I remember a time in my life where I thought I knew I had everything planned out to the end of my life. When I would graduate from High School, move out of my parents house, I would go to college, I would marry John Stamos, and we would live happily ever after. I thought we would go on to be a famous couple saving the world, him acting and singing and me with the Dolphins, in the field of marine biology and joining Him to sing along on the weekends and when I could along the way. Sounded like a great dream, I even carried a picture around of him to confirm "our love." Sounds so funny to me now, a silly notion from a 12 yr old little girl who didn't know what she was even thinking about at the time, much less sure about love. The only think I know for sure is that I WAS SO WRONG, even then.
I got older and tried again to figure out my life, deciding the Military would be the right place for me, then college later, no plans of marriage or kids, since I didn't like the thought of either one by this time. I wanted to live alone, be alone, and have peace and quiet for a lifetime. Oh man, that even sounded better than a life with John Stamos, but was still farther from anything that really happened to me. I remember my struggles in my life to figure out who I was, what was my real identity. I was from a family of seven, five siblings, everyone of them fighting for the attention of my parents and each other. All I wanted was peace and quiet. I wanted a life of my own, without hearing, "Oh, you are Jeanne's Sister, Jimmy's Sister, Oh you are that preacher's kid, aren't you?" Then later, after High School, when my life started veering far from my plan, I became "Bob's wife," "T.J.'s Mommy," and in my college, I was quickly becoming, "Jinny's Daughter." Then adding two daughters to the mix just sent my world into a tail spin.
Never once did anyone say, "Oh there's Janet!" It was so hard to not know who I was. I kept praying that God would reveal to me who I was, where I was going or why I couldn't see me in this whole mess we called, "My Life" and I was getting pretty fed up with it all. I loved being a mom, that surprisingly was the ONLY THING about my life I was loving at the time. Then one day I had, ENOUGH! I wanted everything to stop, I wanted to scream, hit something, throw something, or just give up. I couldn't stand it anymore and I was just, DONE! I didn't know how it was going to happen, but I was going to find myself, I was going to figure out who this Janet everyone else knew really was, and whether or not I really liked her at all or not.
I was reading the scriptures, it talked about how I was "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Ps 149:14), that God in all His goodness, "KNEW ME," (Ps 139:1) that He knew me before the world ever was, before I was ever in the womb, and that He called me out, from my mother's womb and anointed me for His purpose (Jer. 1:5, Isa. 44:1, Isa. 49:1,5). He had a special job for me, and all I needed to know was that I was, "Janet Clausen, Daughter of the Almighty God and King, the Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace." Wow, that made me a princess. I am the princess, heir to the Kingdom of God. He chose me, brought me out, saved my soul, and gave me a new name, a new life, and a new since of being and purpose. "Oh I am still Mommy, Daughter, Wife, and Pastor, but I never again have to ask, "Who Am I?" because, I am known by the Lord God Himself, I now know, I am the child of the Almighty God, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, who I am.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Monday, October 8, 2012
Who Do Men Say That I Am?
I remember one of my favorite verses in the bible, Christ had asked His disciples who the crowds thought that Christ was, who or what, they identified Him as, when He was out on the road preaching and teaching. Each one of them were saying things like, "they think you are John the Baptist, Elias, or one of the other prophets..." and so on. Then He asked them the most important question ever, "Who do you say that I am..." I can just see them all now, looking around, waiting on one of the others to answer, not really sure what He would want to hear. Then Peter popped up, "Thou art Christ the Son of the LIVING GOD..."
Christ looked at him and said, "Flesh and bone did not tell you this, the only way you would know that is if my Father in Heaven has, your eyes already to this truth." Peter got it right? Peter? The one who was going to deny Christ three times in just a short while. Although, He still knew who Christ was. He knew that he, himself was standing in the middle of a great God, creator of all and Savior of the world. He didn't understand all that was to come, but He knew what the Holy Spirit revealed to Him at that moment.
So now, when people look at you, do you ever ask yourself, "Who does men say that I am?" Do they say, "Man that person looks and acts like Christ, looks like Jesus." Do they notice a difference in you, or do they look at you and you are just like everyone else they know? Do they see Jesus in you? Do you know that the word "Christian" means "Christ-Like" in the Greek, it is defined as an "adherent of Jesus," which is one who has submitted and accepted Christ as their Savior, who have committed to (adhere to a life in the doctrine, lifestyle, and beliefs of Christ) live for Him, committed to show others His way and to share the gospel of Jesus, which is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
Are they seeing in you the Christ you say is there in your heart, or do they see someone who is a pretender? Someone who talks about Jesus in one breath, then turns around talk about the party they went to and how many "hook-ups" they got that weekend. Do they hear you talk about your spouse or significant other as if they were dirt under your feet, instead of the one you should honor and respect? Do they see Jesus in you when they are having a hard time and need to feel compassion from another, or do you just blow it off and say, "hey we all have bad days, get over it, suck it up and get back to work?" How do you show others the Love of the Lord? How do you show it to your family at home? Do you show it at home?
When you get saved, the bible says that you become a "new creation, old things are passed away, behold all things are become new." II Cor 5:17 So you are supposed to take off that old flesh, that old person and let the Love of the Lord create a new heart, a new mind, and a new, righteous spirit in you. When you pray and repent, truly repent, you are supposed to turn and go a different way. Be a new creation. Be a new man, in Christ Jesus. It takes work, it takes renewing your mind everyday, it takes giving God your day, every morning and saying, "you have the control of my life, let this day be for you, to use as you would have me today." Not just once but everyday.
I work from home now, I am not in a business setting, I was telling my husband today, it is so easy to talk about being able to give my heart and mind over to God every morning, to do all the things I am "supposed" to do as a Christian, and it is very hard to sin when you are all alone. One would think that anyway, but it isn't true. No matter how much of a hermit I think I am, no matter how alone I am during the day and how little outside influence I have, I still miss the mark everyday.
There are things we are supposed to do each day, tasks of commission, things God have commanded each of us to do on a daily basis, and then there are tasks of omission, things we don't do, not because we don't want to, but because there just isn't enough time during the day, things that we don't "think about" all the time, that we are to do as Christians, and when we fail to do those things, we sin. Not that I try to sin, or I try to ignore those things, but that, no one can do every single one of those tasks every day. NO ONE can be perfect ALL the time, no matter how much some of us think we are perfect.
