Monday, June 29, 2009

Can't Take Anymore????

Do you ever feel like you are at your wits end, like you just can not take anymore? Pastor was talking on this subject Sunday, and I thought yeh, I have felt like that alot lately. Well, make sure you recognize the enemy for who he is and do not let him steal your joy, your resources, or worse your blessings.

Have you given your all in whatever it is that makes you feel this way? What sacrifices have you made to overcome this feeling of being overwhelmed? I just thought I had it bad, with all of my complaining and feeling like I just couldn't take another day of this turmoil, then I listened to the message Pastor had for us Sunday, and a light bulb went off, as to who I was dealing with and why he was trying to get me to quit and give up. It was because of all the good I am doing for the Kingdom with the money I make. The devil can't stand it because I give out of my abundance into the Kingdom to help spread the good news. What do you do with your abundant blessings? Is the devil trying to get you to throw in the towel and quit? Don't Do It!!

Maybe you may have a health issue problem, or some other problem that doesn't have anything to do with finances. Well, don't give up. Instead do like Pastor told us Sunday. 1.) Pray your problem out, 2.) Rest in the promises of God and what He says about your problems, 3) Seek the wisdom of God and godly council of others who can help you.

Ps 61 vs 1-4....Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah........

Pretty much says it all. I am so glad that I was paying attention Sunday to the message God gave to our Pastor to give to us.

Remember, like my friend Linda told me once. No weapon formed against me will prosper. The word doesn't say that no weapon will form, it says, no weapon will prosper. Stand up and fight for your rights as a child of God, and use the word of God as your weapon. No weapon has ever been made or ever will be made that can stand against the word of God.

Is 54 v 17...."No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me," says the LORD......

Prov. 4 v 7...Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding....

So when you are feeling overwhelmed, think on this. How overwhelmed did your LORD and Savior Jesus feel when He hung on that cross for all your iniquities, your chastisements, your sins. When He said "it is finished". He meant it. He wasn't just wasting His last breath.

He defeated the enemy and everything that the enemy tries to throw at you, Jesus has already conquered that battle for you. All you need to do is accept your Victory through Christ Jesus, and cast your cares on to Him. He has you covered. AMEN!

RTB...we finished 1 Chron, then went on to Col. and now we are in 2 Chron. 1-3

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Father Knows Best

Do you remember that TV show? I may be aging myself here, but that is ok. That was one of the good shows your kids could watch without violence or sex or drugs. The title reminds me that our Heavenly Father knows what is best for us. Oh, sure sometimes we think we know what is best, but if we would first seek Him and His word, we would truly see what is in our best interest.

Do you have a problem you are dealing with? Are you having troubles with your finances, your health, your relationships? Look to the word and see what your Father has to say about it. My earthly father has gone home to be with the LORD, so I do not have him to go to any longer, of course I have my father in law, who is wonderful and wise in many things, but still my Heavenly Father knows what is best for me.

We have a day every year we celebrate our earthly fathers. Why not have a special time each day for your heavenly Father? If we would seek His wisdom first thing every morning, before we do anything, before we make any decisions, we would have a much more productive day I am sure.

Matthew 6 v 31-33....Therefore do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat? or What shall we we drink, or What shall we wear? For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.....

James 1 v 5....If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, (Your Heavenly Father) who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.....

Prov. 2 v 1-6....My son, if you receive My words, and treasure My commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.......

Go to your heavenly Father and ask Him for some advice, and I promise He will not steer you wrong.

RTB....1 Chron. 19-21...

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Beat The Devil With The Word

You do not have to be defeated in any area of your life. Things may look like there is no way out, but remember there is a way out and it is through the word of God. If you will take the word and shout it back at the devil everytime he tries to tell you something different than what God says, you will beat him. Remember everytime he (the devil) tried to convince Jesus of something, Jesus told him it is written. You have that same authority in you. God's word hasn't changed. It is the same as it was for Jesus. His word still has authority. The authority is not coming from the person using the word, the authority comes from the word. Put the devil on the run out of your life by speaking the word of God over your problem. Quit repeating what the enemy says and start speaking what the word of God says.

