After reading and studying the scriptures in the Bible and scrutinized the promises therein, I have been taken to a place of faith in my christian walk over the years. Knowing that God promises and fulfills (numbers 23:19) is many times easy to read but the hard part is believing and waiting because humanly, we want to see things before we believe, which in fact IS NOT FAITH!!!. We need to know that God will always come through for us as He promised. Have you like me been to a place where God promised you something or even received a prophecy and you wondered when it will come to pass?. I wondered for about 15 years after I received a prophecy that I would attend Bible school. I even tried on my own to apply to colleges all over the world. By doing this, I was trying to 'help' God and not trusting. Because many years had passed and had seen nothing, I kind of had lost hope and given up. Over this long period of waiting and wondering, doubt (the faith killer)cropped in. But as surely as He is the Lord of mercy and His word being true, He came through with that promise and I did attend Bible school which was the desire of my heart at the time. BUT... it did NOT come the way I had thought it would. He took me through an UNEXPECTED avenue and but eventually ended up in Bible School.
You see, God will always come through for us. The waiting process can be long and dry but its also a time of faith building and wholly trusting in Him. God wants to make sure you and I can trust Him and love Him the same regardless. THE PROMISE WILL COME TO PASS, ONLY BELIEVE!! But WHEN it comes, we must still stay in the centre of His will and MUST be willing to bless Him with it.
When Abraham was over eighty years old, God made him a wonderful promise: "A son coming from your own body will be your heir. Look up at the heavens and count the stars - so shall your offspring be" (Genesis 15:4-5).
Many years went by without any indication that God would fulfill this promise. Finally, when Abraham was one hundred years old (and his wife, Sarah, ninety) God fulfilled His promise through the birth of Isaac. But when Isaac was a young boy, God told Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son.
Genesis 22:2
"Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."
We can't even imagine receiving this type of command from God. Abraham loved Isaac; and Isaac also represented the fulfillment of God's promise. But Abraham didn't even question the apparent conflict between God's promise and His command...he simply believed and obeyed. Abraham took Isaac and climbed the mountain, placed him on top of a pile of wood, and "took the knife to slay his son" (Genesis 22:10).
Many people speculate about the turmoil in Abraham's mind during this time, but Scripture gives no indication that Abraham ever seemed anxious or concerned. He believed in God, believed His promises, and his faith never seemed to waiver. As Abraham was about to kill his son, God stopped him and provided a ram as a substitute sacrifice (Genesis 22:13).
God put Abraham through an unimaginable test of faith...but why? The test wasn't for God - surely God already knew of Abraham's faith! The test may have been to strengthen Abraham's faith. God often tests us as a way of refining and drawing us closer to Himself. But I think the main reason for Abraham being asked to climb the mountain was so we would have a clear picture of what it means to believe.
Belief is central to the gospel message. It is so important that God gave a picture through Abraham which allows us to truly understand what Jesus meant when He said; "whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
Where do you stand concerning what God promised you? Have you kind of lost Hope? I want to encourage you NOT to give up Hope!!! DO NOT RETREAT AND DO NOT SURRENDER!!! God is calling us to believe. He is calling us to a life of faith where we have such a strong assurance of His presence that He is all we need...all we value and hold dear. Let's give ourselves completely to Him, without ANY reservation - let's truly believe! Let's give Him ALL our hearts and be willing to sacrifice ALL for His glory and honor. Let's once and for all climb the mountain of faith.
THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed day!!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
This is Our God
In my christian walk over the years, I have numerously come to a place when I was in dire need of God's intervention in my life. When suddenly it turned so 'dark' and couldn't find my way. I thought to myself that surely, if I pray and add a few days fasting, perhaps He would come rushing to my rescue. Needless to say, God took His time. How many times do we want to see God move but we tend to put a time limit in which He has to move and do things for us?.
I have come to realize that God does not operate that way! He may come quickly but speaking for myself, He seemed to take His time. After asking so many questions and wondering why He was not coming through like I wanted, the answer came...He was helping me to prioritize and put Him first. In the midst of the chaos in my our lives, God wants us to draw even closer to Him. He is the potter and we are the clay. One of my favorite scriptures that I have held onto over the years and has encouraged greatly in the hard times is: Isaiah 43 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire,you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze".
God sees and listens. He sees all those tears that we shed and the longings of our hearts. When we go through these times and seem to hear nothing from Heaven, it does not mean that God has forsaken us. He will NEVER forsake us!!!
In the book of Job, we read of a man who came under severe attack by Satan. Within a short amount of time, Job went from a man of wealth, health, and large family, to a man who lost all his possessions, was near death, and childless.
In the early stage of his trials, Job demonstrated a deep commitment to God's sovereignty; "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised" (Job 1:20-21). Then when his wife told him to curse God and die, Job responded with: "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (Job 2:10).
Job seemed to have a deep understanding of the verse we often quote in times of trial; "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him" (Romans 8:28). But at the same time, Job struggled with understanding why God would allow these things to happen. Yes, God is in control...but why!? When Job couldn't find an answer he began to feel terribly alone and abandoned.
Job 23:3-5
"If only I knew where to find Him; if only I could go to His dwelling! I would state my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would find out what He would answer me, and consider what He would say."
Our trials often cause similar concerns. We find ourselves asking where God has gone and why He is allowing such hardship. Even though we may believe God is "working all things for our good," we often search in vain to find something positive in our situation. And when we fail to see any possible good, we become frustrated and assume God has forgotten us, abandoned us in our time of need.
Finally, God responded to Job's cry for answers: "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!" (Job 38:4-5). God's response continued for almost four chapters: "Who has a claim against Me that I must repay? Everything under heaven belongs to Me" (Job 41:11). The Creator of the Universe - the One who formed every intricate detail of what we see and cannot see - the One who lifted us out of the slimy pit and set our feet on solid ground, spoke to Job and simply said, "I'm God!"
Our Heavenly Father loves us so very much! He truly desires for us to know Him better and walk by His side with complete trust. But there are times when our trust must take comfort in accepting a difficult answer. Often, in the middle of our trials, we must continue to simply believe His Word is true. Though we may not understand, we must desperately cling to His promises and KNOW He will never leave us nor forsake us! Let's be at total peace and restore our hope by always remembering that He is the Lord God, the Lover of our souls.
THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed day!!
I have come to realize that God does not operate that way! He may come quickly but speaking for myself, He seemed to take His time. After asking so many questions and wondering why He was not coming through like I wanted, the answer came...He was helping me to prioritize and put Him first. In the midst of the chaos in my our lives, God wants us to draw even closer to Him. He is the potter and we are the clay. One of my favorite scriptures that I have held onto over the years and has encouraged greatly in the hard times is: Isaiah 43 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire,you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze".
God sees and listens. He sees all those tears that we shed and the longings of our hearts. When we go through these times and seem to hear nothing from Heaven, it does not mean that God has forsaken us. He will NEVER forsake us!!!
In the book of Job, we read of a man who came under severe attack by Satan. Within a short amount of time, Job went from a man of wealth, health, and large family, to a man who lost all his possessions, was near death, and childless.
In the early stage of his trials, Job demonstrated a deep commitment to God's sovereignty; "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised" (Job 1:20-21). Then when his wife told him to curse God and die, Job responded with: "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (Job 2:10).
Job seemed to have a deep understanding of the verse we often quote in times of trial; "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him" (Romans 8:28). But at the same time, Job struggled with understanding why God would allow these things to happen. Yes, God is in control...but why!? When Job couldn't find an answer he began to feel terribly alone and abandoned.
Job 23:3-5
"If only I knew where to find Him; if only I could go to His dwelling! I would state my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would find out what He would answer me, and consider what He would say."
Our trials often cause similar concerns. We find ourselves asking where God has gone and why He is allowing such hardship. Even though we may believe God is "working all things for our good," we often search in vain to find something positive in our situation. And when we fail to see any possible good, we become frustrated and assume God has forgotten us, abandoned us in our time of need.
Finally, God responded to Job's cry for answers: "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!" (Job 38:4-5). God's response continued for almost four chapters: "Who has a claim against Me that I must repay? Everything under heaven belongs to Me" (Job 41:11). The Creator of the Universe - the One who formed every intricate detail of what we see and cannot see - the One who lifted us out of the slimy pit and set our feet on solid ground, spoke to Job and simply said, "I'm God!"
