional wisdom.

When we open our minds to God’s will and make a Choice to stop going along in our Routines and Habits of the world, thinking WE know what’s Best and get  out of our earthly thinking and comfort Zone- we open up the pathway for real transformation of our mind and our life and start to engage in others and get off of SELF.
Putting on the word of God and being renewed by the spirit are what makes a person beautiful, not simply the outer beauty as the world focus on.  True outer beauty comes from being beautiful on the Inside first, knowing who you are IN Christ.

This new life in Christ will be good! He wants us to have his absolute best in our life. We will be content when we are living out our purpose– God’s plan for our life!
*God has equipped us with the Holy Spirit.
*We have been equipped with the abundant life..we can have life to the fullest…we have been equipped to be a part of something that is alive…the Body of Christ.
*We have been equipped to go do what we have been called to do.

*To build up the Body of Christ…he has given each of us something that when used in harmony with each other, great things happen within the Body of Christ.
I can be very gifted or spiritually minded, but if I don’t have love, I am nothing. We have been gifted for God’s glory. These gifts are not for us alone –But for others in the Body. WE ALL HAVE A GIFT to be used to Build UP and encourage the Body.  (Eph. 4:11-13).
*Be kind and serve each other in love. *Be open and serve with an open heart.

Let us all search and find our Identity as John did:  John’s identity, which is based on his calling from God, to be a missionary and evangelist and to lead people to Christ.   “Great Commission”.(Matt. 28:19-20).

Lord, I pray that when next someone asks me who I am, that I would have the boldness and honesty to declare that I am a follower of Jesus Christ, who was saved by grace.   Lord, be with me and not let negative thoughts come inside me- so help me God.  Lord, thank you that you have a plan and a purpose for each one of us. Thank you for revealing your plan when we open our mind, accept you in our hearts, and turn from the superficial customs of this world and the lifestyle people live while in it. Lord, Let me choose my thoughts wisely and focus them on you today. As I focus on you and your amazing love for me and blessings in my life, transform me and renew my mind, knowing that a renewed mind includes helping others. Show me your plan for my life. Keep me in your will and purpose because I know it is divine!  Thank you Lord  Amen

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Is Control a Problem?

By Bob / January 30, 2012

Control is at the core of that which is opposite the cross—-Self-Rule.

The Lord desires to increase our faith if we will continue to ask, trust and believe.
* “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.”
2 Timothy 2:13

“Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.”  The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping because of the injury to his hip”  Genesis 32:30-31

*Jacob was broken to be Blessed; crippled to be Crowned!!!!
*God is the Potter and we are the clay. He will shape us according to His design for us.
When God puts us on the wheel, He begins to apply the pressure of circumstances–sometimes gently caressing the clay and often more firmly. The Potter may even have to break us and start over.

Jacob was a man who was a controller. He connived and manipulated his way to get what he wanted.
It was a generational stronghold passed down through his mother, who encouraged her son to play a trick on his father, Isaac, by pretending to be Esau.
This trick led Isaac to give the family blessing to Jacob, which meant Jacob would eventually inherit the land God had promised to Abraham’s seed.

Jacob also learned control from his uncle Laban who caused Jacob to work for 14 years to take Rachel as his lifelong mate.
One must ask which was more ugly in God’s sight, the self-centered nature and worldliness of Esau, or the control and manipulation of Jacob?

Control is a problem for men and women. As an example some women use sex to control their husbands. Many men use power and force to control their wives.
** Control is at the core of that which is opposite the cross—-self-rule. “The ME”

What delivers us from this fleshly nature of control?
*************A crisis!!!!!

* Jacob’s crisis came when he was faced with the prospect of meeting a brother who said he would kill him the next time he saw him.
* Esau had built his own clan and was about to meet Jacob and his clan in the middle of the desert. Jacob was fearful, so he retreated. There he met a messenger from God who wrestled with him.
*Jacob clung to God and refused to let go of this angel.
* It is the place where Jacob was given a painful but necessary spiritual heart transplant.
**From that point on, Jacob would walk with a limp, because God had to dislocate his hip in order to overcome Jacob’s strong will.

For believers, God often has to “dislocate our hip” through failure and disappointment.

Sometimes it is the only way He can get our attention. Our nature to control and manipulate is so strong that it takes a catastrophic event to wake us up.

Yet God did not reject Jacob for these character traits. In fact, God blessed him greatly because He saw something in Jacob that pleased Him. He saw a humble and contrite heart beneath the cold and manipulative exterior of Jacob’s life, and it was that trait that God needed to develop.
*God did this by bringing about the crisis in Jacob’s life that led to total consecration.
This event was marked by Jacob getting a new name, Israel.
* For the first time, Jacob had a nature change, not just a habit change.
* What will God have to do in our lives to gain our complete consecration to His will and purposes?
*As we cry out to the Lord repeatedly concerning our situations, we shall see Him move on our behalf.

A new day dawns! Jacob–Israel–walks on the rest of life’s journey with a limp. *Every step was a painful reminder of the transformation in his life.
* Each step was to be a step of faith and not self-reliance.
**He was broken to be blessed; crippled to be crowned.

That painful circumstance in your life, the frustrated plans, the family strife, the financial struggle, the physical sickness–it could be a host of things–pressures you have prayed and asked God to remove. You think your prayer is unanswered and the blessing has been withdrawn.  Well Maybe– It might be that your prayer is being answered in a better way and the blessing you desire is coming disguised as a burden.
**The darkest night in your life may yield to the dawn of your brightest day! It did for Jacob.

Watch for the temptations that suck you back into an old spiritual condition, particularly that of fear or obsession.  You will recognize it when it comes because you will feel restricted by it.  Refuse to allow anything to cause you to retreat emotionally, mentally, or spiritually.  Maintain your liberty.  The price has been paid for your freedom at the Cross.
* Galatians 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

The Christian faith operates through love; and the measure of one’s love is demonstrated by the extent to which one keeps Christ’s commandments. “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (Jn. 14:23). The Father’s love is conditional; it is based upon our obedience to His Word.

A similar hope is given to us in the sixth beatitude: “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Mt. 5:8). Let us therefore cry out as David did in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
After this experience with God, Jacob became lame because the Lord had touched him in his thigh.
Jacob was originally very strong-willed and independent, but from this time onwards he had to “depend on the Lord”.
This dependency upon the Lord is also seen in the Song of Solomon 8:5, “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?” Certainly, the purpose of the wilderness is to bring us to that place of holy dependence upon our Beloved.
Also, Isaiah 33:23 is a wonderful promise to those who are so afflicted. It declares: “the lame take the prey.” This verse implies that those who have been weakened by God can win the battle and obtain the spoils.
Isaiah 33: 22 For the LORD is our judge, our lawgiver, and our king. He will care for us and save us.

If you feel that your far from God, pray to God and ask him to give you a new heart.
Guard your heart with; Prayer, hearing the truth and reading the Bible.

I need to learn how to repent like David but not just repent but do my very best not to repeat the same sin over and over. I need GOD to take control and for Him to help me take control of my flesh and learn not to let my flesh defeat me, but I must learn how to defeat my flesh.
Prayer Today: Read and meditate on Psalms 51….Amen

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What is Kingdom of God?

