I remember growing up and my mother never raised her voice. It is surprisingly, strange because it was six children and we were not the most well behaved children. I am puzzle, how one can restrain from ever going off, no matter the circumstance.
I decided to call her and ask her how she controlled herself. She replied, “I never was bothered by much and I did not allow things to get to me.”
"God has not given us a Spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (II Timothy1:7).
To have a sound mind is to have self-control. Self control is having mastery of one’s desires and impulses. “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down without walls” (Proverbs 25:28).
This scripture depicts the image of a city whose walls are just about gone. Therefore, their enemies can come in and take over the city or destroy it. A person who does not have restraint over their spirit has no defense against anger, temptation and any other emotions that will demolish their personality.
God gives us His Spirit to begin the formation to His image. As a multi-vitamin consist of multiple vitamins but packaged as one vitamin; the fruit of the Spirit is one fruit. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Each aspect of the fruit is packaged as one fruit that we need to become the spiritual image which He has created.
Can you control your emotions? Do you have power over the pitch of your voice when someone is as a glass cutting at you? Has your enemy had the upper hand?
Maybe you have been enrolled in the course of “Self-Control through the Father’s Spirit, for far too long. Perhaps you keep wondering when will get activation of my gift from the Lord.
Consider evaluating what triggers you to losing control. Don’t allow desires or impulses to control you. Ask the Father to open you whole heartedly to consume you with His Spirit. Pray that you pass the course of self control with the help of the Lord. For you have the victory.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Am I Pleasing
Recently, we had a marriage conference that the Lord blessed in a mighty way. Prior to the event, there were times I felt like I was on a roller coaster but the Lord never let me go. He never let me fall on my face. At the end, all I could think of was, “Father, did I please you?”
Couples came to me saying how blessed they were, Pastors commended me but my heart searched ‘if I pleased God.’ When all was still a warm feeling came over me and I knew that very moment, I grew, to seeking, to only please Him and not others.
As a child, I would always want to make everyone happy. I would change everything to satisfy another. Yet this time, I did exactly what the Father asked of me, no matter how insane it sounded or even looked. At last, I did what God said with a heart to please only Him.
Doing what God says can be like a roller coaster. It can start off smooth and then it can feel as if you are going up a step incline. All of a sudden a jerk and an unexpected drop that twists and turns and a flat tranquil stop, once all is done out of obedience to the Father.
I am reminded "If ye love me, you will keep my commands" (John 14:15). Loving the Father means doing what He instructs us to do. Questioning Him or delayed obedience is a form of disrespect.
I have a two year old that has a fixation with balls. He is crazy about any type of ball. The other day I told him, “Move your hands off the ball.” As his hands were stretched towards the ball, he looked at me with a grin upon his face and then he turned away from the ball. I applauded him and he came running to me and I embraced him. I was pleased that my son obeyed me.
I can see the Father looking at me, looking at you, as he gives instructions. You hear Him but do you turn away and go His way or go your own way.
Maybe, you think you can’t do what He says. Perhaps your eyes are fixed on what you have or don’t have. Possibly, you have not tapped into the unlimited resources that our God has open to your access.
Consider the abilities of God. Can you see Him carrying the cross for the mistakes you made? Can you picture Him on the cross, hanging there bleeding for the mistakes you made? Can you imagine Him rising early in the morning as the sun, so you may rise?
Allow yourself to do as He says. Pray to God to help you during the roller coaster as He instructs you. Call upon the Father to forgive you for hesitating, for not moving, for not believing the one true thing He has asked of you. This is the love of God, that we maintain his commandments
(1 John 5:2).
Couples came to me saying how blessed they were, Pastors commended me but my heart searched ‘if I pleased God.’ When all was still a warm feeling came over me and I knew that very moment, I grew, to seeking, to only please Him and not others.
As a child, I would always want to make everyone happy. I would change everything to satisfy another. Yet this time, I did exactly what the Father asked of me, no matter how insane it sounded or even looked. At last, I did what God said with a heart to please only Him.
Doing what God says can be like a roller coaster. It can start off smooth and then it can feel as if you are going up a step incline. All of a sudden a jerk and an unexpected drop that twists and turns and a flat tranquil stop, once all is done out of obedience to the Father.
I am reminded "If ye love me, you will keep my commands" (John 14:15). Loving the Father means doing what He instructs us to do. Questioning Him or delayed obedience is a form of disrespect.
I have a two year old that has a fixation with balls. He is crazy about any type of ball. The other day I told him, “Move your hands off the ball.” As his hands were stretched towards the ball, he looked at me with a grin upon his face and then he turned away from the ball. I applauded him and he came running to me and I embraced him. I was pleased that my son obeyed me.