Our Heavenly Father loves us so very much! He truly desires for us to know Him better and walk by His side with complete trust. But there are times when our trust must take comfort in accepting a difficult answer. Often, in the middle of our trials, we must continue to simply believe His Word is true. Though we may not understand, we must desperately cling to His promises and KNOW He will never leave us nor forsake us! Let's be at total peace and restore our hope by always remembering that He is the Lord God, the Lover of our souls.
THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed day!!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Lets Not Hide Among The Baggage
The last two years have probably been the most difficult in my whole entire life. I have battled between ministry and my own personal life. Many of you out there have had your own share of problems and battles. The English have a saying "when it rains, it pours". How true this is! I thought I was all set in the Lord, had all I needed then suddenly my whole life crumbled. I struggled to do what God required of me...ministry. Some of this pain I brought upon myself due to the bad choices and decisions that I had made. I was in so much pain, so stressed and depressed as many of my close friends would attest to this fact. And then God, in His infinite wisdom (of course), bless His Holy name found it suitable that in the midst of what I faced, sent people my way and required that I help them. Some of these people were going through similar trials as me and others even worse. But between that time and now, I'm glad to say that our faithful and just God, whose mercies are new each day made a way for me...gave me peace to begin with. A certain situation keeps showing up at my door step but I'm now a much stronger person and better situated in God. I'm now more than able to help and encourage others better. With God's help, I determined that this baggage of what I was facing and going through would not hinder me from being fruitful for God. I didn't allow it to weigh me down as I had the confidence (and still do of course) that God would help me. Fasting and prayer and getting closer to God was the key. With time, I have come to realize that I'm not carrying this load, God has taken it from me. We need to let go of the excess baggage from the past or whatever it is we are carrying around so that we can receive from God. God is in the business of taking the loads off of us...ONLY if we give them to Him.
When Samuel became too old to be an effective judge, the leaders of Israel asked for a new kind of ruler; "Appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have" (1 Samuel 8:5). This request was actually an indication of the sad decline of God's people. By requesting a king, "as all the other nations," they were rejecting God's plan and choosing to follow the ways of the world.
God was disappointed with the heart of His children, but He granted their request and told Samuel to anoint Saul as Israel's first king. Saul was "an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites - a head taller than any of the others" (1 Samuel 9:2). Saul's external appearance was a perfect match for the superficial values of the nation.
When Samuel spoke with Saul, he was quite surprised to hear he had been chosen by God: "But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?" (1 Samuel 9:21). Saul's insecurities were so great that when it came time to officially anoint him as king, he was nowhere to be found.
1 Samuel 10:22
"So they inquired further of the Lord, 'Has the man come here yet?' And the Lord said, 'Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage.'"
Although Saul made many mistakes as king, we must not forget he was specifically chosen by God and empowered to do His will. But Saul lived with a great sense of inadequacy and was never able to effectively lead. He continually stepped out of God's will because his focus remained on his own limitations rather than on the limitless ability of the One who called him to serve.
Each of us who enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are also chosen to do His will - empowered by His Spirit to accomplish everything He desires for our life; "His divine power has given us everything we need" (2 Peter 1:3). Unfortunately, most of us enter this relationship carrying bags from our past which weigh us down and hinder our ability to serve.
Question therefore is: What baggage are we still carrying or using to hide from God's call? There may be sins and failures in our distant (or even very recent) past which make us feel unworthy to serve. We may still carry the pain and mistrust of a broken relationship. We may have even made a sincere attempt to serve but taken a few wrong steps and fallen flat. But NOTHING must keep us from doing His will. Nothing must keep us from following where we know He is leading. Let's trust Him with all our heart and answer the call today. Let's keep our eyes on Christ and stop hiding among the baggage. Lets surender this baggage so He can better use us for His glory. Nothing is impossible with God!
THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed day!!
When Samuel became too old to be an effective judge, the leaders of Israel asked for a new kind of ruler; "Appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have" (1 Samuel 8:5). This request was actually an indication of the sad decline of God's people. By requesting a king, "as all the other nations," they were rejecting God's plan and choosing to follow the ways of the world.
God was disappointed with the heart of His children, but He granted their request and told Samuel to anoint Saul as Israel's first king. Saul was "an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites - a head taller than any of the others" (1 Samuel 9:2). Saul's external appearance was a perfect match for the superficial values of the nation.
When Samuel spoke with Saul, he was quite surprised to hear he had been chosen by God: "But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?" (1 Samuel 9:21). Saul's insecurities were so great that when it came time to officially anoint him as king, he was nowhere to be found.
1 Samuel 10:22
"So they inquired further of the Lord, 'Has the man come here yet?' And the Lord said, 'Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage.'"
Although Saul made many mistakes as king, we must not forget he was specifically chosen by God and empowered to do His will. But Saul lived with a great sense of inadequacy and was never able to effectively lead. He continually stepped out of God's will because his focus remained on his own limitations rather than on the limitless ability of the One who called him to serve.
Each of us who enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are also chosen to do His will - empowered by His Spirit to accomplish everything He desires for our life; "His divine power has given us everything we need" (2 Peter 1:3). Unfortunately, most of us enter this relationship carrying bags from our past which weigh us down and hinder our ability to serve.
Question therefore is: What baggage are we still carrying or using to hide from God's call? There may be sins and failures in our distant (or even very recent) past which make us feel unworthy to serve. We may still carry the pain and mistrust of a broken relationship. We may have even made a sincere attempt to serve but taken a few wrong steps and fallen flat. But NOTHING must keep us from doing His will. Nothing must keep us from following where we know He is leading. Let's trust Him with all our heart and answer the call today. Let's keep our eyes on Christ and stop hiding among the baggage. Lets surender this baggage so He can better use us for His glory. Nothing is impossible with God!
THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed day!!
Trusting God While We Soar
To be honest with you, one of the most challenging areas of my Christian walk has been trusting the Lord's hand. Many might at this point say "what do you mean trusting the lord's hand? How hard can that be?" Allow me to submit to you at this time, that when we are faced with trials and tribulations, even the strongest in faith Will shake a little bit. A good example in the Bible is Elijah. Even he was shaken and even asked to die. But our God is faithful, loving and caring.
The challenge (still is) and I'm sure many out there is when everything is going well then suddenly, everything turns around and goes down hill. This moment of testing is many times an opportunity to soar up in our faith. The storms in life will always be there as I have so learned the hard way through experience. A time came when I was no longer sailing under my pastor's faith or wings or even my friends in Christ. There came a time when I had to pray for myself and soon realized that it was going to be part of my Christian walk and a road to spiritual maturity. When my trials came each time, I was quickly reminded that I was not a baby in the spiritual things anymore, therefore, I had to fend for myself. Which meant that I had to first of all read God's Word, find out what He had to say about my situation, the next part was for me to pray and believe the Word. I had to get a 'direct connection' to the throne room of God so to speak on my own and would tell Him about what was going on(not that He didn't know)and still do. The issue now, was that I had to put my trust in God and believe that He was gonna work on my behalf. Needless to say, that it is still the case and that is what God requires of us. TO TRUST IN HIM WHEN WE ARE ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP AND WHEN IN THE VALLEY! In the good times and the bad times. In time of plenty and in times of draught.
God uses storms in our lives to shape and mold us "to the likeness of His Son" (Romans 8:29). James says that storms (or trials) are used to make us "mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:4). So when will all our storms end? Not until the process is complete. Not until we're called home to be with the Lord!
But there is certainly much more to our Christian walk than storm survival. As we mature and grow closer to our Heavenly Father, we will see more clearly His purpose and learn to actually rejoice during our times of difficulty. Rather than fight the wind, we will allow it to teach us and cause us to soar! The storms will continue to be a part of our life, but we will also experience seasons of great victory.
These seasons of victorious soaring WILL come! For they are as much a part of God's plan as the storm. But they are equally a time of teaching - a time where we must be reminded to keep our eyes on Jesus and trust the guidance of His Spirit.
