But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won't know what we're talking about. But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells—even though you still experience all the limitations of sin—you yourself experience life on God's terms. It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he'll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ's!
Wednesday
Coffee Talk
I was having coffee with my husband’s sister on Monday night when she mentioned that someone’s baby had died and that it was just one of those things that happens according to God’s will. It made me think about a book that I had read recently entitled Face to Face with God by Bill Johnson. (An incredible book by the way – pick it up if you want your life changed!)
Not everything that happens is God’s will:
Why did Jesus raise the dead? Because not everyone dies in God’s timing. We cannot have the God the Father choosing to do one thing and Jesus “undoing” or contradicting it with a miracle! God gets blamed for so much in the name of his sovereignty [sovereignty means that He has all power and all authority to do as he wills]. Now of course God can use tragedy for His glory. As people turn to Him for healing, salvation, and deliverance through tragic situations, they are changed, transformed, renewed by the power of His spirit - and thus He is glorified. That said, His ability to rule and have sovereign authority over bad circumstances was never meant to be evidence that those bad circumstances were His will. Rather, it is to display that no matter what happens he is in charge and will rework things to our advantage and to his glory.
I believe that many that call themselves Christians today have a distorted perception that God is angry and that He wants to punish His people at every opportunity. I also believe that the tendency to accept that concept of God being an angry father is in equal proportion to a person’s (or church’s) inability to demonstrate His power. Today many churches are crippled because people view God as one who longs to punish instead of save. The one who reminds them of sin, instead of forgiving. As Bill Johnson explains in Face to Face with God, there is a direct connection between our belief system (including religion) and what actually flows through us. If we don't see the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the ultimate illustration of the will of God we will continually undermine our ability to display it. He gave the example, sent the Holy Spirit and gave us His word for our commission [our assignment - our responsibility]. What else must He do? We own HIM miracles as a testimony that He is alive and that His face is turned toward us. The spirit of the resurrected Christ, that same spirit that anointed Jesus for His miraculous healing ministry lives within us.
Many people are content to live with the concept of the presence of God in their lives, but they fail to expect and receive the experience. When most people walk down the aisle they are not just interested in the concept or the theory of marriage. They usually want to experience marriage in all its privileges and responsibilities. The same can be said of raising children. We don’t go through all the trouble just because we like the concept of being parents... we want the experience ~ the “full meal deal” if you will! The fundamental difference between authentic Christianity and what we call “religion” is the issue of knowing and being known by God versus merely knowing about Him.
Powerlessness is so unacceptable that we will either seek for a fresh baptism in the Spirit until the power that was promised becomes manifested through us - or – sadly we create “doctrinal” or “religious” reasons to comfort ourselves in powerlessness. For instance, I’ve heard it said that God doesn’t perform miracles today like He did in biblical times. [News flash: God never changes. He is the SAME today as He was then and always will be]. People will say that the outpouring of the Spirit of God occurred on the day of Pentecost but that it doesn’t happen any more [Another news flash: check out the revivals that are going on around the world and within the US right now! Google: Asuza street revival. Google: Toronto outpouring Google: Lakeland Revival.] Come on! Seek His Face! Let’s stop focusing on the Christ who died on the cross and fix our eyes on the Christ who was resurrected and is alive!
I don’t want comfort. I want power. How many people came to Jesus for healing and left sick? None. How many came for deliverance and left with torment? None. How many times did Jesus withhold a miracle because the person who came to him had too little faith? Never. He often addressed their lack of faith, but always presented a miracle as a way to greater faith. Jesus perfectly illustrates the will of God. To think otherwise is to put the father and the son at odds and a house divided will fall - Bill Johnson Face to Face with God. He gave the example - we are called to follow it!
In closing: the kingdom of God is not all talk, beliefs and doctrine. The kingdom of God is power. Unlimited power has been granted to those who encounter Him over and over again. Each encounter works its way deeper into our hearts transforming us. The more that we allow the Spirit of God to work on us and within us, the more obvious it will be that the Spirit is flowing through us. It is nearly impossible to experience more of God and keep it to ourselves. As we face God ~ our very nature is changed into the likeness of His nature…and we are called to release His power and His love to those around us.
Not everything that happens is God’s will:
Why did Jesus raise the dead? Because not everyone dies in God’s timing. We cannot have the God the Father choosing to do one thing and Jesus “undoing” or contradicting it with a miracle! God gets blamed for so much in the name of his sovereignty [sovereignty means that He has all power and all authority to do as he wills]. Now of course God can use tragedy for His glory. As people turn to Him for healing, salvation, and deliverance through tragic situations, they are changed, transformed, renewed by the power of His spirit - and thus He is glorified. That said, His ability to rule and have sovereign authority over bad circumstances was never meant to be evidence that those bad circumstances were His will. Rather, it is to display that no matter what happens he is in charge and will rework things to our advantage and to his glory.
I believe that many that call themselves Christians today have a distorted perception that God is angry and that He wants to punish His people at every opportunity. I also believe that the tendency to accept that concept of God being an angry father is in equal proportion to a person’s (or church’s) inability to demonstrate His power. Today many churches are crippled because people view God as one who longs to punish instead of save. The one who reminds them of sin, instead of forgiving. As Bill Johnson explains in Face to Face with God, there is a direct connection between our belief system (including religion) and what actually flows through us. If we don't see the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the ultimate illustration of the will of God we will continually undermine our ability to display it. He gave the example, sent the Holy Spirit and gave us His word for our commission [our assignment - our responsibility]. What else must He do? We own HIM miracles as a testimony that He is alive and that His face is turned toward us. The spirit of the resurrected Christ, that same spirit that anointed Jesus for His miraculous healing ministry lives within us.
