I Give My Self Away

Hello Everyone!  It has been a while since I posted anything.  So much has happened this year, and I come into this season of giving with a desperation to know the Lord, just as I am known by Him.  "Those who know Your name will trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You."  Psalm 9:10

So many people dread this time of year, they fall into a depression and allow the ways of the world to over take them.  Well, today I stand on the wall and proclaim "Jesus is Lord!"  I have made up in my mind to be intentional to love; even when I am not loved.  Jesus did love me when I was still yet a sinner (Romans 5:8).  I don't want to loose cite of what this season is truly about.  Now don't get me wrong, I love to give and receive gifts,  watch my children open gifts, and celebrate with my family; but more importantly, I pause to remember Isaiah 9:6-7 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."  -Isaiah 9:6-7

I take time to meditate on God's Word, for it is the "Living Word".  It gives peace of mind when I feel troubled.  I brings deliverance when I'm in bondage.  Everyday I watch the news, and at times, it troubles my soul, But it is God's Word that I hang onto, find refuge in and line up with; when I'm in need. "Then came the reassuring voice of the angel of the Lord: "Fear not, for behold, I being you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people; for unto you is born, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10, 11). 

What ever I have experienced in life, that I thought was so amazing pales into miserable insignificance when compared with what followed the angels’ announcement that night: "A multitude of the heavenly host praising God!" Real angelic voices that were exquisitely delightful to the human ear. To God be the Glory!  So I encourage anyone who feels low in spirit to get into God's Word, allow it to transform you.  Keep in mind what this Season is truly about.  I give myself away to Jesus, to be used as an instrument of praise. 

I take time out to reflect on my life and ask God to search me.  I position myself in a place of servanthood to be a blessing to others, and not to just receive.  I humble myself and allow the Holy Spirit to do a work in me.  I stand on the wall and proclaim "Jesus is Lord"!

Merry Christmas everyone!  Have a safe Holiday Season.

Be Blessed! 

I Shall Come Forth

The storms of life are raging, and sometimes I just want to give up and give in.  But the Holy Spirit in me reminds me of who I am, and who's I am.  I am reminded that "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4).  That's words to hold onto when all hell is breaking out in your life and around you.

I am reminded that even in the refiners fire, when the heat is turned up, I can still hold my head up high and bless the Lord for His goodness.  I must shift my focus and remember that God has me, and that He will never leave me nor forsake me. That I can be confident that He is my helper (Hebrews 13:5-6).

Through the storm, and pains, even sick; I shall come forth.  We have such an awesome God!  Zephaniah 3:17 is very encouraging words; it reads, "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing".  I can enter into the rest of the Lord knowing that He rejoices over me with joy and singing.  That's words to hold onto when you feel you are sinking to a pit of darkness and despair.

So I rejoice in the Lord and think Him for my garment of praise!  You see, I put on my garment of praise even when I don't feel like it, because it charges and changes the atmosphere around me.  It breaks that spirit of heaviness, and the Light of God comes in and shines bright into my very soul canceling out all the darkness, bringing me to a higher place of praise.

I just want to encourage you today in your weapons of praise, prayer and fasting.  We all have our ups and downs.  Just remember that in the downs, look up and remember who you belong to, and start singing, dancing and praising your way out of the dark; "COME FORTH"!

Be blessed! 

Press In

Everything you have been called to do in this life is impossible for you to do alone. BUT; thank God for Jesus!  When Jesus went to Calvary as the Lamb of God, the blood He shed was pure, precious, sinless blood.  1 Peter 1:18-19.  His blood was of the character that could satisfy the just demands of a Holy God, Isaiah 53:11.  You were born again to accomplish hard things...impossible things! With God all things are possible, Matthew 19:26.  You can do all things in Christ, did you get that?  You can do all things IN CHRIST!  He is the one who give you strength, Philippians 4:13.  Because of Jesus, we can endure!

Jesus has given us the power to press in, to seize what is ours in the spirit realm and to enjoy great victory. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; and all things have become new, 1 Corinthians 5:17.  Child of God, you’ve already got what it takes to succeed inside you. Learn how to tap into that success and never give it up! Press in...It’s worth it all.  And yes, it will cost you some time.  You will be required to humble yourself, die to yourself and spend some time with God.  The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the one who seeks Him.  Lamentations 3:25.

If there is anyone reading this that don't know Christ, I invite you know to come to know Him and experience Him for yourself.  He is a Healer, a Deliever, a Restorer, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  The Word of God tells us; If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be given you, John 15:7.  God loves all who love Him, and all who seek Him diligently will find Him, Proverbs 8:17.

Believer, I invite you to rededicate your life to Christ if you have lapsed or been stagnant.  Be refreshed, renewed and revived. 

Sinner, I invite you to say the sinner's prayer and come to Christ, for now is the time:

"Heavenly Father, have mercy on me, a sinner.  I believe in you and that your Word is true.  I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that He died on the Cross so that I may now have forgiveness for my sins and eternal life.  I know that without you in my heart, my life is meaningless.