We all fail the Lord in some way or another, fail to pray or fellowship with Him, fail to give God the day, fail to witness to someone we met on the streets, helped a fellow brother or sister who needed it today, or even things that we fail to do because our flesh got in the way, keep our words pure today, joked around with someone in an off color way, let our mind wander to the cute delivery man, the things that the bible says, when you have done them in your heart, you have done them already.
We know we can't live up to everything that God has for us to do, that is what the Grace of God is all about. He gave us mercy, knowing we would never be perfect, we would never be sinless, and He sent His son to die for us, to make a perfect way of escape from Hell, damnation and sin. His Grace keeps us everyday, no matter how far we fall, no matter how short from the mark of His perfection we came today. God's loving kindness brought us grace to cover our multitude of sins, it brought us to a place where our sins are remembered no more and we can let them go, let God have control of our lives.
In order to share God's Grace with others, we need to be that witness to them, to show them His love and favor on our lives. To show His blessings, how He brings us through our hard times, trials and temptations. It takes renewing your mind, it takes consciously deciding everyday that you want to live for the Lord, resetting your mind to the mind of Christ, and letting Him help you through your day, to be the witness, the testimony others need to see, to know that living a life in Christ IS different than living a life in the world, HOPING for the best.
So examine yourself, "Who do men say that you are?" "Who do you want them to see in you?"
I want them to see, Jesus In Me! His Love, Mercy and Forgiveness. How about it? DO YOU?
Christ looked at him and said, "Flesh and bone did not tell you this, the only way you would know that is if my Father in Heaven has, your eyes already to this truth." Peter got it right? Peter? The one who was going to deny Christ three times in just a short while. Although, He still knew who Christ was. He knew that he, himself was standing in the middle of a great God, creator of all and Savior of the world. He didn't understand all that was to come, but He knew what the Holy Spirit revealed to Him at that moment.
So now, when people look at you, do you ever ask yourself, "Who does men say that I am?" Do they say, "Man that person looks and acts like Christ, looks like Jesus." Do they notice a difference in you, or do they look at you and you are just like everyone else they know? Do they see Jesus in you? Do you know that the word "Christian" means "Christ-Like" in the Greek, it is defined as an "adherent of Jesus," which is one who has submitted and accepted Christ as their Savior, who have committed to (adhere to a life in the doctrine, lifestyle, and beliefs of Christ) live for Him, committed to show others His way and to share the gospel of Jesus, which is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
Are they seeing in you the Christ you say is there in your heart, or do they see someone who is a pretender? Someone who talks about Jesus in one breath, then turns around talk about the party they went to and how many "hook-ups" they got that weekend. Do they hear you talk about your spouse or significant other as if they were dirt under your feet, instead of the one you should honor and respect? Do they see Jesus in you when they are having a hard time and need to feel compassion from another, or do you just blow it off and say, "hey we all have bad days, get over it, suck it up and get back to work?" How do you show others the Love of the Lord? How do you show it to your family at home? Do you show it at home?
When you get saved, the bible says that you become a "new creation, old things are passed away, behold all things are become new." II Cor 5:17 So you are supposed to take off that old flesh, that old person and let the Love of the Lord create a new heart, a new mind, and a new, righteous spirit in you. When you pray and repent, truly repent, you are supposed to turn and go a different way. Be a new creation. Be a new man, in Christ Jesus. It takes work, it takes renewing your mind everyday, it takes giving God your day, every morning and saying, "you have the control of my life, let this day be for you, to use as you would have me today." Not just once but everyday.
I work from home now, I am not in a business setting, I was telling my husband today, it is so easy to talk about being able to give my heart and mind over to God every morning, to do all the things I am "supposed" to do as a Christian, and it is very hard to sin when you are all alone. One would think that anyway, but it isn't true. No matter how much of a hermit I think I am, no matter how alone I am during the day and how little outside influence I have, I still miss the mark everyday.
There are things we are supposed to do each day, tasks of commission, things God have commanded each of us to do on a daily basis, and then there are tasks of omission, things we don't do, not because we don't want to, but because there just isn't enough time during the day, things that we don't "think about" all the time, that we are to do as Christians, and when we fail to do those things, we sin. Not that I try to sin, or I try to ignore those things, but that, no one can do every single one of those tasks every day. NO ONE can be perfect ALL the time, no matter how much some of us think we are perfect.
We all fail the Lord in some way or another, fail to pray or fellowship with Him, fail to give God the day, fail to witness to someone we met on the streets, helped a fellow brother or sister who needed it today, or even things that we fail to do because our flesh got in the way, keep our words pure today, joked around with someone in an off color way, let our mind wander to the cute delivery man, the things that the bible says, when you have done them in your heart, you have done them already.
We know we can't live up to everything that God has for us to do, that is what the Grace of God is all about. He gave us mercy, knowing we would never be perfect, we would never be sinless, and He sent His son to die for us, to make a perfect way of escape from Hell, damnation and sin. His Grace keeps us everyday, no matter how far we fall, no matter how short from the mark of His perfection we came today. God's loving kindness brought us grace to cover our multitude of sins, it brought us to a place where our sins are remembered no more and we can let them go, let God have control of our lives.
In order to share God's Grace with others, we need to be that witness to them, to show them His love and favor on our lives. To show His blessings, how He brings us through our hard times, trials and temptations. It takes renewing your mind, it takes consciously deciding everyday that you want to live for the Lord, resetting your mind to the mind of Christ, and letting Him help you through your day, to be the witness, the testimony others need to see, to know that living a life in Christ IS different than living a life in the world, HOPING for the best.
So examine yourself, "Who do men say that you are?" "Who do you want them to see in you?"
I want them to see, Jesus In Me! His Love, Mercy and Forgiveness. How about it? DO YOU?
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Letting Go and Letting God, the Hardest Thing to Do In Our Children's Lives
You know, I was thinking today about all the times we go through or go over and over the same things in our lives. You think that you have made it past a certain point in the conversation where you believe you are actually going to move on or grow from what the issue was, to what it could be, and then you find out, OH NO! It has started all over again. You go back around again, thinking this time it will all be different, things will change and that you have this all under control. Then one day you realize, you have no control at all, if you did, your life would be completely different. When you are a child of God though, you have a way to make those choices that make your life different. You choose to submit to God, to His will, give Him the control and allow Him to face the tempters snares, allow Him to carry you through your trials, and then you find out, that if you had just given Him that control along time ago, your trials, that mountain you kept circling would have been smaller and probably less visits from the start.
