The bible says in Romans 4:19 "And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:" Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness (Romans 4:3).
Abraham had so much faith that all these factors did not persuade him to doubt God. Romans 4:21 "And being fully persuaded (convinced) that, what he (God) had promised, he (God) was able also to perform."
Romans 8:28 says "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Abraham knew that God was working for him on his behalf. He trusted God. That is why Abraham had so much faith in God because he knew God. He had a relationship with God and knew that God was an awesome, caring, and loving God. A God that worked things out for those whom loved him. Abraham also knew that when God made a promise, He would bring it to pass. God will not lie, He is bound by His Word.
Romans 8:31 "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" Abraham did not consider his age or Sarah's barreness a factor in the promise of conceiving Isaac. God would bring this promise to pass as He had spoken. Abraham knew that God was for him. Nothing could come against Abraham with God on his side. The promise God made would come to pass and nothing could come against it or hinder it. Abraham's age couldn't be against him, and Sarah's barreness couldn't be against him.
When God makes us a promise in life, He will perform those things which He has promised. It may not be the way we want it to go or the way we THINK it should go but nevertheless God always delivers on what He says He will do. But we must trust and have faith that God is able to perform those things. God is looking for people who want all He has to offer. He is looking for people to bless. Everyday God is ready to pour His blessings out on His children. The bible says "the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect (at peace or loyal to) toward him." (2 Chr. 16:9)
God seeing the BIG picture knows all things. If we are trusting in God then we should be at peace. Not saying that worries will never arise but for the most part we should be at ease in our lives.
We should not let "factors" get in the way of what God has promised us. God does not go by our ability because we are not able to do anything without Him. God goes by availibility. The question God's asking each of us is, are you available? "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think..." (Ephesians 3:20)
God is able to do anything and able to do things that we cannot even imagine. God is bigger than we can grasp in our minds. And with Him on our side our problems are nothing for Him. That is why it is important for us to realize that nothing can stand against us when we have God for us. The storm, the mountains, our mouths, our bodies, and especially the enemy has no hold on us when it comes to Gods promises coming to pass.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The Power Of Words
I was watching the television the other day and the person on there was talking about the power of our words. Whether or not we know it, our words are life and death. The bible tells us in Proverbs 18:21 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Meaning we have the ability to either "tear down" or "build up" with our words. The words we choose to use will determine the outcome of our life. For instance, say you had a job and you got layed off from that job. This job was your only source of income and since you lost your job you are facing the reality of losing your home, car, etc. Instead of being negative and saying I am going to lose everything, you decide to turn this situation around and say "No, this job must not be what God wants for me, there is something better that God has in mind." By you saying those words you are speaking positive things into existence. Look what the Lord done in the beginning.
Genesis 1:3
"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."
Genesis 1:6
"And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters."
Genesis 1:11
"And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so."
I think you get the point. Everytime God spoke something it came into existence. He has given us this same ability to call those things even though they are NOT as though they were.
If you think about it words are spiritual. Spiritual things cannot be seen. Our words cannot be seen but they still have a great affect on our lives and those lives of the people around us.
The children of Israel murmurred and complained in the wilderness and look how long it took them to finally come out.
A trip that was supposed to take less than 2 weeks took them 40 years! This was all because of their words and actions.
Exodus 16:2-3
" And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:
And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger."
If they would of just trusted and believed in God and not complained and griped about what they were going through they would have all made it into the promised land. But their words determined their destiny.
Luke 6:45
"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."
God has assigned angels to watch over us. So we kind of have our very own body guards so to speak. Everytime we speak good and positive things, we are allowing our angels to go to work for us. But the moment we start grumpling, complaining, gossiping, tale bearing, and any other negative thing that comes from our mouth, we are binding our angels and stopping their work for us.
We really need to watch what comes from our mouths. When we start speaking positive we also gain a different mindset and we begin to experience peace and joy that only the Lord can give us. When we speak positive we are simply saying that the Lord has everything under control and we are trusting in Him.
Genesis 1:3
"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."
Genesis 1:6
"And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters."
Genesis 1:11
"And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so."
I think you get the point. Everytime God spoke something it came into existence. He has given us this same ability to call those things even though they are NOT as though they were.
If you think about it words are spiritual. Spiritual things cannot be seen. Our words cannot be seen but they still have a great affect on our lives and those lives of the people around us.
The children of Israel murmurred and complained in the wilderness and look how long it took them to finally come out.
A trip that was supposed to take less than 2 weeks took them 40 years! This was all because of their words and actions.
Exodus 16:2-3
" And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:
And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger."
If they would of just trusted and believed in God and not complained and griped about what they were going through they would have all made it into the promised land. But their words determined their destiny.
Luke 6:45
"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."
God has assigned angels to watch over us. So we kind of have our very own body guards so to speak. Everytime we speak good and positive things, we are allowing our angels to go to work for us. But the moment we start grumpling, complaining, gossiping, tale bearing, and any other negative thing that comes from our mouth, we are binding our angels and stopping their work for us.
We really need to watch what comes from our mouths. When we start speaking positive we also gain a different mindset and we begin to experience peace and joy that only the Lord can give us. When we speak positive we are simply saying that the Lord has everything under control and we are trusting in Him.
Monday, August 10, 2009
God Is Grieved
The Lord has given me a message to give to the church. I feel as though I am a messenger with a letter from God to give to His people. And I cannot rest until I have delivered this message.
There have been several confirmation for me to give the message to the church. It is a matter of waiting now for the Lord to tell me when to speak it.
I have been praying for God's people. I was praying something like this, "LORD, please don't turn your back on your people." But the Lord was really quick to let me know something. He hasn't turned His back but it is quite the other way around. His people have turned their back on Him. That is why God is so grieved right now. He said, "I will never leave nor forsake you." He also said, "Lo, I am with you even unto the end of the world."
If we do not humble ourselves, pray and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways then God is not going to hear our prayers and He will not heal our land.
There is a lot of things that I see that I can improve on but it is more than just improving. It is actually striving to get closer to Him. Instead of getting on the computer I could be reading my bible, praying, and fasting. The Lord knows my heart and He knows I want to be closer to Him and that I love Him with all of my being. But I believe God wants me to "prove it".
It is time that christians start standing up for what is right and quit hiding in the closet like a bunch of scared dogs. That is what Satan wants is for us to get scared, run, and hide. No, sir I believe it is time that we raise our heads up and break out our swords and fight the good fight of faith. Knowing that Jesus Christ Himself has gone before us to make a way. As long as we are standing up for what the Lord's will is and we are doing what is right God will always be there to help us fight our battles.
It is time that we speak out against such things as homosexuality, abortion, adultery, infidelity, and other unmoral decisions that people make.
The homosexual community does not care to stand in front of court houses to protest that they should have the right to be married. Well why in the world should we, as christians, care what people think about us for protesting against it. I am not afraid of what people may say about me. They say it is a hate crime. What part of, "I can love the person but I don't have to love the way they live", is so hard to understand? Just because I don't agree with what a person does is that now labled a hate crime? That is ridiculous. And besides God said it was an abomination to Him. I would really love to see people try to put God on trial. My God knows how He intended men and women to live, for He is the Creator of all things, so He would have very great knowledge in this subject.
Another subject is abortion. I don't care what they call the baby. Some want to call the baby a fetus, thing, or an it. But whatever you want to call "it", it is still a baby. Once the baby is conceived in the womb it is a living being and has received a soul. When people decide to have an ABORTION it is called MURDER!
I am just really ticked off that people, and this includes myself, have sit down on God. We need to stand up for what is right even if the persecution and trials get fiery hot. Look at what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego went through. Didn't God deliver them for not bowing down? It is time that we say HECK NO WE WON'T BOW TO THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS & THE WORLDLY THINGS ANY LONGER!!!!!!!
We need to start using our voices that God gave us. We need to get down on our knees and ask God what He would have us to do about this country that we live in. We need to fast and pray until we see results. We all need to unite together and seek God's deliverance for our country's sake.
There have been several confirmation for me to give the message to the church. It is a matter of waiting now for the Lord to tell me when to speak it.
I have been praying for God's people. I was praying something like this, "LORD, please don't turn your back on your people." But the Lord was really quick to let me know something. He hasn't turned His back but it is quite the other way around. His people have turned their back on Him. That is why God is so grieved right now. He said, "I will never leave nor forsake you." He also said, "Lo, I am with you even unto the end of the world."
If we do not humble ourselves, pray and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways then God is not going to hear our prayers and He will not heal our land.
