Thursday, June 14, 2012

Rest In The Storm I can remember a time when I would be terrified of the storms. If there was a storm come up during the night, you could bet I would not sleep a wink that night. I would be up and listening to every crack of thunder and watching for every lightning strike with fear. Needless to say, I spent quite a few restless nights. Once I accepted the Lord as my savior and became a born again believer, the storms seem to bother me less and less. Then the more time I spent in His word and reading and learning of His peace and His rest, the less afraid I became. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God. My faith was built by staying in His word and spending one on one time with Jesus. When we spend quality time with the Lord, we will get to know Him on a more intimate level. We become best friends. Then when fear over something tries to creep up on us, we will quickly recall what our best Friend told us in His word. 2 Timothy 1 v 7....For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind..... We see here that not only did God not give us a spirit of fear, but He did give us power, the same power that works in Jesus Christ works in us. So when Jesus said "Peace be still" in the story of Him and the disciples in the boat in the storm, the winds ceased and the waves calmed. That same power works in us. He also says He gave us a sound mind. A sound mind has no fear, but instead has faith. Where faith is present, fear is absent. Mark 4 v 39...Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm..... While reading today in one of my daily devotionals there was the story of the passover. The writer made the comment that there were probably several who spent a sleepless night that night listening to the screams of the ones whom the angel of death did not passover, while on the other hand there were those whose faith in the blood sprinkled over their door posts slept very peaceful that night with no fear. We can put our faith in the blood of the Risen Lamb, Jesus Christ. When we place our faith in Him fear will not be present. The writer also made this comment, when we see Jesus in His grace, He sees us in our faith. So we need to take our eyes off of ourselves and look upon His grace and then He can see us in our faith. In other words we have to quit trying to work for our healing, work for our salvation, work for our prosperity, work to cast out our fear, and instead put our focus on Him and His grace, and then our faith will be built up and leave no place for fear. AMEN! Alot of times people miss out on their healing, not because they didn't believe the word of God, but because they were so busy looking at their faith instead of His grace. When storms rise up in our lives, in our health, our finances, our relationships, our faith may not be so strong as when we are feeling great and walking in prosperity. Why? Because we tend to get our eyes off of Jesus and on ourselves and then we tend to doubt whether or not our faith is great enough to get us through. Our circumstances, our pain, our heartbreak may be causing us to doubt whether or not we will be healed. Once we quit trying to work to accomplish what He says in His word He has already accomplished for us and focus on Him and His grace and His finished work on the cross, then and only then will we see our storms cease. There is no storm to big for God to handle. Jesus works in the power of God the Father, and He tells us that He left us with the same power here on earth. John 14 v 11-14..."Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it"...... As we go through our storms, instead of looking at our circumstances, we give the glory to God and praise the Lord Jesus for His finished work on the cross. It is not of our own power that we cast out our fear but the power of the Lord Jesus working through us. See yourself as the disciple Jesus loved. See yourself as God's beloved sons and daughters. See yourself as God Himself sees you, free of sin and full of His Son. See your storms defeated on the cross in Christ Jesus. See yourself resting peacefully in Him through the storm. How do we see ourself like God sees us? STAY IN HIS WORD!

Thursday, May 24, 2012

The Pressure Is Off

WOW, what a revelation of knowledge I received this morning while studying and reading my daily devotional. The pressure has been taken off of me and you. We no longer have to believe whether or not our faith is sufficient to be healed. Mark 9 v 23...Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes"....... This scripture is not telling us if we can have enough faith to believe that we are healed, but can we have enough faith to believe in Him who is doing the healing, that He can do all things. My devotional said it like this, Jesus' faith never wavers, His faith is always the same. The question is do we have faith in Him? Now doesn't that take the pressure off? What a relief. To me, it was like releasing the knob on a pressure cooker and taking off the pressure. What a revelation! We do not have to beat ourselves up any longer as to whether or not we can be healed in our bodies or our finances or our relationships, etc. We just have to believe that He is capable of healing us in every area of our lives. Not only capable but willing. Another beautiful scripture I read this morning while watching one of my favorite teachers was this. Jer. 32 v 40-41....And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and all My soul..... Another WOW moment for me. God is telling us in this scripture that He will not only promise to do us good forever, but that He will rejoice in doing so, and do it with all His heart and all His soul. Now, I don't know about you, but for God to say that He is going to make me a promise that can never be broken to do me good, and not just good, but with ALL OF HIS HEART AND SOUL! That makes me want to shout and praise His name. That is a promise we can stand on forever. So when you hear people say things like "oh it must be God's will for someone to perish, or that hurricane or earthquake that killed all those people was an act of God" then you know that they do not know the same God we know. His word tells us clearly that He not only wants to, but made a promise to us to do us good, not harm or evil. John 10 v 10...."the thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly"....... Does that sound like He wants you sick, or in poverty? No, He said, He came that you may have life, and that you may have it more abundantly. In other words you shall not lack in any area when He is living in you. AMEN! So let's recap on what we have learned here. God says He promises to always do us good, and that we do not have to lack in any area, (health, finances, etc). And the best part is this, that the pressure is taken off of us, as to whether or not we have enough faith for these things. The pressure was applied to the cross on Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior and when He conquered the cross, He finished the work for us. Now, here is our part, Do we believe that He is Who He says He is, and can He do all He says He can do? In other words, do we have enough faith to believe in Him? Where can we find more about this God who loves us unconditionally and without condemnation, and Who promises to always give us good? STAY IN HIS WORD!

Recession Is Not For Us

As Christians we learn from God in His word that He will supply all of our needs. One verse that everyone loves to memorize and quote is found in Philippians chapter 4. Phil. 4 v 19....and my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus...... However a lot of times these same Christians are talking about how bad the economy is and how they can't afford this or that. It is like when you quote that scripture and then say the latter you are talking out of both sides of your mouth. When we do this we are being what the word calls double minded. In other words it sounds as if we can't make up our mind if we are blessed or if we are headed for poverty. God says that as a child of His, all blessings are ours. The problem is not with God when we lack in any area, the problem usually falls back into our lap. What can we do to keep our blessings flowing? First question we need to ask ourself, are we sowing? You can't expect a corn field to grow if you never put the seed in the ground. You will never reap a harvest of corn if your seed is still in the packet sitting on the kitchen table. HELLO! When we read about one famine in the bible with the story of Isaac, we see how he prospered even in the year of famine. Gen. 26 v 1a...There was a famine in the land besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham...... v2-3.....Then the Lord appeared to him and said: "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you, Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants, I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father...... v4....and I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed...... Now Isaac was headed for Egypt a better place but God sent him to Gerar a land that was in famine. Now here is the reasoning we would use. "Lord, I thought You said You were going to bless me and all that is mine, but yet You are sending me into a land of famine. A parched land where nothing is growing, how exactly is that a blessing?" Yet he still obeyed God and did what God told him to do, and he trusted God to bless him as he sowed into this land of famine. And now look what God did for him. Gen. 26 v 12-13....Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year, a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous.... When he obeyed God and sowed, he not only got back what he sowed, he got back a hundredfold and he not only prospered but continued to prosper and became very prosperous. He didn't just look at the circumstances at the famine that was going on, but he chose to obey God's word and do things God's way and he not only made it through the recession but came out of the recession a very prosperous man. AMEN! God is not asking us to give Him anything that doesn't already belong to Him. God blesses us so that we may be a blessing to others and so that we ourselves will continue to be blessed and prosper. Sometimes we cut our blessing off after the first reaping. We get so excited over what we reaped that we forget to sow back into His kingdom out of our abundance so that we too can be like Isaac and be very prosperous. 1 Chronicles 29 v 14...But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You..... Let us be careful lest we forget Who our blessings come from. Don't reap your harvest before it's time. Don't get impatient and take it out of the ground before it has had time to mature. And when we do harvest don't let us forget to sow the first fruits unto Him. Prov 3 v 9 and 10....Honor the Lord with your possessions, and the first fruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.... God is very clear in His word how He rejoices in doing us good and making our way prosperous. We just have to be obedient to His word, not out of law but out of cheerful giving hearts. Jer. 32 v 40a....And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good;...... v 41....Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul..... God tells us in Malachi chapter 3 how we are to bring all of the tithes into His storehouse and how He will open the windows of heaven and bless us with so much we can't contain it all. And then He goes on to tell us that He will even rebuke the devourer (whoever or whatever) that may try to come and steal our seed out of the ground before it has had time to mature. He says He will cause our vines to be fruitful and bear fruit. This is one of my favorite passages of scripture, be sure to read it for yourself. It will definitely bless you. 2 Cor. 9 v 7....So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.... 2 Cor 9 v 10....Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness..... So, let us change our way of thinking, so that we can change our way of speaking so that our actions will line up with our faith in His word; and we may be VERY PROSPEROUS even in times of famine. How do we make these changes? STAY IN HIS WORD!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Critters Critters Everywhere

