I love the mornings when I have time to get up and settle down with my cup of tea or coffee and get my Bible and start praying for God's guidance and His wisdom as I read His word. It is such a peaceful relaxing time. No worries, no stress overhanging, just one on one time with God.
This is the time that we can take for ourselves, to just rest in Him and lean on Him. This is the time to tell Him all of our troubles, instead of getting on the phone and calling our friends and family to vent, we take this time to tell Him what is bothering us. It is surprising how fast our troubles can get smaller and even dissappear altogether when we take them to Him instead of building them bigger by telling everyone else our problems.
This is the time that God is talking about in PS 91 when He says he who dwells in the secret place of the Most High. He wasn't talking about hiding in a closet (unless you need to in order to get by yourself) or going to some mountain top. He is talking about just taking some one on one time with Him and His word.
When I was working, I found that when I took the time to spend with Him first, my job that day went a whole lot easier. When we take the time to saturate ourselves with His word, then the world's junk can not stick to us throughout our workday. It is like covering ourselves with Holy Oil and everything else just slips right off.
When you read PS 91 change the word you to I and me and make it personal. That is how God intended for it to be. Let it read like this.....
PS91....When I dwell in the secret place of the Most High, I shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, You are my refuge and my fortress; in You I will trust. Surely You shall deliver me from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. You shall cover me with Your feathers, and under Your wings I shall take refuge; Your truth shall be my shield and buckler, I shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at my side and ten thousand at my right hand, but it shall not come near me. Only with my eyes shall I look and see the reward of the wicked. Because I have made You my refuge, even the Most High my dwelling place. No evil shall befall me, nor shall any plague come near my dwelling. For You will give Your angels charge over me, to keep me in all my ways. In their hands they shall bear me up, lest I dash my foot against a stone. I shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent I shall trample underfoot.
Because I have set my love upon You, therefore, You will deliver me. You will set me on high because I have known Your name. I will call upon You and You will answer me. You will be with me in my times of trouble. You will deliver me and honor me with long life and You will satisfy me and show me Your salvation. AMEN.............
Now after God talks to us like that, how can anything the world has to throw at us stick. That is His Holy Oil annointing you. His Word is your protection, your nourishment, your salvation. His Word is everything you need to survive. His Word is TRUTH.
You might say, I feel so defeated, how can I go on? Open His WORD and let His TRUTH set you free. His WORD is a personal love letter written to you. Read it, believe it, and then let go and let God have the leading role in your life.
STAY IN THE WORD!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Christmas Manger
While speaking at my brother-in-loves's church one year at Christmas, I was speaking on the true meaning of Christmas. I was talking about the manger, and my brother-in-love brought up a good point. He said the word manger means a box or trough to eat from. Then he said, do you think that was a sign of our first Holy communion? What a great question.
God gave us His Son and there was no where for Him to lay but in a manger. A feed box for the animals.
Luke 2 v 6-7...So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn......
Manger; a box or trough used for feeding the animals
Then the night Jesus was betrayed, He had the last supper with His disciples. He told us that as often as we eat the bread and wine to remember Him. He said when we partake of this bread and wine we proclaim His death till He comes. He offered Himself up for all of us, not just some, but for all. The last supper, that means there had to be one before. I believe the first was the night He was born.
1 Cor. 11 v 23-25....For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you; that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "take eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.".....
What is He telling us here? I believe He is telling us that when we receive Holy communion, we receive Him into ourselves. We are claiming everything He died on that cross for. He died for our salvation.
SALVATION, Sozo, It means in the literal Greek, "saved, delivered, healed, protected; to be made whole spirit, soul, body, financially and socially
It means complete, finished, whole, nothing lacking.
The Father first gave us this gift on the birth of Jesus, His only begotten Son, born in a stable and laid in a manger. The first Holy Communion.
This was the gift Jesus gave to us. His life. You will not receive a greater gift than this on Christmas.
What better way to remember Him and celebrate His birthday than to receive the Lord's Supper this Sunday.
Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth Goodwill toward all men. AMEN!
STAY IN THE WORD!
God gave us His Son and there was no where for Him to lay but in a manger. A feed box for the animals.
Luke 2 v 6-7...So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn......
Manger; a box or trough used for feeding the animals
Then the night Jesus was betrayed, He had the last supper with His disciples. He told us that as often as we eat the bread and wine to remember Him. He said when we partake of this bread and wine we proclaim His death till He comes. He offered Himself up for all of us, not just some, but for all. The last supper, that means there had to be one before. I believe the first was the night He was born.
1 Cor. 11 v 23-25....For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you; that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "take eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.".....
What is He telling us here? I believe He is telling us that when we receive Holy communion, we receive Him into ourselves. We are claiming everything He died on that cross for. He died for our salvation.
SALVATION, Sozo, It means in the literal Greek, "saved, delivered, healed, protected; to be made whole spirit, soul, body, financially and socially
It means complete, finished, whole, nothing lacking.
The Father first gave us this gift on the birth of Jesus, His only begotten Son, born in a stable and laid in a manger. The first Holy Communion.
This was the gift Jesus gave to us. His life. You will not receive a greater gift than this on Christmas.
What better way to remember Him and celebrate His birthday than to receive the Lord's Supper this Sunday.
Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth Goodwill toward all men. AMEN!
STAY IN THE WORD!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Stretching A Meal So That None Go Hungry
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where pay day is a long way off and you still gotta feed your kids? You go to the cupboards and they look bare. It looks hopeless. I have to tell the truth, I lived that life for many years, and I gotta say,
I learned alot of ways to make food stretch.
This is a time of year when people seem to think about the homeless and the hungry more so than the rest of the year. I always thought it funny, how people must have thought we only got hungry at Christmas or Thanksgiving. Don't get me wrong I always appreciated the help I got from others at this time of year, but I have to say there were days when my stomach was empty during the rest of the year that caused me to wonder why.
When I would start to worry about where the next meal for me to feed my kids was, there would always be enough. You see God is no respector of men, and although I did not have a relationship with Him during these times, He always came through. It seemed as though the potatos I would peel look so few, but then they would seem to grow in the pan. Kind of reminds me of another story about a couple of fish. (Matthew14 v 17-18). And don't even get me started on how many beans we ate. To this day I stilll love pinto beans and whenever I feel blah and feel like I just can't seem to get satisfied, nothing makes me feel better than some beans and tortillas.
Some people would go through times like these and say "I will never eat another bean". Not so with me. I will always appreciate the days those beans literally saved me from starving and remember God always comes through even if I hadn't asked Him for His help.
Just like we can make our food stretch so that we do not go hungry, we can also nourish ourselves on His word. God did tell us that man does not live on bread alone but from every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. (Deut. 8 v 3).
You may say, I just do not have enough time to spend learning the word, there is just way too much, I could never learn it all. You would be half right. There is alot of word and the word will never finish teaching us all there is to know. But we can take it one verse at a time. We can find where in the word our help comes from and meditate on that, and once we get that not just into our heads but into our hearts, then we can move on to the next verse or scripture passage that nourishes our needs at that time.
Just like making a pot of beans stretch to feed us until we get more food, we can make a passage of scripture stretch and feed us, for as long as we need to. There is no expiration date on God's word and it will never sour or go bad. And once that passage has led us through we can start feeding on a different passage.
I don't know why the Lord led me to write on this today except that while fixing a pot of chilli and remembering all the ways I use to stretch that chili, I felt like maybe someone would like to know how to make a meal stretch and feed their kids and at the same time remind them to feed on His word as well and they would never go hungry.
Remember those who are less fortunate and donate food to your local food pantrys and shelters all the time, but especially now when they are trying to feed so many. God Bless you for helping to feed His children.
Please find at the bottom of page a recipe for chilli and how to stretch it into many meals.
STAY IN THE WORD!
Chilli
1 pound ground beef, 1 can of diced tomatos, 1 can of black beans or refried beans, chilli spices (like, chilli powder, cumin, garlic powder, red pepper, salt and black pepper) 1 small onion chopped up.
Brown meat, with onions and spices, add can of beans and tomatos and bring to a low boil. Let simmer and thicken. Freeze and take cut off little at a time to mix with water to make chilli soup.
Now when supper times comes, take a couple of ladels of chilli and mix in a boiler with a little water. You now have chilli soup. Grill some cheese sandwiches and a salad to make a meal. Depending on how many you are feeding you can have enough chilli in the freezer to make soup about 3 -4 times.
Don't forget to have chili for breakfast as well with a boiled egg. I can remember eating this many mornings while pregnant with my oldest son. I couldn't afford bacon or ham so I used the next best thing. Chilli from my freezer. Maybe one day I will share with you all the ways to cook a potato. One of my favorites french fry sandwiches with ketchup.
I learned alot of ways to make food stretch.
This is a time of year when people seem to think about the homeless and the hungry more so than the rest of the year. I always thought it funny, how people must have thought we only got hungry at Christmas or Thanksgiving. Don't get me wrong I always appreciated the help I got from others at this time of year, but I have to say there were days when my stomach was empty during the rest of the year that caused me to wonder why.
When I would start to worry about where the next meal for me to feed my kids was, there would always be enough. You see God is no respector of men, and although I did not have a relationship with Him during these times, He always came through. It seemed as though the potatos I would peel look so few, but then they would seem to grow in the pan. Kind of reminds me of another story about a couple of fish. (Matthew14 v 17-18). And don't even get me started on how many beans we ate. To this day I stilll love pinto beans and whenever I feel blah and feel like I just can't seem to get satisfied, nothing makes me feel better than some beans and tortillas.
Some people would go through times like these and say "I will never eat another bean". Not so with me. I will always appreciate the days those beans literally saved me from starving and remember God always comes through even if I hadn't asked Him for His help.
Just like we can make our food stretch so that we do not go hungry, we can also nourish ourselves on His word. God did tell us that man does not live on bread alone but from every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. (Deut. 8 v 3).
You may say, I just do not have enough time to spend learning the word, there is just way too much, I could never learn it all. You would be half right. There is alot of word and the word will never finish teaching us all there is to know. But we can take it one verse at a time. We can find where in the word our help comes from and meditate on that, and once we get that not just into our heads but into our hearts, then we can move on to the next verse or scripture passage that nourishes our needs at that time.
Just like making a pot of beans stretch to feed us until we get more food, we can make a passage of scripture stretch and feed us, for as long as we need to. There is no expiration date on God's word and it will never sour or go bad. And once that passage has led us through we can start feeding on a different passage.
I don't know why the Lord led me to write on this today except that while fixing a pot of chilli and remembering all the ways I use to stretch that chili, I felt like maybe someone would like to know how to make a meal stretch and feed their kids and at the same time remind them to feed on His word as well and they would never go hungry.
Remember those who are less fortunate and donate food to your local food pantrys and shelters all the time, but especially now when they are trying to feed so many. God Bless you for helping to feed His children.
Please find at the bottom of page a recipe for chilli and how to stretch it into many meals.
STAY IN THE WORD!
Chilli
1 pound ground beef, 1 can of diced tomatos, 1 can of black beans or refried beans, chilli spices (like, chilli powder, cumin, garlic powder, red pepper, salt and black pepper) 1 small onion chopped up.
Brown meat, with onions and spices, add can of beans and tomatos and bring to a low boil. Let simmer and thicken. Freeze and take cut off little at a time to mix with water to make chilli soup.
Now when supper times comes, take a couple of ladels of chilli and mix in a boiler with a little water. You now have chilli soup. Grill some cheese sandwiches and a salad to make a meal. Depending on how many you are feeding you can have enough chilli in the freezer to make soup about 3 -4 times.
Don't forget to have chili for breakfast as well with a boiled egg. I can remember eating this many mornings while pregnant with my oldest son. I couldn't afford bacon or ham so I used the next best thing. Chilli from my freezer. Maybe one day I will share with you all the ways to cook a potato. One of my favorites french fry sandwiches with ketchup.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
My Gift To Jesus This Season
Have you given any thought to what you might give to the Lord for His birthday? I have to be honest, until I saw a sign at a local church about what gift will you give Christ on Christmas, I hadn't really thought about a gift for Him. Isn't that strange? How many other people would we celebrate their birthdays and give gifts to everyone but the birthday person?
This message is not to bring condemnation to anyone about the way they choose to celebrate Christmas. Let's get rid of that notion right off. No, instead this message is a way of causing us to pause and give some thought to what can I give Christ this year? This is what I came up with.
During the Easter season there are some religions who celebrate lent by giving up something that is a sacrifice in some way, like desserts, or coffee, or eating meat, you get the picture.
Why not for Christmas, say we do something like try to change one thing in our daily routine so that we can give Him a few moments of our time each day.
Remember the song, "Little Drummer Boy". He was a poor little boy who had no material posessions to give. But he did have a special talent, playing the drum. So he played a song for Him. And he didn't just play any ole song. He played his best for Him.
We do not have to have alot of money or a special musical talent. Our Pastor was saying Sunday that Jesus gives us the best present of all, that is being PRESENT with us at all times. He never leaves us. He went on to explain when we do give Jesus some of our time, to give Him our best time. In other words not at the end of the day when we are so tired we can't go another step, or keep our eyes open another minute.
There needs to be a time of day that we can set aside especially on purpose for the Lord each day. A time that we can sit at His feet and worship Him and learn from Him through His word. In other words some quality time.