There is a lot of things that I see that I can improve on but it is more than just improving. It is actually striving to get closer to Him. Instead of getting on the computer I could be reading my bible, praying, and fasting. The Lord knows my heart and He knows I want to be closer to Him and that I love Him with all of my being. But I believe God wants me to "prove it".
It is time that christians start standing up for what is right and quit hiding in the closet like a bunch of scared dogs. That is what Satan wants is for us to get scared, run, and hide. No, sir I believe it is time that we raise our heads up and break out our swords and fight the good fight of faith. Knowing that Jesus Christ Himself has gone before us to make a way. As long as we are standing up for what the Lord's will is and we are doing what is right God will always be there to help us fight our battles.
It is time that we speak out against such things as homosexuality, abortion, adultery, infidelity, and other unmoral decisions that people make.
The homosexual community does not care to stand in front of court houses to protest that they should have the right to be married. Well why in the world should we, as christians, care what people think about us for protesting against it. I am not afraid of what people may say about me. They say it is a hate crime. What part of, "I can love the person but I don't have to love the way they live", is so hard to understand? Just because I don't agree with what a person does is that now labled a hate crime? That is ridiculous. And besides God said it was an abomination to Him. I would really love to see people try to put God on trial. My God knows how He intended men and women to live, for He is the Creator of all things, so He would have very great knowledge in this subject.
Another subject is abortion. I don't care what they call the baby. Some want to call the baby a fetus, thing, or an it. But whatever you want to call "it", it is still a baby. Once the baby is conceived in the womb it is a living being and has received a soul. When people decide to have an ABORTION it is called MURDER!
I am just really ticked off that people, and this includes myself, have sit down on God. We need to stand up for what is right even if the persecution and trials get fiery hot. Look at what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego went through. Didn't God deliver them for not bowing down? It is time that we say HECK NO WE WON'T BOW TO THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS & THE WORLDLY THINGS ANY LONGER!!!!!!!
We need to start using our voices that God gave us. We need to get down on our knees and ask God what He would have us to do about this country that we live in. We need to fast and pray until we see results. We all need to unite together and seek God's deliverance for our country's sake.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Running Toward Your Giants
I Samuel 17:26
".....for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the livng God?"
David got angry after hearing Goliath make his brags. Goliath just knew that the Philistine army was going to win this battle. Goliath was so sure he even asked them ".... give me a man, that we may fight together" (I Sam 17:10). When Saul and his army heard this, they were shaking in their boots so to speak (verse 11). But not David, he was angry with the giant for trying to defy the armies of the living God.
David was a young person. The bible describes him as ruddy, a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to (I Sam 17:12). By the looks of David you would not take him as one to fight against anyone let alone the giant Goliath. But there was something inside David that no one but God saw. God said in I Samuel 16:7 "....for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."
Everyone who saw David, including Goliath, thought that David was too young. The army probably had a good laugh or two watching this young man put on this heavy armor. Thinking this kid is going to be killed.
Later in the scriptures it tells us that Goliath belittled David because of his appearance (I Sam 17:42). Goliath had totally underestimated David by only his appearance.
Sometimes our giants seem so tall. Sometimes they may seem to mount to the sky. But just as the Lord was with David, He is with us also. As long as we are serving the Lord, He is with us and we have nothing to fear.
Until we truly find out who we are and what we are made of in Jesus, the enemy of our souls will "underestimate" us too. Saul and his army were scared to go up against Goliath and the Philistines. The reason being was because Saul disobeyed God and the Lord withdrew His Spirit from Saul. The Lord then sent Samuel to annoint David and at that point the Lord was with David. The Lord showed me that the reason that Saul and the army was scared and didn't look forward to fighting the Philistines was because the LORD withdrew from Saul and He annointed David. As Christians we have the Lord with us, He is living on the inside of us. The Holy Ghost, which is the Lord's Spirit, is living on the inside of us. We have no reason to be afraid of anything the enemy tries to attack us with. God will lead us and guide us through everything in our lives. God told us that He would never leave nor forsake us. He said I am with you even unto the end of the world. He also told us that Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. Those are some pretty awesome statements that Jesus made. And we all know that Jesus doesn't lie, he doesn't know how to.
The devil underestimates us a lot of the time. He thinks because we get discouraged and things didn't happen the way we want them to that he can back us into a corner. He thinks he has us right where he wants us. Christians need to get out of the corner and come out swinging. Just as David stood there and listened to all of Goliath's put downs and finally David said enough was enough. David spoke up and told Goliath "you come to me with a sword, spear, and shield." I like this next part, "But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel..."
In the same chapter verse 51 it tells us, "Therefore David ran...." We need to stand up to those things in our lives that are keeping us back. We need to run toward our giants.
".....for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the livng God?"
David got angry after hearing Goliath make his brags. Goliath just knew that the Philistine army was going to win this battle. Goliath was so sure he even asked them ".... give me a man, that we may fight together" (I Sam 17:10). When Saul and his army heard this, they were shaking in their boots so to speak (verse 11). But not David, he was angry with the giant for trying to defy the armies of the living God.
David was a young person. The bible describes him as ruddy, a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to (I Sam 17:12). By the looks of David you would not take him as one to fight against anyone let alone the giant Goliath. But there was something inside David that no one but God saw. God said in I Samuel 16:7 "....for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."
Everyone who saw David, including Goliath, thought that David was too young. The army probably had a good laugh or two watching this young man put on this heavy armor. Thinking this kid is going to be killed.
Later in the scriptures it tells us that Goliath belittled David because of his appearance (I Sam 17:42). Goliath had totally underestimated David by only his appearance.
Sometimes our giants seem so tall. Sometimes they may seem to mount to the sky. But just as the Lord was with David, He is with us also. As long as we are serving the Lord, He is with us and we have nothing to fear.
Until we truly find out who we are and what we are made of in Jesus, the enemy of our souls will "underestimate" us too. Saul and his army were scared to go up against Goliath and the Philistines. The reason being was because Saul disobeyed God and the Lord withdrew His Spirit from Saul. The Lord then sent Samuel to annoint David and at that point the Lord was with David. The Lord showed me that the reason that Saul and the army was scared and didn't look forward to fighting the Philistines was because the LORD withdrew from Saul and He annointed David. As Christians we have the Lord with us, He is living on the inside of us. The Holy Ghost, which is the Lord's Spirit, is living on the inside of us. We have no reason to be afraid of anything the enemy tries to attack us with. God will lead us and guide us through everything in our lives. God told us that He would never leave nor forsake us. He said I am with you even unto the end of the world. He also told us that Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. Those are some pretty awesome statements that Jesus made. And we all know that Jesus doesn't lie, he doesn't know how to.
The devil underestimates us a lot of the time. He thinks because we get discouraged and things didn't happen the way we want them to that he can back us into a corner. He thinks he has us right where he wants us. Christians need to get out of the corner and come out swinging. Just as David stood there and listened to all of Goliath's put downs and finally David said enough was enough. David spoke up and told Goliath "you come to me with a sword, spear, and shield." I like this next part, "But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel..."
In the same chapter verse 51 it tells us, "Therefore David ran...." We need to stand up to those things in our lives that are keeping us back. We need to run toward our giants.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Grey Clouds
Heading to my mom's house today, William was driving. I had the window down, my arm out the window, and I was just really enjoying the ride. Then God showed me something.
As I sang along to a Third Day song I looked up at the sky. The sky was blue but the clouds were grey. I thought to myself, "Grey clouds, just how life is sometimes." I think I was hoping to look up and see some beautiful sight. And the grey clouds were a let down.
I looked at the grey clouds, I noticed that the trees were going by quickly and they seemed so tall. They seemed as though they were touching the sky.
I noticed that the trees were thick in that area of where we were. You could see grey clouds, a blue sky, and lots of trees.
But once we got a little farther down the road I noticed an opening in the trees. I had caught a glimpse of a beautiful sky with pink and purple clouds.
Once the giant trees were gone I could finally get a great view of the beautiful sunset.
The grey clouds are times in our lives that things aren't seeming to work out. We feel like this may be as good as it gets.
The trees represent our "giants". Things in our life that "block" the view of the total picture that we cannot sometimes see (God has all the puzzle pieces to our lives). The giants of worry, fear, stress, and unbelief cloud our minds.
The beautiful sky with the pink and purple clouds represent the promise that God has made to us.
We travel along in life only being able to see so much. We sometimes don't understand why we go through the things we do. We feel like God abandon's us. We may even feel like we are not much of a christian. Those times in our life are "grey clouds".