I heard someone make a comment about with the economy the way it is, that people will stop tithing, and that new laws may come about where people can not claim their tithes on their income taxes. Listen up Christians. You can not afford to quit tithing. You claiming your tithes on your income taxes is not what is blessing you. Remember where the blessings flow from. And if all you are worried about is a tax write off with your tithing, then you are doing yourself more harm than good anyway. The word says give with a cheerful, generous heart. Not with a mind of what can I get back. Our God is not so limited that He can only bless us through income tax returns. HELLO!!

Isaiah 55 v 11....So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it....

What does God say? He says, His word shall prosper and it shall not be void. So go ahead speak His word over your problems, and send that devil packing. Tell Him, "It is Written"....

RTB ....1 Chron 16-18

Monday, June 22, 2009

From Where Do The Blessings Flow

How many of us know that our blessings come from God? Someone may give you something and you might say, thank you, this is really a blessing for me. You do not know how badly I needed this right now. It may be a word from God, it may be some money, it may be some food, etc. But where did the blessing come from? Who do you give thanks to for the blessing you received?

Yes, of course we thank the person who delivered it. But that is just it, they are the delivery person. They are not the blessing giver. Just like, the delivery guy brings your pizza, but he doesn't own the company, and he may have not even had a hand in making the pizza, but he was chosen to deliver that particular pizza.

The same with God. He can send messengers in all shapes and sizes, in all sorts of different personalities, in any kind of vessel, but the blessing still comes from Him. Sometimes we tend to give to much credit to the delivery person. Where do you think they got the blessing to give to you? That's right, from GOD.

This message was prompted by a pop up ad that came up while I was checking my emails. There was a woman holding a check and she was saying "Google blessed me with a job". It may me stop and wonder, do we know and acknowledge from where our blessings flow?

Like when you give to different missions, or to send a youth to camp, the Lord enabled you to do so. He gave you the means to get the money to give to support whatever cause. Yes, you will be blessed for blessing others. We bless others with our abundance of overflow, but the blessings come from God.

Be thankful in all things, but in all things give praise and thanksgiving to your LORD. AMEN. Because all things that are good are from the LORD.

PS 100 .....Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations......

We are not self made. There is no such thing as a self made millionaire. God gives and He takes away. We don't like that second part but, He knows when to withdraw from us, that which will cause us to stumble and fall.

I onced worked for a man, who proclaimed to be a self made millionaire. He went from writing hot checks to buy groceries to feed his kids to having his own multi million dollar company. He also turned away from God and started living like the world, and getting caught up in wordly things. It wasn't long he lost everything. God will not give us more than we can handle. That verse goes for our worldly goods as well. If we are not using the little we have wisely to grow His kingdom, why would He give us more?

Remember everything belongs to GOD. AMEN!

RTB...1 Chron. 13-15

Thursday, June 18, 2009

How Do You Explain

How do you explain to someone why you believe what you believe? Or how do you explain to the unbelievers what a wonderful life you have since becoming a Christian? Or do you even have to open your mouths? Do they even have to ask you what is different since you became a Christian?

In my case, I do not have to open my mouth to those who knew me before. They can see the change in me, and see how much better my life is with the LORD in it. Now for those, who did not know the old me, they may have to ask sometimes. And for that I am ashamed. But I do the best that I can and try to stay on course with my daily walk with the LORD.

My biggest struggle as I am sure is for the rest of you as well, is not being goaded into defending myself, or my faith. We should be able to walk around with our heads held high, not in a haughty attitude but in a joyful atttitude, knowing that our God will supply all of our needs, and He will take care of our problems that try to bring us down.

Do we live what we preach? I am ashamed again to say not always. There are times that I could have been in the house of God worshiping with other believers giving Him praise, and I chose to stay home or go somewhere and do what I wanted to do instead.

We are not perfect, but we do need to show change. We do need to be able to explain our Christian Hope without even having to say a word. We do need to live our lives so that others will want what we have. Joy and Hope in Christ.

How do you explain? Have you made any changes? If we were all thrown into a room and no one could say a word, and we were to be divided up into two teams, one the Christian side, and the other side, the ones who do not know Jesus yet. Just by how people see you behave everyday at work or at school, which side would you be chosen for? Or better yet, if God didn't choose you because you prayed the sinner's prayer, but because you gave your life to Jesus and made Him LORD of your life. If He had to choose you by your actions, and the way you live your everyday life, (not just your going to church on Sunday, there are 6 more days in a week) would He have a clear enough picture of you to be able to choose you to be on His Son's side? Or would your actions cause doubt? Could your co-workers or your classmates tell for sure which side you were going to be chosen for if you could not speak?