Many people are content to live with the concept of the presence of God in their lives, but they fail to expect and receive the experience. When most people walk down the aisle they are not just interested in the concept or the theory of marriage. They usually want to experience marriage in all its privileges and responsibilities. The same can be said of raising children. We don’t go through all the trouble just because we like the concept of being parents... we want the experience ~ the “full meal deal” if you will! The fundamental difference between authentic Christianity and what we call “religion” is the issue of knowing and being known by God versus merely knowing about Him.
Powerlessness is so unacceptable that we will either seek for a fresh baptism in the Spirit until the power that was promised becomes manifested through us - or – sadly we create “doctrinal” or “religious” reasons to comfort ourselves in powerlessness. For instance, I’ve heard it said that God doesn’t perform miracles today like He did in biblical times. [News flash: God never changes. He is the SAME today as He was then and always will be]. People will say that the outpouring of the Spirit of God occurred on the day of Pentecost but that it doesn’t happen any more [Another news flash: check out the revivals that are going on around the world and within the US right now! Google: Asuza street revival. Google: Toronto outpouring Google: Lakeland Revival.] Come on! Seek His Face! Let’s stop focusing on the Christ who died on the cross and fix our eyes on the Christ who was resurrected and is alive!
I don’t want comfort. I want power. How many people came to Jesus for healing and left sick? None. How many came for deliverance and left with torment? None. How many times did Jesus withhold a miracle because the person who came to him had too little faith? Never. He often addressed their lack of faith, but always presented a miracle as a way to greater faith. Jesus perfectly illustrates the will of God. To think otherwise is to put the father and the son at odds and a house divided will fall - Bill Johnson Face to Face with God. He gave the example - we are called to follow it!
In closing: the kingdom of God is not all talk, beliefs and doctrine. The kingdom of God is power. Unlimited power has been granted to those who encounter Him over and over again. Each encounter works its way deeper into our hearts transforming us. The more that we allow the Spirit of God to work on us and within us, the more obvious it will be that the Spirit is flowing through us. It is nearly impossible to experience more of God and keep it to ourselves. As we face God ~ our very nature is changed into the likeness of His nature…and we are called to release His power and His love to those around us.
Monday
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. 1 Peter 5:6-9
What is Satan “devouring” while you are clinging to your own agenda?
We are often busy doing good things and taking satisfaction when other people seem pleased or, even better, impressed. But do you ever wonder why the joy and peace that God has promised is absent from your life? It is easy to assume that if other people are pleased with you, then God must be pleased as well.
Both my husband and I have often found ourselves in a position of seeking the praise, honor, and acceptance of others - our co-workers, friends, family, and in-laws. We accepted almost any opportunity to please others. We were quick to volunteer to join a committee, attend a meeting, or help set up for an event. We had a hard time saying “no” to well meaning friends and family who each wanted a piece of our family’s schedule. We were consistently planning activities for days, weeks, and even months in advance ~ sometimes to the point of being obsessive ~ rather than spending time in the presence of God. All the while, Satan was devouring our time and our souls, one bite at a time. And Satan was pleased because we were running in place and getting nowhere closer to our Father.
What is Satan “devouring” while you are clinging to your own agenda?
We are often busy doing good things and taking satisfaction when other people seem pleased or, even better, impressed. But do you ever wonder why the joy and peace that God has promised is absent from your life? It is easy to assume that if other people are pleased with you, then God must be pleased as well.
Both my husband and I have often found ourselves in a position of seeking the praise, honor, and acceptance of others - our co-workers, friends, family, and in-laws. We accepted almost any opportunity to please others. We were quick to volunteer to join a committee, attend a meeting, or help set up for an event. We had a hard time saying “no” to well meaning friends and family who each wanted a piece of our family’s schedule. We were consistently planning activities for days, weeks, and even months in advance ~ sometimes to the point of being obsessive ~ rather than spending time in the presence of God. All the while, Satan was devouring our time and our souls, one bite at a time. And Satan was pleased because we were running in place and getting nowhere closer to our Father.
Continually seeking the approval of so many others led us to an over-crammed schedule of get-togethers, events, activities, obligations, and deadlines…and ultimately burnout ~ both spiritually and physically. At the end of the day there was nothing left for us, and certainly nothing left for God. We were wanting what Satan had tempted us to want, at the expense of our connection to God…and at the expense of the peace and joy that is promised to us in scripture.
God asks us to humble ourselves. To submit ourselves to His plan for our lives. To be ready to do as He calls us to do. He asks us to stand with Him against the temptation to do what we or other people think will be good for us to do. He assures us that He will call us to our ministries, and our strength and guidance will come from trusting Him. If we stand firm in our faith and keep our hearts open to His calling, He will fight the roaring lion [satan] for us.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11
Satan is hard at work, tempting us all to be content with a life consisting of an abundance of good things that we design for ourselves. We are only a threat to him when we answer God’s call to service, dedicated to the advancement of God’s Kingdom and glory. Satan doesn’t mind if people think you are good. He doesn’t mind if you fill your time doing good things. In fact, the devil will try to tempt you to do exactly that. The “good person” is not the one who annoys the devil—it is the godly person that poses the threat. Satan will tempt you to be good because he fears you will be godly.
How can we stay focused on the right goals? None of us wants to fail, but we live in a world that can often demand and try to direct our ways, more loudly than God. We live in a society that rewards us for the good things we do but can reject us for serving God.
Ephesians 5:1-2 says, “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.”
Christ submitted his life fully to his Father, and we are to follow his example. As the children of God, we are supposed to act like our Father. We are to yield our will to God’s plan and his choices. The goal is to be “carefully determined” to be involved in God things instead of just good things.
