The Bible talks a lot about unity. One of the greatest hindrances to answered prayer is disunity. When a husband and wife live together in unity their prayer life is so much more powerful than if they are in strife! When a church body is in unity, you better watch out because their prayers are going to change the world! That's why the devil tries so hard to bring strife in a marriage, in a friendship, and in a church body. Because he knows that where there is division there is lack of power.
I love Philippians 2:1-4
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and in purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
So we have to do everything we can to remain in unity with our brothers and sisters. That means overlooking little slights against us, always giving the benefit of the doubt, and forgiving easily and quickly.
Remember "satan roams around like a roaring lion seeking those he may devour". He is looking for someone to take the bait of offense!
Today lets choose to love and not be easily offended. Let's choose to forgive. I have wasted to much of my life in bitterness and judgement of others. Together we can choose to live a life of love, always thinking the best of people.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Heaven or Hell?
The Lord put it on my heart to talk about the topic of heaven and hell today. I've had people ask me this interesting question, "If God is a loving God, then how can He send someone to Hell?"
In fact, I have asked this question myself. I have sought God for the answer and here is what He told me.
God does not send anyone to Hell, they send themselves. When a person is born, they are born into the family of sin, therefore they are sinners by nature. Sin deserves punishment and the punishment for sin is hell or separation from God, eternal death. Yikes! What if someone killed one of your loved ones and a judge let him go free? That would not be right, would it? The same for God, He would not be righteous if He let sinners go free. Yes, He is a God of love, but in that love there is judgement. However hard this is for us to understand, it is the way it is. But here is the amazing thing; because He loved you so much He did not want you to go to Hell so He took all of your sin (all the sins you have ever committed or ever will commit) upon himself. He literally took them. It was as if He sinned. Then He took your punishment. He died a horrible death and suffered immensely but He didn't stop there. He went to Hell for you so you wouldn't have to. Now that is a loving God!
All we have to do is accept what He did for us. We have to recognize that we are a sinner in need of forgiveness and then accept that Christ already paid the price for us!
Amazing!
I want to tell you a testimony. One day I was praying and I said to God. "God I am sure glad you are God, because if I was God I don't think I could have gone to the cross and went through what you went through."
Then God brought the beautiful faces of my children to my mind. Each one of them. And I felt so much love and desire to protect each one of them. Then God asked me this question, "What if it was up to you and if you did not go to the cross it would mean eternal torment and separation from your children?" I shudder just thinking about it. Then I said, "Yes, Lord, I see now. I would try to go. I would do everything I could to endure it so that I could be with my children."
And in this, the Lord showed me that this is comparable to how He felt and why He did it. Only the amount of love I feel for my children, is only a tiny drop compared to how much He loves each one of us!
If you want to read more about salvation go to one of my earlier posts entitled, "Salvation is a Parachute".
In fact, I have asked this question myself. I have sought God for the answer and here is what He told me.
God does not send anyone to Hell, they send themselves. When a person is born, they are born into the family of sin, therefore they are sinners by nature. Sin deserves punishment and the punishment for sin is hell or separation from God, eternal death. Yikes! What if someone killed one of your loved ones and a judge let him go free? That would not be right, would it? The same for God, He would not be righteous if He let sinners go free. Yes, He is a God of love, but in that love there is judgement. However hard this is for us to understand, it is the way it is. But here is the amazing thing; because He loved you so much He did not want you to go to Hell so He took all of your sin (all the sins you have ever committed or ever will commit) upon himself. He literally took them. It was as if He sinned. Then He took your punishment. He died a horrible death and suffered immensely but He didn't stop there. He went to Hell for you so you wouldn't have to. Now that is a loving God!
All we have to do is accept what He did for us. We have to recognize that we are a sinner in need of forgiveness and then accept that Christ already paid the price for us!
Amazing!
I want to tell you a testimony. One day I was praying and I said to God. "God I am sure glad you are God, because if I was God I don't think I could have gone to the cross and went through what you went through."
Then God brought the beautiful faces of my children to my mind. Each one of them. And I felt so much love and desire to protect each one of them. Then God asked me this question, "What if it was up to you and if you did not go to the cross it would mean eternal torment and separation from your children?" I shudder just thinking about it. Then I said, "Yes, Lord, I see now. I would try to go. I would do everything I could to endure it so that I could be with my children."
And in this, the Lord showed me that this is comparable to how He felt and why He did it. Only the amount of love I feel for my children, is only a tiny drop compared to how much He loves each one of us!
If you want to read more about salvation go to one of my earlier posts entitled, "Salvation is a Parachute".
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Healing
Psalm 103
Praise the Lord , O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits -
Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems you life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.
Don't ever be confused on the issue of whether or not it is God's will to heal you! The Word of God is filled with proof that it is always God's will for a person to be healed. We can pray confidently for healing knowing that we are praying the will of God! Sometimes healing comes instantly and sometimes over a period of time but, with faith, healing will come.
Sometimes, when people aren't healed we tend to blame God. But God is perfect and there are things going on behind the scene so to speak, that we may not see or understand at the moment.
I say, we keep on believing the truth God has told us, we keep our eyes on God and keep on trusting Him no matter what we see in the natural!
"Focus not on things that are seen, but on things that are unseen, for things that are seen are temporal, things that are unseen are eternal."
Praise the Lord , O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits -
Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems you life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.
Don't ever be confused on the issue of whether or not it is God's will to heal you! The Word of God is filled with proof that it is always God's will for a person to be healed. We can pray confidently for healing knowing that we are praying the will of God! Sometimes healing comes instantly and sometimes over a period of time but, with faith, healing will come.
Sometimes, when people aren't healed we tend to blame God. But God is perfect and there are things going on behind the scene so to speak, that we may not see or understand at the moment.
I say, we keep on believing the truth God has told us, we keep our eyes on God and keep on trusting Him no matter what we see in the natural!
"Focus not on things that are seen, but on things that are unseen, for things that are seen are temporal, things that are unseen are eternal."
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Shooting Stars
Great men and women of God aren't made in a day and they aren't born great either! Not one of us is born with a perfect character developed within us. In fact, we are all born into the family of sin and have to be born again into the family of God. Have you ever noticed that we don't have to teach children to lie or hit or disobey, we have to teach them to tell the truth, to be kind and obedient.
Many times, I have asked God why I have to go through all the things I am going through. Why do I have to wait so long to get answered prayer? Sometimes God answers my prayers quickly but more often than not, I am asked to wait. And usually, I wait until it seems to be almost too late and then God answers.
God has shown me that character is built over time, through trials and tribulations.
James 1:2 says:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Now how many of us consider trials to be pure joy? Usually not me! But I am learning that these are the things that are developing Godly character in me. I am learning to be humble, faithful, patient, steady, and many other Godly characteristics.
Have you seen men and women of God who seem like shooting stars? They rise up in a moment of time, show their glory and then fall? Well, probably, they didn't wait on God and let Him build their character so they would be ready to face the trials and oppositions that come with ministry.
So, be patient friends. Let God work that perfect work in you. When you pray for something, trust Him and know that His timing is not our timing! And know that all the while God is working a perfect work in you so that you can be mature and complete not lacking anything.
Many times, I have asked God why I have to go through all the things I am going through. Why do I have to wait so long to get answered prayer? Sometimes God answers my prayers quickly but more often than not, I am asked to wait. And usually, I wait until it seems to be almost too late and then God answers.
God has shown me that character is built over time, through trials and tribulations.
James 1:2 says:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Now how many of us consider trials to be pure joy? Usually not me! But I am learning that these are the things that are developing Godly character in me. I am learning to be humble, faithful, patient, steady, and many other Godly characteristics.
Have you seen men and women of God who seem like shooting stars? They rise up in a moment of time, show their glory and then fall? Well, probably, they didn't wait on God and let Him build their character so they would be ready to face the trials and oppositions that come with ministry.
So, be patient friends. Let God work that perfect work in you. When you pray for something, trust Him and know that His timing is not our timing! And know that all the while God is working a perfect work in you so that you can be mature and complete not lacking anything.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Fruit of the Spirit
I asked God what to write today and He brought to my mind this same verse again:
Philippians 1:9
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.
The phrase that really sticks out to me is "filled with the fruit of righteousness".
So when our love abounds more and more we will be filled with the fruit of righteousness.
What is the fruit of righteousness? It's the same as the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22 says,
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
We are filled with the fruit of the Spirit when we "walk by the Spirit".
So a good test each day, maybe several times a day, is to ask ourselves, "Am I displaying love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?" And if these things are not evident in us then it is time to spend some time with God! We need to ask Him to fill us with His Spirit! The more time we spend with God the more these characteristics will be displayed in our lives.
Spending time with God is not a chore! We don't do it because we have to or because we think we are doing it for Him. NO! We spend time with God because we want to! Because being with Him is wonderful, healing, and will literally save our lives.
Sometimes we think that we just don't have the "time" to spend with God. But the truth is, we all have the same amount of time and we have to choose how we spend it. How we choose to spend our time reflects our greatest priorities!
Wow, God! Ouch again, but thanks for teaching us the truth! Because knowing the truth is what will set us free!
