I have been studying the book of Romans. I am in the third chapter and it really has so much in it! Amazing, to say the least!
One specific part I wanted to bring out was the part on the law. If you haven't already, look around the world today and more specifically look at the laws in the United States. This nation was a nation with laws and morals, but now what do we see? We see one law after another being passed that cuts off the stable, tried and true laws. My point to saying these things is, God gives to us laws that are black and white. He gave us them so that we may use them to guide us away from the evil and towards what is right. It's through man and his unwillingness to put to death his old nature that we get where we are today. We have so many different kinds of people living in this world and all of them have discovered (wither they or it or not) spirits and they have welcomed those spirits into their home because they like the way those spirits make them feel.
How did man discover these spirits? Through hurts and pains, through searching for something to fill a void inside them, through music they listened too, and the list goes on. We are humans who all long to feel something good inside of us. That's not a bad thing, but we must be mindful and careful of what we go to to make us feel good. God gave us laws and boundaries to help us to know when what we are feeling is either temporarily good or eternally good.
Man tries to hide the real laws because he wants to do his own will and not Gods. We try and hide it and think that we will get away with it, but God is not dumb! He knows and sees all and anyone who says or thinks otherwise is only keeping themselves blind to reality.
One of the many things that happens when the Law of the LORD is removed is a lost of convictions. We see this through schools. First, man removes praying in schools. Second, no teachers are allowed to teach their students biblical applications in public schools. Third, homosexuality is now becoming more and more welcomed and encouraged. Man removes laws because that law reveals something they don't want to know or care about.
I tell you what, we can try our hardest to try and remove and forget the laws God gave (and still gives to us), but we can only 'escape' for a time. We will one day stand before our Heavenly Father and we will have to answer for our actions.
Amen
God Bless!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
This is a small post, but it is to be an encouragement to you
A couple weeks ago I quit my job and God provided me with my 'dream job'. There was a two week gap between quitting my old job and beginning my new on. During those couple weeks God brought me through many things. I went through three specific things: discouragement, Did I do the right thing by quitting my old job so soon?, attacks on my mind, and sorrow. God was so WONDERFUL in opening my eyes to hear what He was saying through it all! I would get discourage, but God would come in with strength and truth. I would have a million things in my mind causing me to be SO confused and left in a snare. God would bring in upon a friends heart to pray and call me to encourage me. I would have sorrow because I have no money to go out and do stuff with my friends or even friends to go out and do stuff with because they are either at work or in school. God brought me home my little sister for a couple days to cheer me up.
I tell you these things because I want your eyes to be open too. God is not human! He can be everywhere at once and never sleeps or slumbers. We sometimes get trapped in a human mind and forget that God is not us! He is NEVER too busy for us! He wants us to learn more about Him and He about us. There is Grace for every trial! There is grace for everything and all we need to do is cry out for it!
Open your mind to hear when God is saying to you, "Cry out for my grace now!" He sees what is ahead and wants us to pass through every trial alive and stronger!
One last thing I have to say as an encouragement. TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT GREAT THINGS GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU!!!! As it was Thanksgiving last week, God has been continually speaking to me, "Listen to what my people have to say. Learn from their experience and allow me to use you to speak to them!"
Amen :-)
God Bless
I tell you these things because I want your eyes to be open too. God is not human! He can be everywhere at once and never sleeps or slumbers. We sometimes get trapped in a human mind and forget that God is not us! He is NEVER too busy for us! He wants us to learn more about Him and He about us. There is Grace for every trial! There is grace for everything and all we need to do is cry out for it!
Open your mind to hear when God is saying to you, "Cry out for my grace now!" He sees what is ahead and wants us to pass through every trial alive and stronger!
One last thing I have to say as an encouragement. TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT GREAT THINGS GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU!!!! As it was Thanksgiving last week, God has been continually speaking to me, "Listen to what my people have to say. Learn from their experience and allow me to use you to speak to them!"
Amen :-)
God Bless
Sunday, October 9, 2011
We are called to be Christ-like! We are in this world, not to be of it, but to show them what they cannot see. To show them that life on earth isn't forever and that they're walking on a path that leads to eternal death. As Christians we tend to fear the world more then our Lord and it prevents us from speaking the truth to others around us. We must sacrifice our fears and take that step out in faith, with hope, and with love! God is speaking to me about how He wants me to practice these three things more and more! We need faith and what is faith? Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of the Lord. Now what's hope? Hope is taking that step out without knowing what is going to happen, but believing God's in control of this! And Love is what we need to be able to do the first two for someone whom we don't even know. We must take that first step of faith, when we hear from God, and continue in hope, in the middle of the trial where we don't seem to hear anything, but are hopeful, and then Love for the one we are doing it for!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
I was walking this evening in the rain and I wanted to pray, but I didn't really know what to pray about. So, when you don't have anything to pray for speak in tongues. A little after I started speaking in tongues God put some words in my mind. "Lift your vision high, we're in a way we've never been before! For without a progressive vision you will dwell carelessly" and these words kept going through my mind and each time God brought His feelings about this into my heart. He caused me to feel the seriousness of these words in this day and age!
In our morning service my Pastor spoke on the defense part of an army. God is raising up an army and we must listen to what He is teaching us! We cannot go into battle when we have no equipment. We must be equipped, have the strength and knowledge to handle the equipment, and lastly have our complete Armour on! Also, we must make sure that our WHOLE Armour is on and that there is no space for the enemy to sneak through!
Another point my Pastor brought out was that God wants us to be studying and continually learning because we MUST have the answers for the people who have questions! We sometimes may pray for God to give us people to minister to, but if we have no knowledge of what we say we believe in then He cannot use us to do what we ask Him to do! He wants us to be continually learning, meditating day and night, and equipping ourselves with the answers to questions that people will ask us!
The next thought God brought to me was on 'Difficult'. Each day is a new day full of new things both easy and hard. God is strengthening and maturing His army by bringing them through difficult trials. When things get hard, will you just give up? or will you fight the good fight?
One last thought: Matthew 22:14 - MANY are called, but FEW are chosen! God wants those who are faithful, tried, and true! The ones who listened and equipped themselves with the truth and those who will fight the good fight!!!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
GOT STRENGTH?
I was sitting in one of our Bible Certificate Program at my church. The course was on "True Christianity" a book written by Rev. Paul Caram. This book is an excellent book! It is an eye opening and convicting book! This evening our teacher taught on a portion of "Strength" and I wanted to share some of the pointers on strength and what it is. Mostly because it was an eye opener for me and I want it to be one for you too.
In this day and age, Christians, are without a doubt struggling left and right. God is bringing trials into our lives and it is to cause us to make a decision! No more "sitting on the fence"! God does not force us to do anything. The Christian walk is one that we follow Gods way, but we must remember that it is a choice. Some aren't willing to make that choice, others are, and many are in between. We are always hearing about Grace and asking God to give us Grace, but I also feel that we lack in the area of asking for strength!
In this day and age, Christians, are without a doubt struggling left and right. God is bringing trials into our lives and it is to cause us to make a decision! No more "sitting on the fence"! God does not force us to do anything. The Christian walk is one that we follow Gods way, but we must remember that it is a choice. Some aren't willing to make that choice, others are, and many are in between. We are always hearing about Grace and asking God to give us Grace, but I also feel that we lack in the area of asking for strength!
What is Strength?
Wisdom, humility are both strength! Being able to handle failure is a sign of strength (not giving up even though it gets tough). Strength is also, being ruined by success (don’t allow yourself to become over confident). It is the ability to cope with reproach and not being governed by those who reproach you. It is also facing the lose of something.
When do you know that you have true Strength?
The mark of true strength is to not be easily turned to the right or the left. Also, by having a right response to difficulties and long delays. Strength is when you are able to conquer fears. Fear is what takes away our faith and strength. There is a good and a wrong fear. We need to learn what our fears are and pray that God will help us to over come them because wrong fears can paralyze us! God wants us to overcome our fears because if we don't then they will keep us from entering into His fullness for us and our inheritance!
Properly handling injustice/hurt. God is more interested in how we handle our self and attitude then anything else. Our dependence should be found in God! Strength is not depending on our own strength, but it is depending upon God. Be whole hearted and filled with the Fruits of the Spirit! God wants His people to be fully equipped for what He has planned for us! We must realize that we are the Joshua Generation, the generation that will bring our land to deliverance but we cannot do it with our own strength! We need the continue day by day strength of God!
Blessings to you all!
When do you know that you have true Strength?
The mark of true strength is to not be easily turned to the right or the left. Also, by having a right response to difficulties and long delays. Strength is when you are able to conquer fears. Fear is what takes away our faith and strength. There is a good and a wrong fear. We need to learn what our fears are and pray that God will help us to over come them because wrong fears can paralyze us! God wants us to overcome our fears because if we don't then they will keep us from entering into His fullness for us and our inheritance!
Properly handling injustice/hurt. God is more interested in how we handle our self and attitude then anything else. Our dependence should be found in God! Strength is not depending on our own strength, but it is depending upon God. Be whole hearted and filled with the Fruits of the Spirit! God wants His people to be fully equipped for what He has planned for us! We must realize that we are the Joshua Generation, the generation that will bring our land to deliverance but we cannot do it with our own strength! We need the continue day by day strength of God!
Blessings to you all!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Labor for Eternity
"Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree bears her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call." Joel 2:21-32
One of the sermons my Pastor spoke on (09/04/11) was about Labor. The main point of his message was that our time on earth is considered labor for eternity. We are to consider what we are laboring on in this earth. Make sure that it is not labor for earthly things! We want to get to Heaven and find that our labors on earth was fruitful.
My Pastor brought up this verse in Joel and I wanted to use to encourage those who are getting discouraged or losing faith. Be not full of sorrow, but be glad and rejoice for things will change soon! God promises it and repeats Himself throughout scripture and this chapter. Hold onto those promises that He gives to you and continue to labor. If you find that you haven't been laboring in the right things; now is your time to make that decision to labor in what God has planned for you to labor in! Don't run from it because it will only bring you more sorrow and suffering! Do allow yourself to be lazy and one day find yourself with with all earthly things and nothing eternal!