I think this would be the best present we could give to Jesus on His birthday. Special one on one time with just Him. How many children or parents know that this is what they appreciate most from each other? One on one time, not the material gifts.
Do not let the Christmas season get you down, or stress you out. That was never God's intention. He did not send His Son to the world to bring us stress everytime His birthday came around. He sent Him so that through Him we could know His peace and His grace, and to give us the greatest gift of all, the gift of Salvation, the gift of Eternal Life with Him and the Father.
Luke 2 v 8-14....Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth "peace, "goodwill toward men!"......
You see there is nothing about stress and heartache being brought to you. But instead Peace, Good tidings of Great Joy.
So this Christmas let's pause and take time to give Jesus our best gift of all.
Let's give Him some on purpose quality time each day. AMEN!
STAY IN THE WORD!
This message is not to bring condemnation to anyone about the way they choose to celebrate Christmas. Let's get rid of that notion right off. No, instead this message is a way of causing us to pause and give some thought to what can I give Christ this year? This is what I came up with.
During the Easter season there are some religions who celebrate lent by giving up something that is a sacrifice in some way, like desserts, or coffee, or eating meat, you get the picture.
Why not for Christmas, say we do something like try to change one thing in our daily routine so that we can give Him a few moments of our time each day.
Remember the song, "Little Drummer Boy". He was a poor little boy who had no material posessions to give. But he did have a special talent, playing the drum. So he played a song for Him. And he didn't just play any ole song. He played his best for Him.
We do not have to have alot of money or a special musical talent. Our Pastor was saying Sunday that Jesus gives us the best present of all, that is being PRESENT with us at all times. He never leaves us. He went on to explain when we do give Jesus some of our time, to give Him our best time. In other words not at the end of the day when we are so tired we can't go another step, or keep our eyes open another minute.
There needs to be a time of day that we can set aside especially on purpose for the Lord each day. A time that we can sit at His feet and worship Him and learn from Him through His word. In other words some quality time.
I think this would be the best present we could give to Jesus on His birthday. Special one on one time with just Him. How many children or parents know that this is what they appreciate most from each other? One on one time, not the material gifts.
Do not let the Christmas season get you down, or stress you out. That was never God's intention. He did not send His Son to the world to bring us stress everytime His birthday came around. He sent Him so that through Him we could know His peace and His grace, and to give us the greatest gift of all, the gift of Salvation, the gift of Eternal Life with Him and the Father.
Luke 2 v 8-14....Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth "peace, "goodwill toward men!"......
You see there is nothing about stress and heartache being brought to you. But instead Peace, Good tidings of Great Joy.
So this Christmas let's pause and take time to give Jesus our best gift of all.
Let's give Him some on purpose quality time each day. AMEN!
STAY IN THE WORD!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Dressing In Our Armor (part 2)
Now that we have girded our waists with the Truth, let us move on to the next item of our armor we need to make sure we put on.
Ephesians 6 v 14...Stand therefore having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.....
This piece of the armor protects our heart. The devil will attack us where we are the most vulnerable. How many know that we alot of times wear our heart on our shirtsleeves so to say.
When we expose our feelings, the deepest emotions that are in our heart for all to see, we have uncovered them from the breastplate. We have exposed them to the enemy when we complain or murmur to others about the things that are bothering us.
1 Pet. 5 v 7... casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you....
Instead we should take our concerns to Jesus as He instructed us to do. Leave our hearts protected under the breastplate of His righteousness. He gave us His righteousness, an everlasting righteousness that can not be taken away from us. You see the devil wants you to bring your cares and concerns out in the open so he can attack you, so he can make you feel unworthy, so he can accuse you of not being good enough. RECOGNIZE him for who he is. He is the father of lies.
Romans 5 v 17...for if by one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who received abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.......
This scripture is telling us that if we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and accepted His free gift of grace, then along with it came His righteousness that will be with us forever. We can not lose it by what we do or don't do, as it is His righteousness that He leaves with us.
We will reign victoriously over whatever concern we are attacked with, if we leave our hearts protected under the breastplate of His righteousness. The devil wants you to speak about your problems, focus on your problems, meditate on your problems until you make the problem bigger than your faith in the Word.
You see he can only attack us in our minds, so don't hang your laundry out in the open so to say. Take it to the Lord in prayer and receive His peace over whatever your concern might be.
And now this brings us to the next piece of armor. Peace.
Ephesians 6 v 15....and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.....
When you go into battle you want to make sure your feet are well taken care of. Your feet are what is carrying you. If your feet hurt or are injured, you will slow down or stop all together and then the enemy has a chance to catch you.
Jesus says He left us with His peace. A peace we can trust in. A peace that will bring us through whatever we might be facing. A peace that surpasses all understanding.
John 14 v 27...Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid....
Phil. 4 v 6-7....Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.......
What does this scripture say? Let your requests be made known to who??? To your co-workers, to your family members, to your neighbors? No, He says let your requests, (your concerns) be made known to Him. Don't go telling everyone else your problem until you have made it a mountain. Take it to Him in prayer and receive His peace.
You see many people read about this part of the armor as if it is peace they are to take into the world. And while that might be so, it is more important that you first shod your feet with His peace so that you are able to fight your battle first. Remember your feet can't take you anywhere if they are damaged and not protected. AMEN!
Luke 10 v 19...Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.......
There you have it. Jesus gives us the authority to stomp out our concerns whatever they might be. We just have to shod our feet with the gospel of His peace.
Where do we find this armor to dress in daily?
STAY IN THE WORD!
Ephesians 6 v 14...Stand therefore having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.....
This piece of the armor protects our heart. The devil will attack us where we are the most vulnerable. How many know that we alot of times wear our heart on our shirtsleeves so to say.
When we expose our feelings, the deepest emotions that are in our heart for all to see, we have uncovered them from the breastplate. We have exposed them to the enemy when we complain or murmur to others about the things that are bothering us.
1 Pet. 5 v 7... casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you....
Instead we should take our concerns to Jesus as He instructed us to do. Leave our hearts protected under the breastplate of His righteousness. He gave us His righteousness, an everlasting righteousness that can not be taken away from us. You see the devil wants you to bring your cares and concerns out in the open so he can attack you, so he can make you feel unworthy, so he can accuse you of not being good enough. RECOGNIZE him for who he is. He is the father of lies.
Romans 5 v 17...for if by one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who received abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.......
This scripture is telling us that if we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and accepted His free gift of grace, then along with it came His righteousness that will be with us forever. We can not lose it by what we do or don't do, as it is His righteousness that He leaves with us.
We will reign victoriously over whatever concern we are attacked with, if we leave our hearts protected under the breastplate of His righteousness. The devil wants you to speak about your problems, focus on your problems, meditate on your problems until you make the problem bigger than your faith in the Word.
You see he can only attack us in our minds, so don't hang your laundry out in the open so to say. Take it to the Lord in prayer and receive His peace over whatever your concern might be.
And now this brings us to the next piece of armor. Peace.
Ephesians 6 v 15....and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.....
When you go into battle you want to make sure your feet are well taken care of. Your feet are what is carrying you. If your feet hurt or are injured, you will slow down or stop all together and then the enemy has a chance to catch you.
Jesus says He left us with His peace. A peace we can trust in. A peace that will bring us through whatever we might be facing. A peace that surpasses all understanding.
John 14 v 27...Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid....
Phil. 4 v 6-7....Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.......
What does this scripture say? Let your requests be made known to who??? To your co-workers, to your family members, to your neighbors? No, He says let your requests, (your concerns) be made known to Him. Don't go telling everyone else your problem until you have made it a mountain. Take it to Him in prayer and receive His peace.
You see many people read about this part of the armor as if it is peace they are to take into the world. And while that might be so, it is more important that you first shod your feet with His peace so that you are able to fight your battle first. Remember your feet can't take you anywhere if they are damaged and not protected. AMEN!
Luke 10 v 19...Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.......
There you have it. Jesus gives us the authority to stomp out our concerns whatever they might be. We just have to shod our feet with the gospel of His peace.
Where do we find this armor to dress in daily?
STAY IN THE WORD!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
And The Truth Shall Set You Free
John 8 v 32... "and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."....
While reading one of my favorite speakers' book on Spiritual Warfare, I was set free in the truth. The way he illustrated a scenario set me free. That is why I like to write these tid-bits the way I do, so people can relate and be set free of fears and worries that are from the devil. Not that it is me setting them free but the WORD of GOD. All the praise and honor and glory be given to Him when you are set free.
This is the one that helped me today and I hope will help others as well. In this book 'Spiritual Warfare' written by Joseph Prince, he used a scenario about these three women working together, and two of the women were talking and laughing and every now and again would look over at the third woman and immediately the enemy brought the idea to her that they were talking about her in a negative way.
Oh my goodness, how many times has that happened to me? First of all we might be a little vain, thinking that we are so important that other people would want to talk about us all the time. Second, there might be some insecurity there. Third and usually the truth, it is just a lie from the devil making you think that they are discussing you and trying to get you into strife with your peers.
In his book each chapter is discussing putting on our full armor of God. This chapter was on the belt of Truth.
Ephesians 6 v 14...."Stand therefore having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness....
This is what happened that caused me to leave my last job which was a very good job, and a job that I had prayed about and God had blessed me with, all because I never put on my armor before I went to work each day. I let the spirits of darkness surround me with lies and suspicions, until they drove me off. I used to blame the girls I worked with. I used to say how awful they were and how mean and hateful they were. But then GOD showed me in His word the TRUTH. He showed me it wasn't the girls I worked with causing the trouble, it was me listening to the lies of the enemy and letting the enemy stir me up until I caused the strife. WOW, that was hard to admit, but like the title says, the TRUTH shall set you free. AMEN!
He reminded me that we do not wrestle with flesh and blood but with principalities of darkness.
Ephesians 6 v 12...For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spirtual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places....
It turned out in his book that these other two women who were talking about the third one, were actually planning a surprise birthday party for her the next day. A party the other woman almost didn't attend because she believed the lies of the devil and was in offense now toward her friends. But she did go and the truth set her free. She wasted all the time worrying and fretting over something that wasn't there.
Each piece of God's armor is so vital to us, in our everyday lives. When we get into His word and wear His armor each day we can withstand all the powers of darkness that try to come against us. Whether it be sickness, pain, disease, poverty, back biting, gossip, whatever it might be, remember these are spirits of darkness. They have no power, they are not flesh and blood, and you already have the victory over them because of the finished work on the cross. AMEN!
Ephes. 6 v 10-11.....Finally, my brethren, be strong in the LORD and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil....
Each and every piece of the armor has very significant meaning and is important as it all works together for your protection.
Remember to gird your waist with truth, put on your breastplate of righeousness, shod your feet with the gospel of peace, take up your shield of faith and put on the helmet of salvation and pick up the sword of the Spirit.
This week and following lets study together the whole armor of God and how it is so vital to our everyday lives. I promise you, you will not want to leave home without it again.
Where will we find these truths about the armor?
STAY IN THE WORD!
While reading one of my favorite speakers' book on Spiritual Warfare, I was set free in the truth. The way he illustrated a scenario set me free. That is why I like to write these tid-bits the way I do, so people can relate and be set free of fears and worries that are from the devil. Not that it is me setting them free but the WORD of GOD. All the praise and honor and glory be given to Him when you are set free.
This is the one that helped me today and I hope will help others as well. In this book 'Spiritual Warfare' written by Joseph Prince, he used a scenario about these three women working together, and two of the women were talking and laughing and every now and again would look over at the third woman and immediately the enemy brought the idea to her that they were talking about her in a negative way.
Oh my goodness, how many times has that happened to me? First of all we might be a little vain, thinking that we are so important that other people would want to talk about us all the time. Second, there might be some insecurity there. Third and usually the truth, it is just a lie from the devil making you think that they are discussing you and trying to get you into strife with your peers.
In his book each chapter is discussing putting on our full armor of God. This chapter was on the belt of Truth.
Ephesians 6 v 14...."Stand therefore having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness....
This is what happened that caused me to leave my last job which was a very good job, and a job that I had prayed about and God had blessed me with, all because I never put on my armor before I went to work each day. I let the spirits of darkness surround me with lies and suspicions, until they drove me off. I used to blame the girls I worked with. I used to say how awful they were and how mean and hateful they were. But then GOD showed me in His word the TRUTH. He showed me it wasn't the girls I worked with causing the trouble, it was me listening to the lies of the enemy and letting the enemy stir me up until I caused the strife. WOW, that was hard to admit, but like the title says, the TRUTH shall set you free. AMEN!
He reminded me that we do not wrestle with flesh and blood but with principalities of darkness.
Ephesians 6 v 12...For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spirtual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places....
It turned out in his book that these other two women who were talking about the third one, were actually planning a surprise birthday party for her the next day. A party the other woman almost didn't attend because she believed the lies of the devil and was in offense now toward her friends. But she did go and the truth set her free. She wasted all the time worrying and fretting over something that wasn't there.
Each piece of God's armor is so vital to us, in our everyday lives. When we get into His word and wear His armor each day we can withstand all the powers of darkness that try to come against us. Whether it be sickness, pain, disease, poverty, back biting, gossip, whatever it might be, remember these are spirits of darkness. They have no power, they are not flesh and blood, and you already have the victory over them because of the finished work on the cross. AMEN!