I can see the Father looking at me, looking at you, as he gives instructions. You hear Him but do you turn away and go His way or go your own way.
Maybe, you think you can’t do what He says. Perhaps your eyes are fixed on what you have or don’t have. Possibly, you have not tapped into the unlimited resources that our God has open to your access.
Consider the abilities of God. Can you see Him carrying the cross for the mistakes you made? Can you picture Him on the cross, hanging there bleeding for the mistakes you made? Can you imagine Him rising early in the morning as the sun, so you may rise?
Allow yourself to do as He says. Pray to God to help you during the roller coaster as He instructs you. Call upon the Father to forgive you for hesitating, for not moving, for not believing the one true thing He has asked of you. This is the love of God, that we maintain his commandments
(1 John 5:2).
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Triggered
A lady is preparing for a dinner party and a friend pops up to visit. He offers his help and she explains to him, ‘soon after he can come to assist her husband with moving some tables.’ Later the friend shows up to their house and she notices three other gentlemen with him. She is not happy about the extra company, which her friend brought over. She goes on because she doesn’t have much time until the guest arrive.
They finish in a timely manner and once the dinner is over mysteriously, the friend and three other gentlemen appear. At this point the lady is puzzled. As they are cleaning up they say good- bye and once she enters the kitchen, she notices all the food is gone.
She thinks of not having anything to eat and the plans she made for the left over food. As she thinks more she concludes that her friend and uninvited guest took the food. She calls her friend and he admits to taking the food.
The lady is more furious because she has not eaten, her plans for the food are demolished and the apology her friend gave could not change the reality of the food being gone.
Anger has a way of creeping in and controlling us without permission. The lady had every right to feel as she felt but she is still responsible for controlling her anger.
This scenario gives me the impression that maybe these people were hungry and that is why they took the food. Yet it does not justify them taking it without asking nor the lady loosing control. “But whosoever hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him"(1 John 3:17)?
Maybe you struggle with controlling your emotions. Perhaps giving is out of reach for you because you can’t seem to perceive giving as a great blessing. Do you loose control and miss the big picture at hand? What thoughts jab at you and cause your reactions to react according to your emotions? Our emotions respond according to the thoughts we are feeding off of.
The lady in the story was being feed with thoughts of being hungry and not having food for another time. Christ wants us to feed our minds with divine truth. The scripture says we are to have a gut feeling in our stomach that causes us to want to give to another that is without. Instead, this woman listened to the gut feeling that said, “I am hungry.”
Her emotions responded to her fleshly thoughts not the scripture. Possibly she has a mental issue. How do you react when you see someone in need? Do you initially think of what you don’t have? Can you consider the needs of others first?
Consider depositing divine truth for your thoughts. Pray to God to help you guard your mind when you are triggered by anger. Ask God to control your thoughts to focus on His Word. Call upon the Lord to have mercy on you for allowing your emotions to lead you. Pray that you do not have constraint in your affections so the Spirit may fill you with divine truth (2 Corinthians 6:12).
They finish in a timely manner and once the dinner is over mysteriously, the friend and three other gentlemen appear. At this point the lady is puzzled. As they are cleaning up they say good- bye and once she enters the kitchen, she notices all the food is gone.
She thinks of not having anything to eat and the plans she made for the left over food. As she thinks more she concludes that her friend and uninvited guest took the food. She calls her friend and he admits to taking the food.
The lady is more furious because she has not eaten, her plans for the food are demolished and the apology her friend gave could not change the reality of the food being gone.
Anger has a way of creeping in and controlling us without permission. The lady had every right to feel as she felt but she is still responsible for controlling her anger.
This scenario gives me the impression that maybe these people were hungry and that is why they took the food. Yet it does not justify them taking it without asking nor the lady loosing control. “But whosoever hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him"(1 John 3:17)?
Maybe you struggle with controlling your emotions. Perhaps giving is out of reach for you because you can’t seem to perceive giving as a great blessing. Do you loose control and miss the big picture at hand? What thoughts jab at you and cause your reactions to react according to your emotions? Our emotions respond according to the thoughts we are feeding off of.
The lady in the story was being feed with thoughts of being hungry and not having food for another time. Christ wants us to feed our minds with divine truth. The scripture says we are to have a gut feeling in our stomach that causes us to want to give to another that is without. Instead, this woman listened to the gut feeling that said, “I am hungry.”
Her emotions responded to her fleshly thoughts not the scripture. Possibly she has a mental issue. How do you react when you see someone in need? Do you initially think of what you don’t have? Can you consider the needs of others first?