Take a moment and consider the week before you. What does your schedule look like? How will God be glorified and the Kingdom affected by your plans? Is your week full of good things or God things? Don’t be content to lead a good life designed to impress others. That temporary contentment is offered by the devil himself. Choose instead to fulfill God’s plan for you. He calls you to be godly and rewards you eternally.
Father, forgive us for the times we lead lives that give you no control and no glory. We confess that it is easier to think of you as Savior than as Lord of our lives. Help us God, to be filled with your Spirit so that when he reveals your call we are ready and willing to serve. We ask this in Jesus precious name. Amen.
Satan is hard at work, tempting us all to be content with a life consisting of an abundance of good things that we design for ourselves. We are only a threat to him when we answer God’s call to service, dedicated to the advancement of God’s Kingdom and glory. Satan doesn’t mind if people think you are good. He doesn’t mind if you fill your time doing good things. In fact, the devil will try to tempt you to do exactly that. The “good person” is not the one who annoys the devil—it is the godly person that poses the threat. Satan will tempt you to be good because he fears you will be godly.
How can we stay focused on the right goals? None of us wants to fail, but we live in a world that can often demand and try to direct our ways, more loudly than God. We live in a society that rewards us for the good things we do but can reject us for serving God.
Ephesians 5:1-2 says, “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.”
Christ submitted his life fully to his Father, and we are to follow his example. As the children of God, we are supposed to act like our Father. We are to yield our will to God’s plan and his choices. The goal is to be “carefully determined” to be involved in God things instead of just good things.
Take a moment and consider the week before you. What does your schedule look like? How will God be glorified and the Kingdom affected by your plans? Is your week full of good things or God things? Don’t be content to lead a good life designed to impress others. That temporary contentment is offered by the devil himself. Choose instead to fulfill God’s plan for you. He calls you to be godly and rewards you eternally.
Father, forgive us for the times we lead lives that give you no control and no glory. We confess that it is easier to think of you as Savior than as Lord of our lives. Help us God, to be filled with your Spirit so that when he reveals your call we are ready and willing to serve. We ask this in Jesus precious name. Amen.
Thursday
Power of the Tongue
James 3:3-4
"We can make a large horse turn around
and go wherever we want
by means of a small bit in its mouth.
And a tiny rudder makes
a huge ship turn
wherever the pilot wants it to go,
even though the winds are strong."
James compares the tongue to a bit in the mouth of a horse and to the rudder of a ship, two very small things that exercise immense power. A small bit enables the rider to control the whole horse as a small rudder enables the captain to steer a large ship.
With one word, a life can change direction because words lead to deeds.
The power of our words is incredible! The bit in a horse's mouth and the rudder of a ship must be under the control of a very strong and steady hand in order to accomplish what they were created to accomplish. It is the same with our tongue. When God controls our tongue, He controls us ~ our actions, our feelings, and the way we impact others. The guidance you give or the direction your life may take is directly related to the words you speak AND sometimes more importantly (especially for chatty pattys like me) the words that you refuse to speak. Your tongue directs your life. What's inside our heart will eventually make its way out of our mouth.
Matthew 12:34-35 states,
"The mouth speaks the things that are in the heart.
Good people have good things in their hearts,
and so they say good things.
But evil people have evil in their hearts,
so they say evil things."
When Jesus is the Lord of the heart,
then He is Lord of the lips as well.
An obedient heart is under the control of Jesus Christ. In order to tame the tongue, we need a new heart, a new heart means new life, and there is only one who has the power to give us a new life -- Jesus Christ. When we ask Jesus Christ to come into our life, He makes everything new and He starts with the heart. A new heart produces a new mouth.
Proverbs 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
[Words kill, words give life;
they're either poison or fruit—
you choose.
The Message]
My Prayer:Father, thank You for Your power to change my heart, renew my mind, and give me new life. I praise You for the changes You are continuing to bring about in my life. Examine my heart and reveal to me how the words I speak come across to others. "Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips" (Psalm 141:3). Help me learn how to use my words as a tool for encouragement and growth in the lives of those to whom I speak. Today, I choose to make a new commitment to speaking right words from a right heart. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Now It's Your Turn
Think back over your day. How would you rate the health of the words you have spoken today? Were they destructive or helpful? Think back to a time when the harsh words of someone wounded you. How did those words make you feel? Is there someone who has suffered at the hand of your words? Are you willing to make it right?
Tuesday
Psalm 56 from The Message
This verse came to me today and I feel it very heavily for a couple of you whom I know read this blog. Know that you are in my prayers for victory in the Lord.
Take my side, God—
I'm getting kicked around, stomped on every day.
Not a day goes by but somebody beats me up;
They make it their duty to beat me up.
When I get really afraid I come to you in trust.
I'm proud to praise God; fearless now, I trust in God.
What can mere mortals do?
They don't let up—
They smear my reputation and huddle to plot my collapse.
They gang up, sneak together through the alleys
To take me by surprise, wait their chance to get me.
Pay them back in evil! Get angry, God!
Down with these people!
You've kept track of my every toss and turn
through the sleepless nights,
Each tear entered in your ledger,
each ache written in your book.
If my enemies run away, turn tail when I yell at them,
Then I'll know that God is on my side.
I'm proud to praise God, proud to praise God.
Fearless now, I trust in God;
what can mere mortals do to me?
God, you did everything you promised,
and I'm thanking you with all my heart.
You pulled me from the brink of death,
my feet from the cliff-edge of doom.
Now I stroll at leisure with God in the sunlit fields of life.
Take my side, God—
I'm getting kicked around, stomped on every day.
Not a day goes by but somebody beats me up;
They make it their duty to beat me up.
When I get really afraid I come to you in trust.
I'm proud to praise God; fearless now, I trust in God.
What can mere mortals do?
They don't let up—
They smear my reputation and huddle to plot my collapse.
