Devotions - Prayer

We as believers are the chosen people of the Lord. We are blessed to call Him our Father. We get to see the beauty of our God and we look forward to spending eternity praising His name.

“But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions.” – Genesis 15:14

Whenever God brings you through a time of great adversity, you can expect to come out of that experience with great possessions, if you have been faithful through the trial.
* This is a universal truth.
* Wisdom comes from obedience, not knowledge.
*When we have been tested and proven, the reality of our faith results in possessions from God that we would never receive if we had not gone through those trials.

*These are precious in His sight and should be valued greatly.
* Those who know you will be amazed at the wisdom that comes from your mouth.
*It is one of those mysteries of the gospel that only those who experience incredible testing and hardship can explain.

Psalms 28:7 The lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

God kept the people of Israel enslaved 400 years, but when the time came to free them from the bondage of slavery, they came out with great possessions.

*These physical possessions symbolize the spiritual possessions we receive when we come out of being enslaved to those things that have hindered us all our lives.
*These possessions are to be shared with others so that they also can know how they might become FREE.

What has God freed you from that allows you to share your possessions with others?
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign lord is on me, because the lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

Share what God has done in your life with someone you know today. It may be the possession they need most in their life.

1 John 5:11 – And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Celebrate The Cross. Celebrate the resurrection. Celebrate the Lord’s kingdom, for it has been given to each one of us individually to live in the strength and power of it.

Phil. 3:10 – I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

The Lord has accomplished His work in the earth and now it is ours to take up; ours to receive; ours to live by; ours to prosper by; ours to be healed by; ours to have victory over all the works of the enemy by.
Through the power of JESUS blood and the power of resurrection WE are indeed a chosen generation, a holy priesthood.
Come as we are willing to live in resurrection power. So come with faith and thanksgiving in your heart, and live in the glory of the Lord’s covenant for it is one of victory.
Lord, I will trust in Your promises that you will fill me with all good things if I hold tightly to You. I pray for Your wisdom & for focus in following You. Thank You for Your promises Lord; I know You love me!
Psalms 18:1 – I love you, lord, my strength.
Come Lord Jesus Come!
Amen

To trust God in the face of dire difficulties requires a venturing
faith—committing all things into his caring hands. There comes a time we must launch out into the deep and cast every care upon him. This venturing faith is all-pleasing to him.

Truth About Fear
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

Have you ever noticed that some TV commercials mix just enough truth with their product to make it believable? While that’s called false advertising, the product still comes off convincing. It’s not until we purchase the product, and it fails, that the deceit is exposed.

In the same way, Satan specializes in false advertising. He’s good at making our fears look real when they are not.

Does that mean all fears are untrue? No. The fear of standing near a high cliff protects us from getting too close to the edge and falling over.
On the other hand, Satan’s falsehoods are full of trickery.
They are usually disabling and keep us from progress. Satan’s of false advertisement can choke our faith and fuel our fears.

Have you ever wondered where our struggle between faith and fear began?

The Garden is the first place where the serpent deceived Eve by twisting God’s word.
The Lord told Adam “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17).
If he or Eve ate from that tree, they would die spiritually. Not only did Eve eat the forbidden fruit, but she offered it to Adam and he ate too.

As soon as Adam disobeyed God, their relationship changed. Adam was not only afraid, but he doubted God’s authority, friendship, and provision.

Satan’s lies convinced Adam that he didn’t need God. In fact, Adam was persuaded that he could be his own god, self-sufficient in every way.

I have believed Satan’s lies, and at times, I have lived independent of God’s presence. I acted as if everything depended on ME and wouldn’t dare admit that I was in over my head. I wanted to look like I was in control.

BUT God never meant for us to be in control, strong in and of ourselves.
* We were meant to show His strength in our weakness as He provides for our needs. We were created to live like little children, dependent on the care of our heavenly Father.

When we insist on living life our way, in our own strength, we experience the same result as Adam and Eve. We will live in fear. This is right where Satan wants us.

If the enemy can keep us contained by fear, we won’t be able to fulfill our potential or make a difference in the lives of others. Satan knows what we are capable of with Christ. To prevent us from that realization, he poisons us with FEAR —
* FEAR of trusting God,
* FEAR of surrendering ourselves completely to His plans.

Fear that is fueled by Satan’s lies can be described by this acrostic:

F alse
E vidence
A ppearing
R eal

It’s not that we shouldn’t be concerned about certain issues of life such as safety and health.
** But when worrying takes over by keeping us up at night and shutting us down during the day, we move into a place we were never meant to live.

We need to LIVE in God’s presence and RELY on His promises and provision. **Only then will we be able to distinguish between truth and lies. Only then will our lives be marked by faith, not fear.

“DO WITH ME AS YOU PLEASE”

Martin Luther, at the height of all his trials, testified, “Lord, now that
you have forgiven me all, do with me as you please.” Luther was convinced
that a God who could wipe away all his sins and save his soul could certainly
care for his physical body and material needs.

In essence, Luther was saying, “Why should I fear what man can do to me? I
serve a God who can cleanse me of my iniquity and bring peace to my soul. It
doesn’t matter if everything around me collapses. If my God is able to save
me and keep my soul for eternity, why wouldn’t he be able to care for my
physical body while I’m on this earth?”

“Oh, Lord, now that I’m pardoned, forgiven and able to stand before you on Judgment Day with exceeding great joy—do with me as you please.”

Brother, sister—rejoice! This present life is not reality. Our reality is eternal life in the presence of our blessed Lord.

God’s Love is an other-centered Love. It allows us to put the other person’s interests before our own.
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.. “Romans 12:10

So keep the faith! Things are winding down—but we are going up!
Psalms 139:
1 O Lord, you examine me and know.
7 Where can I go to escape your spirit?
Where can I flee to escape your presence?
13 Certainly you made my mind and heart; you wove me together in my mother’s womb.
16 Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb. All the days ordained for me
were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence.
CAN WE PRAY WITH ABSOLUTE TRUST?
23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Dear Lord, help me to discern between false fears and real concerns. As I commit Your Word to memory, make Your truth alive in my heart so that I can battle fear and live by faith. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

“Jesus is risen from the dead.”. Matthew 28:7
Happy Easter. HE has RISEN!

1 Peter 1: 2 God the Father has his eye on each of you, and has determined by the work of the Spirit to keep you obedient through the sacrifice of Jesus. May everything good from God be yours! 3 What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, 4 including a future in heaven-and the future starts now!

Yes, He can and will conquer my death. I don’t have to wait for eternal life to experience my own resurrection of the heart. And neither do you.

It’s as if Christ is telling us, I faced everything you’re going to face
in the closing days of time. I had the same foreboding feelings, because I saw
the coming storm. But I ran into the presence of my Father, and he lifted all
my concerns. He showed me the outcome to it all. And in his presence I found all the joy, hope and rest I would ever need—to the very end. I have peace and joy because I’ve been with him.

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
God is never late and His solution is always perfect!Being humble before God is realizing our need of Him, submitting to His will, pursuing Him, and being confident the outcome will occur in God’s perfect timing. Be encouraged that approaching God with a heart of humility will always position you to find relief in Jesus.