Traveling along the road of life isn't easy sometimes. Sometimes "things" jump out in front of us or obstruct our view of what God is doing or what He wants us to see. I could only see the grey clouds above me because the trees were so tall and there were too many of them. If I had been at a higher altitude I would of been able to see what lied past everything. This beautiful and amazing sight.
The devil wants things to obstruct or block our view of what God is doing in our lives. If he can do that then he can keep us feeling down, depressed, and crush our walk with God. The devil's main goal is to place fear in our hearts and minds. The devil wants to belittle our faith and destroy our hopes & dreams.
If we will just remember that the grey clouds will pass over. The load will become lighter. Even if the situation does not look like God is moving....HE IS!!!!!! Remember that looks can be deceiving. No matter what you are facing everything in your life is subject to change, except for God. God is the same yesterday, to day, and for ever. He has never changed and will never change.
God wants us to get to a "higher altitude" with Him. If we focus on what God says instead of our circumstances, we are trusting in God. If we keep our minds and hearts fixed upon Him then the grey clouds and trees will not block the "view" of what God wants to show us. Focus upon the promises and goodness of God and let all your troubles pass you by. Trust in God. Believe what He has spoken. He says He will cause it to happen in His time. Lean not to your own understanding but trust in Him.
I love the Lord with all of my heart, mind, soul, & strength. To Jesus be all the glory, honor, & praise forever. - Amen
As I sang along to a Third Day song I looked up at the sky. The sky was blue but the clouds were grey. I thought to myself, "Grey clouds, just how life is sometimes." I think I was hoping to look up and see some beautiful sight. And the grey clouds were a let down.
I looked at the grey clouds, I noticed that the trees were going by quickly and they seemed so tall. They seemed as though they were touching the sky.
I noticed that the trees were thick in that area of where we were. You could see grey clouds, a blue sky, and lots of trees.
But once we got a little farther down the road I noticed an opening in the trees. I had caught a glimpse of a beautiful sky with pink and purple clouds.
Once the giant trees were gone I could finally get a great view of the beautiful sunset.
The grey clouds are times in our lives that things aren't seeming to work out. We feel like this may be as good as it gets.
The trees represent our "giants". Things in our life that "block" the view of the total picture that we cannot sometimes see (God has all the puzzle pieces to our lives). The giants of worry, fear, stress, and unbelief cloud our minds.
The beautiful sky with the pink and purple clouds represent the promise that God has made to us.
We travel along in life only being able to see so much. We sometimes don't understand why we go through the things we do. We feel like God abandon's us. We may even feel like we are not much of a christian. Those times in our life are "grey clouds".
Traveling along the road of life isn't easy sometimes. Sometimes "things" jump out in front of us or obstruct our view of what God is doing or what He wants us to see. I could only see the grey clouds above me because the trees were so tall and there were too many of them. If I had been at a higher altitude I would of been able to see what lied past everything. This beautiful and amazing sight.
The devil wants things to obstruct or block our view of what God is doing in our lives. If he can do that then he can keep us feeling down, depressed, and crush our walk with God. The devil's main goal is to place fear in our hearts and minds. The devil wants to belittle our faith and destroy our hopes & dreams.
If we will just remember that the grey clouds will pass over. The load will become lighter. Even if the situation does not look like God is moving....HE IS!!!!!! Remember that looks can be deceiving. No matter what you are facing everything in your life is subject to change, except for God. God is the same yesterday, to day, and for ever. He has never changed and will never change.
God wants us to get to a "higher altitude" with Him. If we focus on what God says instead of our circumstances, we are trusting in God. If we keep our minds and hearts fixed upon Him then the grey clouds and trees will not block the "view" of what God wants to show us. Focus upon the promises and goodness of God and let all your troubles pass you by. Trust in God. Believe what He has spoken. He says He will cause it to happen in His time. Lean not to your own understanding but trust in Him.
I love the Lord with all of my heart, mind, soul, & strength. To Jesus be all the glory, honor, & praise forever. - Amen
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Moses Is Dead
Deuteronomy 34:5-8
"So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-pe'-or: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended."
Moses' time had ended. He had completed his journey and purpose in life. It was now time for someone else, whom God appointed, to lead the Israelites.
Moses had done many great signs and wonders by God. He threw down his staff where it became a snake, and he placed his hand in his bosom and it became leprous. Moses led the children of Israel through the Red Sea as God parted and held back the waters while they crossed. Moses did many other things with the annointing and power of God.
In the particular scriptures given above, Moses' time had come to an end. Although, the children of Israel had followed Moses the entire time they wondered in the wilderness, they were now faced with something new.
Moses who had been an exceptional leader, chosen for the Israelites by God, was now dead. I imagine that in the 30 days of weeping and mourning that the children of Israel felt like giving up perhaps or maybe they were scared. Here they were weeping and mourning for the man who had faithfully led them through some very hard times in their lives. Moses was like a security blanket and now he was gone.
We, too, sometimes in life get "attached" or used to something. We like things because we are familiar with them. And then we get scared or pout because things aren't the way they were.
God used Moses to lead, guide, and help the children of Israel. Moses had served his purpose. God was about to do a new thing for the children of Israel. God had plans for the Israelites to help them and prosper them. But if the children of Israel would not have "moved on" from Moses' death, God could not move them forward to the promised land.
There are a lot of us out there who will not quit mourning for Moses. Our Moses could be past relationships, jobs, friends, habits, or anything else we use as a blanket of security that God has taken away. When God gets us out of certain relationships, there is a reason for it. When God does not allow us to do something we have always done, there is a reason for it. And not all of our "Moses" have to be bad things. We could be used to a certain way of praise and worship or prayer.
When we are encountered with any change in our "normal" everyday life, we are allowed to go through a grieving process. The children of Israel grived for Moses 30 days. But then they ended their mourning.
If we are serving the Lord and walking uprightly before Him then He is leading and guiding us. And when the Lord leads us and guides us, it may be a little scary to experience the unknown. But we have to step out in faith, knowing God's plans are to prosper us and not to harm us. And that everything that we go through, even though it may seem difficult at the time, there is a reason. And when God makes us get out of situations by taking people or things from our lives it is because He has better plans for us. So when He gets rid of whatever "it" is then we need not to continue mourning or grumbling over what was lost, knowing God is fixing to do something.
So BURY your Moses. Then GRIEVE over your Moses (if necessary). And then ARISE!
Joshua 1:2 "Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel."
We should also know that no matter what the Lord takes away, gives, leads us to or from, He will always go before us to get us through it. He is always there.
Joshua 1:9 "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest."
So we need to let go of the past. The past and hanging on to it will keep us from our futures that God has in store for us.
Isaiah 43:18-19 "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
"So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-pe'-or: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended."
Moses' time had ended. He had completed his journey and purpose in life. It was now time for someone else, whom God appointed, to lead the Israelites.
Moses had done many great signs and wonders by God. He threw down his staff where it became a snake, and he placed his hand in his bosom and it became leprous. Moses led the children of Israel through the Red Sea as God parted and held back the waters while they crossed. Moses did many other things with the annointing and power of God.
In the particular scriptures given above, Moses' time had come to an end. Although, the children of Israel had followed Moses the entire time they wondered in the wilderness, they were now faced with something new.
Moses who had been an exceptional leader, chosen for the Israelites by God, was now dead. I imagine that in the 30 days of weeping and mourning that the children of Israel felt like giving up perhaps or maybe they were scared. Here they were weeping and mourning for the man who had faithfully led them through some very hard times in their lives. Moses was like a security blanket and now he was gone.
We, too, sometimes in life get "attached" or used to something. We like things because we are familiar with them. And then we get scared or pout because things aren't the way they were.
God used Moses to lead, guide, and help the children of Israel. Moses had served his purpose. God was about to do a new thing for the children of Israel. God had plans for the Israelites to help them and prosper them. But if the children of Israel would not have "moved on" from Moses' death, God could not move them forward to the promised land.
There are a lot of us out there who will not quit mourning for Moses. Our Moses could be past relationships, jobs, friends, habits, or anything else we use as a blanket of security that God has taken away. When God gets us out of certain relationships, there is a reason for it. When God does not allow us to do something we have always done, there is a reason for it. And not all of our "Moses" have to be bad things. We could be used to a certain way of praise and worship or prayer.
When we are encountered with any change in our "normal" everyday life, we are allowed to go through a grieving process. The children of Israel grived for Moses 30 days. But then they ended their mourning.