I believe in my hear that you, Lord God, raised Jesus from the dead.  Please Lord Jesus forgive me for every sin I have ever committed or don in my heart, please Lord Jesus forgive me and come into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior today.  I need you to be my Father and my friend.  I give you my life and ask you to take full control from this moment on;  I pray this in the mighty Name of Jesus,

Christ.  Amen!"

Be blessed!

The Sweaty Road to Revival

I keep hearing Christians from all over crying for a revival, but no one wants to sweat it out.  All we want to do is sing and dance in the procession.  These man centered revivals go as smoothly as David's first "ark trip" until we hit a God-bump at Nachon's threshing floor.

We need to stop and think that these "bumps" on the road to revival may well be the hand of God saying:

"No more of this none-sense!  I have had enough!  I will no longer let you handle my casually and cavalierly.  I will no longer let you handle me with no sweat.  Revival cost!  My glory cost!  If you really want to move Me from 'Heaven to earth', you are going to have to sweat it out.  Don't try to transport My glory on your man-made programs, methods, and agendas!"

David retreated and did some re evaluating after Uzzah was struck dead at Nachon's threshing floor.  Uzzah died after he tried to stabilize what God had shaken.  We still try to do this today.  Who are we to try to smooth out the bumps and round off the edges of God's commandment. 

God has had enough of man's ways.  David discovered that God had told Moses that the ark should be transported only on the shoulders of sanctified Levites.  God rocked the cart to let David's crew know about this, He didn't want anyone holding up what He was striking down.

Wake up church!  God is calling for holiness.  It's time to repent and line up with God and His Word, His Way and His Will!  There is no easy way to revival, we must sweat it out!

Be blessed!

Patience In Tribulation

Hello everyone, it's been a while since I've blogged.  So much has happened since I last posted, but in spite of it all, My God is still worthy of all my praise!  My son Cory was in the hospital the week of the fourth of July, he had surgery; and the doctor's didn't think he would do well because of his chronic breathing problem.  But God is so awesome, there are just no words; Cory came out of the surgery breathing on his own, and he looks great today.  He still breathing on his own, no machine breathing for him!  So I must bless the Lord at all times, even when my flesh doesn't feel like it.  Even when I'm hurting deep with in, I must press in and get into the presence of God, abandon my emotions and Let God be God; because He is in control.

So I surrender to the Lord, and give Him my problems, burdens and concerns.  I desire your prayers, because I feel waited down at the moment, but I know my God is able.  I understand that the professed love of Christians to each other should be sincere, free from deceit, and meaningless words.  But I ache within, because I struggle with hurt from the very people that are close to me.  The ones who have access to my inner circle.  I know that this is a time for spiritual growth for me.  God is breaking pride, selfishness, and other things in me, and I am open to Him to do that.

Because I am His, and He is mine; I have learned to detest and dread all evil, and love and delight in whatever is kind and useful.  I want what God wants, so I must endure and seek the things of God.  I share this with you as encouragement in times of storm and pain.  We must not only do what is good, but we must cleave to it.  All our duty towards one another is summed up in one word, LOVE.  I am in God, and He is love.  This denotes the love a parents should have to their children; which is more tender and natural than any other, unforced and unconstrained.  And love to God and man, with zeal for the gospel, will make the wise Christian diligent in all his wordly business, and in gaining superior skills.

God must be served with the spirit, under the influences of the Holy Spirit.  He is honored by our hope and trust in Him, especially when we rejoice in that hope.  That is what I'm doing today saints; I'm rejoice in the hope I have in Jesus.  In that hope, He is served, not only by working for Him, but by sitting still quietly, when He calls us to suffer.  This is my call today, to suffer and learn to love the unlovable, and walk in holiness regardless of the actions of others around me, especially those closest to me.  It's not easy, but I trust God!

Patience for God's sake, is true piety or devotion to the Most High.  Those that rejoice in hope, are likely to be patient in tribulation.  We should not be cold in the duty of prayer, nor weary of it.  Not only must there be kindness to friends and brethren, but Christians must not harbor anger against enemies.  It is but mock love, which rests in words of kindness, while our brethren need real supplies of love shown in deed, actions, our living; and it is in our power to furnish it to them; because greater is He... (1 John 4:4)

We must be ready to entertain those who do good, and as there is occasion, we must welcome strangers.  Regardless of what is going on in our lives, we must bless, and not curse.  That means thorough good will; not, bless someone when at prayer, and curse them at other times.  But bless them always, even when being used, even in hurt.  As believers, we have the power to rise above all ugliness and sin, and walk in holiness, because Jesus has given us that authority. 

True Christian love will make us take part in the the sorrows of joys of each other.  We must labor as much as we can to agree in the same spiritual truths; and when we come short, still agree in affection.  We must look upon worldly pomp and dignity with holy contempt.  It is for us to live our lives as ambassadors of the Kingdom of God, a chosen people, set apart to do the will of God.  We must not be followers of this world and the things in it, and not love the things of this world; but be reconciled to the place of God in His providence put in us.

I bless the Lord for nothing is below us, but sin.  We are MORE THAN Conquerors (Romans 8:37)!  So no matter where you find yourself today, God is able, and in Christ Jesus, you have the power to overcome, stand strong and trust God with your life.  I surrender all!

