Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Have you ever gone outside and the sun wasn’t shining? Do you recall a time when at sunrise, you couldn’t see the sun creeping the horizon? Nope. Ever since God said let there be light and said it was good, the sun hasn’t stopped producing. As a matter of fact, it hasn’t stopped producing light since it received instructions the first time.
Have you ever thought about the phrase, “the sky is falling.” It is simply a euphemism because since God separated the firmament above form the firmament beneath, the sky hasn’t moved. Likewise, when God told Abraham his seed would be blessed and increase exceedingly, even in slavery in Egypt that word kept producing. The bible says they lived in Egypt and grew exceedingly. When God gives a word, it keeps producing until told otherwise.
In Isaiah, God said, “so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper (progress, succeed), [in the thing] whereto I sent it.” That means that whatever God said about a thing, a person, position, or situation, that word will succeed to what is assigned to. God called the children of Israel blessed. So in Numbers 22:12 when Balaam was hired to curse the Children of Israel. God told him he could not because He said they were blessed. When God showed Joseph what he said about his brothers serving him, through slavery, false imprisonment, distance, and deceit, what God said still came to pass. Joseph’s brothers bowed to him and begin to serve him. When the Centurion sought Jesus about his sick servant, the Centurion told Jesus to speak the word. Why? Because the Centurion understood authority and the power of Jesus and His word. In that same hour that Jesus spoke and the Centurion believed, the servant was healed. It accomplished what it was sent to do.
I want to encourage you that if you have received a word directly, or you believe the words already spoken, believe it because it will come to pass. It will accomplish what it was sent to do. No matter the trial, test, setback, set off, distraction, plot, plan, ploy, trick, mess up, mistake, or work….. though it tarries, wait for it, for it will surely come to pass (Habakkuk 2:3). When God speaks everyone in the cosmos hears it. And if they are wise enough to adhere to it, then so should you.
Read More Like These at http://h23livingeverydaylife.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
WAIT for it
WAIT FOR IT!
Reference Reading
Psalms 27:4 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
We live in such a Microwave Age. Everything has to be done NOW. We have to eat now, fall in love now, get everything we want NOW, and if we serve God he has to do everything NOW. The concept of waiting is foreign and drives most of us to a point of frustration. Even as I was gathering info to type this piece, the internet was draaaagging. A whole 7 seconds for my page to pop up almost made me, shut down and restart my computer (which by the way would have taken me at least 3-5 min). If I didn’t have 7 seconds, how was adding 3-5 minutes with the “hopes” that it would make it go faster save me anything? Well it didn’t. And for most of us our band-aid quick fix solutions to our life issues, only ends up costing more time and resources. We allow our appetites and fears drive us to go for the easy route because we don’t want to wait. It took time to get to where you are and wit will take time for you to get to where you want to go. The question is how do you want to spend that time? In fear and anxiety? Or in peace and faith? Either way you are going to have to WAIT.
Wait on the Lord, in Psalms 27 is Qavah, translated look for or hope for, to look eagerly for, to lie in wait for. Sounds like an antonym to our understanding of WAIT. We think wait means NO, or you’re not getting it, or you’re not ready for it. So one of two things happen, you get depressed and pray out of fear and out of sorrow because you think you have been denied. Or you prep yourself; go through all these rituals of preparation thinking that will speed up the blessing or answer. In my Madea voice, “Sat DOWN!” and WAIT. And don’t wait moping, stressing, fearing, pacing. WAIT and be of GOOD COURAGE. That means – be strong, courageous, firm, resolute. Not whiny, crying, frantic, depressed, dejected, and down trodden.
When we (people who believe God IS and KNOW God IS), WAIT, we are to be like the Buckingham Palace guards. On the outside they look like they cannot be moved. It is a tourist’s challenge to do as much as you can to try and distract them and get them to move. But they have built a reputation on their stellar ability to NOT BE MOVED no matter what is going. However underneath the uniform and outward decorative appearance, is a beating heart, a keen mind, instinct, and a highly trained guardsman eagerly awaiting for the appointed time. The only thing that moves them is a threat on the palace or their appointed time to move. They look like decorations but they will destroy you before you can take two steps beyond the line. The only thing that should move you is a threat on what you are charged to protect or your appointed time to move.
When you WAIT - eagerly expect God to do it, and be of good courage – firm resolute, it say HE will strengthen your heart and HE will exalt you, and HE will save you. (Psalms 27:14, Psalms 37:34, Proverbs 20:22). God gives provision when he has you planted somewhere to wait. He sent the children of Israel water first, then manna, then when that wasn’t enough he sent them quail. He sent Elijah to the brook to drink, then the birds brought him bread, then they brought him meat. God increased their substance while they were waiting. If you trust him, instead of fight him (do your own thing) or flight him (run from him) you will see he has provision for you in your place of wait. And he is able and ready to increase as you need.
WAIT I SAY ON THE LORD AND BE OF GOOD COURAGE AND HE WILL STRENGTHEN YOUR HEART. Please WAIT.