By Bob / January 30, 2012

This is a Big subject. But here is a small bit to get us going.

What is the Kingdom of God?
*God’s way of doing things!
*The Kingdom of God is about Righteous living and supernatural ability to maintain a mind set which realizes the mind of Christ is the resource that supersedes circumstances.
*The Kingdom of God is about LIVING a life of goodness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
*(Matthew 28:19-20 The Great Commission).

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For the one who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by people.

Less of talk more of action. That is the kingdom we have received from God.
*The world is tired of religion. The world is tired of vain, powerless human ideas and gimmicks or schemes which are not able to change lives. Only God can change lives. Only God can bring a lasting or enduring change. It’s time for us to use what God has put inside us to affect and effect a change in our environment.

The NIV Study Bible calls the Kingdom of God, “His present reign in the lives of his people. That dynamic new life in Christ, the power of the new birth showing itself in a humble life, dedicated to Christ and his mission. Empty talk is contrasted with the genuine power of the Holy Spirit.”

So my life today will reflect the Kingdom of God as I live an empowered life, full of the Holy Spirit and submitted to the King’s rule and reign in my life. When this life is over, will my life be a legacy of words or a closer relationship with Jesus?

Genesis 4:20 MSG. God’s Way is not a matter of mere talk; it’s an empowered life.
****1 Cor. 4: 20 For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power.
*God equips us with spiritual gifts to accomplish his agenda.
*God’s Way is not a matter of mere talk; it’s an empowered life.
*Christ’s power is revealed by love and gentleness and humility in each of us.

*Lord’s Prayer(Matthew 6:9-14).  What did Jesus teach about the resources of the Kingdom in that prayer?
*God’s kingdom is not about physical pleasures or earthly things.
*God’s kingdom is not about the pursuit of the things that will end when your physical life ends – to pursue such things is to conform to the world.
*We are the transformed! If we truly belong to God’s kingdom in heart, soul, mind and strength then we pursue those things that don’t end in this life, but the very things that pull us through to our eternal union with Christ:

* Believers are to experience the Kingdom of God NOW!
“Thy Kingdom come. Your will be done ON EARTH as it IS in Heaven.”
Everything that exists in the Kingdom of God He wants us to experience now!

*Many people will talk about the kingdom of God.
It is nothing but air unless there is spiritual power in our life. The proof is in the fruit of our life – not riches – spirit.
Gal. 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

***The kingdom of God is the reason human history is marching forward.
The entire history of the world is tied to what God is doing in and for His kingdom.
***The kingdom of God is also the most powerful entity on the planet.
**** The kingdom of God has at its disposal the omnipotent power of God. That power can be used to change lives, relationships, communities and countries.
I know it seems at times that we belong to a weak and powerless entity. Satan would want us to believe that, but it is just not true.
I know that at times it seems like the kingdom of this world is winning.
But read the book of Revelation(see Bible Study option below) and it’s clear that we are on the victorious side. What you and I need to do Is believe!

****We need to believe what the word of God says about the kingdom of God. *We need to believe that despite our smallness we have great significance. ****We need to look at ourselves with eyes of faith (the way God sees us) instead of eyes of sight.
**We are members of the most significant and powerful entity on the planet. We are members of the kingdom of God.

*You have to believe the kingdom of God is within you and everyone who believes. God said I put a deposit of my kingdom inside you.

Your righteousness is a powerful force against darkness.  It is in faith and righteousness that the kingdom of God is established in you, around you, and through you.  Don’t underestimate the victory that comes when you maintain right relationship with Jesus and those who belong to Him.  Stay close and continue to seek His face, listen for His voice, and obey His leading.  Jesus is establishing purity and peace in those who truly belong to Him and in return we will experience His Kingdom here and now.
* Matthew 6:33  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Lord I want to live a life identified by Your power working in and through me. What an empty conclusion to this life if the only thing left over is a bunch of Christian conversations. Take my words and replace them with your power in my life. Please make me effective for your Kingdom today by using your Spirit to manifest your power in my life. I want to yeild to your power in my life today. Here I am Lord, fill me with your power! Let Your Word and Holy Spirit fill me daily to Have Action for the lost.  Amen

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Feeling the Weight of the World?

By Bob / January 30, 2012

When we feel the weight of the world resting on our shoulders, we can just go to the Lord. In Him, we will find all the rest and peace we need.
*Jesus promises His peace to all those who come to Him in trusting faith.

Jesus said, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).

I have the tendency to cling to my problems searching for a solution. If I give them to God I will be free of the stress, find peace, and I know that God had the perfect solution.

A true yoke is designed to divide the load between two animals. One of those animals is the leader and the other follows the lead. God might be saying here ” you have been carrying your burdens by your self for a long time, put on my yoke and share your burdens with me.” And indeed God’s way and God’s perspective are always best and ease our lonely burden.(“learn of Me”)

Another part of the Goodness of God as we see here is His REST. He wants us to take the things that weigh us down, bring them to Him, give them to Him, and in return give us the peace to know that He’s in control of those things… thus allowing us to rest. (“learn of Me”)

Christ tells us very plainly: “Do not attempt to take on a walk with Me
until you are at rest in your soul!”

If you do not have this wonderful confidence in what the Word of God says Jesus did for you, His yoke will not be easy or light. On the contrary, you will spend your time striving in the flesh to please God. You will go from hot to cold, living with unnecessary guilt and shame.
*I find myself saying fairly often that God’s not moved by our sense of urgency He’s moved by our Faith in Him & His Word.
God’s not impressed when we strive for things He’s already blessed us with…and finally He’s also insulted by us trying to work so hard for something that’s free. (“learn of Me”)

The body of Christ is exhausted because we are so convinced that getting God to move on our behalf is like a dentist trying to pull a stubborn tooth.
None of us are resting in the Goodness of God because we are trying so hard to earn it.

I believe the key to this verse lies in the words “learn of me.” Jesus is
speaking here of the discipline of learning who He is and what He accomplished on the CROSS.
Jesus is saying, “You must have a knowledge of what I have done for you.
* When we’re striving for His Goodness.. we are working for something that’s available for free.
Then, once your soul is at rest, you can take on My yoke. So, learn of
Me!”

We do not want this kind of discipline. We want to take the easy way! We are
like school children on the playground at recess who do not want to go back into the classroom.

Perhaps today you say, “I’m reading my Bible now and praying a little each day.
I’m trying hard to do better!” This is all good, but I assure you that these
things will not keep you through the coming storm.
*It is not enough to try hard, to make promises to God, to strive to be better. *Nor is it enough to say, “I’m more diligent than before.”
**No, it is all about going after a revelation of what Jesus did for you at the cross!

God’s yoke is that we follow his purpose for our lives, and when we do that, things work out a whole lot better. *When we go our own way in life, we hit one brick wall after another. In a sense, God says, “Put on my purpose, my plan for your life.”
* Jesus did not come to give you a burden but a blessing.