“God called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began” (2 Timothy 1:9).
God has a plan for us based on what He wants to accomplish, not based on what we have done. No matter how insignificant you think you are or what you have done in the past, God will use you powerfully if you are willing to lay aside everything in your life and submit to Him.
Holy Spirit will empower you to do His work.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship(masterpiece), having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.
1.Christ sets me free from my past sin-guilt.
Whats the secret of worry free living.
2.Christ sets me free from living without purpose today.
3. Christ sets me free from having to earn my way into heaven.

A good conscience is not dependent upon what we do or don’t do, but upon what Jesus DID for us on the CROSS.

God was at work through the cross of Christ, demonstrating His love to a sinful world, acting to save sinners like you and me!
Matthew 28:19 Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 20 Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
“Jesus is risen from the dead”
When we’re filled with God’s Love
and Wisdom, we’ll no longer feel
like “doormats”…but rather like
“powerhouses!”
“…let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might.”. Judges 5:31
Amen

Lord help me be able to open up my heart to you fully. help me follow you and not temptation.

“This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.” – 1 John 2:5b-6

We must walk as Jesus walked. We are liars who deceive ourselves if we say we know Jesus, yet don’t follow the Lord’s teachings.

When Christ came to earth, He came to bring to mankind the gospel of the Kingdom.
Over the centuries, the Church has tended to emphasize only a portion of the gospel. That portion is the gospel of salvation.
However, Jesus came that we might have more than just salvation.
*Jesus came to give us a whole new life that was accompanied by signs, wonders, and His Spirit living in us and revealing Himself to us daily.
*Jesus came so that we might walk on this earth as He did.
If our lives are not reflecting the same things as Jesus’ did, we must ask why?

Three stages why people COME to Jesus!
1. Many of us come to Christ out of a need for salvation.
Our hearts have been touched by His call on our lives.
We reason and analyze the claims of Christ and make a decision for Him.
It is the convenient time to accept Him in our lives. This first stage is often characterized by a “Bless me, Lord” attitude toward God. It is the first stage that primarily brings salvation into our lives. Some never really go past this first stage.

2. Is the crisis stage.
A crisis takes place in our lives, and we are motivated to seek Christ with a whole heart. However, this motivation is not out of pure love for Christ; rather, it is motivated by the desire to get out of the pain of living.(Example addictions)
The motivation is to solve “the what” versus “the WHY” in my life at the time. This stage is best characterized as “Help me, Lord.”

3. We begin to experience the gospel of the Kingdom.
*It is the place where Jesus resided in His walk with His heavenly Father.
* It is the place of conviction.
The number of people who live at this level are quite few, but these people are experiencing the reality of a walk with God that is foreign to all others. *They are seeing daily occurrences of His involvement in their lives.
* They are motivated by a deep love for Him.
*They know Him.
These people have an attitude characterized by these thoughts, “Have me, Lord; though He slay me, still will I trust Him.”

Do you want to have an intimate relationship with God? Live the kind of life Jesus lived.
Is this possible? Yes!!!!!
Don’t forget that you have the Holy Spirit at work within you to guide you toward Christ likeness.
God wants us to know Him intimately, to know Him in the right way.
Submit your will to the Will of God and the Work of the Holy Spirit and you will discover that keeping God’s commands, living like Christ, and knowing God in the right way really are possible.

Where are we today? Have we merely accepted His salvation to simply float along? Or do we seek Him with a whole heart only when a crisis occurs?
GOD’S desire is for you and me to live a life of conviction, motivated by our love for Him and His love for us.
This is where we will experience the gospel of the Kingdom.

In this season the Lord will bring your inheritance to light within your spirit. For the kingdom of God is yours.
The kingdom of God that has been preached is yours.
The kingdom promises that have been set forth in God’s word are yours to receive and yours to possess.
So rise up this day out of your weakness, out of your fear, out of your lack of faith, and say, what God has given to me I will CHOOSE this day to make mine by believing in His righteousness, in His goodness and in the power of His word.

Seductions of the world abound. But you, God’s chosen, must keep yourself from entertaining the temptations of the evil one. God has given you the power and authority to rise above and have victory over all the devices of the devil. Exercise your authority and be strong. Know that the Lord will strengthen you in times of weakness.

1 Peter 1:13-16 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Our most basic need to love and be
loved can only be fulfilled by God. A loving spouse is like a fine setting
for a ring, but the precious stone
in that ring must always be the Lord.

“…the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and
upon finding one pearl of great value,
he went and sold all that he had, and
bought it.” Matthew 13:45-46
God is full of mercy and grace and I am the object of His affection! I am the treasure in the field and the pearl written about in Matt 13; God gave His all (Jesus) to purchase me! Christ’s sacrifice is final, once and for all… no more sacrifice is needed. I have been purchased by the blood Christ shed for me on the CROSS. Jesus’ entire purpose for me and the world was to sacrifice Himself that WE may be saved.

Thank you God for the sacrifice and provision you have given and continue to give!
Thank you God for sending Your Son to set us FREE! Help us make our FREE Willed right choice to walk with YOU!!!
Amen

Isn’t This Joseph’s Son?

“All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. ‘Isn’t this Joseph’s son?’ they asked” (Luke 4:22).

Many gracious words Jesus spoke while here. The words spoken in John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that who so ever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
These words are the most gracious and precious words spoken to all mankind.  No one has to be excluded from entering into his favour and glory except by choice.
Choose ye this day whom ye shall serve, as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.

Jesus was more qualified to be a carpenter than the Son of God in the view of religious leaders and the common people of his day.
Jesus was also becoming known as a rabbi who thought and did things “outside the box.”
Jesus was an unusual mixture of the earthly common man who did daily work just like his other villagers in Nazareth. So, when the public ministry side of his life began to surface, the first observations were, “Isn’t this Joseph, the carpenter’s son?”

This is not unlike what happens when God calls you or I into a more public ministry. “Isn’t that Dave, the CPA, or Rod the restaurant manager, or Laura the bank executive?” The first question among our critics is “Where did Dave, Rod, or Laura get religion?”

The religious spirit reveals itself in many ways.
*The religious spirit can best be defined as an agent of Satan assigned to prevent change and maintain the status quo by using religious devices.
* The religious spirit seeks to distort a genuine move of God through deception, control and manipulation.
*The religious spirit  was the primary force against Jesus designed to intimidate and turn His relationship with God into a set of rules and regulations.

Satan does not want Jesus in the workplace because that is where the authority lies to change a workplace, city or nation.
God desires you to bring His presence with you into your workplace every day. Do not let the enemy of your soul shame you into alienating your faith from your work.

Today, ask Jesus to go into the workplace with you. The two of you just might be the team to bring someone out of slavery and bondage.

The Bible tells us that while we were yet sinners Christ came and paid our penalty so that we might live eternally. Many in the workplace have never known the love of Christ. We might be the only one they ever meet who can introduce them to this love. Ask God to show you how to love the unlovable in your workplace today.

“When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: ‘Why does he(Jesus) eat with tax collectors and sinners?'”Mark 2:16

I can imagine a disciple or two trying to warn Jesus about the dangers of hanging out with “sinners.” Perhaps they thought Him naive, or simply unwise. “What will people think?” some might have said. “Will others trust what we have to say after they see us having dinner with them?”

