Devotions - Prayer

2 Peter 3:15 And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. The toughest assignment on our to-do list, the job we dread the most and save for last: IS……..(if you are like me)

*“Wait patiently on the Lord.” We’re soldiers! Prepping for battle, marching with comrades, attacking the enemy, and reclaiming lost ground is what we do. To sit and wait seems contrary to everything we believe and teach. But there it is again, “Wait on Me.” “Wait for what, Lord? My engine is revving! Let’s get going! I’ve got people to see, wisdom to dispense, lives to change. I’m built for action! C’mon Lord, let’s get going!” YET, time after time, He says, “Wait!”

*Abraham had to wait 25 years to fulfill a promise.

*God made Israel wait 400 years for a deliverer.

* Moses 40 years to be that deliverer.

*God required a dumbfounded and confused Job to wait in pain.

* God made Joseph wait in an Egyptian jail though he’d done nothing wrong.

*Each unscheduled halt had its OWN reason, though none of the participants knew it at the time. Waiting on the Lord is a required course in life’s ministry. And, only those who pass the test can truly succeed. • David passed—“I waited patiently for the Lord and He heard my cry.” • Solomon passed—“Wait for the Lord and He will deliver you.” • Isaiah passed—“Blessed are all those who wait on the Lord.” • Micah passed—“As for me, I will wait for God my Savior.”

**Waiting patiently on God is a tough assignment because His timing is rarely ours. But it’s still the assignment. One example to look at: The common root of God’s purposes in healing and non-healing is the VALUE of JESUS. In healing, it is Jesus’ WORTH that is put on display, and in non-healing it is his VALUE that sustains us through the hardship and difficulty. The one JESUS-who went to the CROSS to die, not for his own sin (he had none), but for OURS, is not only able to heal physically, but also able to heal our hearts to give us grace for enduring decades with the distress of disability. God has given us many wonderful promises— *To break every bond of sin, to empower us to defeat all dominion of sin,

*To give us a new heart,

*To cleanse and sanctify us, to conform us to the very image of Christ. His Word assures us, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24). Yet God does all of these things for us only in his time, according to his divine schedule. PATIENCE!!!! He has no deadlines pushing him. And he ignores all demands for an instant cure-all. In short, true faith on our part demands that we patiently wait on our Lord. Our response to him should be, “Lord, I believe you’re true to your Word. And by the power of your Spirit within me, I’m going to wait Patiently until you bring these things to pass in my life.

**My part is to remain in faith, waiting on you.” We may endure awful trials and temptations. And we may hear horrendous lies whispered to us by Satan. At times, we may fail. In fact, we may wonder if we will ever reach the goal. But, as you’re enduring all these afflictions if you’ll simply hold onto faith with patience: —trusting God is at work, keeping his Word, being your Jehovah —God will look on you as righteous. He has sworn by oath, “By faith, you will receive the promise.” So my goal today is not to question God but simply to trust and obey…even if I don’t understand why and even if it’s hard to do. I will accept the way that I am made and the plans that He has set before me. Yes, I know I can take all my questions to the Lord and He will lovingly sift through them, but today I want to obey His commands in swift, willing obedience — just because He said so. 2 Corinthians 6:6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. When God’s Agape Love flows through you, you are like a fountain, refilled and refreshed and overflow with His Love to others. “See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men.” I Thessalonians 5:15 Galations 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. Dear Lord, help me to show my love for You and others by knowing Your commands and obeying them. Give me the mind and attitude of Christ today and help me be that person who is patient and who says “yes” to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

John 1:1- In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
*Word= Jesus.
He was present in the beginning, meaning before, during, and after Creation. He was with God, and was God.

Jesus reveals God to us.

How fitting that Jesus should be called “the Word” for he communicates the very nature of God to us.

John 1:18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique ONE, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

John 1:18 reminds us that no one has seen the essence of God the Father, but the Son has “declared him” or “made him known” or “explained him” or “revealed him.”

Jesus makes known what we would never discover on our own.

Without Jesus we would never know the fulness of God. We would know him as Creator and Designer of all things (Romans 1:19–20), but we would never know the depth of his compassion toward sinners.

Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4). That is the secret of spiritual growth: to abide. To abide means to stay in a given place. For believers, it means to maintain unbroken fellowship with God. It is regularity. It is consistency. And it results in producing lasting fruit!

Colossians 1:15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,

Jesus is the key to the universe for “all things have been created through him” (Colossians 1:16).
*We were created by Him for a purpose. ****To serve Him. Amen
*Do all things for the glory of God.
*What defines an earthly activity or a spiritual activity is who you do it for…
**Anything spiritual can be done selfishly, and will not be rewarded from God – but earthly things can also be done for God. If you do this – God will show up, and there will be unexpected joy.

God left his fingerprints everywhere. The galaxies shout out, “He is there.” The wildflowers sing together, “He is there.” The rippling brooks join in, “He is there.” The birds sing it, the lions roar it, the fish write it in the oceans—“He is there.” All creation joins to sing his praise. The heavens declare it, the earth repeats it, and the wind whispers it—”He is there.”
Deep cries out to deep, the lamb and the wolf agree on this one thing—“He is there.”

Jesus is “the radiance of God’s glory” (Hebrews 1:3).

If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus.
He is not some grimy, blurry image of the Almighty. He isn’t the sun peeking through the clouds.
**** Jesus radiates the glory of God.
Theologians have a word for this. They say the Son is “co-essential” with the Father. That means the Father and the Son share the same essence. The Father is God and the Son is God.
Jesus is the blazing, magnificent revelation of God himself.

When Jesus speaks, God speaks. May we have ears to hear what he is saying.

Yesterday I was crucified with Christ;
Today I am glorified with Him.
Yesterday I was dead in Christ;
Today I am sharing in His resurrection.
Yesterday I was buried with Him;
Today I am waking with Him from the sleep of death.

Jesus is the Father and His Spirit is Him dwelling within us so Jesus and His children would be as one. He is in us and we are in Him..
Romans 9:5 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of Eternal Praise! Amen.

Today’s celebration note:
In loving memory of Deb’s mom Arlene Demmer.  Born April 8, 1923 and May 22,2011went home to be with the Lord.  One of Arlene’s favorite Verses:
John 11:25  Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.  26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.
****To GOD be the Glory!!!!!