If we are serving the Lord and walking uprightly before Him then He is leading and guiding us. And when the Lord leads us and guides us, it may be a little scary to experience the unknown. But we have to step out in faith, knowing God's plans are to prosper us and not to harm us. And that everything that we go through, even though it may seem difficult at the time, there is a reason. And when God makes us get out of situations by taking people or things from our lives it is because He has better plans for us. So when He gets rid of whatever "it" is then we need not to continue mourning or grumbling over what was lost, knowing God is fixing to do something.
So BURY your Moses. Then GRIEVE over your Moses (if necessary). And then ARISE!
Joshua 1:2 "Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel."
We should also know that no matter what the Lord takes away, gives, leads us to or from, He will always go before us to get us through it. He is always there.
Joshua 1:9 "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest."
So we need to let go of the past. The past and hanging on to it will keep us from our futures that God has in store for us.
Isaiah 43:18-19 "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
You Are The Weakest Link
Have you ever had your hopes on something and then your hopes got shot down? Or perhaps you have hoped for something and it came true. Either way there is one factor in both of these situations that will determine the outcome. The factor of this equation is you.
Let's say that you are a college student. Okay there is going to be a big exam coming up. This exam will be testing what you have learned over the entire class that you have taken. What are you going to do? Study? Right, you are going to study until you can't study anymore. While studying you have a confidence that you are going to pass this test with flying colors. You are making sure that you are going over everything you have learned from the class. You are not leaving anything out.
On the day of the exam your teacher announces that the exam is going to be the biggest determining factor of whether you pass or fail. You are thinking "Oh this is so easy, peace of cake." Test get handed out then the timer is set and you are told that you have one hour. And off you go. Looking at the test you begin to go blank. You just went over this question last night you were just so sure and positive. Then you nervously try to decide is the answer A.) or B.) or no wait is C.) OH MY GOSH! You begin to have sweat beads pop out on your nose and forehead. Your hands begin to get clammy. Why are you such a nervous wreck? This is just a test? Right?
We all do something similar to this in life. We start out confident that what we have learned so far in life is going to get us through every situation life throws at us. When we come upon something that we have not ever encountered we tend to freak a little. We are looking at it like it is humungous or just too hard. But if we just calm down and look at each problem or situation instead of trying to look at 100 problems at once, then we can take our time and not rush and make the wrong choices.
But that is what the devil wants us to do in life. He wants us to come to a point where we don't know what to do in a situation that we have never faced before. He wants us to start to panic. When we do this we allow a door to be opened for any answer or "hint" for the current problem.
When a problem or situation arises we are the weakest link in our own problems. If we could just calm down and think about the answer and look at the situation we are in and not get overwhelmed. We would know exactly what the "right" answer is.
The most important thing to do during life and before any big test, trial, or tribulation is to study. We must feed ourselves the Word of God everyday. By doing this we are studying ourselves approved. And then when we have a short little quiz we will pass these. Then we continue to study and do our best, then when the exams in life come up, we can and will be ready for them. Another important thing to do everyday is to pray and seek God's will and answers for our lives. Take everything to God in prayer. Asking Him to make a way or show you an answer to something before we jump into something too quickly. The last but not least thing to do is to leave you out of it. Flesh is a hard thing to leave out of an equation, especially when it involves you. But you will find that if you are seeking and searching God for His Will and His answer then you will be leaving flesh out of it.
But we can be assured that even if we do "fail" some of the "exams" in life. God is still right there beside of us. He is urging us to get back up and try, try, try again. When we do fail, God will never fail you.
Isaiah 43:2
"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."
Deuteronomy 4:29-31
"But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee......"
(2 Corinthians 12:10)
Let's say that you are a college student. Okay there is going to be a big exam coming up. This exam will be testing what you have learned over the entire class that you have taken. What are you going to do? Study? Right, you are going to study until you can't study anymore. While studying you have a confidence that you are going to pass this test with flying colors. You are making sure that you are going over everything you have learned from the class. You are not leaving anything out.
On the day of the exam your teacher announces that the exam is going to be the biggest determining factor of whether you pass or fail. You are thinking "Oh this is so easy, peace of cake." Test get handed out then the timer is set and you are told that you have one hour. And off you go. Looking at the test you begin to go blank. You just went over this question last night you were just so sure and positive. Then you nervously try to decide is the answer A.) or B.) or no wait is C.) OH MY GOSH! You begin to have sweat beads pop out on your nose and forehead. Your hands begin to get clammy. Why are you such a nervous wreck? This is just a test? Right?
We all do something similar to this in life. We start out confident that what we have learned so far in life is going to get us through every situation life throws at us. When we come upon something that we have not ever encountered we tend to freak a little. We are looking at it like it is humungous or just too hard. But if we just calm down and look at each problem or situation instead of trying to look at 100 problems at once, then we can take our time and not rush and make the wrong choices.
But that is what the devil wants us to do in life. He wants us to come to a point where we don't know what to do in a situation that we have never faced before. He wants us to start to panic. When we do this we allow a door to be opened for any answer or "hint" for the current problem.
When a problem or situation arises we are the weakest link in our own problems. If we could just calm down and think about the answer and look at the situation we are in and not get overwhelmed. We would know exactly what the "right" answer is.
The most important thing to do during life and before any big test, trial, or tribulation is to study. We must feed ourselves the Word of God everyday. By doing this we are studying ourselves approved. And then when we have a short little quiz we will pass these. Then we continue to study and do our best, then when the exams in life come up, we can and will be ready for them. Another important thing to do everyday is to pray and seek God's will and answers for our lives. Take everything to God in prayer. Asking Him to make a way or show you an answer to something before we jump into something too quickly. The last but not least thing to do is to leave you out of it. Flesh is a hard thing to leave out of an equation, especially when it involves you. But you will find that if you are seeking and searching God for His Will and His answer then you will be leaving flesh out of it.
But we can be assured that even if we do "fail" some of the "exams" in life. God is still right there beside of us. He is urging us to get back up and try, try, try again. When we do fail, God will never fail you.
Isaiah 43:2
"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."
Deuteronomy 4:29-31
"But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee......"
(2 Corinthians 12:10)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
The "Slides" Of Life
The Lord gave me something that I thought was beautiful. I pray that it will encourage all those who read it. God Bless.
Imagine a child at a park. There are three slides within this park. The first slide is small (appropriate for the child's age), the second is a tad bit bigger (this slide is bigger than the first and the child will debate whether or not to slide down it). But ultimately the child will muster up enough courage to attempt this slide because it is only a tad bit bigger than the first. Now we have the third slide. This slide is slidezilla. To this child it is enormous. The first slide the child did not hesitate whether it could slide down this one or not. The second slide was only a little higher than the first and though the child debated on wheter this goal was possible or not, the child completed the task. Now this child is face a situation that it has never encountered before. This third slide seems as though the ladder could reach the sky. The child grabs onto the bars and starts to inch their way little by little up the ladder. The child makes it up a little way and then looks down and begins to become frightened. The child may even think to himself "What have I gotten myself into?"
The parent who has been watching all this time, notices the child has paused in fear. The parent rushes to the child and ask what is wrong. The child with a look of being scared on his face says "Daddy, it is too high, I can't climb this by myself." The father reaches his arms out to reach the scared child. The father wraps his loving arms around the frightened child and ensures that everything is okay. At that moment the child asks his father "Daddy, it is too high for me, but do you think we could do it together?"
The father of course takes his child and climbs the huge slide and they sit down and slide down it laughing and smiling all the way down.
This is the same way God does His children. We go throughout our lives and we encounter certain things. Some things we encounter we don't worry or hesitate doing them or going through them. But sometime's there are things we encounter that may end up making us think a little harder. But we eventually overcome and do them. Then there are times we encounter things and we measure them up, not sure if we can complete the task at hand because it is so "tall". But we decide to give it a try only to find out that we cannot do it. Or not able to do it alone. That is where our Father intervenes. He says we don't have to take on the "huge slides" in life alone. The whole time we are going about our life He is there watching us and ensuring our protection. And when we come across things in life that we have never gone through or attempted, He is right there waiting for us to ask Him to help. He wants us to say "Daddy, I can't do this alone, it is too big for me, can we do it together?" And once we ask for His help, the ladder of life or the ladder of our problem, doesn't seem that tall and scary after all. Knowing that through Him all things are possible. God is watching and waiting for you to ask.