But Jesus didn’t worry about what others thought. He didn’t worry about His reputation being sullied by His choice of friends. Instead, He went out of His way to show acceptance and love to those who needed Him.

*Let’s remember, we are here for His reputation, to make Him famous. It’s not about us.
Our plumb line for determining success can be only one thing: obedience— obedience to the direction of the Holy Spirit.
Are you listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit? Has God prompted you to speak, go, or come alongside another? Ask God today to help you hear the Holy Spirit’s voice so that you might be used mightily.
Walk in the way God’s voice guides you.
God delights in every aspect of our lives. We are to represent God to the masses.
Invite others to a rich and satisfying life with christ.

*SO Let’s hang with some riff raff today, for Jesus sake.

“For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.” – Hebrews 4:2

Every challenge of man has it’s root in the spirit realm. It is from the INSIDE out not from the outside in. The things that are seen are temporal. When trying to solve a permanent problem with a temporal solution, will end up in frustration.

Two things about this verse(Mark2:16) that stand out as learning opportunities.
1. Those of use who are saved are the healthy ones Jesus is speaking about. Yet, we run around acting as if we need to be repaired, mended and administered to all the time.
* It’s time we stop acting like the sick, and start ministering to those who really are.
I encourage you – no matter what has happened in your life – whatever has you down or discouraged – God has already healed you.
Act like it! Get up and go to the sick (the unsaved) and tell them about Jesus, the Healer.
2. We are also the sinners Jesus is speaking of. He isn’t interested in how righteous we think we are.
We may be saved, but Jesus wants us to witness to others so they too may experience eternal life with Him in Heaven.

Mark 2:17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
What a powerful moment! While he is being chewed out and questioned, Jesus is able to express his purpose for ministry in such a simple manner. **Rather than defending himself, he turned it back onto those who “had it all together.”
*Jesus makes a phenomenal point, of he doesn’t need to be there to ‘teach those that knew it all’, rather wanting to reach out to those who were in genuine need and who would genuinely connect with him.
* Jesus was a substantial individual and he didn’t ever want to settle for second best.

God’s Love expressed through us is the only thing that will bring our spouses, children, relatives and friends to Christ.
“…may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men…”   Colossians 3:12

Lord, help me to adopt your principles, your attitude towards helping others. I find myself trapped, with not enough opportunities to reach out sometimes. If you have a path you would like me to explore, lead me on that path. I thank you, yet again, for the powerful examples provided for our well-being in the Bible. You give me so much hope,
through the smallest things.
Lord, thank You for loving me today and every day. I am grateful that You are bigger than all of my problems. Give me the courage and the wisdom to seek You today, regardless of my circumstances. I want to be found by You Lord. And give me a heart to be able to see and help others near me in need. In Jesus’ Name,
Isaiah 30:21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Lord at times our life just seems to be going in circles and we  feel like we have lost our way. Lord help us to reboot our life and begin listening to Your voice again through Your word! Thank you for getting us back on course again, day after day.
Amen

Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice for my sins!! I praise you this Good Friday!

When I speak of total trust in Christ, I mean not only in his saving power but
also in his keeping power. We have to trust his Spirit to keep us and conform
us to Jesus’ likeness.

1 Peter 1: 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Nobody has ever been able to make or keep himself holy. We are
brought into Christ’s holiness daily by faith alone, as we trust in what
God’s Word says: “If you are in Christ, you are holy as he is holy.”

*** Are we willing to commit ALL into his
hands—rest in his Word—and stand without wavering in the love of God, fully convinced his promises to you will be fulfilled?

There’s an internal war that rages within each of us. Paul described this so well in Romans 7. Though we desire to do the right thing, we don’t have the power to do so in our own efforts and we mess up.
*The GOOD news is that we don’t have to rely on our own strength to make right decisions.
*We don’t have to be dominated by our sinful nature and end up doing the things we don’t want to do.
**But the only way we can live this kind of life is by yielding to the Holy Spirit and relying on the strength of Jesus Christ, not our own.

“Prepare your minds for action.” What an amazing thought. I think we spend too much time thinking, learning, and knowing; instead of putting all that to ACTION. What kind of action is God calling your mind to?

Ponder Matthew chapter 28 this day!
How horrific it had to be, for Mary Magdalene and Mary, to see Jesus gone from the tomb.
*The horror of waking up to the news of Him being taken.
* The Judgment that all knew was wrong.
*The punishment that went beyond the normal.
**** Then to be crucified.
* Crucifixion was for the worst criminals and they crucified Christ.
*To know He was treated this way because He taught something different.
Yes it was the TRUTH Jesus taught, but it went against the “Old Ways”.
Now Mary Magdalen and the other Mary are numb leaning on each other for support and strength. The thought of being permanently separated from the Person who gave their life meaning.

Can you imagine what it would be like? The confusion they must have had. To know what kind of miracles He could perform and yet He did nothing to stop the proceedings.
I just cannot imagine the pain and the feeling of being scared they must have gone through.

I pray Lord Jesus that I never have to experience a day without You in my life. I pray that You will always be with me and lead me as well as carry me through the tough times. I love You and never want to be away from You. Please teach me and show me the way to always be with You. Lord help us all be more like you daily and continue to keep our eyes on You BY Following Your example below:
A.  Jesus SAW people.
“Open your eyes and take a good look at what’s right in front of you. I’m telling you, the fields are ripe. It’s harvest time.” John 4:35
B.  Jesus had COMPASSION.
“Love from the center of who you are. Don’t fake it.” Romans 12:9
C.  Jesus met their NEEDS.
“Let’s stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions.” 1 John 3:18
Together as “the Body” we CAN!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!”2 Corinthians 5:17

Thank you God for loving the world so much you gave your only son that WHO ever believes in Him WILL have Eternal life.   May the World see and experience your Love without measure this Holy weekend and come to Believe!
Lord I pray that all the messages preached this weekend be so filled with your Spirit of Love that the lost will say “I want that Love that only Jesus can give, I want Jesus to control my life, I surrender ALL to Jesus, I will put my trust and Faith in Jesus from this day forward”!!!
Lord Bless and watch over ALL the men and women that are serving our country away from their loved ones this holiday. Give them and their families continual Peace knowing YOU are in control Lord. Let each of them experience the PEACE that only Comes from Loving and Trusting You Lord.
Stay close to the Shepherd(Jesus) today. Listen and follow. He wants to lead you.
Hebrews 12:2 keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that YOU may not grow weary in your souls and give up.      Thank You Jesus!!!
In Jesus Name Amen
May you and your loved ones continue to  enjoy a blessed Holy Week and have an awesome Easter celebration!

Do not fear or think of yourself as unworthy—of course you are! We all are. Only God is truly Worthy.

Isaiah :60: 1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the lord rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, But the lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.

Arise, arm yourself, there is a battle for our souls, we must not forget this. The battle is fought in both realms, of Spirit and Matter. Often, they both collide (they coexist), leaving casualties on both sides.
But we can prepare ourselves, we can arm ourselves.
SHINE! That is our weapon, the Light of the world. We were created in and with the Light, already we are more powerful than darkness, that is, if we shine.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:5
*It is all God’s divine initiative! All along God had a plan and a timetable. He has been preparing US (the Body) for such a time as this.
Even as the world is slowly decaying the Body is slowly but surely maturing. It’s time to take part and flow with the Spirit.