Be blessed! 

Don't Dig Up Old Offenses

"Lord forgive me!" Because I have been guilty of this activity, reminding someone who they have hurt me in the past.  As I continue to work toward reconciliation in my marriage, I'm guilty.  I want to move past the hurt, and I choose to look forward and not backwards, but I have learned that it is a process that calls for me to lay before the Lord and give it all to Him, so I don't hold any offense or "dig up" offense of others.

Are you prepared if God suddenly calls for an "audit" of your conduct toward your brothers and sisters?  Remember that He doesn't need an audit, because He sees all and knows all.  He holds each of us personally responsible for forgiving others, with no exceptions to the rule.  We were not created or designed to carry bitterness and unforgiveness in our hearts.  It's like tyring to carry acid in a Styrofoam cup; the acid of unforgiveness eats away at every part of our lives.  It's like a fast spreading cancer through our entire system.

Knowing this makes me more mindful to go to God immediately when I'm hurt, when the enemy of my soul continuously replay a hurtful even in my mind.  It's a fight to stay free, and I choose freedom!  I love the Lord more than wallowing in my hurts.  How many times have you forgiven a brother or sister in Christ only to go "dig up" their offense again and place them back into the slave of unforgiveness?

Jesus said His disciples are known by our love for one another.  Love transcends the "scorecard mentality" that keeps track of every wrong done and offense received.  The "God kind of love" described in 1st Corinthians 13 doesn't keep a record or an "account" of wrong suffered.  That is why, when asked, "Why would you stay with him knowing what he did?"  I can answer, "Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.  Love never faileth".  I choose "LOVE"!  God is love, 1 John 4:8.  Mercy "always" triumphs over judgment, James 2:13.  So I operate in love, to keep myself free.

If you are holding any unforgiveness toward others or yourself, release the power of forgiveness in your life now.  God is saying, "If you show mercy to others, I will show you mercy. 

Be blessed!

The Coming Of The Glory Of The Lord

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you" Isaiah 60:1

When life seems hard, even unbearable, where do you find strength to endure?  The promises of God are a haven of refuge and a beacon of hope to those who choose to trust in His Word.  In chapter 59 of Isaiah, it ends with the new covenant promised by God to His Son.  What confidence that brings us as we consider the promises that have gone before and those that will follow!  Isaiah focuses our attention on the promised second coming of the Messiah.

I love the way chapter 60 of Isaiah begins.  It opens with a call to Israel to rise up from discouragement and distress.  They are to shine with the radiance of God's own light that will be with them and in them always.  This was so encouraging to me, especially in the darkest periods of my life.  I'm coming out of my desert season, and the book of Isaiah has been so encouraging to me.  The final chapters of Isaiah are filled with images of richness, newness, and light, as the prophet envisions the completion of God's purposes for His people.  The splendor of these promises is God's commitments to the nation of Israel will be kept. 

God is the God of all nations, and believers from all parts of the earth will be part of His people.  God's plan are resplendent with His glory and light.  If you have trusted in the death of His Son for you, then these promises are His intentions for your life now.   Will you trust Him to bring you this joy, satisfaction, and unity with His people?  How are you "rising up" to show  God's light to those who you have never thought would have any interest in Him?

Be blessed!

Confessions of Faith

Lord Jesus, I come into your house not empty handed, but bringing my tithes and offerings according to Malachi 3:10.

The windows of heaven are opened to me.  Blessings are being poured out that I cannot contain.  The devourer is rebuked for my sake.  This year is a continuation of the Jubilee Blessings.  By faith I have: A better job, promotions, raises, bonuses, benefits.  Business opportunities, increases in sales and commissions.  Inheritances, rebates, settlements and checks in the mail.  I am the head and not the tail according to Deuteronomy 28:13, because I listen to the commands of the Lord and obey them.  I except favor, interest and royalties and scholarships.  Gifts surprises and new found monies.  I am blessed coming in and blessed going out (Deuteronomy 28:6). 

I am using wisdom and self control in my spending.  My bills are decreasing and my income is increasing.  I am a good steward over what God has blessed me with.  I have the anointing for blessings, equipping me to be a giver for the Kingdom of God.  And my God supplies my every need (Philippians 4:19).  For He is my Shepard, so I don't have to want for anything (Psalm 23:1). 

I have power to create wealth.  The favor of the Lord is upon me and everything I put my hands to shall prosper (Deuteronomy 28:8).  I am a cheerful giver, sowing in good ground that is bringing souls into the Kingdom of God.  And my God is supplying all my needs, I have no lack.

Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!
What are you confessing?  Who do you believe?  The enemy of this world?  Or a God who is able to do exceedingly abounding above all we think or ask (Ephesians 3:20).

Be blessed!

Crying Out for The Bread!

I'm tired of reading about God's visitations of yesteryear.  I want God to break out somewhere in my lifetime so my children can say, "I was there!"  God has no grandchildren.  Each generation must experience His presence.  Recitation was never meant to take the place of visitation.