Imagine a child at a park. There are three slides within this park. The first slide is small (appropriate for the child's age), the second is a tad bit bigger (this slide is bigger than the first and the child will debate whether or not to slide down it). But ultimately the child will muster up enough courage to attempt this slide because it is only a tad bit bigger than the first. Now we have the third slide. This slide is slidezilla. To this child it is enormous. The first slide the child did not hesitate whether it could slide down this one or not. The second slide was only a little higher than the first and though the child debated on wheter this goal was possible or not, the child completed the task. Now this child is face a situation that it has never encountered before. This third slide seems as though the ladder could reach the sky. The child grabs onto the bars and starts to inch their way little by little up the ladder. The child makes it up a little way and then looks down and begins to become frightened. The child may even think to himself "What have I gotten myself into?"
The parent who has been watching all this time, notices the child has paused in fear. The parent rushes to the child and ask what is wrong. The child with a look of being scared on his face says "Daddy, it is too high, I can't climb this by myself." The father reaches his arms out to reach the scared child. The father wraps his loving arms around the frightened child and ensures that everything is okay. At that moment the child asks his father "Daddy, it is too high for me, but do you think we could do it together?"
The father of course takes his child and climbs the huge slide and they sit down and slide down it laughing and smiling all the way down.
This is the same way God does His children. We go throughout our lives and we encounter certain things. Some things we encounter we don't worry or hesitate doing them or going through them. But sometime's there are things we encounter that may end up making us think a little harder. But we eventually overcome and do them. Then there are times we encounter things and we measure them up, not sure if we can complete the task at hand because it is so "tall". But we decide to give it a try only to find out that we cannot do it. Or not able to do it alone. That is where our Father intervenes. He says we don't have to take on the "huge slides" in life alone. The whole time we are going about our life He is there watching us and ensuring our protection. And when we come across things in life that we have never gone through or attempted, He is right there waiting for us to ask Him to help. He wants us to say "Daddy, I can't do this alone, it is too big for me, can we do it together?" And once we ask for His help, the ladder of life or the ladder of our problem, doesn't seem that tall and scary after all. Knowing that through Him all things are possible. God is watching and waiting for you to ask.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Like A Flood
Have you noticed that when something bad happens, something else usually follows after that? Little things in life pop up to get us discouraged and to weaken our faith and hope. Sometimes things just happen here and there but then sometimes it is like a lot of problems come in like a flood.
The enemy of our soul wants us to be bombarded with life's cares and worries. He wants us to be taken away from the source of our strength. If the enemy can get us off of the path that God has placed us on we can be attacked. I am talking spiritually.
The bible says in Isaiah 59:19 "So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him."
The above verse didn't say if the enemy could come in like a flood, it said when the enemy shall come in like a flood. There are going to be times in our life when we do feel like we are drowning. It feels like the enemy is trying to take control of our lives, thoughts, and placing fear into us. The Lord puts us through test and trials at times. This is to build our faith, trust, and get closer to Him. But whether or not we are being tested or tried the enemy still wants our soul. The bible says in 1Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" The enemy of our soul will try to take our mind off of what is really important. The cares of this life do not mean anything. We worry about food, clothing, shelter, bills, and etc... But God said that to consider the lilies, they toil and spin not, yet Solomon was not arrayed like one of these. We must keep our mind upon the Lord and what really matters. Knowing that whatever we need God will provide. We just need to give Him glory and praise everyday that we live no matter what may come our way. Even if the enemy comes in like a flood. You want to know a little secret that I learned? The devil isn't going to mess with someone that is not going to destroy his kingdom. Why would he? If he knew that you are not a threat to him why would he bother you?
2 Corinthians 12:10 says "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." The enemy just doesn't know how strong we are getting to be by him putting us through the things we go through. Each time we are faced with one of life's challenges we learn from that experience and become stronger than before.
But the bible also says that the enemy may rise up against us and come against us one way but the enemy will flee before us seven ways. The bible also says that whatever the enemy has stolen that it will be paid back double.
I think we need to strengthen ourselves in the Lord by reading His Word more, fasting more, and praying more. When we find ourselves keeping our mind upon the Lord instead of "earthly" things, we are so much happier. The joy of the Lord is our strength.
The enemy of our soul wants us to be bombarded with life's cares and worries. He wants us to be taken away from the source of our strength. If the enemy can get us off of the path that God has placed us on we can be attacked. I am talking spiritually.
The bible says in Isaiah 59:19 "So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him."
The above verse didn't say if the enemy could come in like a flood, it said when the enemy shall come in like a flood. There are going to be times in our life when we do feel like we are drowning. It feels like the enemy is trying to take control of our lives, thoughts, and placing fear into us. The Lord puts us through test and trials at times. This is to build our faith, trust, and get closer to Him. But whether or not we are being tested or tried the enemy still wants our soul. The bible says in 1Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" The enemy of our soul will try to take our mind off of what is really important. The cares of this life do not mean anything. We worry about food, clothing, shelter, bills, and etc... But God said that to consider the lilies, they toil and spin not, yet Solomon was not arrayed like one of these. We must keep our mind upon the Lord and what really matters. Knowing that whatever we need God will provide. We just need to give Him glory and praise everyday that we live no matter what may come our way. Even if the enemy comes in like a flood. You want to know a little secret that I learned? The devil isn't going to mess with someone that is not going to destroy his kingdom. Why would he? If he knew that you are not a threat to him why would he bother you?
2 Corinthians 12:10 says "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." The enemy just doesn't know how strong we are getting to be by him putting us through the things we go through. Each time we are faced with one of life's challenges we learn from that experience and become stronger than before.
But the bible also says that the enemy may rise up against us and come against us one way but the enemy will flee before us seven ways. The bible also says that whatever the enemy has stolen that it will be paid back double.
I think we need to strengthen ourselves in the Lord by reading His Word more, fasting more, and praying more. When we find ourselves keeping our mind upon the Lord instead of "earthly" things, we are so much happier. The joy of the Lord is our strength.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Open & Shut Doors
I guess if you have paid attention, I have wrote 3 or 4 blogs within a couple of days. I have nothing better to do. I am wanting to get out of this house so bad I can't stand it. Anyways, here is another post for you to read. I received this in the mail today from Joel Osteen. Enjoy!
There is a God-given destiny inside of you that is waiting to be unleashed and revealed. No matter where you find yourself in life today, Victoria and I believe that this year will be one of the greatest years of your life!
You are an amazing and unique creation of God, and you have seeds of greatness planted on the inside of you. You have something to offer this world that no one else can. No matter what is happening in your life - whether you are going through good times or times of difficulty - you can fulfill your God-given desires. You can accomplish the dreams God placed in your heart.
But in order to do this, you must keep moving forward. You cannot be bound by your past. The life in front of you is far more important than the life behind you.
Let me share a principle with you that can help illustrate this and take you to a new, higher level in your pursuit of God's best.
THERE ARE DOORS TO OPEN AND OTHERS TO CLOSE.
I remember a time I had to go into a government building that had two sets of double doors that were several feet apart. The first doors opened automatically as I approached, but for security reasons, those doors had to close completely before the next set of doors would open for me to pass through. I had to take a step forward to allow the first set to close. As long as I stayed in the first doorway, the second doors would not open.
So much of life operates like those automatic doors. For our own benefit, God will not allow the next door of your life to open when you are still standing in the doorway of the first one. He doesn't want you to drag your past into your future. He wants to give you a fresh start. He wants to give you a new beginning.
As believers, we've got to move forward and let the past go by choosing to forgive others and allowing God to heal our hearts. Look at it this way: you can learn from the mistakes and disappointments of your past, but you cannot move forward with them.
Are you standing in the doorway of the disappointments and failures of your life? For whatever reason, are you choosing to hang on to the past? Maybe you are scared to move forward because you don't know what lies beyond those new doors.
There is nothing you can do about the disappointments of your past, but there is something you can do about your future. With the right attitude, you can experience more of God's blessing in your future than what the enemy has stolen in your past. We serve a mighty God who can supernaturally resurrect and restore broken dreams, and He'll even give you brand-new ones!
In order to keep adversities, unfortunate experiences and tragedies from holding you back, choose to "stir up" what God placed on the inside of you. Meditate on the fact that:
You are a child of God
You've come too far to stop now
You will not allow your past to dictate your future
When God is on your side, anything is possible
Don't settle for "good enough" or get stuck in thinking about "what might have been." Your thoughts determine the direction of your life, so choose to think God's thoughts.
My own father experienced the pain and disappointment of a failed relationship. He felt that his future had been destroyed. He went through times of great depression and rejection.