They gang up, sneak together through the alleys
To take me by surprise, wait their chance to get me.
Pay them back in evil! Get angry, God!
Down with these people!
You've kept track of my every toss and turn
through the sleepless nights,
Each tear entered in your ledger,
each ache written in your book.
If my enemies run away, turn tail when I yell at them,
Then I'll know that God is on my side.
I'm proud to praise God, proud to praise God.
Fearless now, I trust in God;
what can mere mortals do to me?
God, you did everything you promised,
and I'm thanking you with all my heart.
You pulled me from the brink of death,
my feet from the cliff-edge of doom.
Now I stroll at leisure with God in the sunlit fields of life.
Monday
Bible FUN!
Have you ever noticed the sevens in the bible? The number seven is used in over 600 passages in the Bible. Some of them are very obvious, some of them are structural in nature, and some are hidden. What is known as the "heptadic" or seven-fold structure appears to act as a signature of sorts that the Author of the Bible [God] has deliberately fingerprinted the text with so it is virtually impossible to compromise.
For example, this is an exercise that was part of a recent bible study I attended - try it!
Take a moment to make up and write out a "sample" geneology - the rules are:
For example, this is an exercise that was part of a recent bible study I attended - try it!
Take a moment to make up and write out a "sample" geneology - the rules are:
- The number of words you use must be exactly divisible by seven.
- The number of letters must also be divisible by exactly seven.
- The number of vowels is to be divisible by exactly seven.
- The number of words that begin with a vowel must be divisible by exactly seven.
- The number of words that occur more than once must be divisible by exactly seven.
- The number of words that occur in more than one form must be divisible by exactly seven.
- The number of nouns must be divisible by exactly seven.
- The number of names shall be divisible by seven and only seven other kinds of nouns will be permitted.
- The number of male names shall be divisible by seven.
- The number of generations shall be divisible by seven.
Easy? Certainly not for a math flunkie like me!
FACT: This is the EXACT geneology of Jesus Christ in the opening eleven verses in the Gospel of Matthew (in the original Greek text). Phenominal?! Seriously, I believe God hid all these little "codes" in the Bible for people like me who had questioned this stuff unceasingly ~ until I was born again and started actually studying the Bible.
Another fun fact:
The Gospel of Matthew uses 42 words that are not used anywhere else in the New Testament (NT). Those 42 words (7 times 6) have 126 letters (another exact multiple of 7). IF Matthew had set out to do this deliberately, how would he go about it? The only characteristic that these words share is that nobody else used them. How would he have determined that no one else would use them? Remember the Bible, a collection of 66 books, was written over a period of 2,000 years by over 40 people. Oddly the same heptadic structure is used in the other three gospels as well! But wait - you will find the same structure, each in its writer's own unique vocabulary, in exact multiples of seven in the books of James, Peter, Jude, and Paul!
Along with the significance of sevens and other subtle findings of letters, numbers, etc... there are major "codes" in the Bible that give us hints or anticipations of what is coming. For instance, Abraham offered his son Isaac for sacrifice on the exact same spot where another Father (God) would offer His Son (Jesus) for sacrifice [side note, that particular location is atop a mountain at an altitude of exactly 777 feet...hmm].
There are numerous examples of this type of authentication that are found throughout the Bible. Every number, every place name, every detail is there by deliberate design. Of course this is not the only way to know that the Bible is true.
Jesus gave us all a challenge in John 7:17
"If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own."
Take the Bible challenge! Take Him at His word and see what happens!
Saturday
Blessed to Believe
I've heard it said many times in my family and social circles, "I have a hard time believing...[such and such]" But believing in the supernatural is simple! It just requires that we willfully - that means simply by choice - put our trust in God and stop relying on our own handsome looks, skills and abilities, social status and possessions. Believing requires that we lay down our pride and stop relying on our own mere human adequacy. It requires having an ounce of faith and a few shots of courage and just stepping out of the darkness of the proverbial box and into a new light, a new way of thinking.
Believing is a choice of what we will choose to desire. It is saying, "I desire what God wants more than I desire what I want". It is saying, "I desire to obey God's calling more than I desire to run my own life according to my own rules". Simple right? There are things in life that we choose to desire [our own spouses for example] and things we choose not to desire [someone else's spouse].
Believing is a choice, it involves our will. It is an act of will to confess and repent and then turn away from those things which are cultivating negativity and darkness into our lives. It is an act of will to yield ourselves [our desires, our goals, our thoughts, our plans] to the Holy Spirit and say to the Lord, "Not my will, but Thy will be done".
Once you begin to turn your thoughts over to the Lord - you will find that they are filled with hope. That despite your circumstances, you feel peaceful and joyful. Not the kind of peace that comes from a few hours of rest, but the kind that is so deep you don't even really understand why you feel so peaceful, or how you could feel so peaceful. But you will know that it is the peace that Jesus left for you before He joined our Father.
When you begin to turn your decision making and goal setting over to God - you will find that His Spirit that is in you will lead you down the right paths. Things will begin to happen that feel like coincidence, but are WAY to coincidental and WAY too God oriented and WAY too good! For instance, someone mentioned to me a few days ago, a situation in their life that I immediately felt compelled to pray about. I left work for a bit to pray and on my way back I stopped at the coffee shop to grab lunch. While waiting for my sandwich, I saw a little book on the shelf - I do not even know what it was called, but it was something about "Grace" and it caught my eye...so I picked it up and flipped through it - it opened right to a page that held a scriptural verse on it that I had been studying earlier in the day and had been using in prayer for this person. Simple confirmation of God's voice....or coincidence? I choose to believe it was God's voice. I shared the scripture with this person and I believe it shed light on their circumstances, just as God intended. You will find that when you give your life to God and allow the Spirit to lead you, these types of divine interventions will occur on a regular basis. As I've said before, if you seek Him, you will find Him. He will not hide his face from you. You just have to choose Him. Choose to believe Him. Not believe IN Him. But believe Him. Believe that He is who He says He is and He does what He says He will do. Choose to believe and see your life be transformed and richly blessed.