The Israelites had wandered forty years in the desert and were now ready to cross into the promised land of Canaan. But Moses warned never to stop praising and trusting God: "When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 8:10-11). Moses warned that when we fail to trust God during the peaceful times of blessing, we tend to forget and quickly become susceptible to our sinful pride.
Deuteronomy 8:17-18
"You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant."
We must continually "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). We must trust as the storm approaches and as the waves threaten to sink our boat; but we must also trust as the wind and waves are calmed. In fact, we must focus on trusting Him even more when the storm ceases. In difficult times, we are continually reminded of our need for God; but times of blessing can cause us to trust our own ability...and forget.
God desires far more than to just be available during our times of great need. He desires to walk with us in an intimate relationship every moment of the day. Let's continue to trust Him while we're sailing through the storm; but as we victoriously rise up on the wings of eagles, let's also remember to praise Him and trust while we soar.There is a temptation to shelf the things of God when our prayers are answered. God requires that we maintain that relationship of trust and loving Him with all we've got. Of course not forgetting to THANK HIM!!
THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have blessed day!!
The challenge (still is) and I'm sure many out there is when everything is going well then suddenly, everything turns around and goes down hill. This moment of testing is many times an opportunity to soar up in our faith. The storms in life will always be there as I have so learned the hard way through experience. A time came when I was no longer sailing under my pastor's faith or wings or even my friends in Christ. There came a time when I had to pray for myself and soon realized that it was going to be part of my Christian walk and a road to spiritual maturity. When my trials came each time, I was quickly reminded that I was not a baby in the spiritual things anymore, therefore, I had to fend for myself. Which meant that I had to first of all read God's Word, find out what He had to say about my situation, the next part was for me to pray and believe the Word. I had to get a 'direct connection' to the throne room of God so to speak on my own and would tell Him about what was going on(not that He didn't know)and still do. The issue now, was that I had to put my trust in God and believe that He was gonna work on my behalf. Needless to say, that it is still the case and that is what God requires of us. TO TRUST IN HIM WHEN WE ARE ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP AND WHEN IN THE VALLEY! In the good times and the bad times. In time of plenty and in times of draught.
God uses storms in our lives to shape and mold us "to the likeness of His Son" (Romans 8:29). James says that storms (or trials) are used to make us "mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:4). So when will all our storms end? Not until the process is complete. Not until we're called home to be with the Lord!
But there is certainly much more to our Christian walk than storm survival. As we mature and grow closer to our Heavenly Father, we will see more clearly His purpose and learn to actually rejoice during our times of difficulty. Rather than fight the wind, we will allow it to teach us and cause us to soar! The storms will continue to be a part of our life, but we will also experience seasons of great victory.
These seasons of victorious soaring WILL come! For they are as much a part of God's plan as the storm. But they are equally a time of teaching - a time where we must be reminded to keep our eyes on Jesus and trust the guidance of His Spirit.
The Israelites had wandered forty years in the desert and were now ready to cross into the promised land of Canaan. But Moses warned never to stop praising and trusting God: "When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 8:10-11). Moses warned that when we fail to trust God during the peaceful times of blessing, we tend to forget and quickly become susceptible to our sinful pride.
Deuteronomy 8:17-18
"You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant."
We must continually "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). We must trust as the storm approaches and as the waves threaten to sink our boat; but we must also trust as the wind and waves are calmed. In fact, we must focus on trusting Him even more when the storm ceases. In difficult times, we are continually reminded of our need for God; but times of blessing can cause us to trust our own ability...and forget.
God desires far more than to just be available during our times of great need. He desires to walk with us in an intimate relationship every moment of the day. Let's continue to trust Him while we're sailing through the storm; but as we victoriously rise up on the wings of eagles, let's also remember to praise Him and trust while we soar.There is a temptation to shelf the things of God when our prayers are answered. God requires that we maintain that relationship of trust and loving Him with all we've got. Of course not forgetting to THANK HIM!!
THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have blessed day!!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
We Will Not Fear
I have shared with a few of my friends and told them of my fears about the future. Worrying about where I will be tomorrow or if i will have enough money...the list is long. I am sure I'm not alone in this category but there is comfort in knowing that God is in control of the future and that He cares about us and our needs. If He can watch and take care of the birds of the air and the grass in the fields, surely He will take care of us. He has already mapped out the plan and program for our lives. He as God (like my pastor Dr.Miller likes to say) has seen us from the time we were born till our death. He has also seen the good and bad choices we are going to make. So...that brings us to the question therefore: Will worrying and fretting about the future or where we will get the things we need in life resolve or change anything? Answer is NO!!!If anything, we will be thrown into more fear. One of my favorite scriptures is numbers 23:19 which says: "God is not man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent: hath He said and shall not do it? or has He spoken and shall not make it good?"
In these times of great uncertainty - with concerns about war, terrorism, and the economy - let's always remember, our Heavenly Father is the Creator of the Universe. He formed the Heavens and the Earth out of nothing, and, as we place our trust in Him, He has given a basic promise: "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). His desire is for us to draw nearer in our love and worship, and allow His Spirit to remove all fear.
Psalm 46:1-3
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging."
Although we are uncertain what tomorrow may bring, we ought to have confidence in the One who really controls tomorrow. If we believe Jesus died for our sin, rose again in victory over death, and is seated at the right hand of the Father - if we surrender our life to who He is and what He has done - our eternal home has been firmly established; "Our citizenship is in Heaven" (Philippians 3:20). As a child of the Sovereign King, as one who believes in our eternal future, we no longer have reason to fear; "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship" (Romans 8:15).
We no longer have a reason, but still we fear. The unknown is scary and makes us feel out of control. But as we pray for an end to violence, and as we strive to make this world safer, better educated, and more prosperous, we must understand there is only one true solution to our fear.
Our fear will only be removed as we love the Lord with ALL our heart, soul, mind and strength. When we understand that our life is not our own, we will love with a complete abandonment to His desire. We will pray and live each day with the surrender demonstrated by Christ; "Father...not My will, but Yours be done" (Luke 22:42). As we live each day to bring Him glory and honor, fear WILL begin to fade: "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear" (1 John 4:18).
Yes, these days contain some uncertainty. If we continue to focus on what we can see, there will always be uncertainties. But our faith, hope, and joy are in His eternal glory; not in this world which will one day pass away. Let's refuse to allow our fear of the unknown cripple our service for God. There is still much work He has for us to do. Let's pray that our love will increase, that our worship will intensify, and that we will boldly stand up and proclaim, "We will not fear!" I pray and hope that as we face the challenges of life, we will learn to trust in Him and let Him be the driver of our daily lives.
THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed day!!
In these times of great uncertainty - with concerns about war, terrorism, and the economy - let's always remember, our Heavenly Father is the Creator of the Universe. He formed the Heavens and the Earth out of nothing, and, as we place our trust in Him, He has given a basic promise: "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). His desire is for us to draw nearer in our love and worship, and allow His Spirit to remove all fear.
Psalm 46:1-3
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging."
Although we are uncertain what tomorrow may bring, we ought to have confidence in the One who really controls tomorrow. If we believe Jesus died for our sin, rose again in victory over death, and is seated at the right hand of the Father - if we surrender our life to who He is and what He has done - our eternal home has been firmly established; "Our citizenship is in Heaven" (Philippians 3:20). As a child of the Sovereign King, as one who believes in our eternal future, we no longer have reason to fear; "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship" (Romans 8:15).
We no longer have a reason, but still we fear. The unknown is scary and makes us feel out of control. But as we pray for an end to violence, and as we strive to make this world safer, better educated, and more prosperous, we must understand there is only one true solution to our fear.
Our fear will only be removed as we love the Lord with ALL our heart, soul, mind and strength. When we understand that our life is not our own, we will love with a complete abandonment to His desire. We will pray and live each day with the surrender demonstrated by Christ; "Father...not My will, but Yours be done" (Luke 22:42). As we live each day to bring Him glory and honor, fear WILL begin to fade: "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear" (1 John 4:18).
Yes, these days contain some uncertainty. If we continue to focus on what we can see, there will always be uncertainties. But our faith, hope, and joy are in His eternal glory; not in this world which will one day pass away. Let's refuse to allow our fear of the unknown cripple our service for God. There is still much work He has for us to do. Let's pray that our love will increase, that our worship will intensify, and that we will boldly stand up and proclaim, "We will not fear!" I pray and hope that as we face the challenges of life, we will learn to trust in Him and let Him be the driver of our daily lives.
THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed day!!
Lets Not Compromise
I have been in the service industry (restaurants and hotels) for a while now but I can tell you that the level of temptaion in this industry is unbelievable. The talk about parties, sex, drinking and all sorts of other things are ever present here. I have over the years been begged and persuaded to go out try out all these things. Its not because I am strong or anything but because I know that to compromise, would mean profaning the Lord's name and would ultimately kill my testimony. Which also means, it would be an aboslute up-hill task if not impossible to share Christ again with these friends of mine. It only takes one time to start then the slidding begins until we are consumed. SO LETS STAND FIRM AND SAY NO!!!
The old testament in the Holy Bible is full of stories that have inspired me and I'm sure millions of other out there. When I read these stories, I see the story of God and the story of man. The mistakes that man made and how God from the very begining has been trying to restore man to Himself.
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon desired to unite his kingdom by instituting a centralized form of worship. He built a statue of gold about 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide and ordered that everyone must fall down and worship the statue whenever the royal music began to play.
A report was delivered to the King that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were refusing to worship the golden image. The King summoned these three young Jewish men and gave them one more chance to conform to his rules for worship.
Daniel 3:15
"If you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"
These three followers of Almighty God were faced with an ultimatum; "Compromise your beliefs, or die!" They could have found a way to rationalize this false worship. They could have found a variety of excuses for compromise. But rather than fall to the pressures of their surrounding environment, the three decided to live a life of unwavering faith and unashamed devotion to the One True God.
Daniel 3:17-18
"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Very few will ever face a "Compromise or die!" ultimatum. But almost everyone will be tempted to push aside convictions and bow to such "golden images" as financial gain, physical pleasure, recognition, or conflict avoidance. We are also constantly tempted to "bow down" with the "entertainment" we watch, listen to, or read. Standing firm requires a determined effort to remain solidly on God's path.
Hearing God's direction for our lives can sometimes be difficult; but one truth remains - God NEVER asks us to compromise His standard in order to follow His path. We can therefore be assured that ANY compromise represents a deviation from His plan.
Let's therefore, strengthen the convictions God has already placed on our heart. We need not be ashamed of, nor fear, what we know is true; and we need never doubt the perfection of His path. Let's live a life of consistent belief and trust such that what we believe is directly reflected in the way we live. Let's take a stand and live a God-honoring life...without compromise.Lets be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed day!!
The old testament in the Holy Bible is full of stories that have inspired me and I'm sure millions of other out there. When I read these stories, I see the story of God and the story of man. The mistakes that man made and how God from the very begining has been trying to restore man to Himself.
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon desired to unite his kingdom by instituting a centralized form of worship. He built a statue of gold about 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide and ordered that everyone must fall down and worship the statue whenever the royal music began to play.
A report was delivered to the King that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were refusing to worship the golden image. The King summoned these three young Jewish men and gave them one more chance to conform to his rules for worship.
Daniel 3:15
"If you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"
These three followers of Almighty God were faced with an ultimatum; "Compromise your beliefs, or die!" They could have found a way to rationalize this false worship. They could have found a variety of excuses for compromise. But rather than fall to the pressures of their surrounding environment, the three decided to live a life of unwavering faith and unashamed devotion to the One True God.
Daniel 3:17-18
"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Very few will ever face a "Compromise or die!" ultimatum. But almost everyone will be tempted to push aside convictions and bow to such "golden images" as financial gain, physical pleasure, recognition, or conflict avoidance. We are also constantly tempted to "bow down" with the "entertainment" we watch, listen to, or read. Standing firm requires a determined effort to remain solidly on God's path.
Hearing God's direction for our lives can sometimes be difficult; but one truth remains - God NEVER asks us to compromise His standard in order to follow His path. We can therefore be assured that ANY compromise represents a deviation from His plan.
Let's therefore, strengthen the convictions God has already placed on our heart. We need not be ashamed of, nor fear, what we know is true; and we need never doubt the perfection of His path. Let's live a life of consistent belief and trust such that what we believe is directly reflected in the way we live. Let's take a stand and live a God-honoring life...without compromise.Lets be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed day!!
The Battles Belong to God
Have you ever worried and wondered how you were going to make it out of certain situations in life? We are all faced with problems and all kinds of situations in our day to lives. It is very easy, for us when faced with problems maybe financial, spiritual, physical or even emotional to try and fix them for ourselves. I have countless times been faced with situations (I like to call them mountains) and had no clue what to do. As a result, of not giving the problem to God, I either tried to find shortcuts out of the situation or tried to find a solution on my own. Needless to say, my efforts and attempts to solve my own problems were not successful many a time. God wants us to surrender the issues in our lives and to rest in Him with the confidence that He has everything under control. The confidence that He loves us as our Father and would like to take the loads off our shoulders. The confidence that HE ALONE FIGHTS OUR BATTLES.
During the time of King Jehoshaphat (approximately 860 BC), several armies began to invade the land of Judah. Being greatly outnumbered, Jehoshaphat called for a nation-wide time of fasting and prayer to seek guidance from God: "O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You" (2 Chronicles 20:12).
The king needed to formulate a plan. He was the appointed leader and responsible for the safety of his people. King Jehoshaphat's "plan" was to place the fate of the entire nation into the hands of God. Many see such action as weakness, but it took great strength to recognize he was powerless - even greater strength to know where to turn and Who to trust!
God answered King Jehoshaphat's cry for help through a Levite named Jahaziel.
2 Chronicles 20:14-15
"Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel...'Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's."'"
Knowing that our battles belong to God is great comfort when we face trials which appear much bigger than anything we can handle. But there is more to the story! God didn't tell Jehoshaphat to just sit in his tent while the battle was won. Rather, He gave specific instructions to confidently stand before the enemy.
2 Chronicles 20:16-17
"Tomorrow march down against them...{But} you will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you."
Since we are residents in this world (but not of this world)at the moment, It's inevitable that our life will contain such battles - many are facing overwhelming battles right now. And as with everything we encounter on our Christian walk, battles have a purpose. Many times the purpose of our battle is to understand a fundamental truth: "Apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). Reaching the end of our own strength is the real battle. Turning to God and trusting Him for every step of our walk is the real victory!
If we will trust Him with all our hearts and seek counsel in His presence, He will tell us where to march and where to stand. Not only will He show us where to go but He will make our paths straight. Let's boldly follow our Lord each and every day and refuse to become discouraged. He is in absolute control...for these ARE God's battles! God has a great plan for each and everyone but we must yield and empty ourselves in Him. God will NEVER change His mind about you and me...so we need to come to a place of daily trusting in His unfailing Love for us.
THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed day!!
During the time of King Jehoshaphat (approximately 860 BC), several armies began to invade the land of Judah. Being greatly outnumbered, Jehoshaphat called for a nation-wide time of fasting and prayer to seek guidance from God: "O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You" (2 Chronicles 20:12).
The king needed to formulate a plan. He was the appointed leader and responsible for the safety of his people. King Jehoshaphat's "plan" was to place the fate of the entire nation into the hands of God. Many see such action as weakness, but it took great strength to recognize he was powerless - even greater strength to know where to turn and Who to trust!
God answered King Jehoshaphat's cry for help through a Levite named Jahaziel.
2 Chronicles 20:14-15
"Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel...'Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's."'"
Knowing that our battles belong to God is great comfort when we face trials which appear much bigger than anything we can handle. But there is more to the story! God didn't tell Jehoshaphat to just sit in his tent while the battle was won. Rather, He gave specific instructions to confidently stand before the enemy.
2 Chronicles 20:16-17
"Tomorrow march down against them...{But} you will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you."
Since we are residents in this world (but not of this world)at the moment, It's inevitable that our life will contain such battles - many are facing overwhelming battles right now. And as with everything we encounter on our Christian walk, battles have a purpose. Many times the purpose of our battle is to understand a fundamental truth: "Apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). Reaching the end of our own strength is the real battle. Turning to God and trusting Him for every step of our walk is the real victory!