Enjoy this song of encouragement by Marvin Sapp, Not the Time or the Place.
Reference Reading
Psalms 27:4 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
We live in such a Microwave Age. Everything has to be done NOW. We have to eat now, fall in love now, get everything we want NOW, and if we serve God he has to do everything NOW. The concept of waiting is foreign and drives most of us to a point of frustration. Even as I was gathering info to type this piece, the internet was draaaagging. A whole 7 seconds for my page to pop up almost made me, shut down and restart my computer (which by the way would have taken me at least 3-5 min). If I didn’t have 7 seconds, how was adding 3-5 minutes with the “hopes” that it would make it go faster save me anything? Well it didn’t. And for most of us our band-aid quick fix solutions to our life issues, only ends up costing more time and resources. We allow our appetites and fears drive us to go for the easy route because we don’t want to wait. It took time to get to where you are and wit will take time for you to get to where you want to go. The question is how do you want to spend that time? In fear and anxiety? Or in peace and faith? Either way you are going to have to WAIT.
Wait on the Lord, in Psalms 27 is Qavah, translated look for or hope for, to look eagerly for, to lie in wait for. Sounds like an antonym to our understanding of WAIT. We think wait means NO, or you’re not getting it, or you’re not ready for it. So one of two things happen, you get depressed and pray out of fear and out of sorrow because you think you have been denied. Or you prep yourself; go through all these rituals of preparation thinking that will speed up the blessing or answer. In my Madea voice, “Sat DOWN!” and WAIT. And don’t wait moping, stressing, fearing, pacing. WAIT and be of GOOD COURAGE. That means – be strong, courageous, firm, resolute. Not whiny, crying, frantic, depressed, dejected, and down trodden.
When we (people who believe God IS and KNOW God IS), WAIT, we are to be like the Buckingham Palace guards. On the outside they look like they cannot be moved. It is a tourist’s challenge to do as much as you can to try and distract them and get them to move. But they have built a reputation on their stellar ability to NOT BE MOVED no matter what is going. However underneath the uniform and outward decorative appearance, is a beating heart, a keen mind, instinct, and a highly trained guardsman eagerly awaiting for the appointed time. The only thing that moves them is a threat on the palace or their appointed time to move. They look like decorations but they will destroy you before you can take two steps beyond the line. The only thing that should move you is a threat on what you are charged to protect or your appointed time to move.
When you WAIT - eagerly expect God to do it, and be of good courage – firm resolute, it say HE will strengthen your heart and HE will exalt you, and HE will save you. (Psalms 27:14, Psalms 37:34, Proverbs 20:22). God gives provision when he has you planted somewhere to wait. He sent the children of Israel water first, then manna, then when that wasn’t enough he sent them quail. He sent Elijah to the brook to drink, then the birds brought him bread, then they brought him meat. God increased their substance while they were waiting. If you trust him, instead of fight him (do your own thing) or flight him (run from him) you will see he has provision for you in your place of wait. And he is able and ready to increase as you need.
WAIT I SAY ON THE LORD AND BE OF GOOD COURAGE AND HE WILL STRENGTHEN YOUR HEART. Please WAIT.
Enjoy this song of encouragement by Marvin Sapp, Not the Time or the Place.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Secret Faults
Reference Reading: Psalms 19:7-14
Psa 19:12 Who can understand [his] errors? cleanse thou me from secret [faults].
The word cleanse translated means empty, free, purify. The word secret is translated hide, conceal, or cover up. So in essence the psalmist is asking God to empty, free, and purify me from the things I HIDE, CONCEAL, COVER UP.
How many secret faults do we carry? How many sins (the things that causes us to stumble) do we hide? The things we do in secret that no one knows. The things we struggle with that we don’t tell anyone about. Not the big sins that others can see but the secret sins that those close to you or that know you, don’t ever get to see. The stumbling that keeps you up at night, the stumbling that makes you wait until everyone is sleep, the stumbling that you do alone because you don’t want anyone to see. The stumbling you only do with a select circle because you don’t want others you respect or that respect you to know. The stumbling that actually makes you feel ashamed and convicted because you know it’s not right.
Here is the problem. We can go to church or go through some at the moment event and think we are free, but we don’t realize the more we engulf ourselves in those faults, the more we taint, stain, and convolute our souls. We also don’t realize that he more we continue in those actions, the more we entangle ourselves and bind ourselves to those things, people, places, habits, and actions.
In Psalms 19:7, the word soul, actually means your life, being, mind, desires, and appetite. Your life, your mind, and your appetite have to be changed in order for you to experience true freedom. Like an addict or a person with a disease related to diet. They must first DETOX their bodies in order to begin a true healing and recovery process.
There are people who have diabetes, that have actually been healed from it, by simply changing their diets. When a person is first diagnosed with the common form of diabetes, the first thing they are told is that they have to change their diets. Then they are given classes and materials to help educate them on how to make better food choices. It’s one thing to eat right while you’re in the hospital, but it’s a different monster to eat right when you’re home alone, and there is no diet being forced upon you.