I pray that God would touch the hearts of those who come and read my blog. I post stuff because I want people to understand who God is and why I serve and live each day for Him! He is the way, truth, and life and I have been brought through many situations that caused me to realize my need for Him and that I cannot go through this life on earth without Him and His saving grace, unconditional everlasting love, and Holy Spirit! So if you come to my blog and read my post, know that I really am praying for you that God would get a hold of your life and make Himself real and true to you like He did for me and start laboring in the right things!
God Bless :)
One of the sermons my Pastor spoke on (09/04/11) was about Labor. The main point of his message was that our time on earth is considered labor for eternity. We are to consider what we are laboring on in this earth. Make sure that it is not labor for earthly things! We want to get to Heaven and find that our labors on earth was fruitful.
My Pastor brought up this verse in Joel and I wanted to use to encourage those who are getting discouraged or losing faith. Be not full of sorrow, but be glad and rejoice for things will change soon! God promises it and repeats Himself throughout scripture and this chapter. Hold onto those promises that He gives to you and continue to labor. If you find that you haven't been laboring in the right things; now is your time to make that decision to labor in what God has planned for you to labor in! Don't run from it because it will only bring you more sorrow and suffering! Do allow yourself to be lazy and one day find yourself with with all earthly things and nothing eternal!
I pray that God would touch the hearts of those who come and read my blog. I post stuff because I want people to understand who God is and why I serve and live each day for Him! He is the way, truth, and life and I have been brought through many situations that caused me to realize my need for Him and that I cannot go through this life on earth without Him and His saving grace, unconditional everlasting love, and Holy Spirit! So if you come to my blog and read my post, know that I really am praying for you that God would get a hold of your life and make Himself real and true to you like He did for me and start laboring in the right things!
God Bless :)
We make time for the things we love/treasure the most!
God has been teaching me lately about time and what I am spending or even investing my time in doing. Time is important and what we do with it! Most people would ask why is it important to worry about how you spend your time? Life is short and you should just enjoy it. Well it is true, our life is short here on earth, but that is why we must be wise with our time. Revival is near and God is trying to prepare His people for what is coming. I know that I don't want Revival to come and I'm found not prepared! Even thinking about that makes me realize that my Heavenly Father would not be pleased with me and I live longing to find His favor upon my life! In our Wednesday service our speaker said these words that touch me in a great way, "Only those who please God can find true contentment." I want God's favor always to be on my life.
We are living in a generation that waste their time watching too much TV, texting, sleeping too much, over eating, partying and the list goes on. God wants to show us new and amazing things, but we tend to fill our time up so that He can't show amazing things. I attended our church camp last month and each day we experience new and absolutely amazingly new things! I want to get to the point where I have that everyday of my life! Walking with Jesus everywhere I go!
Preparation is a daily task! Each day God has planned before the creation of the Heaven and Earth and I don't know about you, but I want to find out what God has planned for me and walk in it daily! I want to invest in my Heavenly Home! I do not want to get to Heaven and find that I wasted so much time and settled for less then what God had planned for me!
Amen!
We are living in a generation that waste their time watching too much TV, texting, sleeping too much, over eating, partying and the list goes on. God wants to show us new and amazing things, but we tend to fill our time up so that He can't show amazing things. I attended our church camp last month and each day we experience new and absolutely amazingly new things! I want to get to the point where I have that everyday of my life! Walking with Jesus everywhere I go!
Preparation is a daily task! Each day God has planned before the creation of the Heaven and Earth and I don't know about you, but I want to find out what God has planned for me and walk in it daily! I want to invest in my Heavenly Home! I do not want to get to Heaven and find that I wasted so much time and settled for less then what God had planned for me!
Amen!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Psalms 27:1-6
"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD."
I am thankful that I am a Christian! I believe and servant a God who gives me strength when I am weak in this world. He is my God and I live each day hoping to please Him in what I do. It amazes me that, when I see my errors, God still loves and cares for me. He still helps me and picks me up when I fall down. Some days I feel like I'm always falling down and one thing God wants us to know is; we [mortals] will always fall in our walk and He doesn't want us to be discourage about it. Our fall is an opening of our eyes to what God wants us to give to Him and allow Him to cut it from the root! I love this one portion of scripture: "...even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell..." God wants us to know this! He put it into the Bible to let us know that HE CARES about us and we need not fear or be discourage when it seems like we're always failing! If God is for us, then WHO can STAND against us? The answer to that is NO ONE!!!! Which is why we must give ourselves to God fully and believe that, though the victory seems to be on the enemies side, God is with us and if we allow Him to consecrate our lives, then the victory will soon be ours!
Blessings to you all!
I am thankful that I am a Christian! I believe and servant a God who gives me strength when I am weak in this world. He is my God and I live each day hoping to please Him in what I do. It amazes me that, when I see my errors, God still loves and cares for me. He still helps me and picks me up when I fall down. Some days I feel like I'm always falling down and one thing God wants us to know is; we [mortals] will always fall in our walk and He doesn't want us to be discourage about it. Our fall is an opening of our eyes to what God wants us to give to Him and allow Him to cut it from the root! I love this one portion of scripture: "...even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell..." God wants us to know this! He put it into the Bible to let us know that HE CARES about us and we need not fear or be discourage when it seems like we're always failing! If God is for us, then WHO can STAND against us? The answer to that is NO ONE!!!! Which is why we must give ourselves to God fully and believe that, though the victory seems to be on the enemies side, God is with us and if we allow Him to consecrate our lives, then the victory will soon be ours!
Blessings to you all!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Discernment (Hebrews 4:12)
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
We are living in a time where we need to have an increasing of discernment. There will be the Anti-Christ who will arise and will deceive many people through beauty, prosperity, and by promising many other worldly treasures. We must dig into the Word so that we may eat of the Bread of Life. This Bread is not only life, but truth and we must eat this truth so that it may dwell within us. We must know the truth so that we may be able to discern what is false once it has come!
Once we have discerned what is false we must avoid it and not mess around with it! If you play with the false it will eventually gasp a hold of you and take over you. It's not that it's just false, but it's a Spirit and if you mess around with the false you are messing around with a Spirit. That is dangerous and can lead you down a road of destruction.
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword" The words in the Bible were planned, by God, before the word was created. He has these exact words in the Bible and they carry a power that is sharper then a two-edged sword. If you actually take time to read Gods word daily and open your heart to listen and feel the meaning of the words you can also feel a power. What is that power? It is the Spirit of the Lord that is in the words. Words are so important! I do believe that there are Spirits behind each word and that Gods Word is filled with the Holy Spirit.
Gods word is "piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit". When we read it, it also pointing on an area of your heart that needs to be dealt with. This is one reason why many people don't read their bibles! They want to think in their minds that they are a good Christian, but they don't want to read Gods word which will point to an area of their life where they need to deal with [such as an idol]. We need to love the word and be open to that piercing. If you want to please your Heavenly Father, then allow His to touch areas of your life through His piercing word.
We are living in a time where we need to have an increasing of discernment. There will be the Anti-Christ who will arise and will deceive many people through beauty, prosperity, and by promising many other worldly treasures. We must dig into the Word so that we may eat of the Bread of Life. This Bread is not only life, but truth and we must eat this truth so that it may dwell within us. We must know the truth so that we may be able to discern what is false once it has come!
Once we have discerned what is false we must avoid it and not mess around with it! If you play with the false it will eventually gasp a hold of you and take over you. It's not that it's just false, but it's a Spirit and if you mess around with the false you are messing around with a Spirit. That is dangerous and can lead you down a road of destruction.
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword" The words in the Bible were planned, by God, before the word was created. He has these exact words in the Bible and they carry a power that is sharper then a two-edged sword. If you actually take time to read Gods word daily and open your heart to listen and feel the meaning of the words you can also feel a power. What is that power? It is the Spirit of the Lord that is in the words. Words are so important! I do believe that there are Spirits behind each word and that Gods Word is filled with the Holy Spirit.
Gods word is "piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit". When we read it, it also pointing on an area of your heart that needs to be dealt with. This is one reason why many people don't read their bibles! They want to think in their minds that they are a good Christian, but they don't want to read Gods word which will point to an area of their life where they need to deal with [such as an idol]. We need to love the word and be open to that piercing. If you want to please your Heavenly Father, then allow His to touch areas of your life through His piercing word.
God Bless!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
We are living in a time where the enemy is VERY active! We need to realize what power God has given to us. This great power is called prayer! By prayer we can move the mountains and the enemy knows what great power there is in prayer. He trys to destroy that power or prevent us from using this power by causing us to think doubts and have little faith. Praying without believeing (without faith) that God is listening and will bring this to past in season is a waste of time. We must speak with our lips, believe with our hearts, and know in our minds that He will answer!
Through prayer we can also learn to hear Gods voice. This is another reason why Satan does not want us to pray. If we listen and learn to know Gods voice he cannot trick us. Satan uses the worldliness a lot of times to speak to us and we must learn and know what voice is speaking! He need to listen to when He sayes: "NO!", "not yet", and "it's time". Prayer is one key to learning how to hear and know God's voice.
Everyone has a question and everyone that has a question wants to have an answer. If we have a question we must ask God through prayer and continue to ask until He responds! He doesn't want us to stay in a pitt of confussion so if you believe that you've allowed the enemy to speak that into you! Don't believe that because God is ALL KNOWING and He wants us to know the answers! Pray, seek through His Word so that you may know the truth and that it may set you free!
God wants to bless us (Ps. 68:19), He wants us to choose to do that which is pleasing to Him (Is. 56:4), to receive the enternal He has choosen for us (Is 56:4), to come to Him when we are weary and burden so that He may give us rest (Mt. 11:28), He wants us to know Him and He you (Jer. 24:7), to provide for you in perfect season (Dt. 11:14).
Begin praying for yourself. Not for selfish or worldly things, but for breakthroughs, peace, and strength etc. As you start out praying for yourself allow God to use you to lift up others to Him! Sacrifice you time to Him in prayer and allow Him to use you to pray for others!
Amen!
Through prayer we can also learn to hear Gods voice. This is another reason why Satan does not want us to pray. If we listen and learn to know Gods voice he cannot trick us. Satan uses the worldliness a lot of times to speak to us and we must learn and know what voice is speaking! He need to listen to when He sayes: "NO!", "not yet", and "it's time". Prayer is one key to learning how to hear and know God's voice.
