Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Romans Chapter 12:

14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^c Do not be conceited.

17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^d says the Lord. 20On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”^e

21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Ephesians 6:12-18

New International Version (NIV)

¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Be still, and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:10

When the ocean rise and thunders roar,

I will soar with you above the storm.

Father, you are king over the flood,

I will be still and know you are God!

Find rest my soul, in Christ alone.

Know His power, in quietness and trust.

And it is in His name, I declare this prayer for those being effected by the storms.  May the Lord protect you and keep you.  Be safe and calm and trust in Him.  There is nothing that He can not handle or overcome. He is above this storm, not in it. And He will carry us through.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

" I have engraved you on the palms of My hands". Isaiah 49:16

The weather forecast here on the East coast that is warning us of a potential tropical storm can make one very nervous. But I believe we can talk to the storm and cast it gone like anything else in the name of Jesus Christ. Now before you think I am all loony  the bible does tell us we can declare anything in the name of Jesus and he will answer us. I pray for the safety of my family, friends, loved ones and neighbors. I ask the Lord to seal up  my home and protect it from any damages the storm may bring. I ask that it pass over us and that not an inch of harm occurs. I lift up my brother's home and his roof and I ask for supernatural favor and that the Lord send His angels to descend all around so that nothing happens.  I go to the Father with every request because nothing is impossible with Him. There is no such thing as "Mother Nature"-there is only One  that controls all and that is Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen and amen.  

Saturday, October 27, 2012

"Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal".

 Isaiah 26:4

Trust in God even when things don't make sense to you.  Hold on to Him.  He is greater than any storm or trial we are facing and He tells us to rely on Him to see us through.  Life's difficulties sometimes become so overwhelming that we do not think we can handle them. And there are times so daunting, the mountain seems insurmountable. But God can do anything for nothing is impossible with Him and always remember that this too shall pass. The good news is we are forever moving and changing in God's image therefore where we are today may not be where we are tomorrow. He wants you to rest in Him during this difficult time. Give it all to Him. He hears your cries and He knows your pain. But rejoice in the Lord for He has overcome and your battle is already won. You are a victor, not a victim and this will only make you stronger. Stand on the rock eternal. 

"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;" 

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Friday, October 26, 2012

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

Never desire anything or anyone more than your Lord.  He loves you and is with you all the days of your life.    He is mighty to save and worthy of all our praise.  Give thanks to the Lord our God today.  Bring your praise and your worship to His altar and bow down at His feet.  Bring all your tithes and offerings to the One who will save us from all the wickedness of this world.  He is our shield and our Protector. He will not allow anyone to harm you or I. No matter what your checkbook says, no matter what your employer says, no matter what your paycheck says, believe only in what The bible says. It will guide you and counsel you and lead you to green pastures. 

                 "

"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are 

not 

of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you". John 15:19

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Luke 12:7

⁷ Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

There is nothing in your body or life that is too small that you can’t bring to Him and watch Him take care of.  Go to Him with everything for what bothers and troubles you, He wants to take care of. Words read this morning during my devotions. Whether we are struggling at work or at home, whether it is a financial problem or a relationship matter, God wants to be there. If He knows every hair of our head than surely He knows every ache in our heart and our minds. What is ours is His, just like a parent would be. Do not let your heart be troubled. John 14:1 Allow the Lord to comfort you this morning, draw strength from Him and rest in His presence. And know with all your heart how much He loves you and will protect and provide for you. Walk in His blessed assurance today. Be at peace today!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Jehovah-Jireh means "The Lord will provide". God revealed Himself as the Lord who would provide way back in the first book of the Bible, Genesis.  Abraham,after the sacrifice was complete, named the place "The Lord Will Provide" which in Hebrew is YHWH-jireh. "Jireh" translates into "ovide" which is a word with wonderful Latin roots. Pro means "before" and video means "to see". So it means to see in advance or before the need is known. And that is God for He is preparing an answer before we know that it is a need. See Genesis 22:1-14.We are often taken by surprise by circumstances and events in our lives. God never is. He knows in advance all that is going to transpire. He cares. He has provision ready for us. Therefore we need not worry but in all  areas of our life, bring them to Him. This world's economy may say one thing but we are to live by God's economy. I don't care who you are or what your circumstances are, if you are a faithful tither, God will provide and you will not live in poverty. He will provide your daily bread, which means He will provide each day for you exactly what you need. You will not go hungry. We must be faithful in our tithes and offerings in good times and in bad financial times. If your income is less, than you may be giving less but it means more to the Lord when we give of our poverty than of our excess so you will be blessed. The Lord will provide. Be not afraid. DO right and work, tithe 10%, save, be a good steward of your money, budget. So today call out to your Father in heaven Jehovah Jireh and thank Him for His wisdom and prosperity in your life.  Declare financial victory and give it to Him and know deep in your soul that you need not worry, for He will provide and you will be blessed. Have a wonderful peaceful and joyful day in Him. 

