Sunday, January 31, 2016
Take a Stand
Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened. ~ -Billy Graham
Scripture:
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6 (New International Version)
So often in our quest to be accepted by the world, we begin to accept what the world accepts. Stop it! Take A Stand! We will go against everything we know to be true, to satisfy this intense search for acceptance by man and by the world. Don’t do it! Take a Stand!
Over the course of time, because we put our own needs and desires before what God wants for us, we are creating a problem that continues to perpetuate itself in each and every new relationship that we form. We are creating and establishing new generational curses for our descendants. We are crippling our children just to satisfy our own personal selfishness. We lose just a little bit more of our salvation with each new generation; because we have become so far removed from what God intended for our lives to be about.
Too often those things that others in this world accept as their reality destroy our choices and our belief system. Sex and not love is exploited everywhere. Things that we should find insulting and demeaning to us as women, are just overlooked for the sake of free speech.
Things that should only be shared between a husband and his wife are shared with the whole world watching including our children. In our quest to become more informed and more technologically advanced, we leave out a very important ingredient. Morality.
Even our children who are raised in the church must begin their battles earlier and earlier in life as they are faced with issues that no adult, and certainly no child should have to face. How do you explain to your little one who looks up to those in authority not to trust anyone, including those in the church, in their own family, in their schools, and even the police, for fear of what might happen.
How do we explain to our daughters and sons that sex does not equal love and it’s not about self gratification but more importantly that they learn to give love through their actions and concern for others. How do we tell them that being a parent means more than creating a child and then being unable to give that child the emotional support that it needs. That it is not about the clothes on their backs, but the content of ones character that defines who they really are.
How do we explain to our children that life is just a fleeting moment but eternity is forever?
If we won’t take a Stand, who will?
Be blessed and be a blessing
Prayer:
Father, I come once again asking that you would forgive me of my sins. I have done things that I know were not acceptable to you, unaware that others were watching and learning from me. Forgive me Lord, for leading others astray. Father, teach me to walk in your word, to be a living testimony to you and not to the sins of this world. Father, may the things that I do and say be acceptable in your sight. May others see you light shining in me. Teach me Lord to hide your word in my heart. Father, we come asking that you would continue to bless your saints. Breath on us Lord, cleansing us, renewing your power and your strength within us and healing us. Bless your name Lord. We thank you Lord as we ask and submit our prayers in the Blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Scripture:
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6 (New International Version)
So often in our quest to be accepted by the world, we begin to accept what the world accepts. Stop it! Take A Stand! We will go against everything we know to be true, to satisfy this intense search for acceptance by man and by the world. Don’t do it! Take a Stand!
Over the course of time, because we put our own needs and desires before what God wants for us, we are creating a problem that continues to perpetuate itself in each and every new relationship that we form. We are creating and establishing new generational curses for our descendants. We are crippling our children just to satisfy our own personal selfishness. We lose just a little bit more of our salvation with each new generation; because we have become so far removed from what God intended for our lives to be about.
Too often those things that others in this world accept as their reality destroy our choices and our belief system. Sex and not love is exploited everywhere. Things that we should find insulting and demeaning to us as women, are just overlooked for the sake of free speech.
Things that should only be shared between a husband and his wife are shared with the whole world watching including our children. In our quest to become more informed and more technologically advanced, we leave out a very important ingredient. Morality.
Even our children who are raised in the church must begin their battles earlier and earlier in life as they are faced with issues that no adult, and certainly no child should have to face. How do you explain to your little one who looks up to those in authority not to trust anyone, including those in the church, in their own family, in their schools, and even the police, for fear of what might happen.
How do we explain to our daughters and sons that sex does not equal love and it’s not about self gratification but more importantly that they learn to give love through their actions and concern for others. How do we tell them that being a parent means more than creating a child and then being unable to give that child the emotional support that it needs. That it is not about the clothes on their backs, but the content of ones character that defines who they really are.
How do we explain to our children that life is just a fleeting moment but eternity is forever?
If we won’t take a Stand, who will?