Everyone has a question and everyone that has a question wants to have an answer. If we have a question we must ask God through prayer and continue to ask until He responds! He doesn't want us to stay in a pitt of confussion so if you believe that you've allowed the enemy to speak that into you! Don't believe that because God is ALL KNOWING and He wants us to know the answers! Pray, seek through His Word so that you may know the truth and that it may set you free!
God wants to bless us (Ps. 68:19), He wants us to choose to do that which is pleasing to Him (Is. 56:4), to receive the enternal He has choosen for us (Is 56:4), to come to Him when we are weary and burden so that He may give us rest (Mt. 11:28), He wants us to know Him and He you (Jer. 24:7), to provide for you in perfect season (Dt. 11:14).
Begin praying for yourself. Not for selfish or worldly things, but for breakthroughs, peace, and strength etc. As you start out praying for yourself allow God to use you to lift up others to Him! Sacrifice you time to Him in prayer and allow Him to use you to pray for others!
Amen!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Waiting
If you truly love someone, then you should be willing to wait for them! God has given His people many promises and we tend to give up quickly and forget those promises, but God has been stirring up my heart recently to not give up! Hold fast to the grace received and remember that He will be faithful to complete the work He began in you!
Amen :)
Amen :)
Monday, May 2, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
The Seven Pillars of Wisdom: Leadership V.1 By Dr. Brian J. Bailey
Wisdom is one of the qualities of 'Great Leadership'. (Wisdom is the ability to make the right choices.)
The seven pillars of wisdom are:
1.) Pure- Victory over the passions and lusts of the flesh (free from discordant [disagreements]qualities). Our motives must be pure so that when we are held up to the light we may be found true and not deceitful.
2.) Peaceable- This word means to have a peaceful nature. One who is peaceable seeks to live in unity with others. (The key to unity is humility!)
3.) Gentle- One must remember that we must have the law of kindness on our lips when we speak! A leader must have gentle speech and remember who they are speaking to. So many tend to be rough with people and in so doing they wound the sensibilities of those to whom they are speaking to. (* A leader must remember that his speech and touch must be cradled in gentleness!)
4.) Easy to be intreated- Intreated means to plea to someone. So, easy to be intreated means that he is one who gives a listening ear to those who have a need/plea. He is sympathetic to the views of others and yields in the unimportant matters in life. Most people now don't even give a listening ear, but a leader is and must be willing to listen and give what he can. (Be that leader who people come to because they know he will listen! Also, make sure you have discernment!)
5.) Full of mercy and good fruits- As a leader you must realize that those whom you are leading will continually fail, but the constant admonition (cautionary advice about something imminent [concerning something that will occur soon]) we are given is, "You must never give up on them!" Remember, though we fall, though we fall, we shall not be cast down for the Lord upholds (causes us to remain or last) us with His hands! We shall not be cast down for He is upholding us with His hands. So as leaders under Christ we must not cast our sheep aside, but be a Christ-like leader and uphold them. Don't give up on them!!!
6.) Without partiality- This means that leader must treat all equally regardless of the position or relationship!!! Favortism does not please the Lord and He will deal with those who have partiality in them! It is easier to like those who obey you and seem to never faill, but God wants us to leader everyone and by everyone He did mean those who do well and those who seem to fail, fail, and fail! Jesus came to earth and was the example of a leader and who do not see anywhere in the Bible Him showing partiality. (Invest you time in those who seem to keep failing! God never gives up on upholding us! We must not give up upholding eachother!)
7.) Without hypocrisy- A leader must be genuine!!!!! God does not want us to be double life leaders! Those who have been given a leadership position and are a hypocritical with it! (Be that leader who practices that which he preaches and encourages others to live by!)
I am doing a study on leadership and I am studying from "Leadership" by: Dr. Brian J. Bailey. If you would also like to further your study in the area of leadership, please visit http://www.zcpublishers.com/ and type in 'Leadership' in the search box and purchase your own book for only $8.00. Also, feel free to browse through all of the books and see if there are some other books you might be interested in purchasing and studying.
God Bless!
The seven pillars of wisdom are:
1.) Pure- Victory over the passions and lusts of the flesh (free from discordant [disagreements]qualities). Our motives must be pure so that when we are held up to the light we may be found true and not deceitful.
2.) Peaceable- This word means to have a peaceful nature. One who is peaceable seeks to live in unity with others. (The key to unity is humility!)
3.) Gentle- One must remember that we must have the law of kindness on our lips when we speak! A leader must have gentle speech and remember who they are speaking to. So many tend to be rough with people and in so doing they wound the sensibilities of those to whom they are speaking to. (* A leader must remember that his speech and touch must be cradled in gentleness!)
4.) Easy to be intreated- Intreated means to plea to someone. So, easy to be intreated means that he is one who gives a listening ear to those who have a need/plea. He is sympathetic to the views of others and yields in the unimportant matters in life. Most people now don't even give a listening ear, but a leader is and must be willing to listen and give what he can. (Be that leader who people come to because they know he will listen! Also, make sure you have discernment!)
5.) Full of mercy and good fruits- As a leader you must realize that those whom you are leading will continually fail, but the constant admonition (cautionary advice about something imminent [concerning something that will occur soon]) we are given is, "You must never give up on them!" Remember, though we fall, though we fall, we shall not be cast down for the Lord upholds (causes us to remain or last) us with His hands! We shall not be cast down for He is upholding us with His hands. So as leaders under Christ we must not cast our sheep aside, but be a Christ-like leader and uphold them. Don't give up on them!!!
6.) Without partiality- This means that leader must treat all equally regardless of the position or relationship!!! Favortism does not please the Lord and He will deal with those who have partiality in them! It is easier to like those who obey you and seem to never faill, but God wants us to leader everyone and by everyone He did mean those who do well and those who seem to fail, fail, and fail! Jesus came to earth and was the example of a leader and who do not see anywhere in the Bible Him showing partiality. (Invest you time in those who seem to keep failing! God never gives up on upholding us! We must not give up upholding eachother!)
7.) Without hypocrisy- A leader must be genuine!!!!! God does not want us to be double life leaders! Those who have been given a leadership position and are a hypocritical with it! (Be that leader who practices that which he preaches and encourages others to live by!)
I am doing a study on leadership and I am studying from "Leadership" by: Dr. Brian J. Bailey. If you would also like to further your study in the area of leadership, please visit http://www.zcpublishers.com/ and type in 'Leadership' in the search box and purchase your own book for only $8.00. Also, feel free to browse through all of the books and see if there are some other books you might be interested in purchasing and studying.
God Bless!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
God will never give us a trial beyond our capability!
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
- I Cor. 10:13
Take comfort in knowing that God doesn't give Job size trials to the new in faith. The Apostle Paul states that God will never give us a trial or a test beyond our capability! (Trial of the Saints: Ten trials from the book of Daniel, written by Rev. Daniel Caram)
Amen!
God Bless
Friday, April 8, 2011
Spring Convention 2011
This week I attended our Spring church convention and words cannot seem to describe how strong, clear, comforting, and convicting Gods message was for myself.
God is so good! He wants us to take His yoke (His law) and learn of Him [Matthew 11:29]. You know we think that God is so demanding and hard, but He is not! Matthew 11:30 He says, "For my yoke [my law] is easy, and my burden [task or service] is light."
We need to be investing our time in knowing who our God really is, in creating a stronger relationship with Him, and dwelling in His presence! If we go back to verse 29 we learn that He is humble, meek, and lowly. He wants us to be humble and lowly, to esteem others before our self, just like what He did for us. I was teaching the younger kids Sunday School last week and they were learning about the 31 kings in a Christian walk and about JOY. We, as humans, want to have true joy! As Christians, we must be willing to allow a change in our mindset. Let us remember that true joy can only be: Jesus first, Others second, and then Yourself must be last. This is so hard for us to do because we think 'to be humble and lowly' means to be sad and down, but it's now! That is a bird of lies that flies over our heads and tries to lay a nest. True joy is putting God first, others next, and yourself last! We need to kick that 'birds nest' off our head and be willing to put God FIRST, others NEXT, and yourself LAST! (God wants us to dedicate our lives and be changed by the renewing of our minds; having minds like Christ.)
His grace is so very sufficient for our needs. God is wanting a people who are willing to be made more like Him. He wants us to be completely willing to surrender ALL our will to Him alone. I look back and I see nothing, but an abundance of Gods grace. His Grace still amazes me and His love is still a mystery each day!
That reminds me of the words to one of the songs my sister wrote:
Surrender ALL your will and desire for Him to fill you! He is faithful and satisfies us! We just need to discover that! 8*) Conform me Lord to YOUR plan!
God wants willing hearts! People that will surrender their all and allow Him to use us (to conform us) to fulfill His plan. A guest speaker spoke to the youth and He said something that really gave myself a slap in the face, but it is true! He said to us, "I don't think we realize that God doesn't need our help!" That is painful to hear, but it is really true! He can do it alone, but He is an awesome God and He allows us to be able to say 'He is my God and He wants to use me to fulfill something I cannot even fathom!' Hearing those words made me realize how small I really am. When we go out into the world and work with them a lot we begin to get big heads and we start to forget who really is the one who needs help! We must continually remind ourselves that without God we are nothing and that we have the victory only through Jesus!
Humble ourselves in the eyes of our LORD! In Second Chronicles chapter seven and verse fourteen it says, "If my people, who are called by my name, would humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." We must have a completely willing to humble ourselves not in our own eyes, but in the eyes of our lord, then will He: listen, forgive, and heal. We must understand the importance of this verse because we are living in the time where our nation is loosing the favor and we must be those people who are willing to humble themselves and pray for our nation! So many lives depend on me humbling myself before God (it's the humble that receive the Grace of God!). Humility is the key to unity!!!
God also spoke in the services that we must seek righteousness and meekness.
Seek Righteousness: it is important that we love righteousness and hate wickedness! God loves and delights in those who do righteousness. "Blessed are they who hunger after righteousness; for they shall be filled." Be ye filled with righteousness of God [holiness is to be different; separate from iniquity!]