Consider depositing divine truth for your thoughts. Pray to God to help you guard your mind when you are triggered by anger. Ask God to control your thoughts to focus on His Word. Call upon the Lord to have mercy on you for allowing your emotions to lead you. Pray that you do not have constraint in your affections so the Spirit may fill you with divine truth (2 Corinthians 6:12).
Monday, March 16, 2009
Your Offering
A child had been saving her money to buy a toy she wanted since Christmas. She finally reached her goal and was excited to know she could buy the toy. The mother planned to take her daughter to buy her toy yet first they had to go buy groceries. As they concluded getting the food the mother discovered she did not have enough money.
The mother searched her pockets and purse repeatedly and the child says, “Mom how much do you need, I have some money?” The clerk says “You need $1.60.” The mother is still searching her purse and the daughter reaches her hand out to her mother saying, “Mom stop looking, I have it.” The clerk is elated to see a child act in such manner and the mother is overwhelmed with joy knowing that her daughter sacrificed money she had been saving since Christmas.
This scenario reminds me of Abraham offering his son to God. For many years Abraham and his wife wanted a child. God finally opened Sarah’s womb and then told Abraham to go up to the mountain and offer his son. Abraham did not hesitate. He did not go back and talk things over with anyone else. He knew he heard the voice of the Lord.
After Abraham went to offer his only son that he prayed and waited many years to have the Lord tells him “Now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son from me” (Genesis 22:12b).
“Can you sacrifice what you’ve worked so hard for?” The child in this story worked hard to save money to buy a toy. I imagine she even put it on her Christmas list; only to wake up Christmas morning to find her request of such toy was not there. She desired this toy for over six months and at last she attained enough money to get it. However, when she saw her mother needed part of the money she had been saving; willingly the daughter gave it to her mother.
Sometimes we can get so caught up in what we worked hard for and miss the blessing in giving up what we worked for. Have you ever spent time on something that you desired? Did you save your money for the investment of this one thing only to have to give it up for another?
Abraham and his wife wanted a child for so long. Prior they made mistakes trying to assist the Lord to get what they desired. At last God gave them what they hoped for, only to be asked to sacrifice the child. To many this makes absolutely no sense. Yet God's way is so much higher than our ways of thinking (Isaiah 55:9). Abraham and the daughter were willing to give even if it meant they would be without their desire.
Does giving seem to be more intense, possibly it is to determine the strength of your faith? Perhaps you have felt confused and sorrowful to give what is asked of you. Maybe even worried. However, the Father was pleased that Abraham obeyed Him in the midst of all the confusion. God will also be pleased that you obey Him when all makes no sense.
What is your desire? Have you worked hard for it? Are you working over time in effort to attain your goal? Would you be willing to give it up? God will not ask you to do anything to break His promise. Sacrificing is giving up what is valuable to you. Abraham’s act of faith showed that he did not place his son over the Lord. The daughter showed she did not place her toy over her mother.
Many are in need today and you have. Consider sacrificing to help another. Pray to God to open your heart to give. Ask the Lord to direct you as of where and when to give. Call upon the Father that you do not hesitate or make any fuss so you may give as He sees fit. God has shown us “by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).
The mother searched her pockets and purse repeatedly and the child says, “Mom how much do you need, I have some money?” The clerk says “You need $1.60.” The mother is still searching her purse and the daughter reaches her hand out to her mother saying, “Mom stop looking, I have it.” The clerk is elated to see a child act in such manner and the mother is overwhelmed with joy knowing that her daughter sacrificed money she had been saving since Christmas.
This scenario reminds me of Abraham offering his son to God. For many years Abraham and his wife wanted a child. God finally opened Sarah’s womb and then told Abraham to go up to the mountain and offer his son. Abraham did not hesitate. He did not go back and talk things over with anyone else. He knew he heard the voice of the Lord.
After Abraham went to offer his only son that he prayed and waited many years to have the Lord tells him “Now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son from me” (Genesis 22:12b).
“Can you sacrifice what you’ve worked so hard for?” The child in this story worked hard to save money to buy a toy. I imagine she even put it on her Christmas list; only to wake up Christmas morning to find her request of such toy was not there. She desired this toy for over six months and at last she attained enough money to get it. However, when she saw her mother needed part of the money she had been saving; willingly the daughter gave it to her mother.
Sometimes we can get so caught up in what we worked hard for and miss the blessing in giving up what we worked for. Have you ever spent time on something that you desired? Did you save your money for the investment of this one thing only to have to give it up for another?