In that same verse, it says, "the law of the Lord is perfect," which really means the instruction and direction of God is sound, whole, and complete for the converting- turning back or returning, of your soul. To be free, you have to allow the instruction and direction of God to turn your life, mind, desires, and appetite back. The word, prayer, and counsel will help you learn the tools necessary to change your life, mind, and appetite.
That’s why he said CLEANSE me – empty, free, purify me. It’s those hidden things, those soul ties that keep us bound to habits, people, places and things that we should owe no loyalty to. Check the children of Israel. They were freed from the physical, slavery, but their souls were still tied to Egypt. In their hearts they concealed, and hid their love for Egypt. Everyone that walked out of Egypt wasn’t happy to leave. Some of them got comfortable being one of Pharaoh’s workers, handmaids, sex slaves, musicians, bakers, soldiers, etc. They liked the privileges of their roles. They got used to that appetite. That’s why they said I’d rather have garlic and onions with a whip on my back, than to eat bread from heaven FREE. How else could they sit there and watch God perform the greatest miracle their eyes had ever seen and still strip naked bow down to a idol.
DON’T JUDGE THEM. How many times has God performed miracles for you and come through for you, and you still end up in your concealed, hidden, covered sins?
God wants to heal you for real. Like the diabetes patient, you don’t have to struggle with this all your life. And you don’t have to die from complications of the secret faults. Allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse you of your secret faults. Be like Namaan and keep dipping yourself until you come up clean. Keep following the instruction and direction of God until your life, mind, and desires, and appetite are turned back to the way God intended.
Be like the psalmist in this chapter, and ask God not to allow “presumptuous sins” – arrogance, pride, insolence to have rule over you. God is giving us ALL an opportunity to come before him in His secret place to be cleansed, freed, and the reproach taken away from our names. Take advantage of this season. For when it is passed, things will be revealed and uncovered, and those secret faults will be secret no more.
Dr. Cindy Trimm, world renowned Prophetess, Prayer Warrior, and Kingdom Teacher will be hosting a 40 day Soul Fast. For more information or to participate, click the link below: http://www.trimminternational.com/readmore/thepower/soulfast.html
Psa 19:12 Who can understand [his] errors? cleanse thou me from secret [faults].
The word cleanse translated means empty, free, purify. The word secret is translated hide, conceal, or cover up. So in essence the psalmist is asking God to empty, free, and purify me from the things I HIDE, CONCEAL, COVER UP.
How many secret faults do we carry? How many sins (the things that causes us to stumble) do we hide? The things we do in secret that no one knows. The things we struggle with that we don’t tell anyone about. Not the big sins that others can see but the secret sins that those close to you or that know you, don’t ever get to see. The stumbling that keeps you up at night, the stumbling that makes you wait until everyone is sleep, the stumbling that you do alone because you don’t want anyone to see. The stumbling you only do with a select circle because you don’t want others you respect or that respect you to know. The stumbling that actually makes you feel ashamed and convicted because you know it’s not right.
Here is the problem. We can go to church or go through some at the moment event and think we are free, but we don’t realize the more we engulf ourselves in those faults, the more we taint, stain, and convolute our souls. We also don’t realize that he more we continue in those actions, the more we entangle ourselves and bind ourselves to those things, people, places, habits, and actions.
In Psalms 19:7, the word soul, actually means your life, being, mind, desires, and appetite. Your life, your mind, and your appetite have to be changed in order for you to experience true freedom. Like an addict or a person with a disease related to diet. They must first DETOX their bodies in order to begin a true healing and recovery process.
There are people who have diabetes, that have actually been healed from it, by simply changing their diets. When a person is first diagnosed with the common form of diabetes, the first thing they are told is that they have to change their diets. Then they are given classes and materials to help educate them on how to make better food choices. It’s one thing to eat right while you’re in the hospital, but it’s a different monster to eat right when you’re home alone, and there is no diet being forced upon you.
In that same verse, it says, "the law of the Lord is perfect," which really means the instruction and direction of God is sound, whole, and complete for the converting- turning back or returning, of your soul. To be free, you have to allow the instruction and direction of God to turn your life, mind, desires, and appetite back. The word, prayer, and counsel will help you learn the tools necessary to change your life, mind, and appetite.
That’s why he said CLEANSE me – empty, free, purify me. It’s those hidden things, those soul ties that keep us bound to habits, people, places and things that we should owe no loyalty to. Check the children of Israel. They were freed from the physical, slavery, but their souls were still tied to Egypt. In their hearts they concealed, and hid their love for Egypt. Everyone that walked out of Egypt wasn’t happy to leave. Some of them got comfortable being one of Pharaoh’s workers, handmaids, sex slaves, musicians, bakers, soldiers, etc. They liked the privileges of their roles. They got used to that appetite. That’s why they said I’d rather have garlic and onions with a whip on my back, than to eat bread from heaven FREE. How else could they sit there and watch God perform the greatest miracle their eyes had ever seen and still strip naked bow down to a idol.