Do not fear or think of yourself as unworthy—of course you are! We all are. Only God is truly Worthy.
***It is for His glory that we are being prepared. He made no mistake in choosing YOU, just as He made no mistake in dying for your sins.

* God chose to put His Spirit within you. Personal unworthiness is not a valid excuse.
* Your destiny is God’s decision. Beware lest your sense of unworthiness become a smoke screen for unbelief!

Eph. 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork,(masterpiece) created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The darkness, chaos, or emptiness that may still exist in your life is not any more of a deterrent to the Almighty than the terrible, pre-creation void that awaited Him in the beginning.
Certainly, your individual beginning from darkness to light shall NOT be too difficult for God!

Even now, the Holy Spirit is descending, hovering, and brooding over you. To your “new creation self” the voice of the Lord commands,
“Arise! Shine! Shake yourself from the depression in which circumstances have kept you! You are standing at the threshold of God’s glory!”
Eph. 2:4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Let the light of Christ shine.

*‘Arise, shine; for your Light has come… the Lord will be your everlasting Light’ (Isaiah 60:1, 19-20).
* Jesus Christ is ‘the Light of the world’. When we ‘follow Him’, we ‘will not walk in darkness’. We ‘will have the light of life’ (John 8:12).
*We are living in difficult times. We are surrounded by much darkness. We must NOT be discouraged – ‘the lamp of God has not yet gone out’ (1 Samuel 3:3). *When the darkness threatens to overcome the Light, we MUST take encouragement from God’s Word – ‘The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it’ (John 1:5).
*When the darkness seems to be everywhere, put your trust in the Lord – The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?’- and let ‘His Word’ be ‘a lamp to your feet and a light to your path’ (Psalms 27:1; 119:105).

**Let the words of Scripture lead to thoughts of the Saviour.
* Read the words – ‘His Name’ shall ‘endure for ever’ (Psalm 72:17) – and think of Christ.
*His Name is ‘the Name above all other names’. He is ‘the King of kings and Lord of lords’ (Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 19:16).

“Arise,shine; for thy light is come…”
LIGHT is all it takes to intimidate and eliminate darkness! “..thy light is come” means we’ve ALL been given EACH our unique ability to overcome darkness; and “..shine” means to reflect His illumination,showcase His blessings, demonstrate His power etc. Every ‘SHINING’ begins with ‘RISING’!
In these days of uncertainty,chaos and crisis,God is challenging us His children to take our STAND and SHINE!
Jesus Christ is ‘the Light of the world’. When we ‘follow Him’, we ‘will not walk in darkness’. We ‘will have the light of life’(John 8:12).

Darkness must flee when light is present, God is everywhere present and no where absent. Therefore light is everywhere present except man’s heart:
Mans heart is a dark, cold and lonely place; A place that God’s presence does not access or inhibit UNLESS  the door is opened and He is invited in(your Choice), then light and life inhibits the once dark heart of man and he becomes ALIVE.
Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Jesus is the light of life and the world. Have you opened your hearts door and allowed him to be the light of your life.
*We say: COME LORD JESUS. COME, bring more light daily —only you are Worthy!
God chose to put His Spirit within you. Personal unworthiness is not a valid excuse.
* Your destiny is God’s decision. Beware lest your sense of unworthiness become a smoke screen for unbelief!

We say: Blow wind of God blow.  Blow upon that small coal within our heart  and bring the fire alive.  Once again set (us) your people ablaze to a fire of fullness with your glory.  In the mighty name of Jesus let it all happen.
Colossians 1:15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him ALL things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
“What we believe defines us and determines how we approach everyday life”
Rev. 4:11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
*‘Arise, shine; for your Light has come… the Lord will be your everlasting Light’ (Isaiah 60:1, 19-20).
YOU HAVE MUCH WORTH TO YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER. God chose to put His Spirit within YOU.  You are His Masterpiece!!
Amen

Matthew 5:13 “YOU are the salt of the earth.
Acts 1:8 But YOU will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses …..
2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore WE are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us.
*The commission that Christ has given to us-to serve as those who remind the world of their TRUE HOME.
That from our lives rises the aromas of HOME.
*The way we act/ react.
* What we chose to speak.
* Our language/ our appetite for spiritual food the object of our affection. All of these are the functions of an ambassador. To be a strong, tall reminder of our Heavenly Home for Eternity!

Today, let not any bad news cast down your soul. Look up—keep your entire
focus on Jesus. He is coming soon.

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is
faithful that promised” (Hebrews 10:23).

We ALL as believers/leaders in this sinful world need to have the Faith to go out and share the gospel and share our Heavenly Father’s Love to all that the Lord puts in our paths daily.

A Leaders gifting is to help take people where they need to go, maybe even where they want to go, and sometimes, where they are hesitant, afraid, or may not yet be prepared to go. People don’t need a leader to stay where they are currently.

Our life should be a testimony of the power, creativity, and servant-hood of Jesus that it impacts your spouse, kids employer, friends to the degree that they say the same thing Pharaoh said about Joseph:

“Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the Spirit of God?”  Gen. 41:38

This is the great need of this age.. To be able to find men and women who are FOLLOWERS of the Most High God, the revealer of mysteries. And that have some of the qualities that Joseph had.
The qualities that Pharaoh saw in Joseph were:
1. Spirit…Joseph had a clear sense of the Spirit of God over him and it was evident to all as Pharaoh demonstrates to the whole of his court. “Where else can we find such a man in whom is the Divine Spirit?” So he clearly stood out and had a different spirit to the people around him, even the best educated advisors.

2. Discernment…he was able to not only see what was happening but to understand the meaning behind what was happening…this is what discernment does…it see the hidden things and can interpret them. Thus discernment of spirits is a gift to see what is behind the outward actions of someone or some group…to understand the hidden motivations.

3. Wisdom…in a practical sense wisdom allows the leader to apply their insight and understanding into a plan that is achievable and able to be implemented.

4. Leadership…Joseph had the ability to govern and to implement and facilitate the Vision of the King. He clearly had the capacity to plan and manage the plan.

When God accomplishes this in your life He gives you authority in your place of influence.
*You will begin to see others drawn to you.

* We seldom get to rest for long -In my experience, People are always changing, new challenges come often, and people frequently feel stretched.

Hebrews 11:40 God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours.

* Big visions require faith –
Galations 3:26 By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God.
God doesn’t call us to that which is easy.
God would receive no glory in us doing things we can naturally do…and seriously…What kind of a dream is it if it’s easily completed?

* Victory won’t come unless we “Move Forward” – You can’t realize the rewards of a God-given vision until you take the required actions.
*** Standing still is safer, but it doesn’t bring the satisfaction of a well-executed, bold move of faith.

1JN 4:4 My dear children, you come from God and belong to God. You have already won a big victory over those false teachers, for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world.