Abraham and his wife wanted a child for so long. Prior they made mistakes trying to assist the Lord to get what they desired. At last God gave them what they hoped for, only to be asked to sacrifice the child. To many this makes absolutely no sense. Yet God's way is so much higher than our ways of thinking (Isaiah 55:9). Abraham and the daughter were willing to give even if it meant they would be without their desire.
Does giving seem to be more intense, possibly it is to determine the strength of your faith? Perhaps you have felt confused and sorrowful to give what is asked of you. Maybe even worried. However, the Father was pleased that Abraham obeyed Him in the midst of all the confusion. God will also be pleased that you obey Him when all makes no sense.
What is your desire? Have you worked hard for it? Are you working over time in effort to attain your goal? Would you be willing to give it up? God will not ask you to do anything to break His promise. Sacrificing is giving up what is valuable to you. Abraham’s act of faith showed that he did not place his son over the Lord. The daughter showed she did not place her toy over her mother.
Many are in need today and you have. Consider sacrificing to help another. Pray to God to open your heart to give. Ask the Lord to direct you as of where and when to give. Call upon the Father that you do not hesitate or make any fuss so you may give as He sees fit. God has shown us “by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).
Friday, March 13, 2009
Good Investments
A couple went to a workshop to hear about making investments. The presenter had a chart displaying how the couple would profit within 2-5 years of a monthly contribution of $5. The more money they were willing to invest monthly, their profit would increase handsomely.The husband was amazed and eager to start right away; yet, his wife was hesitant.
The wife was the main source of income after her husband was laid off. The wife was considering all the bills she was responsible for paying, while the husband was in view of the profit for the future. He proposed to sacrifice his daily trips to Starbucks; if she would agree to sacrifice taking her to lunch to work three times a week so they could invest $50 a month.
His wife willingly agreed once he sealed the deal with preparing her lunch once a week.
This scenario reminds me of Jesus speaking to the rich man about inheriting eternal life. The man asked of him “What else do I need to do to get to heaven?”
Jesus replied “You still lack one thing, go sell what you have and give to the poor and then you will have treasure in heaven (Matthew 19:21).
“But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions (Matthew 19:22).
Jesus proposed an investment to this man. He was willing to invest his time in learning the commandments and willing to keep them. However, he was not willing to invest his valuables which he related as wealth to any one.
I find it interesting that Jesus did not welcome him to join Him until he invested in His ministry of giving to the poor.The couple considered making an investment by sacrificing; in great hopes of building their income.
Are you being asked to make an investment? It is a great time to invest in the stock market today. However, it does not have the guarantee of the Father’s prosperity.
Many companies are seeking investors. People are joining sessions in great hopes to collect on the dollar. Jesus is still presenting investments. He is not proposing for you to get rid of everything. He is proposing for you to invest in His ministry and then follow Him.
Where is your money going today? People are still spending because the parking lot of malls, Wal-mart, Target, Ross and many others are still full. Are you ready to let go of going out to eat weekly? Have you prepared a basket for the needy? Do you have a list of items to give to the poor? How are your investments?
Consider not letting anything you have or want to be more important than pleasing the Lord. Seek ways to invest in our Lord’s mission. He is still launching ministries therefore the investments are still open.
Don’t run to the companies for the biggest investment yet run to the Father and seek His proposal. Pray to God to help you not be consumed with you obligations so much that it hinders you from giving to the Lord. Call upon the Father to have mercy on you for placing things above Him. Ask Him to forgive you for not being open to His mission yet open to your pleasures. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:21).
The wife was the main source of income after her husband was laid off. The wife was considering all the bills she was responsible for paying, while the husband was in view of the profit for the future. He proposed to sacrifice his daily trips to Starbucks; if she would agree to sacrifice taking her to lunch to work three times a week so they could invest $50 a month.
His wife willingly agreed once he sealed the deal with preparing her lunch once a week.
This scenario reminds me of Jesus speaking to the rich man about inheriting eternal life. The man asked of him “What else do I need to do to get to heaven?”
Jesus replied “You still lack one thing, go sell what you have and give to the poor and then you will have treasure in heaven (Matthew 19:21).
“But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions (Matthew 19:22).
Jesus proposed an investment to this man. He was willing to invest his time in learning the commandments and willing to keep them. However, he was not willing to invest his valuables which he related as wealth to any one.
I find it interesting that Jesus did not welcome him to join Him until he invested in His ministry of giving to the poor.The couple considered making an investment by sacrificing; in great hopes of building their income.
Are you being asked to make an investment? It is a great time to invest in the stock market today. However, it does not have the guarantee of the Father’s prosperity.