DON’T JUDGE THEM. How many times has God performed miracles for you and come through for you, and you still end up in your concealed, hidden, covered sins?
God wants to heal you for real. Like the diabetes patient, you don’t have to struggle with this all your life. And you don’t have to die from complications of the secret faults. Allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse you of your secret faults. Be like Namaan and keep dipping yourself until you come up clean. Keep following the instruction and direction of God until your life, mind, and desires, and appetite are turned back to the way God intended.
Be like the psalmist in this chapter, and ask God not to allow “presumptuous sins” – arrogance, pride, insolence to have rule over you. God is giving us ALL an opportunity to come before him in His secret place to be cleansed, freed, and the reproach taken away from our names. Take advantage of this season. For when it is passed, things will be revealed and uncovered, and those secret faults will be secret no more.
Dr. Cindy Trimm, world renowned Prophetess, Prayer Warrior, and Kingdom Teacher will be hosting a 40 day Soul Fast. For more information or to participate, click the link below: http://www.trimminternational.com/readmore/thepower/soulfast.html
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Where Is Your Heart In The Matter
I had an opportunity to see Fireproof, a Christian movie about marriage. In the movie the husband was tasked by his father to do a set of activities 40 days before he followed through with divorce. The activities included things he was supposed to do for his wife and scripture readings to accommodate the activities. About half way through 40 days he became very frustrated and wanted to quit…..Sounds familiar? He called his father and angrily told him that his plan was not working and he wasn’t doing it anymore. Then his father encouraged him with two very important things: One, you can’t give what you don’t’ have, and two, where is your heart in this situation?
The son realized that day 1-20 he was just doing it with no faith that it would really work. He did it so he could say , see, I did what you said and it didn’t work. While part of him had a slight inkling that it could, the heart of him believed that it really wouldn’t. This reminded me of Naaman when Elisha told him to dip in the sea 7 times, and he got angry saying “that’s your solution!” Naaman was angry for quite a few different reasons, including the fact that Elisha didn’t even come to the door, but more importantly of all the solutions he could come up with, he asked him to go dip in a dirty river! (2 Kings 5:1-14)
Like the husband in the movie, when Naaman dipped the first few times, he did it grudgingly, and believing that he was a real person he did it with a few choice words and a disgusting attitude. It wasn’t until he pushed passed how he felt and kept dipping that the change occurred. Like Naaman the husband in the movie ended up saving his marriage and being healed. There came a place where they took their eyes off the situation and begin to trust . So much that they didn’t even care if it didn’t work, they found a significant peace in surrendering and believing.
We have to transition to a place of peace in surrendering that we trust God more than our situation. Many of us act out of desperation of a thing, person, or situation rather than in total surrender to God. We make unheard of sacrifices to acquire or maintain something or someone, but won’t make those sacrifices for what really matters. In the movie, the husband was a fireman who saved people all day. He risked his life to rescue a girl, but would not put down his pride to rescue his wife. Naaman was a great soldier who risked his life to save Aram. He was willing to bring great riches for a cure, but would not but down his pride to dip in a river. Think about the sacrifices you are willing to make but when God gives you simple instructions, you rebel. He says fast you cheat, but you will work an entire 12 hour shift without taking lunch????? Where is your heart in the matter? Are you going through this Christian walk because it is socially acceptable to, or is your heart towards really walking after Him and seeing his will be done on earth as it is in heaven?
The son realized that day 1-20 he was just doing it with no faith that it would really work. He did it so he could say , see, I did what you said and it didn’t work. While part of him had a slight inkling that it could, the heart of him believed that it really wouldn’t. This reminded me of Naaman when Elisha told him to dip in the sea 7 times, and he got angry saying “that’s your solution!” Naaman was angry for quite a few different reasons, including the fact that Elisha didn’t even come to the door, but more importantly of all the solutions he could come up with, he asked him to go dip in a dirty river! (2 Kings 5:1-14)
Like the husband in the movie, when Naaman dipped the first few times, he did it grudgingly, and believing that he was a real person he did it with a few choice words and a disgusting attitude. It wasn’t until he pushed passed how he felt and kept dipping that the change occurred. Like Naaman the husband in the movie ended up saving his marriage and being healed. There came a place where they took their eyes off the situation and begin to trust . So much that they didn’t even care if it didn’t work, they found a significant peace in surrendering and believing.
We have to transition to a place of peace in surrendering that we trust God more than our situation. Many of us act out of desperation of a thing, person, or situation rather than in total surrender to God. We make unheard of sacrifices to acquire or maintain something or someone, but won’t make those sacrifices for what really matters. In the movie, the husband was a fireman who saved people all day. He risked his life to rescue a girl, but would not put down his pride to rescue his wife. Naaman was a great soldier who risked his life to save Aram. He was willing to bring great riches for a cure, but would not but down his pride to dip in a river. Think about the sacrifices you are willing to make but when God gives you simple instructions, you rebel. He says fast you cheat, but you will work an entire 12 hour shift without taking lunch????? Where is your heart in the matter? Are you going through this Christian walk because it is socially acceptable to, or is your heart towards really walking after Him and seeing his will be done on earth as it is in heaven?