You see, as we live and move and have our being, we have ways as Children of God that we are supposed to be living, and we know that the Word of God gives us clear guidelines how to live as a child of God, the decisions we are to make and the path we are to follow. It is up to us, as His children to read, study that word and submit to His call on your life, no matter what our own will wants us to do instead. It is like raising children…
I remember that day between me and my own parents, I felt a sense of pride and excitement when my parents told me that "it was time to start figuring out where I stand and what I believe for my self." I was twelve and mom handed me my very first Scolfield Bible Study Bible, they wanted me to have it, cherish it, and to use it to begin deciding in my own heart what God had for me, what He was saying to me, and how I was going to live my life as I grew up. I remember so many emotions and feelings going into that moment and that day, how I was so excited to have such a grown up bible to have on my own. Not that it made my path any easier nor did I have less further to travel in my own journeys to get to where I am now, but I remember thinking, "Wow, if I am going to be grown up, I guess it is time to figure it out for myself." It was a scary task I had to undertake, but it was one I carried seriously in my heart and life, and felt a sense of being grown up for myself.
Now I am grown with three kids of my own, having already passed down this tradition to them, and along with a new study bible of their own, to use and meditate on, to figure out their next steps and where they stand on the word of God. I still pray everyday that God will lead and guide each of them along the way. I am still very much involved and am responsible to oversee their spiritual walk for their lives and hearts, according to God, but instead of forcing them to read their bibles, memorize scripture and pray everyday, which they would come to resent, I encourage them to seek God for answers, I offer them nuggets of wisdom and help with deeper meaning of scriptures along the way as they read and study for themselves. I don’t push my way in to a situation, I wait to be invited, I wait for God to show me how to lead into a situation, so that they feel as if they are the ones making these decisions with God, and NOT MOMMY forcing them to make a decision that God may not have for them at the time to do, because He may be leading them in a different direction than I would have them to go. It is His decision, not mine.
Is this a perfect way of giving up the reigns of their spiritual lives and walk as children? Well, I don’t know for every family, but I know for our family, that God showed me that giving them the responsibility would allow them a chance to seek Him for themselves, it would give them a sense of authority in their own spiritual lives and they are not being forced to believe something or do something that they would resent later on down the road. He showed me that the reason I didn't run from God totally, didn't give up on living as a Christian was because, I was allowed to decide for myself what I believed or what I didn't believe and was allowed to seek my “own salvation with fear and trembling,” as the Bible says to do for ourselves.
I asked my daughter how doing this for them made her feel at such a young age, and she told me today… “It gave me a sense of trust, that you trusted me, and allowed me to make my own decisions based on the values and standards from God, that you instilled on my life, and it showed me that you believed in me enough to make certain decisions for myself with God’s help, and that you would support me in my quest for knowledge and truth with God on my own.”
My son told me once that when I gave him this time alone, “it showed me mom that you saw me as a growing young man, and not your little boy anymore. That you could see a future adult in me and that I would need to know what to stand on and how to stand for God on my own, without my mommy “telling me what to do.”
You see, giving them this responsibility for themselves was a HUGE STEP for ME, and the scariest thing I had ever done. I am a control freak, and I want to control every aspect of our lives to make sure all goes according to plan, that everything turns out great and no one gets hurt in any way, because mommy can “fix anything…” Right? WRONG!!! I felt like, God had given me such an awesome responsibility in raising these children, even though it was an honor, and I am so proud to have these three as my own, I just never wanted to mess things up, I never wanted them to see the bad in any person or in any situation, so I wanted to shield them from all of that until they were old enough to handle it on their own.
But God… the scriptures say that in so many places, But God, who knows all, who sees all, and knows my good intentions, knew that this was not a reality for them, that they had to be able to know how to face life and life’s challenges on their own, because mommy won’t be around all the time. He also knows, that mommy is human, and even though she tries to do her best to follow His will at all times, that even Mommies don’t always do everything according to God’s will. So He needed mommy to get out of the way. To let go of the reigns and let God take control of these precious ones He entrusted me with for the time.
But God… the scriptures say that in so many places, But God, who knows all, who sees all, and knows my good intentions, knew that this was not a reality for them, that they had to be able to know how to face life and life’s challenges on their own, because mommy won’t be around all the time. He also knows, that mommy is human, and even though she tries to do her best to follow His will at all times, that even Mommies don’t always do everything according to God’s will. So He needed mommy to get out of the way. To let go of the reigns and let God take control of these precious ones He entrusted me with for the time.
It is easy to say we give God everything, until we have to let go of something really special to us, and for me it was my children. Letting go of my control, my ways and let God show them a clearer, more excellent way. That they had to transfer their faith and trust that was in mommy into their God, in to the God of all gods. They had to learn that when the chips were down, not even mommy could help, ONLY GOD, could come to their rescue. Not that mommy is entirely worthless anymore, but that I had to learn how to get out of my own way, and let God in to control their lives, to let them learn how to put their faith in God and to submit to His will and His power in their lives. That He has a plan for each of them, and in order for Him to be able to reveal that plan, He had to be the one they were listening to and looking to for answers.
God entrusted me to teach them love, honor, and respect, communication and conflict management in our home, between all of us, and how to build relationships with family and others through these attributes, so that they would be able to understand and learn how to build their one-on-on relationship with God, almighty. I have not been, nor will I ever be teaching my children religion or cramming church down their throats, I was introducing them to God, their Heavenly Father, and they needed to know how to dig deep into a real relationship, in order to be able to know Him as intimately as they knew one another, and even as deep or deeper than they knew me, as their mother. We started when they were small, pointing their way to God, then I had the pleasure of leading them each, individually, in their own time, to God as their personal savior.
Now that I have given them the ability and the reigns on their own personal walk with God, teaching them personal integrity and honoring their word to others, I am not done by any means. They are still my responsibility until they are grown and out of my home, and they know that as well. I am still here to oversee their lives, to train them up in the Lord, how to be a productive and honest member of society, and how to treat others as well as submit to the authority over them, no matter the situation. I just take a smaller role in this aspect of their lives now that God is in control. As an overseer, I have to understand that they need help with gaining knowledge, getting wisdom and understanding, as stated in Proverbs 4:7, but that I wait for them to call on me when they need deeper meaning or help in the scriptures. That I have to be patient in their trials to not jump in and fix it for them, but wait for them to ask me for advice, prayer or insight. It isn't for me to over run God’s will for them, but to help them along the way, when called upon to do so. I can pray for them, stand in the gap when I see there is a trial along the way, but I have to stand back and let them Stand on God’s word, to lean on Him for all understanding and Trust in the Lord for all He has for them to do. They need to know how to call on the Lord when they are in trouble, NOT MOMMY. They need to know that God, who has performed a good work in them, will be faithful to complete it, over time, with them, NOT with me.