Many companies are seeking investors. People are joining sessions in great hopes to collect on the dollar. Jesus is still presenting investments. He is not proposing for you to get rid of everything. He is proposing for you to invest in His ministry and then follow Him.
Where is your money going today? People are still spending because the parking lot of malls, Wal-mart, Target, Ross and many others are still full. Are you ready to let go of going out to eat weekly? Have you prepared a basket for the needy? Do you have a list of items to give to the poor? How are your investments?
Consider not letting anything you have or want to be more important than pleasing the Lord. Seek ways to invest in our Lord’s mission. He is still launching ministries therefore the investments are still open.
Don’t run to the companies for the biggest investment yet run to the Father and seek His proposal. Pray to God to help you not be consumed with you obligations so much that it hinders you from giving to the Lord. Call upon the Father to have mercy on you for placing things above Him. Ask Him to forgive you for not being open to His mission yet open to your pleasures. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:21).
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
God Is Able
Today while in church as the word went forth
I thought to myself
“God, why can’t I receive the Word without thinking of you, my friend.
I want to receive your message, for me, oh Lord help me.”
A strong voice said, “NO!”
As the Word went forth and the Spirit spoke to me.
I heard the voice of the Lord
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers them out of them all.”(Psalm 34:19)
I stopped wondering
For I already knew.
In our affliction we don’t feel righteous yet,
Through Christ we are righteous
In our affliction we feel worthless yet,
Through Christ we are righteous.
In our affliction God reveals
He is able.
Able to take a young boy and defeat a giant,
Able to take a murderer of Christians and turn him into a Christian,
Able to part the Red Sea to escape trouble,
Able to take a dysfunctional family into a God intentional family,
Able to take a divorced mother with children, into a healing mother for others,
Able to take a marriage that is on the rocks and place it on solid ground,
God is able to take your affliction,
if you just give it over to Him.
God will use your affliction so you may witness to others
Just to say
God is Able
For God is just that
ABLE.
I thought to myself
“God, why can’t I receive the Word without thinking of you, my friend.
I want to receive your message, for me, oh Lord help me.”
A strong voice said, “NO!”
As the Word went forth and the Spirit spoke to me.
I heard the voice of the Lord
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers them out of them all.”(Psalm 34:19)
I stopped wondering
For I already knew.
In our affliction we don’t feel righteous yet,
Through Christ we are righteous
In our affliction we feel worthless yet,
Through Christ we are righteous.
In our affliction God reveals
He is able.
Able to take a young boy and defeat a giant,
Able to take a murderer of Christians and turn him into a Christian,
Able to part the Red Sea to escape trouble,
Able to take a dysfunctional family into a God intentional family,
Able to take a divorced mother with children, into a healing mother for others,
Able to take a marriage that is on the rocks and place it on solid ground,
God is able to take your affliction,
if you just give it over to Him.
God will use your affliction so you may witness to others
Just to say
God is Able
For God is just that
ABLE.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Take Out The Trash
A man is working constantly trying to make sure he takes care of his financial obligations. He works so much that he doesn’t see much of his home. He goes there to sleep, eat and clean himself up to return back to work.
Lately, he has been so pressured to complete a task at work that he has not been keeping up with his tasks around the home. One of his tasks is to take out the trash every other day. However, three days have passed then two weeks and the trash sits, being piled daily. The house is filled with the aroma of bloody meat, old beans, bread is molded and the stench of the trash is throughout the house. All sorts of bacteria is dwelling in his home.
Finally, this person attempts to clean the trash but the stench is still there. He realizes it is going to take some time to air out the aroma from the trash and all its germs which grew heavily over two weeks.
As he lies to rest his head he can’t help but wonder when that stench will go away.
Daily we are attacked by trash of negative words. We are strained with the outlook that nothing is possible. We are thrown darts that absolutely nothing will come to past which the Lord has said is possible. We are told we are no good, not worthy, not smart enough, not enough, and don’t have enough. We are told all these negative things and we forget to throw such negativity in the trash. We forget to kneel before the Father to be replenished from all the dragging in the mud that we face in this world.
Paul prayed for the Christians in Ephesus so they would not forget the mystery of the Word. “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God”(Ephesians 4:14-19).
Paul wanted the Christians to know they had unlimited resources from God. In this world we are constantly told what we don’t have and it is most apparent for we don’t see it.
The trash that stayed within this person’s house developed a smell. Negative words that we hear, see, and receive pile within our hearts deeply rooting our soul weighing us down leaving a stench. We try to fight and continue to trust God but feel helpless because His word is not deeply rooted within us yet the trash is all around us seeping in our pours.
In the above prayer Paul asked for God to make a home in their hearts but it was under the condition that they would trust God. While trusting God he prayed that roots would grow of love to keep them strong.