God has uniquely gifted YOU and ME to bring His presence and power in the area of your calling-using His gifts He has given you.  Once you begin to realize this, God will use you just as He did Joseph with his employer, Pharaoh.
We should not be seeking to remove ourselves from the Hard Licks of life, but use those times to REVEAL the power and grace of God through our lives to others. We are Servants of God! Let Him use you for His bigger purpose.
—Anne Graham Lotz said: Growing an unshakeable trust in God as you face your tomorrow is NOT about self-improvement or mastering your circumstances, BUT about God—Who He is, What He does, and How we can trust Him.

*We must pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.

Mark 11:22  “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.

“Have faith in God.”  Does my lack of faith hinder the work of God in my life?  After reading about the demon-possessed boy and how Jesus healed him in spite of his father’s lack of faith, I’m hopeful that Jesus is patient with ME.  Today I will pray in faith, believing and expecting God to work according to His perfect will in my life as well as in your life!
Lord, help us ALL to believe when we come to you in prayer.  Please grow our faith remove our doubt.  Show us how big and awesome you are today God!
In Jesus Name AMEN!

Healthy Relationships need TRUTH!

Our life should be a testimony of the power, creativity, and servant-hood of Jesus that it impacts our spouse, kids employer, friends to the degree that they say the same thing Pharaoh said about Joseph:
“Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the Spirit of God?”  Gen. 41:38

God’s Love has two distinct sides to it. One is a long-suffering, merciful love, and other a firm and disciplinary love.
“For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines…”Hebrews 12:6

Eph. 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

In ANY relationship, there comes a time where it’s necessary to say things that are difficult to keep the relationship strong and make it better. This is also true in any  healthy team environment(Marriage, Kids, Work, Volunteering) .

To be healthy often involves having a hard and challenging conversation with someone knowing they need correction in an area that is affecting them and others. (Speaking Truth)
These are always discussions we would rather not have but we know are necessary for the continued health of the relationship with the individual.(Truth in Love-Tough Love)

The Bounding of any Team:
*Let us live up to what the Lord has called us to.
a) with Humility not with pride
b) with gentleness: Balance to know when to do the right things when it is needed.
c) with Patience: bearing with one another.
d) with Love: Agape
One body, one Lord, one Hope, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of All.
Are we preserving the unity of the Spirit in the bound of Peace?

Over the years, I’m sure we all have had many of these issues that required “tough love” to address them.  But dealing with issues  like this have included us having to say things such as:
*You’re too controlling …
*You need to take some charge
*Be a leader not a complainer
*You can be perceived as a jerk to people…
*Your personal life is dragging down the team…
*Your lack of respect for authority is dragging down the team and the leader
*You have body odor…
*You’re making unwise decisions…
*You are non-responsive…
*You don’t know how to take constructive criticism…
*You are moving too fast…
*You are moving too slow…
*You are uncooperative…
*You need to be a Team player.

***It’s NOT about YOU, it’s about Jesus.

There have been times when someone needed to have similar “tough love” conversations with ME, and those discussions always made ME better, as difficult as they were to receive at the time.

Some principles for dealing with those times:
–Pray and allow time for the Holy Spirit
to Lead:
1. Handle as quickly as possible – If the problem is clear in your mind (and usually everyone else’s mind), and you’ve witnessed the problem long enough to know it’s a pattern, don’t delay long in addressing the issue.

2. Be honest and truthful- This is not the time to shift blame, make excuses, or dance around the issue.
* Let us put off the Old man and put On the New man in Christ.
a) take the old nature off and lay it on the side
b) Start being renewed in the attitude of our mind and living as Christ has Called us to in Righteousness and Holiness .
c) Start telling the truth
d) Deal with your anger: don’t give the devil a foothold
d) Stop with the stealing(others ideas)
e) Watch your language (tongue)
f) Stop the personal attacks (speak Blessings and Peace verses Curses)
g) Let the Spirit of God work in you to make HIS fruits evident in your life.

3. Be kind and helpful – Your end goal should be to make the member and the team BETTER after the conversation.

4. Have a two-way conversation – You should be willing to LISTEN as much as you speak.
*You may not have all the facts exactly right…or you may have…but give the person a chance to respond to the criticism you are addressing.
* This also means you should have a two-way conversation and not a multiple party conversation.
*You should address the issue with the person you have a problem with, not with others behind his or her back.

5. “Move forward” after the conversation – The person being corrected should leave with your assurance that YOU ARE “Moving Forward”, and provided improvements are made.
*Do not plan to hold the issue against him or her. It will be important he or she sees you responding likewise.

Victory won’t come unless we move forward – You can’t realize the rewards of a God-given vision until YOU take the required actions.
*** Standing still is safer, but it doesn’t bring the satisfaction of a well executed, bold move of faith.

6. Scripture.
Eph. 6:13 Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. 14 Truth, righteousness, 15 peace, 16 faith, 17 and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon.

7. Know when enough is enough – You shouldn’t have to have these type conversations too frequently.
*Talk becomes cheap if there’s no backing to what’s agreed upon.
* If there seems to be no improvement over time, harder decisions or more intensive help may be needed.

If you have done the other steps here, there is a time when tough love says “that’s enough…NO MORE.”

As a Believer/Leader-All our flowery words about Jesus are not enough.
Our ACTIONS must match our words in order for it to become truth.

To experience the “fullness of God”
is to have His supernatural Love,
Wisdom and Power flowing into and out of our lives.
“But I have received everything in full, and have an abundance…”
Philippians 4:18

One of the most difficult times for me is addressing issues like above.
*We are created to serve.
*Ask God to help you deal with an area of struggle in your life.
*Let’s be a balanced Body, more than conquerors, for the glory of God. Let’s not give the devil a foothold to slow us down.
Zechariah 8:16 These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; 17 do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the lord.

Those who trust in the Lord will
walk in the light of His Love.
“They looked unto Him and were radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.”Psalm 34:5

Tell the truth!  Wouldn’t we all benefit from such an approach to life?  Peace!

Dear Lord help me this day to speak Blessings and Peace verses Curses over all my Circumstances in Life. Help me to see the BIG Picture (Your Purpose) in all I do. Even if I can’t see the Big Picture give me Your Supernatural Trust in YOU!  It’s ALL about YOU JESUS—YOUR GLORY! Amen

Be sure to share with God your plans for your life & the dreams you have.

Ultimately God will decide where those plans & dreams take you, and it will be far more powerful & meaningful than what our limited minds can conjure up. Lay the Dreams and Plans at the foot of the Cross–Listen-Obey God– He knows.

*Proverbs 20:24 The very steps we take come from God; otherwise how would we know where we’re going?

*Proverbs 20:27 God is in charge of human life, watching and examining us inside and out. 28 Love and truth form a good leader; sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.

” But the Master, God, has something to say to this: “Watch closely. I’m laying a foundation in Zion, a solid granite foundation, squared and true. And this is the meaning of the stone: a trusting life won’t topple”. Isaiah 28:16

The right effect of faith in Christ is, to quiet and calm the soul, till events shall be timed by Him, who has all times in his own hand and power.
* Whatever men trust to for  wisdom, strength, and holiness, except the influences of the Holy Spirit; or for happiness, except the favor of God; that protection in which they thought to shelter themselves, will prove NOT enough to answer the intention.
* Those who rest in a righteousness of their own, will have deceived themselves.

Whenever God calls us into a consecrated life, it is made up of four distinct stages. Christ often compared this process to building a house.