We are now reduced to being shallow students of what we hope to experience someday.  I'm constantly reading about revival because I don't have the experience to yet write about it.  The Bread of God's presence must be restored to the Church.  Will you pray with me?  Will you cry out and stand in agreement with me?

Two things happen when the Bread of God's presence is restored.  Naomi was a prodigal who left the house of bread when the table became bare.  But once she heard that God had restored bread to Bethlehem (the house of bread), she quickly returned.  The prodigals will come back to Bethlehem from Moab once they know there is bread in the house, and they will bring others with them.  Naomi came back to the house of bread accompanied by Ruth, who had never been there before.  The never saved will come.  As a result, Ruth became part of the Messianic lineage of Jesus when she married Boaz and bore him a son named Obed, who was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David (See Ruth 4:17).  Future royalty awaits our hunger spurred actions.  I am hungry!  Are you?

What we call revival is nothing more than recycling of saved people through the Church to keep them fired up.  But this next wave of revival will bring waves of unchurched people into the House of Bread.  People who have never stepped foot in the doors of the House of Bread.  When they hear that there is really bread in the house, they will come running through the doors after smelling the fragrance of hot bread from the ovens of Heaven!  I want them to smell it coming off of me, and be compelled to ask "What must I do to be saved?"

We can not beso  full and satisfied with other things that we insist on "getting by" with our crumbs of the past.  We can not just be happy with our music the way it is.  We can not just be happy with "renewal" meetings.  It is time for some radical movement in the Church.  I'm not happy, because I want more!  I'm tired of just reading about a great revival, I want to experience it!  I know that there is far more than anything we have ever seen or hoped for yet, and it has become a holy obsession of mine.  I want God!  I know I sound redundant, but I don't care!  I want more of Him!

Will you join me in the chase?  I'm radical about my pursuit of God, and I'm not asshamed to admit it.  God is an awesome God!  Whatever I got to do, to get to Him, I'm doing!  I need more of God, more of His presence, more of His Spirit, more and more and more!

Be blessed!

Thank You God for Your Anointing, But I Want Your Glory!

"And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory" (Exudos 33:18).  Now this is a bold request Moses asked of God.  The Word of God tells us, "But, He said, you cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live" (Exudos 33:20).  When you are asking for the glory of God, you better be ready to die to your flesh, because it can not live in the presence of God.

I hear so many people misusing terminology to artificially raise the expectations of people.  They want to entertain man, instead of pleasing God.  I often hear so many people say, "The glory of God is here", but I must question the validity of that comment.  We may promise God's glory, but often at best we give a limited measure of God's anointing.  God's anointing was never meant to satisfy the hunger of our souls.  The anointing and the gifts empowered by it are simply tools to assist, enable, encourage, and point us back to the Source.  Only God can satisfy the hunger He placed within us.  His hand supplies our needs, but it is His face that satisfy our deepest longing. 

As we look into His face, we are brought into union with our destiny, and we enjoy the favor of His loving gaze and the intimate kiss of His touch.  There is a huge difference between encountering the anointing of God and encountering His glory.  I thank God for His anointing, it gives me the power to move in the gifts of the Spirit to minister to others, but I want His manifested presence.  The anointing of God in all its various forms has a valid purpose in His plans and and purposes.  The problem is that we have become too addicited to the way the anointing makes us feel.  Becaues it feels good when the anointing of God falls on us.  We've turned our eyes and hearts away from the glory of God's face to get more of the anointing in His hands.  Again, the anointing empowers our flesh, and it makes us feel good.  Enough of feeling good, let's cry out for His glory!

"More of You Lord!  Thank You for Your gifts.  Thank You for Your anointing.  Come Holy Spirit!  Lord, send Your glory now!"  Yes this is a bold request, so get lined up.  I'm crying out daily for His manifested glory.  I'm repenting and choosing to forgive.  I'm asking God to search me and remove whatever is not of  Him.  I don't want anything blocking me from receving the gift of God's manifested presence.  Are you ready?  Are you crying out for God's glory!

Be blessed!

I Joy in God's Faithfulness

True joy comes from the presence of God.  In some of my darkest times, when I was depressed and very unhappy, I learned how to have the joy of the Lord.  I can remember when my grandmother would tell me, "Pamela, you can have the joy of the Lord even in unhappy times".  I would think to myself, "now, that makes no sense to me.  I'm hurting and  unhappy, there's just no joy in that!"  And over the course of the last nine years, God has taken me on this awesome journey, that caused me to grow in Him, and understand that true joy comes from Him alone.

Let me start out by telling you that I have a nine year old, very medically fragile son named Cory.  I was told that he wouldn't live to be a year old.  "Praise God, the Great Physician", who has the finally say.  Cory was born with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, chronic lung disease, fluid on his brain, blindness and a whole lot of other issues that are too overwhelming to list.  When I was  pregnant with Cory, he suffered brain bleeds in the womb.  God has a plan for Cory's life, and I believe in the impossible, because my God specializes in the impossible "For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37). 