Pray for your children, Bless them, give them the blessing on their lives to overcome evil with God, and to prosper, be a success in all they set out to do, with God on their side, and pray that they will continue to allow God to run their lives, that they will seek Him in all they do, and all their lives. Be the example they need, and when God allows you to be, ask Him to let you be the Lighthouse pointing the way to God, when they come to the rocky times in their lives and can’t find their way through on their own. Can you do that for them? I know you can. Ask God to give you a peace to be able to let go and let Him take over in your place. To comfort you in this letting go process, because it can seem so hard, but God will encourage you, lift you up, and when you let Him in to control your life as well as theirs, He will send angels to minister to your heart and show you a more excellent way too.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Walking In Faith
How strong is your faith? I was wondering that today? How strong in our faith, really, OUR FAITH? Our churches say they teach faith, they say their members know what it means to stand in and live by faith, but when the chips begin to fall and they starting seeing trouble on the horizon, how many of us, STOP, right then and there, rebuke what is coming on and give everything over to the Lord? How many times do we depend on Him from the beginning?
I can be honest enough to say, that my first gut reaction when I used to start seeing the first sight of trouble was NOT to call on God. It was to try to stop it in my own power first, to take care of things in my own power first, then when the problems get so bad that I knew it had went out of control, THEN I called on God. That always ended up BAD for me.
You see, the Bible says, "the power of life and death is in the power of the tongue," Prov 18:21; and that, "The tongue no man can tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison, Therewith bless we God,, even the Father, and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My bretheren these things ought not be." James 3:10.
So every time I would see trouble on the way, I would speak it into existence, and the more I spoke of the issue, the more people I talked to about it and the longer I held on to the problem, I was just making the problem stronger, and giving Satan more power in the situation. If I had just rebuked the problem from the beginning in the name of Jesus Christ, through the Power of HIS blood, and Called on God to handle the problem for me, BEFORE ever speaking about it to anyone else, then God could have stopped it a lot sooner than I could.
In our day, we haven't seen Jesus perform miracles in person, right before our eyes. We weren't there when He was beaten to an inch of His life, then hung on a cross for our sins, we weren't there when He was buried in a tomb and then rose again on the third day, like the Disciples and other followers, that were able to build their faith stronger and stronger by their five senses. WE have ONLY His word, the Bible, and sometimes we don't read it enough to build our faith, others have caused us to doubt what we read because they couldn't believe, but we know, God is working today. There are too many miracles seen in today's time, we have to look for them, harder now, it seems but they still happen. We have to stand on the Word of God, we have to keep reading the scriptures and standing firm on what we read and see in them.
You see, the scriptures are true, as the Bible says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given to him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." James 1:5-6
If you want or need faith, ask God, He is willing to give it to you, but YOU MUST ask God in FAITH, BELIEVING that you will receive it, and not waiver on the request. You can't say, "well, I asked, I believe He's gonna give it to me, well, He might give it to me, okay, I hope He will give it to me, since I asked for it." You ASK, in the name of Jesus Christ, and stand firm, that if He was willing to do for others, that as much as He loves you He will do what you ask from Him. Keep believing, and building your relationship, your walk, and your faith. You see, the scriptures tell us, He will give it to us, and He gives it liberally, but we have to build the strength of our faith as we grow in Him. We continue to build our one on one relationship as we build our walk with Him through prayer and the scriptures, we build our faith as well.
You see it says "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17, to build the faith He gives you, and strengthening your bond with Him, you continue to do your part in building your faith. Read the scriptures, pray to Him, and as you read the scriptures, READ them ALOUD. Hearing the scriptures will increase your faith even more than reading them silently. Stand firm, Ask in faith, believe whatever He says He will do, He WILL DO IT. (Matthew 21:22)
We read in Acts 5:14-15 - As the Apostles were out preaching the Gospel abroad, that the people in the other countries were being added to the church, after Christ's ascension to Heaven and after Pentecost. These people in these other towns, regions, and countries, had not seen Christ perform His miracles, did not see Him raise the dead, touch and heal the blind man, they heard of all these things, and their faith in Christ was so strong that when they heard the Apostles were coming their way, through their towns, that they had BIG FAITH, STRONG enough faith, NOTHING WAVERING, that God would do what He says He will do, that they lined the streets with their sick and hurting, they laid their beds along the streets, and they stood by in FAITH that even though the Apostles couldn't touch and heal every single one of them individually, even if just their shadow would fall on those sick people, they would be healed. It didn't take a touch of a garment, it didn't take them anointing and praying for them individually or collectively. These peoples unwavering faith in God, gave their family members and friends healing, just by the apostles shadow falling on them.
How big is your faith? Do you have that kind of faith? That just a whisper for help, just being in the shadow of God's wings, He can do ANYTHING? Do you believe with all your heart, mind and soul that God can do what He says He will do? He tells us that we can have anything we ask for, when we ask in the name of His son, Jesus Christ.(John 14:13-15) Do you want to have that kind of faith today? You can, I know you can!!!
I can readily admit, I have not always and do not always remember to have that kind of faith in the immediate moment that something happens to me, I want to say, "OH YEAH, I do that all the time, I am that good," but I would be lying. I am human, I forget and sometimes falter, sometimes I still try to handle it myself first, but I do pray everyday...
You can walk in that kind of Faith today, all you have to do is call on the Lord, Nothing wavering and Ask Him, you can pray something like this below:
"Dear God, In the name of Your son, Jesus Christ, My Savior, I know I have not always had the kind of faith that would be pleasing to you, nor glorifying to you, but I want that kind of FAITH the apostles had, the kind of faith those people in the Bible had, strong enough to move mountains, heal, bring your will into place, fighting the temptations and trials Satan puts in my way. I pray to you Lord to, please to give me that kind of FAITH. Help me Lord to continue in YOU. In your Word, in your power and might, and in the shadow of your wings. I need you, NOW, I need to feel your presence, but more importantly, I need to know that I can depend on You, to hold on to your hand and you will be there. I want that faith. Please know I am here, claiming your faith, and will continue to build that faith with you, Lord. In Jesus Name I pray, AMEN."