If we will trust Him with all our hearts and seek counsel in His presence, He will tell us where to march and where to stand. Not only will He show us where to go but He will make our paths straight. Let's boldly follow our Lord each and every day and refuse to become discouraged. He is in absolute control...for these ARE God's battles! God has a great plan for each and everyone but we must yield and empty ourselves in Him. God will NEVER change His mind about you and me...so we need to come to a place of daily trusting in His unfailing Love for us.
THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed day!!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Never Lose Hope
There are countless times when in my Christian walk with The Lord have I reached a point of discouragement and felt like all hope was gone. A case in my remembrance is just last summer (June 2009) when I called my pastor Dr. Miller and told him that I was so depressed and felt like giving up. I also called up my very close friend Kamal Fraser and told him that I was giving up on "everything". They both encouraged me to stand firm and not lose hope. It has not been easy and still is not but the good news is that God always comes through in due season if we don't give up. I can gladly testify that that I have since then seen God move on my behalf. I thank God that when we don't lose hope, He comes through with the answer. He is the ON-TIME GOD!
In the the previous writ-up, we were encouraged to continue in prayer and minister to the needs of others; to stand in the gap for those who need protection against enemy attacks and the ones who have not accepted Jesus as savior. We saw our responsibility to stand for as long as necessary. This requires perseverance and complete trust in God. It can be difficult when we continue to "stand" but God appears slow to respond. We can also become extremely discouraged when we think we understand HOW He should respond.
Lazarus had become sick to the point of death, and his sisters were standing in the gap by ministering to his needs. They even sent word to Jesus in hopes that He would help.
John 11:4-6
"When He heard this, Jesus said, 'This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it.' Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days."
Jesus did not immediately respond - and during this delay, Lazarus died. Yet this tragedy was for God's glory. When Jesus finally arrived, He raised Lazarus from the dead and taught an important message: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies" (John 11:25).
Lazarus and his sisters would have preferred a healing during the early stage of the sickness - but that was not God's plan. His plan included much more than the temporary suffering of one family. His plan was to teach many people, through many generations, to this very day and beyond, that He was the sure way to eternal life. His plan was perfect, with perfect timing.
We are all given opportunities to serve by meeting the needs of others. But as we serve, we must NEVER take our eyes off our Heavenly Father. Our "job" is to stand in the gap and minister how His Spirit directs. It is never our responsibility to "fix" the people or circumstances we have been called to serve. When we will faithfully serve we will find that God actually uses our ministry effort to work on issues in our own life, issues like trust; "Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge" (Psalm 62:8). Our lack of trust is revealed when we give up - when we despair and lose hope.
When our area of service seems out of control - when the need seems to outpace our ability to serve and God seems slow to respond - we must continue to trust Him with all our heart. These times of testing will draw us closer to God as we abandon ALL into His sovereign care. He alone knows His plan, and His plan remains perfect. Let's continue to trust Him and serve as He directs. Let's continue with our eyes fixed on God, and never lose hope!
"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart".
THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed day!!
In the the previous writ-up, we were encouraged to continue in prayer and minister to the needs of others; to stand in the gap for those who need protection against enemy attacks and the ones who have not accepted Jesus as savior. We saw our responsibility to stand for as long as necessary. This requires perseverance and complete trust in God. It can be difficult when we continue to "stand" but God appears slow to respond. We can also become extremely discouraged when we think we understand HOW He should respond.
Lazarus had become sick to the point of death, and his sisters were standing in the gap by ministering to his needs. They even sent word to Jesus in hopes that He would help.
John 11:4-6
"When He heard this, Jesus said, 'This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it.' Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days."
Jesus did not immediately respond - and during this delay, Lazarus died. Yet this tragedy was for God's glory. When Jesus finally arrived, He raised Lazarus from the dead and taught an important message: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies" (John 11:25).
Lazarus and his sisters would have preferred a healing during the early stage of the sickness - but that was not God's plan. His plan included much more than the temporary suffering of one family. His plan was to teach many people, through many generations, to this very day and beyond, that He was the sure way to eternal life. His plan was perfect, with perfect timing.
We are all given opportunities to serve by meeting the needs of others. But as we serve, we must NEVER take our eyes off our Heavenly Father. Our "job" is to stand in the gap and minister how His Spirit directs. It is never our responsibility to "fix" the people or circumstances we have been called to serve. When we will faithfully serve we will find that God actually uses our ministry effort to work on issues in our own life, issues like trust; "Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge" (Psalm 62:8). Our lack of trust is revealed when we give up - when we despair and lose hope.
When our area of service seems out of control - when the need seems to outpace our ability to serve and God seems slow to respond - we must continue to trust Him with all our heart. These times of testing will draw us closer to God as we abandon ALL into His sovereign care. He alone knows His plan, and His plan remains perfect. Let's continue to trust Him and serve as He directs. Let's continue with our eyes fixed on God, and never lose hope!
"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart".
THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed day!!
Stand Firm in The Gap
How lovely it is to know that God has not only given us the authority in His Word to take charge of ALL situations while we are still on earth but to also claim and take back what the enemy has stolen from us. I am constantly burdened when I think of family members and friends who have not accepted Jesus as Lord and savior in their lives, those who fallen away from the Faith or are still in the faith but are struggling spiritually . A term used by the natural army in our world for these would be "wounded soldiers" (in the case of those who don't profess Christ anymore). They may be wounded but can be rescued only if something is done...STAND IN THE GAP FOR THEM in prayer and encourage them with the Word of God.
Some cases in mind are of my friends with whom we started out in ministry years ago as youth. We formed drama groups and acted, a gospel band , went out on missions, gave out tracts on the streets and went out to colleges to minister. I have over the years tried to get in touch with some of them as they are scattered in many parts of the world. It is sad to say that many of them have fallen (or spiritually wounded) in the sense that they don't talk about Jesus any more. Question is: Do you also know someone who has been wounded in battle and needs a helping hand in the spirit (and maybe in the physical as well)?. This is our time to act!!. God is calling us (both individual and corporate) to a place of standing in the Gap in prayer to intercede until we see results.
In the final years of the southern kingdom of Israel, God warned that He was going to use the king of Babylon to discipline the people unless they returned to Him with a heart of worship. But the people failed to repent and the invasion of Jerusalem began.
Ezekiel was a prophet to those taken captive during the Babylonian attacks. Through Ezekiel, God explained why He was allowing Jerusalem to be destroyed. He said the people had rebelled and drifted far; but His anger seemed mostly directed at the leaders who failed to point the way: "{The priests} do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean" (Ezekiel 22:26). In addition, God said the prophets were covering up the sins of the priests; "They whitewash their deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations" (Ezekiel 22:28).
God searched, but found no one who was willing to lead the people into a life of pure and holy worship - a life which recognized God as Lord of ALL and prayed without ceasing for His guidance and protection.
Ezekiel 22:30-31
"I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger."
As in the days of Ezekiel, spiritual walls are crumbling all around us. We have whitewashed sin in the name of tolerance, and we have lost our passion for holiness and worship in the busyness of materialism and worldly advancement. And tragically, many of our churches are filled with compromise and fail to point the way to truth. The result is many lives filled with spiritual gaps - areas vulnerable to grave attack by the enemy.
We must repair our own walls through repentance, forgiveness, and daily drawing nearer to the presence of God. But we must also look for "gaps" in the walls of those around us and commit to standing firm with prayer, encouragement, and time, until strength returns and walls are repaired. We must be ones who live without compromise and faithfully point the way to true worship and a life which glorifies God in all we do.
We must continue to stand in the gap for as long as it takes the relationship of a friend to be restored, the strength of a pastor to be renewed, the heart of a loved one to be transformed, or the life of a prodigal child to return home. God's words through Ezekiel are harsh; but God didn't give up on the people until the people gave up on each other. It's not too late if we continue to point the way; there is still hope if we will stand firm in the gap. There is hope for our family members and our friends to come to the full knowledge of Christ our Lord. There is also hope for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who have fallen or 'wounded' to be helped. We can all accomplish this by standing in the Gap in prayer and also encourage them from the Word of God. God will then do His part...RESTORE AND DRAW ALL TO HIMSELF!
THIS IS OUR GOD!!!
Have a blessed day!!