Philippians 1:9
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.
The phrase that really sticks out to me is "filled with the fruit of righteousness".
So when our love abounds more and more we will be filled with the fruit of righteousness.
What is the fruit of righteousness? It's the same as the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22 says,
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
We are filled with the fruit of the Spirit when we "walk by the Spirit".
So a good test each day, maybe several times a day, is to ask ourselves, "Am I displaying love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?" And if these things are not evident in us then it is time to spend some time with God! We need to ask Him to fill us with His Spirit! The more time we spend with God the more these characteristics will be displayed in our lives.
Spending time with God is not a chore! We don't do it because we have to or because we think we are doing it for Him. NO! We spend time with God because we want to! Because being with Him is wonderful, healing, and will literally save our lives.
Sometimes we think that we just don't have the "time" to spend with God. But the truth is, we all have the same amount of time and we have to choose how we spend it. How we choose to spend our time reflects our greatest priorities!
Wow, God! Ouch again, but thanks for teaching us the truth! Because knowing the truth is what will set us free!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
A Completed Work
In Philippians 1:6 Paul wrote,
...being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
What an exciting promise! Has God begun a good work in you? If He has then you can rest assured that He will carry it on to completion!
Our goal is to become like Christ, and sometimes on this journey, we feel overwhelmed and defeated, almost like giving up. Sometimes we feel that there is just too much wrong with us to ever become like Christ.
God changes us "little by little". Every day He is working in us and changing us and sometimes we won't notice these changes for days, weeks,or months. Dare I say years? But if you will continue to trust and continue in His Word, He will complete the work He began in you! That's a promise!
...being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
What an exciting promise! Has God begun a good work in you? If He has then you can rest assured that He will carry it on to completion!
Our goal is to become like Christ, and sometimes on this journey, we feel overwhelmed and defeated, almost like giving up. Sometimes we feel that there is just too much wrong with us to ever become like Christ.
God changes us "little by little". Every day He is working in us and changing us and sometimes we won't notice these changes for days, weeks,or months. Dare I say years? But if you will continue to trust and continue in His Word, He will complete the work He began in you! That's a promise!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Complaining?
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life...
Philippians 2:14-16
I have to admit, I am still working on this one... God has really brought it to my attention how much I actually complain. But I have noticed that more and more often I take note of when I am about to complain and just shut my mouth.
If you ask him to, the Holy Spirit will convict you or "nudge" you when you are about to complain or argue. And if you are listening to Him you can notice it and stop! Then immediately you can change your thought to one of thankfulness.
I love what the verse says, we can shine like stars in the universe as we hold out the Word of life. Who is going to listen to the Word from a person who spends their time complaining? Complaining means we are discontent and unthankful and that means we are not trusting God. Ouch. I guess today, this was a lesson for me. Thanks God!
Philippians 2:14-16
I have to admit, I am still working on this one... God has really brought it to my attention how much I actually complain. But I have noticed that more and more often I take note of when I am about to complain and just shut my mouth.
If you ask him to, the Holy Spirit will convict you or "nudge" you when you are about to complain or argue. And if you are listening to Him you can notice it and stop! Then immediately you can change your thought to one of thankfulness.
I love what the verse says, we can shine like stars in the universe as we hold out the Word of life. Who is going to listen to the Word from a person who spends their time complaining? Complaining means we are discontent and unthankful and that means we are not trusting God. Ouch. I guess today, this was a lesson for me. Thanks God!
Friday, December 5, 2008
Whatever things are Noble
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.
I will never leave you alone about the issue of "what you think about". You know why? Because it can make or break you!
I was reading an article in Joyce Meyer's magazine this morning. It said that our thoughts have actual physical structure and that whenever we think good thoughts our minds are bathed in a good chemical and when we think bad thoughts our minds are bathed in a bad chemical. The article said that medical science has proven that almost all illness originates from our thought life! Amazing! Didn't God say that a long time ago though?
In Proverbs it says,
A merry heart does good like a medicine but a broken spirit dries the bones!
God is so good, how does He know all this stuff? :) (you know I am kidding right?)
2 Corinthians 10:5 ... We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
We have to take our thoughts captive! We have to cast down the bad thoughts and replace them with the truth. We have to literally fill our minds with whatever is good, true, and wholesome!
When we watch television or listen to music, we have to be careful what we let in! Because what goes in will come out! If you feed fear in, then you will have fear. If you feed curse words in, they will eventually come out! But what if we only watched wholesome shows and we filled our minds with music and books that give God glory? We would be so full of God that we would be overflowing! We might even start to think more positively!
Matthew 12:34
...For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Proverbs 23:7
For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he...
By the way, you can get Joyce Meyer's magazine for free by going on her website and signing up for it. The website is http://www.joycemeyerministries.org/. It is packed with great information.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.
I will never leave you alone about the issue of "what you think about". You know why? Because it can make or break you!
I was reading an article in Joyce Meyer's magazine this morning. It said that our thoughts have actual physical structure and that whenever we think good thoughts our minds are bathed in a good chemical and when we think bad thoughts our minds are bathed in a bad chemical. The article said that medical science has proven that almost all illness originates from our thought life! Amazing! Didn't God say that a long time ago though?
In Proverbs it says,
A merry heart does good like a medicine but a broken spirit dries the bones!
God is so good, how does He know all this stuff? :) (you know I am kidding right?)
2 Corinthians 10:5 ... We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
We have to take our thoughts captive! We have to cast down the bad thoughts and replace them with the truth. We have to literally fill our minds with whatever is good, true, and wholesome!
When we watch television or listen to music, we have to be careful what we let in! Because what goes in will come out! If you feed fear in, then you will have fear. If you feed curse words in, they will eventually come out! But what if we only watched wholesome shows and we filled our minds with music and books that give God glory? We would be so full of God that we would be overflowing! We might even start to think more positively!
Matthew 12:34
...For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Proverbs 23:7
For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he...
By the way, you can get Joyce Meyer's magazine for free by going on her website and signing up for it. The website is http://www.joycemeyerministries.org/. It is packed with great information.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The Greatness of Knowing Christ
My prayer for you today, dear friends, is that you would come to know Christ more intimately. I pray that He would reveal himself to you in a way that you can really sense His presence near you. I pray that He will cause you to hunger and thirst for Him first and foremost in your life. For He is more vital to you than even your bread and water.
In Philippians Paul talks about how he is a highly qualified Jew. He says that if anyone has a reason to boast, it's him because of all that he had attained from being a Pharisee. Then in chapter 3 verse 7 he says:
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law but that which is through faith in Christ- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
He says that he counts everything as "dung" (in the King James version it says dung) compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ! Wow! Knowing Christ must be something really wonderful.
You know, there are so many people around the world who love Christ with such a passion that they are willing to sacrifice their lives, their comfort, even their friends and families for Him. Why would people do that? Because, there is NOTHING in this world that compares to the love of Jesus. Nothing, nothing, nothing.
I like the story of the little boy left in a room with a heater. His dad tells him not to touch it. When the dad walks out of the room, he touches the heater, it singes his fingers. Now he has "experienced" the heater. So later, when a fireman comes and tells him that the heater is not really hot, it is safe to touch, the little boy cannot be convinced. Because now he has experienced the heater. This is what true fellowship with Jesus Christ is like. Once you have experienced it, no one can tell you that it is not real!
In Philippians Paul talks about how he is a highly qualified Jew. He says that if anyone has a reason to boast, it's him because of all that he had attained from being a Pharisee. Then in chapter 3 verse 7 he says:
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law but that which is through faith in Christ- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
He says that he counts everything as "dung" (in the King James version it says dung) compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ! Wow! Knowing Christ must be something really wonderful.
You know, there are so many people around the world who love Christ with such a passion that they are willing to sacrifice their lives, their comfort, even their friends and families for Him. Why would people do that? Because, there is NOTHING in this world that compares to the love of Jesus. Nothing, nothing, nothing.
I like the story of the little boy left in a room with a heater. His dad tells him not to touch it. When the dad walks out of the room, he touches the heater, it singes his fingers. Now he has "experienced" the heater. So later, when a fireman comes and tells him that the heater is not really hot, it is safe to touch, the little boy cannot be convinced. Because now he has experienced the heater. This is what true fellowship with Jesus Christ is like. Once you have experienced it, no one can tell you that it is not real!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Peace
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4: 4-7
This verse is so awesome! There is so much packed into one little section of scripture! God's Word is powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword! Hallelujah!
I love where it says, "The Lord is near".
God gave me a revelation this morning, it's something I already knew but it just became reality to me. Do you ever have those moments? When we pray and ask God for something like for instance, healing our bodies, or providing for a need we have, we are not having to beg God. We are not trying to get God to do something that He doesn't want to do. My Pastor always says, "You don't have to twist God's arm!" God wants to heal your body. He wants to get your loved one saved. God wants to provide for you. In fact, He wants it more than you do! Can you believe that?
So friends, don't be worried about anything today! Just submit your requests to God, with thanksgiving (don't miss that part) and then the peace of God which transcends understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus!