If you have prayed this prayer today, please email us and let us know, so we can send you some information to help you further be able to build that walk in faith with the Lord. WE want to help and stand in the gap to help you walk with the Lord everyday. Contact us and let us know how we can help you with that today.
I can be honest enough to say, that my first gut reaction when I used to start seeing the first sight of trouble was NOT to call on God. It was to try to stop it in my own power first, to take care of things in my own power first, then when the problems get so bad that I knew it had went out of control, THEN I called on God. That always ended up BAD for me.
You see, the Bible says, "the power of life and death is in the power of the tongue," Prov 18:21; and that, "The tongue no man can tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison, Therewith bless we God,, even the Father, and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My bretheren these things ought not be." James 3:10.
So every time I would see trouble on the way, I would speak it into existence, and the more I spoke of the issue, the more people I talked to about it and the longer I held on to the problem, I was just making the problem stronger, and giving Satan more power in the situation. If I had just rebuked the problem from the beginning in the name of Jesus Christ, through the Power of HIS blood, and Called on God to handle the problem for me, BEFORE ever speaking about it to anyone else, then God could have stopped it a lot sooner than I could.
In our day, we haven't seen Jesus perform miracles in person, right before our eyes. We weren't there when He was beaten to an inch of His life, then hung on a cross for our sins, we weren't there when He was buried in a tomb and then rose again on the third day, like the Disciples and other followers, that were able to build their faith stronger and stronger by their five senses. WE have ONLY His word, the Bible, and sometimes we don't read it enough to build our faith, others have caused us to doubt what we read because they couldn't believe, but we know, God is working today. There are too many miracles seen in today's time, we have to look for them, harder now, it seems but they still happen. We have to stand on the Word of God, we have to keep reading the scriptures and standing firm on what we read and see in them.
You see, the scriptures are true, as the Bible says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given to him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." James 1:5-6
If you want or need faith, ask God, He is willing to give it to you, but YOU MUST ask God in FAITH, BELIEVING that you will receive it, and not waiver on the request. You can't say, "well, I asked, I believe He's gonna give it to me, well, He might give it to me, okay, I hope He will give it to me, since I asked for it." You ASK, in the name of Jesus Christ, and stand firm, that if He was willing to do for others, that as much as He loves you He will do what you ask from Him. Keep believing, and building your relationship, your walk, and your faith. You see, the scriptures tell us, He will give it to us, and He gives it liberally, but we have to build the strength of our faith as we grow in Him. We continue to build our one on one relationship as we build our walk with Him through prayer and the scriptures, we build our faith as well.
You see it says "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17, to build the faith He gives you, and strengthening your bond with Him, you continue to do your part in building your faith. Read the scriptures, pray to Him, and as you read the scriptures, READ them ALOUD. Hearing the scriptures will increase your faith even more than reading them silently. Stand firm, Ask in faith, believe whatever He says He will do, He WILL DO IT. (Matthew 21:22)
We read in Acts 5:14-15 - As the Apostles were out preaching the Gospel abroad, that the people in the other countries were being added to the church, after Christ's ascension to Heaven and after Pentecost. These people in these other towns, regions, and countries, had not seen Christ perform His miracles, did not see Him raise the dead, touch and heal the blind man, they heard of all these things, and their faith in Christ was so strong that when they heard the Apostles were coming their way, through their towns, that they had BIG FAITH, STRONG enough faith, NOTHING WAVERING, that God would do what He says He will do, that they lined the streets with their sick and hurting, they laid their beds along the streets, and they stood by in FAITH that even though the Apostles couldn't touch and heal every single one of them individually, even if just their shadow would fall on those sick people, they would be healed. It didn't take a touch of a garment, it didn't take them anointing and praying for them individually or collectively. These peoples unwavering faith in God, gave their family members and friends healing, just by the apostles shadow falling on them.
How big is your faith? Do you have that kind of faith? That just a whisper for help, just being in the shadow of God's wings, He can do ANYTHING? Do you believe with all your heart, mind and soul that God can do what He says He will do? He tells us that we can have anything we ask for, when we ask in the name of His son, Jesus Christ.(John 14:13-15) Do you want to have that kind of faith today? You can, I know you can!!!
I can readily admit, I have not always and do not always remember to have that kind of faith in the immediate moment that something happens to me, I want to say, "OH YEAH, I do that all the time, I am that good," but I would be lying. I am human, I forget and sometimes falter, sometimes I still try to handle it myself first, but I do pray everyday...
You can walk in that kind of Faith today, all you have to do is call on the Lord, Nothing wavering and Ask Him, you can pray something like this below:
"Dear God, In the name of Your son, Jesus Christ, My Savior, I know I have not always had the kind of faith that would be pleasing to you, nor glorifying to you, but I want that kind of FAITH the apostles had, the kind of faith those people in the Bible had, strong enough to move mountains, heal, bring your will into place, fighting the temptations and trials Satan puts in my way. I pray to you Lord to, please to give me that kind of FAITH. Help me Lord to continue in YOU. In your Word, in your power and might, and in the shadow of your wings. I need you, NOW, I need to feel your presence, but more importantly, I need to know that I can depend on You, to hold on to your hand and you will be there. I want that faith. Please know I am here, claiming your faith, and will continue to build that faith with you, Lord. In Jesus Name I pray, AMEN."
If you have prayed this prayer today, please email us and let us know, so we can send you some information to help you further be able to build that walk in faith with the Lord. WE want to help and stand in the gap to help you walk with the Lord everyday. Contact us and let us know how we can help you with that today.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
I've Come Too Far to Turn Back Now...
We want what we want in our lives, I know, but sometimes we miss the forest ahead, for the trees in our way. We get scared and want to stop going, it all just seems "too BIG," and want to give up. Then we look at what our heavenly Father has done for us, and what he has asked us to do doesn't seem so big anymore. We know in our own strength we wouldn't be able to go at it alone, but we know, in Mark 10:27 that "with God, all things are possible."
We remember Philippians 4:13; "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." and that gives us even more of the courage and faith we need to accomplish. You see, I heard a pastor say one time, "ALL means ALL and that is ALL that ALL means."
In other words, All is just about EVERYTHING! Everything we set out to do in the will of our Father, God, He will give us the strength to face, the trials, the craziness, the opposition, and all the joy that serving God holds for your life. I have served God for most of my life, even when I wasn't living has His Child, I still served Him and others because I knew it was the right thing to do, and there is nothing else I will ever want to do, besides be in His complete will, serving HIM. I am so humbled and overwhelmed by God's goodness, and His choice in me, that I can't think of anything else I'd rather do.