I was encouraged by doctors to terminate the pregnancy, because they didn't think he would live, and if he did, it would be a great burden.  Well, life as I knew was over, but what doctors called a great burden, happen to be a great blessing!  Having Cory saved my life, it began breaking selfishness, and pride.  I was learning the true meaning of "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:" (1 Peter 5:6).  Since the day Cory was born, each year we have spent two to six weeks in the hospital at least four times a year.  Too make a long story short, I had to quite my full time public relations job and put my PhD program on hold.

In the course of the last five years, I've since married and now have a four year old son, Cameron.  Let me just say that being married to a pastor is no cake walk.  I even contemplated divorce.  But every time I got into the presence of the Lord, I  heard; "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10), or "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage:  (Psalm 27:14).  So in all the struggles with caring for a very sick child, learning balance with a very vibrant and healthy child, and warring for my marriage, God was dealing with Me!  Breaking me, healing me, and teaching me joy in Him despite my circumstances.  Teaching me that it's all in His timing and not mine, and blessing me with balance to prepare to finish my doctoral program.

So even in all the hell, I could have joy.   "I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.  For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore"  (Psalm 16:8-11).  This is one of my testimonies.  I chose to be obedient and wait on the Lord.  At this very point in my life, God is restoring my marriage, and bringing healing into our home.  I believe God is bringing healing and wholeness to my son Cory.  We have been back and forth to the orthopedic doctor, looking at his spinal cord, and at one point we where facing three very serious surgeries that the doctor said he wouldn't survive.  Well, my God is the God of miracles and healings.  Cory's last x-ray showed that his spin was straight!  God performed surgery!  And I believe that this is only the beginning.  I believe that God is healing Cory and raising him up to bring some doctors and a whole lot of other people to the feet of Jesus!

I don't mean to be so long winded today, but joy is a characteristic of God's love from His Holy Spirit.  I have learned and continue to grow in the Spirit, and walk by faith, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law"  (Galatians 5:22-23).  And even now, at times when nothing makes sense to me, I trust God, and stand on His Word.  In the midst of storms, I speak life, I worship to charge the atmosphere and take authority over the enemy of my soul.  Because of Whose I am, I have that authority.  Jesus is all the world to me, my strength, my source, my everything.  "...the joy of the Lord is my strength" (Nehemiah 8:10).

When I started blogging, I told several of my friends, but I wasn't getting any responses.  I prayed, "Lord, I want to be a blessing to others.  If no one is going to read my blog, what's the point?"  And the week before I decided to stop blogging, I started receiving comments from readers.  God sends you encouragement when you need it!  I am so blessed and thankful for all of you who have responded to my blogs.  I pray that you are blessed, encouraged and empowered by the Word of God.  I want to thank each of you for encouraging me, and showing your love.  God bless each of you for we are all part of God's family.  And for those who don't know Jesus, today is your day!  He is real and He died for all sinners. 

So I leave you with this; "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost"  (Romans 15:13).  I joy in God's faithfulness.  I know that regardless of what is going on in my life, as long as I walk in obedience, and keep my face before the Lord, everything will be alright.  "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

Be blessed!

Watch Your Mouth

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof (Proverbs 18:21).  Those who love to talk, shall reap the consequences.  There are just some times in life where you just need to shut up and listen.  Be quite and be still, observe the surrounds around you.  Learn to discern who and what is in motion.

Some one who is always talking, love the center of attention, love to know and share information; you must be very careful of this person.  The Word of God says, "From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful have a craving for violence" (Proverbs 13:2).  I am always mindful of those I see who love to talk.  No good thing comes from a "motor mouth" who likes to spueling garbage.  " When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise" (Proverbs 10:19).

I have learned to ask God to "bridle my tongue daily".  I don't want to speak word curses out of my mouth.  I only want to speak things that will edify and build up, not tier down.  I want to speak blessings.  "He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity" (Proverbs 21:23).  There is power in the tongue.  What we say has the ability to create situations, emotions, and thoughts in others. A kind word helps people, negative words hurt, sometimes for a very long time.

Even when I speak about myself, I've learned to stop saying "I can't" or "Why did I do that, I'm crazy".
The words that we use and the conversations we have with our self and others create things within. They can create positive things or negative things. It is our choice. The tongue has the power of life and death. This is why it is so important to be diligent in using the power of the tongue to create a positive force in our lives and in the lives of others.

I am called to be God's mouthpiece, so it is vital that I watch my words, and speak only when the Holy Spirit releases me.  I make it a priority to lay before the Lord daily, sometimes several times a day; to receive more of God and less of me.  I don't want to allow my emotions to get in the way of being about my Father's business, so I press in, and when I am offended I immediately surrender it to God, so I don't move outside His will, allowing my mouth to get my into trouble. 

It is very heard sometime to let go of offense, especially when people say hurtful things to you, and your first reaction is to sound off back at them.  But think about it.  It's not worth the time and energy to retaliate, because what good does it do in the end.  Because I now know who I am, and Whose I am, I choose to respond differently to offensive words and actions toward me.  "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4).  I have a great power living on the inside of me, and I don't want to grieve the Holy Spirit, so I am more conscience now of my words, and how I speak and respond to others, even in an offensive situation.  And it is hard, but I love My God more than getting back at others.  The bottom line is; I belong to God, He is for me, and He will take care of me, and work all things out for my good as long as I stay lined up with Him.