The secret to prayer is secret prayer!

The goal of prayer should never be the roaring approval of the crowds, but rather the approval of our FATHER who is in heaven.

As Jesus so eloquently put it,
“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites( actor’s), for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, Who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” The secret to prayer is secret prayer. (Matthew 6:5-6)

Jesus provided the ultimate example. As  Luke puts it, He “often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16).

*Unlike the religious leaders of Jesus day, Jesus did not pray to be seen by men.
***Jesus prayed because He treasured Fellowship with His FATHER.

Hypocrites gain their reward through public prayer. They may be perceived as spiritual giants, BUT by the time they are finished, they have received everything they will ever get – their prayer’s worth and nothing more.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”

Steeped in religious practices, these hypocrites tithed, fasted, and traveled “over land and sea” to win converts. They even prayed. And how! They prayed publicly in synagogues, and they prayed publicly on street corners. They even wore boxes on their foreheads containing pet prayers.
Yet their Motivation was NOT intimacy with God, BUT to be seen by men.
Thus, said Jesus, “they have received their reward in full.”

When you do righteous things to be recognized, you are being prideful. Jesus said that your recognition by man is your reward.
**If you do things so that only God knows, you are doing things in LOVE for your Father. You will be rewarded in heaven.

When we pray, “Lord, I need more love for this person”…what we are actually saying is, “Lord, I need to set ‘self’ aside and allow your Love to flow through me.”
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30

Remove pride from your life. Earn eternal rewards not temporal ones.

John 4: 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
Pray for others, pray before others sincerely, pray secretly, and pray regularly. Plan to pray and pray through your plan.

John 15:7  But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!
It pleases God to give you the desires of your heart! He wants to see you happy, whole, strong and enjoying His blessing. *When you make the Word of God your number one priority, when you stay connected to HIM through PRAYER and WORSHIP, God promises that He will give you the desires of your heart.

James 5:16  Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
*This passage tells us that when we live right relationally and clear ourselves of emotional baggage… we can then pray powerfully!

*Who do you need to clear the air with?
*Who do you need to forgive and whose forgiveness should you seek?
**What inner issues do you need to let go of(Strongholds, Soul ties, Past Traumas  etc.)?
May you become whole and see God use your prayers powerfully!

Do you want an increase faith? When you go to prayer again, use the following Scriptures to reason with the Lord. He will not deny his own Word. Lay hold upon these:
• Psalm 62:8
• Psalm 91:4
• Psalm 56:3
• Proverbs 30:5
• Jeremiah 29:10-14
Hold on by faith! He will answer you, and soon.

Heavenly Father, today I submit every area of life to You. I invite You to have Your way in my heart. Mold me and make me as I surrender every area of my life to You. I praise You and give You all the glory. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Selling your rights as a child of God for some pleasure???
There is nothing in life that you and I can face that we can’t get through without the help of God.

Are you willing to lay down your will and your life so that God’s Love can be released through you?
“…because He laid down His Life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”I John 3:16

“Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.” Genesis 25:34

Esau was brother to Jacob. One day he came back from hunting in the fields. He was hungry and tired. His brother Jacob was preparing some stew and Esau asked Jacob for a bowl.
Jacob used this time to negotiate for what seems unimaginable – the family birthright.

Why would Esau take his birthright so lightly?
*** Because he did not understand its VALUE.
Esau here sells his birthright (his place in God’s story) for a cup of soup (sin). Think about that! He sold his glorious role into heaven for a cup of soup!!!

Next time you think about sinning or wronging God, think of this anecdote. Don’t sell your role in God’s story for a merger cup of soup. Don’t sell your ticket to Heaven to sin.

*Jacob shares a common trait shown here-which I saw in myself and probably many others can too— it is the trait of manipulation for personal gain. Trying to look good from the worldly standards for worldly rewards only.
*Every business day countless men and women exchange their birthrights for worldly goods, because they see what the world has to offer as more valuable than what God might offer.
Matthew 6: 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

This is not all their fault. Satan has blinded the minds and hearts of men and women for centuries.
He does not want them to know the tremendous gold mine that awaits the child of God.
Their inheritance is filled with meaning, purpose, and rewards that await them both here and in Heaven.
Satan keeps men and women from seeing the real value of their own godly inheritance.

*Our role as a  Christian is to be the key that unlocks this prison that keeps so many in captivity.
*You may be the one to reveal the truth that allows them to enter into the inheritance God desires for them.

Proverbs 12:26 The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray.

* Pray that God allows you to see each unsaved person you encounter as one who needs the key you hold in your hand. Then you will add to your own inheritance laid up for you in Heaven.

If we will hold fast to our faith – trusting Jesus, resting in Jesus promises,
rejecting all lies of Satan coming into your mind –– then expect God to come
by His Spirit into your situation and bring an expected end to your particular battle.
God will move heaven and earth to deliver you and make a way. The way out is to trust, trust, trust! “He makes wars to cease” (Psalm 46:9).
2 Chronicles 20:14-15 “The Spirit of God came in the midst of the congregation…saying, Be not afraid nor dismayed…for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
The only way to be obedient is letting go and trusting in what God does in us by His Grace to strengthen us and HEAL our hearts so that we have obedient hearts, not just obedient actions.

Psalms 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

1 Peter 1: 3-7. This is for You Today!
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,  and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.   And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.  So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.   These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

Thank you Father for choosing me, for seeing me and through your Spirit you sanctified me to obedience to your son Jesus – Lord help me dwell on Your identity. God, You are my shield. My stronghold. My light. My strength. My sustainer. My rescuer. My fortress.
Help me Lord to Meditate on Your perfect attributes.  Dwell on Your identity. Adore YOU. Respect YOU. Honor YOU. Love YOU. Exalt YOU. Help me use the rest of my life getting ready to worship our awesome God forever.Amen

Amos 5:24 But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
God desires justice, fairness, and obedience. When we get so wrapped up in our traditions and programs that we neglect to do justly and act fairly, than no matter how big our gatherings become and how great worship seems, God can’t stand it.(Amos 21-24)

Establish justice in your own heart and do what is right, for the Lord delights in goodness and the Lord is merciful to those who show mercy. The Lord values uprightness and will bless those who consider others more highly than themselves. I believe the Lord wants us to Maintain a standard of honesty and fairness regardless of the corruption that abounds on the earth. Overcome evil with good. Start with Building a Solid Foundation!