PRAYER OF SALVATION

                                    Prayer of Salvation:

Dear God in heaven, 

I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, 

and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your 

forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His 

precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now 

willing to turn from my sin.


You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God 

and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be

saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I 

believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus 

Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am 

saved.


Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace. Thank you Jesus for dying for me 

and giving me eternal life. Amen.

Monday, October 22, 2012

" I Exalt Thee, I Exalt Thee, I exalt Thee Oh Lord"

Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy. Psalm 99:9   

The Lord is and will always be high above all else.  We are to bow down in worship and kneel before our Lord.  He is to be given all honor and glory. I love Him for all that He is and all that He has done for us and I am in awe of His love and sacrifice. There is no need to punish ourselves by living an unholy life filled with sadness and hopelessness when God sent His only Son to die for us so that we could live in eternal bliss with Him. There is a real place called heaven and there is a real place called hell and the bible makes it very clear that whosoever denies the Lord as God will not enter the gates in heaven but will be tossed into hell's flames for a life of damnation and torture. So anyone who has not committed their life to Jesus Christ up until their death on earth, will live their afterlife burning in flames unable to quench their thirst, unable to speak a word to those all around, pure darkness and endless pain and fear....Hell is an eternity of hopelessness because those individuals will be forever separated from God. So everything that is good which comes from God because He is good will be separated from them because they will be set apart from Him. To be saved is to flee from the coming wrath of judgement of God and instead run into the loving arms of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Once we make the decision to commit to the Lord we cross over from death to life and we begin to live the life God intended and prepared for us, which is to live in full abundance here on earth and then in eternity with Him in Heaven. I pray you share this with your loved ones the prayer of salvation below for they may not know the truth of life and death. May this be the day they cross over and become one with God forever. 

Please check out this website:
http://www.23minutesinhell.com/

                                                            Prayer of Salvation:
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.

I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.

You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.

Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved.

Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself.

Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

How Great Thou Art 

Oh Lord my God
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds
Thy hands have made
I see the stars
I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout
The universe displayed

Then sings my soul
My Savior, God, to Thee
How great thou art
How great thou art
Then sings my soul
My Savior, God, to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art

When through the woods
And forest glades I wander

I hear the birds
Sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down
From lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook
And feel the gentle breeze;

Then sings my soul
My Savior, God, to Thee
How great thou art
How great thou art
Then sings my soul
My Savior, God, to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art I think of God, 
His son not sparing, 
Sent Him to die,
I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden
gladly bearing He bled and died 
to take away my sin
Then sings my soul
My Savior, God, to Thee
How great thou art
How great thou art
Then sings my soul
My Savior, God, to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art

When Christ shall come
With shout of acclamation
And take me home
What joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow
With humble adoration
And then proclaim My God
How great Thou art

Then sings my soul
My Savior, God, to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art
Then sings my soul
My Savior, God, to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art
How great Thou art
How great Thou art...


For you Mom. Miss you so much. 
I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout
The universe displayed

Then sings my soul
My Savior, God, to Thee
How great thou art
How great thou art
Then sings my soul
My Savior, God, to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art

When through the woods
And forest glades I wander
I hear the birds
Sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down
From lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook
And feel the gentle breeze;

Then sings my soul
My Savior, God, to Thee
How great thou art
How great thou art
Then sings my soul

Saturday, October 20, 2012

 