Enter the realm of the Spirit and ask what you will in faith. Do not hesitate or come with doubt or double-mindedness. Come expecting an answer, for Jesus will surely hear and answer your requests according to His purposes. Come to the Lord with purity of heart and exercise your childlike faith.
* James 1:2-8 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Give yourself a break today, and stop working so hard. Instead read Matthew 11:28-30 again.
I’m going to issue a challenge today…take just one thing that’s weighing you down, give it to God (and leave it in His hands by faith trusting Him to take care of that thing that’s weighing you down), and see if you don’t feel a little lighter. (“learn of Me”)
*There’s an old saying that if you don’t enjoy the peace & rest of God…you can return to your misery.
***Matt. 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me….We have all had teachers, from elementary school thru college, and even mentors later in life. But here, we read that the God of this universe, the God who gives us breath to live this day, wants to be our teacher! That’s astounding! That is profound! The question is, will we listen? Are we willing to be taught by Him? Are we in his word on a daily basis so as to learn from Him?

You know you are healed when you can thank God for the pain and suffering of the Past. Then we can Move Forward in Life for God’s purposes not ours!

Something should cry out in all of us: Jesus, Your Word says I can live in
total rest, peace and security. I don’t have to strive in my flesh or be tossed
about by guilt or fear. You have set before me the promise of a life at rest,
but I don’t have that rest. Oh, Lord, I want Your rest with everything that’s
in me. Teach me by Your Spirit—I want to learn of You. Lord teach me to cast all my burdens on You. Let me take up Your cross and find true fulfillment and peace as I continue to Move Forward Trusting in YOU! In Jesus Name, Amen

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Does Time Heal the Pain?

By Bob / January 22, 2012

*You know you are healed, when you can Thank God for the pains of the Past!
…”Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:50).
“But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 30:17)

God’s Love is dependent only upon God, who is eternally faithful, trustworthy and reliable.
* “For I, the Lord, do not change…”
Malachi 3:6

May we strive for excellence in all that we do for the Master of the universe.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving (Colossians 3:23-24).

When was the last time you sat and wrote out a plan and revisited your vision? (Read Habakkuk 2:1-3).
The Enemy focuses us on what we can’t do instead of focusing us on what we CAN do.

Time heals nothing.
** It is what YOU DO with the TIME that matters.
*****You know you are healed, when you can Thank God for the pains of the Past!  God is so patient with us and keeps His promises.  (2 Peter 3:9).

Proverbs 1:33 But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.”
John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

Don’t wait until the time is just right to take the first step toward achieving your goals.
**The time will never be just right. Make the resolution to start where you are now and go for what matters most in your life as you stive to move forward.  Where you end up one year from now IS up to YOU!
We have explosive power inside of us. It’s time to revert back to the power inside of you for excitement in your life. (John 15:9-15 Joy is available).

Act like who you are. YOU are the child of a king. You are His Masterpiece! It’s a matter of time to come out of the pits, bushes, or wherever you are and fight. Fight the good fight of faith. We are God’s workmanship. We are his pottery.
Allow Jesus to mold us. We were created for good works so its time to dream big. Be excited about your future.  God has plans for you for His Glory! (Jer. 29:11).
2 Peter 1:4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

The meaning of life lies in relationship!!
*First and foremost is our relationship with God,
* and then our relationship with each other.
*We each have these relationships, most likely one more than the other, But let’s get a Balance of the Two for God’s Glory!
* “We love, because He first loved us.”
1 John 4:19

When we come to KNOW the Lord we will begin to see that He wants us to truly love our neighbor just as we love ourselves.
Mark 12:29 Jesus answered, “The most important is: ‘Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Here is how the Bible describes God’s Love:
* “God’s Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. God’s love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-6 (Living Bible)

The 4 Love’s we have!
The natural human loves inspired by friendship (phileo), family (storge), or romance (eros), are awesome blessings from our Creator, BUT Agape is the only love essential to human survival. Only God’s Divine Love can give us the Identity and Purpose we need to live life to the fullest.
* “If I have not (God’s) Love, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35).
*  What Jesus did do was to tell them the true way to greatness.
**“It is NOT by seeking to be first,” He said.
**It is by a willingness to be last.
** It is not by getting people to serve you; it is by becoming a servant of all.

There are two kinds of ambition. There is the ambition to be approved and applauded by people, and the ambition to be approved and applauded by God.

There are those who want to gain fame and attention and influence and power. The measurement of the ambition to be great before people is always “How many serve me? How much power do I exercise over others? How wide is the extent of my influence?”
* Who of us has not suffered many times from this desire to be known, to be admired, to be considered great?

But Jesus points out that true greatness is never found there. The measure of true greatness is:
***How many do I serve? How many can I help?” This is the mark of greatness in the eyes of God.
Christianity is a radical faith! It is exactly the opposite of the natural instincts of the heart.
Our natural inclinations will get us deeper and deeper into trouble. Though we may achieve a form of greatness in the eyes of people, it will turn into cobwebs and ashes in our hands.

Lord, Teach me the meaning of Your words in the depths of my heart. Help me to strive for that greatness that will shine throughout eternity.  Help us Lord this day to see ones in need, be it loneliness, depression, fear, cancer, unforgiveness, guilt or shame and come along side them and show them Your Love.  Help us be examples to show that, Christianity does not produce a changed life but an exchanged life. Like Jesus, grow in your wisdom and understanding of who we now are in Christ.
We know we are healed, when we can Thank God for the pains of the Past! Lord, help us share Our Testimony of what You, Jesus have done for US.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new Creation; the old is gone, the New has come!
Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Romans 12:13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Come Holy Spirit Come!!! Amen

***Jan. 24 at Christ Church at 7PM will be an informational meeting to kick off our NEW Moving Forward Group. Come for a great night of testimonials of “what God is doing in and through individuals.
**Revelation Bible study starting Jan 26. Go to web address below and go to calendar-scroll down to Thurs. And open  “Community Wide Bible Study”.

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Have Failures or Trials?

By Bob / January 22, 2012

Learn from you Failures & Trials!

Failing does not make us failures. It makes us experienced!!!

Proverbs 19:2 Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.
* A good reminder that passion does not equal wisdom or knowledge. We have to make sure our passion is directed in the right direction.
*Let’s remember to Pray first and Ask for Godly Wisdom before jumping into new activities.
* As the Holy Spirit does His work in us, we learn to walk with God. We learn what it means to see our work as “His work” and we desire to do it “His way”.

Matthew 22:29 Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.
**One of our biggest Failures—- is not to understand the power of God.

Proberbs 17:3 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the LORD tests the heart.
*We need to withstand the heat while being transformed into something of even greater value.
*Because God loves us, and sees us as valuable to Him, He allows us to go through trials.
If God did not love us, He would not bother with trials because He does not care weather we become better, stronger, more holy….
*The trials of the Lord are seldom enjoyable – but the lesson learned is invaluable, if wisely and patiently endured .
*The theme of scripture is Glory out of trials, pain & suffering. Because God loves us He considers our state, and He is moved because out of love He is driven to see us become what His Son, JESUS has made possible.