1.  We must prepare to build by laying a foundation. That foundation is none other than Jesus Christ Himself. Any foundation other than Christ will not stand.
1 Corinthians 3:11 Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. 12 Take particular care in picking out your building materials.

2. As we enter a walk of faith with God, He allows each of us to experience trials, testings, miracles, and challenges in life that are designed to provide “faith experiences” that demonstrate tangible evidences of His work in our life:
*Moses’ burning-bush experience, *Peter’s walk on the water,
* Joshua’s parting of the Jordan River. These experiences built the faith of these people.
The depth and width of our calling is directly proportional to the faith experiences He allows in each of our lives.

3.  Deals with motives. “All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord” (Prov. 16:2).

What is the motive behind my actions? Is it only financial accumulation? Is it to gain control? Is it to create independence?
*All, our ways may seem right, but God knows whats in our heart better than we do. It is our responsibility to tame our heart, to search it and keep it from causing us to sin
* The primary motive must be God’s leading you to take such an action – it must be obedience. These other factors must be by-products of the decision.
*Hebrews 5:8 Though he was God’s Son, he learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do.

4. We are prepared to take action. Here we must ask, “Do we have the skill, quality, and ability to enter into this activity?”
*So often we have not trained ourselves adequately to be successful in our endeavor.
You would never want someone working on your teeth who had not been trained and certified as a dentist.
Proverbs 22 :29 Observe people who are good at their work-skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don’t take a back seat to anyone.

Before you begin your next project, ask yourself these four questions.
1. What is the foundation this project is based on?
2.  What experiences has God demonstrated in my life that indicate His involvement?
3. What is my motive for entering this activity?
4 Do I have the skill, quality, and ability to accomplish the task?

Answering these questions will tell you whether God will bless your activity!

Proverbs 16:3 Put God in charge of your work, then what you’ve planned will take place. 4 God made everything with a place and purpose;
*The right decision is not what you choose but what GOD choose.
*He’ll bring you out of darkness into the marvelous life.

Make your plan, ask GOD to bless it,& don’t worry about the “haters” or doubters.

2 Tim. 2:15 Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. 16 Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they’re not backed by a godly life,
*The right decision is not what you choose but what GOD choose!

*Our relationship with God needs to be personal because there are so many things going around these days that just aren’t true.
* We need to get back to the place where we live in holiness. Not the outside but the inside! Your life will show and reflect your relationship with Christ. Who are we to pick and choose what we want to accept from Gods Word? We have to believe the Word inside and out. How else are we going to  lead others to Christ?
*The world needs to see there is something real out there. We cannot use Christ’s blood as a crutch to do what we want.
*Don’t be fooled if you hear that we don’t have to repent or try not to sin because it died with Christ. We have to bring the real Gospel to people, we have to know the Word. They won’t just see Him in us, but they will know we are so close to Him that they flock to you. If you are spending time with Jesus, people are going to know!

Lord help me see the dreams You have laid on my heart. Help me put these into action by Your training and word through a deeper Relationship with You.  Help me bring Glory to You for ALL I do in helping advance the gospel with ALL my brothers and sisters in Christ. Let All Your Giftings in the Body be used to lift the NAME of Jesus. Let us all speak Blessings and Peace over each and everyone as we search for our deeper intimate Relationship with YOU! Thank You Lord for the Body of Christ.
Amen

*An Eternal View of Circumstances
*Are your life circumstances advancing the gospel?

“Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.” – Philippians 1:12

Are your life circumstances advancing the gospel?
Can you SEE the Lord’s hand in your life in such a way that ALL of your life experiences, joys, sorrows, hardships, and training have resulted in advancing the gospel?

Paul was a tentmaker by trade. But he had an overall ministry objective in his business life.
That objective left him imprisoned and persecuted at times. But Paul saw these events not as roadblocks to his mission. Rather, they were catalysts to advancing the cause of Christ.
**Paul’s revelation of this kept him from despairing about his circumstances.

**Are your work and life experiences serving to advance the gospel?
**What experiences has God allowed in your life that are part of His plan to advance the gospel?
**Ask Him to help you see your life the way He sees it.
While prayer is our declaration of our dependence on God, our spoken words can be the manifestation of what’s happening in our hearts.
As you seek God in prayer ask Him for discernment to know a need and the words to help someone today. Pray that your words would be encouraging, edifying, and aligned with the truth of God’s Word. Building others up around us with our words allows us to be God’s instrument to accomplish His good work.  Always Speak Blessings and Peace over ALL people in place of big or small curses and watch the spiritual climate change in and around you!

Seeing our life the way God sees it will help us avoid discouragement in those times when life appears to be a mystery to us.

It is no wonder that God had to remind us in Deuteronomy 31:6 not to be afraid.
Fear, it seems, is a natural reaction when we face a challenge, whether it is being led through the desert into the Promised Land, or being rushed to the hospital for an emergency delivery.

But the ONLY antidote to fear is FAITH. And courage is not something we find within ourselves. It is the result of FAITH, and even that is a gift from God.

Be strong, God said, and courageous. We can do this because He has promised to never leave us or forsake us.
*He stands with us in battle
*He never leaves our side. Never.
So, come.  Cast off the restraints and unshackle yourselves.
*  March forward with hope and expectation.
*Come with boldness before the Lord’s throne,  and abide in His presence where all things become possible.  For these things have been given to you to know and to understand the fullness of the mysteries that have been concealed.
The Lord is waiting for you to discover these truths; to find these secrets; to uncover the treasures of darkness and the richness of this life in Christ Jesus!
Psalm 29:10-11
The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever. The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.
The psalmist says elsewhere that when we give the Lord our praises we
enthrone Him.  We acknowledge Him as a King and then He works as King
on our behalf.

To experience the “fullness of God”
is to have His supernatural Love,
Wisdom and Power flowing into
and out of our lives.
“But I have received everything in full, and have an abundance…”
Philippians 4:18

Show me the child of God who:
* struggles against a hated besetting sin,
*one who is crushed beneath a load of guilt and despair,
* one who feels helpless and
weak
—and I will show you the one who is the object of abundant grace.
Where sin abounds, grace abounds much more (see Romans 5:20).

**When you have repented, stand by faith on the finished work of the cross!
Through faith in him, your sins are under the blood. You now live on the other side of the veil, seated with Christ in heavenly places, accepted in the
beloved, one with Christ and the Father!
God’s wrath against your sin has been
satisfied. You are now more than a conqueror, living and moving in the Spirit.
You are filled with the fullness of Christ with power to meet everything having
to do with life and godliness. You are the apple of his eye, renewed in your
mind, and made an heir to all that belongs to Christ the Lord!

Monitor your thoughts, for this is the enemy’s play ground.  The devil will bombard you with the temptation to believe his lies, and if you entertain or believe the lies, he has greater access to your mind and emotions.  Always maintain truth to counteract these subtle attacks and refuse to allow him any access.  It is TRUTH that will set you free from darkness.

2 Corinthians 10:4-6  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Dear Lord, thank You that You stand beside me today as I face many different circumstances. Thank You that I am not alone. Would You take my fear and replace it with faith? You have said that You will never leave me nor forsake me. You have told me not to be afraid or discouraged. I believe that You will make me strong and courageous. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Self-Defense

TRUST, TAKE DELIGHT, COMMIT & BE STILL in the LORD!