Be blessed and be a blessing
Prayer:
Father, I come once again asking that you would forgive me of my sins. I have done things that I know were not acceptable to you, unaware that others were watching and learning from me. Forgive me Lord, for leading others astray. Father, teach me to walk in your word, to be a living testimony to you and not to the sins of this world. Father, may the things that I do and say be acceptable in your sight. May others see you light shining in me. Teach me Lord to hide your word in my heart. Father, we come asking that you would continue to bless your saints. Breath on us Lord, cleansing us, renewing your power and your strength within us and healing us. Bless your name Lord. We thank you Lord as we ask and submit our prayers in the Blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Learning to Pause
Learn to pause ... or nothing worthwhile will catch up to you. ~ Doug King
Scripture:
I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:1-3 (New International Version)
I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:1-3 (New International Version)
So often we find ourselves running through life, going from one place to another in search of something or someone that will fulfill us and make us happy. We start as children sprinting into our teenaged years. Looking for our next milestone, thirteen, sixteen, eighteen and then finally, twenty-one; expecting something miraculous to happen that will change our lives. We can’t wait until we are grown and on our own.
Then we find ourselves in search of love; looking for that special someone who will fulfill all of our fairy-tale dreams in the hopes of living happily ever after. In the meantime, we run towards the right education, job, car, neighborhood, and the world around us continues to churn, as we search for the things that are supposed to make us content.
Somewhere down life’s road, we begin to realize that neither people nor things can truly fulfill us or make us happy. So we often find that we have been running around in circles, searching, waiting, wondering, when will it happen for us.
We find ourselves so busy running after things, that we forget to just pause and appreciate where we are right now. I often reflect back on “The good old days” when life seemed to be less complicated and realize that I am the one who complicated it looking for that “something” to complete me. It wasn't until I realized that the only thing that could truly complete me was God that I learned to pause and live in the moment.
So my friends, today I urge you to pause and let something good catch up to you.
Be blessed and be a blessing
Prayer:
Father, too often I found myself looking for that something or someone that I thought would make me happy. I looked high and low but couldn’t find it anywhere. It wasn’t until You found me that my life began to change. Thank You Lord, for finding me in the slimy pits of life. Thank You father for placing my feet on solid rock, giving me a firm place to stand. Thank You Lord for reaching down and reaching out Your hand to me. Lord, thank You for loving me enough by giving me the gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus. Now Lord, I ask that You would continue to bless those who come seeking a word of encouragement. Speak to our hearts Holy Spirit. Helping us to always be mindful to pause, and enjoy the moment in Christ Jesus. We love You Lord, we bless Your name. We give thanks, glory, honor and praise; in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Father, too often I found myself looking for that something or someone that I thought would make me happy. I looked high and low but couldn’t find it anywhere. It wasn’t until You found me that my life began to change. Thank You Lord, for finding me in the slimy pits of life. Thank You father for placing my feet on solid rock, giving me a firm place to stand. Thank You Lord for reaching down and reaching out Your hand to me. Lord, thank You for loving me enough by giving me the gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus. Now Lord, I ask that You would continue to bless those who come seeking a word of encouragement. Speak to our hearts Holy Spirit. Helping us to always be mindful to pause, and enjoy the moment in Christ Jesus. We love You Lord, we bless Your name. We give thanks, glory, honor and praise; in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Encourage Yourself
Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice. ~ Wayne Dyer
Scripture:
From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:20-21 (New International Version)
So often, many of us will go through life singing that song. You know the one; woe is me. When things in our life start going wrong we want to throw a pity party. We want others to help us resolve our problems or at the very least, give us a word of encouragement. What we fail to realize is that sometimes we have to resolve our own problems and situations by speaking of our victories.
I for one know that when we are faced with insurmountable pressures, we begin to buckle. We look to others for stabilization. We want others to understand our problems and what we are going through. Unfortunately, rarely do we receive from others what we want or need. We become discouraged and will often find ourselves standing alone in a corner, trapped by paralyzing fear and despair. We want to get mad at our family and friends because they aren’t there for us. Well today I want each and every one of you to know that when the world won’t give you a word of encouragement, we must learn to encourage ourselves.
Today’s word reminds us that there is power in the tongue. We have the power to speak life and death into each and every situation we are faced with. We are reminded of this time and time again via the word of God. When we start speaking life into our dead situations, we can start to see them move. We will begin to see the manifestation of our words in action via the indisputable word of God. When we say to that mountain to move, it moves. Not because of who we are but rather because of whose we are.
No matter what we may be going through or who is willing to stand with us, know that we already have the victory through Christ Jesus.