The Bible says in Matt. 22:14, "Many are called, but few are chosen." I just can't believe he Selected me, and that He found a place in His service and His kingdom where He could use a "runaway" like me, but I am so glad He did.
All the trials, the mountains, and the valleys, I have had to go through to get to where I am, I wouldn't turn back or change my mind now. He picked me up out of my sorrows and placed my feet on high ground to walk with Him, forever. No turning back, I've come to far to turn back now.
We remember Philippians 4:13; "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." and that gives us even more of the courage and faith we need to accomplish. You see, I heard a pastor say one time, "ALL means ALL and that is ALL that ALL means."
In other words, All is just about EVERYTHING! Everything we set out to do in the will of our Father, God, He will give us the strength to face, the trials, the craziness, the opposition, and all the joy that serving God holds for your life. I have served God for most of my life, even when I wasn't living has His Child, I still served Him and others because I knew it was the right thing to do, and there is nothing else I will ever want to do, besides be in His complete will, serving HIM. I am so humbled and overwhelmed by God's goodness, and His choice in me, that I can't think of anything else I'd rather do.
The Bible says in Matt. 22:14, "Many are called, but few are chosen." I just can't believe he Selected me, and that He found a place in His service and His kingdom where He could use a "runaway" like me, but I am so glad He did.
All the trials, the mountains, and the valleys, I have had to go through to get to where I am, I wouldn't turn back or change my mind now. He picked me up out of my sorrows and placed my feet on high ground to walk with Him, forever. No turning back, I've come to far to turn back now.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
"I Love You My Child, I love You"
O my Lord, from the rising of the sun, to the setting of the day, my heart and soul looks to you for my strength, for my live, my love, and my heart. My whole hearts desire is to serve you and to be your life-long child, with a love for you that gives you the honor and glory you deserve for the way you have saved my soul, lifted me out of the life I was living, and set me on a path of righteousness that leads me ALWAYS to YOU.You are the lover of my soul, you have given me the strength to go on, no matter how many people in this world turn their back on me, gossip, lie, and seek to hurt me, with Satan working in their ears, to get me to turn away from you. NEVER will I turn back, NEVER will my feet turn a different way. I will serve YOU, My Lord and My God, NO MATTER WHAT OTHERS MAY DO TO ME.
If it weren't for YOU, if it weren't for Calvary, if it wasn't for my risen Lord and Savior, I would be lost, alone, and of all people I know, most miserable, but because of you and your love for me, because you wrap your loving arms around me and pick me up from the pit of despair and sadness, and you encourage my heart. I look up to you, and KNOW YOU are my God and I am your CHILD.
Thank you my God, My Father, thank you Jesus for Setting me free... Thank you My Father for always looking out for me, whispering to me quietly, and ever so lovingly, "My precious, precious child, I love you and I will NEVER leave YOU nor forsake you. You are my beautiful daughter, willing and wanting to serve me, and your songs of praise fills my heart to overflowing, giving me honor and praise... it is now my turn, to lift up your heart, to let you know, I am proud of you and all you have given up, walked away from, and turned your back on, to serve me, to show me your heart of love and surrender. I love you my child..."
I love you."
Thursday, June 28, 2012
A Mother's Love Never Fails
"Her Children arise up, and call her blessed:" Prov. 31:28a
I read a question on a moms' social network page the other day, a mother had thrown her son out of the house at 18 yrs old. Apparently until the past year he had been a really great kid, excelling at everything, respectful to his parents, and had no problems that the parents knew of at the time. Then over this past year he started getting into trouble, she found out he had thrown a party at her house while she was gone, he was now smoking, drinking and doing drugs. When she and her ex husband sat down to talk to him about this issue, to offer him help, to give him ultimatums he got mad and cursed at her, called her every name in the book he could think of, and some she had never thought of before, and standing over her, she finally told him to move out, that this was the last chance and he blew it. She wanted some advice from other moms on how she should handle this. Then she said, "I don't think I will ever be able to forgive him for what he said to me and the names he called me. They just hurt so bad and I can't get them out of my mind."
This is a good sight for moms, for the most part, but not all the mothers that post are Christians, so not many of the answers were faith based. I was saddened on how many people can tell a mother to write off her own child. To turn her back, that she don't have to forgive, until she is ready and until he comes to his senses. I have found so many mothers in today's society, that have found this ability to turn their back, hearts, and lives on their own children. They are able to just walk away and not think a thing about it.
The bible says that the mothers are so important in their children's lives. They are to train the young women, girls how to grow up as a child of God, as a Godly woman, to train them how to be a Godly mother, Godly wife, and Homemaker to their family. We are to teach our children to pray, to read the word of God and to live by the scriptures. If we don't, NO ONE ELSE WILL. It is a mother's love that gets the soldier through the hard times during battle. It is a mother's encouragement to a young girl being bullied by the "mean girls" at school to go on, because they are more beautiful and better than what is being said. It is the mother that teacher her children that words hurt, no matter how bad you feel, you should speak kindness to others. And it is mother's steadfastness that teaches her children that no matter what the fight, what the struggle, how bad the relationship gets, we need to stand up for God and stay the course, not give up and walk away, to be the best spouse you can be. And through the mother's example, the family, each individual will want to know more about the God she serves. 2Tim 3 says the husband is won to the Lord through the wife's testimony, it is the same for the child.
God made mothers to love unconditionally. He wants them, no matter what the test, trial, hurt they endure, they are supposed to show the love of God, that unconditional, I don't care what you do, I'm gonna love you anyway type of love. That love that shows a child, no matter what happens in life, I will always be there. We wipe away their tears, fix the hurts and bruises on their knees, their elbows, and their hearts. We tell them another love will come. They show that child that no matter how someone treats you, forgive, not for them, but for yourself. You can't hold on to the pain and hurt of what a child says when they are hurting. You cannot hold that against them. Number 1 it isn't in a mother's inherent nature to be able to turn your backs, it wasn't designed of God to be able to walk away.