But one day, he did what I'm asking you to do today. He didn't settle for "good enough." He refused to sit back and think about "what might have been." He learned from his past, and he chose not to live in it. He let it go by choosing to move forward with a heart open to forgiveness and healing!
You need to close the doors to your past.....so the doors to your future can be opened!
My dad acknowledged his mistakes and received God's mercy. He didn't know what his future held, but he held on to the fact that God had another seed and plan for his life. A little while later he met my mother, and the rest, you might say, is "supernatural" history.
Just as Joshua declared to Israel, "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve" (Joshua 24:15), you too have a choice about whom you will serve each day. Will you honor the enemy with a defeated attitude or bring glory to God by getting up, dusting yourself off and pressing on? I know you can think of at least one area in your life that you need to leave in the past.
You may have had tough, unfair, negative experiences. But know this: God wants to do a new thing. No matter where you are in your journey, your life can be better! And I believe it's God's Word that makes us better.
There is a God-given destiny inside of you that is waiting to be unleashed and revealed. No matter where you find yourself in life today, Victoria and I believe that this year will be one of the greatest years of your life!
You are an amazing and unique creation of God, and you have seeds of greatness planted on the inside of you. You have something to offer this world that no one else can. No matter what is happening in your life - whether you are going through good times or times of difficulty - you can fulfill your God-given desires. You can accomplish the dreams God placed in your heart.
But in order to do this, you must keep moving forward. You cannot be bound by your past. The life in front of you is far more important than the life behind you.
Let me share a principle with you that can help illustrate this and take you to a new, higher level in your pursuit of God's best.
THERE ARE DOORS TO OPEN AND OTHERS TO CLOSE.
I remember a time I had to go into a government building that had two sets of double doors that were several feet apart. The first doors opened automatically as I approached, but for security reasons, those doors had to close completely before the next set of doors would open for me to pass through. I had to take a step forward to allow the first set to close. As long as I stayed in the first doorway, the second doors would not open.
So much of life operates like those automatic doors. For our own benefit, God will not allow the next door of your life to open when you are still standing in the doorway of the first one. He doesn't want you to drag your past into your future. He wants to give you a fresh start. He wants to give you a new beginning.
As believers, we've got to move forward and let the past go by choosing to forgive others and allowing God to heal our hearts. Look at it this way: you can learn from the mistakes and disappointments of your past, but you cannot move forward with them.
Are you standing in the doorway of the disappointments and failures of your life? For whatever reason, are you choosing to hang on to the past? Maybe you are scared to move forward because you don't know what lies beyond those new doors.
There is nothing you can do about the disappointments of your past, but there is something you can do about your future. With the right attitude, you can experience more of God's blessing in your future than what the enemy has stolen in your past. We serve a mighty God who can supernaturally resurrect and restore broken dreams, and He'll even give you brand-new ones!
In order to keep adversities, unfortunate experiences and tragedies from holding you back, choose to "stir up" what God placed on the inside of you. Meditate on the fact that:
You are a child of God
You've come too far to stop now
You will not allow your past to dictate your future
When God is on your side, anything is possible
Don't settle for "good enough" or get stuck in thinking about "what might have been." Your thoughts determine the direction of your life, so choose to think God's thoughts.
My own father experienced the pain and disappointment of a failed relationship. He felt that his future had been destroyed. He went through times of great depression and rejection.
But one day, he did what I'm asking you to do today. He didn't settle for "good enough." He refused to sit back and think about "what might have been." He learned from his past, and he chose not to live in it. He let it go by choosing to move forward with a heart open to forgiveness and healing!
You need to close the doors to your past.....so the doors to your future can be opened!
My dad acknowledged his mistakes and received God's mercy. He didn't know what his future held, but he held on to the fact that God had another seed and plan for his life. A little while later he met my mother, and the rest, you might say, is "supernatural" history.
Just as Joshua declared to Israel, "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve" (Joshua 24:15), you too have a choice about whom you will serve each day. Will you honor the enemy with a defeated attitude or bring glory to God by getting up, dusting yourself off and pressing on? I know you can think of at least one area in your life that you need to leave in the past.
You may have had tough, unfair, negative experiences. But know this: God wants to do a new thing. No matter where you are in your journey, your life can be better! And I believe it's God's Word that makes us better.
Glory To God For New Life
I wanted to share with everyone a letter that I received from Pastor Rod Parsley. I feel the spirit of God each time I read it. I hope it will encourage someone else as well.
Dear Angie,
Magnify the Lord with me! This is the season for the name of the Lord to be praised for the wonderful things he has done. This Christmas has filled me with excitement because God is birthing new things. Many carry a seed in them as Mary did so long ago. They are carrying a seed of vision and anticipation sown by the Holy Ghost--and all of this is because of what Jesus has done.
Jesus is the first-born (foremost, the most important one) of all creation. He is the original and all sons and daughters of God should be like Him.
Do you know what Jesus did for you when he came 2000 years ago? Do you know what you have within you? Do you understand that God has given you a vision for a specific purpose? This Christmas, I believe you're going to give birth to that vision!
God has given you a holy future, a holy miracle, a holy healing, a holy dream--because he has called you a child of God. And He has said its time to get out what's inside of you.
Mary couldn't delay the birth of Jesus. She couldn't wait until everything was lined up perfectly. She couldn't wait until she had her own home with all the furnishings.
Jesus had to come at the appointed time because everything that we needed had to be released. And this Christmas, it's true for you--what you need must be released.
God has set the date of your delivery for now. I believe there's new life coming to your finances, to your health, and to your family. He has sent for you . . . NEW LIFE.
You may feel barren, but you're not. Your finances may seem barren, but they're not. Your health may seem barren, but it's a lie. You may feel downcast but you can rejoice instead, for God has sent new life for you through Jesus.
I feel the birthing pangs beginning. Christmas is your time--not just to receive, but to release the gift God has given to you. God has anointed you to give birth to it..
When Jesus came, He came with power through the anointing of God. You have it too. This Christmas unwrap your gift. Cast out depression, oppression and wrong thinking. Embrace what God says is for you.
Listen to David, "Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in."
This Christmas rejoice in all that Jesus has provided for you. Paul said it best, "Thank God for His Son--a gift too wonderful for words!" 2 Corinthians 9:15
Angie, I'm in agreement with you... that whatever you need is available to you this Christmas in Jesus' name.
Merry Christmas,
Rod Parsley
Dear Angie,
Magnify the Lord with me! This is the season for the name of the Lord to be praised for the wonderful things he has done. This Christmas has filled me with excitement because God is birthing new things. Many carry a seed in them as Mary did so long ago. They are carrying a seed of vision and anticipation sown by the Holy Ghost--and all of this is because of what Jesus has done.
Jesus is the first-born (foremost, the most important one) of all creation. He is the original and all sons and daughters of God should be like Him.
Do you know what Jesus did for you when he came 2000 years ago? Do you know what you have within you? Do you understand that God has given you a vision for a specific purpose? This Christmas, I believe you're going to give birth to that vision!
God has given you a holy future, a holy miracle, a holy healing, a holy dream--because he has called you a child of God. And He has said its time to get out what's inside of you.
Mary couldn't delay the birth of Jesus. She couldn't wait until everything was lined up perfectly. She couldn't wait until she had her own home with all the furnishings.
Jesus had to come at the appointed time because everything that we needed had to be released. And this Christmas, it's true for you--what you need must be released.
God has set the date of your delivery for now. I believe there's new life coming to your finances, to your health, and to your family. He has sent for you . . . NEW LIFE.
You may feel barren, but you're not. Your finances may seem barren, but they're not. Your health may seem barren, but it's a lie. You may feel downcast but you can rejoice instead, for God has sent new life for you through Jesus.
I feel the birthing pangs beginning. Christmas is your time--not just to receive, but to release the gift God has given to you. God has anointed you to give birth to it..
When Jesus came, He came with power through the anointing of God. You have it too. This Christmas unwrap your gift. Cast out depression, oppression and wrong thinking. Embrace what God says is for you.
Listen to David, "Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in."
This Christmas rejoice in all that Jesus has provided for you. Paul said it best, "Thank God for His Son--a gift too wonderful for words!" 2 Corinthians 9:15
Angie, I'm in agreement with you... that whatever you need is available to you this Christmas in Jesus' name.
Merry Christmas,
Rod Parsley
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Staying in the "Jericho March"
This is an article that I found that I believe everyone should read. It has really helped me with pressing forward to the promises of God. I felt led of God to post this on here. It is a word for someone and I hope they get to read it. But even if you feel this isn't for you now, I still pray it will uplift or encourage you.