Seek Meekness: To be meek is to be tamed (one who will sit until he is beckoned), one who is broken and complete submission, no reaction to what other people say or conditions [learn to control yourself!] "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth."
Be dependant upon God and He shall preserve you! No more double standards, but allow God to do a cleansing work in you! Be transparent before God!
Amen! God bless!
God is so good! He wants us to take His yoke (His law) and learn of Him [Matthew 11:29]. You know we think that God is so demanding and hard, but He is not! Matthew 11:30 He says, "For my yoke [my law] is easy, and my burden [task or service] is light."
We need to be investing our time in knowing who our God really is, in creating a stronger relationship with Him, and dwelling in His presence! If we go back to verse 29 we learn that He is humble, meek, and lowly. He wants us to be humble and lowly, to esteem others before our self, just like what He did for us. I was teaching the younger kids Sunday School last week and they were learning about the 31 kings in a Christian walk and about JOY. We, as humans, want to have true joy! As Christians, we must be willing to allow a change in our mindset. Let us remember that true joy can only be: Jesus first, Others second, and then Yourself must be last. This is so hard for us to do because we think 'to be humble and lowly' means to be sad and down, but it's now! That is a bird of lies that flies over our heads and tries to lay a nest. True joy is putting God first, others next, and yourself last! We need to kick that 'birds nest' off our head and be willing to put God FIRST, others NEXT, and yourself LAST! (God wants us to dedicate our lives and be changed by the renewing of our minds; having minds like Christ.)
His grace is so very sufficient for our needs. God is wanting a people who are willing to be made more like Him. He wants us to be completely willing to surrender ALL our will to Him alone. I look back and I see nothing, but an abundance of Gods grace. His Grace still amazes me and His love is still a mystery each day!
That reminds me of the words to one of the songs my sister wrote:
One burning desire,
Is to be more like you!
How long Oh LORD,
'til I awake in Your likeness?
Empty me of every hindrance!
Fill me, with more of your Spirit,
Lord, I surrender all my will.
Let your hand come touch my heart once again,
Conform me Lord to your plan
I don't want to be the same,
Change me in Your presence day by day
Surrender ALL your will and desire for Him to fill you! He is faithful and satisfies us! We just need to discover that! 8*) Conform me Lord to YOUR plan!
God wants willing hearts! People that will surrender their all and allow Him to use us (to conform us) to fulfill His plan. A guest speaker spoke to the youth and He said something that really gave myself a slap in the face, but it is true! He said to us, "I don't think we realize that God doesn't need our help!" That is painful to hear, but it is really true! He can do it alone, but He is an awesome God and He allows us to be able to say 'He is my God and He wants to use me to fulfill something I cannot even fathom!' Hearing those words made me realize how small I really am. When we go out into the world and work with them a lot we begin to get big heads and we start to forget who really is the one who needs help! We must continually remind ourselves that without God we are nothing and that we have the victory only through Jesus!
Humble ourselves in the eyes of our LORD! In Second Chronicles chapter seven and verse fourteen it says, "If my people, who are called by my name, would humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." We must have a completely willing to humble ourselves not in our own eyes, but in the eyes of our lord, then will He: listen, forgive, and heal. We must understand the importance of this verse because we are living in the time where our nation is loosing the favor and we must be those people who are willing to humble themselves and pray for our nation! So many lives depend on me humbling myself before God (it's the humble that receive the Grace of God!). Humility is the key to unity!!!
God also spoke in the services that we must seek righteousness and meekness.
Seek Righteousness: it is important that we love righteousness and hate wickedness! God loves and delights in those who do righteousness. "Blessed are they who hunger after righteousness; for they shall be filled." Be ye filled with righteousness of God [holiness is to be different; separate from iniquity!]
Seek Meekness: To be meek is to be tamed (one who will sit until he is beckoned), one who is broken and complete submission, no reaction to what other people say or conditions [learn to control yourself!] "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth."
Be dependant upon God and He shall preserve you! No more double standards, but allow God to do a cleansing work in you! Be transparent before God!
Amen! God bless!
A Heart Fully Committed to God
Man needs to face the biggest giant of all and that is the need for a pure heart.
Psalms 19:8 - "The statues of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes."
When our hearts are pure our eyes have a clear vision and our heart has a certain understanding and ability to interpret scripture with a right mind. Understanding is more an issue of the heart than the mind. Truth is only revealed to the honest and pure hearts!
Our greatest foe is a heart that is not fully surrendered to God! The issue is not the hearing of truth but the love for it!
From Dr. Paul G. Carams book, Hermeneutics Keys for Interpreting the Scriptures, He says, "Deception overtakes people not because truth is unavailable, but because "men loved darkness rather than light." They did not receive a love for the truth. I say it again, our heart must be fully surrendered to God.
God wants us to dedicate our lives and be changed by the renewing of our minds. Having the mind of Christ. In the book of Matthew chapter eleven and verse twenty nine, he brings out two aspects of Gods nature: meek and lowly [humble] heart. We, as Gods people, must be willing to be humbled and meek. Dwell and abide in His presence because He dwells with those who have a humble and contrite spirit!
We must have a humility in our mind and esteem others above ourself.
My final thought is God allowed us to be on the border, but we are now in a time where God is commanding us, His people, to make a decision. He doesn't want us to be forced to serve Him, but to have a willingness! A heart that is fully committed to Him! Single eyed!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Proverbs 18:3
"When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach."
Wicked - meaning those who are guilty, ungodly, and condemned
cometh - to attain or to carry
contempt - some synonyms for this word would be: disrespect or scorn. A dictionary definition for this word: 1. lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike, 2. a manner that is generally disrespectful and contemptuous, 3. open disrespect for a person or thing, and 4. a willful disobedience to or disrespect for the authority of a court or legislative body .
ignominy - synonyms: shame or dishonor. Definition: a state of dishonor
reproach - a mild rebuke or criticism
So now that we defined some of the main words in this verse we can put them together with a better understanding.
When the guilty, condemned, and ungodly come, then comes the scorn, disrespectful, and willful disobedient, and with shame and dishonor rebuke.
We learn in this verse that the wicked bears nor brings forth nothing good. They are the guilty, condemned, the ungodly. Their character is disrespectful, willfully disobedient, they bring dishonor and shame.
One thing I have learned about shame is that once it has a good hold onto you it's hard to destroy. It eats you up and eventually uses you to cause shame in other people. No one likes to show what they are ashamed of. What causes us to be ashamed? Criticism! When people point out our faults we become ashamed.
In this verse I also hear a warning: And that is: we must be careful of our surroundings! Last Sunday Evening the message was about 'Drinking from the Right Well' and the speaker said this, "It takes a special grace to not partake of the world! We must not drink of the waters of this world" If we don't have that special grace and we find ourselves surrounded by the wrong environment, life will be hard and no guarantee of staying on the path! We must have Grace!!! I'll admit the only thing that keeps me going at my job is the Grace of God. If His Grace isn't there then I know I must move on to another place. I have felt life with His Grace and without His Grace and I cannot life without it! Stay with His Grace!
I want to conclude by saying this: Please remember when this: when the wicked come he bring willful disrespect, shame, dishonor, and criticism.
Amen
God Bless!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Your Grace Still Amazes Me: Sung by Leah J. Anderson
Church of Mt. Zion: Erie, PA
Located: 18th & Liberty St., Erie PA
Our Telephone: (814) 456-1422
Church of Mt. Zion: Erie, PA
Located: 18th & Liberty St., Erie PA
Our Telephone: (814) 456-1422
Our Church Website: mtzionweb.org
The Church of Mt. Zion is a Full Gospel church with an emphasis on teaching, worship and missions.
We believe that the church age will end in great revival and that the great commission shall be fulfilled (Mat. 24:14). We must complete the acts of faith that our fathers saw from a distance! (See Heb. 11:39-40).
Proverbs 18:2
"A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself."
A fool hath no delight in understanding, - Why does he have no delight in understanding? and what is this understanding? I'll answer the second question first: This understanding is of the truth [Gods Word]. He does not delight in understanding the truth because the truth shows him that he is on the wrong path.
but that his heart may discover itself. - A fool seeks in darkness that he can discover what he wants to discover and forget all the things he wants to do. He wants to be 'free', but he does not know that he is blind to the fact that his 'freedom' is only for a time and is really bondage adding up.
Ex: The understanding [truth] is represented here as a bright light. No a fool he is represented as a lover of darkness. A fool loves the dark because he can go where ever he pleases and no care, but once that bright light of understanding comes closer and closer to him he gets mad. He does not like that light because it will show areas that he would rather keep in the dark.
Gods fire is like that bright light; He uses it to shine in a particular area of our heart that He knows needs to be dealt with. Through His light we can discover what is in our heart and we must not be a fool and try to hide it. We need to allow God to deal with that area now and not wait until it gets worse and harder to get ride of!
Let us make sure we are not lovers of darkness. May we be willing to allow God to shine His light upon us and deal with areas that need to be dealt with now!
God Bless :-)
Monday, January 31, 2011
Proverbs 18:1
"Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom."
Through desire a man, - We must be careful of what we desire! I say this because we love what we desire and what we love will, in time, come to us. If you desire evil things, then you will get it. If you desire God, then He shall come. Be careful though because people may appear walking on the right path, but if they are desiring evil in their head evil will come and they will leave the path to pursue more evil.
having separated himself, - Who is the 'he'?, Why is he separating? and from whom is he separating himself from?
1.) He is the fool
2.) He is separating himself because he [a fool] desires evil and evil has come to him.
3.) He is separating himself from the truth [God].
He desires evil and evil has now come to him. He loves it and is leaving the path he is on to pursue more evil.
seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom - (Proverbs 14:10; the heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy) Like it sayes in this verse, "our hearts knows its own bitterness." We all have a foolish nature and that is the 'old man'. Once we have chosen to follow Jesus we choose to put to death the 'old man' [foolish nature] and put on a new man. A fool puts on a fake 'new man', but keeps the heart of the 'old man'. He can only do this for so long before God makes the fools ways known. A fool does not like to hear the truth [wisdom], but those who have wisdom try to speak to the fool. The foolish man also has his prideful nature and so he trys to intermeddle [quarrel/interfere] with wisdom. He quarrels with wisdom and seeks to always win.