Matthew 7:26 “But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.”

Relationship with God is the foundation!

There were two kinds of people in the days of Jesus.
1. Some heard the words that Jesus spoke and were awed by His wisdom and understanding, but did nothing about what they heard.
2. Others heard those words and acted on them.
Jesus said that those who heard the words but failed to put them into practice were foolish and likened them to building a house on sand.
How foolish, indeed, it would be to build a house on sand.

The person who followed what Jesus taught was a person who would be sure to weather life’s storms.

Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock (Matthew 7:24-25).

It is important to notice that Storms/Trials come to BOTH the house on the rock and the house on the sand. Building our house on the rock does not exempt us from the storms/trials of life. The difference lies in the end result. Standing or falling!!!!

You never know how well your house is built until it is tested by the elements. *Torrential rains reveal the quality of your roof.
*Wind and cold reveal how well your home is insulated.
* Heat and sun reveal the quality of your paint and siding.
*** All these elements reveal whether a solid foundation has been laid to make your home a secure and lasting place to live.

Many of us find that we have given only lip service to God’s commands. We are faced with the reality that our foundations are not strong enough to weather life’s storms.

How do we react when the trials come? *Do we fret and worry?
*Do we take life into our hands?
* Do we respond inappropriately when we don’t get what we want?

***The Lord uses these times to help us recognize whether our foundations are sand or rock.
****Ask the Lord today if you have built on His rock. If so, you can be comforted to know that you can weather any storm that may come your way.

1 Peter 4:12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 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.

The strength of every house begins from its foundation and the Four elements of a strong foundation.
1. Obedience.
2. Prayer and vigilance.
3. Openness and honesty.
4. Celebration and honor.
Just think– whatever we de-value will depreciate. Let us speak Peace and Blessings instead of any curses so the climate around us will Appreciate in value!

Hope Connection and Moving Forward have: Eight Truths, a Result, a Word and a Verse to go together which We Embrace in order to Master Life!
(Here is 8 of 8)

8) I am fully devoted to Jesus Christ, no matter what that will cost.
Result: I courageously and joyfully accept whatever comes my way because of my loyalty to Jesus Christ.
Word: I Am “Courageous”
Verse: Colossians 3:1-4. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

Lord we celebrate not only the victory that Jesus won on the cross, but also Jesus resurrection from the dead. Lord continue to let us recognize anew our sinful natures, and pray that You would help us, guide us, and forgive us.
Matthew 6:9-13
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts,as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil.“
Amen

Psalm 144:1 Praise be to the lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. 2 He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me. 3 lord, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them?

If you will take up your weapons and your cross and follow Jesus, you will be given the plan of how you can win your battles. The Word of GOD is the most powerful natural and supernatural tool we have been given, second only to what Jesus did on the cross.

Our command is to Fight!

Our Warning is those who are not with the Lord, (Luke 11) are against HIm and are on the losing side.

Lord, give me the spirit of your martyrs, to go to battle ready to give it all up for your glory each day!!

Psalms 144:4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.”

Why then do we invest so much in temporal pursuits when we know that our investment here can have so much impact on our eternity?
It is the great paradox of human behavior, especially for Christians.

Does your work life have an overall ministry objective to it?
This does not mean we must be constantly involved in “Christian activity.

It only means that we should be about what God has called us to do with the motive of being obedient to this mission.
Do not let the worries and cares of this life keep you from having an eternal impact on the lives of those you meet each day.
*Satan has a way of keeping our focus on the problems of today rather than the spiritual opportunities before us.
*Satan  is master of the urgent, not the important.

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

If you truly know the Lord intimately, you have known and felt the touch of the hand of Jesus.
In times of loneliness, times of discouragement, times of confusion, times so painful and uncertain, you cried out from the depth of your
soul: “Lord Jesus, I need your touch. I need to feel your presence. Come,
Jesus, and touch my thirsting soul.”

Some need a touch of Jesus upon their mind.

Satan has come with his wicked
principalities to harass and overburden the MIND with thoughts that are hellish
– unbelieving thoughts, unChristlike thoughts, fearful thoughts, thoughts of
unworthiness, thoughts of God’s displeasure.
Honest believers(me for one) will tell you they have experienced these attacks on their mind. Satan is determined to destroy our faith and dependence on the Lord.

Romans 12: 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

In Scripture, the touch of Jesus came in answer to a cry. There is no evidence
he ever ignored or rejected such a cry. And he will not turn away from your
cry, but will mercifully respond to your need.
In Matthew 8 we read of a leper
coming to him, saying, “Lord, if thou will, thou canst make me clean.”
Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be thou clean.
And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

Find a place alone with Jesus today, and say to him what the leper said:
“Lord, you are able. Make me clean.” Then expect that JESUS- who is no
respecter of persons will touch and heal you, in mind, body, soul and spirit.

The arm of the Lord is outstretched to you, but he waits for that cry of need,
the cry for help that is also a cry of expectancy.

Life is fragile and short. Consider where you are investing your time and energies.

We have all heard said people had never heard anyone on his deathbed say that he wished he had made more money in his lifetime or he wished he had made a certain deal.
Usually it is something like, “I wish I had spent more time with my kids, spouse, family, friends.”
Ask the Lord to give you His priorities for your life.

Hope Connection and Moving Forward have: Eight Truths, a Result, a Word and a Verse to go together which We Embrace in order to Master Life!
(Here is 7 of 8)
7) I bring a message of reconciliation, healing and hope to all who are open to hear.
Result: I have the privilege of bringing God to people and people to God.
Word: I am “An Ambassador”
Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:20. “So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

We  praise You God! Thank you for being  my protector, my battle trainer,  loving me, for being my stronghold, my refuge, my deliverer, my shield, my shelter, my Lord who gives me victory.  Thank you Lord that we fight from Victory not for Victory! (1 JN 4:4). Lord I pray blessings and Peace this day over all people experiencing natural disasters in our area and the World at Large. Lord help us see that YOU are the answer and Life here and Earth is but a breath of air and our Hope is in You and our Victory is IN YOU JESUS!
Amen

Pride and self-righteousness will detour us from God’s best path and lead us on a treacherous journey of denial. We’ll deny our own sinfulness. We’ll deny our own need for grace.
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble…” 1 Peter 5:5 (NIV)

Those who can’t see their own desperate need for grace, refuse to freely give grace to others.