Be blessed and be a blessing
Sometimes you have to encourage yourself.
Sometimes you have to speak victory during the test.
And no matter how you feel,
speak the word and you will be healed;
speak over yourself,
encourage yourself in the Lord.
Prayer:
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Father God, we enter into Your gates with praise and thanksgiving on our tongues and in our hearts. Lord, we thank You for Your faithfulness. We thank You for new mercies with the dawning of a new day. We thank You for the blessings we receive each and every day. We thank You Lord, for walking with us through dangers seen and unseen. We love You for all that You are to us. Father, we ask that You would speak a word into our spirits right now, before the trials and tribulations of the day overtake us. Grant us Your peace. Grant us Your joy. Grant us Your favor. Lord, someone reading this prayer right now, needs the reassurance that everything will be alright. Someone reading this right now needs the comfort of Your loving arms wrapped around them. Someone reading this just need to know that they are not alone and that You are with us, always. Lord, we thank You for Your faithfulness. We thank You for the gift of salvation. We give thanks to Your son, who paid the price of our sins, at Calvary, in whose name we pray, Amen.
Scripture:
From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:20-21 (New International Version)
So often, many of us will go through life singing that song. You know the one; woe is me. When things in our life start going wrong we want to throw a pity party. We want others to help us resolve our problems or at the very least, give us a word of encouragement. What we fail to realize is that sometimes we have to resolve our own problems and situations by speaking of our victories.
I for one know that when we are faced with insurmountable pressures, we begin to buckle. We look to others for stabilization. We want others to understand our problems and what we are going through. Unfortunately, rarely do we receive from others what we want or need. We become discouraged and will often find ourselves standing alone in a corner, trapped by paralyzing fear and despair. We want to get mad at our family and friends because they aren’t there for us. Well today I want each and every one of you to know that when the world won’t give you a word of encouragement, we must learn to encourage ourselves.
Today’s word reminds us that there is power in the tongue. We have the power to speak life and death into each and every situation we are faced with. We are reminded of this time and time again via the word of God. When we start speaking life into our dead situations, we can start to see them move. We will begin to see the manifestation of our words in action via the indisputable word of God. When we say to that mountain to move, it moves. Not because of who we are but rather because of whose we are.
No matter what we may be going through or who is willing to stand with us, know that we already have the victory through Christ Jesus.
Be blessed and be a blessing
Sometimes you have to encourage yourself.
Sometimes you have to speak victory during the test.
And no matter how you feel,
speak the word and you will be healed;
speak over yourself,
encourage yourself in the Lord.
Prayer:
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Father God, we enter into Your gates with praise and thanksgiving on our tongues and in our hearts. Lord, we thank You for Your faithfulness. We thank You for new mercies with the dawning of a new day. We thank You for the blessings we receive each and every day. We thank You Lord, for walking with us through dangers seen and unseen. We love You for all that You are to us. Father, we ask that You would speak a word into our spirits right now, before the trials and tribulations of the day overtake us. Grant us Your peace. Grant us Your joy. Grant us Your favor. Lord, someone reading this prayer right now, needs the reassurance that everything will be alright. Someone reading this right now needs the comfort of Your loving arms wrapped around them. Someone reading this just need to know that they are not alone and that You are with us, always. Lord, we thank You for Your faithfulness. We thank You for the gift of salvation. We give thanks to Your son, who paid the price of our sins, at Calvary, in whose name we pray, Amen.
Saturday, January 02, 2016
The "What IF" Factor
A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and the unknown. ~ Denis Waitley
Scripture:
through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 2 Corinthians 6:8-10 (New International Version)
As a writer, I am often asked; how do I come up with story ideas? My response is by watching the world around me. I’m sure most of you have heard that truth, or real life is sometimes stranger than fiction. Even the most mundane situation can become interesting by asking the question; What if?
What if the world in which we live was colored by the realization that our reality or life as we know it is determined by our thoughts and actions? What if the world as we know it could be changed in an instant by looking at or examining how things could possibly change or be changed by the “what if” factor?
Many of us would like to believe that our destinies have been pre-determined by where we were born, how we were raised and how much education we may or may not have obtained. Many fail to realize that the outcome of our lives can and could be so very different if we decide to make certain life altering choices.