Believing is a choice of what we will choose to desire. It is saying, "I desire what God wants more than I desire what I want". It is saying, "I desire to obey God's calling more than I desire to run my own life according to my own rules". Simple right? There are things in life that we choose to desire [our own spouses for example] and things we choose not to desire [someone else's spouse].
Believing is a choice, it involves our will. It is an act of will to confess and repent and then turn away from those things which are cultivating negativity and darkness into our lives. It is an act of will to yield ourselves [our desires, our goals, our thoughts, our plans] to the Holy Spirit and say to the Lord, "Not my will, but Thy will be done".
Once you begin to turn your thoughts over to the Lord - you will find that they are filled with hope. That despite your circumstances, you feel peaceful and joyful. Not the kind of peace that comes from a few hours of rest, but the kind that is so deep you don't even really understand why you feel so peaceful, or how you could feel so peaceful. But you will know that it is the peace that Jesus left for you before He joined our Father.
When you begin to turn your decision making and goal setting over to God - you will find that His Spirit that is in you will lead you down the right paths. Things will begin to happen that feel like coincidence, but are WAY to coincidental and WAY too God oriented and WAY too good! For instance, someone mentioned to me a few days ago, a situation in their life that I immediately felt compelled to pray about. I left work for a bit to pray and on my way back I stopped at the coffee shop to grab lunch. While waiting for my sandwich, I saw a little book on the shelf - I do not even know what it was called, but it was something about "Grace" and it caught my eye...so I picked it up and flipped through it - it opened right to a page that held a scriptural verse on it that I had been studying earlier in the day and had been using in prayer for this person. Simple confirmation of God's voice....or coincidence? I choose to believe it was God's voice. I shared the scripture with this person and I believe it shed light on their circumstances, just as God intended. You will find that when you give your life to God and allow the Spirit to lead you, these types of divine interventions will occur on a regular basis. As I've said before, if you seek Him, you will find Him. He will not hide his face from you. You just have to choose Him. Choose to believe Him. Not believe IN Him. But believe Him. Believe that He is who He says He is and He does what He says He will do. Choose to believe and see your life be transformed and richly blessed.
The Old Way Has to Go
[an excerpt from Paul's letter to the Ephesians from "The Message" bible]
* * *
And so I insist—and God backs me up on this—that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. They've refused for so long to deal with God that they've lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. They can't think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion.
But that's no life for you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you. "
But that's no life for you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you. "
Eph. 4:15-24
* * *
Wednesday
Houston? Can You Hear Me?
Article in Today’s Pentecostal Evangel: Excerpted from Prayer Basics: Understanding the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of Prayer by John Maempa and James Meredith
"Each of us possesses a soul that distinguishes us from the animal kingdom. That is the spiritual “component” that enables us to connect with God. In very casual terms, our spiritual component is like the receiver in a cell phone or radio. A receiver picks up electromagnetic signals and converts them to sound. Similarly, our spiritual nature is the component within each of us that responds to God, that orients us to divine reality.
In times of great crisis or stress, people automatically turn to prayer for comport, solace and hope. Even nonbelievers will call out to God. The spiritual component is alive and active, whether or not it is recognized or acknowledged.
While each of us I wired to communicate with God, sending and receiving communication from him are dynamically linked to relationship. The closer our relationship is with God, the clearer our communication with Him will be.
If we wander away from God, we start losing the signal. With a receiver, signal strength is maximized by proximity to the tower. The farther away the receiver moves from a transmitting tower, the weaker the signal gets. So it is in our ability to commune with God. If we distance ourselves from Him spiritually (and it’s always we who move), the signal weakens. If we move too far, we can’t receive a signal at all.
Only by praying on a regular basis and paying close attention to God’s Word can we attain the closeness we need to be in communion with Him. When we’re close to God, our sensitivity to the voice of the Spirit is greatly enhanced. The signal is picked up and there is a sense of the Spirit bearing witness with our spirit as the communication channel is open and the signals come through.
We then know the reality of Psalm 145:18: “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” "
"Each of us possesses a soul that distinguishes us from the animal kingdom. That is the spiritual “component” that enables us to connect with God. In very casual terms, our spiritual component is like the receiver in a cell phone or radio. A receiver picks up electromagnetic signals and converts them to sound. Similarly, our spiritual nature is the component within each of us that responds to God, that orients us to divine reality.
In times of great crisis or stress, people automatically turn to prayer for comport, solace and hope. Even nonbelievers will call out to God. The spiritual component is alive and active, whether or not it is recognized or acknowledged.
While each of us I wired to communicate with God, sending and receiving communication from him are dynamically linked to relationship. The closer our relationship is with God, the clearer our communication with Him will be.
If we wander away from God, we start losing the signal. With a receiver, signal strength is maximized by proximity to the tower. The farther away the receiver moves from a transmitting tower, the weaker the signal gets. So it is in our ability to commune with God. If we distance ourselves from Him spiritually (and it’s always we who move), the signal weakens. If we move too far, we can’t receive a signal at all.
Only by praying on a regular basis and paying close attention to God’s Word can we attain the closeness we need to be in communion with Him. When we’re close to God, our sensitivity to the voice of the Spirit is greatly enhanced. The signal is picked up and there is a sense of the Spirit bearing witness with our spirit as the communication channel is open and the signals come through.