Learn to watch your mouth and be mindful of the words you speak.  Do they tier down, or do they edify and build up?

Be blessed!

What a Mighty God I Serve

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth"  Psalm 46:10.  My nine year old son Cory suffers with multiple disabilities.  He is in a wheelchair, and is unable to set, stand or move on his own.  I've been told by the many doctors who care for him that he will never walk, talk or see.  BUT GOD!  You see, when Cory was born, I was told that he was a vegetable; but if you see him for your self, will would attest that "the devil is a liar"!

For the past six months, we've been watching Cory's spin progressively curve to dangerous degrees.  So the orthopedic and the neurosurgeon was looking at spinal cord and tether cord surgery.  These surgeries are very dangerous to an already medically fragile child.  So, the more talk of the surgeries, the more I cried out to my miracle performing God.  "For with God, nothing is impossible" Luke 1:37.

So last week, we went to our follow up appointment with the orthopedic doctor.  When she put the x-ray of his spin on the board, she looked as me and asked "What have you been doing, his spin is straight!"  Well, needless to say, I responded, "PRAYING!"  You see, I serve a mighty God, one who specializes in the impossible.  One who has been performing miracles, signs and wonders down though the centuries.  And I believe and stand on the promises in God's Word; "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed" Isaiah 53:5.

So I encourage you today reading this, put your trust in the one, true and living God.  He is the Lord of lords and King of kings!

Be blessed!

I've Learned to Worship

As I set in a Sunday service, I closed my eyes and listened to the call to
worship.  Then it hit me; we know more about praise then we know about worship. 
Thanksgiving gets us in the gates, praise gets us in the courts, but worship
takes us into His presence.  We often get stalled in the courtyard and never
make it to the throne room.

 
God is looking for authentic worship!  Worship that not only comes from the
lips, but also from the heart.  He is raising up a worshipping bride who
desires to be lost in the love of His presence.  This worship is bringing life
back into the body of Christ.  It is restoring joy to God's people, and
restoring our love to the Father.  It is bringing liberty and deliverance to
the people of God.

We can't expect to enter in, on our emotions, or how we feel.  The word of God
tells us in John 4:23-24 “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true
worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father
seeketh such to worship him.  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must
worship him in spirit and in truth”.

So before you can worship in the way that God desires, you must develop a
personal relationship with Jesus, cultivated in prayer and fellowship.  "I am the
way the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John
14:6).

It is a privilege to worship God.  We would be miserable and lifeless without
this privilege.  Worship will lift you spirit, charge a chaotic atmosphere,
and break the spirit of heaviness.

When my special needs son Cory was born, I learned to worship.  It became my lifestyle.

I found out worship wasn’t just showing up for Wednesday and Sunday services.  Cory was born a very medically fragile boy, spending a lot of time in the hospital.  Here I was this new mom, feeling overwhelmed, and life as I new was over.  I new I needed help!  

I began to understand the importance of spending quite time with God, soaking in His very presence.  Yes I was a believer, and I prayed regularly.  But the more time I soaked in the presence of God, I realized I was praying some very selfish prayers.   

You see, worship is a condition of the heart, to walk in holiness and love.  As God began to show me myself, I was able to repent and come into a deeper relationship with Him.  This relationship helped me deal with all the bad reports I was getting from doctor’s concerning my son.  I was told he wouldn’t live to be a year old.  That sent me into a radical worship.  My son is now nine years old.

It is my worship to an Almighty God that lifts me from the pit of humanity’s problems to a higher and purer perspective.  My worship causes me to truly understand “with God all things are possible” (Luke 18:27), because I’m trusting in God for every thing, because He is faithful.  You see, I have learned to worship my way through difficult times.  Worship is powerful, it will charge and change a chaotic atmosphere, and break the spirit of heaviness.

What does your life look like?  Can people look at you and know you’ve been with Jesus (Acts 4:13).  Can Jesus been seen in you?  It is the love of God that should ignite authentic worship in you!  "For God so love the world that He gave His

only begotten Son...(John 3:16).  That is extreme love!  Jesus tells us to love the
Lord with all thy heart, soul and mind (Mark 12:30.  This type of love requires
you to seek first the kingdom of God (Matthews 6:33), and obey the Holy Spirit
as He leads you.

In caring for my special needs son, I must listen to the Holy Spirit!  When my son’s head begin to swell at three months old, I closed my eyes and prayed, “Lord, help me!  Is something wrong with my baby?  And I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Go to the hospital”.  And when I got to the hospital, one of the doctors’s asked me, “How did you know to bring him here?”  When I told the doctor I prayed about it, they wanted me to talk with a counselor.  I didn’t need a counselor; I had already spoken to the Wonderful Counselor!

I challenge you today in your love walk and in your worship to an Almighty God. 
Allow Jesus to be seen in you.  Be mindful of your actions and reactions to
others.  Have you learned to deal so close with God that you know Omnipotence is
working in you?

Be blessed!