The warning God gave to me as I meditated on this verse was: We must be careful of what we desire! What you love [desire] will, in time, come to you!
God Bless
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Psalms 81:8-9
Psalms 81:8-9
"Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me; There shall no strange god be in thee, neither shalt thou worship any strange god."
There will always be a bondage that leads to a certain freedom. When the 'new man' is freed; then the 'old man' is put into bondage. If the 'old man' is freed, then the 'new man' is put into bondage! When I read these two verses it sounds like this: "Hear, O my people, if you will listen to me; there will not be a strange god in you."
If we listen to God, He will guide us, provide for us through all our trials and rejoicings. The 'strange god' here is what the old man feeds upon. He feeds on the god of self-pride, ignorance, worldliness, etc. The 'old man' does not like to surrender/submit to anyone. The 'new man' knows that there is more and longs for it. He has a willingness to listen and submit even when he is in a time where he does not understand.
In this verse we see 'O Israel' meaning the children of Israel whom God gave to them a leader to free them, but they did not allow their 'new man' to stay free. They submitted to the 'old man' and they were punished because the 'old man' choose to worship idols and caused the people to believe that God freed them from Eygpt just to lead them into a wilderness to die.
We need to get to the place where the 'old man' is bound and the 'new man' is free to worship our Lord. Just like one of my favorite uplifting songs I sing:
Set free to worship,
I'm set free to praise,
I'm set free rejoice before the Lord.
I'll laugh, i'll shout, i'll dance, i'll sing,
Hallelujah, Amen
Let praises ring.
Set free to rejoice forevermore!
It is easier to give up, just like the Israelites did and let the 'old man' free, but we must strive for the strength of God to keep the 'old man' bound and the 'new man' freed, so that we may worship our God, Savior, and King (especially in the dark times)!
Amen!
God Bless You All 8*)
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Merry Late Christmas from the Anderson Family :)
I don't know about you guys, but Christmas this year snuck up on me! I could not believe that it has come and gone.Christmas Eve I worked and God helped me through it all. It was quite busy, but there was peace among us all. After work I had a power sleep before we headed over to my Aunts house where our WHOLE family gather each year. 8*) It was nice to see Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and Grandma.
After stuffing our faces 8-) (hehehe) and visiting we made our way home to pray and opened one present. :):):):) That was a delight! I opened my fathers present for me which was a gloriously beautiful necklace. I cannot describe it anymore that I already have, but I was extremely grateful for it. Thanks pappy 8*D
Christmas day 8-D8-D8-D8-D8-D8-D We had a WONDERFUL brunch that my younger sister prepared for us and then the presents. This years gifts were wonderful...I got not what I wanted, but what I needed and I loved it :)
God Blessed my beyond words this year! He has brought me through many trials, worked in and out of me many things and He has given me promises that I hold on to! There were wise men who travelled to bring three gifts to Jesus: Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. I want these three to be worked into me! Gold speaks of Divine nature, Frankincense speaks of faith and Myrrh of meekness. Another Christmas has gone by, another year coming to an end and a new year approaching. My question for you is: What are you doing? Do you have God in your heart? If so, is He alive and real in you/to you?
I ask myself these questions too and I hope that we all will be honest with ourselves. God is life and if you have that life in you are you feeding that life? He wants to know you and you Him in a deeper and greater way. So get going! 8*D
~ God Bless!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Fathers Provision
"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor
reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father
~ Matthew 6:26
As you read this verse you will quickly realize it is not a very well known verse. Looking at this verse, the point may be apparent to many who read it, but I hope that as we read it God may speak something specific to you through this verse.
The main points are: the birds, sowing and reaping, and the provision of the Heavenly Father.
Man is constantly sowing and reaping something everyday. If you are not familiar with the term "reap what you sow" then it means this: if one sows they are investing in something that they think will later on have a reward worth it all. Reaping is the result of your investment [sowing].
Example:
If a farmer sows [invests] much of his time into planting a good amount of his crop, then later on when the harvest time has come, he will reap [the result] a great reward- much food to either sell or feed his family.
So, back to 'Man is constantly sowing and reaping something each day.' If you sowed bad habits when you were younger, later on in life you shall eventually reap the consequence's. Sadly when one realizes and wants to change they are older and find it much harder to break those habits that they invested in for years and years. My point here is: we invest so much time into things, but do we invest enough time into thinking about what is the wiser choice? We have a Creator...are we investing time into our relationship with Him?
God provides for these birds, as this verse clearly states, so why wouldn't He provide for man? The answer is He does provide! He is our Jehovah-Jireh! Do we invest enough time into recognizing this? Invest in the right things and with the right reasons. God is our provider invest your time into Him and your relationship with Him and you shall reap a reward that is greater then anything reward this world offers can be! Why? Because His is a reward that is everlasting!
May we seek to know our Jehovah-Jireh "The Lord will Provide"!
God Bless!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Luke 11:33-34
"No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light. The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness."
I picked these verses because it is this time of year :-) I'm sure that most of us have heard the 'Jesus Birth' and also the 'Three Wise Men'. These two have to do with light! Jesus is the light of the world! [Matthew 5:14] and also the Three Wise men followed a star that was so bright. That leads me to the question that I want to ask you. What light are you following?
In this world there are many lights. There are two specific ones that I want to touch: the light of the world and the light in the world.
The First Light: 'Light of the world'
"The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light..."
As I already stated earlier Jesus is the light of the world. He was sent here to be the light by living a live of man. He was the light, or in other words, mans example. He walked this earth going through the trials and joys as man goes through. He walked each day teaching man what we are to do when we are in a situation. He knew His purpose and He submitted to His Heavenly Father! He could of hated His Heavenly Father for giving Him such a purpose, He could of given into the fame and misuse His power. Instead, He chose to be that light His Father asked Him to be. That is the light I want to be following. It is a light that is bright, one that I want dwelling in me, and one that I never want to be ashamed of nor hide! This light is one that burns in you and God uses it to move to specific areas in your heart that have been in darkness for too long. He uses that light to open your eyes to something new.
I like to sing one of the songs that my sister, Leah J. Anderson, wrote:
One burning desire to be more like you,
How long Oh Lord, til I awake in your likeness?
Empty me of every hindrance
Fill me, with more of your Spirit,
Lord, I surrender all my will,
Let your hand come touch my heart once again,
Conform me Lord to your plan
I don't want to be the same
Change me in your presence day by day
This song, to me, has the perfect words for what I want to say about the first light. God gave her these words and they exactly what I wanted to end with on this first light!
The second Light: 'Light in the world'
"...but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness"
This light is a temporary light, one that can be put out. This is the light that everyone can see and is attracted to. It shows you all the riches and glories of treasures that seem desirous. It closes our opened eyes and makes us blind! The enemy uses this to take our focus off the true light and once our focus is off the true light our attitude begins to change towards that everlasting light. We become ashamed of it and we then 'put it in a secret place' so that no one can see it!
This light will give us a false vision! It will show us only one half and that half is the glory's of the treasures in this world. It will not show us what the consequence of it all is!
In conclusion, I have told to you that there are two lights and what the two lights really are, now I want you to really think about what light you really are following (and please be honest it's only between you and God)? I would encourage you to follow the true light. To take your candle and go light your world!
~ God Bless!
I picked these verses because it is this time of year :-) I'm sure that most of us have heard the 'Jesus Birth' and also the 'Three Wise Men'. These two have to do with light! Jesus is the light of the world! [Matthew 5:14] and also the Three Wise men followed a star that was so bright. That leads me to the question that I want to ask you. What light are you following?
In this world there are many lights. There are two specific ones that I want to touch: the light of the world and the light in the world.
The First Light: 'Light of the world'
"The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light..."
As I already stated earlier Jesus is the light of the world. He was sent here to be the light by living a live of man. He was the light, or in other words, mans example. He walked this earth going through the trials and joys as man goes through. He walked each day teaching man what we are to do when we are in a situation. He knew His purpose and He submitted to His Heavenly Father! He could of hated His Heavenly Father for giving Him such a purpose, He could of given into the fame and misuse His power. Instead, He chose to be that light His Father asked Him to be. That is the light I want to be following. It is a light that is bright, one that I want dwelling in me, and one that I never want to be ashamed of nor hide! This light is one that burns in you and God uses it to move to specific areas in your heart that have been in darkness for too long. He uses that light to open your eyes to something new.
I like to sing one of the songs that my sister, Leah J. Anderson, wrote:
One burning desire to be more like you,
How long Oh Lord, til I awake in your likeness?
Empty me of every hindrance
Fill me, with more of your Spirit,
Lord, I surrender all my will,
Let your hand come touch my heart once again,
Conform me Lord to your plan
I don't want to be the same
Change me in your presence day by day
This song, to me, has the perfect words for what I want to say about the first light. God gave her these words and they exactly what I wanted to end with on this first light!
The second Light: 'Light in the world'
"...but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness"
This light is a temporary light, one that can be put out. This is the light that everyone can see and is attracted to. It shows you all the riches and glories of treasures that seem desirous. It closes our opened eyes and makes us blind! The enemy uses this to take our focus off the true light and once our focus is off the true light our attitude begins to change towards that everlasting light. We become ashamed of it and we then 'put it in a secret place' so that no one can see it!
This light will give us a false vision! It will show us only one half and that half is the glory's of the treasures in this world. It will not show us what the consequence of it all is!
In conclusion, I have told to you that there are two lights and what the two lights really are, now I want you to really think about what light you really are following (and please be honest it's only between you and God)? I would encourage you to follow the true light. To take your candle and go light your world!
~ God Bless!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Ways & Thoughts
I think that learning Gods ways is never ending. Our minds are so limited, but Gods mind is so wide and incomprehensible. His ways, in a situation, can be completely different then ours. Why is this true? It is because God can see the whole picture and He knows where each path will lead us. He has walked the path and understands, whether we believe it or not, He really does!
We go through many trials day by day and our minds some how think 'God will make everything alright' and He will, but what we lack to realize is the 'how' He makes everything alright. Sometimes we need to go down into the lower parts of the valley before we can rise up in victory. We always pray that God would take us out of the darkness, but really we should be praying and asking God either for His strength to make it through or asking Him what we should be praying for. He has a purpose for everything and usually we learn our most meaningful and cherished lessons in the deep, dark valleys.