1 Pet. 3 v 13-17.....And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? but even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. and do not be afraid of their threats nor be troubled. But sanctify the LORD GOD in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God to suffer for doing good than for doing evil......

So, I ask you again, do the people around you everyday see Christ in you, or do they just see your flesh? Do they see the hope and joy of your salvation showing through? What do they see? Whose side would they believe you to be on?

RTB...2 Kings 4-6
We need to catch up
We are in 1 Chron 1-3

Monday, June 8, 2009

Apple Of His Eye

Sunday, our Pastor made a comment about us being the apple of God's eye, and the apple being the pupil of His eye. Now if that doesn't tell you how big our GOD is, then think about this, if all of us are the apple, His pupil would have to be the size of the earth. AWESOME!

Anyway, back to the message. When we are confronted by someone who is trying to harm us in some way, either by stealing our Joy, or physical harm to our bodies, or just mental damage with their noisy words, then it is the same as them putting their finger in God's eye. WHOA! You better just get on out of the way and let God take care of your little problem, because I am sure He does not appreciate their finger in His eye. HELLO!!

What would you do, if someone was trying to harm your child? Well, being a highly favored child of GOD, just think how much better God can take care of the problem. So quit fretting over people who give you a hard time, and just know that they are sticking their fingers where they will regret it.

Zechariah 2 v 8....For thus says the LORD of hosts: "He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye."

1 John 5 v 4-5...For whatever is born of God, overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith. Who is he that overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God......

We have already won the victory of our enemies, our oppressors, our contenders. He who is in us, has given us the victory without us having to even fight the battle. AMEN!!!

RTB.....Tue. 2 Kings 1-3

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Keep Living

WOW, what a message I received from the LORD this week while listening to the message He gave our Pastor to give to us. It was like I had my own personal revival going on with the LORD Sunday. I was fired up. Now, I am going to try to give it to you like I received it from HIM.

Pastor was talking about having hope. We as Christians always have hope, no matter what the circumstances. Now some of us, may mope around like Eyore (the donkey on Pooh) and always see the bad, but if we would pick up our heads and hold them high as we should, being highly favored children of GOD, then we would begin to see our HOPE. Remember our Hope is JESUS, and He is not under our feet, so pick those heads up and start rejoicing in Him.

The message I received from this was LIVING, and LIVING Life to the FULLEST!! STOP listening to the bad reports the world is trying to give you, STOP looking at the economy with hopeless thoughts. WE HAVE HOPE!! OUR STRENGTH COMES FROM OUR JOY IN THE LORD!!

Jeremiah 29 v 5-6....Build houses and dwell in them, plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters, that you may be increased there, and not diminished......

HALLELUJAH!! He is telling you, DON"T STOP living just because the world says so. GOD put you here to be faithful and multiply. Look forward to your family growing, look forward to your grandchildren. Look forward to planting your gardens and watching them grow to their fullest. God says He is our HOPE.

Jer. 29 v 11-13....For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to ME, and I will listen to you, and you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.........

Don't shut down, because of some reports of bad economy, or bad doctor's reports. Don't throw in the towel because the world says so. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. HE IS STILL IN CONTROL. HE IS STILL THE GREAT I AM.

Neh. 8 v 10b....Do not sorrow, for the Joy of the LORD is your strength....

Jer. 17 v 5...Thus says the LORD, "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD....

Jer. 17 v 7-8...."Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose HOPE is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but the leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yeilding fruit....

GLORY TO GOD! Did you get that? You will not be affected by the so called bad economy, when your HOPE is in HIM, you will survive the heat of whatever frying pan the enemy tries to throw you in. Whether it is in your health, your finances, your relationships. It doesn't matter if your HOPE is in HIM and not in yourself. AMEN!

Whoooo! I hope all of you are now having the same revival I had with the LORD after reading this. I believe I about to have another revival.

Keep praying and don't lose HOPE!!!

RTB....Mon. Ephe. 4-6

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Don't Be Too Hard

Yesterday we talked about Solomon and his wives and concubines, and how his heart was turned away from God by his wives, and how could he who God had appeared to twice already, turn his back on God. Well, don't be too judgmental on Solomon.