Mother's are to show the same type of Love, much like the love of Christ, though he is rejected so many times, by you, by me, by others, he keeps on loving us, no matter what. He shows us love and keeps forgiving you, over and over again. Forgiveness isn't about healing for the person who did the hurting, forgiveness is for the person who was hurt. You take the power back, that was taken from you when the attacks on your heart began. It gives your heart the power to heal and to be able to say, "I love you son, I know you are hurting and the words you said were harsh, but I know your mind is in another place, and the drugs and alcohol is where those hurtful words came from, not from what you really feel. I forgive you." Even if he isn't ready to forgive himself, you must be able to restore that relationship. He needs you. He needs your heart. He needs his mommy.
I pray for you today, I pray that you will be that mother when your children look back through their childhood and life and says, "that woman was incredible to me. She did above and beyond I could ever imagine and she enriched my life more than I ever knew. She blessed my heart and life.
I read a question on a moms' social network page the other day, a mother had thrown her son out of the house at 18 yrs old. Apparently until the past year he had been a really great kid, excelling at everything, respectful to his parents, and had no problems that the parents knew of at the time. Then over this past year he started getting into trouble, she found out he had thrown a party at her house while she was gone, he was now smoking, drinking and doing drugs. When she and her ex husband sat down to talk to him about this issue, to offer him help, to give him ultimatums he got mad and cursed at her, called her every name in the book he could think of, and some she had never thought of before, and standing over her, she finally told him to move out, that this was the last chance and he blew it. She wanted some advice from other moms on how she should handle this. Then she said, "I don't think I will ever be able to forgive him for what he said to me and the names he called me. They just hurt so bad and I can't get them out of my mind."
This is a good sight for moms, for the most part, but not all the mothers that post are Christians, so not many of the answers were faith based. I was saddened on how many people can tell a mother to write off her own child. To turn her back, that she don't have to forgive, until she is ready and until he comes to his senses. I have found so many mothers in today's society, that have found this ability to turn their back, hearts, and lives on their own children. They are able to just walk away and not think a thing about it.
The bible says that the mothers are so important in their children's lives. They are to train the young women, girls how to grow up as a child of God, as a Godly woman, to train them how to be a Godly mother, Godly wife, and Homemaker to their family. We are to teach our children to pray, to read the word of God and to live by the scriptures. If we don't, NO ONE ELSE WILL. It is a mother's love that gets the soldier through the hard times during battle. It is a mother's encouragement to a young girl being bullied by the "mean girls" at school to go on, because they are more beautiful and better than what is being said. It is the mother that teacher her children that words hurt, no matter how bad you feel, you should speak kindness to others. And it is mother's steadfastness that teaches her children that no matter what the fight, what the struggle, how bad the relationship gets, we need to stand up for God and stay the course, not give up and walk away, to be the best spouse you can be. And through the mother's example, the family, each individual will want to know more about the God she serves. 2Tim 3 says the husband is won to the Lord through the wife's testimony, it is the same for the child.
God made mothers to love unconditionally. He wants them, no matter what the test, trial, hurt they endure, they are supposed to show the love of God, that unconditional, I don't care what you do, I'm gonna love you anyway type of love. That love that shows a child, no matter what happens in life, I will always be there. We wipe away their tears, fix the hurts and bruises on their knees, their elbows, and their hearts. We tell them another love will come. They show that child that no matter how someone treats you, forgive, not for them, but for yourself. You can't hold on to the pain and hurt of what a child says when they are hurting. You cannot hold that against them. Number 1 it isn't in a mother's inherent nature to be able to turn your backs, it wasn't designed of God to be able to walk away.
Mother's are to show the same type of Love, much like the love of Christ, though he is rejected so many times, by you, by me, by others, he keeps on loving us, no matter what. He shows us love and keeps forgiving you, over and over again. Forgiveness isn't about healing for the person who did the hurting, forgiveness is for the person who was hurt. You take the power back, that was taken from you when the attacks on your heart began. It gives your heart the power to heal and to be able to say, "I love you son, I know you are hurting and the words you said were harsh, but I know your mind is in another place, and the drugs and alcohol is where those hurtful words came from, not from what you really feel. I forgive you." Even if he isn't ready to forgive himself, you must be able to restore that relationship. He needs you. He needs your heart. He needs his mommy.
I pray for you today, I pray that you will be that mother when your children look back through their childhood and life and says, "that woman was incredible to me. She did above and beyond I could ever imagine and she enriched my life more than I ever knew. She blessed my heart and life.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Vision of a Heavenly Father
We have come into the season for Father's Day, and as we are all so thankful for our Fathers here on earth, there are so many people, children who are going through life with an absentee father. Some never knew their fathers or what they were like, others had a father for a time, then he was gone. Our children are growing up in a generation without a Father in their lives to show them how to love, to show them care, or to take responsibility for their children and home.
Our children are falling into trouble on every hand, no matter how hard their Mothers struggle to keep them on the right track, they love unconditionally every day, they are there no matter what, and when all is said and done, it is the Mothers who are there to pick up the pieces and wipe the tears away when the child is hurting and struggling from the desire to see, get to know or have their fathers around. No matter how much they want to, Mothers can't make the hurt go away, they can't help them through, and then they are the ones that take the brunt of the anger from these children who are missing their fathers. God knew this would be the case, and He gave women the special grace to be able to carry this heavy load, but it is still so hard to watch your child hurt so much and not be able to do anything about it at all.
Statistics show that a home without the father present girls become sexually promiscuous sooner and more radically, than a home with a father living in their home and enriching their lives. They find boys are more likely to join gangs and partake in violent crimes, spend more time in jail and in the juvenile systems than boys who have a father present to show them how to be a man, show them love and give them a sense of belonging. Sometimes our society looks at this as if we are losing an ever changing, ever struggling battle, and there is no way to come out on top for our children.
Our Churches see the problem, we get the children when they are small, and we can talk about the love of Jesus and How he lived, bled and died for our sins, and rose again to live in heaven and make a way for us to have an eternity in Heaven some day. When they are small, and you can share the Bible stories with them, they sometimes will listen and it seems like they are catching on. Then as they grow, they begin to really notice what is missing at home, they become more angry, their friends are different in school than the ones at church, and they begin to notice there are more kids at school without parents they can turn to, sort of like a secret society, and only those kids know how they "really feel" so they pull more and more away from family and the church.
Then, when they are at church they hear the teachers and the preacher speak of a Heavenly Father, they have no idea what the pastor is talking about. Who is that and what does that work for us here on earth, they wonder who He is, and they have serious trouble believing that this Heavenly Father can truly exist. How can someone, a "Heavenly Father" love you unconditionally? How can He never leave nor forsake you? How can He know your heart, mind and soul? He hasn't been here with them, He doesn't come down and see them face to face and spend time with them, How can a Heavenly Father do all those things for me, or stick around, because their own earthly father left them, they were told that parents love their kids unconditionally and Daddy left, so how can anyone else say they love that way and stick around? To these children, it can't possibly be true, because they have no clue or vision of an earthy father that would do those things to gauge it by in their own lives.