Relationships take some listening too!!

“He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.” – Isaiah 50:4b

The prophet Isaiah describes his relationship to God as a relationship that has two-way communication.
Have you ever felt that your communication with God was only one way – you to Him only?

Isaiah tells us, “The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary…. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back” (Is. 50:4-5).

The key to Isaiah’s relationship with God lies in four important principles:

1. He had an instructed tongue. Isaiah had given over rule of his life completely to God’s purposes.

2. He knew the word of the Lord, which allowed him to sustain and encourage others.

3. He took time to listen.

4. He did not flee from the tough assignments. He didn’t shrink back.

If we are to be able to listen to God, we must follow the same principles. Knowing and spending time studying God’s Word allows the Holy Spirit to bring to mind His instructions for what He wants for us.

In the Past I would become very busy in my work and other activities alot. Each Time, It wasn’t long before I felt distance between God and me.

I had to make a conscious decision to carve out more time alone to listen, study, and meditate on His Word even when it hurt and I didn’t feel like it.

This is the lifeline for the follower of Jesus.
*When we begin to lose the relationship, we are susceptible to becoming rebellious, going our own way which in turn is a start of backsliding.

*Invest your life in this relationship so that you may continue to hear His voice and SUSTAIN the weary ones around you. We need to show the world around us the Love of Christ through our Relationships with God, Spouse, Kids, Family and Friends.

Remember and pray!  Speak Peace and Blessings always and no Curses of any sort.
Words have meaning! People are measuring our words. God measures our words!

We must be careful what words come out of our mouth, they can damage those around us.
*We can speak life or death to someone!
*The things WE speak are the seeds WE sow.
Proverbs 21:23 Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.

Proverbs 15:4 Gentle words are a tree of life;a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

Let us speak Truth out of Love!
For us to love others as God desires, we must allow Him to make us an open vessel through which He can pour His Love.
“Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”
II Timothy 2:21

Hope Connection and Moving Forward have: Eight Truths, a Result, a Word and a Verse to go together which We Embrace in order to Master Life!
(Here is 6 of 8)
6) I make a commitment to be totally honest and thereby vulnerable to the Holy Spirit, my family and friends and myself.
Result: I m being transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ my Lord.
Word I am “Honest”

Verse: 1 John` 3:1-3. “See what love the father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world did not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”

Lord Jesus, Continually transform me into Your likeness an help me in all my relationships to bring YOU Glory!  Amen!

WE ARE FORGIVEN!
Christ is the Judge. Christ is also the way to get out of the Judgement.

Jesus tells us, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and
believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).

The Greek word Jesus uses for condemnation here is judgment. He is saying, “If you believe in me, you won’t come into judgment, but will pass from death over to life.” Amen!

As stated in yesterdays devotion-It is for our own benefit that God tells us to remember things of the past. BUT The memories God wants us to remember are of our past deliverances, which will help to increase our faith for what we are going through right
now.
Remembering how God came through then and He can now also.

Indeed, Scripture tells us from cover to cover that once the Lord forgives our
sins, he wipes them from HIS memory.

“I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isaiah 43:25).

“I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more”.    Jeremiah 31:34.

“He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue
our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea”
(Micah 7:19).

Here is your good news, reported in the book of Micah: “I, the Lord, will
subdue all your iniquities.” God has given us image after image in these
passages of how he wipes our sins from memory. He blots them out; he remembers them no more; he buries them in the sea; he “subdues” them—meaning, he chases them down and captures them.

Isaiah even tells us God takes our trespasses and flips them over his shoulder.
“Thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back” (Isaiah 38:17).
This means God will NEVER look at our sins or acknowledge them again.

Psalms 51: 7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Now let me ask you—if God forgets our sins, why don’t you and I?
Why do we always allow the devil to dig up some muck or mire from our past and wave it in our face, when all our sin is already covered by Christ’s blood?

The cleansing, forgiving power of Christ’s blood is all-encompassing. It
covers our entire lives!

How many religious “acts” are simply “performances”? Keeping rules and regulations, always about your actions and not about God’s love.

Let us remind ourselves that we were created for his glory. He had no other requirement to save us outside of his own desire for a relationship with us. Everything he has done for us, every promise he has made and kept have soley been for the purpose of nurturing a relationship with us.

God brings forgiveness, when we respond with repentance.

Believers needed to repent, non-believers need a savior. But BOTH need forgiveness.
And His Grace abounds with more than we could imagine, in both moments.

Imagine this… Being forgiven, the guilt and sin taken care of, and living for the one true God.

Only as you walk in God’s unconditional Love will you be set free to:
“…love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:39

Hope Connection and Moving Forward have: Eight Truths, a Result, a Word and a Verse to go together which We Embrace in order to Master Life!
(Here is 5 of 8)
5) I extend a loving, forgiving, accepting spirit toward others and act in like manner.
Result: I am positively involved in other people’s lives, and mutually encouraged.
Word: I am “Kind hearted”
Verse: Matthew 25:37-40. “Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you or naked and cloth you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, “Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”

“You alone are worthy, mighty God!” Amen!

Sometimes God has and will slow us down so that we can hear his voice and understand what he is telling us. Then once you have heard and understood God will strengthen you and bring you back to action to accomplish the plan HE has for you.
It is for our own benefit that God tells us to remember things of the past. BUT The memories God wants us to remember are of our Past Deliverances, which will help to increase our FAITH for what we are going through right
now.
Remembering how God came through then and He can now also.