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."                                                       Matthew 11:28 There is nothing you could do or say that would ever make Jesus turn His back on you. He loves you and forgives you and hears your cries. We are all human beings and we are all fallible  The Lord is so pleased when we strive for excellence but He does not expect us to be perfect. Stop putting such high expectations on yourself. If the Lord does not expect that than who are you doing it for? Be the best child of God you can be.The way to do that is to not undermine sin for there is no such thing as a small sin. Sin is sin in God's eyes. So repent when you sin. Forgive yourself as God does. Then learn to allow yourself to rest in Him. We are so tired because we are on a constant pin wheel of life's stresses of finances, romances, relationships, children, careers etc....that we never stop to rest in the Lord. He will work when you rest. He will work all things together for our good when we love Him. I take my role very seriously as the steward of our money. I know what is needed and I pray that the Lord guide me through each month of what to pay and when. If something suddenly comes up, I know He will provide. I allow Him to lead and I follow. I no longer take the control. I now pray about everything and I ask Him to show me and He does. And He will do that for you too. When I am overwhelmed or feel life's pressures, I give them to Him and then I rest in knowing He is in control. And that is what we all really need to do-is relinquish control. So  today whatever you are facing, whatever you are trying to work out on your own, let God in. He calls us to come to Him when we are burdened. Don't go another minute feeling like you are all alone in this situation. He wants you to know you aren't. He is with you. Rest in Him today and trust He will do what He says He will do. Forgive yourself and love yourself as He does. You are worthy of His love and you deserve all His riches and glory. Accept them today.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Jesus responded, "Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!" Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. 
Matthew 8:26

Make sure this is not something God would have to voice to you if He were face to face with you like He was with these men on the boat.  Faith is key to maturing in our walk.  Faith in Christ Jesus is trusting Him in all things despite our current circumstances. We have to see past what our natural eyes can see. These men could not see past the storm and were in fear of their circumstance and within moments the Lord calmed the waves and the storm passed. That was not the result of their faith, Jesus calmed the storm in spite of themselves to show them who He was. The Lord is not going to continue to reveal Himself to us that He is the Son of God. Faith is believing in something we cannot see therefore we trust in spite of the "obvious". That is believing in Christ. We too often are in His way, we are controlling, planning, moving pieces around in our daily lives without even asking Him if it is His desire or will. And then we scratch our heads when we are in the same spot six months later. I love when I read that God works when we rest but He is going to rest when we work. Get out of His way and let Him guide and lead you to the place He set forth for you. To know that someone plans and knows your future and wants nothing but the best for you and will lead you to it sounds like the perfect scenario and yet so many miss it. In fact the Lord declares it in Jeremiah 29:11 specifically that For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

So whatever it is you are facing or struggling with today, the Lords wants you to lay it down. He is at the helm of your boat and He will calm your storms. The rainbow of blessing will come after the rain if only you will believe in Him and be ready to receive it. Let go today and let God. 

Thursday, October 18, 2012

He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Luke 10:27

Faith, joy and love. One leads to the next. God is all about love. He blesses the peacemakers and those that obey His word to love one another. If it was such an easy task, chances are it would not have had to be one of the moral laws He left us. Respecting one another can be difficult at times, forgiving as well when someone does you wrong and yet the bible tells us not only to respect and forgive but we must love them. Love is a very strong word and the Lord wants us to have nothing but love and compassion in our hearts. The love of the lost is what drives evangelists to preach to strangers. A true heart for Christ is able to forgive an enemy. When someone says, " I will never forgive them for this" my stomach cringes or when I hear someone say they hate somebody. Hear me when I say our own anger will eat away at us. It will hinder our walk and it can interfere with our relationship and prayer time with Jesus. The bible tells us we must make peace with "our brothers" before going before the Lord with our petitions. Do yourself a favor and forgive so that you can walk in the Spirit of love. Your life will be more peaceful and you will find a sense of calm and freedom as never before. It is the only way to be for we are to be images of Christ and what a beautiful portrayal of Him when we walk in His light and love. His grace will shine upon us and others will see Him through us. And that my friends, is all that matters. Have a blessed and fabulous Thursday! 

October 15th Progress Report
for our Proclaim the Kingdom of God Ministry

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

Philippians 4:6

The Lord speaks to my heart often when I begin to worry. He will interrupt my thoughts and tells me "do not be anxious" and it immediately calms me down. It is hard to always be in a peaceful state without any moments of worriment but He truly tells us to not fear or worry but instead rest in knowing He will provide in all ways, in all situations. My husband and I were saying this morning when we arm ourselves with His words, fill ourselves up with the Spirit, we are more equipped to handle life's curve balls. It is vital to get a good night's sleep, eat a nutritional diet and strive for balance. I heard Joyce Meyer say a happy life is balanced equally between work, rest, worship and play. And it is true. When we have established order, our minds are clearer and sharper. But don't be down on yourself when you get scared. God knows us better than anyone and He knows our hearts. He simply wants you to know that He is with you. He will fight every battle for you and wants you to trust in Him and know that He is God. And pray pray pray. Bring it all to Him instead of holding on to it. Let go of all control and you will see things evolve and change. We cannot expect change without the willingness to give it to God and believe. Prayer is key to a healthy relationship with Christ so next time you are stressing, stop....pray and thank the Lord for His goodness. It will become a daily routine and you will learn to live more in the Spirit than in the flesh. Trust God today...He loves you and has mighty plans for you. 