What is peace that transcends understanding? It's when you know that you know that God is for you and not against you and that He is working on your behalf, for your good. I can promise you today, that God is for you and not against you, and that He is working all things together for your good!
Take a few minutes and reread that scripture a few times. You will begin to see more and more jewels that are within it!
I'm praying for you!
Philippians 4: 4-7
This verse is so awesome! There is so much packed into one little section of scripture! God's Word is powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword! Hallelujah!
I love where it says, "The Lord is near".
God gave me a revelation this morning, it's something I already knew but it just became reality to me. Do you ever have those moments? When we pray and ask God for something like for instance, healing our bodies, or providing for a need we have, we are not having to beg God. We are not trying to get God to do something that He doesn't want to do. My Pastor always says, "You don't have to twist God's arm!" God wants to heal your body. He wants to get your loved one saved. God wants to provide for you. In fact, He wants it more than you do! Can you believe that?
So friends, don't be worried about anything today! Just submit your requests to God, with thanksgiving (don't miss that part) and then the peace of God which transcends understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus!
What is peace that transcends understanding? It's when you know that you know that God is for you and not against you and that He is working on your behalf, for your good. I can promise you today, that God is for you and not against you, and that He is working all things together for your good!
Take a few minutes and reread that scripture a few times. You will begin to see more and more jewels that are within it!
I'm praying for you!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Pressing On
I just love Philippians! It is so power packed. In chapter 3 Paul talks about how he wants to be all He can be for Christ, to live for Him only, then starting at verse 12 he says,
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Sometimes we all tend to get so bogged down in our mistakes that it is hard to look forward. Or sometimes we feel so bad about the wrong things we have done that we don't even feel that we can approach God. We run from God when we really need to run to God. No matter what we have done God is holding out His arms to us! It only takes a moment to ask forgiveness and God instantly forgives you. He separates your sin as far as the East is from the West. Just ask God to help you change in that area and move on! That's what God really wants from us! That is why we have a righteousness apart from our works! We have a righteousness that is by faith alone! Praise God!
So today, press on toward the mark! Don't look back! You may have to choose to do this again and again, but do it! Go forward! Amen
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Sometimes we all tend to get so bogged down in our mistakes that it is hard to look forward. Or sometimes we feel so bad about the wrong things we have done that we don't even feel that we can approach God. We run from God when we really need to run to God. No matter what we have done God is holding out His arms to us! It only takes a moment to ask forgiveness and God instantly forgives you. He separates your sin as far as the East is from the West. Just ask God to help you change in that area and move on! That's what God really wants from us! That is why we have a righteousness apart from our works! We have a righteousness that is by faith alone! Praise God!
So today, press on toward the mark! Don't look back! You may have to choose to do this again and again, but do it! Go forward! Amen
Monday, December 1, 2008
Joy
The Bible has a lot to say about joy. I was out shopping, by myself, the other day and I was having a great time with the Lord. We were out on a date! I was full of joy and I was feeling so strong. I told the Lord, "Wow, I wish I could feel this healthy and strong all the time." He brought a scripture immediately to my mind. "The joy of the Lord is my strength!" And I realized how very true that is. When we have joy we feel strong. When we are sad or depressed we tend to feel weak and apathetic. The Bible says that "a broken spirit dries the bones." At the moment of salvation, Jesus comes to live in our hearts and we have a "deposit" of all the fruits of the Spirit, one of them being joy. So whether you feel it or not, you have joy! Sometimes this joy is manifested easily and without effort in our lives, but most of the time we have to "stir ourselves up." We have to refuse to think bad thoughts and choose to think good ones! We have to focus on Jesus and not on our problems.
Joy is described as "calm delight." It's a feeling that is deep down in your spirit, that you can have all the time just because you know Jesus.
Psalms 16:11 says;
Thou will show me the path of life; in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
It's in the presence of God that there is fullness of joy!
What are some ways that you can stir up joy today?
1) Think of a way you can help someone else today, it may be small or big, but it will end up bringing you joy!
2) Do something fun, something that you really enjoy. Be spontaneous!
3) Keep your life adventurous, take a different route to work or shop at a different store than you normally would, call someone and go out to lunch!
4) Put on a worship CD and Praise God! I promise you will find joy!
5) Make a list of things that you are thankful for.
6) Think of your own list of things that bring you joy.
7) Look up every scripture on joy and read it. Pick one to memorize.
Today, rejoice and be exceedingly glad! Rejoice to the King of all ages!
Joy is described as "calm delight." It's a feeling that is deep down in your spirit, that you can have all the time just because you know Jesus.
Psalms 16:11 says;
Thou will show me the path of life; in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
It's in the presence of God that there is fullness of joy!
What are some ways that you can stir up joy today?
1) Think of a way you can help someone else today, it may be small or big, but it will end up bringing you joy!
2) Do something fun, something that you really enjoy. Be spontaneous!
3) Keep your life adventurous, take a different route to work or shop at a different store than you normally would, call someone and go out to lunch!
4) Put on a worship CD and Praise God! I promise you will find joy!
5) Make a list of things that you are thankful for.
6) Think of your own list of things that bring you joy.
7) Look up every scripture on joy and read it. Pick one to memorize.
Today, rejoice and be exceedingly glad! Rejoice to the King of all ages!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Phillipians
I have a challenge for you. I am going to read the book of Philippians everyday from now until Christmas. And I want to challenge you to do the same. It's one of my favorite, if not my favorite, books of the Bible. It's only 4 short chapters but it is power packed!
I want you to read Philippians 1:9 in the Amplified version:
(the Amplified version is very accurate and really goes into the meaning of the original Greek and Hebrew words)
And this I pray that your love may abound more and more and extend to it's fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment], so that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble].
The more I study "love" the more amazed I am at how love is the key element in our Christian walk. God is love, so when we love we share Him. Here it says that we must grow more and more in our love walk in order to have knowledge and insight about what things are most vital and of highest value in life!
I really believe this friends, if we focus our life on loving God and loving others, we can't go wrong. We need to focus more on loving God than on overcoming sin or problems in our life. Because the more we love God the more everything else, including overcoming sin and our problems, will fall into place. I hope you can get this revelation today!
"Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and ALL these things will be added unto you!"
I LOVE you!
I want you to read Philippians 1:9 in the Amplified version:
(the Amplified version is very accurate and really goes into the meaning of the original Greek and Hebrew words)
And this I pray that your love may abound more and more and extend to it's fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment], so that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble].
The more I study "love" the more amazed I am at how love is the key element in our Christian walk. God is love, so when we love we share Him. Here it says that we must grow more and more in our love walk in order to have knowledge and insight about what things are most vital and of highest value in life!
I really believe this friends, if we focus our life on loving God and loving others, we can't go wrong. We need to focus more on loving God than on overcoming sin or problems in our life. Because the more we love God the more everything else, including overcoming sin and our problems, will fall into place. I hope you can get this revelation today!
"Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and ALL these things will be added unto you!"
I LOVE you!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
I don't think I will answer those questions from yesterday. Did anyone do any thinking? What I would like is for you to pray and ask God to give you the answers. They are important, very important, they determine your perspective on life. And perspective is everything. It is so easy to get bogged down in the every day challenges of life and not be able to see any farther than your current situation. It's times like this when we have got to take a minute and look up, ask ourselves these questions and get a view of the big picture. It's so easy to forget, that's why Romans 12:2 says to "be ye transformed by the continual renewing of your mind." The Bible compares the Word of God to water. We have to continually wash our minds with the water of the Word! The mind gets all clogged up and bogged down. It gets cloudy, muddy, and dirty from the things of the world. The only way to take care of this problem is the continual renewal of the mind with the water of the Word! I don't just mean once or twice a week at church! I mean daily, sometimes several times daily! This is a life or death matter. It's a matter of living victoriously or not! So get some good Christian Cd's ( I love Joyce Meyer, Beth Moore, Kenneth Copeland, Jesse Duplantis), get some good Christian books, pray, go to church, get out your Bible! I can't emphasize it enough, without renewing our minds we just can't have the right perspective. Why are we here? It's not to get wealth or fame or hoard possessions! You can't take any of that with you to Heaven! That's not why we are here. We are here so other people have the chance to avoid hell, to join the family of God. I believe God wants us prosperous to spread His gospel but not to fulfill the lust of our flesh. We are not to seek after riches, we are to seek after God! Oops, I think I answered one of the questions. :)
Be blessed today! Renew your mind! It's not a chore, it's a priveledge and an honor. It's exciting!
Be blessed today! Renew your mind! It's not a chore, it's a priveledge and an honor. It's exciting!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Questions
Today, I just want to ask you a couple of questions and let you meditate them throughout the day.
1) Why are you here on earth?
2) Why did Jesus die on the cross for you?
3) What talents did Jesus give you and how does He want you to use them here on
earth?
Don't just give a quick pat answer. Really think about this and see what the Lord reveals to you. I would love if someone would like to leave a comment with their answer. It is really easy to leave a comment. Just click "comments" under this post and write what you want. Then follow the directions. They want you to open an account, but really all that means is choosing a user name and password. And I think the password is just your email address. It's easy! Let's have a discussion, if you want!