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Character Challenge
Character Challenge: Find one person who you normally don't speak to and genuinely ask them how their day is going? Wait for a response, and respond positively.
You never know where a person is in life, a simple hello and smile, or the feeling that someone genuinely cares, can change a person's day or world.
You never know where a person is in life, a simple hello and smile, or the feeling that someone genuinely cares, can change a person's day or world.
Monday, June 14, 2010
What Do You KNOW?
It is said that the mind is the most powerful tool. However I recently learned it’s not just the mind, the head, the conscious entity, but it is also the heart, the subconscious entity that rules. Brian Klemmer, an International Leadership and Character Development trainer, explained in one of his trainings that if the heart doesn’t agree with the mind, you can know something and still not do it. The word know as it often used is used being “aware” or “to have knowledge of,” that is head knowledge. But when the bible speaks of know, it means to know by experience, revealed, or made acquaintance with, which means to know by head and heart. This term is often used in the bible to explain sex, because it is an intimate understanding of something that comes in and goes out, exchanged, and experienced.
How many people know how to eat right, but don’t? How many people know the relationship is unhealthy but stay? How many people know the activity is illegal but do it anyway? How many people really believe they are who God called them to be and act like it? When you know something, not just aware of it, but have become acquainted with it, it has been revealed, perceived and imbedded inside you act on it. When you knew in your mind and heart that Christ was Lord, you acted on it, you got saved.
The goal of the enemy in this hour is to challenge what we know. That’s why the scripture says, FORGET NOT THE LORD….and FORGET NOT HIS BENEFITS. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, (Matthew 4:1-11), the first the devil said was, “If thou be the Son of God….” Jesus was hungry, tired, stressed, and by alone, and the first thing the enemy says if you are who you say you are, then feed yourself. But Jesus knew (head and heart knowledge) man cannot live by bread alone. Then the devil said to Jesus you know (head knowledge) if you through yourself off this mountain you won’t die angels will run to your rescue. But Jesus knew not to tempt God. The devil knew who Jesus was and Jesus knew who the devil was, and in his final temptation he said look since you’ve come to be a king, I will make you king over all the kingdoms of the world if you bow down to me. But Jesus knew, that only the God was worthy of worship and his purpose was to be King over more than this world. Furthermore, he knew that this tough time was but for a little while to fulfill a greater purpose. So he did not give in.
The problem is many of us are aware, but we don’t know. If you know God is your provider, then a job loss is not an end to provision or a place of hopelessness. It means that God has chose another route to provide. If you know God has plans for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you, then a deal that didn’t go through is not rejection, its protection for future woes you could not see. If you know God is a healer then a bout with sickness is just an attempt to get you off track, and you God will not allow you to die a day before your time. If you know no weapon formed against you shall prosper, then you won’t worry but trust God even to the final hour. If you know God is your peace, then you will go to sleep at night and stop stressing. The enemy wants to pressure you to give in.
I was told of the story done by a university on heart disease. They took two groups of pigs and induced heart disease on both of them. They put one group in a pen with relaxing music and in a peaceful setting. The other group was put in a pen in a stressful environment. The stress – dogs on a leash with ferocious barking. Sad to see that within weeks all the pigs in the stressful environment died. And all the pigs in the peaceful environment lived. Don’t die because of a dog on a leash. As with Job and with Jesus, the enemy can only pressure you to give up but he can do no harm to you. All he can do is occupy your mind and influence your thoughts and make you stress yourself to death. As with Eve when she was tempted he put the words in her thoughts and she went and got the fruit and ate it. It never said the serpent knocked it down, chopped it up and served it to her. She had head knowledge of what was right but her heart did now KNOW what God said so she ate it.
Now is the time to act on what you KNOW and believe with all your heart. Above all else, guard your heart with all diligence for it is the wellspring of life (Proverbs 4:23, NIV). If you guard your heart it can agree with your head and you will live your life as if you KNOW who you are, whose you are, what you can do, what you have access to, and what His plan is for you. If you know in your head but are having trouble knowing in your heart, ask God to reveal to your heart what you know in your head.
Enjoy this song by William McDowell, I Give Myself Away.
How many people know how to eat right, but don’t? How many people know the relationship is unhealthy but stay? How many people know the activity is illegal but do it anyway? How many people really believe they are who God called them to be and act like it? When you know something, not just aware of it, but have become acquainted with it, it has been revealed, perceived and imbedded inside you act on it. When you knew in your mind and heart that Christ was Lord, you acted on it, you got saved.