I can see Paul now praying to the Father. He wanted the people to know they had all power from the most powerful. He wanted them to know they had unlimited resources if they would just trust Him. I see Paul so vividly today on his knees with his face bowing to God. I see the man consumed by everything around him struggling to secure his inner self. He takes in all this stuff and taking out the trash seems impracticable.
Are you being challenged to trust God yet told you can’t do what the Father is saying do because of financial bondage? Are you challenged to trust God and spend time with your family however feel you can’t do it because you have to work longer shifts?
How often are you taking out your trash? Do you allow weeks to go by before you go to the Father? Are you taking in His Word to replace it with the trash you receive minute by minute? It is important for us to take out the trash of negativity daily.
Don’t allow the trash to pile up. Take a moment to get rid of the germs that attack your inner self. It is vital to restock with His Word.
Consider getting rid of the infection growing within you. Take 5 minutes daily to just fill up. Read His Word and meditate on it through out the day. Pray to God to help you understand His Word so you may understand you have unlimited resources from the most High. Call upon the Lord to fill you with His love so you may be strong to take out the trash.
Lately, he has been so pressured to complete a task at work that he has not been keeping up with his tasks around the home. One of his tasks is to take out the trash every other day. However, three days have passed then two weeks and the trash sits, being piled daily. The house is filled with the aroma of bloody meat, old beans, bread is molded and the stench of the trash is throughout the house. All sorts of bacteria is dwelling in his home.
Finally, this person attempts to clean the trash but the stench is still there. He realizes it is going to take some time to air out the aroma from the trash and all its germs which grew heavily over two weeks.
As he lies to rest his head he can’t help but wonder when that stench will go away.
Daily we are attacked by trash of negative words. We are strained with the outlook that nothing is possible. We are thrown darts that absolutely nothing will come to past which the Lord has said is possible. We are told we are no good, not worthy, not smart enough, not enough, and don’t have enough. We are told all these negative things and we forget to throw such negativity in the trash. We forget to kneel before the Father to be replenished from all the dragging in the mud that we face in this world.
Paul prayed for the Christians in Ephesus so they would not forget the mystery of the Word. “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God”(Ephesians 4:14-19).
Paul wanted the Christians to know they had unlimited resources from God. In this world we are constantly told what we don’t have and it is most apparent for we don’t see it.
The trash that stayed within this person’s house developed a smell. Negative words that we hear, see, and receive pile within our hearts deeply rooting our soul weighing us down leaving a stench. We try to fight and continue to trust God but feel helpless because His word is not deeply rooted within us yet the trash is all around us seeping in our pours.
In the above prayer Paul asked for God to make a home in their hearts but it was under the condition that they would trust God. While trusting God he prayed that roots would grow of love to keep them strong.
I can see Paul now praying to the Father. He wanted the people to know they had all power from the most powerful. He wanted them to know they had unlimited resources if they would just trust Him. I see Paul so vividly today on his knees with his face bowing to God. I see the man consumed by everything around him struggling to secure his inner self. He takes in all this stuff and taking out the trash seems impracticable.
Are you being challenged to trust God yet told you can’t do what the Father is saying do because of financial bondage? Are you challenged to trust God and spend time with your family however feel you can’t do it because you have to work longer shifts?
How often are you taking out your trash? Do you allow weeks to go by before you go to the Father? Are you taking in His Word to replace it with the trash you receive minute by minute? It is important for us to take out the trash of negativity daily.
Don’t allow the trash to pile up. Take a moment to get rid of the germs that attack your inner self. It is vital to restock with His Word.
Consider getting rid of the infection growing within you. Take 5 minutes daily to just fill up. Read His Word and meditate on it through out the day. Pray to God to help you understand His Word so you may understand you have unlimited resources from the most High. Call upon the Lord to fill you with His love so you may be strong to take out the trash.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Not Prevail
One afternoon, I prepared to take my children to piano practice. I loaded all four children in the car, grabbed my purse and reached for the keys and they were not in its place. I asked the children, “Have you all seen the key?” They were very silent. I knew then someone made a toy out of the keys. 30 minutes passed, I was becoming irritated. I was ready to go but I had no keys. I called their teacher to let her know we would not be able to make it to practice due to the keys not being available.
I unloaded the car and after 10 minutes my oldest son came to me, batting his big pretty eyes with the keys dangling in his hands saying, “Now we can go mommy, I found the keys.”
This scenario captures my thoughts to the keys which the Lord gives to us.
Jesus was speaking to Peter and He told him, “That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19).