I've been reading a book about Christians in communist countries who just for being a Christian risk their lives, their friends lives, and even their families lives. They know at any moment they can be arrested, killed, or worse tortured. I like a statement I read in that book.
"In communist countries, there are no lukewarm Christians."
In reading this book, I have really been faced with my lukewarmness. I mean I am free to witness for Christ without fearing for my life, but do I do it? The truth has hit me hard.
1) Why are you here on earth?
2) Why did Jesus die on the cross for you?
3) What talents did Jesus give you and how does He want you to use them here on
earth?
Don't just give a quick pat answer. Really think about this and see what the Lord reveals to you. I would love if someone would like to leave a comment with their answer. It is really easy to leave a comment. Just click "comments" under this post and write what you want. Then follow the directions. They want you to open an account, but really all that means is choosing a user name and password. And I think the password is just your email address. It's easy! Let's have a discussion, if you want!
I've been reading a book about Christians in communist countries who just for being a Christian risk their lives, their friends lives, and even their families lives. They know at any moment they can be arrested, killed, or worse tortured. I like a statement I read in that book.
"In communist countries, there are no lukewarm Christians."
In reading this book, I have really been faced with my lukewarmness. I mean I am free to witness for Christ without fearing for my life, but do I do it? The truth has hit me hard.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
The Sweetest Spot on Earth
I am so excited about this post today because the Lord asked me to get out of the way, so to speak, and to just let Him talk directly to you through me. So here goes:
My children,
Take my hand today and let me dance with you. Lay your head against my chest and hear my heart beat. Will you take my hand and let me be your lover? I am here to fulfill your deepest need. I am here to love you, to protect you, to cherish you, to romance you. I am wildly, emphatically in love with you. No one or nothing on this earth can love you like I do. I will never forsake you, I will never leave you. Others will come and go, but I will stay. Oh my children, sometimes you leave me, but I am always here waiting for your return. I love you. I see you through my blood, already righteous, already perfect. To me you are so beautiful. I long to dance with you. To hold you close to me. Come unto me children and I will give you rest for your souls. For I know the way is weary and heavy. I long to give you rest. Rest in me, in my love, in my arms. The more you come to me, the more I will reveal myself to you. I will become so real to you that you never doubt my presence or my voice. Come , come unto me. I am waiting.
I am going to cherish this always because it is just as much for me as it is for you. What a dream come true, to dance with God!
My children,
Take my hand today and let me dance with you. Lay your head against my chest and hear my heart beat. Will you take my hand and let me be your lover? I am here to fulfill your deepest need. I am here to love you, to protect you, to cherish you, to romance you. I am wildly, emphatically in love with you. No one or nothing on this earth can love you like I do. I will never forsake you, I will never leave you. Others will come and go, but I will stay. Oh my children, sometimes you leave me, but I am always here waiting for your return. I love you. I see you through my blood, already righteous, already perfect. To me you are so beautiful. I long to dance with you. To hold you close to me. Come unto me children and I will give you rest for your souls. For I know the way is weary and heavy. I long to give you rest. Rest in me, in my love, in my arms. The more you come to me, the more I will reveal myself to you. I will become so real to you that you never doubt my presence or my voice. Come , come unto me. I am waiting.
I am going to cherish this always because it is just as much for me as it is for you. What a dream come true, to dance with God!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
What is Faith?
Without faith it is impossible to please God. So what is faith? Faith is simply "believing God." Titus chapter 1 verse 2 says that God cannot lie. So every word He ever spoke is true!
We have to come to a point in our walk with God that we decide we are either going to believe that every word of the Bible is true or that none of it is true at all. Once that is settled in our minds, we should devour the Word of God with passion to find out what truth is. You know, we learn a lot of things in this journey of life and many of the things we have learned are just not true. So when we come to God, we have to spend time "unlearning" so many things we have learned. Truth is exclusive. 2 + 2 = 4 right? No matter if we believe it is 3 or not, the answer is still 4! You see what I mean?
There is another verse that comes to mind, "God is not a man that he should lie nor the son of man that He should repent, hath He said and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken and shall He not make good?" Numbers 23:19
If God promised to heal you He will. If He promised to provide for you He will. It is important to learn the promises of God so we can stand on them in times of need, for ourselves and for others. And we can't focus on the circumstances or on what has happened to other people when they "believed" God and it didn't seem to work for them.
I will close with this life changing verse, let it roll around in your head today,
"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal: but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2Corinthians 4:18
We have to come to a point in our walk with God that we decide we are either going to believe that every word of the Bible is true or that none of it is true at all. Once that is settled in our minds, we should devour the Word of God with passion to find out what truth is. You know, we learn a lot of things in this journey of life and many of the things we have learned are just not true. So when we come to God, we have to spend time "unlearning" so many things we have learned. Truth is exclusive. 2 + 2 = 4 right? No matter if we believe it is 3 or not, the answer is still 4! You see what I mean?
There is another verse that comes to mind, "God is not a man that he should lie nor the son of man that He should repent, hath He said and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken and shall He not make good?" Numbers 23:19
If God promised to heal you He will. If He promised to provide for you He will. It is important to learn the promises of God so we can stand on them in times of need, for ourselves and for others. And we can't focus on the circumstances or on what has happened to other people when they "believed" God and it didn't seem to work for them.
I will close with this life changing verse, let it roll around in your head today,
"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal: but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2Corinthians 4:18
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Feelings are Fickle
I really liked the song that one of the Women of Faith ladies taught us this weekend. It goes, "You got to think about, what you think about." Again, it's a really catchy tune that I wish you could hear.
The point is, that we can't just keep thinking any ole thought that pops into our mind. Emotions and thoughts come and go. Sometimes the devil puts thoughts into our minds, sometimes our flesh does, and sometimes God does. So we really do have to think about what we think about. The Bible talks about "casting down vain imaginations." That means that when a thought comes into our minds we have to judge it. Is this a right thought? A Godly thought? Remember the Word says, "What soever things are pure, whatsoever things are honest, true, and good, think on these things." So if its not a Godly thought, obviously it did not come from God and we need to cast it down. Casting a thought down is so simple. How? Just choose a different thought! Think about something else. Start singing a praise song. Or if satan dropped a judgemental thought into your mind about someone then, on purpose, start thinking about what is good about that person.
The only way a thought or feeling becomes our own is if we speak it out loud. Then we have taken the thought and made it our own. The Bible says that we will know what is in a person's heart by what they speak!
The second point is that feelings are not your faith. This was a huge revelation for me. Because I could be believing God for an answer to prayer and start to "feel" fear and think that I wasn't in faith anymore. Again, the only way I have negated my faith is if I have taken the "feeling" and spoken it out loud. What we need to do when we feel fear or any other negative emotion is to tell God. Give it to Him. If I feel fear then I say to God, "Lord I feel afraid, please forgive me, I know this is not faith. Please take this fear and give me peace." Then I start telling myself the truth. The Lord has not given me a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind!"
So, today, think about what you think about!
The point is, that we can't just keep thinking any ole thought that pops into our mind. Emotions and thoughts come and go. Sometimes the devil puts thoughts into our minds, sometimes our flesh does, and sometimes God does. So we really do have to think about what we think about. The Bible talks about "casting down vain imaginations." That means that when a thought comes into our minds we have to judge it. Is this a right thought? A Godly thought? Remember the Word says, "What soever things are pure, whatsoever things are honest, true, and good, think on these things." So if its not a Godly thought, obviously it did not come from God and we need to cast it down. Casting a thought down is so simple. How? Just choose a different thought! Think about something else. Start singing a praise song. Or if satan dropped a judgemental thought into your mind about someone then, on purpose, start thinking about what is good about that person.
The only way a thought or feeling becomes our own is if we speak it out loud. Then we have taken the thought and made it our own. The Bible says that we will know what is in a person's heart by what they speak!
The second point is that feelings are not your faith. This was a huge revelation for me. Because I could be believing God for an answer to prayer and start to "feel" fear and think that I wasn't in faith anymore. Again, the only way I have negated my faith is if I have taken the "feeling" and spoken it out loud. What we need to do when we feel fear or any other negative emotion is to tell God. Give it to Him. If I feel fear then I say to God, "Lord I feel afraid, please forgive me, I know this is not faith. Please take this fear and give me peace." Then I start telling myself the truth. The Lord has not given me a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind!"
So, today, think about what you think about!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Just Say the Name of Jesus
God has a sense of humor. He gave me this word for you and for me in a song this morning. I wish you could hear the tune! It's kinda catchy.
Just say the name of Jesus
Say the name out loud
Say the name real loud
Just say the name of Jesus
Jesus, Jesus,
Sing the name the name of Jesus
just sing the name of Jesus
Sing it real loud, sing it out loud,
Jesus, Jesus
And on and on it goes. I LOVE it! Just saying the name of Jesus brings such comfort, such peace, such POWER! What an amazing name! At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, those in heaven and those on earth.
God gave us power of attorney to use His name! He entrusted us with it!