“He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.” – Psalm 37:6

You may think that you are alone but God is there for you and HE is on your side. It doesn’t matter if there are family matter, job issues, or something more personal. STICK with God and everything will be alright.

As a believer grows in trusting obedience and love, God often brings a test that seems uncharacteristically cruel.
The test: being wrongfully judged by those close to you. It is not for the reactionary. It cannot be passed over by simply gutting it out.

***Supernatural grace is the only means of passing this one.

It is one of those tests the Savior had to experience Himself when being tried by the court of public opinion, the religious community, and the government of His day.
*Jesus response to the government was silence.
*Jesus response to the religious establishment was silence at the final judgment.
* To the rest of His accusers He remained quiet and left vindication to the Father. He lived the commandment He gave to the disciples:

“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked” (Luke 6:35).

How do you react when you are accused or mistreated for no reason?
Do you listen quietly, or do you justify each and every action?

Most of us take pride in doing what is right and expect the same from others, especially our brothers and sisters in the faith.
Jesus knew that if you were to be a true follower of His, you would enter this test eventually.
It is part of the program.
** The workplace gives ample opportunity to be wronged, misunderstood, and maligned.

* When God brings a measured assault against one of His children, it is to find out if he truly believes in the cross.
* The cross is where each of us is given the opportunity to die to our pride, our reputations, and our ego.
Hebrews 5: 8 Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.
* When He allows a measured assault upon us, it is to find out if the cross is sufficient.
*God wants to see if we will seek to rescue ourselves or Trust and Wait on HIM.

Jesus said if we die with Him, we will be raised with Him.

When God ALLows satan to bring the measured assault, ASK God for the grace(undeserved favor) to cling to the cross. Let the pride and arrogance that Jesus wants to remove from our lives be crucified.
Thank God for the opportunity to be crucified with Christ. Then your righteousness will shine like the noonday sun and the justice of your cause will be in His hands.
Phil. 3:10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death,

*God’s mercy doesn’t just forgive you but reaches deep into your weakness and need.
**You are never more like your Heavenly Father than when you are giving out mercy.

*God’s mercies are new everyday.
*The opposite of showing mercy is judgment.
*Mercy is not just feeling compassion but showing compassion.
*The disciple who lives by God’s mercy cannot withhold mercy from others.
*Jesus says that only the merciful can hope to receive mercy from His.
*Have you received God’s mercy? Will you be known as one who is merciful?

Your relationship with the Holy Spirit will either break or make your Christian Walk.
We need to learn how to apologize and make right those thing that we have done wrong and to correct our wrong doing with those we have offended.
* The greatest loss you can lose is your testimony.
There is no room or no place for a christian to act and behave like the world does.
You are different and set apart.
You should most importantly be able to Forgive those who hurt or offend you.
In forgiving, you will find peace for your soul. As a Christian, learn to love others…..even your enemies.

Read all of Psalms 37 this day!
Father, please help….show me how to trust, show me how to speak, show me how to lead….show me YOU!
AMEN

Understanding Our Own Calling

I love Jesus with all my Heart! I need Him every day!

To receive our true blessings in Heaven we need to make sure that we are doing what God has chosen us for and NOT what WE want to be. Position doesn’t matter to God!!

…”If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow Me.” – John 21:22

Jesus was talking to Peter after he had just had a very important encounter with Him-one of the last meetings the two would have.
*This was the third time Jesus had shown Himself to the disciples after His resurrection.
*It is the famous dialogue between Jesus and Peter in which Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him.
* Jesus followed by commanding, “Feed My sheep.”
*Jesus went on to foretell of Peter’s future death. As they were walking together, John was with Peter and Jesus.
Peter asked Jesus about John and whether he would die also.

**Jesus reacted sharply to Peter’s comment, telling him not to worry about what John’s role or purpose was in life.
* All Peter had to do was worry about fulfilling his own purpose.

As believers we tend to measure our success on whether we have achieved a certain position or stature in life.
Even as Christians the temptation to believe that someone is blessed if they have achieved prominence is always confronting us.
In His discussion with Peter, Jesus was getting at the very HEART of the matter of a person’s calling.
Peter WAS worried about whether his friend John was going to get the same lot in life as he was.

***Jesus told him it should not be his concern. He was to concern himself only with one thing: his OWN calling before God.

*Are you tempted to compare yourself with where others are in their life?
* Are you dissatisfied with where God has you right now?

*** Be of good cheer-“[be] confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6)

It’s easy to get caught up in what we’re going through. During times of intense hardship, suffering, or even intense joy and satisfaction it’s hard not to get rather self-absorbed and ignore what’s going on around us.
***That’s OK, because that’s LIFE and we’re human.

***Sometimes, like Peter(John 21:21-22), we want to know what’s going to happen to someone else, especially if we think that they are the “favored one” like Peter here with the Apostle John.

But the important part of the response of Jesus to Peter was “…BUT you follow me.”
While Peter’s destiny was made known to him, and John’s was still clouded in mystery, Christ commands Peter to simply, “Follow me.”

While others may support us in prayer, financially, emotionally, and physically, there is a path WE HAVE to Walk and a CROSS that we have to bear – ourselves. Jesus promises to be there with us, because we’re following Him.
Lord, help me to stay focused on following you and not getting caught up in everyone else’s business. May I always be an example of your love and grace to those around me!

**Show me your friends and I will show you your future, and your character.

Don’t stand side by side with those who cause trouble. Don’t follow man—-at some time in life—man will fail you.  They think the way they want to think. They are not going to get to go to heaven, and you do not want to follow them. ” YOU follow ME” Jesus said!

2 Corinthians 6:14
Paul tells them to stay away from sinners. How can light and dark stay together? God will walk with those in the light.   (1 Jn 1:5-7 also)

One is not blessed just because they avoid walking with the wicked or sitting among mockers, but rather they are blessed because they LOVE God’s law and desire to read and meditate and know His word.
When our TRUE desire and motive becomes knowing God and delighting in His ways then the way of the wicked will never be a real temptation or want in our lives.

God, I pray that my focus will be on You first and YOU will show me where and when I need to inject my energy into others and situations and things that You want me to be involved in that will do nothing but bring You glory and honor and praise.
Lord I do love You today, but I want to love you more. I want to love you with a love that is genuuine, without pretense, with a LOVE that IS REAL!
Acts 9: 5 He said, “Who are you, Master?” “I am Jesus, the One you’re hunting down. 6 I want YOU to get up and enter the city. In the city you’ll be told what to do next.”
Saul Get UP…   Failure is not final unless you don’t get up. God was knocking him off his high horse so He could take him where HE wanted him to go.
It is never in our best interest to worry about the things of this world. Our lives are constantly interrupted by God to get our attention, to draw us into a more intimate relationship with Him.

Yes… Saul was doing it all wrong, but God was ready to pick him up from his darkness into marvelous Light. His life would never be the same from this moment.