Ephes. 6 v 10-11.....Finally, my brethren, be strong in the LORD and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil....
Each and every piece of the armor has very significant meaning and is important as it all works together for your protection.
Remember to gird your waist with truth, put on your breastplate of righeousness, shod your feet with the gospel of peace, take up your shield of faith and put on the helmet of salvation and pick up the sword of the Spirit.
This week and following lets study together the whole armor of God and how it is so vital to our everyday lives. I promise you, you will not want to leave home without it again.
Where will we find these truths about the armor?
STAY IN THE WORD!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
No Room At The Inn
That time of year is coming up quickly, where we are all rushing to and fro, trying to get the last minute wishes taken care of and etc.
Christmas is the time we share the story of Christ's birth. And we all know the story of how there was no room at the inn for Mary and Joseph and that is why Jesus was born in a manger.
Luke Chapter 2 .....Story of Christ's birth
Luke 2 v 7....And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn........
While thinking about this saying I was thinking that we alot of times have no room at the inn for Jesus. We in our everyday busy lives do not make time to spend with Jesus each day. We are in a sense telling Him when we do not have time, that there is no room at the inn for Him.
Now I am not saying nor am I condemning anyone about how much time they do or do not spend with the Lord each day. I am just saying maybe we could be made a little more aware of how much time we actually do give to our Savior. We tend to think of Him alot when Christmas comes around, but what about after Christmas, what about during those long hot summer months? What about on our jobs when we are putting in extra long hours?
If we would actually take the time to spend with Him when we think we are too busy worrying with our problems at work or just in our everyday activities, then our problems would become a lot easier to manage, because when He is present, worries are not.
When Jesus is with us, peace is present. AMEN! So why would we then not want to spend more time with Him? Why would we not keep an open room for Him at the inn ( in our time and in our hearts)?
Ask yourself this question. Do I have room for Jesus at the inn ( in my schedule) today?
How can we spend more time with this Wonderful, Awesome, Savior of ours?
STAY IN THE WORD!
Christmas is the time we share the story of Christ's birth. And we all know the story of how there was no room at the inn for Mary and Joseph and that is why Jesus was born in a manger.
Luke Chapter 2 .....Story of Christ's birth
Luke 2 v 7....And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn........
While thinking about this saying I was thinking that we alot of times have no room at the inn for Jesus. We in our everyday busy lives do not make time to spend with Jesus each day. We are in a sense telling Him when we do not have time, that there is no room at the inn for Him.
Now I am not saying nor am I condemning anyone about how much time they do or do not spend with the Lord each day. I am just saying maybe we could be made a little more aware of how much time we actually do give to our Savior. We tend to think of Him alot when Christmas comes around, but what about after Christmas, what about during those long hot summer months? What about on our jobs when we are putting in extra long hours?
If we would actually take the time to spend with Him when we think we are too busy worrying with our problems at work or just in our everyday activities, then our problems would become a lot easier to manage, because when He is present, worries are not.
When Jesus is with us, peace is present. AMEN! So why would we then not want to spend more time with Him? Why would we not keep an open room for Him at the inn ( in our time and in our hearts)?
Ask yourself this question. Do I have room for Jesus at the inn ( in my schedule) today?
How can we spend more time with this Wonderful, Awesome, Savior of ours?
STAY IN THE WORD!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Beating Your Head Against A Brick Wall
Have you heard that saying before? "I feel like I am beating my head against a brick wall". Did you ever wonder who started that saying? Well, I believe God did. While at church Sunday, Pastor was reading a scripture out of Jeremiah and it may me think of that saying.
Jeremiah 23 v 29...."Is not My word like a fire?" says the Lord, "and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?".....
I sort of giggled to myself when I read this, because I thought God is saying, "Do I have to beat my head against a brick wall, do you not get what I am trying to tell you?" In other words some of us sometimes are like a brick wall where God's word is concerned. We just don't get it!
What does He have to do to get our attention? What does He have to do so that we will believe and trust what He is telling us? Do we need fire in the form of a burning bush like He did with Moses? Do we need Him to split one of the oceans so that we can walk through to the other side like He did with the Red Sea for the children of Israel?
The longer we ignore the Word of truth, the word of God, the harder our hearts become like a brick wall. God will and can get through to you. But here is the deal. He is a gentleman and He is not going to force His way through. No, He is going to wait for you to ask Him to help you knock down your brick wall and replace it with a swinging door. A door that is open to Him at any time. A door that is never closed. He is waiting to have a relationship with you where the door opens both ways. Where He is always welcomed and you are always welcomed. There will never be a 'Do Not Disturb' sign hanging from His door.
So when God says in His word "You were healed by His stripes", You are blessed with the Blessing of Abraham on your life, "He leaves you with His peace", "He gives you a sound mind", whatever it is that you need. When His Word says it, it is the same as Him saying it to you personally. You have His promise. And God cannot lie.
Don't cause Him to butt His head against a brick wall because of lack of faith in what He says. Just believe with your heart and let Him show you His love.
Let's quit giving God a headache with all of our brick walls that we build. AMEN!
How can we tear down those brick walls where we have doubt?
STAY IN THE WORD!
Jeremiah 23 v 29...."Is not My word like a fire?" says the Lord, "and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?".....
I sort of giggled to myself when I read this, because I thought God is saying, "Do I have to beat my head against a brick wall, do you not get what I am trying to tell you?" In other words some of us sometimes are like a brick wall where God's word is concerned. We just don't get it!
What does He have to do to get our attention? What does He have to do so that we will believe and trust what He is telling us? Do we need fire in the form of a burning bush like He did with Moses? Do we need Him to split one of the oceans so that we can walk through to the other side like He did with the Red Sea for the children of Israel?
The longer we ignore the Word of truth, the word of God, the harder our hearts become like a brick wall. God will and can get through to you. But here is the deal. He is a gentleman and He is not going to force His way through. No, He is going to wait for you to ask Him to help you knock down your brick wall and replace it with a swinging door. A door that is open to Him at any time. A door that is never closed. He is waiting to have a relationship with you where the door opens both ways. Where He is always welcomed and you are always welcomed. There will never be a 'Do Not Disturb' sign hanging from His door.
So when God says in His word "You were healed by His stripes", You are blessed with the Blessing of Abraham on your life, "He leaves you with His peace", "He gives you a sound mind", whatever it is that you need. When His Word says it, it is the same as Him saying it to you personally. You have His promise. And God cannot lie.
Don't cause Him to butt His head against a brick wall because of lack of faith in what He says. Just believe with your heart and let Him show you His love.
Let's quit giving God a headache with all of our brick walls that we build. AMEN!
How can we tear down those brick walls where we have doubt?
STAY IN THE WORD!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Let Your Light Shine, Not Blind
Have you ever been driving at night and someone shines their high beam lights in your eyes. It totally blinds you until they pass on by and that light is moved out of your eyes. I am sure you have heard the saying "like a deer caught in the headlights". When a deer is trying to cross the road and a car comes around the corner and their head lights hit him in the face, he is blinded and can not move.
Sometimes we blind people with our light instead of letting our light shine on the path for them to see which way to go. We cause them to not be able to move because they feel they can't make a move without messing up. When we bring the Word to people filled with condemnation instead of love, we are blinding them with the light instead of using His Word to give them clear directions on which path to take. We need to have our lights adjusted, so to speak.
PS 119 v 105... Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.....
John 1 v 1....In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.....
John 1 v 4....In Him was life, and the life was the light of men......
We do not make our own light. The light comes from the Word of God shed abroad in our hearts. When Jesus left us, God sent us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. His light is in each of us. How we let it shine or not is up to us.
Luke 11 v 33.....No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.....
Jesus did not intend for us to keep the light unto ourselves but to use it to help others to find the Truth. The Truth being who He is and what He did for us all. The Truth being His unearned, undeserved, favor, love, and grace for us all.
The light was meant to shine for all to see the way.
Jesus never intended for us to walk around with our lights shining up in others faces to illuminate their faults or their problems. He wants us to use our light, (the love of Jesus) in us to illuminate His love for them. Then their paths will be made bright and easy to follow.
Remember the little song you learned as a child in Sunday School, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine".
That is what Jesus told us to do with our light. Let it Shine! AMEN! Not Blind!
How do we find out more about this Light and how to let it shine?
STAY IN THE WORD!
Sometimes we blind people with our light instead of letting our light shine on the path for them to see which way to go. We cause them to not be able to move because they feel they can't make a move without messing up. When we bring the Word to people filled with condemnation instead of love, we are blinding them with the light instead of using His Word to give them clear directions on which path to take. We need to have our lights adjusted, so to speak.
PS 119 v 105... Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.....
John 1 v 1....In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.....
John 1 v 4....In Him was life, and the life was the light of men......
We do not make our own light. The light comes from the Word of God shed abroad in our hearts. When Jesus left us, God sent us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. His light is in each of us. How we let it shine or not is up to us.
Luke 11 v 33.....No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.....
Jesus did not intend for us to keep the light unto ourselves but to use it to help others to find the Truth. The Truth being who He is and what He did for us all. The Truth being His unearned, undeserved, favor, love, and grace for us all.
The light was meant to shine for all to see the way.
Jesus never intended for us to walk around with our lights shining up in others faces to illuminate their faults or their problems. He wants us to use our light, (the love of Jesus) in us to illuminate His love for them. Then their paths will be made bright and easy to follow.
Remember the little song you learned as a child in Sunday School, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine".
That is what Jesus told us to do with our light. Let it Shine! AMEN! Not Blind!
How do we find out more about this Light and how to let it shine?
STAY IN THE WORD!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Religion Or Relationship
Have you ever tried to tell someone about the Lord and what He has done for you and how good He is, only to have them say something like, "I don't want to talk about it".
Yesterday at church Pastor was teaching on the Holy Spirit and being Spirit led. He made this comment about sometimes people say, "I don't want to talk about it". My heart broke into a million pieces hearing this because probably at some time in my life before I became a Christian I myself might have used those same words.
Pastor said it like this, first of all, The Holy Spirit is not an it. WOW! That hits you right in the gut. I immediately thought Oh my Lord forgive me if I have ever called you an it.
He is a person just like God the Father, and the Son. He is the Helper Jesus promised to those who followed Him and believes in Him. He is the Spirit of Truth. He is our Counselor, our Guide, our Protector. He is that still small voice that we listen to when we seek God for advice, for direction, for peace. He is our connection here on earth to God the Father and Jesus our Lord and Saviour. He speaks to us through our Father God in heaven.
John 14 v 16...."And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you".......
John 14 v 26...."but the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you"......
John 15 v 26...."But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me"......
John 16 v 12-15...."I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore, I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you".......
I have personally tried to share Christ with others and have been told, things like "I don't like to discuss religion" or "I would rather not talk about it", or something like "discussing religion makes me uncomfortable".
Here is the thing, discussing religion makes me uncomfortable as well. That is why I try not to talk religion and instead talk about the Lord and what He has done for me and what He wants to do for everyone. I would much rather talk about the love Jesus has for us all and what He did to prove that love. I would much rather tell someone how much God loves them and not what some religous doctrine says. I would much rather point out the scriptures in His word about who He says we are to Him and what we are worth to Him, instead of what the world tells us we are worth.
I would love to talk about the Holy Spirit and how He has helped me through many situations.
Next time someone asks you about the Holy Spirit or wants to talk about the Lord with you, don't be too quick to dismiss them thinking they are wanting to talk religion. It might just be that they are wanting to know more about your relationship with Jesus and His Father and the Holy Spirit. They may have questions of their own. They may be seeking something more for themselves like a relationship and not just a religion.
As sad as it is, there are many people out there who have put their faith in a religion instead of a relationship. Remember religion is an it, but a relationship with the Holy Spirit is Person to person.
How can we know more about having a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit?
STAY IN THE WORD!
Yesterday at church Pastor was teaching on the Holy Spirit and being Spirit led. He made this comment about sometimes people say, "I don't want to talk about it". My heart broke into a million pieces hearing this because probably at some time in my life before I became a Christian I myself might have used those same words.
Pastor said it like this, first of all, The Holy Spirit is not an it. WOW! That hits you right in the gut. I immediately thought Oh my Lord forgive me if I have ever called you an it.
He is a person just like God the Father, and the Son. He is the Helper Jesus promised to those who followed Him and believes in Him. He is the Spirit of Truth. He is our Counselor, our Guide, our Protector. He is that still small voice that we listen to when we seek God for advice, for direction, for peace. He is our connection here on earth to God the Father and Jesus our Lord and Saviour. He speaks to us through our Father God in heaven.
John 14 v 16...."And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you".......
John 14 v 26...."but the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you"......
John 15 v 26...."But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me"......
John 16 v 12-15...."I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore, I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you".......
I have personally tried to share Christ with others and have been told, things like "I don't like to discuss religion" or "I would rather not talk about it", or something like "discussing religion makes me uncomfortable".
Here is the thing, discussing religion makes me uncomfortable as well. That is why I try not to talk religion and instead talk about the Lord and what He has done for me and what He wants to do for everyone. I would much rather talk about the love Jesus has for us all and what He did to prove that love. I would much rather tell someone how much God loves them and not what some religous doctrine says. I would much rather point out the scriptures in His word about who He says we are to Him and what we are worth to Him, instead of what the world tells us we are worth.