We then know the reality of Psalm 145:18: “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” "
Four Questions to Ask God Every Day
Excerpt taken from, "Living in the Power of the Holy Spirit" by Charles F. Stanley
"From time to time I meet people who are having a hard time and who sometimes admit they are discouraged and depressed. As I ask them for details about their lives, I often discover that they are acting totally on their own strength and energy. they are trusting in their experience, their education, their acquired skills, and their natural know-how. In some cases, they are trusting in others to provide for them. Their discouragement is rooted in the fact that they are failing in some way or others are failing them. They are disappointed in themselves or in others."
Anytime you try to reach your full potential using human resources alone you are likely to fail. The real key to reaching your potential lies in trusting God to help you become your best. We do this by actively (and verbally) placing our trust in the Lord.
There are 4 questions to ask the Lord daily:
1) What do You want me to do? Then be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit deep within your heart. Trust Him to give you precise guidance and direction. God speaks using a still small voice deep within you. You might sense a "bubbling up" of words or thoughts. * Keep in mind, the voice of God, the direction of God, will always - always agree with scripture and ultimately bear the fruits of the Spirit (which are "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" Galatians 5:22-23).
2) How do You want me to act? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you are to accomplish whatever goals He sets before you...then listen up for that still, small voice!
3) When do You want me to act? We often fail because we get ahead of God (my personal struggle) or we lag behind Him (my husband's personal struggle). When you act can be as important as how you act and what you do.
4) How can I best represent You today? The Holy Spirit wants to use you to influence others not only through what you do and say, but simply by your presence in any group of people. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the joy, peace, and forgiving spirit that will act as a witness to Christ and allow others to see Christ in YOU!
We ourselves can not be "good enough" on our own. As a child, growing up in church, I was taught that in order to get to Heaven you must be "good enough"...do good works...go to church... obey the 10 commandments, etc... The problem is that none of us is "good enough" ~ we were born with human sin nature - that is why we were given the cross and more importantly the resurrection. We will never be good enough on our own. We must put our trust in God and believe that Jesus died on the cross for us, and that if we repent and turn from our sins, we can know that His blood covers and washes them away, and as we turn from our sin and are born-again/resurrected just like Jesus was, that we can have eternal life. (eternal does not mean just after we die either....TODAY is part of eternity - you can have an abundant peaceful, joyful life by knowing God TODAY!)
It is only as we allow the Spirit to do his work in us, and open ourselves up to His power and presence that we will be transformed until we develop the same character and personality 'traits' that are truly loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and under control at all times (Fruits of the Spirit, Gal 5:22-23)
"From time to time I meet people who are having a hard time and who sometimes admit they are discouraged and depressed. As I ask them for details about their lives, I often discover that they are acting totally on their own strength and energy. they are trusting in their experience, their education, their acquired skills, and their natural know-how. In some cases, they are trusting in others to provide for them. Their discouragement is rooted in the fact that they are failing in some way or others are failing them. They are disappointed in themselves or in others."
Anytime you try to reach your full potential using human resources alone you are likely to fail. The real key to reaching your potential lies in trusting God to help you become your best. We do this by actively (and verbally) placing our trust in the Lord.
There are 4 questions to ask the Lord daily:
1) What do You want me to do? Then be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit deep within your heart. Trust Him to give you precise guidance and direction. God speaks using a still small voice deep within you. You might sense a "bubbling up" of words or thoughts. * Keep in mind, the voice of God, the direction of God, will always - always agree with scripture and ultimately bear the fruits of the Spirit (which are "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" Galatians 5:22-23).
2) How do You want me to act? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you are to accomplish whatever goals He sets before you...then listen up for that still, small voice!
3) When do You want me to act? We often fail because we get ahead of God (my personal struggle) or we lag behind Him (my husband's personal struggle). When you act can be as important as how you act and what you do.
4) How can I best represent You today? The Holy Spirit wants to use you to influence others not only through what you do and say, but simply by your presence in any group of people. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the joy, peace, and forgiving spirit that will act as a witness to Christ and allow others to see Christ in YOU!
We ourselves can not be "good enough" on our own. As a child, growing up in church, I was taught that in order to get to Heaven you must be "good enough"...do good works...go to church... obey the 10 commandments, etc... The problem is that none of us is "good enough" ~ we were born with human sin nature - that is why we were given the cross and more importantly the resurrection. We will never be good enough on our own. We must put our trust in God and believe that Jesus died on the cross for us, and that if we repent and turn from our sins, we can know that His blood covers and washes them away, and as we turn from our sin and are born-again/resurrected just like Jesus was, that we can have eternal life. (eternal does not mean just after we die either....TODAY is part of eternity - you can have an abundant peaceful, joyful life by knowing God TODAY!)
It is only as we allow the Spirit to do his work in us, and open ourselves up to His power and presence that we will be transformed until we develop the same character and personality 'traits' that are truly loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and under control at all times (Fruits of the Spirit, Gal 5:22-23)
Tuesday
Opportunities in Options
Our ability to choose is remarkable. However, many things in life are forced upon us initially. We cannot choose who will give birth to us, what town we'll grow up in, or who are family will be. But as we get older, our world of options increases - also increasing the impact our choices have on us as well as our loved ones.
CONSIDER THIS:
CONSIDER THIS:
The most important decision you will ever make is what you will do with God.
Not convinced? If God in fact IS who most people think He is, if God is who He says He is, then God is the most important being that exists. He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He is the one being who has always existed and who will always exist. He is eternal, all knowing and all-powerful. There simply is no greater being.
Some decisions are no big deal...cone or dish? ketchup or mustard? Whatever. But choosing whether to say "yes" to God? That's as big a deal as deals come! And that's exactly the situation we all find ourselves in at some point in our lives. God allows the free will to choose whether or not we will follow him. Oh, and by the way, saying, "I'll just make that decision later" is actually a decision in and of itself.