Jesus was telling Peter that I am giving you a church, a ministry and the enemy will not be able to defeat it because it is my church, which I am appointing you as the leader. He continued to tell Peter, He will give him keys of the kingdom. These keys are power which gains Peter access to get through the turmoil, to make it to the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus was letting Peter know there will be some hills for you to climb but if you use my key, my game plan, you will succeed, for you have already succeeded.
Have you ever lost your keys? The time is ticking and you have no time to waste but the keys are misplaced. What do you do? Does a rage come over you? Do you only focus on you not having the key and not being at a certain place at an appointed time? What do you do when you don’t have the keys to the kingdom of heaven? Can you fix your eyes on Christ? Picture Him giving you access to gain authority to reach your destination.
Because I did not locate my keys, I could not go. It did not matter if I prepared ten days ahead a time. Having no keys meant I wasn’t going any where.
Maybe today you are being faced with confusion. Perhaps an uproar is going on in your life, disorder is taking place so you can become muddled and just give up. No matter what strategy of attacks the enemy throws its okay because Jesus is saying “I got your back.” No matter how impossible it might seem its okay because Jesus has already defeated hell.
The Father has a given you a key of peace when everything is rattling. You were given a key of light when it’s dark. You have a key of regulation when things are disorderly. You have a key to open every secret place to get you through the hell.
The keys are symbolic of having authority. You can plan to buy a house, get it at a discount, sign the papers, buy the furniture you want, all the paint for each room, the flowers you want in your garden but if you don’t have the keys to the house, you don’t have authority to dwell in the house. You don’t have ownership to rule.
As our society is faced with a famine, can you locate the keys the Father has already granted you? He has given you divine power and defeated the enemy. What ever He has appointed you leader of you are required to just be obedient. Your responsibility is not to make sure the flock comes, for He sends the flock. Your responsibility is not to make sure people keep their word, for their commitment lies with Christ. You are only responsible for doing what God has told you to do. Pray to be obedient when things don’t look like its going as you thought. Ask the Lord to help you be obedient when people have stood you up, broke their promises, said negative things, or attempt to push you down. Remember Jesus has said “hell will not prevail.”
I unloaded the car and after 10 minutes my oldest son came to me, batting his big pretty eyes with the keys dangling in his hands saying, “Now we can go mommy, I found the keys.”
This scenario captures my thoughts to the keys which the Lord gives to us.
Jesus was speaking to Peter and He told him, “That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19).
Jesus was telling Peter that I am giving you a church, a ministry and the enemy will not be able to defeat it because it is my church, which I am appointing you as the leader. He continued to tell Peter, He will give him keys of the kingdom. These keys are power which gains Peter access to get through the turmoil, to make it to the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus was letting Peter know there will be some hills for you to climb but if you use my key, my game plan, you will succeed, for you have already succeeded.
Have you ever lost your keys? The time is ticking and you have no time to waste but the keys are misplaced. What do you do? Does a rage come over you? Do you only focus on you not having the key and not being at a certain place at an appointed time? What do you do when you don’t have the keys to the kingdom of heaven? Can you fix your eyes on Christ? Picture Him giving you access to gain authority to reach your destination.
Because I did not locate my keys, I could not go. It did not matter if I prepared ten days ahead a time. Having no keys meant I wasn’t going any where.
Maybe today you are being faced with confusion. Perhaps an uproar is going on in your life, disorder is taking place so you can become muddled and just give up. No matter what strategy of attacks the enemy throws its okay because Jesus is saying “I got your back.” No matter how impossible it might seem its okay because Jesus has already defeated hell.
The Father has a given you a key of peace when everything is rattling. You were given a key of light when it’s dark. You have a key of regulation when things are disorderly. You have a key to open every secret place to get you through the hell.
The keys are symbolic of having authority. You can plan to buy a house, get it at a discount, sign the papers, buy the furniture you want, all the paint for each room, the flowers you want in your garden but if you don’t have the keys to the house, you don’t have authority to dwell in the house. You don’t have ownership to rule.
As our society is faced with a famine, can you locate the keys the Father has already granted you? He has given you divine power and defeated the enemy. What ever He has appointed you leader of you are required to just be obedient. Your responsibility is not to make sure the flock comes, for He sends the flock. Your responsibility is not to make sure people keep their word, for their commitment lies with Christ. You are only responsible for doing what God has told you to do. Pray to be obedient when things don’t look like its going as you thought. Ask the Lord to help you be obedient when people have stood you up, broke their promises, said negative things, or attempt to push you down. Remember Jesus has said “hell will not prevail.”