When you find yourself or another friend in a trial try and practice taking it to God. Asking Him what He wants to manifest in you and/or out of you.
I live each day struggling and I want to get to the place where my ways are made into Gods ways and my thoughts into His thoughts.
~ God Bless!
We go through many trials day by day and our minds some how think 'God will make everything alright' and He will, but what we lack to realize is the 'how' He makes everything alright. Sometimes we need to go down into the lower parts of the valley before we can rise up in victory. We always pray that God would take us out of the darkness, but really we should be praying and asking God either for His strength to make it through or asking Him what we should be praying for. He has a purpose for everything and usually we learn our most meaningful and cherished lessons in the deep, dark valleys.
When you find yourself or another friend in a trial try and practice taking it to God. Asking Him what He wants to manifest in you and/or out of you.
I live each day struggling and I want to get to the place where my ways are made into Gods ways and my thoughts into His thoughts.
~ God Bless!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE ANDERSON FAMILY
 |
| ~ Happy Thanksgiving ~ |
Today is one of my favorite holidays and yet it is a Holiday that is so very ignored :(Thanksgiving is a day where one can truly sit back, if they want to of course, and look at what their life has been. Now, here's the part that I like: if I, looking back, see that when a situation comes up and I mostly think the negative, I realize that I have been looking at life in the wrong eyes. God's eyes are the ones I want to be looking through! It is an opportunity to get back on the right path in this area!
This year, for me, went by fast, but God accomplished A LOT in this quick year. He brought me through so many things, opened my eyes to things that He wants to deal with, opened my mind to a different way of thinking in situations...I really could keep going. I could cry the tears of joy because God is good ALL the time. These words really mean nothing until God brings you through situations where at the end those words are flowing out of your mouth! One can tell themselves 'God is good all the time', but one should ask God to bring them to the place where they truly believe it.
This year, for me, went by fast, but God accomplished A LOT in this quick year. He brought me through so many things, opened my eyes to things that He wants to deal with, opened my mind to a different way of thinking in situations...I really could keep going. I could cry the tears of joy because God is good ALL the time. These words really mean nothing until God brings you through situations where at the end those words are flowing out of your mouth! One can tell themselves 'God is good all the time', but one should ask God to bring them to the place where they truly believe it. I want: thankfulness to be manifested in me everyday! I want to get to the place where God can use me to show others true deep thankfulness and to work it into their hearts. I thank God for those who tend to make things difficult because I know that God has brought them into my life to show me something. Weither it be a lesson to learn, an area to be strenghtened or an area that needs to be removed. God can use anyone and I want to be used by God in a way where He is pleased with me!
It is hard to always be thankful in America because everything is at our reach. We are able to borrow money so that we can get what we want. We keep borrowing and borrowing and we get into so much debt that we work our whole life trying to pay it off and somethings leave the debt and our kids have to pay it off. What do we see in these products that causes us to desire them so much? I know not. We have SO much...we want a cookie right now just go to the store and buy one. Want a meal without making it? God to fast food or restaurants. Want clothes? Go to the mall and buy the newest fashionable apparel. Want water? go to the sink. Shower everyday, open your fridge to food, watch TV, surf the net, heat your food in a microwave, want to talk to your friend about gossip use your cell, want milk go to your fridge. The list really goes on. I have taken multiple trips out of the country and these are only a few of my observations! I honestly dread coming back to America because our attitude and mind set stinks! We are so unthankful of how much God has blessed this land. 
When I see someone at my work who does a no call no show or shows up late I want to ask them why? Aren't they grateful for their job? I know it isn't going to be their career for life, but go to a third world country and you can find people who work and work hard and for what? They only will get paid two weeks out of the month and maybe $100.00. We get so mad when people from another land comes over here and they get jobs. Why do you think employers sometimes hires them over Americans? Maybe it's because they see that they will be committed, work hard, and be thankful for what they shall receive. My concluding thought in this is: I love thanksgiving and I pray God will manifest a deep thankfulness into my heart and not let the bad attitudes of others rube onto me! I am so thankful for my family and the Peace that God has brought into this home!
Please feel free to share you thoughts and what you are thankful for :)
Have a Wonderful & Blessed Thanksgiving!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Proverbs 17:1
"Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife."
"Better is a dry morsel" what does this mean?
"Morsel" means - a small amount of anything.
"...and quietness therewith..."
"Quietness" is a state of peace and "therewith" means immediately after.
"..than an house full of sacrifices with strife."
Sacrifices involve a great lose of something precious to you and strife is the lack of harmony.
Putting these three broken parts together:
"It is better to have a small amount of anything, for immediately after there shall be the state of peace, than an house full of great loses with little harmony"
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Thoughts
I. What are Mans thoughts? ( Mt 15:19)
A. Prosperity
- We look at a situation and we tend to see ways that benefit ourselves. At times this is healthy, but if we don’t set boundaries, our minds will explore and feed on prosperity.
Psalm 10:4 “The wicked, through pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all
his thoughts because that means there must be a death to them and life to Him."
- Prosperity is dangerous and can take over us if we are not careful. God wants us to be prosperous in Him and not this world. His treasure is greater and longer lasting then all the money in this world!”
Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
- Ex: When Eve was in the garden. She looked at the fruit and saw prosperity and her mind changed. It stepped out into dangerous territory. The enemy had an open door, with no boundaries blocking him.
B. Vain and Prideful
Psalms 94:11 “The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.”
- Pride and vanity is apart of our old man. We feed it by asking others questions about ourselves to get the answer we want to hear. It feeds it and after a time it grows like weeds. They say it in there mind and begin to shut correction or other peoples opinions away. They are set there thoughts on themselves and shut everything that contradicts it away. This opens up a door to the enemy. Once he has fed you pride and you liked it, he is now able to feed you words that lift yourself up and shuts God out.
C. Prone to wander
- Each mind thinks differently and it likes to wander. The mind tends to wander and we catch ourselves. We want to make sure that when we find our minds wandering we stop it and put our shield up. If you listen you will eventually believe and find it attractive. You are walking towards evil which is against God.
* Again Eve as an example: She listened and what was being said eventually became attractive to her. She did have her shield up, but she continued to listen and confusion came over her mind. She eventually gave into the temptation.
- The wandering mind attracts the enemy. This opens up a door for the enemy to plant confusion in your mind. God’s thoughts are pure so you are rejecting the pure mind when you wander.
II. What are God’s thoughts? - Ph 4:8
A. Pure
B. Discerning
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
C. Righteous
Proverbs 12:5 “The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit. ”
D. About us
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ”
- His thoughts are for His people. He wants to give us an expected end, an end that He has planned before the earth was ever made. He wants to prosper us in Him! His thoughts are what can help us to fulfill our goal of becoming more Christ-like Christians.
III. What is the importance of having Godly thoughts?
A. How do we maintain pure and true thoughts? By continually reading God’s word and feeding on it. You will begin to learn God’s thoughts and begin thinking the same.
B. As we become more mature the discernment of other peoples thoughts grows. As we ask God, He can reveal to us the true meaning of their thoughts.
C. We want to have the righteous thoughts. This is important especially during a time like the present. We want to make sure that we are taking the righteous counsels so that we do not listen and believe deceit.
- Prophecy at convention: Many will hear and believe lies! God is warning us and we need to make sure that we are protecting our thoughts. Being careful of the opinions we make during our trials. Our thoughts, during trials, are when the enemy likes to deceive us. We, at times, are weaker during the trials and he likes to bring us down lower and lower by feed us lies. Feed on the word and it puts death to the deceit!
D. The thoughts of iniquity lead down to destruction and the destruction of others around them.
- This is why, when we have friends or family who are walking down this path, we must be careful and have a certain distance from them and maintain that distance. They are walking down a path that can destroy what God has done in your life if you continue to fellowship with them. It can be a slow process, but you must distance yourself from them. It may be hard and we all don’t want to see them go to hell, but if you continue to walk with them you will most likely steer down that road. Why do I say that, because Satan can now use them to poison your mind and put bitterness or offense into your mind.
IV. What are keys to having Godly thoughts?
A. Having boundaries and staying within them.
B. Feeding continuously on the word of the Lord
C. Continually praying that God would cleanse your mind and give to you pure and clear thoughts!
Proverbs 15:26 “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words. ”
- Everyone has thoughts and whenever we have an opportunity to share them, we do. God wants our thoughts to be pure so that when we speak them they may be pleasant to his ears.
- This is something the enemy tends to get us all. That something is called fear of man! We have thoughts, but that fear seems to be so powerful at times. When one is put in that situation he should tell himself “Do I want to offend my Heavenly Father to please man, or do I want to please God even though I know it might offend man?”
A. Prosperity
- We look at a situation and we tend to see ways that benefit ourselves. At times this is healthy, but if we don’t set boundaries, our minds will explore and feed on prosperity.
Psalm 10:4 “The wicked, through pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all
his thoughts because that means there must be a death to them and life to Him."
- Prosperity is dangerous and can take over us if we are not careful. God wants us to be prosperous in Him and not this world. His treasure is greater and longer lasting then all the money in this world!”
Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
- Ex: When Eve was in the garden. She looked at the fruit and saw prosperity and her mind changed. It stepped out into dangerous territory. The enemy had an open door, with no boundaries blocking him.
B. Vain and Prideful
Psalms 94:11 “The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.”
- Pride and vanity is apart of our old man. We feed it by asking others questions about ourselves to get the answer we want to hear. It feeds it and after a time it grows like weeds. They say it in there mind and begin to shut correction or other peoples opinions away. They are set there thoughts on themselves and shut everything that contradicts it away. This opens up a door to the enemy. Once he has fed you pride and you liked it, he is now able to feed you words that lift yourself up and shuts God out.
C. Prone to wander
- Each mind thinks differently and it likes to wander. The mind tends to wander and we catch ourselves. We want to make sure that when we find our minds wandering we stop it and put our shield up. If you listen you will eventually believe and find it attractive. You are walking towards evil which is against God.
* Again Eve as an example: She listened and what was being said eventually became attractive to her. She did have her shield up, but she continued to listen and confusion came over her mind. She eventually gave into the temptation.