Multitudes of God’s people today face Trials on all sides. Yet many cower in
fear.
*Does this describe you?
*Have you forgotten the time you were so sick that you were close to death, BUT the Lord raised you up?
* Do you remember that financial disaster when you thought, “That’s it, I’m finished,” YET the Lord saw you through it, and has kept you to this day?
*Do you remember all those prayers for different  family members and how the Lord came through?
Do you Remember that addiction when you thought,  “That’s it, I’m finished, I can never give this up,” YET the Lord saw you through it, and has kept you to this day?
There are many things we don’t understand and we won’t understand until we are home with Jesus. But I absolutely believe that God can heal, and that he has a way out of EVERY situation.
The question for us is, where do we find the faith, the courage, to stand up and gain victory in JESUS?

The faith, the courage, to stand up and gain victory IN Jesus comes when you’re able to recall the incredible faithfulness of God, and the past victories he has
given you.
*You can’t face a giant Trial until you’re able to envision and understand the majesty and glory of God in your life.

We Need to Hear from God!!!!

“So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision, I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless.” – Daniel 10:8

Daniel received a vision that troubled him greatly. He wanted understanding of this vision. He set himself out to understand the vision by fasting for three weeks. Three days after his three weeks of fasting, a messenger of God appeared to Daniel.
The messenger explained that Heaven had heard his prayer from the first day.

There are times in our lives when we must set ourselves to seeking God with all our hearts. It is in these times that we hear from Heaven in ways we may never have experienced before.

Daniel’s perseverance in prayer was rewarded with a personal encounter with Heaven.
However, in order to receive from God, Daniel had to:
* Be left alone
* Have his strength removed
* Be placed in a helpless condition

When we have NO ability in our own strength to move Heaven or the events around us, we are in position to hear from Heaven.
It is the acknowledgment of our humanity and our frailness that places us in a position to have a personal encounter with the living God.

We have been great sinners, but Christ died that we might be forgiven. The merits of His sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf. **Those to whom He has forgiven most will love Him most, and will stand nearest to His throne to praise Him for His great love and infinite sacrifice(the CROSS for you and me).

It is when we most fully comprehend the love of God that we best realize the sinfulness of sin.
When we see the length of the chain that was let down for us, when we understand something of the infinite sacrifice that Christ has made in our behalf, the heart is melted with tenderness and contrition.

If God’s Spirit in our hearts is quenched because of sin, the Love of God will not be able to flow into our lives.
“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.”
Isaiah 59:2

*Do you need a personal encounter with God today?
* Do you need God to intervene on your behalf?
*Seek Him with all your heart. *Demonstrate to Him you are serious. *Get alone and acknowledge your helpless condition before Him.
* He will reward you with His presence.

All Christians are capable of setting self aside, but not all Christians are willing!_
“Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”. Hebrews 4:7

A negative thought first crossing our mind is not sin. But if we choose to bury that thought in our hearts or turn it into a negative action, SIN is the result.
** We need to take that thought captive and immediately relinquish it to God.
“…we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ…”
II Corinthians 10:5

When we “stuff” disappointments, these buried resentments can cause us to act exactly the opposite of how we want to act.
“…for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but  I am doing the very thing I hate.”Romans 7:15

Hope Connection and Moving Forward have: Eight Truths, a Result, a Word and a Verse to go together which We Embrace in order to Master Life!
(Here is 4 of 8)
4) I actively pursue God and His will through Scripture, prayer, and accountability to my fellow followers of Jesus Christ.
*Result: I am filled with God’s love, sustained by His grace and satisfied because of His work in my life.
*I am “Satisfied”
*Verse: Ephesians 3:17-19. “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God.”

Come Lord Jesus, fill me with Your Love and continue to increase our Faith Daily
Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!  Try me and know my thoughts!24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!  Amen

The most difficult place to keep moving forward in faith is the place of extreme pain.

“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.” – Psalm 126:5

Extreme pain, especially emotional pain, can become immobilizing to the human spirit if it is ALLOWED to overcome us.
The psalmist tells us there is only one remedy for overcoming painful circumstances that WILL result in joy.

*** We are to SOW in the midst of these extreme painful times.
We cannot do this if we live by feelings alone. It is an act of the will. This act requires that we go outside ourselves in pure FAITH.

2 Corinthians 12:9? “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, THAT the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

I learned this principle during a few of the deepest periods of my life. I had lost much that was dear to me and my Faith seemed to slip.
***A mature man in the faith challenged me to reach out to others, listen and look for the ones hurting in spite of my own pain.
**”Invest in someone else, life is not all about “the ME” he said.
I did not realize what a PLACE of Healing and Comfort that would become. It took my eyes off of my extreme pain and circumstances and put my Eyes on Jesus, trusting  in our Lord Jesus Christ.
“He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him” (Ps. 126:6).
Pain can become a source of joy if we take the first step by planting seed. There is a harvest that will come if we sow in the midst of tears.

Psalm 146:3-5. “Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them. But JOYFUL are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.”

The path from the Valley of Pain!
*Prayer. It’s not books, TV or radio, it’s communication with God.
Many times, we are told to simply wait!
* Praise.   Worshiping.   If we can’t praise Him in a valley, we have no business praising Him on the mountain.
* Practice. Walking with the Lord. Do the will of God.

We will waste our valleys if…
* …we don’t believe it was designed for us by God.
*…we think it’s a curse, not a gift.
* …we spend too much time reading about our valleys, and not enough time reading about Christ.
* …we grieve as we have no hope.
* …we fail to use our valleys as a way to show the glory of God.

When we “stuff” disappointments, these buried resentments can cause us to act exactly the opposite of how we want to act.
“…for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but  I am doing the very thing I hate.”Romans 7:15

Bringing Praises to our Father in the middle of even the worst Pains and Trials, brings much Glory to our Father and shows us and let’s others see that we REALLY do believe God is in Control and we Trust that His perfect Will—will be done on earth as in Heaven!!  Praise God!

Psalm 34:1.  I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.
Hope Connection and Moving Forward have: Eight Truths, a Result, a Word and a Verse to go together which We Embrace in order to Master Life!
(Here is. 3 of 8)
3) I sincerely ask the Holy Spirit to show me what I need to do and empower me to follow through in obedience.
Result: I am released from my need to control everything.
Word: I am “Free”
Verse: Jeremiah 9:23,24. “Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practice steadfast love, justice and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, says the Lord.”

Lord, may my life be aligned with your will, that I can have You as my helper and my confidence, trust and hope always in You. AMEN

Does our leisure appetites drive us? If not what does? What are we entitled to?