James 1:3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

Know that God is up to something.
1. God has a perfect plan for you.
2. God’s plan is always moving forward.
3. God’s is constructive and not destructive.
*How do you know God has a plan for YOU? The answer is –YOU are still here.
*Some things in life you can’t get unless you get down on your knees.
Romans 2:4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he(David) became their leader….
1 Samuel 22:2
*Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks at the inward- the heart!

Learn from Failure
Learning from failure and having regret are two separate things.
* Regret is an emotion; a feeling of disappointment along with a modest amount of shame or guilt.
* But to look back at a circumstance and figure out what went wrong gives you some very important information.
This review allows you to evaluate what worked and what didn’t, and more importantly, why.

Often when you are removed from a situation, you can look at it more objectively which will allow you to make better choices to keep moving forward.

Ask for Help!!!!!!You are not alone!!!!
It may feel that way sometimes, but there are many people who would extend their hand and lift you up if asked. Tap into Experience of the Faithful!
* Often times we are afraid to ask because we don’t believe we are worthy to receive the help.
*** Think about this: we are surrounded by millions and millions of people by design – for a purpose. Some have had the personal experience you need.
** A hand to grasp, a shoulder to cling, and a face to radiate hope can help you to keep moving forward.

Joshua 1:9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Think about all the miracles God has performed for you? They haven’t produced in you much faith to help you in your present trouble!
I believe the greatest lasting sign or wonder to the world in these last days is not a person who has been raised from the dead. No,(even though Great)  what truly makes an impact on the mind and spirit of the ungodly is the Christian who endures all trials, failures,  storms, pain and suffering Daily with a confident faith. People want some of that!!!
Such a believer emerges from his troubles stronger in character, stronger in faith, stronger in Christ—Knowing Jesus is in control!

Ephesians 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.

God often uses failure to make us useful. When Jesus called the disciples, He did not go out and find the most qualified and successful people. He found the most Willing. He found a fisherman, a tax collector, and a farmer.
*The Hebrews knew that failure was a part of maturing in God.
*The Greeks used failure as a reason for disqualification. Sadly, in the Church, we often treat one another in this way.

This is not God’s way.
*** We need to understand that Failing does not make us failures. It makes us experienced.
***Failure makes us more prepared to be useful in God’s Kingdom — if we have learned from it.  Use them to help others.  And that is the most important ingredient for what God wants in His children.
Deuteronomy 31:8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.

Father, thank You for Jesus’ courage, which dared to challenge human traditions. Grant that I may see myself and others as You see us–sick people in need of a physician.   Lord–I am encouraged that You are always with me. Whom shall I fear with You with me. How can I fail as long as I follow your way. Thank You for All Your promises.
Isaiah 40:29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
Philippians 4:13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Amen
***Jan. 24 at Christ Church at 7PM will be an informational meeting to kick off our NEW Moving Forward Group. Come for a great night of testimonials of “what God is doing in and through individuals.
**Revelation Bible study starting Jan 26. Go to web address below and go to calendar-scroll down to Thurs. And open  “Community Wide Bible Study”.

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Know You are Worthy

By Bob / January 22, 2012

Remember, it is worth nothing if you gain the whole world and lose your own soul (Mt. 16:26). Make today count for God.
Psalms 42:11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
*I believe David was asking this question because he came to the realization that “Hey! I don’t have to live in this pit.
* I am chosen by God. He will deliver me. He will not forsake me. He is my refuge and fortress!
*I don’t need to wallow in self-pity. God is on my side.
*I have hope. He Is my Hope!
*I can’t lose this battle!– Self, put your hope in God!!”
Sometimes when we hit a bump in the road or a pit in our journey, we look for somebody else to “give us a word”. But you need to get to a place that you can encourage yourself through Prayer and Word (Relationship with Jesus).  Give your soul a wake-up call! Put your hope in God!

God’s Love is the only solid foundation upon which human love can be built. If “feelings” have diminished or died within a relationship, only Agape can rekindle the flame.
*  “…the things impossible with men are possible with God.” Luke 18:27

Let us seek again and ask for God’s voice about what is our true purpose in this life.
I know everyone of us have a special purpose that the Lord has chosen for us to finish. Now the question, are we willing to seek that purpose and do it? Or we just do what our daily routine wants us to do?

Help Transform Lives:(5R’S)  At Times I may be down but I’m not out.  Here is a biblical way to Move Forward when down:  Release it ALL to the Lord — Resist ALL Bitterness— Reevaluate your Life— Receive help from others and totally Rely on the Lord! You have great Worth!

Believe You are Worthy
*Don’t look to the past, God is doing a “New Thing”.
*Prayer and God’s Word changes everything because it releases God’s wisdom into your circumstances.
*Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
*Hate can only be driven out by Love.

Here is how the Bible describes God’s Love: Listen to what its telling You today! Put your name in the verse(ex. Bob is Very Patient? Etc. ).
** “God’s Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. God’s love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-6.

Sometimes we are so used to thinking a certain way that we can’t seem to make a first definite step, even though we know deep down in our hearts that it’s the right thing to do.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you”-[this is] the Lord’s declaration-“plans for [your] welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Whatever your goal, your dream, or your desire, you are worthy of achieving it.  YES That means you too!
The closer you get to it is when the enemy of your soul will begin putting doubt in your mind by playing the self-limiting tapes that say you are not worthy.
Replace these old tapes with a newer one that contains the Truth – You ARE worthy to have your heart’s true desire and to keep moving forward.
Romans 12: 2 Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.

Take 100% Responsibility
Except in rare and unfortunate circumstances, YOU are responsible for the quality and condition of your life. Your career, your relationships and your happiness are all under your direct control.
Sometimes we choose to do nothing when we get hit hard because it’s just easier and less painful that way.
But the “Real Pain” is only deferred. You have to live with yourself. You have to live with the voice in your gut, your inner wisdom, that says you gave up too soon or didn’t try hard enough.
* When you hear this inner voice speaking to you, it’s usually right. It’s your choice, then, to get up and keep moving forward.

Living for a Cause Greater than Yourself
We cannot learn techniques or methods to love like God. Only God is Love!!
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Has God allowed a crisis in your life? God often raises leaders and begins movements as a result of a personal crisis in a person’s life.
*God raises up leaders to take on causes that are much greater than themselves.
“Come and follow Me.  Follow me”, Jesus says, for the path of the season has been prepared even before the foundations of the earth were laid.
This path we are on has been in existence and resting in eternity and now Jesus lays it before us to be walked upon in this season.
*Let’s Walk with Jesus on this path and we will find Victory and Worth!
*Walk with Jesus on this path and we will receive the blessings.
*Walk with Jesus on this path and the healing power of the Most High shall come upon you.
* Jesus will be with you and walk with you.
* The Kingdom shall be established and your destiny will be revealed.

Joshua 1:9 Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

**What are we unwilling to sacrifice for God’s call on our lives?— Whatever it is it’s worth less than our souls.

*Troubles may come, but not designed to overcome you.
* Whatever you are passing through now, you will soon pass over.
* You are too precious in God’s eye to be mismanaged.
* God is ever ready to defend you.
*You ARE WORTHY! God’s Masterpiece!