Monday, March 2, 2009
In Turmoil, Use My Oil
A woman had been pursuing to be obedient and follow the instructions of the Lord. As she got closer and closer to doing what the Father said her mind was attacked with distraction after distraction. People broke their commitments, lies were told, people conspiring, her heart was broken, and manipulation was transpiring as she moved to do as the Father directed her. Yet in the middle of all the turmoil she could see God’s oil being poured before her, anointing her, as she pushed through the storm giving glory to the Father.
This woman was at her wits. People whispered with lies, trying to degrade her character, her integrity, her all was on the line but her faith would not compromise. This woman went before the Lord saying to Him “You brought out the children of Israel from under burdens of the Egyptians, you delivered them out of bondage and redeemed them with your arms stretched out, and surely you can do the same for me, my Lord( Exodus 6:6).
This woman was speaking life over her life. She spoke favor over the lies, life over negativity, and life over prosperity for her life. She stood there crying with her hands out to the most high as He lifted her, holding her, loving her for, he favors her.
This image of this woman made me weep before the Lord as my hands were stretched out He reminds me who can turn back what He has planned. “For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back” (Isaiah 14:27)?
The Lord was speaking to me saying what famine shall turn my plans, what break down in the economy can overshadow my will. The Lord is “I Am.” Who or what dares to challenge Him? God has given you directions. Are you constantly being attacked by commotion? Have several disruptions occurred as you pursue righteousness?
As the economy is going through turmoil the Father is showering us with love. Disorder is turning, kicking, biting, and punching to knock you out as a spell of rain is taking place in each home with drops of anointed oil.
I don’t know what might be taking place in your home today. Maybe you have lost your home, wondering if your loosing your job or your loosing the love of your life. Perhaps you are feeling as if you are disappearing right before your eyes being consumed by so much negativity.
Consider hindering the thoughts of what you lost or might be loosing. Channel your thoughts to how the Lord can deliver you from what ever you might be experiencing. Focus on Him “Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1).
Shout before the Lord “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me” (Psalm 138:7).
Stand before the Father, stretch your arms out, don’t let your faith bend, don’t let it fall. Yell to the hills, “Yes, I have divine power.” Call upon the Lord to keep your mind focused on Him. When the levee breaks, speak Jesus. When the darkness falls and you can no longer see, shout Jesus. When your whole body hurts from the kicking, pulling, the noise, from the heartache, from the disappointment say “God favors me.” Pray with confidence; claim your favor from the Lord. He is saving you at this very moment. It looks like a super sized problem yet God is saying "super sized blessing." It feels like turmoil but He is saying “use my oil.”
This woman was at her wits. People whispered with lies, trying to degrade her character, her integrity, her all was on the line but her faith would not compromise. This woman went before the Lord saying to Him “You brought out the children of Israel from under burdens of the Egyptians, you delivered them out of bondage and redeemed them with your arms stretched out, and surely you can do the same for me, my Lord( Exodus 6:6).
This woman was speaking life over her life. She spoke favor over the lies, life over negativity, and life over prosperity for her life. She stood there crying with her hands out to the most high as He lifted her, holding her, loving her for, he favors her.
This image of this woman made me weep before the Lord as my hands were stretched out He reminds me who can turn back what He has planned. “For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back” (Isaiah 14:27)?
The Lord was speaking to me saying what famine shall turn my plans, what break down in the economy can overshadow my will. The Lord is “I Am.” Who or what dares to challenge Him? God has given you directions. Are you constantly being attacked by commotion? Have several disruptions occurred as you pursue righteousness?
As the economy is going through turmoil the Father is showering us with love. Disorder is turning, kicking, biting, and punching to knock you out as a spell of rain is taking place in each home with drops of anointed oil.
I don’t know what might be taking place in your home today. Maybe you have lost your home, wondering if your loosing your job or your loosing the love of your life. Perhaps you are feeling as if you are disappearing right before your eyes being consumed by so much negativity.
Consider hindering the thoughts of what you lost or might be loosing. Channel your thoughts to how the Lord can deliver you from what ever you might be experiencing. Focus on Him “Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1).
Shout before the Lord “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me” (Psalm 138:7).
Stand before the Father, stretch your arms out, don’t let your faith bend, don’t let it fall. Yell to the hills, “Yes, I have divine power.” Call upon the Lord to keep your mind focused on Him. When the levee breaks, speak Jesus. When the darkness falls and you can no longer see, shout Jesus. When your whole body hurts from the kicking, pulling, the noise, from the heartache, from the disappointment say “God favors me.” Pray with confidence; claim your favor from the Lord. He is saving you at this very moment. It looks like a super sized problem yet God is saying "super sized blessing." It feels like turmoil but He is saying “use my oil.”
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