Recently I was helping a friend, who so graciously asked me to work for her some helping out with tea parties. (You might have heard of the place, Carolina Lily in Salisbury off Kern Carlton Rd.) Her gardens are amazing. Everytime I visit there, I see new things that I missed the last time. There are always changes going on with her prolifera of flowers and plants. You just can not take it all in on one visit. This last time I was early and she had run an errand and wasn't back so I took the liberty of walking around her gardens. Everything was blooming and the air was heavy with sweet smells from hedges, rosemary, roses, and way too many others to name them all. This particular day what I noticed most though were critters at every turn. There were little frogs jumping from the path just as you begin to walk by, and lizards and salamanders scurrying past you. And then there was even a little squirrel who did not seem to be afraid of me at all. There was a Koi pond with Koi swimming around happily. And oh my, the songs from the birds were so delightful. I thought this has to be what heaven is like. As I walked around the grounds, I also for the first time really noticed the old trees around the property. There is a Magnolia that is huge and just beautiful, then there was an old Crepe Myrtle, (how do I know it is old you ask) looking at the beautiful bark on the tree and the size of the tree. Then there was another tree, I forgot to ask her what kind it was, but the roots, and the trunk was just magnificent. I thought wow, what stories that tree could tell. I have to confess, I wanted to go over and give that tree a big hug, but I contained myself and just stared and marveled at it. When she arrived we began getting ready for a garden tea party. The guests this day were ladies from a garden club in Lexington. They had never before been here and were just thrilled at the sight of everything. They toured the gardens and the gift shops before settling down for lunch and tea. As I was sweeping the pollen off the front porch of the cottage gift shop, I could hear the ladies laughing and talking and just really enjoying the outdoors and having lunch in such a beautiful garden setting. I thought more sounds of heaven. It made my heart happy and made me smile and almost giggle to myself listening to these ladies. What a nice group they were. I tell you all of this to remind us all that each day we need to find that which makes of smile and think of heaven. We need to have a avenue of release for our stress from our everyday tasks. We need to remember when Jesus said, I came so that you may have life and have it abundantly, He wasn't just speaking in monetary values but in the value of all that God Our Father has created. John 10 v 10b...."I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly"..... There is so much life that surrounds us everyday and goes unnoticed because we are so busy living that we forget to slow down and actually live the way Christ intended us to. To enjoy the things the Father placed here before us. To rest in His presence. When we take the time as I did this day to really notice the smells, the beauty of the colors, all of the little creatures scurrying about, and then the great magnificence of the old Oak tree, then we can really see all that God meant for us to see. All the good that He placed here on earth to delight us. Gen. 1 v 11....Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yeilds seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth".... Gen. 1 v 20...Then God said, " Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens."..... Gen. 1 v 25...And God made the beast of the earth, each according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good....... Gen. 1 v 26....Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth".... So you see God created all the birds, the fish, the frogs and the salamanders for us to enjoy. He created the grass and the flowers and the trees for us to see the love He has for us. Like receiving a bouquet of fresh flowers or a potted plant from a loved one. He gave us the biggest arrangement of all. He gave us the earth itself and all that it contains to enjoy daily. So I encourage you to find a place that you can get away, so that you can just relax and take the time to smell the roses and all the other flowers as well. As I was getting ready to leave that day, I finally met her husband who helps her with all the care that is given to these great gardens and what?... but more critters, there were three or was it four happy four legged friends following him. It made me smile even bigger to see even more of God's goodness in this man and woman as they have so shown in their work of His land, and the caring for of his creatures. It made me think of being in the garden of Eden before sin entered in. And how wonderful it would be to walk in the cool of the day with the Lord and enjoy all He has given us. How can we enjoy and rest in His goodness. We need to find a place like Carolina Lily, a place we can escape to, but most of all we just need to... STAY IN HIS WORD!

Monday, May 7, 2012

Don't Be A Victim

Recently my son made a comment to me, that at first made me laugh and then as days went by that comment would come back to me and I realized a very important truth in that statement. I was complaining about something and my son said, what is it? I immediately blamed my husband for whatever was irritating me, and my son said, "Mom, don't be a victim". I started laughing and as I told the story to my cousin she laughed as well. But then it hit me. If we are the victim we can never have the victory. God did not intend for us to be victims, He intended for us to have Victory. AMEN! 1 Cor. 15 v 56-57....The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ..... We are not the victim, we have the victory over our situations, we just need to find in the word of God what He says about our particular battles and He will show us our victory. 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 who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?..... How do we keep from being the victim? We keep His word in our hearts and on our minds. We speak His word over our situations and not what the world is telling us. We do not let our circumstances dictate to us that we are victims. We meditate on His word and not on our troubles. The more we speak about our problems the closer we come to being a victim instead of taking the victory that has already been won for us on the cross. We need to tell ourselves everyday, I will not be a victim, I will have victory over every situation today in my life. I will finish my race strong. My victory has already been paid for by my Lord on the cross, and I will not just lie down and become a victim. I am who His word says I am, I have what He says I have, and I can do all that He says I can do. I will celebrate my victory today and everyday and give Him the praise and the glory. AMEN! When we whine and complain we are being a victim. Stop being a victim. Instead walk in Victory! STAY IN HIS WORD!