Sometimes when I am afraid, I just say the name, Jesus, and I am comforted. When I am confused, hurting, angry.... I just say the name of Jesus. Say the name and He will be instantly at your side. Say the name and the God of the whole universe will come to your aide. Or maybe you will just say it because you want him by your side, just for fellowship. He likes that a lot. Say it and He will be there.
One last thought, saying the name of Jesus is equal with saying the word, grace. The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Grace! The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one, therefore when you have said the name of Jesus you have called upon His amazing Grace! And so much more. The name of Jesus can satisfy any need, can help in any situation. He will answer any question for any situation.
Just say the name of Jesus, say the name out loud, say the name real loud.
Just say the name of Jesus
Say the name out loud
Say the name real loud
Just say the name of Jesus
Jesus, Jesus,
Sing the name the name of Jesus
just sing the name of Jesus
Sing it real loud, sing it out loud,
Jesus, Jesus
And on and on it goes. I LOVE it! Just saying the name of Jesus brings such comfort, such peace, such POWER! What an amazing name! At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, those in heaven and those on earth.
God gave us power of attorney to use His name! He entrusted us with it!
Sometimes when I am afraid, I just say the name, Jesus, and I am comforted. When I am confused, hurting, angry.... I just say the name of Jesus. Say the name and He will be instantly at your side. Say the name and the God of the whole universe will come to your aide. Or maybe you will just say it because you want him by your side, just for fellowship. He likes that a lot. Say it and He will be there.
One last thought, saying the name of Jesus is equal with saying the word, grace. The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Grace! The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one, therefore when you have said the name of Jesus you have called upon His amazing Grace! And so much more. The name of Jesus can satisfy any need, can help in any situation. He will answer any question for any situation.
Just say the name of Jesus, say the name out loud, say the name real loud.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Praise God
Praise is spiritual warfare in the highest! Do you know that when God used to send the Israelites out to battle He would often send Praisers ahead of them. I mean , He sent people just to praise God! No matter what we are going through, we can always praise God. Because God is Good! Praise defeats the enemy! Do you have sickness, or depression, lack, fear? Then praise God and drive back the enemy! He can't stand it! It's like taking a cannon and blowing the devil away with it!
Sing praises to God today! Tell Him thank you for the many blessings in your life. Just go on and on thanking Him, He loves it, and you will realize how many reasons you have to praise Him!
For we enter His gates with thanksgiving in our hearts, and we enter His courts with praise! Sing to Him, tell Him how great He is! Make this a day of praise to our great and awesome God!
Sing praises to God today! Tell Him thank you for the many blessings in your life. Just go on and on thanking Him, He loves it, and you will realize how many reasons you have to praise Him!
For we enter His gates with thanksgiving in our hearts, and we enter His courts with praise! Sing to Him, tell Him how great He is! Make this a day of praise to our great and awesome God!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain
God started giving me this message in the early morning hours. It is such a confirmation to me that God wants to use this blog to speak to His children. When I am not even thinking about it, when I am barely awake God speaks to me.
In Philippians 1:21 Paul says, "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." He is saying either choice is OK because if he lives he has Jesus and if he dies he has great reward with Jesus. If we have Jesus in our heart we don't have to be afraid to die. This is talking about physical death but there is another way that God asks us to die and that is the death of the flesh. As a matter of fact, you can't truly live until you die. What do I mean by that? We have to die to ourselves, our fleshly desires. I remember the first time someone told me, "It's not about you." I felt a pain go through me and I had a revelation. Oh, it's really not all about me! Wow. So every time I start feeling selfish I have to remind myself, "It's not about me." For example, when I start complaining to myself that I never get any time to myself, to do the things I want, etc. Then I remind myself, "It's not about me." This really helps put things in perspective. Life is really all about serving Jesus and each other. In giving our life away, we get our life back. Aren't the things of God amazing. They are so opposite from what the world tells us. To live we have to die, to get we have to give.
In 1Corinthians 15:31 Paul says, "I die daily." He is not talking about physical death but death to the flesh. Death to his will. We have to die to our will and say, "Not my will but yours be done, Lord." Isn't that what Jesus said when He went to the cross? Jesus says to be worthy of Him we must take up our cross and follow Him. I will close with one more scripture:
John 12:24-26
(This is Jesus talking) I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am my servant will also be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."
It can seem scary to die to ourself, to have to give up getting our way. But it is amazing because when we do this, we find true joy, love, and peace. It's the only way.
In Philippians 1:21 Paul says, "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." He is saying either choice is OK because if he lives he has Jesus and if he dies he has great reward with Jesus. If we have Jesus in our heart we don't have to be afraid to die. This is talking about physical death but there is another way that God asks us to die and that is the death of the flesh. As a matter of fact, you can't truly live until you die. What do I mean by that? We have to die to ourselves, our fleshly desires. I remember the first time someone told me, "It's not about you." I felt a pain go through me and I had a revelation. Oh, it's really not all about me! Wow. So every time I start feeling selfish I have to remind myself, "It's not about me." For example, when I start complaining to myself that I never get any time to myself, to do the things I want, etc. Then I remind myself, "It's not about me." This really helps put things in perspective. Life is really all about serving Jesus and each other. In giving our life away, we get our life back. Aren't the things of God amazing. They are so opposite from what the world tells us. To live we have to die, to get we have to give.
In 1Corinthians 15:31 Paul says, "I die daily." He is not talking about physical death but death to the flesh. Death to his will. We have to die to our will and say, "Not my will but yours be done, Lord." Isn't that what Jesus said when He went to the cross? Jesus says to be worthy of Him we must take up our cross and follow Him. I will close with one more scripture:
John 12:24-26
(This is Jesus talking) I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am my servant will also be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."
It can seem scary to die to ourself, to have to give up getting our way. But it is amazing because when we do this, we find true joy, love, and peace. It's the only way.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Grace
2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." A couple sentences down, Paul says, "For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Do you know what the true definition of grace is? We have been told for years that grace is the unmerited favor of God. Yes, it is that, but so much more. The true definition of grace is "all of God's power and ability given to you as a free gift." It's yours for the asking! You don't have to earn it. You don't have to be good enough. You just have to ask!
Many times throughout the day I ask God for some grace! I just say, "God I ask your grace on this situation." Do you know that God's grace is enough to handle anything?
How about looking up the word grace in your concordance today and reading through some of the scriptures on grace? Once you get a revelation of God's grace in your life, nothing will be able to stop you!
Go in God's grace today.
Do you know what the true definition of grace is? We have been told for years that grace is the unmerited favor of God. Yes, it is that, but so much more. The true definition of grace is "all of God's power and ability given to you as a free gift." It's yours for the asking! You don't have to earn it. You don't have to be good enough. You just have to ask!
Many times throughout the day I ask God for some grace! I just say, "God I ask your grace on this situation." Do you know that God's grace is enough to handle anything?
How about looking up the word grace in your concordance today and reading through some of the scriptures on grace? Once you get a revelation of God's grace in your life, nothing will be able to stop you!
Go in God's grace today.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Heaven
Heaven is incredible, you don't want to miss it! I have read several books about people whom God has taken to Heaven, shown them around and then allowed them to come back and tell about it. Let me say that this is scriptural. God allowed Daniel a vision of Heaven and He also allowed John a vision of Heaven. These are two that I can think of off hand.
Many times we have a idea that in Heaven we will be sitting around on fluffy clouds eating grapes and playing harps. We can even start thinking that Heaven sounds a bit boring. I mean an eternity of grape eating could get pretty dull! But emphatically, No! Heaven will not be boring.
The beauty in the earth is just an example of God's tastes. Heaven will be beautiful beyond description! Mountains, streams, oceans, prairies, flowers, cities, country side, mansions and on and on it goes. The colors in Heaven are vibrant, more vibrant than we have ever know on earth. The flowers are amazing. You can step on them and they come right back up! In heaven, our bodies are made perfect. We will probably be eternally in our 30's because this is the prime age. Yes, we will know each other! If you have lost a child, they will be there! Our saved loved ones are there waiting on us now. I believe that life will go on in Heaven, we will work, we will play, we will rest and eat. We will be forever learning about the awesomeness of our God. Heaven will be fun and adventurous and NEVER boring. There is so much more I could tell about and an eternity more that I don't even know about. I just want to say, DON'T MISS OUT!! The post just before this one tells you how to be sure you don't miss it.
Also, I believe people have the wrong idea about Hell. I don't want to talk about it too much, because, YUCK! it's horrible. Just think about the worst, most frightening, most painful, most dreadful things you can thing of on earth and know that Hell is a million times worse. Don't go there! In Hell, there is total darkness, there is no heat so it's freezing but it's also burning. How can that be, I don't know. The smell is more putrid than the worst you can think of on earth. There is no food, no water, you are all alone without any hope. You are tortured constantly. I am about to cry just thinking about it. Just don't go there. Please, I beg of you, don't take the chance!
I believe that if anyone had a real view of Heaven and a real view of Hell that they would never choose Hell over Heaven. Don't you?
Many times we have a idea that in Heaven we will be sitting around on fluffy clouds eating grapes and playing harps. We can even start thinking that Heaven sounds a bit boring. I mean an eternity of grape eating could get pretty dull! But emphatically, No! Heaven will not be boring.