"Many of us at one time or another have missed out on possessing what God says belongs to us simply because we failed to stay in the "Jericho March." The children of Israel faced a literal Jericho. For us, Jericho represents anything that the enemy puts in our way to prevent us from receiving what God says belongs to us
Staying in the Jericho March means you will continue doing whatever God has told you to do until the walls of your "Jericho" come tumbling down. Just because you have God's promises to possess certain things is no sign that possessing them is going to be easy. God never said it would be easy. But He did say you would possess.
These days it seems as though everyone is always looking for something easy - the quick fix. We expect to get what we want - and fast! With our modern technology, we can send an e-mail to someone on the other side of the world in an instant with the touch of a button. We can download, upload, transfer, and stay in touch all in the blink of an eye! Even when it comes to food, we're used to getting what we want in a hurry. With the microwave, we can have dinner ready in just a few minutes. And because of the ready-made cake mixes, it doesn't even take as long as it once did to bake a cake.
I remember my grandma made cakes from scratch. She lived to be ninety and although ready-made mixes were available, she still made her cakes from scractch. Today, however, it seems as though most people want everything fast. We open a box of cake mix, dump the contents in a bowl, add eggs and water, mix it, and stick it in the oven. But it wasn't that way when Grandma did it. It took some time back then.
In this modern day of "quick and easy," many Christians want to be able to sit down, say "Thank you, Lord," and receive all God's blessings. Sometimes you have to get up after you pray and put legs to your faith, so to speak.
Now, over the course of possessing all that belongs to you, as you make progress and overcome one obstacle, the devil will put other obstacles in your way. You may say, "I'm getting tired of this." Friend, now until Jesus comes back, you're going to have opportunity after opportunity to prove that God's Word still works!
You may have to take a Jericho March, and you may have setbacks along the way. The enemy may even seem to win a battle. But remember, losing a battle doesn't mean you've lost the war. We all have setbacks, but we keep on marching. The people who sit down and give up are the ones who never get any closer to receiving the benefits that God has promised them.
So what if you come up against an obstacle or a problem? Think of all the men and women in the Bible who faced obstacles and problems. The Word of God tells us that our enemy goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). The Word also tells us that God will deliver the righteous out of all trouble (Psalm 34:19).
Satan took Jesus on a high mountain and said, "If you follow me, You can have the world and all the pleasures it has to offer" (Matthew 4:8-9). Satan is still playing the same tricks today. He offers fun and excitement, but he doesn't tell you that the fun and excitement turn to disaster.
Television shows and movies make alcohol and drugs look exciting. But ask the people - the former lawyers, doctors, CEO's, preachers, and so forth - who have chosen that path. They saw the glamour and the bright lights; that's the side the devil wants to show people. But go behind the scenes, and you'll find out that the path ends in destruction. Only Jesus can bring life-and that more abundantly (John 10:10).
Do you want the walls that have hindered you to come down? Then begin to shout praises to God - even when it looks like everything is dark adn bleak. Faith believes, and faith praises.
In Acts chapter 16, we read that Paul and Silas were in jail, up against their own "Jericho wall." Paul and Silas didn't panic; instead, they praised the Lord! Most people in that situation would have said, "Paul, you invited me to go on this missionary trip, and look where we are now. What's the matter here? We must be out of the will of God."
Sometimes, facing tremendous obstacles and circumstances simply proves that you are in the will of God. Who do you think the devil tries to mess with the most? Those who are in the will of God - the people Satan knows are going to tear his kingdom apart. What's the use of messing with someone who's not going to give him any problems?
So stay in the Jericho March. When your adversary attacks and you're facing every kind of obstacle imaginable, throw your hands in the air and begin to praise God saying, "This is just another opportunity to prove that God is still God." You have the choice to succumb to defeat or to stay in the Jericho March.
Acts 16:25 says, "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them." To me, the word "midnight" represents two things beyond the usual meaning of a specific time of day. Number one, it represents the darkest hour of a trial or circumstance. But midnight also represents th elast part of the night, signaling that the day is just around the corner.
Someone going through a midnight trial might say, "Oh, it's so dark!"
I tell them, "That just means you need to look on the horizon because the S-O-N of God is beginning to shed His light on your pathway. And all your trials are going to melt like a snowball in the hot July Oklahoma sunshine."
If the Israelites could shout and praise God when they only had the Ark of the Covenant to fix their eyes upon, how much more can we shout and praise God when the Presence of God is dwelling inside of us! But instead of shouting, too many people are sitting around, saying, "Why, God, why?" That's not what we should be saying. We should be shouting and praising God, saying, "I trust You, Lord. I believe Your Word."
Instead of looking for the answer to your question, "Why did this happen?" start looking for the victory. And keep marching. Too many people are asking, "Why?" when they should be marching. The sooner you start praising God and marching to His drumbeat, the sooner you're going to come out of your trial and situation.
March on, because just over the hill, the victory awaits you. Do not slow up when an obstacle is in the way. But march on through the heat and the cold, and God will show you the victory.
March on, and you shall see that what is behind you will have no affect on the future. The past is the past - it's over and done with. Put it away forever and march on, and God will show you great and mighty things."
WEARING GOD'S FIRE SUIT
The circumstances of life may bind you up and throw you into the fire, so to speak, but friend, you have a fire protection suit. It's the power and annointing of God!
Let me explain. I like car races, especially NASCAR. If you want to drive in a car race, you have to abide by the safety rules or you won't be allowed to enter the race. First, you have to wear a special kind of sock and undergarment. Then, you put a suit on top of that and put a hood on your head. Each of these garments is fire retardant. Race car drivers can be in a fiery crash and escape unburned because of these special suits.
However, the fire retardant suits race car drivers wear only hold up in a fire for a short period of time. They're designed to last long enough to allow the driver to be rescued. But the fire retardant suit tha tyou and I have - the annointing and power of God - is a suit that lasts forever! No fiery dart of the enemy can penetrate it.
You're not going to go through life without having a problem, test, or trial. At some point, you are going to face the fire. But if you have strong faith in God and His Word, you will walk into the fire and out without being burned.
I hope this has encouraged someone. God Bless
"Many of us at one time or another have missed out on possessing what God says belongs to us simply because we failed to stay in the "Jericho March." The children of Israel faced a literal Jericho. For us, Jericho represents anything that the enemy puts in our way to prevent us from receiving what God says belongs to us
Staying in the Jericho March means you will continue doing whatever God has told you to do until the walls of your "Jericho" come tumbling down. Just because you have God's promises to possess certain things is no sign that possessing them is going to be easy. God never said it would be easy. But He did say you would possess.
These days it seems as though everyone is always looking for something easy - the quick fix. We expect to get what we want - and fast! With our modern technology, we can send an e-mail to someone on the other side of the world in an instant with the touch of a button. We can download, upload, transfer, and stay in touch all in the blink of an eye! Even when it comes to food, we're used to getting what we want in a hurry. With the microwave, we can have dinner ready in just a few minutes. And because of the ready-made cake mixes, it doesn't even take as long as it once did to bake a cake.
I remember my grandma made cakes from scratch. She lived to be ninety and although ready-made mixes were available, she still made her cakes from scractch. Today, however, it seems as though most people want everything fast. We open a box of cake mix, dump the contents in a bowl, add eggs and water, mix it, and stick it in the oven. But it wasn't that way when Grandma did it. It took some time back then.
In this modern day of "quick and easy," many Christians want to be able to sit down, say "Thank you, Lord," and receive all God's blessings. Sometimes you have to get up after you pray and put legs to your faith, so to speak.
Now, over the course of possessing all that belongs to you, as you make progress and overcome one obstacle, the devil will put other obstacles in your way. You may say, "I'm getting tired of this." Friend, now until Jesus comes back, you're going to have opportunity after opportunity to prove that God's Word still works!
You may have to take a Jericho March, and you may have setbacks along the way. The enemy may even seem to win a battle. But remember, losing a battle doesn't mean you've lost the war. We all have setbacks, but we keep on marching. The people who sit down and give up are the ones who never get any closer to receiving the benefits that God has promised them.
So what if you come up against an obstacle or a problem? Think of all the men and women in the Bible who faced obstacles and problems. The Word of God tells us that our enemy goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). The Word also tells us that God will deliver the righteous out of all trouble (Psalm 34:19).
Satan took Jesus on a high mountain and said, "If you follow me, You can have the world and all the pleasures it has to offer" (Matthew 4:8-9). Satan is still playing the same tricks today. He offers fun and excitement, but he doesn't tell you that the fun and excitement turn to disaster.