Put The Mind Of Christ Over It

While reading one of my favorite devotionals I was getting all excited about not losing my memory whenever I do get to be older. He was saying that everyone has said at some time in their older age that their memory is getting bad because they are getting older, because that is what the world has told them. But the word of God tells us that we as born again believers have the mind of Christ Jesus. And Jesus doesn't forget anything. He is not losing His memory, and I would say He has a few years on us, right? Well, I thought it doesn't stop with our minds. We do not just have the mind of Christ over our memory bank, we have the mind of Christ over our entire body. We just need to activate it. How do we do this, by renewing our mind with His word and meditating on what He says we have instead of letting the world tell us what is going to happen to us. His word tells us in Romans that we are to renew our mind and not to be conformed to this world. In other words don't let someone tell you that when you get older you will start to lose your memory, and you will not be able to recall things like you once did. Instead do what God's word tells us to do. Romans 12 v 2...Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God..... Don't let the world tell you that as you age you will start to hurt in all your joints and muscles and you will not be able to be as active as when you were younger. Instead see what He says in Psalms that our youth is renewed like the eagles. PS 103 v 5....Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles..... How do we satisfy our mouth with good things? By meditating on those things that are good and pure, and staying away from those who want to be negative and speak against your strength. Prov 18 v 20-21....A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; from the produce of his lips he shall be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit..... Let us start confessing that we have all that Christ has. Let us watch our tongues and not let it be our worst enemy as we age. Let us keep watch over our hearing, and keep our faith strong by hearing the word of God and not the world. His word tells us in Deuteronomy that Moses as he grew old did not diminish in his strength nor his eyesight. Deut. 34 v 7...Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished...... How much more so for us than for Moses. Moses did not have the mind of Christ, nor did he have the Holy Spirit living within him. How much more so for us then to be able to grow older without growing weaker. Who says we have to grow weak before we die. Why can't we still be strong like Moses in our old age and see with good vision like he did up to the day he died. And hello, he was one hundred twenty years old. So I choose to believe and meditate on what God's word says instead of what the world's opinion is of how we are to grow old. We have all heard the saying "to grow old gracefully". Now most hear this and think of women growing older and still looking pretty and young, but I don't believe that is what growing old gracefully is all about. What is the root word in gracefully? Grace. Who is Grace? Jesus. Whose mindset do we have? Jesus. I just got back from visiting my hometown, Shreveport, LA and I spent a day with my Mother and Stepfather, my Aunt and my Uncle. They all come from good stock. My aunt is 90 years young this year, and the day before I was there to have lunch with them, she had been hauling dirt around her yard leveling the yard to place concrete blocks that she put in place to make a walkway that was about 30 ft long, and the weeks prior she had been tearing down an old house next door and pulling up fencing and placing new fencing around her yard to make larger, and remember she is 90 years young. Doesn't sound like her vigor is diminishing, she sounds like she could have given Moses a run for his money. Now she in my opinion is growing old gracefully, still going strong. (She said she was having some problems with her eyesight, but I am saying in the name of Jesus her eyes are strong and healthy and will not grow dim according to His word. AMEN! Aunt Bertha you start confessing every morning how clear your vision is and watch as it grows clearer.) Now I ask you, are you going to let the world tell you how you have to feel as you age, or are you going to meditate and believe what God's word tells you? I choose to renew my mind daily and have the mind of Christ over my entire body and health. How will I do this? STAY IN HIS WORD!

Monday, April 16, 2012

Do We Really Know Our Father

How well do we know our Father in heaven? We say we know Him, but are we like the story with the prodigal son?

We remember the story of the prodigal son, where he wanted his inheritance so he could run off and live life the way he thought he wanted to. But then when he gets out in the world and spends all of his inheritance he ends up so poor, he is eating with the pigs. So he decides to return home and his father welcomes him with open arms, a loving heart, and without condemnation.

Luke 15 v 21-22...And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.'....

It goes on to say they killed a fatted calf and had a big party welcoming his son home. The father said, my son was lost but now he is found. Let's have a party.

Now another important part of this story is the other son. We sometimes concentrate so much on the prodigal son, that we miss the other point here. The older son who stayed at home, gets so upset when his father throws a party for his brother, because he is thinking, how can you throw a party for such an irresponsible person. He squandered all of your money and then runs out and wants to come home and you reward him. He is saying in the story, I have been here with you always and worked hard for you and yet you have never killed a calf for me so that I may have a party with my friends. I have stayed here and obeyed your every command.

Here is the important thing to get from this part of the story. The older brother was trying to live by law and not love. He was trying to do all that he could to make sure he kept his inheritance. He didn't really know his father's heart. He didn't realize that his father loved him no matter what, and all that he had was his to start with. It was his because of his father's love for him, not because he earned it in any way.

Luke 15 v 31....And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours."...

This is a story of Jesus' love for us. He is always with us, He loves us unconditionally, and we can not do anything to earn His grace and forgiveness. His forgiveness is there when we come to Him. His arms are opened wide waiting for us to return to Him. AMEN!

Romans 8 v 1...There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit....

Another example is the story of the talents. A man left his servants with his goods while he was gone. One he gave five talents, another two, and another one. The story tells us the one with five invested and made five more to give back to his master, the one with two did the same, but the one with one talent dug a hole and hid his talent.

This story is yet again showing us where the guy with the one talent did not have a good opinion of who his master was. This story is about knowing who the Lord is. This guy says, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown. So I hid your talent, look here is what is yours', and gives Him back one talent.

First of all, He didn't know the Lord at all. Never was Jesus a hard man. Once again the servant did not really know his Master.

We could even use the story of Mary and Martha. When Jesus came to visit, and Martha was running around like a chicken with her head cut off trying to fix and make everything look just right and taste just right, while Mary was sitting at Jesus feet resting in His teaching. When Martha complained and told Jesus to tell Mary to help her, He told her Mary had chosen the good part which would not be taken away from her.

You see while Martha was busy working trying to earn His favor, Mary was spending time getting to know her Lord on a more personal basis.

Luke 10 v 40-42...But Martha was distracted with much serving,and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."....

You see Martha did not really know her Lord. She thought that He would be more concerned with the way everything looked and how well the dinner went instead He is more concerned with our hearts. He would rather that we know Him and that we rest in Him and let Him carry our burdens.

Now I ask you again, How well do we know our Father? What opinion do we have of Him? Do we see Him for the loving, caring Father that He is?

He loves us so much and without condemnation. Rest in Him. Get to know Him on a personal basis. How?

STAY IN HIS WORD!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Receive One Day At A Time

Well, he did it again, listening to one of my favorite speakers, I had another 'aha' moment. I love 'aha' moments with the word of God. Today's 'aha' moment was when Joseph Prince was teaching on being content in the day with what you have and not worrying about what tomorrow will bring.

Matthew 6 v 31...."Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'....

Matthew 6 v 34..."Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble"....

Jesus is telling us not to worry period. He tells us to rest in Him, to trust in Him for all things. His grace is poured out like fresh manna on us daily. Instead of worrying about what we will have tomorrow we need to be resting and enjoying every morsel of manna He has given us today. How can we say we are enjoying the day if we are worrying about what we will have tomorrow?

When God fed the people manna, He told them to take what they needed for that day only and not to take so much that they had left overs. For He wanted them to trust in Him that He would provide each day for them. But they didn't listen and some took more and when morning came, there were worms in their manna.

Exodus 16 v 19-20...and Moses said, "Let no one leave any of it till morning." Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them......

Now don't we all do that sometimes? No matter what the word tells us, no matter what our Pastors teach us, we still want to make sure that we or man is in control of our needs instead of trusting the Lord to provide. We will worry when things look sparse instead of believing what He tells us in His word, that He will supply ALL of our needs. He didn't say some, He said ALL.

Phil. 4 v 19....and my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.......

How much of our need will He supply? ALL! According to what and who? His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Not according to what the economy is telling us. Not according to what our circumstances look like or what man says, but according to His riches in Christ Jesus.

Our God loves us so much that He is not going to let us go without when we put our trust in Him. Sometimes we let our circumstances dictate what we have.

An example Joseph Prince used was that they were buying some land. He told his team to put in their bid on the land but not to worry over it, but to put it in God's hands. If they got the land then it was of God, and if they did not then it wasn't of God to start with.

That is how we trust in Him. Once we let go of our request into God's hands then He will bring it back to us multiplied, not the same but multiplied. But if we worry whether or not we will see increase, or whether or not we get the job we applied for, or whether or not our bid is accepted, then we have not truly trusted in Him, we are storing our manna just in case we need it for the next day. We are putting our faith in ourselves and our works instead of Him.