I would love to talk about the Holy Spirit and how He has helped me through many situations.
Next time someone asks you about the Holy Spirit or wants to talk about the Lord with you, don't be too quick to dismiss them thinking they are wanting to talk religion. It might just be that they are wanting to know more about your relationship with Jesus and His Father and the Holy Spirit. They may have questions of their own. They may be seeking something more for themselves like a relationship and not just a religion.
As sad as it is, there are many people out there who have put their faith in a religion instead of a relationship. Remember religion is an it, but a relationship with the Holy Spirit is Person to person.
How can we know more about having a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit?
STAY IN THE WORD!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
We Win
I have been watching alot of old TV shows lately like Rawhide, Gunsmoke, Big Valley, Bonanza. Yes, I like old westerns. You know all the old shows start and end the same way. The good guy starts out in some kind of predicament, but he always comes out the winner. The good guy never dies.
I got to thinking about something my Pastor said about how we know what the ending of our story as born again believers will be. We win. Just like the good guys in the old shows, we never die. We win the ultimate prize, spending eternity with our Father God and Jesus in heaven. What a great ending.
The thing is we don't have to wait to win when we die. We win everyday. God tells us in His word how Jesus died on the cross not only for our salvation but for our health, our prosperity, our peace. We just need to accept His love and His free gift of Grace.
PS 91 v 1....He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty....
God loves us so much. When we spend time with Him, when we get close to Him, nothing can touch us. Read the rest of PS 91 and see how you are protected when you abide in Him.
Let me use this analogy. Mothers especially will relate to this story....
I remember once when I was pregnant with my youngest son, and my older son was 5 years old. I found him crying in his room, and when I asked him what was wrong? He told me that he didn't want to go to another family. I said, what do you mean? He said, my friends told me that when you have a new baby, you give the old kid away to someone else. My heart broke into a million pieces, still to this day when I think of that moment I get very choked up. My heart broke to think that my child whom I loved so much would even think in his little heart that I could give him away.
That is how God's heart breaks when we believe the enemy over Him. When we believe the lies of the enemy telling us we have to be poor, or we have to be sick or we are condemned, when He tells us in His word (not only tells us, but promises us) that we are his beloved children, that we have health, happiness, hope, salvation, peace, prosperity. That we have the blessing of Abraham on our lives. Yet, we listen to others.
Sometimes it is hard for new Christians to believe when there is so much negativity in the world. Sometimes they are like the 5 year old with broken hearts thinking God does not love them. Let your heavenly Father reassure you with His word how much He loves you and wants to care for you.
Just like I did with my small son, I hugged him and reassured him that I would never leave him. What a happy child he was, and what a big weight taken off such small shoulders. God wants to do the same for you. He wants you to cast those cares onto His shoulders and let Him wrap you in His arms and love you. He wants you to know without a doubt, whatever the battle, the outcome is you WIN. You will always belong to Him, He is not going to give you away.
John 10 v 27-29....My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.....
Where can you find this love so amazing?
STAY IN THE WORD!
I got to thinking about something my Pastor said about how we know what the ending of our story as born again believers will be. We win. Just like the good guys in the old shows, we never die. We win the ultimate prize, spending eternity with our Father God and Jesus in heaven. What a great ending.
The thing is we don't have to wait to win when we die. We win everyday. God tells us in His word how Jesus died on the cross not only for our salvation but for our health, our prosperity, our peace. We just need to accept His love and His free gift of Grace.
PS 91 v 1....He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty....
God loves us so much. When we spend time with Him, when we get close to Him, nothing can touch us. Read the rest of PS 91 and see how you are protected when you abide in Him.
Let me use this analogy. Mothers especially will relate to this story....
I remember once when I was pregnant with my youngest son, and my older son was 5 years old. I found him crying in his room, and when I asked him what was wrong? He told me that he didn't want to go to another family. I said, what do you mean? He said, my friends told me that when you have a new baby, you give the old kid away to someone else. My heart broke into a million pieces, still to this day when I think of that moment I get very choked up. My heart broke to think that my child whom I loved so much would even think in his little heart that I could give him away.
That is how God's heart breaks when we believe the enemy over Him. When we believe the lies of the enemy telling us we have to be poor, or we have to be sick or we are condemned, when He tells us in His word (not only tells us, but promises us) that we are his beloved children, that we have health, happiness, hope, salvation, peace, prosperity. That we have the blessing of Abraham on our lives. Yet, we listen to others.
Sometimes it is hard for new Christians to believe when there is so much negativity in the world. Sometimes they are like the 5 year old with broken hearts thinking God does not love them. Let your heavenly Father reassure you with His word how much He loves you and wants to care for you.
Just like I did with my small son, I hugged him and reassured him that I would never leave him. What a happy child he was, and what a big weight taken off such small shoulders. God wants to do the same for you. He wants you to cast those cares onto His shoulders and let Him wrap you in His arms and love you. He wants you to know without a doubt, whatever the battle, the outcome is you WIN. You will always belong to Him, He is not going to give you away.
John 10 v 27-29....My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.....
Where can you find this love so amazing?
STAY IN THE WORD!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Are You Still Fighting Stains
Have you ever had a favorite piece of clothing and spilt something on it that stained and would not come out, no matter what you used. You try all kinds of miracle cleaners and stain removers and nothing seems to work. The stain may fade out but you can see it even though sometimes others might not unless you tell them that it is there.
That is how we sometimes as Christians treat our Lord and Saviors' work on the cross. He died for all sins and yet we still carry our stains around with us as if His blood wasn't good enough to wash them out. I know I carried mine around for a long time until my Pastor at the time told me that it was as if I was telling Jesus to sit this one out because it was too big a job for Him, I would just have to take care of it myself. WOW! What an eye opener. Never since have I carried that stain with me.
Have you something in your life that you feel like it is so bad that God will not forgive you. That is the enemy telling you that lie. What does the enemy do? He comes to kill, steal and destroy. He doesn't want you to see who you really are in Christ Jesus, because then he knows that you will no longer believe his lies.
John 10 v 10....the theif 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......
We are starting a new series on Wed. nights "Keeping up with the Corinthians". I am excited because people will learn how much God really loves them and what Jesus' work on the cross did for them. They will be freed from being under condemnation of the law and better able to understand that they are under His Grace and what it means being washed by His blood.
Let's look in chapter 6 of 1 Cor. and see what does the word say about those stains you are holding on to.
1 Cor. 6 v 9-11.....Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be decieved. Neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor coveteous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God......
Well, there were a few stains of mine in there and still some that were not listed. But Praise God! Did you see what His word tells you? You were WASHED, SANCTIFIED, and JUSTIFIED. AMEN! So many times people are quick to point out to us what we did with this verse and leave off the BUT part. Aren't you glad God's word said "BUT WAIT" You were washed, sanctified, and justified. Hallelujah! That's the good news. AMEN!
1 Cor. 6 v 20....For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's....
In other words, there are no longer any stains. You are God's own child. His children bear no stains and no condemnation. He paid a non negotiable price with His Son's blood. The slate has been wiped clean, there are no longer any stains.
How can you find out more about this love God has for you?
STAY IN THE WORD!
If you don't have a church home let me invite you to be my guest and come visit on Wed. nights and let's study the Word together.
LifeWay Church, 7621 Old Mocksville Rd, Salisbury, NC
That is how we sometimes as Christians treat our Lord and Saviors' work on the cross. He died for all sins and yet we still carry our stains around with us as if His blood wasn't good enough to wash them out. I know I carried mine around for a long time until my Pastor at the time told me that it was as if I was telling Jesus to sit this one out because it was too big a job for Him, I would just have to take care of it myself. WOW! What an eye opener. Never since have I carried that stain with me.
Have you something in your life that you feel like it is so bad that God will not forgive you. That is the enemy telling you that lie. What does the enemy do? He comes to kill, steal and destroy. He doesn't want you to see who you really are in Christ Jesus, because then he knows that you will no longer believe his lies.
John 10 v 10....the theif 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......
We are starting a new series on Wed. nights "Keeping up with the Corinthians". I am excited because people will learn how much God really loves them and what Jesus' work on the cross did for them. They will be freed from being under condemnation of the law and better able to understand that they are under His Grace and what it means being washed by His blood.
Let's look in chapter 6 of 1 Cor. and see what does the word say about those stains you are holding on to.
1 Cor. 6 v 9-11.....Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be decieved. Neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor coveteous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God......
Well, there were a few stains of mine in there and still some that were not listed. But Praise God! Did you see what His word tells you? You were WASHED, SANCTIFIED, and JUSTIFIED. AMEN! So many times people are quick to point out to us what we did with this verse and leave off the BUT part. Aren't you glad God's word said "BUT WAIT" You were washed, sanctified, and justified. Hallelujah! That's the good news. AMEN!
1 Cor. 6 v 20....For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's....
In other words, there are no longer any stains. You are God's own child. His children bear no stains and no condemnation. He paid a non negotiable price with His Son's blood. The slate has been wiped clean, there are no longer any stains.
How can you find out more about this love God has for you?
STAY IN THE WORD!
If you don't have a church home let me invite you to be my guest and come visit on Wed. nights and let's study the Word together.
LifeWay Church, 7621 Old Mocksville Rd, Salisbury, NC
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Which Way Are You Pulled
Which Way Are You Pulled
When you go to church do you leave feeling a sense of well being, a peace, an excitement over what you heard? Or do you leave feeling the same way as when you arrived or worse yet feeling condemned?
I heard Joseph Prince use this play on the word Pulpit. The pulpit can pull you down into the pit or pull you out of the pit. I thought how true that is. Sometimes you can hear a preacher and he can pull you down into the pits by preaching condemnation. If you feel condemned after hearing the word of God then that condemnation is coming from the enemy or the one preaching, it is not from God. You should never be taught a message that causes condemnation without also being taught at the same time His forgiveness.
God says, He remembers your sin no more. He says there is no condemnation for those who are living for Him.
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....
The key here is that you are walking in the Spirit of God not in your flesh. We can bring condemnation on ourselves by walking in the flesh and continuing in sin when we know better.
The message Jesus told His disciples to take to the world was the Gospel. The good news, not one of condemnation.
He said He came not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
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......
I can assure you that when I was lost and living like the devil himself, I knew I was living in sin, I didn't need to be told. When the song Amazing Grace says, I once was lost and now I am found, was blind now I see, it is talking about being blind to the love of Christ Jesus and His forgiveness. It is not saying I was blind to what I was doing.
Romans 5 v 18-19.....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.....
When we go out to witness to others, it is to share the love of Christ Jesus and His fogiveness. Heathens know they are heathens, they don't need you to tell them. They do not need a judge, they need a Savior. It is not our job to cleanse them, that job is for Jesus. Our job is to share the love and forgiveness that is found in Christ Jesus and then let Jesus do His job. He is not quitting or retiring, His job is not available and never will be. We will never be promoted into His position.
Share the Word with others, so that they too can see the love God has for them and His forgiveness. Don't ever try to pull them down into the pit by reminding them of what they are doing wrong, but yet use His Word to pull them out. Let God be their judge, let Jesus be their Savior, and we can be ambassadors for Christ Jesus taking His good news. Where do you find the good news to share?
STAY IN THE WORD!
When you go to church do you leave feeling a sense of well being, a peace, an excitement over what you heard? Or do you leave feeling the same way as when you arrived or worse yet feeling condemned?
I heard Joseph Prince use this play on the word Pulpit. The pulpit can pull you down into the pit or pull you out of the pit. I thought how true that is. Sometimes you can hear a preacher and he can pull you down into the pits by preaching condemnation. If you feel condemned after hearing the word of God then that condemnation is coming from the enemy or the one preaching, it is not from God. You should never be taught a message that causes condemnation without also being taught at the same time His forgiveness.
God says, He remembers your sin no more. He says there is no condemnation for those who are living for Him.
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....
The key here is that you are walking in the Spirit of God not in your flesh. We can bring condemnation on ourselves by walking in the flesh and continuing in sin when we know better.
The message Jesus told His disciples to take to the world was the Gospel. The good news, not one of condemnation.
He said He came not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
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......
I can assure you that when I was lost and living like the devil himself, I knew I was living in sin, I didn't need to be told. When the song Amazing Grace says, I once was lost and now I am found, was blind now I see, it is talking about being blind to the love of Christ Jesus and His forgiveness. It is not saying I was blind to what I was doing.
Romans 5 v 18-19.....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.....
When we go out to witness to others, it is to share the love of Christ Jesus and His fogiveness. Heathens know they are heathens, they don't need you to tell them. They do not need a judge, they need a Savior. It is not our job to cleanse them, that job is for Jesus. Our job is to share the love and forgiveness that is found in Christ Jesus and then let Jesus do His job. He is not quitting or retiring, His job is not available and never will be. We will never be promoted into His position.
Share the Word with others, so that they too can see the love God has for them and His forgiveness. Don't ever try to pull them down into the pit by reminding them of what they are doing wrong, but yet use His Word to pull them out. Let God be their judge, let Jesus be their Savior, and we can be ambassadors for Christ Jesus taking His good news. Where do you find the good news to share?
STAY IN THE WORD!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Do You Need A Sign
While listening to my Joseph Prince cd's, I heard him make a comment that when man speaks, people believe, but when God speaks we want a sign.