2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
*We should learn to share what we have.  “Our Testimony”. What Jesus has done for you!!  This Heals!!!

*Remove the weight (sin) that trips us up!
* We need to fix our eyes and focus ON JESUS!   Don’t let worldly things CONSUME you!

Consider the one who trusts God in the hard places: “Blessed is the man who
trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord” (Jeremiah 17: 7).
.” (Jeremiah 17: 8). When things get intense and bothersome, he will not be afraid!

This person says, “Jesus, I give up looking to any person to bring me out of my trial. You are my only hope. I look to You to bring me out of this!”
*God’s Love is dependent only upon God, who is eternally faithful, trustworthy and reliable.
* “For I, the Lord, do not change…”
Malachi 3:6

” As you know, like a father with his own children,  we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” (1 Thess. 2:11-12).
God equips us for ALL that He has called us to do, —-be it raising our children, other relationships and/or ministry.  We have Worth!!!! How refreshing!!

LORD – thank you a thousand times … Thank for pursuing me when I don’t pursue you. Thank you for mercy when I fail you. Thank you for patience when I sin and thank you for your gentle discipline when I don’t deserve it. Thank you for Christ, for choosing me, for saving me and for sanctifying me. Thank you for being Your masterpiece.
Help my life to be a good example to others. Thank you for your love and my supernatural Testimony of the life change you’ve made in me.  God please help me be more humble. Remind me that things I have and I do are to make a better world but never for me. It is always and will be for Your glory. AMEN!!!!
***Jan. 24 at Christ Church at 7PM will be an informational meeting to kick off our NEW Moving Forward Group. Come for a great night of testimonials of “what God is doing in and through individuals.
**Revelation Bible study starting Jan 26. Go to web address below and go to calendar-scroll down to Thurs. And open  “Community Wide Bible Study”.

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Know What You Want!?

By Bob / January 22, 2012

Do You Know What You Want??
Do you Know What God Wants??

Life is meaningless only if we allow it to be.
Each of us has the power to give life meaning, to make our time and our bodies and Gods words into instruments of love and hope.

The Word of God only profits us if we believe it (Heb. 4:2).  The message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.
*God’s promises + faith = personal benefits.
*#1—Life without GOD is nothing.
*God must be Central in EVERYTHING we do! Otherwise Life is Meaningless. Read Ecclesiastes 1.

Learn this one secret in life and success will find you … keep moving forward.

If you keep doing what you’re doing now, where do you see yourself in one year?
You’ll make progress in some areas of your life but are they the areas that you Care most about?
Are they the areas that Mean the most to you?
Most of us would love to move forward in certain areas of our life but let’s face it, sometimes it’s Very hard.
Sometimes we are so used to thinking a certain way that we can’t seem to make a first definite step, even though we know deep down in our hearts that it’s the right thing to do.

Truly, …God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty… (1 Cor. 1:27-28).
**If you feel foolish or weak, then you qualify. Let the Lord use you today.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
*The promises of God are powerful and awesome to grasp.  Receiving Jesus guarantees eternal life in Heaven:
1) God provides your relationship by grace.
2) God provides your growth by grace.

*Focus on what you can do –not what you can’t do.
* Learn how to dream big and cut out distractions.

Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.
*Do not stop dreaming your dreams!
*Do not underestimate your ability!
*Do not let the devil detour your destiny!
*There is a time for everything!
*Realize your power, potential, and promise.
***Potential is untapped ability that hasn’t been activated or used yet.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth:

Know What You Want
This isn’t about the how, only the
what.
In order to move forward in life,
you need a firm foundation to step from.
Hebrews 11:10 For he(Abraham) was looking forward to the city with firm foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
* Understanding what and where God wants you to go in life will provide your vision and spirit – your foundation.
*We’ve got to get our eyes on Jesus again! (Heb 11:6, 10, 13-16)

**Faith IS the Foundation of our life!

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
*Faith is being, living, speaking, acting the word of GOD.

The how will figure itself out when you know you want to keep moving forward.

TRUST:   There are no accidents without value.
* When you get hit hard and land on your back, look for the reasons and for the value in this.
Psalms 33:21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 22 Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.

*** Open your heart and trust this happened for a reason.
* Perhaps it was to test your determination or to alert you to the fact you were on the wrong path.
* Either way, Trust the Experience is happening for a reason and be open to making adjustments in order to keep moving forward.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose,

Want it More:
How badly do you want it? How badly do you really want to achieve what YOU are working so hard to accomplish?

When you get hit hard, you have an opportunity to answer this question.
*It’s one thing to say you want to do something, or to be something.
*BUT to walk through the pain; to get up and keep moving forward knowing there may be more pain ahead, is a test of your determination and resolve.
* When you find yourself getting Back on your feet, you HAVE indeed answered this question and there’s no doubt you will keep moving forward.

Man’s knowledge is based on observation. It cannot give perfect instruction about the future. God’s knowledge can.(Hosea 4: 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.).
**Knowledge and Understanding or Meaningless information…..
*Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit we can know things to come (Jn. 16:13).
*Through Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, God wants to speak to you on a One-to-one basis every day.
*God wants to lead you step-by-step to the good things He has in store for you.

When dealing with God, revelation knowledge is essential. The Lord’s ways are not always our ways (Isa. 55:8).
*A fear of trusting the intuitive knowledge that God gives us will cause us to miss many blessings of God.
*An unteachable spirit is an unwillingness to change.

We need to ask for and expect to receive revelation knowledge from the Lord. God desires to impart it more than we desire to receive it.
“Great blessings await those who will NOT depend solely on their own understanding (Prov. 3:5).

We are God’s workmanship. We are his pottery. Allow Him to mold us. We were created for good works so its time to dream big.  Be excited about your future—You are God’s Masterpiece!

*Why do you think God chose you?
*Don’t ever try to be somebody else, you are different, special and nobody can do You better than You.
1Corinthians 12:4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit.  5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord.  6 And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person.
*If you want to understand God, treasure His Word.
*If you want to understand Jesus, treasure His Word.
*If you want to understand Holy Spirit, treasure His Word.
*If you want to understand Kingdom and Kingdom principles, treasure His Word.
*If you want to understand christianity, treasure His Word.

I will put my trust in you, oh Lord! You are Lord, you are love. We are absolutely loved and accepted. Would you continue to remind me of this? Would you give me a bigger picture of your love? Please help me to Trust You in EVERY Circumstance.  Lord, I will trust in You and not try to fix things on my own– Knowing that You have a Plan and a Reason for all things for Your Glory.
God, I recognize the need for Balance and boundaries in my life.  As I read Your Word, show me how to apply Your healthy boundaries and move forward in my life giftings today.   Amen
***MOVING FORWARD IN YOUR LIFE:
Jan. 24 at Christ Church at 7PM will be an informational meeting to kick off our NEW Moving Forward Group. Come for a great night of testimonials of “what God is doing in and through individuals.
**Revelation Bible study starting Jan 26. Go to web address below and go to calendar-scroll down to Thurs. And open  “Community Wide Bible Study”.
*If you want to understand God, treasure His Word.