The beauty in the earth is just an example of God's tastes. Heaven will be beautiful beyond description! Mountains, streams, oceans, prairies, flowers, cities, country side, mansions and on and on it goes. The colors in Heaven are vibrant, more vibrant than we have ever know on earth. The flowers are amazing. You can step on them and they come right back up! In heaven, our bodies are made perfect. We will probably be eternally in our 30's because this is the prime age. Yes, we will know each other! If you have lost a child, they will be there! Our saved loved ones are there waiting on us now. I believe that life will go on in Heaven, we will work, we will play, we will rest and eat. We will be forever learning about the awesomeness of our God. Heaven will be fun and adventurous and NEVER boring. There is so much more I could tell about and an eternity more that I don't even know about. I just want to say, DON'T MISS OUT!! The post just before this one tells you how to be sure you don't miss it.
Also, I believe people have the wrong idea about Hell. I don't want to talk about it too much, because, YUCK! it's horrible. Just think about the worst, most frightening, most painful, most dreadful things you can thing of on earth and know that Hell is a million times worse. Don't go there! In Hell, there is total darkness, there is no heat so it's freezing but it's also burning. How can that be, I don't know. The smell is more putrid than the worst you can think of on earth. There is no food, no water, you are all alone without any hope. You are tortured constantly. I am about to cry just thinking about it. Just don't go there. Please, I beg of you, don't take the chance!
I believe that if anyone had a real view of Heaven and a real view of Hell that they would never choose Hell over Heaven. Don't you?
Monday, November 10, 2008
Salvation is Like a Parachute
Would you jump out of a plane without a parachute? Living our lives without Christ is just like jumping out of a plane without a parachute. People give us many reasons for being saved like blessing, healing, prosperity, good feelings, etc. But there is really only one good reason to give our hearts to the Lord. And that is to have our names written in the Lamb's Book of Life. To know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that when we die, we will go to Heaven. The Bible says that "we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God." Sin has to be punished and the punishment for sin is death. But God loved us so much that He sent His one and only son to die and to take our punishment. When Jesus went to the cross and spent three days in Hell, He took our punishment upon Himself. He took our punishment so we don't have too. A lot of people now a days think that there are many roads to God. But the Bible is very clear in saying that there is only one way and that is through the Lord Jesus Christ. One way. Only one. It's not popular to tell people that if they die without Jesus that they will spend eternity separated from God, in Hell. But it's the truth. If you have doubts about this, I would encourage you to just pray and ask God to clearly reveal Himself to you, to open your eyes to the truth. It's not worth the risk, is it? Josh McDowell was an atheist. He is a very intellectual man and he set out to prove that there is no God. Guess what? In the process, he proved the opposite and today he is a born again Christian. I would encourage you to read his books. One that I like is called, "Evidence that demands a verdict."
Do you want to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior? It is very simple. Just pray a simple prayer like this one, "Lord Jesus, I confess that I have sinned, I know that I am lost without you. Please come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior. Forgive my sins, wash me in your blood. I will walk with you from this day forward. In Jesus name, Amen."
Now start reading your Bible and watch how God will reveal Himself to you. Find a Bible based church to be a part of. I will be praying for you!
If you have any questions about salvation, or any questions about where any of these scriptures are found, just email me at KristiLinn36@yahoo.com.
How about putting your parachute on today?
Stay tuned for my next post about Heaven. Believe me, you don't want to miss Heaven!
Do you want to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior? It is very simple. Just pray a simple prayer like this one, "Lord Jesus, I confess that I have sinned, I know that I am lost without you. Please come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior. Forgive my sins, wash me in your blood. I will walk with you from this day forward. In Jesus name, Amen."
Now start reading your Bible and watch how God will reveal Himself to you. Find a Bible based church to be a part of. I will be praying for you!
If you have any questions about salvation, or any questions about where any of these scriptures are found, just email me at KristiLinn36@yahoo.com.
How about putting your parachute on today?
Stay tuned for my next post about Heaven. Believe me, you don't want to miss Heaven!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Won't you Come and Meet With Me....
For the past week, I have heard this song played over and over in my head. This is how is goes...
"I am here to meet with you. Come and meet with me." (in my imagination that part is Jesus singing to me the next part is me singing to Him) "I am am here to find you, reveal yourself to me." I wish you could hear the tune. It is so pretty. I know that Jesus has been calling me. There is so much joy in His presence.
This morning I am having a sweet time in His presence. Oh the presence of God, there's nothing like it my friends. He is calling me, he is calling you. Why? Because in His presence is fullness of joy, healing, restoration, clarity, fellowship. Sometimes when I am spending time with Him, I hear Him say, "you don't have to do anything right now, just breath, breath in my presence because you are breathing in life. You are breathing in everything you need." There is such freedom in that. I just can't express the joy there is in His presence. You will have to go there to find out! Just get alone and ask Him to fill you with His Spirit. Ask Him to give you all he's got for you. Just tell Him that this time you have set apart for just you and Him and let Him lead you in it. You may sit quietly, you may sing to Him, or begin to thank Him for all He's done, you may pour your heart out, don't worry about what you do. Just be there with Him. It's so beautiful and fulfilling. And He will begin to speak to you, I promise. He wants to speak to you and have fellowship with you. Do you know that feeling of emptiness that we all sometimes have? That feeling of dissatisfaction? That hole that we all try to fill from time to time? Well, when you are in God's presence, there is no hole! There is no void! There is fullness of joy!
"I am here to meet with you, come and meet with me."
"I am here to meet with you. Come and meet with me." (in my imagination that part is Jesus singing to me the next part is me singing to Him) "I am am here to find you, reveal yourself to me." I wish you could hear the tune. It is so pretty. I know that Jesus has been calling me. There is so much joy in His presence.
This morning I am having a sweet time in His presence. Oh the presence of God, there's nothing like it my friends. He is calling me, he is calling you. Why? Because in His presence is fullness of joy, healing, restoration, clarity, fellowship. Sometimes when I am spending time with Him, I hear Him say, "you don't have to do anything right now, just breath, breath in my presence because you are breathing in life. You are breathing in everything you need." There is such freedom in that. I just can't express the joy there is in His presence. You will have to go there to find out! Just get alone and ask Him to fill you with His Spirit. Ask Him to give you all he's got for you. Just tell Him that this time you have set apart for just you and Him and let Him lead you in it. You may sit quietly, you may sing to Him, or begin to thank Him for all He's done, you may pour your heart out, don't worry about what you do. Just be there with Him. It's so beautiful and fulfilling. And He will begin to speak to you, I promise. He wants to speak to you and have fellowship with you. Do you know that feeling of emptiness that we all sometimes have? That feeling of dissatisfaction? That hole that we all try to fill from time to time? Well, when you are in God's presence, there is no hole! There is no void! There is fullness of joy!
"I am here to meet with you, come and meet with me."
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Share
If you want to learn more about me and my family you can go to my blog at Linnfamilystory.blogspot.com. Feel free to share either site with anyone who you think may enjoy them. Thanks!
No Idols
This one really hit me where it hurt! But God reminded me that these words are NOT to bring condemnation but gentle correction.
One of the ten commandments is Exodus 20:4. It says: You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God am a jealous God..." Obviously this means we don't make any statues or things to worship and bow down to. And most of us don't have that problem! But what does this mean to us? Well, the Lord has shown me that an idol is anything that we think we have to have. It's anything we put in the place of God. And what do I mean by that? Well, what do you run to for comfort? What or who do you run to for encouragement? For safety, to confide in, for friendship, when you're bored? If you answered anything but God you could have something in your life that has become an idol to you. For some of us, it's a person, for others, t.v., food, drugs, alcohol, sleep, etc. etc. It could be many different things but if you have something in your life that you feel you just can't give up then maybe it's time to sit back and re-evaluate your priorities. Ask God to help you, to show you anything that may be keeping you from Him. Then ask Him to help you give it up! There is nothing wrong with watching wholesome t.v. or eating, or many others things, unless they are taking the place of God in your life. I know if we try, we can form new habits. Wouldn't it be wonderful if it was our habit to run to God when we are down, or tired, or bored, or happy? Wouldn't it be wonderful if He was always the first thing we thought of? I LOVE what Joyce Meyer says, "When we have a problem, do we run to the throne or do we run to the phone?"
Do some running to the throne today. God is waiting to meet with you. After all, you are the love you His life! You are always on His mind.
One of the ten commandments is Exodus 20:4. It says: You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God am a jealous God..." Obviously this means we don't make any statues or things to worship and bow down to. And most of us don't have that problem! But what does this mean to us? Well, the Lord has shown me that an idol is anything that we think we have to have. It's anything we put in the place of God. And what do I mean by that? Well, what do you run to for comfort? What or who do you run to for encouragement? For safety, to confide in, for friendship, when you're bored? If you answered anything but God you could have something in your life that has become an idol to you. For some of us, it's a person, for others, t.v., food, drugs, alcohol, sleep, etc. etc. It could be many different things but if you have something in your life that you feel you just can't give up then maybe it's time to sit back and re-evaluate your priorities. Ask God to help you, to show you anything that may be keeping you from Him. Then ask Him to help you give it up! There is nothing wrong with watching wholesome t.v. or eating, or many others things, unless they are taking the place of God in your life. I know if we try, we can form new habits. Wouldn't it be wonderful if it was our habit to run to God when we are down, or tired, or bored, or happy? Wouldn't it be wonderful if He was always the first thing we thought of? I LOVE what Joyce Meyer says, "When we have a problem, do we run to the throne or do we run to the phone?"