The goal of the enemy in this hour is to challenge what we know. That’s why the scripture says, FORGET NOT THE LORD….and FORGET NOT HIS BENEFITS. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, (Matthew 4:1-11), the first the devil said was, “If thou be the Son of God….” Jesus was hungry, tired, stressed, and by alone, and the first thing the enemy says if you are who you say you are, then feed yourself. But Jesus knew (head and heart knowledge) man cannot live by bread alone. Then the devil said to Jesus you know (head knowledge) if you through yourself off this mountain you won’t die angels will run to your rescue. But Jesus knew not to tempt God. The devil knew who Jesus was and Jesus knew who the devil was, and in his final temptation he said look since you’ve come to be a king, I will make you king over all the kingdoms of the world if you bow down to me. But Jesus knew, that only the God was worthy of worship and his purpose was to be King over more than this world. Furthermore, he knew that this tough time was but for a little while to fulfill a greater purpose. So he did not give in.
The problem is many of us are aware, but we don’t know. If you know God is your provider, then a job loss is not an end to provision or a place of hopelessness. It means that God has chose another route to provide. If you know God has plans for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you, then a deal that didn’t go through is not rejection, its protection for future woes you could not see. If you know God is a healer then a bout with sickness is just an attempt to get you off track, and you God will not allow you to die a day before your time. If you know no weapon formed against you shall prosper, then you won’t worry but trust God even to the final hour. If you know God is your peace, then you will go to sleep at night and stop stressing. The enemy wants to pressure you to give in.
I was told of the story done by a university on heart disease. They took two groups of pigs and induced heart disease on both of them. They put one group in a pen with relaxing music and in a peaceful setting. The other group was put in a pen in a stressful environment. The stress – dogs on a leash with ferocious barking. Sad to see that within weeks all the pigs in the stressful environment died. And all the pigs in the peaceful environment lived. Don’t die because of a dog on a leash. As with Job and with Jesus, the enemy can only pressure you to give up but he can do no harm to you. All he can do is occupy your mind and influence your thoughts and make you stress yourself to death. As with Eve when she was tempted he put the words in her thoughts and she went and got the fruit and ate it. It never said the serpent knocked it down, chopped it up and served it to her. She had head knowledge of what was right but her heart did now KNOW what God said so she ate it.
Now is the time to act on what you KNOW and believe with all your heart. Above all else, guard your heart with all diligence for it is the wellspring of life (Proverbs 4:23, NIV). If you guard your heart it can agree with your head and you will live your life as if you KNOW who you are, whose you are, what you can do, what you have access to, and what His plan is for you. If you know in your head but are having trouble knowing in your heart, ask God to reveal to your heart what you know in your head.
Enjoy this song by William McDowell, I Give Myself Away.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
What Is Your Beggar's Cloak
Reference Reading Mark 10:46-52
A disability is defined as a lack of adequate power, strength, or physical or mental ability; a handicap that prevents a person from living a full, normal life, or from holding a gainful job, legal disqualification or incapacity. In the story of blind Bartimaeus, Bartimaeus had a disability that prevented him from living a full normal life and holding gainful employment. He was reduced to a beggar. And was given a garment, a beggar’s cloth to excuse his situation allow him to ask of others what he was unable to get for himself.
How many of us are like Bartimaeus. We are disabled and have a handicap that keeps us from living a normal and full life, and having gainful relationships with people. Some of us may lack power, whether spiritual or social, we lack the power to make changes and decisions in our lives. Others may be too weak. Too weak for men or women, too weak for money, too weak for drugs, too weak for power, we have become slaves to things and people because we are too weak. Some of have physical situations whether medical an actual disease or disorder or ailment, or are the victims of physical tragedies, abuse, violence, accidents, and the like. Or maybe the situation is mental, depression, fear, nightmares, pride, arrogance, selfishness, narcissism and pessimism, spiritual confusion, and so on. Either way our disabilities keep us from achieving a full life and having gainful relationships.
The garment that Bartimaeus wore was a cloak given to him to wear by the church that permitted him to be a full time beggar. How many people have been given permission to be full time beggars by a garment or cloak of an excuse. “Oh because she was abused”…… “His father wasn’t around”….. “She has been hurt in relationships” …… “It’s because he’s gifted”. Whatever the excuse or the reason, that cloak signified Bartimaeus and your excuse to stay crippled and depend on others to help you fulfill a normal full life. Without the garment he could not beg on the main street and in the marketplace. That’s why when Jesus came along and he threw it off, it was a pure act of faith believing that Jesus had the power to not only heal his sight, but also restore him to a place to live a normal life. He believed that whatever Jesus was going to do was going to give him the ability to do for himself and live the life he had been hearing all around him.
What is your beggar’s cloak. What keeps you bound to depending on people or things to live. What keeps you bound to the bedroom, bound to the bottle, bound to the pipe, bound to the pills, bound to people, bound to emotions. Throw off your beggar’s cloak and allow God to heal your disability and give you an opportunity to live a full normal life. The life you hear about from others can be the full and normal life you see happen in your own life!
Enjoy this song by Fred Hammond, Please Don’t Pass Me By. It’s Bartimeaus’ Story.