Some cases in mind are of my friends with whom we started out in ministry years ago as youth. We formed drama groups and acted, a gospel band , went out on missions, gave out tracts on the streets and went out to colleges to minister. I have over the years tried to get in touch with some of them as they are scattered in many parts of the world. It is sad to say that many of them have fallen (or spiritually wounded) in the sense that they don't talk about Jesus any more. Question is: Do you also know someone who has been wounded in battle and needs a helping hand in the spirit (and maybe in the physical as well)?. This is our time to act!!. God is calling us (both individual and corporate) to a place of standing in the Gap in prayer to intercede until we see results.
In the final years of the southern kingdom of Israel, God warned that He was going to use the king of Babylon to discipline the people unless they returned to Him with a heart of worship. But the people failed to repent and the invasion of Jerusalem began.
Ezekiel was a prophet to those taken captive during the Babylonian attacks. Through Ezekiel, God explained why He was allowing Jerusalem to be destroyed. He said the people had rebelled and drifted far; but His anger seemed mostly directed at the leaders who failed to point the way: "{The priests} do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean" (Ezekiel 22:26). In addition, God said the prophets were covering up the sins of the priests; "They whitewash their deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations" (Ezekiel 22:28).
God searched, but found no one who was willing to lead the people into a life of pure and holy worship - a life which recognized God as Lord of ALL and prayed without ceasing for His guidance and protection.
Ezekiel 22:30-31
"I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger."
As in the days of Ezekiel, spiritual walls are crumbling all around us. We have whitewashed sin in the name of tolerance, and we have lost our passion for holiness and worship in the busyness of materialism and worldly advancement. And tragically, many of our churches are filled with compromise and fail to point the way to truth. The result is many lives filled with spiritual gaps - areas vulnerable to grave attack by the enemy.
We must repair our own walls through repentance, forgiveness, and daily drawing nearer to the presence of God. But we must also look for "gaps" in the walls of those around us and commit to standing firm with prayer, encouragement, and time, until strength returns and walls are repaired. We must be ones who live without compromise and faithfully point the way to true worship and a life which glorifies God in all we do.
We must continue to stand in the gap for as long as it takes the relationship of a friend to be restored, the strength of a pastor to be renewed, the heart of a loved one to be transformed, or the life of a prodigal child to return home. God's words through Ezekiel are harsh; but God didn't give up on the people until the people gave up on each other. It's not too late if we continue to point the way; there is still hope if we will stand firm in the gap. There is hope for our family members and our friends to come to the full knowledge of Christ our Lord. There is also hope for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who have fallen or 'wounded' to be helped. We can all accomplish this by standing in the Gap in prayer and also encourage them from the Word of God. God will then do His part...RESTORE AND DRAW ALL TO HIMSELF!
THIS IS OUR GOD!!!
Have a blessed day!!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Lord Let it Be According To Your Will
In my previous write-up, I talked about how God was dealing with me in the areas of trusting His hand and Humility. It dawned on me (yet again) that I have a lot more to work on in my life in order for God to use me like I desire. Surrender and yielding to His will is what is it.
God used the first speakers at Convention 2010 at Cathedral Bible College like my good friend Dr. Ray Cornett to convict me even more in another area...dying to self and yielding my life to God's will and way. How can we possibly think that we are ready to be used of God when we have so much flesh operating in our lives?. I know beyond a shadow of doubt that God has called me to ministry just like He has called millions of others the world over but this area is one of my biggest battles, which I know is the case in other people's lives.I have on numerous occassions found myself telling God what to do and have not let Him work in my life like He should. We ourselves stand in the way of God. We actually block His hand from free movement by our life styles, disobedience and rebelious ways.
My very good friends Pastors Eartha and Chris Edwards who have blessed me so much with thier ministry came to the convention. Pastor Eartha ministered and she said that "the only way one can know how refined silver or gold is is when they can see a reflection of themselves in the shine". She went on to ask the question: Can God see the reflection of Himself in our lives? Meaning have we reached that place in our lives where we have died to self and are ready for God to use us? If God can see Himself in us, that means we have been transformed to be like Him which also means that the people around us can see Him in us. How true this is!
On the night before He was crucified, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. The thought of what would take place in the next 24 hours caused Jesus to be deeply troubled; "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death" (Mark 14:34).Being fully God, Jesus knew exactly what was about to take place and exactly why it had to occur. But being fully Man, the foreknowledge of the rejection, physical pain, and spiritual separation from the Father was nearly unbearable. Mark 14:36 "'Abba, Father,' He said, 'everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.'"
Jesus cried out and asked for the plan to be changed; and yet, His greater desire was for the Father's will to be done. Earlier in His ministry, Jesus taught us this same principle; "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven'" (Matthew 6:9-10). Even with an absolute understanding of what He must endure, Jesus' sole desire was to glorify the Father by walking the path placed before Him; "I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do" (John 17:4).
This is the example we ought to follow all through our life; we should present ourselves to the Father, fully prepared to serve, and be completely emptied of our own desires. When we have allowed Him to be the only possessor of our heart, He will fill us with His Spirit and accomplish His perfect will through our life. When our life is ordered and directed only by His will, we will receive blessings from above which bring far greater joy than the fulfillment of ANY flesh-directed desire.
This is one of the mysterious "secrets" of the Christian walk. We were created to be in fellowship with God - to glorify Him and enjoy His presence for all eternity. We may spend a lifetime chasing what we believe will bring us a sense of fulfillment, but we will never be truly content until we rest in His arms and submit to His ways.
What cup have we been given to drink; what seemingly unbearable burden have we been given to carry? Have we been asking, even demanding, that the burdens be taken from us, or are we yielding to the Father's will and being determined to glorify Him in all we do? Let's come to His table ready and willing to serve; but let's also come with complete submission to His perfect plan. Only in this can we fulfill the purpose for which we were created.
If you feel that the Holy Spirit is convicting you in this area like He has done with me, here is a simple prayer that we both can pray: Heavenly Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, I give my life fully into Your hands; let it unfold, not by my plans, goals or desires, but according to Your will.Amen!
THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed day!
God used the first speakers at Convention 2010 at Cathedral Bible College like my good friend Dr. Ray Cornett to convict me even more in another area...dying to self and yielding my life to God's will and way. How can we possibly think that we are ready to be used of God when we have so much flesh operating in our lives?. I know beyond a shadow of doubt that God has called me to ministry just like He has called millions of others the world over but this area is one of my biggest battles, which I know is the case in other people's lives.I have on numerous occassions found myself telling God what to do and have not let Him work in my life like He should. We ourselves stand in the way of God. We actually block His hand from free movement by our life styles, disobedience and rebelious ways.
My very good friends Pastors Eartha and Chris Edwards who have blessed me so much with thier ministry came to the convention. Pastor Eartha ministered and she said that "the only way one can know how refined silver or gold is is when they can see a reflection of themselves in the shine". She went on to ask the question: Can God see the reflection of Himself in our lives? Meaning have we reached that place in our lives where we have died to self and are ready for God to use us? If God can see Himself in us, that means we have been transformed to be like Him which also means that the people around us can see Him in us. How true this is!
On the night before He was crucified, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. The thought of what would take place in the next 24 hours caused Jesus to be deeply troubled; "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death" (Mark 14:34).Being fully God, Jesus knew exactly what was about to take place and exactly why it had to occur. But being fully Man, the foreknowledge of the rejection, physical pain, and spiritual separation from the Father was nearly unbearable. Mark 14:36 "'Abba, Father,' He said, 'everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.'"
Jesus cried out and asked for the plan to be changed; and yet, His greater desire was for the Father's will to be done. Earlier in His ministry, Jesus taught us this same principle; "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven'" (Matthew 6:9-10). Even with an absolute understanding of what He must endure, Jesus' sole desire was to glorify the Father by walking the path placed before Him; "I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do" (John 17:4).
This is the example we ought to follow all through our life; we should present ourselves to the Father, fully prepared to serve, and be completely emptied of our own desires. When we have allowed Him to be the only possessor of our heart, He will fill us with His Spirit and accomplish His perfect will through our life. When our life is ordered and directed only by His will, we will receive blessings from above which bring far greater joy than the fulfillment of ANY flesh-directed desire.