Phil. 4 v 11-13....Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.......

Now this verse is not telling us we must suffer like some would take it out of context to mean. No it is saying that no matter what we will abound because our trust is in Him and not on ourselves. If we go through a trial, that is just it, we will go through and not stop in the middle of it.

In other words, no matter what, we are content with the fact that our Lord, our God will provide and bring us through. And we will give Him praise and thanksgiving in all things, no matter what because our trust is in Him. AMEN!

Where can we learn to trust like this?

STAY IN THE WORD!

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Celebrate The Finished Work

A few years ago I started listening to a guy who shares God's word in such a way that when you have listened to him, you discover just how much God loves you and the work Jesus did on the cross was finished work. His death on the cross completed everything, our healing, our prosperity, our complete and total salvation. Salvation meaning whole complete, nothing missing, nothing lacking, nothing broken.

When we celebrate the Easter season we should be rejoicing in His finished work. He is no longer on the cross. He has risen and is seated at the right hand of the Father. Hallelujah! The good news is when He left this earth He left us a helper, the Holy Spirit. He said I will be with you always, I will never leave you nor forsake you.

He calls us His beloved. He says we are the righteousness of God. We are joint heirs with Him in the kingdom. We have it all yet sometimes we walk around like we are lacking.

How do we say we accept Him as our Lord and Savior but then we don't accept what the rest of His word tells us? How can we believe He died on the cross for our salvation, so that we might spend eternity with Him and the Father but yet we don't accept what the word salvation means?

God's will is always good, never bad. This Easter season is a good time to realize just how good God is, how much God loves us and just exactly who we are in Christ Jesus.

James 1 v 16-17....Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation of shadow of turning......

It is time we realize just what Jesus did when He died on that cross. It is time to quit negating the work on the cross. It is time to acknowledge who we are, what He died for, and quit giving the enemy so much attention. AMEN!

It is time for all Christians to start being who God called us to be. This doesn't mean walking around in judgement or condemnation to any who may not be of the same denomination we are, or even of the same faith.

We were called to take His gospel to the ends of the earth. We were called to be ambassadors for Christ Jesus. He went to the cross for ALL, not just for you and me or our denomination or only for Christians. Here is a question for us all. What were we before we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior?

2 Cor. 5 v 18-21...Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them , and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him......

Mark 13 v 10...and the gospel must first be preached to all the nations....

John 3 v 16-17....For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved....

He went to the cross over 2000 years ago and He finished the work on the cross. He is not waiting for us to finish it for Him. We can not work for or pay for or earn our forgiveness or our salvation in any way except that we accept His finished work on the cross. We have to accept that He paid it all with His death and resurrection.

We can't withhold sharing the gospel with someone because we think they don't look or dress or act exactly the way we feel they should. We can't withhold His good news because we might think they are unworthy of His finished work.

One of the worst things I hated to do when I was young and we had a fish camp was to have to clean the fish I caught. Daddy always said, "you catch them, you clean them."

Well praise God, He says, you fish, and I will clean. Our job is not to try to clean the fish. Our job is to share the good news and let God do His part. AMEN!

Have a Blessed Easter and celebrate the Finshed Work of the Cross.
Let me invite you to attend service with us if you do not have a home church.
LifeWay Church, 7621 Old Mocksville Rd, Salisbury, NC
Service Times 9am and 11am

STAY IN THE WORD!

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Who's Reading You

Have you ever heard the saying 'you are the only bible some people read' or 'you are the only Jesus some might see'? I am sure we have all heard that at sometime in our lives. But today while listening to a Pastor, he showed me a different way of seeing it.

2 Cor. 3 v 3....clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart......

This is how the Pastor put it this morning. We are God's love letters walking about. We read His word which is His love letter to us and then we walk it out as His love letters to the world. The world does not read His word, (His love letter) so the only love letter they are reading is us.

My question is what are people reading when they see me? Am I really walking out God's love letter to us? Are they reading a story full of joy and of hope, one full of love and abundance? Or one of despair and depression, one of lacking, and one of bitterness, and condemnation?

The scripture tells us that we are written not with ink on tablets of stone. In other words we are not to walk in the law, but that we are written of flesh of His heart. Jesus did not come to condemn the world but died on that cross so that the world through Him might be saved. That is the good news we want the world to be reading from us.

John 3 v 17....For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved......

The only way we can walk out God's love letter is to know it, to have it deeply rooted in our hearts. Remember the word tells us that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. How we talk, how we walk, how we react is what people of the world see. Are they seeing God and His love for them?

Matthew 12 v 34b...For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.....

We should always be walking in joy, abundance, with no lack in our lives as children of God. We should be rejoicing in all things, giving Him thanks and praise everyday in all things. When things are bad, (and I mean really bad) we should be rejoicing and giving Him thanks and praise. People will look at us as if we are peculiar, but then they will see us stand fast on what the word says. We have to stand on His promise that joy comes in the morning.

Jeremiah 31 v 13b.....For I will turn their mourning into joy, will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow....

Ps 30 v 5b....Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning....

PS 30 v 11-12....You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, to the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.....

God created us in His image. His image is not one of despair, depression, sadness, lack. His is one of Joy, Hope, Salvation, Good News, Redemption, Forgiveness, Compassion. But most of all He is LOVE. To describe God is to say He is LOVE.

So when we are walking about as children of God, as His love letters to the world. Let us remember who we are in Christ Jesus. Let us let His light shine through us and God's Agape Love flow through us, so that just like Jesus when He said to the fishermen, "Follow Me", they dropped everything and followed Him, people will want to know what we know. They will want to know more about this wonderful Savior Jesus Christ. They will be like His disciples ready and willing to drop everything to follow Him. They will want that peace, joy, abundance, they will want His promise of Salvation, hope, compassion, forgiveness.

Remember this, as this Easter season is approaching. Jesus is not in the tomb. He arose on the third day and is seated at the right hand of the Father. We should be rejoicing and singing His praises. He has conquered the grave and death. He has nailed the curse of the law to the cross, and now as we walk out His love letter, let His light shine on our faces so that others will read the right message and want to know Him as their Lord and Savior as well.

STAY IN THE WORD!

Friday, March 23, 2012

Check Your Words At the Door (the door of your heart)

Matt. 12 v 34 b For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.....

What do we have an abundance of in our lives? Do we have more than enough? Are we lacking in health, prosperity, or in our relationships?

What have we been speaking? Has it been good things or are we giving life to evil things?

Do we say things like, I'm poor, I'm broke, I can never catch up, if it wasn't for bad luck, I would have no luck at all....?

If those words are coming out of your mouth then that is what the abundance is in your heart. We have to replace those words with I am blessed coming and going. I am a highly favored child of God. I have more than enough always. I am in the right place at the right time.....

Are we saying things like, I feel like crud. I always get these headaches. It is that time of year I will have to deal with all these sinus issues. I've got to watch what I eat, my blood sugar might get high, my cholesterol might get high, my blood pressure is always on the high side.....

Replace those words with. ...I am healed by His stripes. I walk in excellent divine health everyday from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet. I have victory over every sickness, illness, disease because my Lord has nailed all sicknesses to the cross. Hallelujah.