Do some running to the throne today. God is waiting to meet with you. After all, you are the love you His life! You are always on His mind.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Choose Life!
When I asked the Lord what to write today, I heard the words, "A soft answer turns away wrath." I was thinking about that and thinking about how we so often talk angrily to those we love. I am so guilty of that! But if we will just choose our words carefully we can avoid so much strife. Sometimes our loved ones fail us. They don't do what we expect them to and we get upset because we didn't get our way. So we lash out with angry words. And then we have strife. Everybody is unhappy and nobody wins. Is getting our way really worth all that? Maybe giving up what we wanted to happen really is worth the peace that it will bring.
We have to choose to enjoy our loved ones and treasure them. We have to choose to love them and to give them the benefit of the doubt. The people God has given us really are our greatest blessings. Are we going to enjoy them and enjoy life or are we going to manipulate them? That is kind of a harsh word but it is what God is teaching me. For example, if I wanted my husband to mow the grass and I asked him and asked him. Time and time again he still doesn't mow the grass. I could lash out in angry words and maybe even get my way. But in the process, I've destroyed a little piece of our relationship. I've taken away a little of his "free will". You see, it is so much better, to ask once and then let it go. Or maybe, not to ask at all. Then when he does it, it is so much sweeter, so much more enjoyable. And if he doesn't the natural consequences will speak for themselves. And if he doesn't I will forgive him, I will enjoy him, and I will choose to love him anyway because my love is unconditional. We can just wear ourselves out trying to make things happen. In the big picture, getting the lawn mowed really isn't all that important. But Peace reigning in our home Is! This can be applied to all of our relationships in life.
It says in Duet. 30:19 that God has set before us life and death, blessings and cursing, CHOOSE LIFE! God even gives us the answer ahead of time! Choose Life! God's words are life, if we want to have and enjoy our lives we must follow them.
So let's choose to enjoy our loved ones today, let's set them free! Let's choose life and choose "a soft answer".
We have to choose to enjoy our loved ones and treasure them. We have to choose to love them and to give them the benefit of the doubt. The people God has given us really are our greatest blessings. Are we going to enjoy them and enjoy life or are we going to manipulate them? That is kind of a harsh word but it is what God is teaching me. For example, if I wanted my husband to mow the grass and I asked him and asked him. Time and time again he still doesn't mow the grass. I could lash out in angry words and maybe even get my way. But in the process, I've destroyed a little piece of our relationship. I've taken away a little of his "free will". You see, it is so much better, to ask once and then let it go. Or maybe, not to ask at all. Then when he does it, it is so much sweeter, so much more enjoyable. And if he doesn't the natural consequences will speak for themselves. And if he doesn't I will forgive him, I will enjoy him, and I will choose to love him anyway because my love is unconditional. We can just wear ourselves out trying to make things happen. In the big picture, getting the lawn mowed really isn't all that important. But Peace reigning in our home Is! This can be applied to all of our relationships in life.
It says in Duet. 30:19 that God has set before us life and death, blessings and cursing, CHOOSE LIFE! God even gives us the answer ahead of time! Choose Life! God's words are life, if we want to have and enjoy our lives we must follow them.
So let's choose to enjoy our loved ones today, let's set them free! Let's choose life and choose "a soft answer".
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Romance
When I asked God what He wanted me to write today He said, "Tell them I am waiting to meet with them. I want to spend some time with them."
Wow, isn't that sweet? It's amazing because He confirmed it to me when I read my daily devotional in "God Calling". It said, basically, what if you had to spend time with a friend and were forced to like them? You see, God wants us to run to Him because we want to, because we enjoy it. I would compare it to when you first fell in love. You couldn't wait to be with this person, every spare moment you had you would seek them out, you really wanted to hear what they had to say. God wants us to fall in love with Him. After all He is emphatically in love with us! He is so in love with you that He would have died for you even if you were the only one! And it's really not so hard to fall in love with God because He loved us first! And He is the most handsome, the strongest, the smartest, the most creative, the most loving, etc. etc. Anything you could want He is it! The first step to falling in love with God is to ask Him to help you to fall in love with Him. Believe it or not He wants to help you. Then keep focused on Him during the day. Because what you focus on is what you will desire. And spending time with him is fun! Many times we think that our times in prayer have to be us talking to him constantly. But prayer is so, so much more than that. It's fellowship. Think of times you spend with your husband. You are not always doing all the talking! You are also listening. Sometimes you are just sitting beside each other in silence, just knowing that being in each other's presence is good enough. God also loves our praise! And praise is the highest form of prayer and also great spiritual warfare! So how do you praise God? The Bible shows praise as sometimes singing to God, or raising our hands, or sometimes dancing. Sometimes it's just sitting quietly telling Him of our love for Him and telling Him how great He is. That is prayer. And listening to God is prayer! So how can we hear him? Well, when we read His word He speaks to us, when we read devotions he speaks to us. He speaks to us through our pastors and evangelists and teachers. He speaks through books and He speaks quietly to our inner man. I believe He is always speaking to us if we will listen and get in tune with Him. Sometimes He even speaks audibly. Wouldn't that be exciting? And that is prayer too! Listening to God is prayer too! Because praying is conversation! You didn't know it, but I bet you have prayed a lot more than you think you have!
So, go have a romance with God today, meet with Him, He is waiting.
Wow, isn't that sweet? It's amazing because He confirmed it to me when I read my daily devotional in "God Calling". It said, basically, what if you had to spend time with a friend and were forced to like them? You see, God wants us to run to Him because we want to, because we enjoy it. I would compare it to when you first fell in love. You couldn't wait to be with this person, every spare moment you had you would seek them out, you really wanted to hear what they had to say. God wants us to fall in love with Him. After all He is emphatically in love with us! He is so in love with you that He would have died for you even if you were the only one! And it's really not so hard to fall in love with God because He loved us first! And He is the most handsome, the strongest, the smartest, the most creative, the most loving, etc. etc. Anything you could want He is it! The first step to falling in love with God is to ask Him to help you to fall in love with Him. Believe it or not He wants to help you. Then keep focused on Him during the day. Because what you focus on is what you will desire. And spending time with him is fun! Many times we think that our times in prayer have to be us talking to him constantly. But prayer is so, so much more than that. It's fellowship. Think of times you spend with your husband. You are not always doing all the talking! You are also listening. Sometimes you are just sitting beside each other in silence, just knowing that being in each other's presence is good enough. God also loves our praise! And praise is the highest form of prayer and also great spiritual warfare! So how do you praise God? The Bible shows praise as sometimes singing to God, or raising our hands, or sometimes dancing. Sometimes it's just sitting quietly telling Him of our love for Him and telling Him how great He is. That is prayer. And listening to God is prayer! So how can we hear him? Well, when we read His word He speaks to us, when we read devotions he speaks to us. He speaks to us through our pastors and evangelists and teachers. He speaks through books and He speaks quietly to our inner man. I believe He is always speaking to us if we will listen and get in tune with Him. Sometimes He even speaks audibly. Wouldn't that be exciting? And that is prayer too! Listening to God is prayer too! Because praying is conversation! You didn't know it, but I bet you have prayed a lot more than you think you have!
So, go have a romance with God today, meet with Him, He is waiting.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Pray the Word!!!
The Bible says, "The Word of God does not return void". The most powerful pray principle I ever learned was to pray the word. Because all of God's promises are "yes" and "amen". That's a scripture too.
So, for example, if I am praying for healing, I would say to God,"Lord, I thank you that by your stripes I was healed." Because it says in Isiah that at the cross He took the lashes for our healing. If I need finances for something, I say to God, "Thank you Lord that you provide all my needs according to your riches and glory! I need money for groceries this week will you please provide it?" God has always answered my prayers one way or the other. Either I would get the money or someone would bring us food but we always have had enough. God's promise to us is that His word will NOT return void. It cannot because God cannot lie!
Another prayer principle that God just taught me yesterday is to imagine that Jesus is standing directly in front of you, with eyes full of love, and just talk to Him. Keep focused on Him. We have to practice this until our minds are disciplined in it and they don't wander to everything we have got going on that day.
I love you and be blessed today!
So, for example, if I am praying for healing, I would say to God,"Lord, I thank you that by your stripes I was healed." Because it says in Isiah that at the cross He took the lashes for our healing. If I need finances for something, I say to God, "Thank you Lord that you provide all my needs according to your riches and glory! I need money for groceries this week will you please provide it?" God has always answered my prayers one way or the other. Either I would get the money or someone would bring us food but we always have had enough. God's promise to us is that His word will NOT return void. It cannot because God cannot lie!