Discern the Seasons of The Lord

There are times in our lives when we need to hold on and there are times when we need to let things go.  Times and seasons for unloading.  In 1 Samuel 31:2; Jonathan was torn between his loyalty  to his spiritual brother David he made a spiritual covenant with, and his biological father, King Saul, which he had a physical covenant with.

When Jonathan followed the flesh instead of the spirit, early death came to him.  He could not discern what to hold and what to unload.  This is a good lesson to learn from.  You must realize that before there can be a filling, there must be an emptying.  How can God fill you, when you're already running over with "self".  God can not give you solutions when you are clinging to your problems and refuse to unload them.  "Ooch!  Lord I hear You load and clear!" 

I've been boiling and stewing over something for about three days, and God spoke to my spirit convicting me of the situation.  There are times I have to unload the assignments I cannot accomplish by myself.  There will be burdens that I must release to future generations.  Over in 1 Kings 19:15-16, God told the prophet Elijah to do three things, but he only accomplished one.  God passed the remaining assignments to Elisha, and he felt the burden of three generations during his ministry. 

So in my frustration, I had to realize and except that things are timely or timeless.  God speaks both into our hearts.  My my job is to know what to unload, what to fulfill, and what to pass on.  There will be times in our lives when we must unload, stop trying to go ahead of God and make things happen, we get outside His will when we do that.  We must learn to simply get with God, rest in Him, worship Jesus, and walk in the Spirit.  Cultivate an intimate love relationship with Him.  Serve Him. 

In order for God to ignite and infuse last day power, we must first learn to unload some things in our lives.  God may be waiting for you to get rid of some things to make room for Him, and more of Him!  He asking, "Do you love Me more than any problem or position in your life?  Are you focusing on Me more than the distractions in your life?  Am I greater than every failure and disappointment you have experienced?  Come rest in Me.  Come learn to discern My season for you. 

It's time to lay aside every weight, distractions, and lay aside the sins that so easily entangle you, and choose God (see Hebrews 12:1).  It's time to take your mind and your mouth off of "you", "your" problems, and shift your focus to the Most High God.  This is the first step to igniting the power of God in your life.

Be blessed!

The More I Die, The Closer God Gets

We like things to come quickly, easily, and cheaply.  God knows that such things never produce godly character in us.  Jesus says: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:24-26).

Intimacy with God requires brokeness, because purity comes from brokeness.  He will reveal more of Himself to you if you are willing to die to yourself.  When the apostle Paul wrote, "I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily" (1 Corinthians 15:31), he was saying; "I enter into the presence of God every day".  God is calling!  He is calling people who want serious revival into a place of transparent purity.

Please understand, that He wants to draw near, and when you come near, He will have to deal with you.  Meaning, you must die.  God told Moses, "No man has seen My face and lived."  Flesh can not live in the glory of the Most High God.  When the glory of God comes, the flesh doesn't feel comfortable.  It becomes weakened by His presence.  Something dies within us every time we are confronted by God's glory.  Just as the prophet Isaiah received the hot coals on his lips, we receive the hot bread of His presence and are forever changed. When more of our flesh dies,  more of our spirit lives.

I want more of God!  I want to move from the place of anointing into His manifested glory.  So I choose to obey God's call for brokeness, death and purity.  To walk in holiness, love and peace.  I want to be more like Jesus.  What about you?

Be blessed!

God or Your Emotions, Who's In Control?

God has given us the ability to feel emotions. It is what makes us feel alive. However, we must not allow our emotions to control us. Rather, we must submit our emotions to the Lordship of Christ and let the truth of God’s Word be our guide.

God created humanity with an amazing emotional capacity. The Book of Psalms records the emotional rollercoaster ride of King David, the man after God’s own heart.  He feels deeply. And at times, his feelings lead him astray. But somewhere along this journey, David discovered that his emotions where only part of his total being. The emotional aspect of our being coexists with our intellectual, physical and spiritual aspects. Every person will build the foundation of his or her life upon one of these four foundations: the emotional, the intellectual, the physical, or the spiritual. And among those foundations, feelings are important but they are not the most important because you are not your feelings. But you are a spiritual being.  The Apostle Paul tells us in the Word of God; "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law" (Gal. 5:16-18).

The dangers of building our lives on our feelings is; feelings can be distorted. The enemy likes to manipulate our circumstances and our senses in an attempt to throw us off balance. Also, feelings can be imported. Sometimes we have a way of feeling what has been forced on us rather what is truly within us. And, feelings can be aborted; they can change in a moment. The danger of building our lives on our feelings is that we may not feel the same way about a situation tomorrow as we feel today.  That is why it's so import for us to guard our hearts and minds.  We must renew our minds with the Word of God daily, and keep our emotions from running away and conforming us to this world?

Feelings come and go. As Christians, the way we must deal with our feelings is by choosing to believe God’s Word over what we hear, feel, or even experience. The only way to know if an emotion is healthy or unhealthy is if it lines up with the Word of God.  We must take our thoughts and emotions captive, because emotions will lie!  But the truth of God's Word speaks to those unhealthy issues and areas in life.