- The wandering mind attracts the enemy. This opens up a door for the enemy to plant confusion in your mind. God’s thoughts are pure so you are rejecting the pure mind when you wander.
II. What are God’s thoughts? - Ph 4:8
A. Pure
B. Discerning
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
C. Righteous
Proverbs 12:5 “The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit. ”
D. About us
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ”
- His thoughts are for His people. He wants to give us an expected end, an end that He has planned before the earth was ever made. He wants to prosper us in Him! His thoughts are what can help us to fulfill our goal of becoming more Christ-like Christians.
III. What is the importance of having Godly thoughts?
A. How do we maintain pure and true thoughts? By continually reading God’s word and feeding on it. You will begin to learn God’s thoughts and begin thinking the same.
B. As we become more mature the discernment of other peoples thoughts grows. As we ask God, He can reveal to us the true meaning of their thoughts.
C. We want to have the righteous thoughts. This is important especially during a time like the present. We want to make sure that we are taking the righteous counsels so that we do not listen and believe deceit.
- Prophecy at convention: Many will hear and believe lies! God is warning us and we need to make sure that we are protecting our thoughts. Being careful of the opinions we make during our trials. Our thoughts, during trials, are when the enemy likes to deceive us. We, at times, are weaker during the trials and he likes to bring us down lower and lower by feed us lies. Feed on the word and it puts death to the deceit!
D. The thoughts of iniquity lead down to destruction and the destruction of others around them.
- This is why, when we have friends or family who are walking down this path, we must be careful and have a certain distance from them and maintain that distance. They are walking down a path that can destroy what God has done in your life if you continue to fellowship with them. It can be a slow process, but you must distance yourself from them. It may be hard and we all don’t want to see them go to hell, but if you continue to walk with them you will most likely steer down that road. Why do I say that, because Satan can now use them to poison your mind and put bitterness or offense into your mind.
IV. What are keys to having Godly thoughts?
A. Having boundaries and staying within them.
B. Feeding continuously on the word of the Lord
C. Continually praying that God would cleanse your mind and give to you pure and clear thoughts!
Proverbs 15:26 “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words. ”
- Everyone has thoughts and whenever we have an opportunity to share them, we do. God wants our thoughts to be pure so that when we speak them they may be pleasant to his ears.
- This is something the enemy tends to get us all. That something is called fear of man! We have thoughts, but that fear seems to be so powerful at times. When one is put in that situation he should tell himself “Do I want to offend my Heavenly Father to please man, or do I want to please God even though I know it might offend man?”
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Sacrifice
This is a word that when heard sends shivers down ones spin. No one really likes to sacrifice and it is actually sad. In today's time our views of value/or worth of things has taken a turn for the bad. Adults would call off work to play video games, stay home on Sundays to watch the football game, or go to the bar instead of staying home and being a parent to their kid(s). Not many take the sacrifice of staying home with their kids and having family nights, or waking up before noon on Sundays to go to church, or even going to work: on time and without a hang over.
We rather stay up til two o'clock in the morning watching TV, playing video games, or getting drunk when we know we have to go to work the next day. We are so willing to make time for that TV or those video games, but not for our kids or for spouse. We have been given time and we just waste in on the mall, video games, technology that we'll only use until something newer comes out, then we'll buy that one.
Christ desires a relationship with us and in order to strengthen it sacrifices must occur. Getting up earlier to meditate on His word, ending your days activities a little earlier so that you can sit down and pray in the secret or with your family, or even teaching your kids about that Christ you believe in. Sacrifices are seen in Gods eyes and He will reward you for those sacrifices. Sacrifices are hard to do and it must start out little by little and day by day, but eventually that sacrifice eventually no longer become a sacrifice, but a necessity.
I hear continuously from Christians that they long for revival, but you know what when revival comes we must be equipped and in order to be equipped we must have those sacrifices. When revival comes, Christ will need those wise stewards all over the nations. All those who sacrificed little by little and dug those ditches. The parable in the Bible where there was drought and one day the people were told to dig ditches because water will come. Some sacrificed a lot and others just a little and some not at all. The next day water came and those who obeyed and sacrificed their time to dig their ditch received much water. Revival is like that water. When it comes those who sacrificed shall be used by God. There will be people who will want to be used, but will realized they didn't sacrifice time for God to manifest His gifts in them.
Sacrifice is so very important especially now! Sacrifice your time, dig your ditches and when the reward comes it will be great and worth it all.
God Bless!
We rather stay up til two o'clock in the morning watching TV, playing video games, or getting drunk when we know we have to go to work the next day. We are so willing to make time for that TV or those video games, but not for our kids or for spouse. We have been given time and we just waste in on the mall, video games, technology that we'll only use until something newer comes out, then we'll buy that one.
Christ desires a relationship with us and in order to strengthen it sacrifices must occur. Getting up earlier to meditate on His word, ending your days activities a little earlier so that you can sit down and pray in the secret or with your family, or even teaching your kids about that Christ you believe in. Sacrifices are seen in Gods eyes and He will reward you for those sacrifices. Sacrifices are hard to do and it must start out little by little and day by day, but eventually that sacrifice eventually no longer become a sacrifice, but a necessity.
I hear continuously from Christians that they long for revival, but you know what when revival comes we must be equipped and in order to be equipped we must have those sacrifices. When revival comes, Christ will need those wise stewards all over the nations. All those who sacrificed little by little and dug those ditches. The parable in the Bible where there was drought and one day the people were told to dig ditches because water will come. Some sacrificed a lot and others just a little and some not at all. The next day water came and those who obeyed and sacrificed their time to dig their ditch received much water. Revival is like that water. When it comes those who sacrificed shall be used by God. There will be people who will want to be used, but will realized they didn't sacrifice time for God to manifest His gifts in them.
Sacrifice is so very important especially now! Sacrifice your time, dig your ditches and when the reward comes it will be great and worth it all.
God Bless!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Psalms 91:1-4
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler."
Psalm 91:1-4
These verses are highlighted in my Bible. I have been meditating on the book of Proverbs, but this morning I opened to this Psalms and it caught my eye. Next to these highlighted verses was, "Preservation depends on your relationship with your Lord." That really really spoke to me and brought such a joy and hope in my heart this morning. The enemy loves to attack us through our mind/thoughts. He tells us one thing and adds lies it. Lately he was putting thoughts of the future into my head and SO many worries. After reading these verses I began to laugh at myself because I realized that right now my focus is to be on my relationship with Christ. If I worry about that I don't need to worry about anything else. Victory is won when the battle is placed into Gods hands.
Now is the time in which we need to invest! We pray 'Lord bring revival', but you know when revival comes He needs people who are equipped to feed the hungry souls. There will not be the free time of studying like we have now! Worry about right now and taking all the advantage you can in moving closer to God.
The best kind of teacher is the one who has lived through it and understands the situation(s). We want to allow God to put us through situations that will equip us and prepare us for the people He will send us to. There is so much to be done in my life, but I remind myself that I need to leave that up to God. I think about it and I feel like I am trapped. God deals with us in His PERFECT timing! Believe it and walk with Him. Draw nearer to him! He is not a condemning God, but one who longs to be that friend who will help you to overcome trial by trial.
I say it again, Invest now! Invest in your relationship with God and He shall preserve you in the times that we need to be preserved. Don't spend your time worrying, but investing!
God Bless
Psalm 91:1-4
These verses are highlighted in my Bible. I have been meditating on the book of Proverbs, but this morning I opened to this Psalms and it caught my eye. Next to these highlighted verses was, "Preservation depends on your relationship with your Lord." That really really spoke to me and brought such a joy and hope in my heart this morning. The enemy loves to attack us through our mind/thoughts. He tells us one thing and adds lies it. Lately he was putting thoughts of the future into my head and SO many worries. After reading these verses I began to laugh at myself because I realized that right now my focus is to be on my relationship with Christ. If I worry about that I don't need to worry about anything else. Victory is won when the battle is placed into Gods hands.
Now is the time in which we need to invest! We pray 'Lord bring revival', but you know when revival comes He needs people who are equipped to feed the hungry souls. There will not be the free time of studying like we have now! Worry about right now and taking all the advantage you can in moving closer to God.
The best kind of teacher is the one who has lived through it and understands the situation(s). We want to allow God to put us through situations that will equip us and prepare us for the people He will send us to. There is so much to be done in my life, but I remind myself that I need to leave that up to God. I think about it and I feel like I am trapped. God deals with us in His PERFECT timing! Believe it and walk with Him. Draw nearer to him! He is not a condemning God, but one who longs to be that friend who will help you to overcome trial by trial.
I say it again, Invest now! Invest in your relationship with God and He shall preserve you in the times that we need to be preserved. Don't spend your time worrying, but investing!
God Bless
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Days which make our lifes History
As humans we live each day and each day we give a label and put it into categories. We have: bad days, glorious days, days that seem to have no meaning, and valuable days.
When it's been a bad day we tend to wish it over, but we also tend to look back. All we can see are things we wish we could take back, all our mistakes. We think about things we'd rather forget. In this category we really can learn things. If we look at them and see that it really was a day that brought something in me to the surface, then maybe we can use it to our advantage. Look at what problem(s) came up and try to allow your eyes to be opened. God created us in His image, but it is our sinful nature that causes ugly to come in. On those 'bad days' may it's really God putting you through a trial to open your eyes to what He would like to deal in you? We have so many flaws, but if we look at them in whole we will only become overwhelmed and give up! These 'bad days' are more like God saying "Okay my beloved this is what I want to work out of you!" So, when it's been a bad day and you're looking back don't think of all your regrets because that was history and you cannot change it, but look back and see what can be change so when it comes around again you may be prepared!
Glorious days are days we all would love to have everyday! I think about those days and I thank God for them. For me these are days that God puts us through to help us to know that He isn't condemning us! He wants His people to be joyful. The joy of the Lord is after all our strength. Glorious days are when we are at the mountain top rejoicing with loud voices. When we go through these days we are being strengthened and energize for the days to come where we shall need it!