Why God gives us the free will to choose whether or not to follow him, to know him, to love him, to serve him, to praise him, is very simple in my opinion. I guess that's because I have children of my own, whom I love more than anything on earth. I do not ever want to have to force them to love me, to know me, to come to me. I want them to do that because they WANT to. I never want to have to force my kids to spend time with me in their free time, or force them to have a conversation with me. Nor does God our Father want to have to force us to come to him, to know him, to have a conversation with him in prayer. He says all throughout his word that we are his children. Why would he treat us any differently?
Not convinced? If God in fact IS who most people think He is, if God is who He says He is, then God is the most important being that exists. He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He is the one being who has always existed and who will always exist. He is eternal, all knowing and all-powerful. There simply is no greater being.
Some decisions are no big deal...cone or dish? ketchup or mustard? Whatever. But choosing whether to say "yes" to God? That's as big a deal as deals come! And that's exactly the situation we all find ourselves in at some point in our lives. God allows the free will to choose whether or not we will follow him. Oh, and by the way, saying, "I'll just make that decision later" is actually a decision in and of itself.
Why God gives us the free will to choose whether or not to follow him, to know him, to love him, to serve him, to praise him, is very simple in my opinion. I guess that's because I have children of my own, whom I love more than anything on earth. I do not ever want to have to force them to love me, to know me, to come to me. I want them to do that because they WANT to. I never want to have to force my kids to spend time with me in their free time, or force them to have a conversation with me. Nor does God our Father want to have to force us to come to him, to know him, to have a conversation with him in prayer. He says all throughout his word that we are his children. Why would he treat us any differently?
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink;
or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more important than food,
and the body more important than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air;
they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than they?
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry about clothes?
See how the lilies of the field grow.
They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor
was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field,
which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire,
will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?'
or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
For the pagans run after all these things,
and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:25-34
Monday
Power and Authority
Throughout the bible we hear the words power and authority used repeatedly to describe the workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Power:
The ability, strength, and capacity to do something. Physical force or strength. Control and influence over other people and their judgment, emotions, or actions. The authority to act or do something according to a law or rule. A skill or ability.
Authority:
The right or power to enforce rules or give orders. Somebody or something with official power. Power to act on behalf of somebody else, or official permission to do something. Source of reliable information: a source of reliable information on a subject. A statement that makes somebody believe something is true.
As you can see, power and authority do not suggest a passive nature. Instead, they suggest that the Spirit is proactive, intentional, urging and demanding in the way He deals with us in our day to day lives.
There are many biblical references to the fact that the Holy Spirit gives us the actual divine energy of God in order to enable us physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually to do what God calls us to do. This is a sustaining power, not just a burst of energy. It gives us the ability to persevere and to overcome!
The Holy Spirit’s goal is to get us to obey God, come into fellowship with Him, and glorify Him.
There are a number of specific things the Holy Spirit does in the life of a believer. He does these things constantly:
1) Convicts us of sin. Not one of us comes to Christ without repentance and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. He reveals our sins so we might confess them – and I’m not talking about going to confession here folks. C’mon! I’m talking get on your knees, cry out to the Lord and repent and then TURN from your sins…ask Him to help you to never do those things again! Give yourself a shot at joy, peace, forgiveness, and freedom like you have never known!
2) Regenerates us. He saves us. He dwells within us. He continues to convict us and then cleanse us as we repent and draw nearer to God.
3) Teaches us and guides us. He gives us insight to the meaning of scripture and brings scripture to our remembrance. He gives us words to speak when we face persecution or when we are asked to witness, or speak about Jesus.
4) Comforts us. His presence abiding in us helps us to withstand, overcome, and deal with grief, loneliness, fear, and my personal issue anxiety! He gives us peace. The peace that Jesus left for us in John 14:27 ”Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” He comforts us in our time of need – giving peace that passes all understanding no matter what the situation!
5) Gives spiritual gifts. Gifts are given for both ministry [to be developed and used to help bring the lost into fellowship with Christ * see Romans12:6-8] and for supernatural gifts for use in accomplishing His purpose [1 Corinthians 12:7-10]. Supernatural gifts are also called manifestations of the Spirit. They are not given to a believer on a permanent basis, but rather they are gifts that flow through a believer on a temporary basis to meet a specific need.
6) Imparts His nature to us. As I’ve discussed previously, the Holy Spirit bears His fruit in our lives. The more we follow His promptings and abide in Him the more we are made to be like Him and display the characteristics of: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
7) Refines and transforms us. From the inside out...praise God!!
All that the Holy Spirit does in and through us is for our eternal benefit and ultimately for us to bring glory to God our Father. He does these things with POWER and AUTHORITY. The only thing preventing Him from doing all these things for you is your refusal to allow Him to work in you! Perhaps your refusal is rooted in willful rebellion…or perhaps it is more subtle – simply rooted in your wanting to do things your own way and living by your own strength. If you do not invite the Holy Spirit in to work in you and through you, you will not experience the fullness of His presence or power in your life.
Ask yourself these questions:
Do I have joy in my life regardless of my circumstances?
Am I eager to get up each morning to see what God has in store for me? Do I live in eager expectation of all that God is going to do?
Am I quick to praise God and thank Him for all that he has done, is doing, and promises to do for me?
Am I willing to submit myself to others or do I cling to what I want, when I want it, and how I want it?
Am I willing to trust God to work through others to accomplish His perfecting work in me?
Am I willing to submit MY will to HIS will?
Am I using my spiritual gifts?
If your answer is no to any of these questions, ask the Spirit to do more of His work in you so that your answers might become YES! Ask the Spirit to reveal your sins, cleanse you and give you the strength to repent and turn from them. Ask Him to teach you and guide you into the ways that you should go. Ask Him to help you to train your mind so that your thought patterns will line up with God’s Word. Invite the Holy Spirit to do His work in you and to give you His joy, His heart, His mind, His goals, His motivation….and His POWER!