Meditate on:
Philippians 4:6-9
Romans 12:2
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Ephesians 6:13-18

The Word of God sheds light on all darkness.  Walk in the light (the truth) of God's Word.

Be Blessed!

A Sovereign God

This past week, I got a true understanding of my Sovereign God.  My nineteen year old cousin died, and we buried him on Saturday.  He was an awesome 3.8 student, working for a 4.0 at Lindsey Wilson College.  He was on the wrestling team, and he was a mighty man of God.  I am still numb from his death, but I have learned the true meaning of God being sovereign.  I don't like it, nor do I completely understand it.  But I trust God's sovereignty any how.

In His sovereignty, God knows what He is doing, and I can joyfully submit to His decisions.  In His sovereignty, God is in control of everything at all times, and nothing takes Him by surprise.  Chronicles 29:11-12 says; ^"Thine, O LORD is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.  Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all".

As I study the sovereignty of God, I now truly understand His supremacy.  That He is God, elevated infinitely above the highest creature, that He is the Most High, Lord of heaven and earth.  , That means He is subject to no one, influenced by no one and is absolutely independent.  He does as He pleases, when He pleases, and no on can thwart Him or hinder Him.  My God is absolute Sovereign.

I may not understand everything or even agree with everything He does.  But I submit to Him anyway, because He is God and I trust Him even when I disagree, or it hurts, or even when it doesn't make sense to me.  According to Isa. 46:10, He says, "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." Then He says again in Dan. 4:35, "He doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?"

So I will "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto my own understanding.  But in all my ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths"  Proverbs 3:5-6.  God is my creature, so I seek to do His will and His way.  I can't afford to do it any other way.  I serve a Mighty and Sovereign God.  Who do you serve?

Be blessed!

My Worth Is In Christ Jesus

So many people suffer with a spiritual identity crises.  They tend to measure their worth by comparing themselves to others.  They will think more highly of themselves because they enjoy greater abilities, intelligence, status or wealth.  Or they look down on themselves and envy others because they feel they are not as capable, smart, powerful, or rich.

This is a deadly disease to a believer.  That is why Paul offered an antidote over in the book of Romans.  To see ourselves not as we stack up to others, or as others evaluate us, but as God sees us (Romans 12:3).   My worth is found in Christ alone.  It is only by the grace of God, I am who I am today (1 Corinthians 15:10).  And despite my past, I am a new creature with a new identity in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

I thank God for the degrees I have, and the professional credentials, but more importantly, I thank God for His power, because it gives me everything I need to live my life and pursue godliness (1 Peter 1:3).  Everything I have; family, friends, possessions, health, all comes from my heavenly Father (Job 1:21).  Knowing this, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).  I am "fearfully and wonderfully" made (Psalm 139:14).  In Christ, I have my true identity, apart from Him, I am nothing (John 15:5).

So I don't have to compare myself to anyone, because I find my worth in Christ.  Do you suffer with an identity crises, low self-worth, comparison issues?  Learn to see yourself as God sees you.

Be blessed!

Reconciliation

When I think about the word reconciliation, I think to restore a relationship, or to be reestablished in the relationship.  In recent conversations, I asked different individuals if their best friend lied on them, could they reconcile the relationship.  Five of the ten people said it depended on what the lie was.  Three said yes, they would try to reconcile the relationship, and two said absolutely not.  All of these individuals where Christians.  So I went back to the same ten people and asked them if  their spouse committed infidelity, could their marriage be reconciled?  Well, all ten people said " Hell NO"!  Again, I reiterate, these ten people where Christians.  So, it grieved my spirit.

To have your best friend lie on you would be a very hurtful thing to happen.  To have your spouse cheat on you is even more hurtful.  It's devastating, horrific, rocks you to your enter core!  Yes, reconciliation would be very difficult, and impossible on your own.  BUT!  I bless the Lord, for the but.  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself, through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation"
(2 Corinthians 5:17-19).

So, as a believer, how can I not work to reconcile a relationship or a marriage.  I'm not saying that it is going to be an easy thing to do.  Again, on my own, it would be impossible.  But, I am of God, and greater is He in me, than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).  So I have Jesus in me, and because of His work on the cross, I have the ministry of reconciliation.  I'm a new creature in Christ Jesus with a new character, so "nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37).

I have new traits with my new character in Christ:
1 Corinthians 13:3-8: Love... suffers long, is kind, does not envy, does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks not evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13).  God is love!
Galatians 5:22-23: The fruit of the Spirit... love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law... If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:23, 25).
Philippians 4:8: Meditate on whatever things are... true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, of any virtue, praiseworthy.  The things which you learned, received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:9).
Colossians 3:12-16: Put on these things... tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering (patience), bear with one another, forgive one another, above all, put on love.  Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.  Be thankful.  Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.  Teach and admonish one another.  Sing with grace in your hearts.  Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17).

If you are in Christ, you are a new creature in Him.  The old habits and character traits that marked your life before Christ are passing away.  He is making you entirely new (see 2 Corinthians 5:15).  You have a new identity in Christ (see Ephesians 1).  So, now I ask you, "Can you reconcile"?

Be blessed!