I find it amazing how true that statement is, especially with Christians.
We say we believe the word of God, but yet let someone tell us something that is contradictory to the word and we easily believe it. Not only do we easily believe but we tend to readily believe.
I believe it all comes down to us seeing who we really are in Christ Jesus.
He also made the comment about when there was a sacrifice before the cross, the offering was examined by the High Priest to make certain that the offering was good enough for what it was to atone for.
When Jesus was offered up on the cross, God did the examining Himself. Jesus was the sacrificial Lamb once and for all. When Jesus cried out "My God, My God, why has Thou forsaken Me", it was the first time that He called Him God instead of Father. Why? Because He became us on the cross, He took on ALL of our sins, diseases, sickness, poverty, unrest. He was not the sin, He took on our sin, and was the perfect atonement.
Now, our Father God in heaven sees us as Christ. Our righteousness, peace, prosperity, health is seated at the right hand of God the Father.
When someone tells you, you are sick, go to the throne and ask Him who is seated at the right hand of God your Father if He is sick or did His blood cover ALL sickness? ( 1 Pet 2 v 24, IS 53 v 5) When someone tells you that you will always be poor, go to the right hand and ask Him who is seated there, did He not become poor so that we might be made rich? (2 Cor 8 v 9) When someone tries to steal your peace, go and ask Him where can you find peace? (IS 26 v 3, John 14 v 27)
He said My peace I give to you, not as the world gives but My peace I give you. His peace, His shalom means wholeness, completeness, peace, prosperity, health, righteousness.
Next time someone tries to give you a bad report, don't just readily agree, instead remember who you are in Christ Jesus. Remember what He died for on the cross for you. He not only died for your salvation, He also took on all your sickness, disease, poverty, ALL sin. Remember that His blood has already paid the price, (He was the atonement) so that you would not have to.
Remember that His word is the TRUTH.
John 14 v 27..."Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid".....
John 17 v 10-11...".And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are..."
John 17 v 16..."They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."....
Jesus is praying to the Father here in these passages and He declares that we as believers are in this world but we are not of this world. In other words, we do not belong to this world, but to Him and the Father, and we are not subject to the things of this world.
We have His Peace. AMEN! Where do you find this peace, this wholeness, this completeness?
Let me take this opportunity to invite you all to celebrate with folks everywhere, this Sunday as Back to Church Sunday. This is being done nationwide and there are plenty of churches here locally participating. There are all sorts of reasons as to why people have gotten out of church or maybe even some who have never had a church home. Don't let any reasons or excuses keep you from going this Sunday to hear how much God loves you and how He wants you to experience His peace, His wholeness. Come visit us this Sunday if you do not have a church home. You are welcome at our church no matter where you are in your life, no matter what you have done in your past, no matter what denomination your background has been or is. There is no reason to stay at home this week. Come and let the love of God fill your hearts, and His peace fill your minds. Come expecting to receive His blessing on your life. Come expecting to feel His love for you. We love you and would welcome you at our church. Address and service times below
LIFE WAY CHURCH .....7621 Old Mocksville Road....Salisbury, NC 28144
go out 601 it is the street right after, or right before Shoafs Wagon Wheel depending on which way you are coming. Then it is on the right.
Service times.....9am and 11am
You don't want to miss out this Sunday. Remember come expecting to receive what God has for you. AMEN. C'Ya there and as always.
STAY IN THE WORD!
I find it amazing how true that statement is, especially with Christians.
We say we believe the word of God, but yet let someone tell us something that is contradictory to the word and we easily believe it. Not only do we easily believe but we tend to readily believe.
I believe it all comes down to us seeing who we really are in Christ Jesus.
He also made the comment about when there was a sacrifice before the cross, the offering was examined by the High Priest to make certain that the offering was good enough for what it was to atone for.
When Jesus was offered up on the cross, God did the examining Himself. Jesus was the sacrificial Lamb once and for all. When Jesus cried out "My God, My God, why has Thou forsaken Me", it was the first time that He called Him God instead of Father. Why? Because He became us on the cross, He took on ALL of our sins, diseases, sickness, poverty, unrest. He was not the sin, He took on our sin, and was the perfect atonement.
Now, our Father God in heaven sees us as Christ. Our righteousness, peace, prosperity, health is seated at the right hand of God the Father.
When someone tells you, you are sick, go to the throne and ask Him who is seated at the right hand of God your Father if He is sick or did His blood cover ALL sickness? ( 1 Pet 2 v 24, IS 53 v 5) When someone tells you that you will always be poor, go to the right hand and ask Him who is seated there, did He not become poor so that we might be made rich? (2 Cor 8 v 9) When someone tries to steal your peace, go and ask Him where can you find peace? (IS 26 v 3, John 14 v 27)
He said My peace I give to you, not as the world gives but My peace I give you. His peace, His shalom means wholeness, completeness, peace, prosperity, health, righteousness.
Next time someone tries to give you a bad report, don't just readily agree, instead remember who you are in Christ Jesus. Remember what He died for on the cross for you. He not only died for your salvation, He also took on all your sickness, disease, poverty, ALL sin. Remember that His blood has already paid the price, (He was the atonement) so that you would not have to.
Remember that His word is the TRUTH.
John 14 v 27..."Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid".....
John 17 v 10-11...".And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are..."
John 17 v 16..."They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."....
Jesus is praying to the Father here in these passages and He declares that we as believers are in this world but we are not of this world. In other words, we do not belong to this world, but to Him and the Father, and we are not subject to the things of this world.
We have His Peace. AMEN! Where do you find this peace, this wholeness, this completeness?
Let me take this opportunity to invite you all to celebrate with folks everywhere, this Sunday as Back to Church Sunday. This is being done nationwide and there are plenty of churches here locally participating. There are all sorts of reasons as to why people have gotten out of church or maybe even some who have never had a church home. Don't let any reasons or excuses keep you from going this Sunday to hear how much God loves you and how He wants you to experience His peace, His wholeness. Come visit us this Sunday if you do not have a church home. You are welcome at our church no matter where you are in your life, no matter what you have done in your past, no matter what denomination your background has been or is. There is no reason to stay at home this week. Come and let the love of God fill your hearts, and His peace fill your minds. Come expecting to receive His blessing on your life. Come expecting to feel His love for you. We love you and would welcome you at our church. Address and service times below
LIFE WAY CHURCH .....7621 Old Mocksville Road....Salisbury, NC 28144
go out 601 it is the street right after, or right before Shoafs Wagon Wheel depending on which way you are coming. Then it is on the right.
Service times.....9am and 11am
You don't want to miss out this Sunday. Remember come expecting to receive what God has for you. AMEN. C'Ya there and as always.
STAY IN THE WORD!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Quality Time
We were talking about prayer time and spending time in the Word, and Pastor said something like, it is not the quanity of time you spend in the Word but the quality of time.
This reminded me of the story of Mary and Martha. When Jesus came to visit, Martha was running around trying to do her best with her works to take care of Jesus. Mary on the other hand sat at Jesus feet with her full attention on Jesus and what He had to say.
First of all Jesus doesn't need us to take care of Him. He is there to take our cares. Second, Jesus is the Word. Martha had no time in her busy schedule to listen to the Word. She thought she was doing what was right by working to supply a good meal when in fact, all she needed to do to receive a good meal was to feast on the Word as Mary was doing.
Jesus gently rebuked Martha and told her when she complained about Mary not helping, that Mary was doing right. That what Mary was receiving would not be taken away from her.
Any praise and thanks that Martha might have received for a good meal would soon be forgotten probably, even before the next meal was served. She may have felt worth and others' gratitude for serving them, but that would be temporal and what Mary was receiving from the Word (Jesus) would be eternal.
Luke 10 v 38-42.....Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. 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.".....
Mary was focused on the Word. Martha was focused on works. We can sometimes become so focused on the work to be done, and think that we are the only ones that can do it, that we miss out on the teaching of the Word. Sometimes in Ministry, the workers do the same. If you have a nursery worker who is working every service, then they are not being fed the Word. Be careful that your church does not allow all Marthas, and no Marys, that they do not have time to be fed themselves. There has to be a balance as all the parts of the Body must be fed.
If you are a Martha never being fed, then you will never be able to grow in the Word. You will become like stagnant water never changing, unteachable, never moving. Stagnant water is full of bacteria, that causes diseases that can lead to death.
Just as our bodies need water daily to survive, we also need to be fed the Word to survive. We need fresh water. We need a fresh Word. What I mean by a fresh Word, is that if we do not receive a new and fresh Word, we will try to survive on what we have heard sometime before. That particular Word may not be a Word in season for us today. Or let me say it like this, you may not pay any attention to it when you hear it, because you think, "oh I have heard that before".
Pastor also said this, that we should read just what we are able to meditate on. That really helped me, because I know personally I sometimes try to knock out a chapter just so I finish whatever my bible reading through was for the day. When in all reality, I did not receive anything because I did not meditate on what I had read. The Word tells us to meditate on His word, to keep them before our eyes.
Prov 4 v 20-22....My son, give attention to My words; incline your ear 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.....
PS 119 v 105....Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path....
Both these scriptures tell us how important the Word is to us. They are health for us, and they are light for us. When we are faced with challenges we can recall the Word in our hearts that we have meditated on and know that there will be a light to show us the path to take to bring us through our challenge. If we do not meditate on His word, and build our faith on that Word, we can find ourselves wandering in a wilderness trying to find the way out.
Spend quality time with the Lord each day in His Word. Don't always be a Martha, take some time to be a Mary and receive that good part that will not be taken away.
STAY IN THE WORD!
This reminded me of the story of Mary and Martha. When Jesus came to visit, Martha was running around trying to do her best with her works to take care of Jesus. Mary on the other hand sat at Jesus feet with her full attention on Jesus and what He had to say.
First of all Jesus doesn't need us to take care of Him. He is there to take our cares. Second, Jesus is the Word. Martha had no time in her busy schedule to listen to the Word. She thought she was doing what was right by working to supply a good meal when in fact, all she needed to do to receive a good meal was to feast on the Word as Mary was doing.
Jesus gently rebuked Martha and told her when she complained about Mary not helping, that Mary was doing right. That what Mary was receiving would not be taken away from her.
Any praise and thanks that Martha might have received for a good meal would soon be forgotten probably, even before the next meal was served. She may have felt worth and others' gratitude for serving them, but that would be temporal and what Mary was receiving from the Word (Jesus) would be eternal.
Luke 10 v 38-42.....Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. 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.".....
Mary was focused on the Word. Martha was focused on works. We can sometimes become so focused on the work to be done, and think that we are the only ones that can do it, that we miss out on the teaching of the Word. Sometimes in Ministry, the workers do the same. If you have a nursery worker who is working every service, then they are not being fed the Word. Be careful that your church does not allow all Marthas, and no Marys, that they do not have time to be fed themselves. There has to be a balance as all the parts of the Body must be fed.
If you are a Martha never being fed, then you will never be able to grow in the Word. You will become like stagnant water never changing, unteachable, never moving. Stagnant water is full of bacteria, that causes diseases that can lead to death.
Just as our bodies need water daily to survive, we also need to be fed the Word to survive. We need fresh water. We need a fresh Word. What I mean by a fresh Word, is that if we do not receive a new and fresh Word, we will try to survive on what we have heard sometime before. That particular Word may not be a Word in season for us today. Or let me say it like this, you may not pay any attention to it when you hear it, because you think, "oh I have heard that before".
Pastor also said this, that we should read just what we are able to meditate on. That really helped me, because I know personally I sometimes try to knock out a chapter just so I finish whatever my bible reading through was for the day. When in all reality, I did not receive anything because I did not meditate on what I had read. The Word tells us to meditate on His word, to keep them before our eyes.
Prov 4 v 20-22....My son, give attention to My words; incline your ear 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.....
PS 119 v 105....Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path....
Both these scriptures tell us how important the Word is to us. They are health for us, and they are light for us. When we are faced with challenges we can recall the Word in our hearts that we have meditated on and know that there will be a light to show us the path to take to bring us through our challenge. If we do not meditate on His word, and build our faith on that Word, we can find ourselves wandering in a wilderness trying to find the way out.
Spend quality time with the Lord each day in His Word. Don't always be a Martha, take some time to be a Mary and receive that good part that will not be taken away.
STAY IN THE WORD!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Are You Using Your Part
1 Cor. 12 v 12....For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many are one body, so also is Christ.....
12 v 14.....for in fact the body is not one member but many.....
We are told how one might be the eye, and another, the tongue, or ears. How one might be the foot, and one the leg. When we are building a church or getting ready to go out into the mission field, to speak the gospel of Christ, we need to make sure all of our body is with us. The body can’t move forward if all the parts are not moving together in sequence.
Have you ever seen the kids on field day running the 3 legged race, where two kids are tied together with a strap around their two legs, so they are running with 3 legs instead of 4? If they do not get in sequence with their two legs tied together and use those legs as one, they will stumble and fall.
You see we need all of our parts working in the body of Christ. Just like in the church, if some do not do their part, like helping with the nursery, cleaning the church, greeting the visitors, teaching the youth, then the body will start to stumble and if another part does not jump in to catch us, we will fall. When we do not do our part we cause some parts of our body to work harder. After a while the part doing all of the work will wear down. Christ says we are one body.
1 Cor. 12 v 20-22....But now indeed there are many members yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you" nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.....