Remember when I said, I was giving you hindsight so that you do not make the same mistakes Solomon made. Well, we have hindsight in so many areas of how we are to live our lives, more so than just that of Solomon. And yet how many times do we not behave as we should.

For instance look at all the healings that take place in the bible, look how many times Jesus tells us that He has already died for our disease, and how many times he tells us we are free from our sins. But yet, let someone of this world tell you something different and you automatically believe them instead of the word of God, Himself. GO FIGURE!!

Or how many times does God tell us not to gossip, or curse, or be in an unorderly fashion, (drunk), yet we can't wait to tell the little bit of scoop we just got on someone to another?

Or here is a good one, how many times in the word of God does the LORD tell you to abstain from sex unless you are married to that person, but yet we think it is ok to live with someone before we are married, or to sleep with whomever because we are of a responsible age. Well, maybe that word responsible was a little too loose. Responsible and sleeping around don't work together, they are opposites.

The best one of all, is the one where we walk in love toward everyone, including our enemies. I mean God shows us what can happen to those who do not forgive, who harbor hate for their brothers, (not your relative). He says, you are a liar, if you say you love Him, but have hate in your heart toward your brother.

If things are going bad for you, look into the word and see some of this hindsight we have been given, and see what happens to those who disobey the LORD GOD, and then maybe you can figure out what you need to correct in your own life.

Hey, and how about all the blessings he pours out on those who tithe like they are suppose to, yet there are some who are still holding on to that 10% so they can pay a bill, or buy something they want instead of giving it BACK to the LORD. Remember it was His to start with.

Anyway the point being, before we go getting all judgmental on Solomon, we better clean up our own hearts and closets as well. AMEN!

I am not judging anyone here, for I have at some time in my past and present been guilty of all these things, but I know I am forgiven and I have turned from those ways. And that is the great thing about the LOVE the LORD JESUS has for you and me, is that when we turn from our old ways, and put on the new man in Christ we are forgiven, and we can move forward in that love walk toward others and everything else will fall into place. AMEN!

Today's reading for this message is too long to type it all out, but rather I would love for each of you to read for yourselves. Starting in Ephes. 4 v 17 and read through Ephes. 5 to verse 21.

Love you all and may God bless each of you with your heart's desires today.

RTB...1 Kings 13-15

Frid. 1 Kings 16-18
Sat...1 Kings 19-22
Sun...Ephes. 1-3

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Where Is The Wisdom

A lesson for the men in our lives.

As we are reading in 1 Kings about King Solomon and all his wisdom, we marvel at how much wisdom he had. God gave him plenty of wisdom. But then we still have our free will. And that is where Solomon gets into trouble.

You see Solomon had a thing for the ladies. We read where he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines. Now, I don't know about you, but if my husband had just one concubine I would be in a tizzy. Much less if he had other wives as well, and princesses on the side. I mean really, where was the wisdom the LORD gave this man?

Any way, his wives got upset with him, and they started persuading him to worship other gods. Now that tells you the power of women over men. The same with Adam and Eve. I mean God tells man one thing, and who do they listen to, but the women in their lives, and end up on the opposite end of God. This is why the word tells us to not be unequally yoked. In other words, we need to be married with the same faith. These women, Solomon hooked up with and married were women God had told him to stay away from and not to intermarry.

2 Cor. 6 v 14....Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?.....

1 Kings 11 v 1-2....But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharoah; women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites, from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, "You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods." Solomon clung to these in love......

Now another point here, is that the LORD GOD appeared to Solomon twice. Not once, but twice!! I don't know, but I feel pretty sure that if God had appeared to me and told me not to do something, or to do something, I would have to say, I would probably obey Him. I mean this is God we are talking about. I ask you again, where is the wisdom God gave him? What is wrong with him? I mean what woman is worth losing your relationship with the LORD over? There is none. I mean pay attention men, I am showing you some hindsight here in the word of GOD. Please learn from Solomon's mistakes.

Don't let lust fill your heart, but instead fill your heart with the LOVE for your LORD, then your wives or the women in your lives will follow suit. You are the heads of the households, God did give you dominion over women. And women, let your husband be the head, and quit trying to be in control. Let them have the reigns and drive for a while. Take a rest. You probably deserve it.