What is the abundance in your heart that is overflowing through your mouth? What words are you giving life to? God's words, or the enemy's? Be careful who you share things with. Don't let someone else go around speaking evil over you giving life to the enemy's works and words. If you need healing only tell those who you know will be in agreement with you and will not speak of your circumstances over and over giving life to them. They will pray and then let God take over. If you are having a hard time with finances, don't go to those who will get on the band wagon and agree with you that yes times are tough and we just have to struggle to make it. That is a lie of the enemy. Go to God's word and let the Holy Spirit guide you and if need be get a financial person to help you with a plan for a budget. If your relationship is struggling, don't go tell all of your family members and friends who will take your side and blast your partner. Pray that God will bless your relationship and your partner and watch as He turns things around.

Our words bring forth good or evil.

Matthew 12 v 35.....A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things......

What words have you been speaking lately? Have you been walking in divine health or sickness? Have you been prosperous with more than enough or are you lacking, struggling to make ends meet? Are your relationships as they should be or are you struggling to get along?

Proverbs 16 v 24....Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.....

Proverbs 15 v 28....the heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil...

Check your words at the door. The door of your heart. Think before you speak. Choose your words wisely. Choose God's words in the place of your own or the enemy's. The enemy will try to entice you with your circumstances to say what is going on, or how you might be feeling, but don't use his words, use God's words and clean out your heart today by replacing all of those negative words of the enemy's with God's truth, His Word.

STAY IN THE WORD!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Who Are We To Question

Are you like the disciples when trouble comes or circumstances look bleak, do you question Jesus' authority over the situation? Do you question whether or not He can handle whatever it might be?

Well, then don't beat yourself up, the disciples who were walking with Him did the same. Look in Matthew 14 v 16-21 where Jesus told the disciples not to send the people away hungry to feed them. They said we only have five loaves and two fish. So Jesus took what they had gave thanks held it up to God and blessed it and broke it and they fed everyone there about five thousand men besides the women and children and had twelve baskets full left over.

Then Jesus and the disciples move on and they again are faced with feeding the people. Jesus says feed them so that they do not faint on their way home. So the disciples question where are we to get food in the wilderness? How can we satisfy this many people with only seven loaves? Jesus again took their bread held them up to heaven and blessed and borke it and fed the four thousand and had seven baskets full left over. Mark 8 v 1-10.

Ok now you think the disciples are getting it? Now they can see Jesus has fed the multitude twice, not counting the other miracles He was doing along the way. Like healing all those who came to Him along the way for healing.

So they get in the boat and take off, and the disciples had forgotten to take some bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. Finally Jesus is like guys do ya'll not get it? Why are you still concerned about not having enough when I have shown you over and over that God will provide?

Mark 8 v 17-21...But Jesus being aware of it, said to them, "Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?" They said to Him, "Twelve." "Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?" And they said, "Seven." So He said to them, "How is it you do not understand?"......

When God told Abraham that he would have his own child in his and Sarah's old age, Abraham could've said what? I don't know God, You might have missed the mark on this one. I am pretty old in my body and Sarah is past her child bearing years by a long shot. But, instead, Abraham believing God could do what He said He could do was fully convinced that he would become a father.

Romans 4 v 21....and not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about 100 years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised, He was also able to perform.......

Abraham was favored by God because of his faith he was found righteous in God's eyes. How much more so for us, we as children of God having accepted Jesus have been found righteous in God's eyes?

When God's word says we are healed by Jesus' stripes, we are prosperous because He became poor for our sakes, we will never lack in any area, because Jesus went to the cross and wiped out the curse of the law from us so that we might share in the Blessing of Abraham, then who are we to question?

Let us put our faith in His word and stay focused on His truth, and not on our circumstances. When the hard times come against us, and they will, let us be like Abraham and be fully convinced that God will do what He says He will do in His word. AMEN!

How can we be fully convinced when our circumstances are so clearly trying to drag us down?

STAY IN THE WORD!

Monday, March 12, 2012

Going Through A Storm

We have all heard how when the storm came and the boat was tossed about the disciples all got nervous, and told Jesus who by the way was in the boat with them, "Lord don't You care that we are about to perish"? They were like, how can You sleep at a time like this, why are You not up worrying and pacing the deck with us, keeping Your eye on the storm?

First of all they were so caught up in their circumstances, and keeping their eyes on that, they forgot WHO they had in the boat with them. All they could see was what was going on at the time.

The same with the episode when Jesus came walking on the water to the boat the disciples were in, and Peter said, Lord if that is You, call me out to You. Jesus said come on out, and Peter walked on the water just like Jesus. BUT, when the wind made a howling noise or maybe it was a streak of lightning, or a clap of thunder, Peter took his eyes off Jesus and turned them to the circumstances surrounding him, and immediately started sinking.

This past 3 weeks has been a type of storm for me. I have had some episodes that lead me to have to have surgery and then the recovery period was not going as planned, and I gotta tell ya, I took my eyes off of the finished work and the truth of the word and started focusing on my pain and circumstances. And then I started sinking. I was just about to go under for the last time when I cried out to Jesus and said why, why, You know I believe that I was healed already, why am I going through this?

Simple answer. Just like Peter I was looking around me at what was going on instead of keeping the truth surrounding me. Finally I told Rob, I need you to get my cd's of the word, I need the spoken word surrounding me, I need this room saturated with the truth so I can get all of these lies out of my head. And not just any word. I need Jesus' gospel, the good news, I need to be reminded of who I am in Christ, I need to remember the finished work on the cross. I need to be told I am His beloved what can man do to me? I need to renew my mind and get it back on the truth and off the lies of the enemy.

Within about 20 minutes I was asleep like a baby for the first time in 6 days and at complete rest, and never woke up with any of those circumstances that were pulling me under again.

When I went into surgery I went in with peace of mind and knowledge of who I was in Christ and no fear. I did not start having problems until I had some pain and then had some things spoken to me, that I started focusing on. That is why it is so important to be careful who you talk to when you are going through a storm.

Yesterday at church Pastor was teaching from Joshua 1. He was talking about the importance of our words. I write about these things all the time, but when the pain hit me, I had a very hard time focusing on anything. When you are having a hard time focusing you don't try to read a book or pay attention to anything except your pain. That is how the enemy gets you into his camp.

I mean yesterdays message was stepping all over my toes. But I was glad to have my toes crushed. We need to know when we are not where we need to be in the word. We need to be reminded of just exactly who we are in Christ Jesus. AMEN!

Joshua 1 v 9....Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go......

Heb. 13 v 5b-6...... For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you. So we may boldly say; "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"......

First God tells us that He will never leave us, and then Jesus came and told us the same. We do not have to go searching for them, they are with us always. You see He was in the boat with me the whole time, He was in the wilderness the whole time. So like the people wandering through the wilderness for 40 years because they could not see the truth before their eyes because of focusing on the circumstances, I too was wandering around in circles like a lost puppy being led around by my circumstances. UNTIL, I remembered who I was in Christ and then I let the truth, the spoken word wipe out those circumstances.

You see Jesus has already defeated anything that tries to come against us. He has already nailed it to the cross. The only power it has is when we give in to it and let it push us around. But we have authority over pain and all those things, we have authority through the spoken word.

So whatever you are going through today, Remember who you are in Christ Jesus, and go to the word and speak what He says about your situation. If you need healing go to IS 53 v 5, 1 Pet 2 v 24, PS 103 v 1-5, and PS 91 and PS 23.

Remember there is nothing lacking, nothing missing, nothing broken in your salvation. When you received your salvation you received your wholeness in Christ Jesus. Look to Him, keep your eyes on Him He is the finisher of your faith, not your circumstances. AMEN!

Go through the storm, don't stop in the middle of it, keep moving and you will come out on the other side as the VICTOR.
How can you keep moving when you don't feel like you have the strength?