It doesn't matter what part of the body you are operating in, whether it be teaching, preaching, or cleaning the bathrooms. All parts are essential to the wellness of the whole body.
1 Cor. 12 v 27-28....Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church; first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, variety of tongues......
We are not all called to be a teacher, or a prophet, but we are all called under the heading of helps. We all have a gift to give to the church body.
So let us become one like Christ intended for the church to be. When we work as one body, we can win this race even if we have two of our legs tied together.
When we pray and seek God and ask Him to show us what part of the body we can be a help in, He will be faithful to show us.
STAY IN THE WORD!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Keep Knocking
We are probably all familiar with the passage in scripture that tells us to, "knock and it shall be opened".
But whose door are we trying to open? Is it God's door?
Last Sunday at church our Pastor said just keep knocking until the door opens. After hearing this and meditating on this, I thought God's door is always opened to us. He will answer on the first knock. So why are we going to keep knocking? Is God not at home, or too busy to answer the door? No, you will always find God at home.
The door that needs to be opened is the door to our hearts and our minds. You see we can ask all day long of God, but if we do not believe that we receive we will be just knocking on the door to our minds and hearts with no answer. We have to keep knocking and asking for what we need or want until we settle it in our hearts, until we get revelation of what the word says we have what we ask, then that is when we reach His door, and it will be opened.
Matt. 7 v 7-8...."Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.....
Matt. 21 v 22....and whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive....
1 John 5 v 14-15....Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.....
Did you catch the part of those scriptures that tells us what we have to do? And if we KNOW He hears us. In other words if we believe that He hears us, then we KNOW that we have whatever we ask. We must first believe.
God will always do His part, but we have to do our part as well. Our part is to believe without doubt that what He says He will do, He is faithful to do it. That if He says we have whatever we ask, then we shall have whatever we ask.
First we have to open the doors of our hearts and our minds so that we will be able to find His door. And once we find His door and knock, and ask, it will be given.
We do this by renewing our minds with the WORD, by asking God for wisdom to know the right things to ask, and by having faith that when we ask it shall be done. AMEN!
Until you settle in your heart and have revelation that you have what it is you ask, do like Pastor said Sunday, keep knocking, keep seeking, keep asking. Remember faith comes by hearing not by heard. AMEN!
Romans 10 v 17...So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God....
STAY IN THE WORD!
Friday, August 19, 2011
Recipe for a Renewed Mind and Success In Every Area of Your Life
Ingredients: Scriptures, a faith filled heart, a renewed mind, a mouth to confess with, an ear to hear
Directions: confess these scriptures daily ( you may want to add some extra) make it fit your recipe of life
(Scriptures paraphrased..)
PS 23 v 1...The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not lack in any area of my life......
Phil 4 v 19...My God shall supply ALL of my needs....
3 John 2... I shall prosper and be in health just as my soul prospers...
Gal 3 v 13... I am redeemed from the curse...
IS 53 v 5...I am healed by His stripes...
Deut 28 v 3-7...I am blessed going in and blessed coming out, I am blessed in all areas of my life, my enemies shall flee from me....
Prov 10 v 22....The Blessing of the Lord makes me rich and He adds no sorrow to it.....
John 17 v 16-17... I am not of this world, Your truth has set me free....
Mal 3 v 10-12...The windows of heaven are opened unto me, and Your Blessing overtakes me, I cannot contain it all, and You have rebuked the devourer.....
MK 11 v 23-24....I shall say to my mtns. be removed and they shall be. I will not doubt, but I will have faith in Your Word.
Thank You Lord and let it be done unto me according to Your Word. For you are not a man that You should lie and Your Word is Truth. I believe and I receive in Jesus name. AMEN AMEN AMEN
STAY IN THE WORD!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Who's On The Other End
Last night at church we were taking some sayings of the world and replacing them with scriptures of what God says. For example, one was something like when asked to pray for the president you might hear someone say something like, "well I didn't vote for him". What does God have to say about people in authority? Let's look in 1 Timothy.
1 Tim. vs 1-2....Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.....
God says to pray for them. We need to know where to find in God's word the answers to the world's questions. Especially questions concerning their salvation.
We were reviewing the subject of renewing our minds. Can you see how stinking thinking, and things that we grew up hearing and repeating can be replaced by the Word of God when we renew our mind by getting into His Word daily?
How many times have we said something like, I am so poor I can't pay attention. Well what does God have to say about that? He says His blessing makes us rich.
Prov. 10 v 22....The Blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it......
One man said this. "When you open your Bible to read it, open it expecting to hear from God. When you are reading your Bible that is God speaking to you."
That hit me like a brick between the ears. (in other words I heard what he was saying). How many times do we get into the Word and then walk away without any revelation of what was just read or said? How many times do we go to church and listen to the pastor and follow along in the scriptures and walk out of church without a revelation of what was just said? I don't mean that we don't know what he just said, I mean we don't get it. I mean we walk out thinking we are just as poor, or just as sick as when we walked in?
I started thinking about what that young man said. I thought it is like when we open our Bible to speak with God, it is like we are calling God on the telephone. He always answers. You will never get a busy signal, or you will never find Him not at home or too busy to talk.
But then here is where we come in. Do we then hang up the phone (close the Bible) and walk away without a word from Him. If we do it is because we were not listening. We were either doing all the talking or just not paying attention. We need to make sure we do not have any distractions around us when we call on God.
How rude is it when you are trying to talk to someone and they are constantly moving around doing something else or talking with someone else and not paying attention to a word you are saying? How does that make you feel? Insignificant? Unimportant? Like you might as well be talking into the air?
When we open the Word of God, we need to be ready to listen and expect to receive from Him what we are seeking. I promise you He is listening and He has a Word ready for you. Everything you need is in His Word.
If we walk away without receiving, it is not His fault, but our own.
When you open your Bible and call on God, don't use a party line with more than one person on the line. No make a person to person call. Let it be just you and God on the line. Don't let someone else pick up on the line. Use a phone with just one line so that there can be no interruptions.
Walk away with a renewed mind, and with everything you were seeking. AMEN!
STAY IN THE WORD!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Our Second Step In A New Life
This week we are hearing what the second step is after we are born again. The second step is being renewed. The word tells us to renew our minds. The way we renew our minds is with the Word of God. The more we read it, the more we hear it, the more our minds are renewed. The more we become like Jesus.
First we are made new through accepting Christ Jesus. Then we must continually renew our minds daily to what He says in His Word about who we are.
2 Cor 5 v 17....Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.....
Romans 12 v 2...And 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....
If we are only hearing things from the world all day, and we don't take the time to hear from God. Then what do you think we will think of first, when something tries to come against us? We will remember what the world is saying.
For example, everyday the news for the past week has been about the market dropping. The economy failing. Has this concerned you to the point of worry? Well, it shouldn't, because the Word says, He will provide all your needs. Who are you looking to as your source? This worlds' economy, or God?
Phil 4 v 19...And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus......
A thought just came to me while I was typing that scripture. Maybe the reason I lack sometimes is because I had to look up that scripture. Oh yes, I have heard it over and over again, and I can quote it. But, do I have revelation of it? I can tell you where all the healing scriptures are in the Word, because I have revelation of healing. I have faith in what the word says about healing. I have had healing manifest in me. However, as many times as I have heard this scripture, I had to look in the back to find where it was located so that I could type it correctly, and show you where the Word says that God will supply all of your need. Hmmm!
It is like I say, our Pastor tells us that faith comes from hearing not from HEARD. AMEN! Don't be too quick to turn off your paying attention when a familiar scripture is being read. You never know when it is going to hit you between the ears and you will get a revelation of the fact that it is for you. You are part of the ALL, when God gave us His Blessing, He gave it to ALL of us.
Romans 10 v 17....So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.....
Back to being renewed.....
The first thing we need to do when attempting to renew our minds, is to ask God for wisdom. When we pray for wisdom first, God will then add all other things unto us. Why? Because when He gives us wisdom, we will make right choices, we will be in the right place at the right time for His favor to cover us. AMEN!
James 1 v 5....If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.....
Matthew 6 v 33.....but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you....
All what things? Everything you have need of.
When God told Solomon he could have whatever he asked of Him, what did he ask for? He didn't ask for riches beyond anything that we could ever imagine. No. He asked for wisdom. And because of this God gave him more riches than anyone has ever seen since.
I heard on Joseph Prince the other day, something like this. When we make money a big important thing and chase after it, we never catch up. But when we make money a little thing and make God bigger, money chases us. AMEN!
Solomon didn't care about the riches. He just wanted to make sure that he had the wisdom to make the right decisions as king. Yes, Solomon did fail in some areas, as we all will do in our life times. If we were perfect, we wouldn't need a Savior.
But Solomon never lacked in riches.
God's will is for us to be prosperous and to be in good health and to live out our lives in abundance in every area. We have to renew our minds to believe and have faith in what He says His will is for us. We have to get into His Word, and find for ourselves His plans for us.
He has a good plan for us, a plan for us to prosper in every area. AMEN!
Don't hold on to stinking thinking that you had before giving your life to Christ. You are the righteousness of Christ Jesus. You have the riches of Solomon available to you. You have the Blessing of Abraham on you. You are blessed going in and blessed going out. Your storehouses will overflow. You will live a long and fruitful life.
How do I know all of this to be true? Because He said it in His Word, and He is not a man that He should lie. We just have to renew our minds with the scriptures daily so that our faith will bring revelation of this to each of us and we will see these things manifest in our lives.
Leave that old man behind and never look back. Don't keep picking up the trash you threw out when you became a Christian. Stay out of the dumps, and visit the Kingdom daily through His Word.
Now that you are born again, you have to learn a new language. One that is full of God's Word, and not the negative words you knew before.
Phil 4 v 8...Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things....
Remember you are the righteousness of Christ Jesus. The same Spirt that raised Jesus from the dead, now resides in you. AMEN!
Be RENEWED in all things that you do, in all things that you think, and in all things that you say.
STAY IN THE WORD!
How To Share The Gospel
We have started a new series at church for August, entitled 7 Steps to a New Life. I am very excited about it, as hopefully we will all learn how to better equip ourselves to share the gospel with others.
As we were talking last night about why it is hard for us to share the gospel, something came to me from my days as a "Mary Kay" Sales director.
I can remember when I was a consultant, I didn't sell very much Mary Kay because I had never used it, so I was unfamiliar and uncomfortable sharing with others. I was afraid they may ask me something I wouldn't know how to answer. Then one day, I took my friend with me to a meeting to have a free facial. No one showed up, so I told her I would have a facial with her.
My director was leading us through the steps of cleansing our faces and moisturizing, etc. I was so excited, I said, "this stuff is great!" My director said, "Neta, you act as if you have never used this before?" I was honest and told her that I had not. But that I would from here on out.
As I started using the product and studying all the facts about the products, I became very excited about what this product could do for your skin. From then on, every facial I did, I sold the entire kit. Why? Because, I beleived in what I was selling, because I had a personal view on the product since I was using it myself.
Having said all this, my point is, when we share the Gospel with others, we need to have a good understanding of exactly what we are sharing. We need to be excited about our Salvation and how we came to receive it. We need to share the good news with others, and not try to judge them or preach condemnation to them.
Pastor said something that caught my attention. Our task Jesus assigned us with was to share His good news. Once the person we share with, accepts Jesus as their Lord, He will take care of the cleansing. We can't clean them, we can't change them. Only He can do that.
One of the things we were always told in "Mary Kay" was to not take a (no) personally. As the person was not saying (no) to us but to our product.
The difference here is we are not trying to sell Jesus to people. We are trying to share the great things He has done with our lives. Sometimes we witness more to others by our actions and with no words at all. What are our actions telling others? Are our actions leading them to want to know more about our new life with Christ Jesus?
Don't be like me with the "Mary Kay". Don't just recieve your salvation, and then not read the manual as to what to do with it. Get in the word of God and study it out for yourself, what speaks to you, what means the most to you. Know where to find the Truth to share with others.
Once you get a revelation of the Word and what it is saying to you, you will be more comfortable and ready to share it with others.
Jesus says the harvest is plenty but the laborers are few. God's will is that none should perish. If we would all get excited about what Jesus did for us on that cross, and start sharing with others, we would start to see a harvest time. AMEN!
I am not sure how you will personally share the Gospel with someone else. But I have came up with some Bible truths that will help me in leading others to Christ Jesus. My homework Pastor gave us this week was to find the scriptures that say what you want to share, and write them down and get them rooted into your heart, so that they are easy to share.
My Homework:
How To Share The Gospel With Others
1. Has anyone ever shared with you what John 3 v 16 says?
John 3 v 16....For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever beleives in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.....
2. What about John 3 v 17?
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.....
3. The word might is there because God gave us all free will to choose for ourselves. No one can choose Jesus for us. We have to make the decision to make Him Lord over our lives on our own.
4. How do we do this?
Romans 10 v 9-10...If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe with your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.....
God is Love. It is His will that NO ONE should perish but that we would ALL come to Him through His Son Christ Jesus.
Jesus died over 2000 years ago on the cross for You and Me. For EVERYONE. His gift of salvation is His free gift of Grace to ALL who acknowledge Him as the only Son of God. We CAN NOT WORK for our salvation. We can only get it through Christ Jesus.