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7

We are accountable for our actions and there will be consequences to what we say and to what we do.  The bible tells us we will reap a great harvest for good seed sown for our seeds will be planted on good soil that will grow.  For those that sow darkness, strife, anger, hate, evil..their seed will fall on rocky ground producing nothing. We will get away with sin for a season but eventually it will catch up to us. I believe in generational seeds where you may not reap it but your offspring will. They say that is the theory behind the Kennedy's legacy. The father sowed terrible seed in personal and business matters and the generations that followed reaped from his fruit. Look at how most of them lived and died. Mark 4:17 goes on to say, "But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away".

Sow good seed in deep soil. How do you ask? By breathing life into your words. Encouraging others, loving others as you would love yourself, placing God above all else, telling someone about the Lord, so many things. People will reap what they sow (meaning what they say and what they do). Tithing is such a visible result to a seed. Raising a child is another. And there are times when you are reaping a great harvest and you do not even know it. So I encourage you to think before you speak and really value others. Be mindful of  your words and of your thought life. Keep your heart pure and rid it of any ill intent. The Lord will honor you and bless you for your obedience and you will be able to share your testimony with another, which gives all glory to God our Father in heaven. 

Hosea 10:13 But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors, 

Monday, October 15, 2012

Nehemiah 8:10

Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

For anyone suffering a loss of someone it is hard to go on. It feels as though time will never heal and the hurting seems too much to bear. But there is hope and joy in the Lord.  There is a time for mourning and a time for dancing. The Lord is our strength and He will comfort us during our darkest days. But I also believe we must live in Him and live in victory for there is life on the cross, not death. We may experience the death of a loved one here on earth but we are promised to be reunited one day so as long as the person is a believer in Jesus Christ. So there will be days for grief and there will be days for joy. We are not to obsess nor suppress over it, but to pray through it and lean on God and then true healing can begin. So I offer you this one truth this Monday morning as you start your day....Jesus loves you and is there for you to wipe each and every tear so allow His Spirit to give you rest knowing that He is our eternal hope.

I dedicate this entry to my Dad who would have celebrated his 93rd birthday here on earth but instead is celebrating with our Lord and Savior and the love of his life, my Mom. Happy Birthday Dad!

Sunday, October 14, 2012

And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. Ephesians 3:18

There is HOPE in Christ Jesus.  In fact His promises are so amazing you can not help but believe in Him. He promises to love and forgive us no matter what we have done when we simply ask Him-we ask Him into our heart to be our Lord and Savior and we confess our sins to Him so He can forgive. He guides us by the Holy Spirit and navigates our path through this life. He promises to stay with us through troubled times, even carrying us when we are too weak. He will never leave nor forsake, which means He will not abandon nor betray us. He vows to be faithful when we trust Him for His words are true. There is no other Person that can make these promises to us and not fail at some point. No one, not your spouse, child, parent, best friend, pastor, teacher...no one. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life for all human beings. John 14:6 The Lord's love for us is so profound He sent His only Son to die on the cross so that you and I could live in eternity with Him. We must grasp how wide and deep that love is and run towards it, not away. We must not squander this free gift of Grace that He offers every single one of us when we simply believe in Him. He will grant you and I the joy, the love, the faith and the HOPE we are all searching for. The problem is we are looking everywhere but to Him. May this be the day you ask the Lord to be your HOPE. May this be the day He dwells in you and guides you in all of your days. 