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God Knows I’m Slipping!

By Bob / January 22, 2012

The Bible says we are to love God and one another, but many Christians have little or no idea how to do that.
*  “…for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.”
Romans 7:18

Psalm 94:18-19 When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your love, O LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.
* When I feel that things are going right God is always there and I feel His love. when I feel anxious or worried He is there to bring me joy.
* I will know that God’s love is unfailing and in him I can find joy.

One thing I’ve always loved about the picture of God that we find in the Bible is this: that God is so Understanding and Patient with each one of us.
*God knows our weaknesses.
*God knows our frailties, and He does not ask of us that which we are not able to give.
*All He asks is that we give what we have – and beyond that, His grace supplies.
The psalmist here(Psalm 94:18-19) says, “My foot is slipping.” He was in a position where he was no longer in control. He couldn’t save himself, but he says with great gratitude, “Your love, O LORD, supported me.”
How often that’s true. When we come to the place where our foot is slipping, then God reaches out in His great love and mercy and He supports us and saves us.
*Then the psalmist says that “when anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.” **Again, that’s true to experience. In times of anxiety and fear and testing, God moves in with His consolation, and in spite of all the trouble that we may be passing through, His consolation brings joy to our soul.
In fact, it often happens that the greater the opposition, the greater the trouble, the greater the problem, the more Wonderful is the experience of joy that we receive from God’s consolation.
* NOTHING can touch us without it going through Gods fingertips. He is our Light, Salvation, Comfort, and Fortress.

The 4 Love’s we have!
The natural human loves inspired by friendship (phileo), family (storge), or romance (eros), are awesome blessings from our Creator, BUT Agape is the only love essential to human survival. Only God’s Divine Love can give us the Identity and Purpose we need to live life to the fullest.
* “If I have not (God’s) Love, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2

We cannot learn techniques or methods to love like God. Only God is Love.
**”I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
*We know to live in Christ but we must learn that God is in us as well. Mutual abiding produces much fruit.
*We do not bear fruit for ourselves to eat but for others when we ABIDE in Him.
*We can do nothing without Him- but we can do ALL things through Him!

Jesus is the basis for our beliefs.  All that we are stems out of that belief.
Jesus calls us to follow Him, to learn his way, to share His Good News.
Many people are scared to put their complete Trust in something they cannot see and prove.
While these people may do many good works, they do not help further the Kingdom of God. (God’s way of doing things. Roman 14:17).
They are merely doing goods works to make themselves feel better.
Those that remain in close relationship with Jesus and are obedient will Reproduce more Christ-followers simply because people will be drawn to that which gives them strength and peace – Jesus Christ!!!!

Disciples of Christ are to bear much fruit, this to glorify the Father.

Dear God thank you for your unfailing love and the joy you bring in the toughest times. Help me to always remember that we have seasons of life and you always have a reason. I want to learn from trials in my life, help me to do that.  Lord, I want to be closer to you. I want to know You more.   I want my heart to yearn for Your Word every morning.  If I am to be effective in  ministry, I need to remain in close relationship with you.  When I do that, I am likely to hear with great clarity what the Lord has in store for me.  Jesus,  I cannot do anything of true value if I do not  grow in my relationship with You.  I will seek You daily and be obedient to Your call for my life- for Your Glory. Amen

***Jan. 24 at Christ Church at 7PM will be an informational meeting to kick off our NEW Moving Forward Group. Come for a great night of testimonials of “what God is doing in and through individuals.
**Revelation Bible study starting Jan 26. Go to web address below and go to calendar-scroll down to Thurs. And open  “Community Wide Bible Study”.

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You Keep Moving Forward!

By Bob / January 22, 2012

Moving Forward In 2012!
Why Moving Forward- (Habakkuk 2:2,3)
*Vision releases people to run. You are made to run under the purpose of God.
*Where there is no vision, there is no hope.

“Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” 1 Peter 2:10
* I will not waste chances to share about my Savior. I will not waste chances to share of my faith. I will step out and allow myself to be God’s vessel.

DON’T BE AFRAID, THE LORD IS WITH YOU AND FIGHTS FOR YOU!
Move Forward by Faith in the Face of Impossible Odds!
Exodus 14:15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.
*Sometimes when the enemy is at your back and great resistance is at the front, God will command you to move forward!
By doing that you will see His hand move what blocks you out of the way.

So 2012 is a year of renewal of faith in the Lord!
*2012 is YOUR YEAR OF THE WORD OF. GOD! The Word of God on your lips is God talking! The whole year is for you! As you make the Word of God grow in you, you will prevail in every situation through the Word! Though you may face valleys and feel afraid, just know God will hear your calls through prayer and all He may tell you is to keep moving forward!

Watch and be amazed and the power of faith, word and trust in Jehovah. There is No God like Jehovah!!!!

” The Lord will fight for you, and you can be still.” …”Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on.” – Exodus 14:14-15

Moses had brought the whole nation of Israel, approximately 600,000, to a dead end in the desert.
The only thing between Israel and Pharaoh’s pursuing army was the Red Sea.
*This was after ten plagues God had inflicted on Pharaoh to motivate him to free the Israelites. Finally, Pharaoh had freed Moses and the people, and they left Egypt. They thought they were home free. “Freedom at last,” they said. *But God did a strange thing. He directed Moses to take a route that led to the Red Sea, instead of the northern route around the Red Sea.
* God explained that He didn’t want them fighting the enemies they would have encountered on this route. But still, there was the issue of the Red Sea.

They finally arrived at the Red Sea, and the people were wondering where they would go from there.
News hit the camp: Pharaoh had changed his mind. He was coming after them with his army.
Panic set in. The defenseless Israelites cried out,
“Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?…It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” (Ex. 14:11b-12)
***God sometimes brings each of us to a “Red Sea” in our life.
* It may be a work problem that can’t be solved.
*It may be no job.
*It may be a marriage that seems to be failing.
*It may be an addiction.
*It may be a debilitating disease. **Whatever your Red Sea, God tells us one thing: “Keep moving.”
The Red Sea was before them, yet God was angered at Moses and told him to “Keep moving.”

“But Lord, the Red Sea is before me.” “Keep moving.”
**When we live by sight, we act on what we see. God sets this stage in dramatic fashion. God is into the dramatic. There is no way out without God here.
That is just the way He wants it. No one will get glory except God.

A friend once admonished me when I was in the midst of an extremely difficult time in my life, “You must not withdraw from being proactive in your faith just because of this trial that you are in.
God’s hand is on your life!!
There are too many who are depending on YOU to fulfill the purposes God has in your life.
* Keep Moving Forward! Keep investing yourself in others.
I didn’t feel like it. I was in too much pain. But I did it anyway. God met me at the point of my greatest need once I decided simply to be obedient.
Getting past myself by investing myself in others helped heal the pain.
**There is great healing when we look past our own problems and seek to invest ourselves in others for the sake of Christ.
***This is when our own Red Seas become parted.
** We begin to walk to freedom. But we will never experience the miracle of the Red Sea in our lives if we don’t first “Keep moving.”