His blood covered ALL sins, past present and future. Since we obviously were not around 2000 years ago when He died, we would be the future, and all we do will be the future.
5. When we accept Him, we are a new creation.
2 Cor. 5 v 17...Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold all things have become new....
6. God says, He remembers our sins no more.
Rom 6 v 14.... For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law, but under GRACE......
You are now covered by the blood of Jesus.
It is the enemy who will remind you of your past. When he does, SHOUT him down with the WORD. Tell him "my sins are no more". "I am a child of God."
7. God says there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
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 the life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death....
8. We are made free in Christ Jesus.
2 Cor 3 v 17...Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.... (freedom)
9. Why do you have to beleive in Jesus and make Him Lord and Savior?
John 14 v 6... Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.".....
10.Now what does all this mean?
This means that if you believe in your heart that Jesus is the only Son of God, and that He died on the cross for your sins, and that God raised Him from the dead and that He is now seated at His right hand. Then you too are a child of God.
Now get into His word and find out all about this wonderful Savior. In His word are promises to you for your health, your prosperity, and your freedom. Get to know Him better.
STAY IN THE WORD!
As we were talking last night about why it is hard for us to share the gospel, something came to me from my days as a "Mary Kay" Sales director.
I can remember when I was a consultant, I didn't sell very much Mary Kay because I had never used it, so I was unfamiliar and uncomfortable sharing with others. I was afraid they may ask me something I wouldn't know how to answer. Then one day, I took my friend with me to a meeting to have a free facial. No one showed up, so I told her I would have a facial with her.
My director was leading us through the steps of cleansing our faces and moisturizing, etc. I was so excited, I said, "this stuff is great!" My director said, "Neta, you act as if you have never used this before?" I was honest and told her that I had not. But that I would from here on out.
As I started using the product and studying all the facts about the products, I became very excited about what this product could do for your skin. From then on, every facial I did, I sold the entire kit. Why? Because, I beleived in what I was selling, because I had a personal view on the product since I was using it myself.
Having said all this, my point is, when we share the Gospel with others, we need to have a good understanding of exactly what we are sharing. We need to be excited about our Salvation and how we came to receive it. We need to share the good news with others, and not try to judge them or preach condemnation to them.
Pastor said something that caught my attention. Our task Jesus assigned us with was to share His good news. Once the person we share with, accepts Jesus as their Lord, He will take care of the cleansing. We can't clean them, we can't change them. Only He can do that.
One of the things we were always told in "Mary Kay" was to not take a (no) personally. As the person was not saying (no) to us but to our product.
The difference here is we are not trying to sell Jesus to people. We are trying to share the great things He has done with our lives. Sometimes we witness more to others by our actions and with no words at all. What are our actions telling others? Are our actions leading them to want to know more about our new life with Christ Jesus?
Don't be like me with the "Mary Kay". Don't just recieve your salvation, and then not read the manual as to what to do with it. Get in the word of God and study it out for yourself, what speaks to you, what means the most to you. Know where to find the Truth to share with others.
Once you get a revelation of the Word and what it is saying to you, you will be more comfortable and ready to share it with others.
Jesus says the harvest is plenty but the laborers are few. God's will is that none should perish. If we would all get excited about what Jesus did for us on that cross, and start sharing with others, we would start to see a harvest time. AMEN!
I am not sure how you will personally share the Gospel with someone else. But I have came up with some Bible truths that will help me in leading others to Christ Jesus. My homework Pastor gave us this week was to find the scriptures that say what you want to share, and write them down and get them rooted into your heart, so that they are easy to share.
My Homework:
How To Share The Gospel With Others
1. Has anyone ever shared with you what John 3 v 16 says?
John 3 v 16....For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever beleives in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.....
2. What about John 3 v 17?
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.....
3. The word might is there because God gave us all free will to choose for ourselves. No one can choose Jesus for us. We have to make the decision to make Him Lord over our lives on our own.
4. How do we do this?
Romans 10 v 9-10...If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe with your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.....
God is Love. It is His will that NO ONE should perish but that we would ALL come to Him through His Son Christ Jesus.
Jesus died over 2000 years ago on the cross for You and Me. For EVERYONE. His gift of salvation is His free gift of Grace to ALL who acknowledge Him as the only Son of God. We CAN NOT WORK for our salvation. We can only get it through Christ Jesus.
His blood covered ALL sins, past present and future. Since we obviously were not around 2000 years ago when He died, we would be the future, and all we do will be the future.
5. When we accept Him, we are a new creation.
2 Cor. 5 v 17...Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold all things have become new....
6. God says, He remembers our sins no more.
Rom 6 v 14.... For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law, but under GRACE......
You are now covered by the blood of Jesus.
It is the enemy who will remind you of your past. When he does, SHOUT him down with the WORD. Tell him "my sins are no more". "I am a child of God."
7. God says there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
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 the life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death....
8. We are made free in Christ Jesus.
2 Cor 3 v 17...Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.... (freedom)
9. Why do you have to beleive in Jesus and make Him Lord and Savior?
John 14 v 6... Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.".....
10.Now what does all this mean?
This means that if you believe in your heart that Jesus is the only Son of God, and that He died on the cross for your sins, and that God raised Him from the dead and that He is now seated at His right hand. Then you too are a child of God.
Now get into His word and find out all about this wonderful Savior. In His word are promises to you for your health, your prosperity, and your freedom. Get to know Him better.
STAY IN THE WORD!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
What Is Wrong With Praying For Our Nation
Ok, I don't know but I am tired of people telling Christians when it is right to pray and when it is not. When it is "politically correct" to talk about JESUS and when it is not. Here is the deal Christians, It is ALWAYS correct, politically or otherwise to talk about your SAVIOR.
We need to take our stand as Christians and quit letting people tell us what their rights are. I am not talking about getting into a RELIGOUS Battle, I am simply saying, we have the same rights as all those poor pitiful me groups who think that just because we want to share the good news we are infringing on their rights somehow.
What harm can come from praying for our nation and her leaders? What harm comes from asking God to give wisdom and guidance to our leaders?
No one is telling those who don't believe that they have to do anything or believe anything.
What are you afraid of when a Christian Govenor prays for the country and for our President? I am curious what are you, who are protesting prayer afraid of?
I would think everyone would want GOD to bless our nation. We are not as Christians just praying for other Christians when we pray for our nation. We are praying for everyone's benefit.
Does it hurt your feelings when someone tells you to have a great day? Then why should it hurt your feelings or offend you when someone wants to pray for something good for you.
GOD IS LOVE! AND GOD IS GOOD! AMEN!
We need to take our stand as Christians and quit letting people tell us what their rights are. I am not talking about getting into a RELIGOUS Battle, I am simply saying, we have the same rights as all those poor pitiful me groups who think that just because we want to share the good news we are infringing on their rights somehow.
What harm can come from praying for our nation and her leaders? What harm comes from asking God to give wisdom and guidance to our leaders?
No one is telling those who don't believe that they have to do anything or believe anything.
What are you afraid of when a Christian Govenor prays for the country and for our President? I am curious what are you, who are protesting prayer afraid of?
I would think everyone would want GOD to bless our nation. We are not as Christians just praying for other Christians when we pray for our nation. We are praying for everyone's benefit.
Does it hurt your feelings when someone tells you to have a great day? Then why should it hurt your feelings or offend you when someone wants to pray for something good for you.
GOD IS LOVE! AND GOD IS GOOD! AMEN!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Revelation of Mark 11 v 23
You have heard me talk about Mark 11 v 23 alot. I have always thought that I had revelation of it until this past week. It seems everywhere I go, everything I listen to on the radio, on TV, everything I read in my Christian reading, it has all been bringing me back this week to Mark 11 v 23.
I always associated this verse with a literal mountain. I mean I know that the mountain in this verse is a representation of our problems, or trials today, but I still just keep seeing a mountain and how hard it would be to say to a mountain, be cast into the sea and it will be done. But then today, FINALLY, I got a revelation of the rest of the verse. Sure I have heard this verse repeated over and over again but like our Pastor says, FAITH COMES BY HEARING NOT BY HEARD. So even if you have heard something a million times, don't disregard what is being said, you never know when revelation of that word is going to hit you.
Mark 11 v 23.....For assuredly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says........
Some of us hear this verse and think I am not getting what I prayed because I have doubt in my heart and do not believe that this mountain will be moved. Well, maybe we need to look at the other part of the verse. It may not be because we have doubt it may be what we are saying when we do not see our mountain instantly removed. Because when you look at the rest of the verse He says, WHOEVER that would be you and I, WILL HAVE WHATEVER we say, when we believe it.
Let me ask you this. What have you said today? How many things have you caused to come about today because you said it and believed it? Good or Bad?
The Word tells us that life and death are in the tongue and we will eat the fruit thereof.
Prov. 18 v 21....Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.....
Prov 16 v 23....The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips....
Why would the wise teach their mouth? Because the Word tells us that there is power in our tongue. The Word tells us although the tongue is a little member of our body it defiles the entire body. How, by what we say.
Read James chapter 3. It tells us all about the untamable tongue.
Matthew 12 v 36-37.... "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.".......
This scripture is telling us that if we continue to speak sickness over ourselves with idle words while talking to others saying things like, "I feel awful, I am always tired, I just can't seem to have any energy, I am sick and tired of this or that" well then if you say it and you believe it, then you WILL HAVE it.
You see we find it easy to believe the things we say, but hard to believe what someone else may tell us. Like by His stripes we are healed. Well, maybe we need to say it out loud to ourselves everyday until we get revelation of it, and believe it in our hearts so when we say it and believe it, healing will be ours. Don't wait until you have something wrong and then desperately try to get revelation when all kinds of doubt and reports are coming against you. No, start now confessing that you are healed by His stripes everyday so when something does try to come against you, your FAITH of that Word will already be a revelation in you. AMEN!
Now let's look at the other side. If we confess everyday that we are the righteousness of Christ Jesus and we have all riches according to His glory and get revelation of this into our beings and believe it with all our hearts, then we will quit worrying about gas prices, or food prices and we will begin to see the abundance that He has promised to us. We will begin to prosper in The Blessing that He promised to us.
Now I don't know about you, but I am so excited I am ready to get back into the Word and find out what else is mine according to His Word. I know it is good, because He says He came to give us life and to give it abundantly. And don't forget we want to give out of that abundance so that the Blessing doesn't stop with us, but instead continues to bless others as well. AMEN!
STAY IN THE WORD!
I always associated this verse with a literal mountain. I mean I know that the mountain in this verse is a representation of our problems, or trials today, but I still just keep seeing a mountain and how hard it would be to say to a mountain, be cast into the sea and it will be done. But then today, FINALLY, I got a revelation of the rest of the verse. Sure I have heard this verse repeated over and over again but like our Pastor says, FAITH COMES BY HEARING NOT BY HEARD. So even if you have heard something a million times, don't disregard what is being said, you never know when revelation of that word is going to hit you.
Mark 11 v 23.....For assuredly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says........
Some of us hear this verse and think I am not getting what I prayed because I have doubt in my heart and do not believe that this mountain will be moved. Well, maybe we need to look at the other part of the verse. It may not be because we have doubt it may be what we are saying when we do not see our mountain instantly removed. Because when you look at the rest of the verse He says, WHOEVER that would be you and I, WILL HAVE WHATEVER we say, when we believe it.
Let me ask you this. What have you said today? How many things have you caused to come about today because you said it and believed it? Good or Bad?
The Word tells us that life and death are in the tongue and we will eat the fruit thereof.
Prov. 18 v 21....Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.....
Prov 16 v 23....The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips....
Why would the wise teach their mouth? Because the Word tells us that there is power in our tongue. The Word tells us although the tongue is a little member of our body it defiles the entire body. How, by what we say.
Read James chapter 3. It tells us all about the untamable tongue.
Matthew 12 v 36-37.... "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.".......
This scripture is telling us that if we continue to speak sickness over ourselves with idle words while talking to others saying things like, "I feel awful, I am always tired, I just can't seem to have any energy, I am sick and tired of this or that" well then if you say it and you believe it, then you WILL HAVE it.
You see we find it easy to believe the things we say, but hard to believe what someone else may tell us. Like by His stripes we are healed. Well, maybe we need to say it out loud to ourselves everyday until we get revelation of it, and believe it in our hearts so when we say it and believe it, healing will be ours. Don't wait until you have something wrong and then desperately try to get revelation when all kinds of doubt and reports are coming against you. No, start now confessing that you are healed by His stripes everyday so when something does try to come against you, your FAITH of that Word will already be a revelation in you. AMEN!
Now let's look at the other side. If we confess everyday that we are the righteousness of Christ Jesus and we have all riches according to His glory and get revelation of this into our beings and believe it with all our hearts, then we will quit worrying about gas prices, or food prices and we will begin to see the abundance that He has promised to us. We will begin to prosper in The Blessing that He promised to us.
Now I don't know about you, but I am so excited I am ready to get back into the Word and find out what else is mine according to His Word. I know it is good, because He says He came to give us life and to give it abundantly. And don't forget we want to give out of that abundance so that the Blessing doesn't stop with us, but instead continues to bless others as well. AMEN!
STAY IN THE WORD!
Monday, July 25, 2011
STAY ON TRACK
We have been talking about vacationing with God this month at church. Yesterday Pastor said something that made me think about how many times we just give up and quit because there was a little curve or even maybe a big curve thrown into our plans.