STAY IN THE WORD!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

To Pray Or Not To Pray Out Loud

That is the question. Christians are fighting for the right to pray publicly and use Jesus name. I have been reading in the paper lately accounts of Christians voicing their opinions about the ACLU wanting to ban the prayers ending with in Jesus name, before County Board meetings here in our county. They are not wanting to ban prayer altogether, they do not want the prayers being ended with In Jesus name, because all the board members may not be Christians. If we are praying in silence who knows whose name we are ending our prayers in? Hello.....GOD KNOWS. You can't hide what is in your heart from God.

First of all let me make this very clear, I am a Christian and I know the Lord Jesus as my personal savior, not just on Sundays, Wed. or at a special mass for Christmas or Easter. I know Him everyday and spend time with Him everyday in His word. So that no one thinks I am taking sides with the ACLU, let's just make that clear.

However spending quality time in His word daily helps me to see Him clearly and the way He would have us to treat others.

How do we know when something is of the Lord or of man? If there is condemnation involved it is of man. If there is no condemnation it is of the Lord.

Romans. 8 v 1-2...There is therefore now, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death...

If we as Christians are causing people to feel condemnation then we are not presenting the gospel Jesus gave us to teach.

God Himself said He sent His Son, so that the world might be saved not condemned. I'm not saying they may not feel conviction to change. I'm saying we do not cause them to feel condemned using Jesus' name.

John 3 v 17...For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.....

We do not have to pray out loud for God to hear us. We can pray out loud but it is not a command from God, He knows our every thought. AMEN! We need to take Him out of the box we try to keep Him in.

Matthew 6 v 5-8....And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore, do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. ......

First of all where is your room? Where is the secret place? If you are a Christian it is in you. God resides in you. The secret place of the Lord is resting in His word. Having understanding of His word deep in our hearts.

So instead of fighting to pray out loud in public in our work place, why can we not do as was suggested and take a moment of silence to pray to our Father in secret as He has instructed us to do? And those who are not Christians can pray to whomever they wish as well in silence.

God says all authority is ordained by Him. He didn't say some, He said ALL.

Romans 13 v 1-2.....Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves......

I'm not saying that Christians should compromise their faith in any way that would go against the word of God. I'm just saying God knows what is in our hearts and He hears us when we pray, whether it is out loud or in silence.

For every action there is a reaction and then there is a result. We need to be careful what results we might get.....

Someone told me long ago, not to fight so hard to get prayer back in school. For if we allow Christians to pray publicly in school then we must also allow all other forms of religion to pray their prayers as well. So what would you rather have your child learning at school, prayers of an atheist or Buddhism, or any other form of religion other than Christianity? You will not be there to supervise and to correct whatever beliefs are being taught to your children when this is allowed. So they would be getting fed the wrong teachings according to our Christian faith, all because we had to lean on our own understanding instead of letting God show us in His word what to do. God says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Well, what if the hearing is not the word of God but the word of Buddha? What then is your child's faith being built upon, since they spend the majority of their time in school?

Just like with the ten commandments. We fight very hard to keep them present for everyone to see, yet the word tells us that Jesus died on the cross to fulfill those commandments once and for all. When Moses brought the ten commandments down the people perished because they could not keep the law. The people were not allowed to touch the ark that contained the law or they would die.

The law was how God showed us we needed a Savior. I'm not saying He did away with the ten commandments, I'm saying He fullfilled them. So why would we want to keep them before our eyes instead of His gospel?

When Jesus died on the cross and brought Grace to us, three thousand were saved.

We need to get caught up with the word and know what is written and when it was written before or after the cross. The law was the old covenant and Jesus is our new covenant. Jesus brings us life and tells us to come to Him.

Acts 2 v 41....Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them....

In Acts we go on to see that as long as the apostles were teaching the grace and forgiveness of Christ Jesus, (the cross and Him crucified) there were more and more being saved. That is the love of God.

So I guess I say all of this to remind us to not react out of our flesh when something comes against our faith but to instead respond with the love of Christ. Take a deep breath, get His word out and see what does He (not your church doctrine) tell you to do in your situation. We need to look to Him for the answer and not just react.

It reminds me of a saying that I've often heard, sometimes the best way to show we are a Christian is not with words but with our actions.

I am also reminded of the story of the woman caught in the act of adultery. Jesus forgave the woman with His unearned, undeserved, unmerited favor. He extended her His grace. And she went away and sinned no more. Why? Not because she saw what was written in the law, but because she saw His love.

He reacted to the situation with LOVE.
Remember Jesus gave us all free will and never meant for us to force His name on anyone.

The best way to learn how to respond and not react is to

STAY IN THE WORD!

Religious Education

I found this in my bible study today and thought it very interesting.

The religious education of children was the parent's responsiblity (Deut. 11:19, 32:46) No exceptions were made for parents who felt they were too busy to teach. Even when children came of age and married, the parents' responsibility did not end; they also had an important part in educating the grand-children (Deut 4:9). In fact, they often lived in the same house.

The Israelite father was ultimately responsible for the education of the children, but mothers also played a crucial role, especially until a child reached the age of five. During those formative years she was expected to shape the future of her sons and daughters.

Clearly, parents wanted to see the proverb come true: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Prov 22:6)

When a boy became old enough to work with his father, the father became his principal teacher, even though the mother continued to share in the teaching responsibility (Prov 1:8, 9, 6:20) If someone other than the father had to assume the responsibility of teaching a boy, then that person was considered his "father."

How much wisdom we can gain by reading a chapter of Proverbs daily. AMEN!

If we ask first for wisdom each day and then combine with the love of Christ, we can't go wrong.

I for one am so glad I have the Lord to help me to guide my future grandchildren with His word.

STAY IN THE WORD!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Where Is His Power

Where can we find the same power Jesus had while He walked on the earth with us, going about healing all who were oppressed by the enemy?

Ephes. 3 v 20.....Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us........

According to this scripture the power is in us. When Jesus left the earth He left us with His power, the Holy Spirit in us.

Acts 1 v 5....for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.....

Acts 1 v 8...But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.....

When we are in need of the power of God in our lives, we have only to look into ourselves. God resides within us as the Holy Spirit. First we must know what His will in our situation is, and only then can we tap into the power that is within us.

Remember, the power of God can only be found where the will of God is known.

Let me put it this way. Say we were going down the road and we had a flat tire. What would be the first thing we would do? Get our spare out of the trunk to fix it. Why? Because we know where the spare is and we know what to do with it. We have knowledge in that situation.

Well, say we are going down the road and our car just stops running. What would we do? First we would have to find out what the problem is with the car, so that we can have it repaired. How do we know where to look? We call a mechanic, someone who has knowledge of the situation. We then trust them to fix it.

The same is true with whatever problems we are facing today. We only have to find in His word what He says His will is about our situation and then trust Him when He says we have the power within us to overcome any situation. We have to realize exactly Who the Holy Spirit is that resides within us. We have to realize that God's will for us is always good.

John 16 v 33..."These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, "I have overcome the world."......

We must have knowledge of His will in the situation so that we can trust in His power to bring us through. Where do we find this knowledge? Romans 10 v 17 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 8 v 37...Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us......

Recognize the enemy for who he is, sickness, diseases, poverty, malice, strife, weakness of any sort, and then recognize who you are in Christ Jesus. You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. You have the Holy Spirit residing in you, the same power that worked in Christ Jesus now works in you. You have authority over the enemy. AMEN!

Ephes. 3 v 16-19....that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strenghthened with might (power) through His Spirit in the inner man, (Holy Spirit), that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend (have knowledge of God's will) with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height, to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; (your own understanding) that you may be filled with all the fullness of God......