Saturday, October 13, 2012

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13

We have the Lord's power to do anything He asks of us without reservation or hesitation.  We must simply look through the eyes of the super natural never the natural when He calls us to do it. Otherwise our flesh will lie to us because of fear. The Lord will give you and I the strength and the ability to do whatever it is He calls us to do.  Never judge yourself but try to see yourself as God sees you. It may be hard at first but He loves you and wants the best for you. When we let go of our own self and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us into His truth we see clearer.  This world is filled with distractions and we all run from here and there and our calendars are filled with deadlines and things to do and it seems as though nothing is ever done. We can never accomplish on our own what we can do with God. He will never fail us. So many people are scarred from man and they get so down on themselves they think they have to stay where they are in life because that is all they deserve; well I am here to tell you that the Lord wants more for you. Don't believe those around you. People are filled with negativity and doubt and they love to project that on to others. You must know He has mighty plans for you to prosper and succeed and be a blessing to others. All you have to do is trust Him and know that anything is possible with Him and truly believe it in your heart. Lean not on yourself; do not look about your current situation; just trust God and know that you can do all things through Him. Then use everyday as an opportunity to glorify Him and show the world His light and goodness and truth for God is good! 

Friday, October 12, 2012

Psalm 118:24

New International Version (NIV)

²⁴ The Lord has done it this very day;
    let us rejoice today and be glad.

Everyday is a gift from God. They are not all going to be spectacular stand out days therefore if we changed our mindset and valued each and every day as a gift we would be happier. And more appreciative of life.  I thank the good Lord each and every morning for another great day and I thank Him for being in my life and I give each day to Him.  When we keep Him in the center, everything will come together. I no longer worry or fret because He promises to "steer my wheel" in the right direction. Psalm 25;4,5 tells us to wait on Him and He will show us His ways; teach us His paths; lead us in truth for He is our God of salvation. Meditate on that and truly ask the Lord to engrave that on your heart for it will save you years of frustration, anxiety, angst and heartache. We have to get out of His way by making a life decision to stop trying to plan it all out. You may think an innocent decision you made today on your own without consulting God first was no big deal but they all lead to something much bigger. We must change our thoughts on how we view God. We must evaluate our priorities as to where He falls in line to everything else. Do you value His will? Do you strive to live out His purpose for your life? These are all the things that you must assess if you truly want to live a Godly life that is based on His value for you, not what you value or desire for yourself. It is a hard thing to face but a true life changer. If you go on living for yourself the very things you are holding on to will be taken so it is only a matter of time. To listen to and to obey the Lord willingly is what we all should strive to do. You will see everything in your life come together and your heart will soften, your mind will be clear and your soul will be open to all things of Him. And your life each and every day will be a wondrous gift from God. 

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. -Romans 12:2

Okay let's keep Halloween real and in its proper perspective.  Seeing little chunky kids and pets dressed up in costumes are adorable. Seeing pumpkin candy corns make me smile as does decorating with my fall collection..mums, leaves, pumpkins.  I love the change of seasons.  But there is a true concern for those who worship this holiday and declare it as their favorite with the skull bones and worse. Truth is Halloween is a dark holiday known as a pagan holiday honoring the dead and evil spirits. So to a believer, it is not celebrated because of that fact. In fact when we participate in Halloween, we unknowingly steal glory from God by celebrating things of the devil.  I grew up looking forward to trick or treating because it represented my brother, my sister, and me dressing up and going til dark carrying our pillow cases (yes back then you got full sized candy bars in droves) to every local neighborhood with our Mom in tow and then coming back and making piles of all our duplicate candies ready for trade and consumption. Nothing but innocent and wonderful memories I will cherish always. But I do see how it has gotten dark over the years with towns now calling curfews and rules. Kind of sad and as an adult Christian woman I have to say it no longer has the same innocence to it. With all the propaganda of it being a billion dollar industry I doubt it will lose its fire anytime soon but we can do what we can to keep our beliefs known during this season. Take the opportunity to share your faith with kids and teach them about the true One that you celebrate. And watch the power of God. The Lord tells us in Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose. So I say let's use this platform to honor God by spreading the gospel and when someone asks what you are dressing up as for Halloween you can exclaim, "a fisherman for God". Now that is a costume to be proud of.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Hebrews 11:1 
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Faith is when we totally trust God. No matter what is happening right now in your life, trust Him.  He is watching over you and wants to give you peace and comfort.  He knows you are hurting and feeling lost but there is hope in Jesus and He wants you to rest upon Him.  I have the most beautiful painting in my living room of a broken man slouched back falling and behind catching Him is the image of Jesus and the picture is titled, Forgiven.  It depicts me years ago. I was depressed, so down on myself for my destructive sins that caused me so much in my life and I felt broken.  It wasn't until I turned to the Lord and asked Him to forgive me and make me whole again did I feel restored and renewed. He washed away the sins I confessed and showed me the path to hope and a future. Over the next decade plus I fell deeper in love with Him and His goodness and my husband and I in almost every prayer thank Him for His faithfulness and we let Him know how grateful we are for repairing us.  Our Father in Heaven can take anything and turn it for good.  All you have to do is have faith and trust in Him alone. Lean on Him and study His Word and do not live your life on your emotions for they will lie to you. There is nothing you have done that can ever separate you from His love. Make this be the day that you take back your life and give it God. I pray with you and for you.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven".