Get up today and let God’s light forever change your destiny.
The Lord is calling  those of you who made a choice to follow Him and then deviated from the path through sin and distractions.  Though you have declared with your mouth that you belong to the Lord, yet your heart is far from Him.  Now take this opportunity to honestly evaluate your spiritual condition, repent, and return to the Lord and be re-established in a place of spiritual safety.
Zechariah 1:3  Therefore say to them, thus says the LORD of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I will
return to you,” says the LORD of hosts.

Psalms 28:7 The lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

Lord HELP me to follow you more in all my days left here on earth. Help me to listen DAILY for your will to be Done for Your Glory and my Joy!! Amen

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.” – Jeremiah 17:7

Have you ever considered at what point a test becomes so difficult that you decide you can no longer trust in God and you must take over to solve the problem?
The prophet Jeremiah describes a situation in which the temptation to solve a financial problem can become so great that we trust in man’s way to solve it.

This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.
But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit” (Jeremiah 17:5-8).

Jeremiah drew a sharp comparison between the man who trusts in his own effort to solve his problem and the man who trusts in God when he cannot see the outcome.
*The man who trusts in God bears fruit despite the circumstances in his life.
* He does not shrivel when the heat comes; in fact, his roots go deeper into God’s grace.
* He continues to bear fruit in spite of his circumstances.

Many times, we can lose our passion in prayer or stop praying for certain things altogether because we lose heart or give up.
But God invites us to keep our prayers before Him and trust Him for an answer in His time.
God hears your prayers  and will bring an answer in His perfect timing.
But don’t be discouraged or disheartened if the answer takes time to arrive or is not exactly what you expected.
Commit to praying to God with passion and persistence, trusting the answer will come in God’s perfect way at the perfect time.

We must never forget that the highest kind of prayer is never the making of requests.
*Prayer at its holiest moment is the entering into God, to a place of such blessed union as it makes miracles seem tame and remarkable answers to prayer appear something very far short of wonderful by comparison. —A. W. Tozer
The most earnest prayers come from us when we recognize our NEED for God. What has caused you to waver in your expectation with God?
*James reminds us that faith and wavering are actually contradictory—*James says “nothing wavering.” Know that God never wavers in His love for you. You can trust Him completely.

When we depend upon organizations, we get what organizations can do; when we depend upon education, we get what education can do; when we depend upon man, we get what man can do; but when we depend upon prayer, we get what God can do. —A. C. Dixon

Sometimes God forces us to go deeper into the grace of His love in order to BUILD a greater foundation in our own lives.
These lean times are designed to accomplish this in us.
If you find yourself in this condition, ask the Lord WHO provides the water for our soul for the grace you need today to continue to bear fruit in the desert.

*For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17
The word of the Law cannot compare with the word of life that has been revealed through Jesus Christ!
*Look back over the past and remember how GOOD the Lord has been to you. *Remember HIS compassions that never failed to bring you through.
I am finding pleasure in praising God for ALL things, but especially for his
goodness.
Not only for past goodness, but for those I see daily—the goodness
I see all around me now in the present.

To experience the “fullness of God”
is to have His supernatural Love,
Wisdom and Power flowing into
and out of our lives.
“But I have received everything in full, and have an abundance…”
Philippians 4:18

A spiritual cripple cannot be a true expression of Jesus Christ. We must live
in the full power and victory of a life free from the bondage of sin.
We all know our weakness, places where we are vulnerable, and Satan TELLS us that we will always be weak at that point, and one day be overcome by it.
NOT SO! By his glorious power, God can make us strongest at our weakest point.
That is what the Scripture means when it speaks of his strength made perfect in our weakness.
What hinders you? An ongoing sin, a weakness, an unresolved inner controversy?
Whatever it is, it must go! You can no longer be chained to a bed of failure. It
is all accomplished by faith in God’s promises.

The Lord wants to get you up out of that bed!(Mark 2 the paralyzed man) He will give you all the power you need to overcome and walk in total deliverance!
Living in this world we get so focused on physical needs and ASSUME that IF God truly loves us or wants to help us out He will heal us or give us more money or something.
*** However, Jesus’ ultimate concern is for us to have true life. A life apart from sin where we can live with God forever.

Jesus sees the big picture. Its about eternity, not just this life.
* Spiritual healing is more important than physical healing.
However, often times with our finite thinking physical healing or physical needs being met offer a catalyst for spiritual healing.
Mark 2:1-12
This is what it looks like when Jesus forgives our sins. He heals us, and tells us to go, and live; and we should live in continual thanksgiving to the overwhelming forgiveness that God gives us.(Jesus said:verse11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”)

If we are not loving with God’s
Love, we are spiritually dead.
“He that loveth not…abideth indeath.”
1 John 3:14

Thank you Jesus for for Your unfailing love and care over us. Help us keep our eyes on You in ALL our circumstances.
Don’t be afraid! 17 For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. (Zeph. 3) Amen!

Making Jesus your Lord means following the will of GOD over that of YOUR own.
It is not ALL ABOUT ME!

Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,
*This is the definition of “love Your neighbor as yourself.”

We’ve all heard of the “Golden Rule” –  which instructs us to treat others as we might want to be treated.

1 Thess. 5:14 Our counsel is that you warn the Freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs.

As a Believer/Leader-All our flowery words about Jesus are not enough.
Our ACTIONS must match our words in order for it to become truth.

****Some  Golden Rules of Living****
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you”,

Our goal of our lives should be to fulfill God’s intention—to be a witness who expresses the fullness and completeness of Christ!

* We should hold ourselves, as Christians, to a “Higher Standard”.

*If you make a mess, clean it up.
*If you open it, close it.
*If you turn it on, turn it off.
*If you unlock it, lock it up.
*If you break it, admit it.
*if you use car, bring back with gas.
*If you can’t fix it, call in someone who can.
*If you borrow it, return it.
*If you value it, take care of it.
*If you make a mess, clean it up.
*If you move it, put it back.
*if you take or use last one, replace it.
*if you mess the bed, make it.
*If you wash it, put it away.
*If it belongs to someone else and you want to use it, get permission.
*If you don’t know how to operate it, leave it alone.
*If it’s none of your business, don’t ask questions.
*If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
*If it will brighten someone’s day, say it.
*If it will tarnish someone’s reputation, keep it to yourself.(Gossip)
*If you make a mess, clean it up.
*If fill garbage, take it to trash.
*If have a Kitchen, cook and EAT food there.
*If dirty, just clean it.
*If you see problem, inform  someone.
*If you have a Question, ask it.

* Making Jesus your Lord means following the will of GOD over that of your own.  Think of OTHERS!  Your ACTIONS speak Louder then words!!
*AND That we hold ourselves, as Christians, to a higher standard.

* We should be uncomfortable in this wilderness/dessert, (the world), for we belong to the kingdom of Heaven!

* Lord, Don’t let me fall into temptation but lead me away from evil to you. *Forgive me, as I work out my forgiveness of others.
* Father strengthen me with your word. Each day, Father, keep your word before my eyes, in my heart, and on my lips.
*Forgive us for our seemingly lack of faithfulness.
*Help me to keep the Golden Rule in action daily. “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you”,
*In faith, I look towards Your glorious kingdom. Because You are the power on Earth and in Heaven.   Help us Lord to keep Our goal of our lives! To fulfill YOUR intention—to be a witness who expresses the fullness and completeness of Christ!
In Jesus name, Amen.