A disability is defined as a lack of adequate power, strength, or physical or mental ability; a handicap that prevents a person from living a full, normal life, or from holding a gainful job, legal disqualification or incapacity. In the story of blind Bartimaeus, Bartimaeus had a disability that prevented him from living a full normal life and holding gainful employment. He was reduced to a beggar. And was given a garment, a beggar’s cloth to excuse his situation allow him to ask of others what he was unable to get for himself.
How many of us are like Bartimaeus. We are disabled and have a handicap that keeps us from living a normal and full life, and having gainful relationships with people. Some of us may lack power, whether spiritual or social, we lack the power to make changes and decisions in our lives. Others may be too weak. Too weak for men or women, too weak for money, too weak for drugs, too weak for power, we have become slaves to things and people because we are too weak. Some of have physical situations whether medical an actual disease or disorder or ailment, or are the victims of physical tragedies, abuse, violence, accidents, and the like. Or maybe the situation is mental, depression, fear, nightmares, pride, arrogance, selfishness, narcissism and pessimism, spiritual confusion, and so on. Either way our disabilities keep us from achieving a full life and having gainful relationships.
The garment that Bartimaeus wore was a cloak given to him to wear by the church that permitted him to be a full time beggar. How many people have been given permission to be full time beggars by a garment or cloak of an excuse. “Oh because she was abused”…… “His father wasn’t around”….. “She has been hurt in relationships” …… “It’s because he’s gifted”. Whatever the excuse or the reason, that cloak signified Bartimaeus and your excuse to stay crippled and depend on others to help you fulfill a normal full life. Without the garment he could not beg on the main street and in the marketplace. That’s why when Jesus came along and he threw it off, it was a pure act of faith believing that Jesus had the power to not only heal his sight, but also restore him to a place to live a normal life. He believed that whatever Jesus was going to do was going to give him the ability to do for himself and live the life he had been hearing all around him.
What is your beggar’s cloak. What keeps you bound to depending on people or things to live. What keeps you bound to the bedroom, bound to the bottle, bound to the pipe, bound to the pills, bound to people, bound to emotions. Throw off your beggar’s cloak and allow God to heal your disability and give you an opportunity to live a full normal life. The life you hear about from others can be the full and normal life you see happen in your own life!
Enjoy this song by Fred Hammond, Please Don’t Pass Me By. It’s Bartimeaus’ Story.
Friday, February 19, 2010
The Best In Me
1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart
Marvin Sapp recently released a song, The Best In Me. The words say, “he saw the best in me. When everyone else around me could only see the worst in me.” Then the song goes on to say, “he’s mine, and I’m his, it doesn’t matter what I did. He only see me for who I am.”
This song blessed me tremendously and made me think so much of David during his first anointing. When Samuel was sent to anoint the next King over Israel, Samuel was looking for the same kind of king that he anointed the last time – a Saul like king. Samuel was so programmed with his assumed appearance of a King, that when he came upon Eliab one of Jesse’s strongest sons, God had to tell him, don’t look at his appearance, or his height, because I am have refused him. What a place: have the perfect look, the perfect height, the perfect circumstance, but be refused by God.
In this next season, it won’t be the perfect candidates by outward appearance but it will be the perfect candidates by heart! God saw David’s heart, and that’s why of all the sons of Jesse he was chosen to take Saul’s place.
David’s heart was revealed during the battle against Goliath. Saul ran, the Israelite soldiers ran. All of them that had the outward appearance to fight and win against Goliath ran. They were soldiers. They had the equipment, the title, the position, the weapons, the perfect outward appearances. But only David had the heart. He said, “I fought a bear and a lion, and this uncircumcised (unholy) philistine will be like one of them…..The Lord delivered me out of the paw of the lion and the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this philistine.”(1 Samuel 17:33-36)
David had a heart to win that battle. When everyone else ran from the challenge he ran to it. It was his experiences out there keeping the sheep that made him worthy to be KING and worthy to defeat Goliath. God knew that, and that’s why during the anointing, God saw the best in him, when everyone else around him only saw him as a ruddy, little, trouble starting, sheepkeeping boy.
What are your sheep keeping experiences? How does God see you? What is in your heart? Not that lame scapegoat, “God knows my heart” but what really does He see. For those of you who don’t have the outward appearance, be encouraged. That is not what God is looking at or for. Nor is it necessary to be anointed and promoted for your Kingly position. Everything about you, all your experiences, your gifts, your good qualities and “bad” creates the BEST IN YOU! And that’s what God sees.
Enjoy The Best In Me Video by Marvin Sapp
Marvin Sapp recently released a song, The Best In Me. The words say, “he saw the best in me. When everyone else around me could only see the worst in me.” Then the song goes on to say, “he’s mine, and I’m his, it doesn’t matter what I did. He only see me for who I am.”
This song blessed me tremendously and made me think so much of David during his first anointing. When Samuel was sent to anoint the next King over Israel, Samuel was looking for the same kind of king that he anointed the last time – a Saul like king. Samuel was so programmed with his assumed appearance of a King, that when he came upon Eliab one of Jesse’s strongest sons, God had to tell him, don’t look at his appearance, or his height, because I am have refused him. What a place: have the perfect look, the perfect height, the perfect circumstance, but be refused by God.