Prayer changes things. God is a powerful living being. When you speak and believe in His Word, you activate faith which pleases God. There is power in our prayers when we communicate with God through prayer and thanksgiving. He wants us to come to Him with small and big requests. I take all my cares to the Lord and I thank Him so much when He answers my littlest of prayers for I know He loves me and is concerned with everything in my life. So many people I talk to will say they would never ask God for a house, or a promotion or money and I always say, "why not?" God is not a genie and the bible is not a magic wand but the bible says to ask, seek and knock and it shall be given to us. The Lord knows our hearts and our intent and if anything we take to the throne is not of Him or of good attitude or motivation, rest asure you will not be blessed. You can not be involved in an extra marital affair and ask God to make him leave his wife for you and expect a prayer like that to be answered.  The truth is our answered prayers must glorify God and they must be asked with a pure heart and also line up with His will.  And some prayers are instantly answered and others may takes weeks, months or even years. We must be audacious in our prayer life and be bold and consistent and He will answer you in His perfect time and perfect will. So stay true to your prayer life. Keep it center and of highest prirority and watch what the Lord starts to do.  

Monday, October 8, 2012

Psalm 118:8

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁸ It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man

At one point or another in our lives everyone we know will have let us down. For when we place our faith in man to comfort us or aide us, we usually end up disappointed. I rely solely on the One who promises He will never leave me nor forsake me. And believe me I have a wonderful man who is also my best friend, confidant and true man of God but in my life God will always come first and He is who I place all my trust in. So next time you feel betrayed or hurt because someone let you down, trust God. For He is who He says He is and He does what He says He will do and you will never feel alone again. There is a significant reason why this particular scripture lies exactly in the middle of the bible. Half way between the beginning and the end... so it is of no coincidence. This is a direct message from the Lord so heed His warning and take refuge in Him. And love Him more than any man and you will live a life of joy, peace and love. 

Sunday, October 7, 2012

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38

You cannot out give God.  No matter what you reap, you will sow. He will prepare a great harvest for His faithful and cheerful givers. And if I may be bold, God should always come first in our life, not last. Our tithes and offerings should be first on our budget list, not what is left over. Something "always will come up that will try to prevent you from giving". It is the lie of the enemy. Therefore prepare to give first. Tithing will free you. It will break any chains of financial bondage you are ensnared in and He will free you. It is the only promise God says to "test Him on". In fact He promises, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Malachi 3:10  

Be more afraid if you do not tithe than if you do. He will always provide for you, your family and your home a shield of protection and He will seal you but should we fail to obey this command, we cannot expect the same protection. I always say that our money will be spent/lost one way or another if we fail to give to the Lord what is His. A flat tire, an unexpected house expense, a medical bill, something will come up, trust me....when people say they can not afford to tithe, I tell them they can not afford NOT to tithe. Give to your church where you are a member or give to the person that teaches you the most about Christ. God will bless both the giver and the receiver. And if by chance the establishment you sent your monies to do not do the right thing, God will hold them accountable, not you. Let go of all the excuses you had right up until this Sunday morning when the offering basket passed you by and you failed to give. Those dollar bills thrown in were not worthy of God's goodness. In fact it shows your priorities. God deserves our first earnings, not our last. Do right and leave the consequences to Him. Give with a loving and cheering heart and see what God will do. 

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Having done all God has asked of you, stand.  That's it.  Then be still and know He is God.  He will fight your battles for you. People under estimate the power of God and deny Him because they fear their life will be so controlled yet look at how free your life actually becomes. The Lord loves us, forgives us and rewards us for our obedience and trust in Him. He does not place shackles on our hands and feet, quite the opposite He calls us out in to the world. He does  not cut us off from the rest of the world. All the Lord asks of us is to separate ourselves from the sinful works of the flesh. Our purpose is to reach out the unsaved and share Him. He wants you to know the battle is already won and stand in victory. So if you are struggling today, rest in Him. Let go of it and give it all to Him. Then be still and know He is God. Psalm 46:10

Ephesians 6: 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.