What is God's will for us? Where do we find His Perfect will? Where do we find the answers to these questions, so that we may find the Power of Jesus?

STAY IN THE WORD!

www.godstidbitstome.blogspot.com

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

How's God's Forgiveness Works

You have heard me say and others how one scripture in the Bible is misquoted so many times. And that is the scripture about money. You hear people say "Money is the root of all evil", When in fact the scripture says, "The love of money is the root of all evil". You see it is not money that is evil, it is the love of money.

Well, there is another scripture that is taken out of context just as frequently, and I cringe even more when I hear this one. It is found in Mark. I only got a revelation of this myself about 3 years ago, and I am so sorry for every time I used it wrong.

Mark 11 v 25-26....And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.......

Yes this is Jesus speaking, but this is before the cross. Once Jesus died on the cross your sins were forgiven. and it was not by any works of yours. He died for ALL sins for EVERYONE, past present and future. To say that you have to forgive someone so that you can be forgiven would be to cancel out His FINISHED work on the cross. That would be you having to work for or earn your forgiveness. And that is just simply not true.

Forgiveness is Jesus' Grace to us. Free, unmerited, undeserved, unearned GRACE. We can not or will not ever be able to work for it, or earn it in any way through how good we are or how much we forgive anyone.

The reason I cringe when I hear that scripture is because there are so many hurting people out there who have been wronged in horrible ways that it takes time for them to be able to forgive. They need to know that God loves them anyway and that He forgives them even when they can't bring themselves to forgive those who have hurt them. His love will be sufficient for them to overcome their unforgiveness for others. It may just take some time.

Yes Forgvieness gives you a release, a freedom to be able to love more. Unforgiveness is a sin, and it is like a disease that will eat at you until it destroys you. But to tell people that they can not have God's forgiveness something His Son died on the cross for is a lie from the devil. It is another one of those times when the devil is quoting the word to you but taking it out of context like he did with Jesus in the dessert. Just like Jesus you have to rebuke him and tell him that yes the word does say that, but it is also written, that Jesus died on the cross for ALL sins, and He took care of that unforgiveness with His love for all of us not just some of us.

Let me show those who are dealing with unforgiveness how forgiveness will work in your favor. This is the scripture that helped me.

Romans 12 v 19...Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, " says the Lord. .....

This scripture is the Lord telling us to let it go, give it to Him, He wants to free us from this disease of unforgiveness that is eating away at us. Unforgiveness is our form of vengeance. He wants us to be healed of unforgiveness so that we can live. So that we can have that life that He promised us, an abundant life.

When we try to hold on to unforgiveness we are telling the Lord to take a seat that this problem is too big for Him to handle that we are bigger than Him and that we will have to take care of this one ourself. WOW! When a pastor told me that about my unforgiveness, it really hit me like a ton of bricks. I immediately apologized to the Lord for thinking that I was more able than Him.

You see God says that vengeance is His. So when we try to hold on to unforgiveness it is like we are taking something that does not belong to us. We are stealing from God in a sense. I am telling you once you get a revelation of this scripture and realize that you are holding on to something that does not belong to you and put it in its rightful place, give it to GOD, you will be set free. You will feel that release, you will see your unforgiveness under the Blood. And everytime it tries to rear its ugly head, just say take it up with God, you are not my problem anymore.

How can we find it in our hearts to forgive those who have wronged us?

STAY IN THE WORD!

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

We All Forget Sometimes

I was reminded of how easily we forget sometimes, at a recent service, Pastor had titled "Forget Not". He asked a question about which verses he had used at the last service. You see we go to church we listen and we get filled with a message and we are all excited about the message we just heard. Then we go to lunch and usually after lunch or by the end of the day we have forgotten most of what we heard. Come on now all you holier than thous, you know I'm not the only who doesn't always remember the message.

Here is the point, when we hear something that really means something to us, we tell our brains this is important, I want to remember this. But a lot of times if we don't write it down, we forget exactly what it was we wanted to remember. If we don't spend time with something it becomes a faint memory, sometimes lost all together. That is why it is so important that we STAY IN THE WORD.

(A lesson learned while I was a Mary Kay Sales Director.....The faintest ink is better than your memory.....In other words if you do not want to forget, write it down.)

Now I am not a preacher nor do I want to preach Pastor's message but I would like to share some good points that I received from him for my tid-bit readers today.

The scripture below is the one Pastor used during this service. How do I know? I wrote it down.

PS 103 v 2....Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:......

Let's stop right there for a minute. Here David is telling us not to forget all God's benefits toward us. Then he goes on to list some of them. I can gaurantee that all of us have forgotten some of these benefits if not all of them at one time or other in our lives. Let's look at the benefits and you tell me. (Read all of PS 103.)

Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles. Who executes justice for all who are oppressed, Who is slow to anger and abounding in mercy, Who did not deal with us according to our sins or punished us according to our iniquities, (why?) (Because Jesus took all that on the cross)
Who removed our sins as far away from us as the East is from the West. Whose mercy is everlasting to everlasting and His righteousness to our childrens children, Whose kingdom rules over all, (the kingdom you are an heir to)....

Okay, now let's ask the question again. How many of us have read that scripture before in our lives? Now, how many of us have forgotten when we felt sick or pain that we WERE healed at the cross? How many of us have forgotten that He said He remembers our sins no more and that He is not angry with us? How many of us have grown tired and forgotten that He says He will renew our youth like the eagle's? How many of us have forgotten that He says He will free the oppressed?

You see how easy it is to forget when we do not meditate on what it is we are wanting to remember? That is why God tells us in His word to keep His word before us. To meditate on His word.

Prov. 4 v 20-22....My son, give attention to my words; incline your ears to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.....

These are the instructions of a father to his son. These are the instructions for wisdom. Let us seek our Heavenly Father's wisdom in all things. God tells us in His word, to forget not.

How do we fight a battle without a weapon sufficient to fight with? Would a fire fighter go into a blazing fire without wearing the proper fire fighter's gear? Our weapon is the Word of God. We do not need any other words, or any other weapons to fight againt the enemy who is telling us we are unworthy, or we are sick, or we are poor. We only need the WORD to fight those battles. How do we keep from forgetting all of His benefits and win our battles?

Pastor also said something like this, 'the power of God can only be claimed where the will of God is known'. .....

We must not forget who He says we are, what He says we can have, and what He says we can do in His name. AMEN! We must not forget what His will for us is.

STAY IN THE WORD!

Visit us at LifeWay Church located at 7621 Old Mocksville Rd where you can experience a New way of Life, Loving God, Loving People, and Serving both........and where you can get Pastor's entire message firsthand and not just off my memory........

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Imagine This Scenario

Everywhere we go, there is a presence with us. Are we always aware of this presence? Let's find out.

1st scenario.......all the bills are due and we are scratching our head trying to figure out where the money is going to come from, we keep telling our friends how broke we are and how we can never seem to catch up....

2nd scenario.....we are trying to fight off this annoying cough and sniffles that just will not leave us, we have tried every cough medicine and sinus medicine on the shelves at the drug store, so we call all of our friends or family and ask them what would they take or do......

3rd scenario..... we are applying for a great job but there are so many others applying as well, we call all of our friends and tell them about the job and ask them to keep their fingers crossed that we get the job.....

4th scenario.....our marriage is on the rocks and falling apart, we talk to our friends and we read all the books on how to please our spouse, we go to the marriage counselors, and yet we still are not getting along......

5th scenario....our loved one is in a horrific accident and we are told they will not make it, that it will take a miracle, so we call out to God and ask Him for a miracle......