God had a plan when He created us, and His plan for us was to become one with each other. We can only do that if we are equally yoked together in the same faith. In other words, only if we are both in the word of God and living our lives to please Him, and then we will please each other. AMEN!

Read Chapter 11 in 1 Kings and see the scriptures that tell you about Solomon and his wives, and the way they turned his heart away from God, and to their gods and idols.

RTB.....1 Kings 10-12

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Are You Ready

When you are faced with a sickness, and the doctor tells you it is fatal, do you start immediately thinking, Oh Lord, you are ready for me to come home? Well, stop it, I read in my devotional once how if God had His way, He would not call you home until you are ready.

Have you ever seen or read stories of how when the American Indian gets ready to die, (usually when they are so old they can not go another step) they say it is a good day to die. They prepare themselves for their transition into the next world. (Hopefully that next world being heaven).

We should be the same way, we should never even entertain the thought of death until we are ready to go home to be with the LORD. Now some of you are thinking, I am ready right now to go be with the LORD, well, that is very admirable of you, but are you really? Say you are someone who just got married, and you have your lives ahead of you, planning a family, do you think God wants you to give up on that because some doctor tells you, you are dying? I don't think so.

I am not saying that we as Christians have not given our hearts to the LORD completely that when our time does come, we will willingly go. But, what if it is not really our time? What if, we just threw in the towel and gave up because of some report? Some lie of the devil that was fed to us. Satan is crafty. He will try his best to put doubts in your mind, so that you then get them into your heart. DON"T LISTEN TO HIM!!! When he tells you that you do not have the strength to fight, say, I have the strength of the LORD in me, and He has already won this battle. When he tries to tell you it is your time, and you are still young in your heart, tell him, I know the plans the LORD has for me, and they do not include premature death. HALLELUJAH!!

Remember who you are in CHRIST!

2 Tim 4 v 6-7....For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.....

Paul was ready.

PS 91 v 14-16....Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation....

God says when you set you love upon Him, He will satisfy you with long life. AMEN!

JOB 5 v 26-27....You shall come to the grave at a full age, as a sheaf of grain ripens in its season. Behold, this we have searched out; it is true. Hear it, and know for yourself.....

Job was whining and wanting to die, and it was not yet his time, and God got angry with him and was chastising him for his thoughts.

Deut. 34 v 7...Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.....

Moses, like the old Indian Chief, went on over to the mountain and was ready to die and prepared his heart.

Go ahead, plan a long and fulfilled life of joy and happiness, with an abundance of blessings from the LORD. He wants you to.

RTB.....1 Kings 7-9....

Monday, June 1, 2009

Don't Lose Hope

Sometimes, do you feel like crying out, God where are you? Hello! God! I am still here waiting for you. I can't hear youuuuuuu! Well, it is not because God is not there, it is usually because you are trying to take care of your problems yourself, instead of turning them over to Him. We are all guilty of this at some time or another in our lives, we face a big problem, and think Oh Lord, you better sit this one out, I am going to have to worry over this one to get it right.

How fickle we are. One minute, we say we trust in the Lord with all our hearts and we lean not on our own understanding but in all things we seek Him first. LIAR! That is what we are. Sure sometimes we may give it to God when we can see the outcome before our eyes, but it is those times when we can not see the outcome that our faith falters and we start wringing our hands and trying to reason things out, instead of going to Him in prayer with our petitions.

Or how about when we are really having a hard time with someone, and we just can't seem to walk in love toward that person. Well, there we go again, thinking everything has to be rosey all the time, and this person is upsetting our apple cart. I bet Jesus didn't have anyone upsetting His apple cart. Yeh right!

Jesus dealt with these problems and even more so that we do, because He never gave up on someone, He continually walked in love toward everyone, and He always seeked the Father's will instead of His own.

That is where most of miss the boat, we are seeking our will instead of His.
Remember we reap what we sow, and if we are having the same problems in our lives over and over, then maybe we need to check our love walk, or our time spent in the word. Remember, we are what we feed ourselves. If we continue to feed ourselves junk, like dirty novels, soap operas, reality tv shows, court tv, secular music, then that is what we become. On the other hand if we feed on God's word, and walk in His ways, then we will have a much easier time when it comes to trusting in Him to take care of us and our problems. Don't give up. Your blessing is just around the corner.

Galatians 6 v 7-9....Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.......

Keep up the good work!

RTB 1 Kings 4-6.....