In this next season, it won’t be the perfect candidates by outward appearance but it will be the perfect candidates by heart! God saw David’s heart, and that’s why of all the sons of Jesse he was chosen to take Saul’s place.
David’s heart was revealed during the battle against Goliath. Saul ran, the Israelite soldiers ran. All of them that had the outward appearance to fight and win against Goliath ran. They were soldiers. They had the equipment, the title, the position, the weapons, the perfect outward appearances. But only David had the heart. He said, “I fought a bear and a lion, and this uncircumcised (unholy) philistine will be like one of them…..The Lord delivered me out of the paw of the lion and the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this philistine.”(1 Samuel 17:33-36)
David had a heart to win that battle. When everyone else ran from the challenge he ran to it. It was his experiences out there keeping the sheep that made him worthy to be KING and worthy to defeat Goliath. God knew that, and that’s why during the anointing, God saw the best in him, when everyone else around him only saw him as a ruddy, little, trouble starting, sheepkeeping boy.
What are your sheep keeping experiences? How does God see you? What is in your heart? Not that lame scapegoat, “God knows my heart” but what really does He see. For those of you who don’t have the outward appearance, be encouraged. That is not what God is looking at or for. Nor is it necessary to be anointed and promoted for your Kingly position. Everything about you, all your experiences, your gifts, your good qualities and “bad” creates the BEST IN YOU! And that’s what God sees.
Enjoy The Best In Me Video by Marvin Sapp
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Elects Can’t Focus On The Rejects
Elects Can’t Focus On The Rejects
Background Reading 2 Samuel 6
If you believe the words that have been spoken in this new season, then you should be expecting some actualization and manifestation of some promises. If you have never experienced haters or think you have had haters before, wait until they see how you praise when you are elevated to your promised place! In this reading Michal, Saul’s daughter despised David in her heart when she saw the way he went all out for God! She was a typical hater saying, “It don’t take all.” As matter of fact she went on to insult him saying how dare you act all wild like that partying like a base fellow - vulgar people.
Understand that everyone will not celebrate you during your time. Even though like David you will bless as many people as you can with your blessing, even the person hating on you. Nevertheless, you can’t please everyone. Nor is it your responsibility to. By despising David, God closed her womb; which means she was not allowed to reproduce that seed of hate. God will deal with the haters. He will cut off their ability to reproduce that seed. So you keep smiling, you keep singing, you keep jamming to your praise party! You keep producing excellent work! You keep spreading your joy! You keep the heads turning!
But when they question you and call you out. When they say you act just like the base people in the world; When they’re mad cause you the boss and they’re not even though they started before you; When your marriage works out and they can’t stand their home; When you are no longer the borrower but now you’re the lender; When you have a word and their prayers cant go past the ceiling; When everyone is nice to you and they cant pay for good service; When favor gets you the Presidential Suite and their platinum credit can’t get a room – you just say like David, “It was the Lord who chose me, It was the Lord that appointed me, So it’s the Lord who I will continue t praise!” Don’t be mad cause He didn’t work for you! But he has surely kept His word to me!
When you are the elect you cannot focus on the rejects, they will always hate on you because God made a decision and they can’t do anything about His word!
PRAISE BREAK! Click Here J Moss Psalms 150
Background Reading 2 Samuel 6
If you believe the words that have been spoken in this new season, then you should be expecting some actualization and manifestation of some promises. If you have never experienced haters or think you have had haters before, wait until they see how you praise when you are elevated to your promised place! In this reading Michal, Saul’s daughter despised David in her heart when she saw the way he went all out for God! She was a typical hater saying, “It don’t take all.” As matter of fact she went on to insult him saying how dare you act all wild like that partying like a base fellow - vulgar people.
Understand that everyone will not celebrate you during your time. Even though like David you will bless as many people as you can with your blessing, even the person hating on you. Nevertheless, you can’t please everyone. Nor is it your responsibility to. By despising David, God closed her womb; which means she was not allowed to reproduce that seed of hate. God will deal with the haters. He will cut off their ability to reproduce that seed. So you keep smiling, you keep singing, you keep jamming to your praise party! You keep producing excellent work! You keep spreading your joy! You keep the heads turning!
But when they question you and call you out. When they say you act just like the base people in the world; When they’re mad cause you the boss and they’re not even though they started before you; When your marriage works out and they can’t stand their home; When you are no longer the borrower but now you’re the lender; When you have a word and their prayers cant go past the ceiling; When everyone is nice to you and they cant pay for good service; When favor gets you the Presidential Suite and their platinum credit can’t get a room – you just say like David, “It was the Lord who chose me, It was the Lord that appointed me, So it’s the Lord who I will continue t praise!” Don’t be mad cause He didn’t work for you! But he has surely kept His word to me!
When you are the elect you cannot focus on the rejects, they will always hate on you because God made a decision and they can’t do anything about His word!
PRAISE BREAK! Click Here J Moss Psalms 150
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