What is that area of your life you have been crying for a change. For something new. For something better.
The place the enemy has made you cry God is about to make you laugh.

We cannot MOVE Forward by going backward.

No matter what challenges we face in our walk with God—- going back in sin can NEVER be better.
Backsliding should never be an option on the cards of the believer! KEEP MOVING FORWARD!

*The way of the cross always leads to a resurrection, to a new beginning, on different terms.
*The way of the cross  leads to freedom, to being set free from natural catastrophe and disaster, to having your spirit peaceful and at rest, despite what is happening to your body or your person.
**** This is what people really want. How we long for and dream of being free, whole, adequate, able to handle life, able to cope with whatever comes, undisturbed at heart.
***To be fully free, we must have the desire, the ability, and the opportunity to do what will make us happy forever.
*With No regrets.
*And only Jesus, the Son of God who died and rose for us, can make that possible.

Father, I ask that You will help me understand that Jesus is in the hurts, in the disappointments, in the disasters, that He is leading me on, setting me free from that which I’m in bondage too–all my “self-sufficiency” and “self-reliance,” all my desire to be exalted, to be made much of.  Father, I am sorry for the opportunities that You have placed in front of me that I have wasted. I plead for more chances and for the strength and courage to not let them pass me by.  Help me Move Forward in all areas of my life, becoming more like You daily, till the day You, Jesus Return.   I love You!  Amen

***Jan. 24 at Christ Church at 7PM will be an informational meeting to kick off our NEW Moving Forward Group. Come for a great night of testimonials of “what God is doing in and through individuals.
**Revelation Bible study starting Jan 26. Go to web address below and go to calendar-scroll down to Thurs. And open  “Community Wide Bible Study”.

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At The End of Your Rope?

By Bob / January 11, 2012

AT THE END OF YOUR ROPE
” I will cry out to God and call for help!
I will cry out to God and he will pay attention to me. In my time of trouble I sought the Lord. I kept my hand raised in prayer throughout the night. I refused to be comforted”.(Psalms 77:1-2).
*Chapter 77 is a great Psalm ! Your not alone! Even the great men of God felt these feelings and doubts.
*Ever cried out “God where are you”?

* Symptoms of God’s seeming absence.
a) I feel like praying does no good. PS 77:1
b) I can’t sleep PS 77:4
c) I dwell on how good things used to be. PS 77:5
d) I fear things will never get better PS 77:7 -8
2) SOLUTION: the power of positive memory. PS 77:10-12

Rejoice and be glad for the Lord has wonderful plans for you fulfilling His eternal purpose through you!
* ” Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19

Paul wrote “. . . that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises
the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9). He said, in essence, “The Lord brought me to
the end of all human help, the brink of death. It was a place so hopeless, only
the God of resurrection power could have rescued me!”

What a wonderful place to be—at the end of your rope! I have always said that when you hit rock bottom you bump into God!
Yet, if you listen to most Christians in the midst of their suffering, you hear, “I’ll make it somehow. I’m hanging in the there. I just live one day at a time.”

Since childhood we have been spoon-fed the concept of self-sufficiency: “Take
it like a man! Men don’t cry!” How many times have you tried to work out all
your troubles?
How often have you been flooded with temptations that overwhelmed you?

Please don’t misunderstand me. I believe God wants us to fight the good fight of faith, but the Lord has a way of allowing us to be “pressed out of
measure.”
* Nothing you try works.
* Nothing you have read seems to help. *No counsel of others makes any sense. *Suddenly, you are forced into a crisis that obliterates all your trust in yourself.
**You have no hope—except to give up
all human hope. You are forced to trust God—and you see that the only way out
is to trust!

Paul clearly is saying to us, “I had the sentence of death in me. I was
tested beyond measure, at the end of all hope.
* And it was all so I would no
longer trust in myself!
* I had to turn to God, with faith that He alone could save me out of my sufferings!”

WHEN WE CHOOSE NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED BY THE SITUATION,
GOD WILL OVERWHELM US WITH HIS UNENDING PEACE!!!
**When we choose to be faithful to God, He will show Himself faithful!

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28)

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

What is this way of escape?
* It is coming to the end of your own strength and turning absolutely to God! *It is saying, as Paul did, “I do not trust in myself anymore!”

***The way of escape is simple, childlike faith in God.
*It is trusting Him totally to see you through it all, resigning yourself and saying, “God, I put everything on You!”

***To be fully free, we must have the desire, the ability, and the opportunity to do what will make us happy forever.
*With No regrets.
*And only Jesus, the Son of God who died and rose for us, can make that possible.

*We were not created to stay the same. We, as Christians, were created to be changed. To be transformed. To be different. To be changed.
**” And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit”. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
*Get rid of stinking thinking.  Let Jesus remove the veil that covers your eyes from the truth.  Turn to Him and he will set your heart free.

The enemy has launched an attack to blanket your spiritual environment with heaviness.  The first sign of this intrusion will be a sense of oppression or even depression without a reason.  Be on guard against gloomy feelings and be ready to rise up and fight your way through to victory over this onslaught.  Re-establish yourself in the peace and joy atmosphere in the Lord’s kingdom.
**Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me, says the LORD.

*When we allow Jesus to be lord of all—when we cast all our cares upon Him,
fully trusting in His Word and resting in His love—our appearance should
undergo a deep change. A quiet calm should begin to radiate from our
countenance.

Father GOD: I am victorious; the enemy has no authority over my ministry, my health, my wealth, or my relationships.  Lord continue to remove the veil that covers my eyes from Your Truth. Thank You that the more I Turn to You, the more You will set my heart free. Fill me this day with Your Love!
” Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!  Let everyone see your gentleness. The Lord is near!  Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God.  And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”.(Phil. 4:4-7).  In JESUS name Amen

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My Purpose in Life!

By Bob / January 11, 2012

To be fully free! To be fully free we must have the desire, the ability, and the opportunity to do what will make us happy forever.
*No regrets.
**And only Jesus, the Son of God who died and rose for us, can make that possible.

1 Thessalonians 3: 2 and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith,
*Paul and Timothy want to see the Thessalonians so badly that Paul sends Timothy to check on them and encourage them.
*The thing I see still lacking in my own life is still a deeper daily passion for those lost souls around me and the total obedience to fulfill my purpose in “the Great Commission” from God.(Matthew 28:19-20).
Paul prays so fervently for the sanctification of the church! He wants them to overflow with love—like he does — I want to overflow with more of that love so I am able then, to give love away to others! It’s the overflow we can  give.

After sanctification(to be set apart from Sin and made holy), it is difficult to state what our purpose in life is, because:
*God has moved us into His purpose through the Holy Spirit.
*God is using YOU now for His purposes throughout the world as He used His Son for the purpose of OUR salvation.

I have found out the hard way–If you seek great things for yourself, thinking, “God has called me for this and for that,” you barricade God from using you.

Found that:  As long as you maintain your own personal interests and ambitions,  you cannot be completely aligned or identified with God’s interests.  We need to Be emptied of our self  and then allowing God to fill us up in His special way!