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!” – Philippians 2:8

Society today has duped many of us into believing that the world owes us.
* It OWES us a good living.
* It OWES us a loving spouse.
* Good health throughout our whole life.  * Sexual pleasure when we want it.
* Paid vacations the rest of our lives.
* The World Owes us Prosperity.
The world has told us if we work hard and do right, we are entitled to these things.
This is the Esau perspective on life. For a mere meal, he sold his own birthright for a simple pleasure to which he felt entitled.

Society, and even the Church, is more pleasure-focused than EVER before. George Barna, the Christian researcher, cites:
*We are not a society that simply enjoys its time off. Our leisure appetites drive us.
*It is increasingly common to hear people turning down job offers because the Hours or other responsibilities would interfere with their hobbies, fitness regimens and other free time activities.

*Even our spending habits show that Playing has become a major priority.
** The average household spends more money on entertainment than it does clothing, health care, furniture or gasoline.
**Recreational activities have jumped more than 10 percent in the amount of time given to them. [George Barna, Frog In The Kettle (Ventura, California: Regal Books, 1990), 82.]

What are the motives for our work life? Is it only to gain increased pleasure and leisure time?
Jesus said He came only to do the work of the Father. I am sure that Jesus had times of refreshment in His life that allowed Him to get recharged for the mission God called Him to.
However, He understood the BALANCE of maintaining mission and play.

When we view life with an attitude of entitlements, we are susceptible to becoming disappointed, resentful, and even bitter when our expectations go unmet.
Ask the Lord if you need to relinquish any rights that may be hindering your freedom to experience His love and grace.

Instead of catching negative thoughts and giving them over to God, too many of us choose to “mull” them over in our minds and store them in our hearts.

Isaiah 45:3 I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel.

The Lord  said that HE would give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches in secret places!  Stop and ponder……….
I am the light of the world, says the Lord.   That light is shining in our hearts even now to reveal the places of darkness where the enemy can build a Stronghold against us and against all that is holy.
The Lord  wants us to allow the light of TRUTH to illuminate and dispel the darkness and even the shadows that lurk.  This is a work of discernment and faith.
Discernment comes when you can see clearly and with precision.
Hebrews 5:14  But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

The Lord has  given you a taste and a glimpse of His Glory, which will make you desire even more if we Spend TIME in our Relationship with HIM!!

It took a while for me to understand the concept of “treasures of darkness”.
I thought, “How can it be a good thing that I have left a life of relative comfort and have no salary or hourly job or means of providing for Laura and I?”
I previously thought-How can this darkness be a treasure????
The darkness became a treasure when: *We realized that we had nothing to worry about.
* We had no need that was not met.   *We were getting to know our Heavenly Father through the guidance of His Holy Spirit in ways we never before thought possible.
*We, Together as One, Grew in our Faith, received a Peace and now have a TRUST in our Heavenly Father as never before.  Thank you Jesus!
**Truth is, there is always treasures in the darkness, secret riches. And Jesus, our Father who loves us allows the dark times to occur TO draw us into a MORE fulfilling relationship with Him.

Hope Connection and Moving Forward have: Eight Truths, a Result, a Word and a Verse to go together which We Embrace in order to Master Life!
(Here is 2 of 8)
2)  I honestly admit and regret that I have failed God, my family, myself and others.
*Result: I receive God’s forgiveness and thankfully rest in His Peace.
*I am “Forgiven”
* Verse: 2 Corinthians 7:10. “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death.” Or: Psalm 32:5. “I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord;” then you forgave the guilt of my sin.”

Thank you Jesus for giving US an abundant life. A life where you are our light in the dark. A life in which you are truly enough. Forgive me Lord for thinking and following the ways of the world in entitlements. I was so wrong trying to find Joy in worldly things. Thank you Jesus for loving me and having patience with me through it ALL! You are an AWESOME GOD!  Thank you for sending Jesus Your Son for a sinner like me. Thank you that through your Son Jesus, on that Cross, I now have the Forgiveness, Joy, Love, Freedom and Peace that only you can Give and also knowing– it is All for Your Glory!  Thank You Jesus for now knowing I have Eternal Life with YOU from this minute through Eternity!  Amen

PRAISING the Lord at all times!!!!

Isn’t it easy for us to lift up the name of Jesus when we are at peace or experiencing great fortune and blessings in our lives?  It is for Me!
BUT how often do we remember the words of 2 Corinthians 12:9? “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect IN weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, THAT the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

We need to remember to praise God at ALL times, even in the midst of our Trials.
*During times of trial is the most challenging time for us to sing and offer praises to Our Father, let us remember to praise Him regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in.

Psalm 146:3-5. “Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them. But JOYFUL are those who HAVE the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.”

Bringing Praises to our Father in the middle of even the worst Trials, brings much Glory to our Father and shows us and let’s others see that we REALLY do believe God is in Control and we Trust that His perfect Will—will be done on earth as in Heaven!!  Praise God!

David’s Words:
Psalm 34:1.  I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.

That’s a marvelous statement to come from a man’s lips at any time. “I will extol the LORD at ALL times; His praise will always be on my lips.”
But how much more when we read the introductory words to the psalm.
It says that when David wrote these words he:
*Was feigning insanity before King Abimelek, who drove him away.
* David was in actual danger of his life.  *David  had to flee there from the king of his own people, Saul.
* He was a fugitive from his own people.  ***And in that situation he said, “I will extol the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.”

I want to tell you, there’s NO situation in which it is not appropriate to praise the Lord.
Let’s see what David says there in that third verse: “Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.” Let me leave that word with you:
GLORIFY the Lord with me; let us EXALT His name together.

We must keep our praise, our speech and our boasting IN the Lord. So that ONES who are around can take heart.
Let others see Jesus through US in the good as well as the tough times!
In the midst of our trials and when our enemies are surrounding us, we must continue to make the main thing, the main thing.   That the Lord is great–He does not change-and HE deserves ALL the Glory, ALL our Love–so lets Praise Him in ALL circumstances.
Remember.   “It’s not ALL about ME”!

God knows what, where, why, who, when, and how. He is the God who spoke and the sea was calm, touched the blind and enabled them to see, the same God who died for me.
God  Knows, He Cares, He has the POWER to heal, and GRACE to sustain. My Hope Lies in the Great physician. His Grace is sufficient even when the answers aren’t.