Meaningless days might be the hardest days really. Days, from a mortals eye, that do not show meaning causes frustration. We always are wanting to know everything! No one ever likes being out of the loop and so when we are in one of those days where we seem 'out of the loop' we get discouraged. The enemy loves these days because he can use it to put Gods people into snares where it will be very long and difficult to get out. He feeds us lies and our mind is in a state where we cannot seem to explain it, but we just believe those lies. That sets us down a path that we do not want to be on. Meaningless days are days where we may not understand the reason nor see it now, but in years to come God taps us on the shoulder and says 'you see I brought you through that situation so that you would be prepared/equipped for this greater one!' Everything has a meaning, just for some things the meaning is obvious/immediate and others it takes time to understand it.
Lastly, Valuable days! These days are my favor it (when they are over with ;)) These are days where God teaches us the most meaningful lessons that makes us who we are. Where God humbles His people, takes them down so low. In those low areas He walks us through and teaches us what we need to learn. Everyone goes through these, but I truly believe that it is the leadership who end up going through these days. Like King David, who was a shepherd. He was put down low with the sheep. He learned to how to properly handle his flock and protect them. He learned his greatest lesson when he was in the low area. Then, when it was Gods perfect timing, he raised him up to be King. When he rose he was already equipped for the task. The same applied with Moses. I'm sure we all know the story. He was put among the people and learned from them. He was hidden, but when it was God's perfect timing He raised him up and he led the Children of Israel out of Egypt.
I was thinking about 'days' today and wanted to share that each day is special. I hope that when we wake up we can thank God for what He will do and at the end thank Him for what He has brought us through.
God Bless
When it's been a bad day we tend to wish it over, but we also tend to look back. All we can see are things we wish we could take back, all our mistakes. We think about things we'd rather forget. In this category we really can learn things. If we look at them and see that it really was a day that brought something in me to the surface, then maybe we can use it to our advantage. Look at what problem(s) came up and try to allow your eyes to be opened. God created us in His image, but it is our sinful nature that causes ugly to come in. On those 'bad days' may it's really God putting you through a trial to open your eyes to what He would like to deal in you? We have so many flaws, but if we look at them in whole we will only become overwhelmed and give up! These 'bad days' are more like God saying "Okay my beloved this is what I want to work out of you!" So, when it's been a bad day and you're looking back don't think of all your regrets because that was history and you cannot change it, but look back and see what can be change so when it comes around again you may be prepared!
Glorious days are days we all would love to have everyday! I think about those days and I thank God for them. For me these are days that God puts us through to help us to know that He isn't condemning us! He wants His people to be joyful. The joy of the Lord is after all our strength. Glorious days are when we are at the mountain top rejoicing with loud voices. When we go through these days we are being strengthened and energize for the days to come where we shall need it!
Meaningless days might be the hardest days really. Days, from a mortals eye, that do not show meaning causes frustration. We always are wanting to know everything! No one ever likes being out of the loop and so when we are in one of those days where we seem 'out of the loop' we get discouraged. The enemy loves these days because he can use it to put Gods people into snares where it will be very long and difficult to get out. He feeds us lies and our mind is in a state where we cannot seem to explain it, but we just believe those lies. That sets us down a path that we do not want to be on. Meaningless days are days where we may not understand the reason nor see it now, but in years to come God taps us on the shoulder and says 'you see I brought you through that situation so that you would be prepared/equipped for this greater one!' Everything has a meaning, just for some things the meaning is obvious/immediate and others it takes time to understand it.
Lastly, Valuable days! These days are my favor it (when they are over with ;)) These are days where God teaches us the most meaningful lessons that makes us who we are. Where God humbles His people, takes them down so low. In those low areas He walks us through and teaches us what we need to learn. Everyone goes through these, but I truly believe that it is the leadership who end up going through these days. Like King David, who was a shepherd. He was put down low with the sheep. He learned to how to properly handle his flock and protect them. He learned his greatest lesson when he was in the low area. Then, when it was Gods perfect timing, he raised him up to be King. When he rose he was already equipped for the task. The same applied with Moses. I'm sure we all know the story. He was put among the people and learned from them. He was hidden, but when it was God's perfect timing He raised him up and he led the Children of Israel out of Egypt.
I was thinking about 'days' today and wanted to share that each day is special. I hope that when we wake up we can thank God for what He will do and at the end thank Him for what He has brought us through.
God Bless
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Today made history for me!
Today was a day that made history for me. I woke up and got ready for work. As the day rolled on I thought that tasks were getting accomplished and everyone was getting things done (of course there were a couple of side frustrations). At the end of my shift things took a dramatic turn. This is the part that really made this day history for me. God opened my eyes to an area in my life that He wanted to deal with. It was extremely hard and painful to realize, but it sort of brought a joy in my heart. I want my Savior to look upon me and be pleasing in His eyes. What was revealed to me was, that I had a certain pride inside my heart that I did not think was bad. My eyes were opened to what others thought about me. My pride was feeding on the hurt of others.
Words are strong and powerful and I tend to underestimate that power. God does not take delight in hurtful words. I thought about it for the rest of the day and while I was reading Proverbs 15 God continually spoke to me. This proverb talks about the tongue.
Proverbs 15:1-7
"A soft answer turneth away wrath [anger]: but grievous [harsh] words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent. In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble. The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so."
As I began thinking about these verses and applying them to me, tears came down my face. I do not want to have a mouth that speaks foolish things. One doesn't want to keep things inside, but I realize I need to learn to take my thoughts, frustrations, and angers to God in prayer. Not to go around and spread these foolish words. That is how people make enemy's.
This is something that I have observed over the few years that I have been working. People tell you their opinions and one allows those opinion(s) to conform his mind. It changes ones thoughts and he doesn't stop to think and ask himself 'they may believe that, but do I?' A persons natural response to jump that step and say 'yes I believe that too?'. If only one would stop himself and think about (it with the right mind set). Not drawing to conclusions about one another when that person(s) is in the wrong state of mind. When the mind is full of anger it tend to make wrong opinions/conclusions about each the surrounding people.
Today made history for me and I hope that this is the first step to a change in my life. I want my lips to be pure and an example to all who hear me. I am constantly reminded that people see and hear what I do and I want them to see Christ in me. Me walking with Christ and not me dragging Christ in the dirt! So many lives depend on what I do and as a leader I want to get through this trial and help others when they get to this path.
Please realize that this is true! As Christians, we are to be Christ-like and we want that Christ-like image flowing out of us. So many lives depend on what we do, ask God for strength to continue on!
Amen
Monday, October 18, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
The Gift of Family
Some people are born into wonderful families.
Others have to find or create them.
Being a member of a family is a priceless membership
that we pay nothing for but love.
- Jim Stovall
Others have to find or create them.
Being a member of a family is a priceless membership
that we pay nothing for but love.
- Jim Stovall
The Gift of Friends
It is a wealthy person, indeed,
who calculates riches not in gold
but in friends.
- Jim Stovall
who calculates riches not in gold
but in friends.
- Jim Stovall
In the Beginning
A journey may be long or short, but it must start at the very spot one finds oneself.
- Jim Stovall
- Jim Stovall
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Armour
The Lord has promised
A land of good things
A land of good things
I will press in
And they'll be mine
I'll have His power
I'll have His glory
And in His kingdom
I will shine
With the high praises
Of God in my mouth
And a two-edged
sword In my hand
I will march right up
To the victor's side
Right into Canaan land
Put on your armor ye sons of Zion
Put on your armor and go to war
We'll win the battle
With great rejoicing
And praise His name forevermore
Ephesians 6:11-18
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints"
[King James Version]
要穿好上帝所賜給的全副武裝，以便抵擋魔鬼的詭計。 因為我們鬥爭的對象不是有血有肉的人，而是宇宙間執政和掌權的惡魔，操縱這世界的黑暗勢力，以及天界的邪靈 所以你們要穿上上帝所賜給的全副武裝，以便邪惡的日子來臨的時候，能夠抵擋仇敵，並且在獲得全勝之後，仍然屹立不動。 你們要用真理當皮帶束在腰間，用正直當護胸甲遮住胸膛， 用平安的福音當預備走路的鞋子穿在腳上，好好地站穩。此外，你們還要用信心當盾牌，抵擋、撲滅惡魔射來的帶著火焰的利箭；用救恩當頭盔，戴在頭上；用聖靈使你們想起的上帝的話語當寶劍，握在手裡；藉著聖靈隨時多方禱告、祈求。也要警醒，不停地為所有的信徒祈禱。
[Jian Ming Sheng Jing Version]
"Revestíos con toda la armadura de Dios para que podáis estar firmes contra las insidias del diablo. Porque nuestra lucha no es contra sangre y carne, sino contra principados, contra potestades, contra los poderes de este mundo de tinieblas, contra las huestes espirituales de maldad en las regiones celestiales. Por tanto, tomad toda la armadura de Dios, para que podáis resistir en el día malo, y habiéndolo hecho todo, estar firmes. Estad, pues, firmes, CEÑIDA VUESTRA CINTURA CON LA VERDAD, REVESTIDOS CON LA CORAZA DE LA JUSTICIA, y calzados LOS PIES CON EL APRESTO DEL EVANGELIO DE LA PAZ; en todo, tomando el escudo de la fe con el que podréis apagar todos los dardos encendidos del maligno. Tomad también el YELMO DE LA SALVACION, y la espada del Espíritu que es la palabra de Dios. Con toda oración y súplica orad en todo tiempo en el Espíritu, y así, velad con toda perseverancia y súplica por todos los santos;"
[La Biblia de las Americas Version]
要穿戴神所赐的全副军装，就能抵挡魔鬼的诡计。 因我们并不是与属血气的争战（原文作摔跤；下同），乃是与那些执政的、掌权的、管辖这幽暗世界的，以及天空属灵气的恶魔争战。 所以，要拿起神所赐的全副军装，好在磨难的日子抵挡仇敌，并且成就了一切，还能站立得住。 所以要站稳了，用真理当作带子束腰，用公义当作护心镜遮胸， 又用平安的福音当作预备走路的鞋穿在脚上。此外，又拿著信德当作藤牌，可以灭尽那恶者一切的火箭； 并戴上救恩的头盔，拿著圣灵的宝剑，就是神的道； 靠著圣灵，随时多方祷告祈求；并要在此警醒不倦，为众圣徒祈求，
[Chinese Union Simplified Version]
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