This can only be accomplished by giving up ALL of your personal plans once and for all, and by allowing God to take you directly into His purpose for the world not for yourself.
Psalms 57: 2.  I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
*God does not expect us to do it all on our own but to trust that it is Him that fulfills His purpose for us.

*Our understanding of our ways must also be surrendered, because they are now the ways of the Lord.

*I must learn that the purpose of my life belongs to God, not me.
*God is using me from His great personal perspective, and all He asks of me is that I trust Him.
*I should never say, “Lord, this causes me such heartache.” To talk that way makes me a stumbling block.
** When I stop telling God what I want, He can freely work His will in me without any hindrance.
*God can crush me, exalt me, or do anything else He chooses.
*God simply asks me to have Absolute Faith in Him and His Goodness.
***”Self-pity is of the devil, and if I wallow in it I cannot be used by God for His purpose in the world. Doing this creates for me my own cozy “world within the world,” and God will not be allowed to move me from it because of my fear of being “frost-bitten.”(Oswald)

Being a Christ follower means preserving the decaying culture.
*God has called us to be the Salt of the Earth!(Matthew 5:13).  We are the salt of the earth! We should be filled with the flavor of Christ.  If we become flavorless or our light goes out, what good are we? What is our purpose?

The Lord has given every believer Faith.  (Rom. 12:3).
*Faith was given to us at salvation through hearing the Word of God:
Eph. 2: 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.;
Rom. 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
**Faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit:
Galatians. 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control.
*** However, WE must Choose to exercise it.
*Our faith is linked to our knowledge (2 Pet. 1:1-4).
Hosea 4: 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me;

The problem occurs when we don’t allow our faith to work because we don’t keep our minds stayed on God’s Word. Mark 4:19  but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.

Keeping our minds stayed on God’s Word Will release our Faith and thereby release the “Power of God” in our lives.
1 Corinthians 13:13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

2 Corinthians 3:18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Lord help me to have absolute faith in You and Your goodness. Lord keep revealing to me–that the purpose of my life belongs to You, not me.  Forgive me for all my Self-pity.  Help me Lord to make it my aim, to strengthen and encourage others in their faith. Make my love increase and overflow for others. Lord strengthen my heart so that I will be blameless and holy in the presence of God and Father when my Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
Thank You for the Secrets to happiness:
Empty of my selfish desire and be Filled with Your  holiness!  Father…thank You for loving me enough to give me guidelines…Your word! Help me to understand it and for the Word to grow in me a love for Jesus and dependence on Jesus.  Father, Help me come to the place of realising my Need for You each day and to live dependent on You and not trying to live this life with my own power and effort.  In Jesus Name, Amen

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Is God’s plan Perfect?

By Bob / January 11, 2012

God’s plan IS perfect and best for His glory!
Genesis 22:21 Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.”
2 “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

Take now thy son . — Genesis 22:2
*God’s command is – Take now, not presently.
* I need to fully and faithfully move forward and follow the Lord right through the afflictions to come, knowing God’s plan IS Perfect and Best for His glory.
Romans 8:18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.
*It is extraordinary how we debate! We know a thing is right, but we try to find excuses for not doing it at once.
*If we are to climb to the height God reveals, it can never be done later, it must be done now.
And the sacrifice must be worked through our will before we actually perform it.

“And Abraham rose up early in the morning and went unto the place of which God had told him” (v. 3). The wonderful simplicity of Abraham!
* When God spoke, he did not confer with flesh and blood.
*Beware when you want to “confer with flesh and blood”,(Gal. 1:16) i.e., your own sympathies, your own insight, anything that is not based on your personal relationship to God.
These are the things that compete with and hinder obedience to God.

Abraham did not choose what the sacrifice would be.
*Always guard against Self-Chosen Service for God; self-sacrifice may be a disease that impairs your service.
**If God has made your cup sweet, drink it with grace;
** if He has made it bitter, drink it in communion with Him.
*** If the providential order of God for you is a hard time of difficulty, go through with it, but never choose the scene of your martyrdom, as to say “I will only go to there, But no farther”.

God chose the test for Abraham, and Abraham neither delayed or protested, But he went steadily went through with obedience and faith.
If you are not living in touch with God, it is easy to Blame God or pass Judgment on God.
You must go through the trial before you have any right to pronounce a verdict, because by going through the trial you learn to know God better.
*1 Peter 1:6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.
*Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.  Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. (1 Peter 4:12-13).
*** God is working in each of us to reach His highest goals until His purpose and man’s purpose become one!

Make sure this year, especially, this day, give the right response.
Some of us will never receive the blessing God has in store for us until we are WILLING to give THE RIGHT RESPONSE!
Some of us wonder why do I keep going through the same thing over and over again!? Perhaps it may be the response we always give to the Lord???

Now, most often the request is very very difficult!!! now we may not like it, but that response is YES LORD! Practice it!!! YES LORD!!!

**God sometimes doesn’t open the other door until we walk through the first door.
*Unless we are willing to respond to God properly….we may never witness the change God has for our life!!!

God needs you and me in 2012 to be willing to properly respond to Him. The proper response is YES LORD!
He wants us to take the things that mean the most to us, our lives, our time, our treasure and offer it to HIM!!! For some of us, our money or hobbies or work is our Isaac!
* God wants to know if we are willing to sacrifice it for him!?
*When we are willing to sacrifice ALL that is precious to us, God will be at His best!
*To let go of our most prized possession; God clearly makes that easier for us when we bring it to him rather than letting it go on own before we worship him.
*Sometimes I struggle to approach God due to my Sin and idolatry, and I feel shameful trying to worship Him with all these guilty conscience.
Once again, God will reveal that I need to come to Him as who I am and allow God to direct the actions I must take. **That’s worship. Faith does not come from my beliefs or actions but true faith, which is the source from God’s grace, works within us when we “Completely Empty Ourselves” to receive God’s authority.
I pray that our faith will be determined by God’s faithfulness alone.
Romans 1:17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
*God sets it up so that His Son is the center of the process of knowing and doing what is right, making Himself the centerpiece of righteousness, Not us. **Wondering what is the right thing to do in your situation?
** Go to the creator for the Right thing to do! Read His Word the answer is there. (Try Read All of Proverbs with your question in mind and Listen).
***What we don’t realize, just as we are making our way up one side of the mountain, there’s a lamb climbing on the other side of the mountain!
We won’t run short if we would simply give God the right answer!!
Walk in faith! God WILL take good care of YOU!

1 Peter 4:19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.
Lord, help me to first of all trust you with the faith of Abraham then help me to be a husband, dad and grandpa who can be trusted as much as Abraham was by Isaac!  What trust he had Lord! Thank You Jesus for your word of Truth. Help me in my trials to have faith and obedience to You, knowing there’s a lamb climbing on the other side of the mountain for me as I surrender to your will- for your Glory and my Joy.   Continue to peel away the addictions of sin from me.  Thank You God, that You are working in each of us to reach Your highest goals until Your purpose and man’s purpose become one!  “…To Know YOU, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth”. Jn 17:3. In Jesus Name, Amen

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