This is one of the mysterious "secrets" of the Christian walk. We were created to be in fellowship with God - to glorify Him and enjoy His presence for all eternity. We may spend a lifetime chasing what we believe will bring us a sense of fulfillment, but we will never be truly content until we rest in His arms and submit to His ways.
What cup have we been given to drink; what seemingly unbearable burden have we been given to carry? Have we been asking, even demanding, that the burdens be taken from us, or are we yielding to the Father's will and being determined to glorify Him in all we do? Let's come to His table ready and willing to serve; but let's also come with complete submission to His perfect plan. Only in this can we fulfill the purpose for which we were created.
If you feel that the Holy Spirit is convicting you in this area like He has done with me, here is a simple prayer that we both can pray: Heavenly Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, I give my life fully into Your hands; let it unfold, not by my plans, goals or desires, but according to Your will.Amen!
THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed day!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
God Has Provided for our Victory
For the last few days and perhaps the last few weeks, God has been dealing with me in the area of trusting His hand and Humility. In all my years of walking with God, I have seen Him work and fight on my behalf. Numerous battles has He fought for me. Even when I didnt think I was gonna make it. I have seen and experienced His hand of providence for me, the loved ones in my life and many of my friends.I have many times wondered how I got to where I am, how I crossed the bridge, survived the storms that have come my way not mention the numerous mountains and giants that I have faced. But after all is said and done, I stand in amazement and awe of His love, kindness, compassion and mercies that are new each morning. I didnt deserve anything good...but when God the father looked at my poor, sorry and miserable state, He was moved with love thereby sending His son Jesus to redeem me through the shedding of His precious blood on the cross. It is now through His blood and my acceptance of Him as Lord over my life that I not only have life eteranal but can boldly claim my abundant blessings in this life including victory over the powers darkness. I dwell under the wings of the most High God (Psalm 91).
In order for us to get to the level where God will use us and reveal His kindom more to us (Jer 33:3), we must surrender our lives, our struggles and strive to cultivate a deeply rooted relationship with Him which is what He is looking for. The question therefore is: Are we just going after the blessings that God gives or are we after establishing a personal relationship and gaining a deep understanding of who He really is as God?
As a young teenage boy, David showed a deep understanding of God's strength as he prepared to fight Goliath; "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine" (1 Samuel 17:37). The understanding that God was fighting the battle allowed David to confidently approach Goliath with nothing more than a sling and a few stones; "This day the Lord will hand you over to me" (1 Samuel 17:46).
After many years of being pursued by king Saul, David demonstrated his belief that every victory he enjoyed came as a direct result of God's hand.
The Amalekites had raided the village where David and his men were living. Under God's promise of victory, David set off with six hundred men to battle the enemy and take back their stolen possessions; but two hundred of the men were too tired to join the fight. After the victorious battle, the four hundred who fought wanted to exclude the two hundred who stayed behind; "Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered" (1 Samuel 30:22). But David reminded them Who really won the battle.
1 Samuel 30:23
"No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us."
David understood it wouldn't have mattered whether four hundred or forty, or even four, had gone into battle - it wouldn't have mattered whether the men were skilled or unskilled - the battle would have been won. The battle was won because of God's promise and His provision, not because of the men's ability.
As we see the battle approaching, we must draw even closer to our Heavenly Father. He has given us abilities which we must use, but then we must place all our trust in Him for the results. If the battle appears to be a failure, we must trust that God is in control and working toward His good and perfect plan. When God is in control, there are no failures as viewed through His eyes. And if the battle appears to be victorious, we must not allow our pride to take credit for the work God has done - for this always results in failure, regardless of our perception of victory.
God owns ALL and provides ALL. He owns our possessions, our relationships, and our ministries. He owns our abilities as well as our lack, our successes as well as our failures. As we come through our next battle (and we will!) - in fact, even in the midst of the battle - let's return the ownership and give Him all the glory. We must never attempt to control or hold tight to what the Lord has provided.
THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed day!!
In order for us to get to the level where God will use us and reveal His kindom more to us (Jer 33:3), we must surrender our lives, our struggles and strive to cultivate a deeply rooted relationship with Him which is what He is looking for. The question therefore is: Are we just going after the blessings that God gives or are we after establishing a personal relationship and gaining a deep understanding of who He really is as God?
As a young teenage boy, David showed a deep understanding of God's strength as he prepared to fight Goliath; "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine" (1 Samuel 17:37). The understanding that God was fighting the battle allowed David to confidently approach Goliath with nothing more than a sling and a few stones; "This day the Lord will hand you over to me" (1 Samuel 17:46).
After many years of being pursued by king Saul, David demonstrated his belief that every victory he enjoyed came as a direct result of God's hand.
The Amalekites had raided the village where David and his men were living. Under God's promise of victory, David set off with six hundred men to battle the enemy and take back their stolen possessions; but two hundred of the men were too tired to join the fight. After the victorious battle, the four hundred who fought wanted to exclude the two hundred who stayed behind; "Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered" (1 Samuel 30:22). But David reminded them Who really won the battle.
1 Samuel 30:23
"No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us."
David understood it wouldn't have mattered whether four hundred or forty, or even four, had gone into battle - it wouldn't have mattered whether the men were skilled or unskilled - the battle would have been won. The battle was won because of God's promise and His provision, not because of the men's ability.
As we see the battle approaching, we must draw even closer to our Heavenly Father. He has given us abilities which we must use, but then we must place all our trust in Him for the results. If the battle appears to be a failure, we must trust that God is in control and working toward His good and perfect plan. When God is in control, there are no failures as viewed through His eyes. And if the battle appears to be victorious, we must not allow our pride to take credit for the work God has done - for this always results in failure, regardless of our perception of victory.
God owns ALL and provides ALL. He owns our possessions, our relationships, and our ministries. He owns our abilities as well as our lack, our successes as well as our failures. As we come through our next battle (and we will!) - in fact, even in the midst of the battle - let's return the ownership and give Him all the glory. We must never attempt to control or hold tight to what the Lord has provided.
THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed day!!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
A Passionate Heart of Love
In our earlier message "God is not on the shelf" we were encouraged to be true worshipers who walk with God every day and refuse to put Him "on the shelf." We must never become people who worship with our lips, but have hearts which are far from God (Isaiah 29:13). We must be careful not to stray from the path of devoted love to become entangled in the weeds and thorns of selfish convenience.
But how can we guard against such wandering? How can we recognize when we are beginning to stray? And how can we return to the place we truly desire?
The answer to these questions will always be found in a deep and passionate love! Our relationship with God is not based on an exercise of our intellect, but on a transformation of our heart. Our relationship began with a work of the Spirit as our heart became His. It must now continue as we walk so close that our only desire is to give Him ALL our heart - to give Him what is already His.
After years of successful rule, David's kingdom was now in total rebellion. His son, Absalom, was attempting to become the new king and had forced David to flee into the desert. With his life's work falling apart, and far from his home and place of worship, David turned to God and gave us a clear picture of Godly passion.
Psalm 63:1-4
"O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands."
Although it may be difficult to maintain this level of passion every moment of the day, this IS the relationship to which we have been called. This is worship! We must realize that this world is a "dry and weary land" when compared to walking in His presence. We must long for God's love more than life itself and seek to glorify Him in all we do.
If this type of relationship sounds foreign - maybe even a little radical - then I invite you to "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8). He will pour out His blessings on those who step out in faith and truly give Him their heart. If you already understand this relationship but realize the passion has faded, then I boldly exhort you to return. Return to what you know will truly satisfy - to what you know is eternal, imperishable. Let's all return to the place of true worship. Let's all draw near and worship with a heart full of passion. THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed day!!
But how can we guard against such wandering? How can we recognize when we are beginning to stray? And how can we return to the place we truly desire?
The answer to these questions will always be found in a deep and passionate love! Our relationship with God is not based on an exercise of our intellect, but on a transformation of our heart. Our relationship began with a work of the Spirit as our heart became His. It must now continue as we walk so close that our only desire is to give Him ALL our heart - to give Him what is already His.
After years of successful rule, David's kingdom was now in total rebellion. His son, Absalom, was attempting to become the new king and had forced David to flee into the desert. With his life's work falling apart, and far from his home and place of worship, David turned to God and gave us a clear picture of Godly passion.