Power:
The ability, strength, and capacity to do something. Physical force or strength. Control and influence over other people and their judgment, emotions, or actions. The authority to act or do something according to a law or rule. A skill or ability.
Authority:
The right or power to enforce rules or give orders. Somebody or something with official power. Power to act on behalf of somebody else, or official permission to do something. Source of reliable information: a source of reliable information on a subject. A statement that makes somebody believe something is true.
As you can see, power and authority do not suggest a passive nature. Instead, they suggest that the Spirit is proactive, intentional, urging and demanding in the way He deals with us in our day to day lives.
There are many biblical references to the fact that the Holy Spirit gives us the actual divine energy of God in order to enable us physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually to do what God calls us to do. This is a sustaining power, not just a burst of energy. It gives us the ability to persevere and to overcome!
The Holy Spirit’s goal is to get us to obey God, come into fellowship with Him, and glorify Him.
There are a number of specific things the Holy Spirit does in the life of a believer. He does these things constantly:
1) Convicts us of sin. Not one of us comes to Christ without repentance and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. He reveals our sins so we might confess them – and I’m not talking about going to confession here folks. C’mon! I’m talking get on your knees, cry out to the Lord and repent and then TURN from your sins…ask Him to help you to never do those things again! Give yourself a shot at joy, peace, forgiveness, and freedom like you have never known!
2) Regenerates us. He saves us. He dwells within us. He continues to convict us and then cleanse us as we repent and draw nearer to God.
3) Teaches us and guides us. He gives us insight to the meaning of scripture and brings scripture to our remembrance. He gives us words to speak when we face persecution or when we are asked to witness, or speak about Jesus.
4) Comforts us. His presence abiding in us helps us to withstand, overcome, and deal with grief, loneliness, fear, and my personal issue anxiety! He gives us peace. The peace that Jesus left for us in John 14:27 ”Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” He comforts us in our time of need – giving peace that passes all understanding no matter what the situation!
5) Gives spiritual gifts. Gifts are given for both ministry [to be developed and used to help bring the lost into fellowship with Christ * see Romans12:6-8] and for supernatural gifts for use in accomplishing His purpose [1 Corinthians 12:7-10]. Supernatural gifts are also called manifestations of the Spirit. They are not given to a believer on a permanent basis, but rather they are gifts that flow through a believer on a temporary basis to meet a specific need.
6) Imparts His nature to us. As I’ve discussed previously, the Holy Spirit bears His fruit in our lives. The more we follow His promptings and abide in Him the more we are made to be like Him and display the characteristics of: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
7) Refines and transforms us. From the inside out...praise God!!
All that the Holy Spirit does in and through us is for our eternal benefit and ultimately for us to bring glory to God our Father. He does these things with POWER and AUTHORITY. The only thing preventing Him from doing all these things for you is your refusal to allow Him to work in you! Perhaps your refusal is rooted in willful rebellion…or perhaps it is more subtle – simply rooted in your wanting to do things your own way and living by your own strength. If you do not invite the Holy Spirit in to work in you and through you, you will not experience the fullness of His presence or power in your life.
Ask yourself these questions:
Do I have joy in my life regardless of my circumstances?
Am I eager to get up each morning to see what God has in store for me? Do I live in eager expectation of all that God is going to do?
Am I quick to praise God and thank Him for all that he has done, is doing, and promises to do for me?
Am I willing to submit myself to others or do I cling to what I want, when I want it, and how I want it?
Am I willing to trust God to work through others to accomplish His perfecting work in me?
Am I willing to submit MY will to HIS will?
Am I using my spiritual gifts?
If your answer is no to any of these questions, ask the Spirit to do more of His work in you so that your answers might become YES! Ask the Spirit to reveal your sins, cleanse you and give you the strength to repent and turn from them. Ask Him to teach you and guide you into the ways that you should go. Ask Him to help you to train your mind so that your thought patterns will line up with God’s Word. Invite the Holy Spirit to do His work in you and to give you His joy, His heart, His mind, His goals, His motivation….and His POWER!
Whatever You're Doing...
It's time for healing time to move on
It's time to fix what's been broken too long
Time make right what has been wrong
It's time to find my way to where I belong
There's a wave that's crashing over me
All I can do is surrender
Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
but I'm giving in to something heavenly
Time for a milestone
Time to begin again
Revaluate who I really am
Am I doing everything to follow your will
or just climbing aimlessly over these hills
So show me what it is you want from me
I give everything I surrender...
To...
Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
but I'm giving in to something heavenly
Time to face up
Clean this old house
Time to breathe in and let everything out
That I've wanted to say for so many years
Time to release all my held back tears
Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but I believe
You're up to something bigger than me
Larger than life something heavenly
Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but now I can see
This something bigger than me
Larger than life something heavenly
Something heavenly
It's time to face up
Clean this old house
Time breathe in and let everything out
It's time to fix what's been broken too long
Time make right what has been wrong
It's time to find my way to where I belong
There's a wave that's crashing over me
All I can do is surrender
Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
but I'm giving in to something heavenly
Time for a milestone
Time to begin again
Revaluate who I really am
Am I doing everything to follow your will
or just climbing aimlessly over these hills
So show me what it is you want from me
I give everything I surrender...
To...
Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
but I'm giving in to something heavenly
Time to face up
Clean this old house
Time to breathe in and let everything out
That I've wanted to say for so many years
Time to release all my held back tears
Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but I believe
You're up to something bigger than me
Larger than life something heavenly
Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but now I can see
This something bigger than me
Larger than life something heavenly
Something heavenly
It's time to face up
Clean this old house
Time breathe in and let everything out
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