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!