Hope Connection and Moving Forward have: Eight Truths, a Result, a Word and a Verse to go together which We Embrace in order to Master Life!
(Here is 1 of 8)
1)  I confess my spiritual and moral bankruptcy and agree with Jesus’ words: “without me you can do nothing. *Result: I am fully accepted and welcomed into God’s Family.
*Word: I am “Accepted”
*Verse: Isaiah 55:1 “Ho, every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”

Father, help me to recognize that You are to be Exalted, Praised and Glorified in all circumstances. But more than that, let me be a man who actually does it!
Jesus, I want to PRAISE YOU in the midst of trials, I want to speak PRAISES no matter what I am going through, and I want to boast only in YOU, so that others may take heart and see You that You are the only ONE to get all the Glory because of Your unfailing Love for each one of us.  Jesus help me remember these key words to PRAISE YOU when the walls seem to be crumbling. Give me the boldness not to hide but to stand firm in who YOU are. In Jesus Name Amen!

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

Fear.—- Fear incapacitates. Fear immobilizes. Fear destroys. Fear dominates. Fear deceives. The fear of the unknown is one of the greatest enemies known to people.

*Fear does everyone of the above mentioned actions and many times we have knowledge of this, but yet we still fall victim to its subtleties.

*We know and understand that fear is a spirit that is not sent from God.
The Apostle Paul explained in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”

Therefore, our hearts and mind should be filled with the peace of God which passes all understanding through our faith in God’s ability and grace to empower us to conquer and accomplish anything.

Although we may be encompassed by the violent, intimidating whirlwinds of the enemy’s rage, there is no weapon that the enemy can muster up against us that can overtake us to the point of total and complete annihilation.

You have fought to make spiritual progress and to overcome the enemy. Now, maintain your victory. Hold your ground. Expect retaliation, but know that he has no authority to remove what the Lord has given to you. Be strong and courageous. Set a watch and refuse to listen to the devil’s lies.
Luke 19:13b Occupy till I come.

The fact that we can call upon and trust in the name of the Lord as our Strong Tower and Refuge brings peace to our souls as the love of God for us and toward us cancels out the fear factor.

Therefore, we need not be afraid because as long our faith in God’s ability:
*To provide for
*To sustain
*To deliver
*To protect us remains steadfast.
***There is nothing that can harm us or keep us away from fulfilling our God-given purpose.

Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.

*During times where things are not going well (we all have them), we need to take our focus off the problem and put it on God.
*God is with us throughout our lives and by putting him FIRST, we can handle ANYTHING that the world throws at us.
*God will give you the strength to handle it.
Psalm 34:7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard;he surrounds and defends all who fear him.
Sometimes in life, we want to go back to what is familiar to us. But the Lord wants us out of the comfort zone of our lives. Why? Because:
*God has given us a PROMISE in HIM. *God wants to take us to the next level, to the extreme, not leave us in bondage.

Remember, Satan’s plans are to keep you in bondage and keep you from God’s Will. But let us remember Revelation 20:10…Satan has already lost!

When we allow justified “hurts” to build a wall around our hearts, we actually prevent God’s Love from coming forth into our lives.
“If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear…”. Psalm 66:18

A relationship with The Father through Messiah Jesus is what He asks above all.

Isaiah 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Indeed, Scripture tells us from cover to cover that once the Lord forgives our
sins, he wipes them from HIS memory.

“I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own
sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isaiah 43:25).

Lord, thank You for Your words of reassurance. I lift My fears, needs, & hopes to You in faith; only You can give the comfort I need.
Lord, thank You for the times where You test my strength. It’s for a reason that You do. I trust in You and fear You as You continue to refine me.
God, Your Word speaks hope and life to me. It is always right on target and speaks into my life and current situations. I hold onto Your Word and pray for Your strength and courage, for health and peace as I walk through each day. And I raise it all up to You, I lift it up to You, trusting and believing in You for what is to come. So I give You the praise, the honor, and the glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

*It is better to be rejected by man than by God.
*Everyone is somebody to God.
*All things shall work together for those that believe in God.
*We are gods battle axe as we cut through all spiritual holds for we are the warriors of the Lord.

We Need to Overcome Our Past and Move Forward with the Leading of the Holy Spirit, trusting God, Not Flesh!

“Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah.” – Judges 11:29a

Many of use have gone through or we’ve  heard stories of individuals who have overcome extreme hardship during their childhood years.
Children of alcoholics, orphans who never have parents, loss of parents to a fatal crash, childhood disease, abuse etc.  YES- these are all difficult circumstances to overcome.

What so we learn from the Bible in Judges 11?
Jephthah was a man who overcame his obstacles and refused to allow his circumstances to prevent him from becoming great in God’s sight.
*He was born to Gilead, a result of his father’s adulterous encounter with a prostitute.
* Jephthah’s half-brothers decided to reject Jephthah, and drove him away from their home saying, “You are not going to get any inheritance in our family because you are the son of another woman.”
Imagine the rejection this young man felt as he was cast away from his own family.  O how WORDS KILL!

This experience taught Jephthah to become a Hardened warrior.
Today he probably would have been part of a street gang.
As he got older,(not dealing with his personal hurt of rejection) his reputation as a warrior became known to those in his country, so much so that when the Ammonites made war on Israel, the elders of Gilead went to Jephthah and asked him to be their commander.

***Jephthah had to fight off those feelings of rejection from previous years.
“Didn’t you hate me and drive me from my father’s house?” he responded.

He OVERCAME his hurt and pain, and responded to the CALL GOD had on his life.

It is said that if we were to help the butterfly remove itself from the cocoon, the butterfly would not be strong enough to survive.
*It is the struggle that prepares the butterfly to become strong enough to fly.
*Without the struggle in the cocoon, it could not survive as a butterfly.

The Lord prepares each of us in similar ways. Some of our childhoods seem to have been harsh and born from a seemingly unloving God.
However, the Lord knows our struggle and will make our life an instrument in His hand if we will follow Him with an upright heart. Even Jesus had to learn obedience:
Hebrews 5: 7 While he(Jesus) lived on earth, anticipating death, Jesus cried out in pain and wept in sorrow as he offered up priestly prayers to God. Because he honored God, God answered him. 8 Though he was God’s Son, he learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, JUST as WE do.