Another prayer principle that God just taught me yesterday is to imagine that Jesus is standing directly in front of you, with eyes full of love, and just talk to Him. Keep focused on Him. We have to practice this until our minds are disciplined in it and they don't wander to everything we have got going on that day.
I love you and be blessed today!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
We Fall Down We Get Up....
I've had that song playing in my head a lot today. Have you heard it? It was written by Bob Carlisle. The line of the song that plays over and over in my head is. "Saints are just sinners who fall down and get up." It's really good and encouraging although technically it's not completely true. You see we were sinners but then we got saved and now we are "the righteousness of God in Christ." So although sometimes we sin and make mistakes, we are truly righteous in God's eyes. As human beings we are comprised of three parts, the soul, the spirit, and the flesh. The spirit is the part of us that is in tune with God. Before we were saved our spirits were dead. But when we got saved our spirits came alive! Praise God! Our flesh is the part of us that is never happy. It always wants what it wants and wants it now! The Bible says that our flesh is at enmity with God. So this is the purpose of fasting, to starve our flesh man to death (not literally of course) but to make our flesh man grow smaller we deny it what it wants. That's why the Bible says that at times we must deny ourselves, we have to say no to our flesh. And so while we are denying our flesh we are making our spirit man grow bigger. That is the goal, to have a bigger spirit man than flesh man! When we feed our spirit spiritual meals i.e. prayer, church, the Word of God we cause it to grow bigger and bigger. And when we tell our flesh no, our flesh man grows smaller and smaller. Now our soul is our mind, will, and emotions. With our soul the goal is to get it lined up with the spirit man and not the flesh man. The flesh is always striving against God. Have you ever noticed that when you go to pray or go to church all kinds of things happen with your flesh? It's crying out, "I'm hungry, feed me, I'm too cold, I'm too hot, I'm bored... on and on it goes!" So when you soul man is on your spirit's side, it says, "you will be OK body, you don't need to eat right now, what you need is to be fed the Word, or to spend some time on your knees."
I like the song, it's overall point is good. Sometimes you will fail, sometimes you will fall down. You may have bad days but just keep getting back up. We fall down, we get up, we fall down, we get up... If you are feeling bad today or you feel like you failed God again, just get back up. Ask God to forgive you if you need to. He will, instantly, you don't even have to beg! And go on. Spend a few minutes feeding your spirit and go on! Get up!
I like the song, it's overall point is good. Sometimes you will fail, sometimes you will fall down. You may have bad days but just keep getting back up. We fall down, we get up, we fall down, we get up... If you are feeling bad today or you feel like you failed God again, just get back up. Ask God to forgive you if you need to. He will, instantly, you don't even have to beg! And go on. Spend a few minutes feeding your spirit and go on! Get up!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Serving God with Simplicity
Serving God is simple, praying is simple. Too often we (especially me) try to make things more complicated than they have to be.
Praying is one of the most simple things we can do. So simple, in fact, that it almost makes prayer seem to be ineffective. But the complete opposite is true! Prayer is easy but its the most powerful thing we can do! Have you ever heard someone say, "Well, I guess, all we can do is pray..." Saying that is comparable, in a war, to saying, "Well, all we can do is drop an atomic bomb..." Prayer is access to the most powerful force in the universe. Do you realize that we have access, anytime night or day, to the God of the universe, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the great I AM!!!!!!!!!!!!! If we really understood that how our lives would change! The great I AM wants to talk to me? He wants to be my friend? He is just waiting to hear from me and to move on my behalf! Wow! God is so good! And He wants to help us with EVERYTHING from fixing our hair to saving our sick child. He wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives. And He wants us to realize the power of prayer so He can work in the earth. This is how God chose to operate, through prayer. Prayer releases Him to work in the earth. So pray about everything. Pray all through the day. Prayer can be so simple as, "thank you God" as you cook dinner. I can't tell you how many hours a day I pray because basically, I live in prayer. I am almost always praying. Many of my prayers just consist of "Help!"
Now, I am not saying that life is simple. Life has challenges. But life without God is hard, very hard. But life with God means we always have someone to turn to. We always have hope. John 16:33 says, "In this world you WILL have tribulation, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world." So if you are facing a situation in your life today, any situation big or small, drop an atomic bomb on it! Do you have unsaved loved ones? friends? neighbors? Drop a prayer bomb on them too!
Be blessed! God is Good! Feed yourself a good spiritual meal today.... I think I will.
Praying is one of the most simple things we can do. So simple, in fact, that it almost makes prayer seem to be ineffective. But the complete opposite is true! Prayer is easy but its the most powerful thing we can do! Have you ever heard someone say, "Well, I guess, all we can do is pray..." Saying that is comparable, in a war, to saying, "Well, all we can do is drop an atomic bomb..." Prayer is access to the most powerful force in the universe. Do you realize that we have access, anytime night or day, to the God of the universe, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the great I AM!!!!!!!!!!!!! If we really understood that how our lives would change! The great I AM wants to talk to me? He wants to be my friend? He is just waiting to hear from me and to move on my behalf! Wow! God is so good! And He wants to help us with EVERYTHING from fixing our hair to saving our sick child. He wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives. And He wants us to realize the power of prayer so He can work in the earth. This is how God chose to operate, through prayer. Prayer releases Him to work in the earth. So pray about everything. Pray all through the day. Prayer can be so simple as, "thank you God" as you cook dinner. I can't tell you how many hours a day I pray because basically, I live in prayer. I am almost always praying. Many of my prayers just consist of "Help!"
Now, I am not saying that life is simple. Life has challenges. But life without God is hard, very hard. But life with God means we always have someone to turn to. We always have hope. John 16:33 says, "In this world you WILL have tribulation, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world." So if you are facing a situation in your life today, any situation big or small, drop an atomic bomb on it! Do you have unsaved loved ones? friends? neighbors? Drop a prayer bomb on them too!
Be blessed! God is Good! Feed yourself a good spiritual meal today.... I think I will.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Heavenly Sustenance
I was lead by God to open this blog. I want it to be a site where you can come and get a word from God. Where you can be uplifted and encouraged.
I just want to let God's word flow through me to you. I believe He will lead the right people to this sight, the people that He has something to say to.
This has been in my heart to do for several weeks. In fact, I opened this blog and didn't do anything with it for about a week. So here is a testimony about this blog. I was praying and I told God that if He really wanted me to do this that I needed the messages and scriptures to just come to me. So His words started falling into my heart right then. He said, "Tell them that my words are just like manna. They are the bread of life. And use the scripture where Jesus was told to eat and He said, " I have food to eat that you know not of."
So I said, "OK, Lord, but I don't know where that is found. So if I can find it I will use it. Then I did my Bible devotion with the girls and what chapter do you think we read? John chapter 4! I had no idea that would be the chapter with that verse! But God did!
It's John 4:31-34. Our God is so amazing.
There is another verse where Jesus is very hungry and the devil comes to tempt him and says,"If you are the son of God tell these stones to become bread." And Jesus replies, " Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
Isn't that good? Basically what He is saying is that God's word is our very sustenance. Without it we cannot live. Just as we need to eat physical meals every day we also need spiritual meals every day. We often get spoon fed some really great meals by our pastor but we also need to prepare our own "meals" and dive into the word of God for ourselves. We are responsible to feed our spirits so our spiritual man can survive and not just survive but thrive and grow! That's why I named this blog, "manna from heaven". In the wilderness, God fed the Israelites bread that fell from heaven, called manna. That is how they survived! All they had to do was go out and pick it up off the ground each day!
So remember today, this is how your spiritual man will survive and thrive, by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God! Don't let your spiritual man starve to death today!
I just want to let God's word flow through me to you. I believe He will lead the right people to this sight, the people that He has something to say to.
This has been in my heart to do for several weeks. In fact, I opened this blog and didn't do anything with it for about a week. So here is a testimony about this blog. I was praying and I told God that if He really wanted me to do this that I needed the messages and scriptures to just come to me. So His words started falling into my heart right then. He said, "Tell them that my words are just like manna. They are the bread of life. And use the scripture where Jesus was told to eat and He said, " I have food to eat that you know not of."
So I said, "OK, Lord, but I don't know where that is found. So if I can find it I will use it. Then I did my Bible devotion with the girls and what chapter do you think we read? John chapter 4! I had no idea that would be the chapter with that verse! But God did!
It's John 4:31-34. Our God is so amazing.
There is another verse where Jesus is very hungry and the devil comes to tempt him and says,"If you are the son of God tell these stones to become bread." And Jesus replies, " Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
Isn't that good? Basically what He is saying is that God's word is our very sustenance. Without it we cannot live. Just as we need to eat physical meals every day we also need spiritual meals every day. We often get spoon fed some really great meals by our pastor but we also need to prepare our own "meals" and dive into the word of God for ourselves. We are responsible to feed our spirits so our spiritual man can survive and not just survive but thrive and grow! That's why I named this blog, "manna from heaven". In the wilderness, God fed the Israelites bread that fell from heaven, called manna. That is how they survived! All they had to do was go out and pick it up off the ground each day!
So remember today, this is how your spiritual man will survive and thrive, by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God! Don't let your spiritual man starve to death today!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
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