Now imagine this scenario, the presence that was there jumping up and down saying ask Me, ask Me, in all of these scenarios but we did not ask until we felt like we could not handle it on our own. He was there saying trust Me and let me supply all your need, (Matthew 6 v 31) ( Phillipians 4 v 19) have Faith in My finished work on the cross that you are healed from ALL your diseases, (Isaiah 53 v 5) walk with Me and let Me cover you with My favor in ALL things, (Psalm 5 v 12) seek Me first and let Me give you counsel and wisdom and hear what I have to say about what I have joined together, ( Matthew 6 v 33, James 1 v 5) and feel free to ask Me for anything and it will be given to you (John 14 v 14).

Oh and you don't have to call out, or holler, I AM the presence that is right here with you, I said I would never leave you nor forsake you, (Hebrews 13 v 5). I AM (not was) the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13 v 8). I AM (not was) still working miracles and answering prayers. I AM (not was) on your side, I AM (not was) for you and not against you. I AM (not was) still in love with you just as much as I was the day I died on the cross for you. Nothing can separate you from My love. (Romans 8 v 35-39)

I AM here and ready to help you. All you have to do is ask of Me anything and then believe.

I AM and will always be here to go through every scenario you go through.......

How can we know that He is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do?

STAY IN THE WORD!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Egg Money

Has there been a time while at church there was a call for a special offering for a visiting pastor or missionary and you wanted to help by contributing, but you felt like you just did'nt have enough to make a difference? The same with giving your regular tithes and offerings at church or pledging to help build a new building or to give into a mission fund. Sometimes we feel like I've only got two dollars, what good will that do anyone? So we hold on to our two dollars and that two dollars remains just that...... two dollars.

Here is where we miss the mark. That two dollars for us in the natural is just two dollars. But when we let go of that two dollars and give it to God, it becomes more than enough, pressed down, shaken together, an abundance overflowing pouring out.

Luke 6 v 38..."Give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."....

Sometimes I feel like because I do not work that I do not have anything to give into His kingdom. Yes, I know I share in my husbands tithe, but sometimes, the Holy Spirit leads me to give into other things like the missions. One day when I was thinking like this, the Holy Spirit said you've got $3 of egg money in your purse, give that. I thought I'm not even going to waste an envelope on $3. what good will that do anyone in the missions. God said you're right, $3 wouldn't be much help to anyone, and then just as I was getting ready to pat myself on the back because I thought God was agreeing with me, He said, but $3 to Me is not just $3. He said I can take your $3 and make it $30, $300, $3000. He said I will make your $3 more than enough, pressed down shaken together, running over.

Matthew 13 v 8...But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.....

Luke 19 v 17...."Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.".....

In the verse above God is telling us that if we are faithful stewards over the little we have, He will multiply, not to only bless us with more than enough, but so that we may be able to meet even more needs. Just a little extra tidbit, you can't outgive God!

We have to get a revelation of what it means to be a faithful giver and tither. My son told me one day something that has always stuck with me. He gave some money to a person on the street who was collecting for missions, and me in my doubting, suspecting old person that I was back then asked, why would you do that, when I knew he didn't have much more than what he had gave the guy? He said "Mom, when I give that money with the right heart into the kingdom of God, the minute it leaves my hand it is no longer mine, but God's. That money is no longer my responsibility." He said, "I can't concern myself with whether or not that person does the right thing with the money, my part is done and BLESSED. I was obedient to the Holy Spirit and gave and now my seed I sowed is blessed." It will become more than enough for what I gave it."

Here are the key ingredients with giving into the kingdom. Be a Happy, Generous, Faithful Giver. In other words, don't give grudgingly, don't give without faith, and don't hold on to what you gave after you have given it. When you let go and deposit your seed into His kingdom, don't look back and wonder and worry over that seed. You have to truly let go of that seed so that God can super-naturally multiply it with His blessing.

2 Cor. 9 v 7-8...So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. and God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.....

The questions to us today is, Are we trying to hold on to our egg money with wrong thinking? We need to let go and trust God, that He is faithful to do what He says He will do. And watch our egg money grow and feed His Kingdom. AMEN!

STAY IN THE WORD!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Let Go And Move Forward

When the new year starts we seem to always want to make resolutions that we are going to do better, eat better, exercise more, well you get the picture. This year instead of looking at last year as a failure in some of those areas, I have decided to forget and move on.

The word tells us to do this when we come to have a relationship with Jesus. We become new creatures and our past wrongs are just that, past. And the Lord even goes so far as to say they are forgotten.

Hebrews 10 v 16-17...."This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord; I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them, " then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."......

Some people say don't teach that way, people will think they have free reign to sin. Well, I do not believe that when a person comes to Christ Jesus that they continue to have a desire to sin. You see the word says first that He will put His laws into our hearts and minds. In other words once you become a Christian you have a desire to know Jesus better and the way you get to know Him better is through His word. When we spend time in His word He is writing them on our minds and in our hearts.

Pastor used some really good scriptures this week that really got me to thinking about the new year and how I want to spend each day. Here is what I got from the teaching this week, and I will be paraphrasing the scriptures so look them up for yourselves to see what they actually say and what you get.

Philippians 3 v 13-14. Forget those things which are behind and press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. In other words what I got was get over what has passed and move on, but make your goal to spend more time with Jesus each day. Remember God says "seek Me first and My Kingdom and all other things shall be added unto you". What things did He say will be added? ALL! That means if it is your health, your weight, your finances, your relationship, your job whatever area you want to do excel in this year, then FIRST SEEK HIM.

Heb. 12 v 1-2. Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which we are so easily trapped by and let us run the race with endurance looking to Jesus as our finish line and prize. Now don't get into condemnation over this one, thinking that you have to do good to reach Jesus and finish your race. No that is not what this is saying. Like Pastor said Sunday, all weights are not sin. For me a weight that traps me up is Facebook. Pastor also made the comment that someone had said that Facebook is proof positive you had time to read the word and spend with the Lord. WOW! I know that for sure. I can get on there and play scrabble or other games and the next thing you know it has been 2-3 hours. Ok, all you holier than thou ones out there that think I spend way too much time on facebook, let me just ask you, what is your weight? What is keeping you away from spending quality time with the Lord in His word each day? Is it hunting or fishing, or baseball or football or sewing or crafting or reading and watchiing TV or playing other type games? Like I said, weights are not always sin. They are just something that holds you down and keeps you from reaching the goal, grabbing the prize.

1 Cor 9 v 24. Everyone might run in the race but only one wins the prize. Here again don't think just because you didn't win the first prize doesn't mean you didn't win. When we finish our race, when we actually do what we set out to do and complete our goal we have won. We might not have come in first. We might not spend 3 hours a day in the word, but if we would take time to FIRST seek Him and spend time with Him each day, we will have won the greatest prize of all. Quality time with our Lord and Savior. Quality time with the One who laid it all down at the cross for us. Quality time with the one who is not going to throw up our past mistakes to us but the One who will be encouraging us all the way to the finish line. The One who every time a weight tries to trap us or pull us down, He will be there in His word to give us the strength to get up and enjoy the victory that He has already attained for us over 2000 years ago on the cross when He said it is FINISHED.
It is completed.

We can make this new year our best ever. Find a scripture to meditate on daily for the year 2012 and seek Him first each day and let His wisdom guide us through the race of 2012 so that we all finish with the prize. The prize being Jesus. AMEN!

My scripture this year shall be PS 23 v 1...The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.....
This is my meditation, I shall not lack in any area of my life because the Lord says so, and His word is TRUTH.

STAY IN THE WORD!