Below are a few items I have picked up in Bible-experienced-seen from others-and have come to believe through experience, patience and obedience:
*Hardship will reveal who YOU are to yourself.
*Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you Respond to it.
*Every experience or situation is to FORM your character and to DESTROY selfishness and pride.
*Your Response to life will ultimately shape your future.
*Whatever you Believe will effect how you treat everything you do.
*Remember every obstacle that we face is for God to unveil his answer for our situation.
*In order for something to come alive in you, something has to die in you.
*Successful living in the kingdom is: obedience, wisdom, faith, preserverence.
*The way to understand who you are is not by the blessing list you created but by the scars you carry.
*If you believe in nothing you’ll fall for anything.

Jesus does make all things beautiful in His time if we are willing to be patient.

Lord, may you fulfill every purpose for which you made us. May there be no inheritance left on the table that we are entitled to.

Success is fulfilling the complete purpose for which God made US.
It has nothing to do with wealth, accomplishments, stature in life, or standard of living.
It has to do with living a life of obedience to the Father. And when we live a life of obedience to the Father, we will fulfill the purposes that God had in mind when he made you and me.

We would be wise to stay acquainted with the ONE who loves us to the point of death. We can trust in His love, mercy, faithfulness and justice. Let’s avoid the pitfalls of our predecessors and remain connected to Him!

No matter the circumstances of your life, God can use you. He allowed certain things to happen so that you can strengthen others who went through the same circumstances as you. You have to have inner healing – forgive God for allowing the circumstances in your life, forgive others for hurting you, and forgive yourself. Then your life will be a testimony that will encourage many and glorify your Father.

Dear Lord, I am no longer my own but yours. Teach me to trust You in every way.  Heal me this day-help me surrender ALL to you this day-especially my childhood pains. Take them and set me FREE to trust and obey YOU JESUS!
Romans 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. Amen
Romans 12:2 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.
Amen Amen Amen

Does God need your skills and abilities in order to accomplish His purposes on this earth?

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

It’s an amazing thing to know that because of God’s love for us, we have been set free from the bondage of sin.

Why would anyone want to live in darkness from a sinful life?
Living in a state of imprisonment is sad and lonely, but people need to understand that once you’ve found Jesus, he takes that darkness away and replaces it with his light.
In John 8:12 Jesus spoke to the people saying “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” therefore once we decide to fully surrender to Jesus and make Him sovereign over our lives, we are no longer enslaved by our sins but we can walk freely in God’s eternal light.

**We need to have a life that invites the Holy Spirit into our lives. our home, our place of work, everywhere!
We then speak Blessings and Peace over all things and All people verses any Curses, 24/7 ! Yes always speak Blessings and Peace over all things and All people and watch and feel the spiritual climate change in yourself as well as all the rest of areas you are in, be it people, relationships, work, circumstances etc.

“His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor His delight in the legs of a man; the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.” – Psalm 147:10-11

Do you ever feel so skilled in what you do that you require little help from others? Perhaps you may feel that you are more skilled than any other in your field.
Does God need your skills and abilities in order to accomplish His purposes on this earth? The answer is NO.

One thing God does not need is our skills and abilities. However, GOD DOES give us the privilege to exercise our gifts and abilities for His service.
That service may be as a computer technician, a secretary, a restaurant Manager, a property Manager, a construction job, a Pastor, a Realitor, or even a lawyer or Doctor.
God calls each of us to our vocations to work unto HIM. To BELIEVE that He needs our skills to accomplish His mission on earth would be to lower our understanding of an all-encompassing and all-powerful God. The psalmist tells us that His pleasure is NOT in our strength and ability,
***BUT His pleasure is in the attitude of the heart.
**It is what we find in the heart that helps determine whether ability is translated into availability.
You see God is looking to and fro throughout the earth for a man or woman who is fully committed to Him.
**A man or woman who is committed to fearing the Lord and placing his hope in His unfailing love is the person God seeks to support.
“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him” (2 Chron. 16:9a).
***When OUR agenda becomes HIS agenda, we can expect God to fully support all that we do.
***God does not regard our personal ability as what pleases him, but rather our willingness to humble ourselves to Him, since GOD gives ALL good gifts.

If we want to see our skills and abilities multiplied a hundredfold, then we must make them completely available to His service. Where are the opportunities in which God is calling you to be available to Him?
* Am I doing my Gifting for God under God’s Power, or am I doing it for myself for my own power????

Next time someone asks you to be involved in some activity, before you say yea or nay, make sure you check in with the Master of our decisions to ensure that your gifts and talents are being used, as He desires
Thank You God for entrusting this blessing to me. I know it is a gift from You.
Ask yourself again:”How can I use this gifting I have been blessed with as an opportunity to bless someone else?
The blessing will be more rewarding if it’s not ALL about me.
We are called to rise above. Be set apart. Be different. Be pure in every way. “Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure” (1 John 3:3).

Right in the midst of what we’re doing today, how can we graciously and purely represent Christ as we RE-present Him everywhere we go?

All through the scripture we see who God is and what He does for His people. We have every reason to praise God because of His love for us. We see in this scripture(147:1-20) who God is and what He does. We were created to praise Him but this scripture explains why. God is awesome and worthy of our praise.
*God never forgets us, no matter how small we may feel. Just as He remembers each individual star in the sky, so He remembers each one of us & hears our individual cries.

Dear Lord, thank You for every good and perfect gift You have given me. Help me to put others before me and to have a heart to see them as You do.
Lord help me through Your Holy Spirit speak Truth, Peace and Blessings over ALL and give YOU aLL the PRAISE and GLORY. Thank You Jesus how You are moving in so many different areas and different people, bringing UNITY First and then by using each others giftings to Serve Others! Thank You Jesus and continue your Perfect Harvest!! Lord I lift up all Pastors to You this day that they all see the needed Unity in the Body, which is lifting the “Name of Jesus” You Lord- to move Forward and Lord I lift up Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota-we speak Love, Peace, Freedom and Blessings over them ALL In Jesus’ Name, Amen.