Psalm 63:1-4
"O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands."
Although it may be difficult to maintain this level of passion every moment of the day, this IS the relationship to which we have been called. This is worship! We must realize that this world is a "dry and weary land" when compared to walking in His presence. We must long for God's love more than life itself and seek to glorify Him in all we do.
If this type of relationship sounds foreign - maybe even a little radical - then I invite you to "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8). He will pour out His blessings on those who step out in faith and truly give Him their heart. If you already understand this relationship but realize the passion has faded, then I boldly exhort you to return. Return to what you know will truly satisfy - to what you know is eternal, imperishable. Let's all return to the place of true worship. Let's all draw near and worship with a heart full of passion. THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed day!!
Friday, February 19, 2010
The Fight Against Temptation
Our Christian walk of growing closer to God and becoming more like His Son involves a process of "renewing our mind" (Romans 12:2). Our mind is renewed as we begin to consider things of eternal value rather than the fading things of the world. But no matter how far we mature in our walk, distractions attempt to consume our thoughts and distance us from God.
Distractions always come in some form of temptation. There is a wide range of self indulging, flesh-filled desires and power hungry ambitions which tempt us at every turn, but there are also the more deceptive temptations like laziness, worry, pride, and overfilled schedules. Each of these are common tools of the enemy used to separate us from an intimate relationship with God. But God is not surprised by temptation. He understands and has provided a way out.
1 Corinthians 10:13
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
In our fight against temptation, we must first understand that being tempted does not mean we have been singled out. Temptations are not an issue of Salvation, and they do not diminish God's love - our temptations are "common to man." Though we don't seem very good at talking about our struggles, we ALL face forms of temptation. We are a Family and have much more in common than we realize.
Since we know we will face temptation as part of our daily battle, let's start our day by getting prepared. No soldier enters war without the proper equipment. Neither should we enter a clearly hostile environment without making sure to get properly dressed; "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground" (Ephesians 6:13).
The middle of a tempting situation is not the time to make decisions on how to react. Temptation decisions must be solidified in our heart long before the enemy attempts to pull us off God's path. Conquering temptation is only possible by growing deep roots of commitment and Godly character through daily studying His Word, praying for strength, and trusting in the Holy Spirit to guide our steps - by putting on the "FULL armor of God."
Our Heavenly Father has given us the tools, and He desires for us to live a victorious life. The attacks are going to come (and they will keep coming!) but our way out is to be prepared. If we will begin each day by getting fully dressed for battle, we WILL bear the temptation - we WILL stand our ground. We are more than conquerors in Christ. Greater is HE who is in us than he who is in the World. THIS IS OUR GOD!!!
Have a blessed day!
Distractions always come in some form of temptation. There is a wide range of self indulging, flesh-filled desires and power hungry ambitions which tempt us at every turn, but there are also the more deceptive temptations like laziness, worry, pride, and overfilled schedules. Each of these are common tools of the enemy used to separate us from an intimate relationship with God. But God is not surprised by temptation. He understands and has provided a way out.
1 Corinthians 10:13
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
In our fight against temptation, we must first understand that being tempted does not mean we have been singled out. Temptations are not an issue of Salvation, and they do not diminish God's love - our temptations are "common to man." Though we don't seem very good at talking about our struggles, we ALL face forms of temptation. We are a Family and have much more in common than we realize.
Since we know we will face temptation as part of our daily battle, let's start our day by getting prepared. No soldier enters war without the proper equipment. Neither should we enter a clearly hostile environment without making sure to get properly dressed; "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground" (Ephesians 6:13).
The middle of a tempting situation is not the time to make decisions on how to react. Temptation decisions must be solidified in our heart long before the enemy attempts to pull us off God's path. Conquering temptation is only possible by growing deep roots of commitment and Godly character through daily studying His Word, praying for strength, and trusting in the Holy Spirit to guide our steps - by putting on the "FULL armor of God."
Our Heavenly Father has given us the tools, and He desires for us to live a victorious life. The attacks are going to come (and they will keep coming!) but our way out is to be prepared. If we will begin each day by getting fully dressed for battle, we WILL bear the temptation - we WILL stand our ground. We are more than conquerors in Christ. Greater is HE who is in us than he who is in the World. THIS IS OUR GOD!!!
Have a blessed day!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
God is not on the Shelf
We read in the Bible ( Book of Acts) of how Paul was arrested and brought before Felix to stand trial accused of the kind of ministry he was doing, telling them about the one true God. During his trial, Paul spoke of his worship of God and belief in His Word. Felix kept Paul in prison, but often talked with him about his faith.
Acts 24:24-25
"He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, 'That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.'"
Governor Felix had the ability to hear the gospel from the greatest theologian of all time and yet failed to act on what he heard.
Several years earlier, Herod had arrested John the Baptist for speaking against his marriage (Herod was married to his own brother's wife). Though Herod wanted to kill John, he also feared and respected him because he was a righteous and holy man: "When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him" (Mark 6:20). Herod liked to listen to John's uncompromising message of repentance, and yet he failed to act on what he heard.
When Jesus was arrested, Pilate came face to face with the Son of God. He heard Jesus calmly claim to be King of the Jews and to have special favor from God; "You would have no power over Me if it were not given to you from above" (John 19:11). Pilate listened to Jesus, found no fault, and tried to set Him free (John 19:12); but in the end, Pilate failed to act on the truth.
Most of us experience a wonderful religious freedom today. We have free access to God's Word and can usually find a local church willing to preach the truth. Yet, how often do we fail to act on what we receive? How often do our religious activities become cold and mechanical, lacking any real interest? "These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me" (Isaiah 29:13).
If our worship does not invade every area of our life, then God is not on the throne. We must trust Him in ALL things! We must have a passion for His Word as well as an uncompromising willingness to act. We must long for His presence and obediently follow each and every day - not just during our once a week worship.
Let's NEVER put our God on the shelf or ask Him to be "on-call." He's the Creator of the Universe who has called us to a committed life of full time worship. Let's follow where He leads and never treat our Heavenly Father as a God of convenience who is there some times and other times not. I encourage whoever hears or listens to the Word of God to take it and run with what they hear or learn and find ways to get closer to God. we all should strive to put the word we hear into practice. We need to let the word of God sink deep into our whole being. Our God is a big God who melts mountains and calms the storms in our lives. He is truly the God of the impossible. THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed Day!!
Acts 24:24-25
"He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, 'That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.'"
Governor Felix had the ability to hear the gospel from the greatest theologian of all time and yet failed to act on what he heard.
Several years earlier, Herod had arrested John the Baptist for speaking against his marriage (Herod was married to his own brother's wife). Though Herod wanted to kill John, he also feared and respected him because he was a righteous and holy man: "When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him" (Mark 6:20). Herod liked to listen to John's uncompromising message of repentance, and yet he failed to act on what he heard.
When Jesus was arrested, Pilate came face to face with the Son of God. He heard Jesus calmly claim to be King of the Jews and to have special favor from God; "You would have no power over Me if it were not given to you from above" (John 19:11). Pilate listened to Jesus, found no fault, and tried to set Him free (John 19:12); but in the end, Pilate failed to act on the truth.
Most of us experience a wonderful religious freedom today. We have free access to God's Word and can usually find a local church willing to preach the truth. Yet, how often do we fail to act on what we receive? How often do our religious activities become cold and mechanical, lacking any real interest? "These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me" (Isaiah 29:13).
If our worship does not invade every area of our life, then God is not on the throne. We must trust Him in ALL things! We must have a passion for His Word as well as an uncompromising willingness to act. We must long for His presence and obediently follow each and every day - not just during our once a week worship.
Let's NEVER put our God on the shelf or ask Him to be "on-call." He's the Creator of the Universe who has called us to a committed life of full time worship. Let's follow where He leads and never treat our Heavenly Father as a God of convenience who is there some times and other times not. I encourage whoever hears or listens to the Word of God to take it and run with what they hear or learn and find ways to get closer to God. we all should strive to put the word we hear into practice. We need to let the word of God sink deep into our whole being. Our God is a big God who melts mountains and calms the storms in our lives. He is truly the God of the impossible. THIS IS OUR GOD!!
Have a blessed Day!!