This was his life lesson for yesterday's message. A detour ahead should not cause you to avoid the journey. Pastor explained it like this. He said if you were going on vacation to the beach and you have been driving for 4 hours and then you run into some construction that detours you out of the way about 30 minutes, are you going to say well just forget it, let's go home, I am not taking that detour, I will just drive all the way back home. Of course we would not do that, we have already come this far, let us finish our journey. Now let me show you what this said to me.
Sometimes in life we are thrown detours into our plans. It is how we handle those detours that will determine if we will get to our destination. The word tells us to not grow weary in doing good. When things seem like they just continue to go the wrong way, when it looks like we are just sinking deeper into financial woes, or when the word from the doctor gives us a detour in our health, we have to recognize it for what it is. It is a ploy of the devil to get you off track. He wants you to take his route of woe is me, and sink into a sink hole. DON"T DO IT! Take the detour, and stay on track. Detours lead you back to the route you were taking. They may lead you a little bit out of the way, but a detour brings you back to your route.
God always provides a way through any situation. His plans for you are good. His plans are for you to prosper. Don't give up and go backwards. You have come this far believing the Lord for your healing, your prosperity, your peace. Don't let the enemy deceive you into going back.
What did God bring you out of? He brought me out of a life of misery, hurt, poverty, sickness, deceitfulness, drunkeness, I could go on and on, but you get the picture. We trusted God to bring us out of our old lives and into a new life with Him, we trust Him for our salvation, so why can't we trust Him to bring us through a little detour?
Hebrews 13 v 5-6...Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. 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?"......
God says, He will never leave us nor forsake us, He is our constant, even when there is a detour, He is right by our side going through the detour with us. He didn't go the other way, He is faithful to stay with us until our journey is complete.
1 Cor. 10 v 13.....No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but; God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.....
God will not hang you out to dry so to speak, He will provide a way out through the detour.
God's plan for our lives is always GOOD. Trust His plan. Look to Him for understanding. Let Him carry you through the detours of life. He is more than able to do so. He is strong enough and more than willing to carry you when you get tired as long as you are still seeking Him for direction and not trying to crayfish backwards.
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.......
When we seek Him, He shows us the way through.
PS 55 v 22...Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved....
The Lord will not let the enemy snatch you from His hands. He will give you the strength to endure your trials.
1 Pet 5 v 6-7...Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of GOD, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.....
Ok people, I know how we can be stubborn sometimes and not want to ask for directions, but maybe our detour looks like it is never going to end. Stop and get quiet and ask Him, for He will always lead you in the right direction. He does not want you to be troubled by these detours.
Remember it is just a detour, just a sign to try and intimidate you. Remember the enemy can only attack you in your mind. DON"T LET him. You have an adversary in Christ JESUS who will not let the enemy have his way.
John 10 v 27-30...."My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one.".......
When we know Him, we hear Him and we follow Him. Even if there are detours, His voice will lead us in the right direction, back to our path so that we might finish our race and reach our destination. AMEN!
How do we hear His voice?
STAY IN THE WORD!
This was his life lesson for yesterday's message. A detour ahead should not cause you to avoid the journey. Pastor explained it like this. He said if you were going on vacation to the beach and you have been driving for 4 hours and then you run into some construction that detours you out of the way about 30 minutes, are you going to say well just forget it, let's go home, I am not taking that detour, I will just drive all the way back home. Of course we would not do that, we have already come this far, let us finish our journey. Now let me show you what this said to me.
Sometimes in life we are thrown detours into our plans. It is how we handle those detours that will determine if we will get to our destination. The word tells us to not grow weary in doing good. When things seem like they just continue to go the wrong way, when it looks like we are just sinking deeper into financial woes, or when the word from the doctor gives us a detour in our health, we have to recognize it for what it is. It is a ploy of the devil to get you off track. He wants you to take his route of woe is me, and sink into a sink hole. DON"T DO IT! Take the detour, and stay on track. Detours lead you back to the route you were taking. They may lead you a little bit out of the way, but a detour brings you back to your route.
God always provides a way through any situation. His plans for you are good. His plans are for you to prosper. Don't give up and go backwards. You have come this far believing the Lord for your healing, your prosperity, your peace. Don't let the enemy deceive you into going back.
What did God bring you out of? He brought me out of a life of misery, hurt, poverty, sickness, deceitfulness, drunkeness, I could go on and on, but you get the picture. We trusted God to bring us out of our old lives and into a new life with Him, we trust Him for our salvation, so why can't we trust Him to bring us through a little detour?
Hebrews 13 v 5-6...Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. 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?"......
God says, He will never leave us nor forsake us, He is our constant, even when there is a detour, He is right by our side going through the detour with us. He didn't go the other way, He is faithful to stay with us until our journey is complete.
1 Cor. 10 v 13.....No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but; God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.....
God will not hang you out to dry so to speak, He will provide a way out through the detour.
God's plan for our lives is always GOOD. Trust His plan. Look to Him for understanding. Let Him carry you through the detours of life. He is more than able to do so. He is strong enough and more than willing to carry you when you get tired as long as you are still seeking Him for direction and not trying to crayfish backwards.
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.......
When we seek Him, He shows us the way through.
PS 55 v 22...Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved....
The Lord will not let the enemy snatch you from His hands. He will give you the strength to endure your trials.
1 Pet 5 v 6-7...Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of GOD, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.....
Ok people, I know how we can be stubborn sometimes and not want to ask for directions, but maybe our detour looks like it is never going to end. Stop and get quiet and ask Him, for He will always lead you in the right direction. He does not want you to be troubled by these detours.
Remember it is just a detour, just a sign to try and intimidate you. Remember the enemy can only attack you in your mind. DON"T LET him. You have an adversary in Christ JESUS who will not let the enemy have his way.
John 10 v 27-30...."My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one.".......
When we know Him, we hear Him and we follow Him. Even if there are detours, His voice will lead us in the right direction, back to our path so that we might finish our race and reach our destination. AMEN!
How do we hear His voice?
STAY IN THE WORD!
Friday, July 22, 2011
The 23rd PSALM
Everyone is probably familiar with PS 23, starts out The Lord is my shepherd... A while back I wrote a tid-bit as to why this PS always scared me instead of giving me comfort the way it was meant to do. Why, you might ask? I wasn't sure really except for the fact I didn't understand what it was saying, but then while watching Joseph Prince yesterday, I got a revelation as to why it scared me so much.
This was a passage of scripture that you mostly only heard at funerals. That's right, I can hear those preachers now, "YEA THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW DEATH"...... (and I know you can't hear me but imagine if you will that passage with alot of yelling, shakey, vibrating voice behind it) you know the kind those hell fire preachers preach with.
Well HELLO! What kid wouldn't be afraid? The same thing with our nightly prayer we were taught as a child to say before we went to sleep. "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if I should DIE before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take." OK no wonder I have been scared all my life of the nighttime and bedtime, thinking that I should DIE before I wake. HELLLO! Ok, what kid is going to sleep with sweet dreams now? I mean all they are thinking is I might die before I wake, and exactly how am I going to die?
OK, now let me get to the point of PS 23 what it is really wrote for and meant for you. It is a comforting word. Let me try to break it down, the way I received it this morning while meditating on it.
1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want..... A shepherd is a protector, a shepherd protects His sheep at all cost, they will give their own life for their sheep. Jesus gave His life on the cross for all of us. Not only did He give His life but He said you shall never want for anything, in other words when you are feeding on His word, you will have no lack in your life, every need shall be met.
2. He makes me lie down in green pastures.... You have heard the saying the grass is greener on the other side. Well, if you are living for Jesus it is. Once you make Him your Lord and Savior, you will have green pastures. He will lead you to the place where you won't be looking at the Jones' so to say, you will be content with your green pasture, you will have more than enough.
He leads me beside the still waters..... He gives you peace, when you are in a relationship with Him you feel His peace. You feel calm and still, not troubled. You learn to let go and let Him take your burdens away.
3. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousnes for His name's sake.... Once you make Him Lord of your life, He will cleanse you, He will give you peace and understanding in your mind. He will place you in the right place at the right time for His favor to shine on you. His righteousness will abide within you, and you will obtain all His benefits and power. You will have the favor of God on your life.
4.Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me..... As we live on this earth we will be faced with the evils and wiles of the enemy,but we do not have to fear because He has conquered the enemy and we have victory over our enemy. His WORD is our sword, we are given His word to protect us. When we know who we are in Christ Jesus and we know what His word says, we then have what we need to get us through those valleys. He says, He did not give us a spirit of fear. AMEN!
5.You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You annoint my head with oil; My cup runs over....God knows before we do what the enemy is going to try to use against us, and He prepares us beforehand with a WORD that will cancel out the enemy's seed. He annoints us with His power, the same power He gave Jesus, He gives to us. We are annointed with the power of healing, the power of prosperity in our lives, the power of a sound mind and peace over our enemies attacks. We have more than enough in every area of our lives.
6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever....With Jesus in your life, goodness will over rule the evil and mercy and forgiveness is yours when you mess up, There will be no end for when Jesus is your savior, you will have eternal life with Him and the Father all the days of your life here on this earth and then for all eternity after this life.
So you see PS 23 is a message full of good news, of comfort, of peace. This Psalm was never meant to be spoken at a funeral for someone who is dead, this Psalm was written to give us HOPE and an understanding of just who JESUS really is to us. He is our Savior who saved us from death by His forgiveness of our sins, but he is also a Shepherd, someone to protect us at all costs, and to give us those green pastures, still waters and mercy and forgiveness. Oh how He loves us. AMEN!
When you teach your children this Psalm, don't just have them memorize this scripture and not understand what it is saying. Teach them the good news. Teach them the love of Jesus. Show them who Jesus really is to them. Help them to see Him as their Shepherd. ( and leave out the prayers of death at bedtime please)
STAY IN THE WORD!
This was a passage of scripture that you mostly only heard at funerals. That's right, I can hear those preachers now, "YEA THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW DEATH"...... (and I know you can't hear me but imagine if you will that passage with alot of yelling, shakey, vibrating voice behind it) you know the kind those hell fire preachers preach with.
Well HELLO! What kid wouldn't be afraid? The same thing with our nightly prayer we were taught as a child to say before we went to sleep. "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if I should DIE before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take." OK no wonder I have been scared all my life of the nighttime and bedtime, thinking that I should DIE before I wake. HELLLO! Ok, what kid is going to sleep with sweet dreams now? I mean all they are thinking is I might die before I wake, and exactly how am I going to die?
OK, now let me get to the point of PS 23 what it is really wrote for and meant for you. It is a comforting word. Let me try to break it down, the way I received it this morning while meditating on it.
1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want..... A shepherd is a protector, a shepherd protects His sheep at all cost, they will give their own life for their sheep. Jesus gave His life on the cross for all of us. Not only did He give His life but He said you shall never want for anything, in other words when you are feeding on His word, you will have no lack in your life, every need shall be met.
2. He makes me lie down in green pastures.... You have heard the saying the grass is greener on the other side. Well, if you are living for Jesus it is. Once you make Him your Lord and Savior, you will have green pastures. He will lead you to the place where you won't be looking at the Jones' so to say, you will be content with your green pasture, you will have more than enough.
He leads me beside the still waters..... He gives you peace, when you are in a relationship with Him you feel His peace. You feel calm and still, not troubled. You learn to let go and let Him take your burdens away.
3. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousnes for His name's sake.... Once you make Him Lord of your life, He will cleanse you, He will give you peace and understanding in your mind. He will place you in the right place at the right time for His favor to shine on you. His righteousness will abide within you, and you will obtain all His benefits and power. You will have the favor of God on your life.
4.Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me..... As we live on this earth we will be faced with the evils and wiles of the enemy,but we do not have to fear because He has conquered the enemy and we have victory over our enemy. His WORD is our sword, we are given His word to protect us. When we know who we are in Christ Jesus and we know what His word says, we then have what we need to get us through those valleys. He says, He did not give us a spirit of fear. AMEN!
5.You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You annoint my head with oil; My cup runs over....God knows before we do what the enemy is going to try to use against us, and He prepares us beforehand with a WORD that will cancel out the enemy's seed. He annoints us with His power, the same power He gave Jesus, He gives to us. We are annointed with the power of healing, the power of prosperity in our lives, the power of a sound mind and peace over our enemies attacks. We have more than enough in every area of our lives.
6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever....With Jesus in your life, goodness will over rule the evil and mercy and forgiveness is yours when you mess up, There will be no end for when Jesus is your savior, you will have eternal life with Him and the Father all the days of your life here on this earth and then for all eternity after this life.
So you see PS 23 is a message full of good news, of comfort, of peace. This Psalm was never meant to be spoken at a funeral for someone who is dead, this Psalm was written to give us HOPE and an understanding of just who JESUS really is to us. He is our Savior who saved us from death by His forgiveness of our sins, but he is also a Shepherd, someone to protect us at all costs, and to give us those green pastures, still waters and mercy and forgiveness. Oh how He loves us. AMEN!
When you teach your children this Psalm, don't just have them memorize this scripture and not understand what it is saying. Teach them the good news. Teach them the love of Jesus. Show them who Jesus really is to them. Help them to see Him as their Shepherd. ( and leave out the prayers of death at bedtime please)
STAY IN THE WORD!
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