As I thought about today’s message, I was reminded of the Apostle Paul, one of the most notable of early Christian missionaries. Paul's belief in Jesus as the son of God and as the Savior of mankind dramatically changed the course of his life and ours. His conversion from that of Jew hunter to a disciple of Christ happened during a life-changing experience one day on the road to Damascus.
Now many would say that Saul of Tarsus had no choice when it came to his conversion. However, I would like to pose the question; What if? What if Saul hadn’t been on the road that day and hadn’t been stricken with blindness? What if Saul hadn’t been converted? What if Paul has decided to choose another path in life other than that of an Apostle to the Gentiles? Where would you and I be?
What many of us fail it realize it that life is full of choices and there is always a “What if” factor. We make the decision on which road or path we will follow in this life. Just like Saul did that day on the road to Damascus and Just like Jesus the Christ did when he chose to die so that you and I can live.
So today I ask you; What if we didn’t have a Savior who died for our sins?
Be blessed and be a blessing
Prayer:
Father God, so many times in this life, we are faced with hard choices to make. You, have even given us the freedom to choose life over death and all we have to do is accept that Jesus Christ, our intercessor, died so that we could live. We believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths our belief that He died so that we could come before the throne of grace and ask for forgiveness. Thank You Father, for giving us that choice. So many times we allow the world to dictate our choices instead of bringing our worries and problems to You alone. We sometimes don’t see the blessings in our situations because we fail to see that even in our downcast states, we are still been blessed. Forgive us Lord, for taking our blessings for granted. Lord, forgive me for failing to sometimes make the right choice. Father God, continue to bless us, care for us and watch over us. Touch our family and friends who are faced with hard choices today. Help us all to say that we have a choice and today, we choose life. Thank You for the freedom to choose and for Your Son who chose to become a living sacrifice. It is in His name that we submit this prayer. Amen.
Scripture:
through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 2 Corinthians 6:8-10 (New International Version)
As a writer, I am often asked; how do I come up with story ideas? My response is by watching the world around me. I’m sure most of you have heard that truth, or real life is sometimes stranger than fiction. Even the most mundane situation can become interesting by asking the question; What if?
What if the world in which we live was colored by the realization that our reality or life as we know it is determined by our thoughts and actions? What if the world as we know it could be changed in an instant by looking at or examining how things could possibly change or be changed by the “what if” factor?
Many of us would like to believe that our destinies have been pre-determined by where we were born, how we were raised and how much education we may or may not have obtained. Many fail to realize that the outcome of our lives can and could be so very different if we decide to make certain life altering choices.
As I thought about today’s message, I was reminded of the Apostle Paul, one of the most notable of early Christian missionaries. Paul's belief in Jesus as the son of God and as the Savior of mankind dramatically changed the course of his life and ours. His conversion from that of Jew hunter to a disciple of Christ happened during a life-changing experience one day on the road to Damascus.
Now many would say that Saul of Tarsus had no choice when it came to his conversion. However, I would like to pose the question; What if? What if Saul hadn’t been on the road that day and hadn’t been stricken with blindness? What if Saul hadn’t been converted? What if Paul has decided to choose another path in life other than that of an Apostle to the Gentiles? Where would you and I be?
What many of us fail it realize it that life is full of choices and there is always a “What if” factor. We make the decision on which road or path we will follow in this life. Just like Saul did that day on the road to Damascus and Just like Jesus the Christ did when he chose to die so that you and I can live.
So today I ask you; What if we didn’t have a Savior who died for our sins?
Be blessed and be a blessing
Prayer:
Father God, so many times in this life, we are faced with hard choices to make. You, have even given us the freedom to choose life over death and all we have to do is accept that Jesus Christ, our intercessor, died so that we could live. We believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths our belief that He died so that we could come before the throne of grace and ask for forgiveness. Thank You Father, for giving us that choice. So many times we allow the world to dictate our choices instead of bringing our worries and problems to You alone. We sometimes don’t see the blessings in our situations because we fail to see that even in our downcast states, we are still been blessed. Forgive us Lord, for taking our blessings for granted. Lord, forgive me for failing to sometimes make the right choice. Father God, continue to bless us, care for us and watch over us. Touch our family and friends who are faced with hard choices today. Help us all to say that we have a choice and today, we choose life. Thank You for the freedom to choose and for Your Son who chose to become a living sacrifice. It is in His name that we submit this prayer. Amen.