Television shows and movies make alcohol and drugs look exciting. But ask the people - the former lawyers, doctors, CEO's, preachers, and so forth - who have chosen that path. They saw the glamour and the bright lights; that's the side the devil wants to show people. But go behind the scenes, and you'll find out that the path ends in destruction. Only Jesus can bring life-and that more abundantly (John 10:10).
Do you want the walls that have hindered you to come down? Then begin to shout praises to God - even when it looks like everything is dark adn bleak. Faith believes, and faith praises.
In Acts chapter 16, we read that Paul and Silas were in jail, up against their own "Jericho wall." Paul and Silas didn't panic; instead, they praised the Lord! Most people in that situation would have said, "Paul, you invited me to go on this missionary trip, and look where we are now. What's the matter here? We must be out of the will of God."
Sometimes, facing tremendous obstacles and circumstances simply proves that you are in the will of God. Who do you think the devil tries to mess with the most? Those who are in the will of God - the people Satan knows are going to tear his kingdom apart. What's the use of messing with someone who's not going to give him any problems?
So stay in the Jericho March. When your adversary attacks and you're facing every kind of obstacle imaginable, throw your hands in the air and begin to praise God saying, "This is just another opportunity to prove that God is still God." You have the choice to succumb to defeat or to stay in the Jericho March.
Acts 16:25 says, "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them." To me, the word "midnight" represents two things beyond the usual meaning of a specific time of day. Number one, it represents the darkest hour of a trial or circumstance. But midnight also represents th elast part of the night, signaling that the day is just around the corner.
Someone going through a midnight trial might say, "Oh, it's so dark!"
I tell them, "That just means you need to look on the horizon because the S-O-N of God is beginning to shed His light on your pathway. And all your trials are going to melt like a snowball in the hot July Oklahoma sunshine."
If the Israelites could shout and praise God when they only had the Ark of the Covenant to fix their eyes upon, how much more can we shout and praise God when the Presence of God is dwelling inside of us! But instead of shouting, too many people are sitting around, saying, "Why, God, why?" That's not what we should be saying. We should be shouting and praising God, saying, "I trust You, Lord. I believe Your Word."
Instead of looking for the answer to your question, "Why did this happen?" start looking for the victory. And keep marching. Too many people are asking, "Why?" when they should be marching. The sooner you start praising God and marching to His drumbeat, the sooner you're going to come out of your trial and situation.
March on, because just over the hill, the victory awaits you. Do not slow up when an obstacle is in the way. But march on through the heat and the cold, and God will show you the victory.
March on, and you shall see that what is behind you will have no affect on the future. The past is the past - it's over and done with. Put it away forever and march on, and God will show you great and mighty things."
WEARING GOD'S FIRE SUIT
The circumstances of life may bind you up and throw you into the fire, so to speak, but friend, you have a fire protection suit. It's the power and annointing of God!
Let me explain. I like car races, especially NASCAR. If you want to drive in a car race, you have to abide by the safety rules or you won't be allowed to enter the race. First, you have to wear a special kind of sock and undergarment. Then, you put a suit on top of that and put a hood on your head. Each of these garments is fire retardant. Race car drivers can be in a fiery crash and escape unburned because of these special suits.
However, the fire retardant suits race car drivers wear only hold up in a fire for a short period of time. They're designed to last long enough to allow the driver to be rescued. But the fire retardant suit tha tyou and I have - the annointing and power of God - is a suit that lasts forever! No fiery dart of the enemy can penetrate it.
You're not going to go through life without having a problem, test, or trial. At some point, you are going to face the fire. But if you have strong faith in God and His Word, you will walk into the fire and out without being burned.
I hope this has encouraged someone. God Bless
Friday, January 2, 2009
Prevailing Faith
Okay, I liked the sound of the words "Prevailing Faith". I wondered though exactly what is it to have that type of faith. When one is needing a move of God. Wanting to see the good things that God has in store or has promised, prevailing faith is what it takes. Not faith that is here today and then gone the next. It takes a steady flow of faith in God. Without faith it is impossible to please Him. So a light bulb went off in my head. Something told me to go and get the dictionary. And guess what I did. As you read the following words and their meanings put yourself into these definitions. Are you doing what the definition of that words is saying? Put your circumstances in the "blanks".
Prevail - 1. To win control: triumph. 2. To be effective: succeed. 3. To be common or frequent: predominate. 4. To be in force or in use: persist. To persuade successfully.
Faith - 1. Belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of someone or something. 2. Loyalty or allegiance. 3. Belief and trust in God. Religious conviction. A system of religious beliefs.
Faithful - 1. Supportive: loyal 2. Worthy of trust or belief. 3. Consistent with fact.
Trust - 1. Firm reliance in the honesty, dependability, strength, or character of someone or something. 2. One in which faith or confidence is placed. 3. Care: custody. 4. Something given into one's care for the benefit or interest of another: charge 5.Reliance on something in the future: hope 6. To have or place confidence in: rely 7. To be confident: hope 8. To believe 9. To entrust.
Hope - 1. To want or wish for with a feeling of confident expectation. 2. A wish or desire accompanied by expectation of its fulfillment.
Confidence - 1. Reliance or trust. 2. A trusting relationship.
Expectation - 1. The act or state of expecting. 2. Eager anticiptation for something coming.
Reliance - Confident: trust
Prepare - 1. To make or get ready for some purpose, task, or event.
Now what I got from this was.....
In order to have prevailing faith in God are we....
Having faith in God without wavering?
Trusting that He is faithful to what He has promised?
Relying solely upon Him?
Having a confidence that He is able to perform those desires?
I don't know, to me, when I read the definitions I really felt God in those meanings. We just need to keep our eyes on the Lord and not worry about other things.
That is hard to say and do when you are faced with such a gigantic mountain in your face. But God does not lie and He will do what He says. We get in a hurry but God says "Not in your time, but mine." His ways are better than ours. Sometimes I think we feel like God maybe testing us. In some cases that may be it, He may be testing our faith. But other times I think it is because we get so impatient and we are wanting God to move now.We are trying to rush God when we should just be enjoying His company and using the time that He has given us to wait EXPECTANTLY, and learn more from Him.
I have been trying to learn how to wait upon the Lord, with anticipation. Knowing in my heart that God will perform His word. God doesn't know how to lie. He loves us and knows what is best for us, we just need to trust in Him and learn to have patients.
Prevail - 1. To win control: triumph. 2. To be effective: succeed. 3. To be common or frequent: predominate. 4. To be in force or in use: persist. To persuade successfully.
Faith - 1. Belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of someone or something. 2. Loyalty or allegiance. 3. Belief and trust in God. Religious conviction. A system of religious beliefs.
Faithful - 1. Supportive: loyal 2. Worthy of trust or belief. 3. Consistent with fact.
Trust - 1. Firm reliance in the honesty, dependability, strength, or character of someone or something. 2. One in which faith or confidence is placed. 3. Care: custody. 4. Something given into one's care for the benefit or interest of another: charge 5.Reliance on something in the future: hope 6. To have or place confidence in: rely 7. To be confident: hope 8. To believe 9. To entrust.
Hope - 1. To want or wish for with a feeling of confident expectation. 2. A wish or desire accompanied by expectation of its fulfillment.
Confidence - 1. Reliance or trust. 2. A trusting relationship.
Expectation - 1. The act or state of expecting. 2. Eager anticiptation for something coming.
Reliance - Confident: trust
Prepare - 1. To make or get ready for some purpose, task, or event.
Now what I got from this was.....
In order to have prevailing faith in God are we....
Having faith in God without wavering?
Trusting that He is faithful to what He has promised?
Relying solely upon Him?
Having a confidence that He is able to perform those desires?
I don't know, to me, when I read the definitions I really felt God in those meanings. We just need to keep our eyes on the Lord and not worry about other things.
That is hard to say and do when you are faced with such a gigantic mountain in your face. But God does not lie and He will do what He says. We get in a hurry but God says "Not in your time, but mine." His ways are better than ours. Sometimes I think we feel like God maybe testing us. In some cases that may be it, He may be testing our faith. But other times I think it is because we get so impatient and we are wanting God to move now.We are trying to rush God when we should just be enjoying His company and using the time that He has given us to wait EXPECTANTLY, and learn more from Him.
I have been trying to learn how to wait upon the Lord, with anticipation. Knowing in my heart that God will perform His word. God doesn't know how to lie. He loves us and knows what is best for us, we just need to trust in Him and learn to have patients.
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