The Bible said that Our Heavenly Father, sent His own son into the world, to save the world, that they would have eternal life and escape condemnation. He loves us because He created us, He loves us because He can. He has had the opportunity to destroy everything on this earth and start all over, which He did once already, but He wants us to have the opportunity to get to know Him. To see His love. To see what He can do in our lives, and how we can love Him too. God loves us with every fiber of His being. His love is unconditional, in that no matter what we do, where we go, what we say or how we act, He will love us, accept us, and forgive us, always. He is forever making a way for us to get to heaven.
Thank you Father for giving us this love, for creating us and for showing us the way to Heaven. Help us to be able to reach out to our children in this community and others to show them your love, and what it means to have a Heavenly Father and help them to heal the hurt of the loss of an earthly father that could have pointed the way to you. Help us to be that light, that beacon for all to see you. AMEN.
Happy Father's Day Lord, I love YOU!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Praying Wives Have Power!
Do you pray for your husband everyday? Do you ask God to bless him? Do you ask God to hold him, give you strength to encourage him? Do you ask God to anoint him? Do you ask God to give you a love for him beyond compare?
If you don't You Should. Why? I know as a woman you are thinking... "Wait a minute, just hold on here, you don't know nothing about me, you don't know how things are in our home. I am not the one that needs changing!" then through prayer you may find out that the Holy Spirit has been working on You or both of you for quite some time. In this one simple prayer for your husband may be the key to changing things for the better. You are thinking, "Yes, I will pray for my husband, I will ask God to change him. He is the one that makes mistakes, he is hateful, he says he loves me and he loves God, but I just don't know where his head or heart is anymore. I am not the problem, it can't possibly be me."
I can tell you from experience, and this is not easy for me to say because I was a HUGE proponent of female independence, doing things on my own and being in complete control of everything, but ONLY GOD, can put together, keep, and save any marriage. I didn't believe that marriage was all they said it was, the husband first, the wife in submission to Him and to God, and sitting around waiting for him to make the decisions, to hear from God and wait to see how things would work out between the two of them. I wanted to be the one in control, I would be the one to fix everything. If God couldn't do it through me, I would do it for my family without them both! He can be here if he wants, but NO ONE is going to control what happens to me and my kids. That was me, that was my attitude, and unfortunately we paid a terrible price for my disobedience and unsubmissiveness to GOD, not just my husband, but I threw God in under the bus too.
To be honest and totally frank with you, I have never seen a marriage that took only one person to manage and was completely perfect in the relationship. Marriage takes three, to be successful, it takes You and Your spouse of course, it takes WORK, and it takes God, our father, to give you and your spouse a love and desire to serve, love, protect, communicate, and submit to one another on a daily basis.
God put you two together for a reason, for His purpose and calling and He is the ONLY way you can keep your marriage pure, holy, separated for His service and for your marriage to be renewed everyday. From personal experience, I am saying this from my heart. God can give you a love for your husband that you cannot ever imagine. He can put a fire in your heart and mind renewing it everyday, when you allow Him to be apart of your marriage.
Praying for your spouse is your way of loving your spouse into the Kingdom of God if he is not a child yet. If he is, than this is a way to ask God to be with him, strengthen him, comfort and keep him when he is away from your home, away from you and in God's care. It is a way for you to show God how you love your spouse above and beyond yourself and it will show you that you are not your own anymore. I know that this is the way that God comes in and changes your heart and life, renewing a love in you that you would not ever believe would be possible for your husband, and for God Himself. This will also show you more secrets into a Kingdom Marriage than you will ever imagine. Then you'll find the deeper you fall for your Husband, it will give you a renewed heart, mind, and love for God that you have never known. It will change you, and in changing you it will change your spouse, your marriage, your family, and your life!
I can tell you from experience, and this is not easy for me to say because I was a HUGE proponent of female independence, doing things on my own and being in complete control of everything, but ONLY GOD, can put together, keep, and save any marriage. I didn't believe that marriage was all they said it was, the husband first, the wife in submission to Him and to God, and sitting around waiting for him to make the decisions, to hear from God and wait to see how things would work out between the two of them. I wanted to be the one in control, I would be the one to fix everything. If God couldn't do it through me, I would do it for my family without them both! He can be here if he wants, but NO ONE is going to control what happens to me and my kids. That was me, that was my attitude, and unfortunately we paid a terrible price for my disobedience and unsubmissiveness to GOD, not just my husband, but I threw God in under the bus too.
To be honest and totally frank with you, I have never seen a marriage that took only one person to manage and was completely perfect in the relationship. Marriage takes three, to be successful, it takes You and Your spouse of course, it takes WORK, and it takes God, our father, to give you and your spouse a love and desire to serve, love, protect, communicate, and submit to one another on a daily basis.
God put you two together for a reason, for His purpose and calling and He is the ONLY way you can keep your marriage pure, holy, separated for His service and for your marriage to be renewed everyday. From personal experience, I am saying this from my heart. God can give you a love for your husband that you cannot ever imagine. He can put a fire in your heart and mind renewing it everyday, when you allow Him to be apart of your marriage.
Praying for your spouse is your way of loving your spouse into the Kingdom of God if he is not a child yet. If he is, than this is a way to ask God to be with him, strengthen him, comfort and keep him when he is away from your home, away from you and in God's care. It is a way for you to show God how you love your spouse above and beyond yourself and it will show you that you are not your own anymore. I know that this is the way that God comes in and changes your heart and life, renewing a love in you that you would not ever believe would be possible for your husband, and for God Himself. This will also show you more secrets into a Kingdom Marriage than you will ever imagine. Then you'll find the deeper you fall for your Husband, it will give you a renewed heart, mind, and love for God that you have never known. It will change you, and in changing you it will change your spouse, your marriage, your family, and your life!
This is a sample of the Prayer I Pray each day…
Bless Robert Lord, as He is concentrating on your service and ministry. He loves you and wants nothing more than to be your child, your servant, and bring others to know you more. He is a wonderful husband, father and leader to our home, and a strong example to others he sees and knows.
Bless and Anoint Robert in everything he touches, All his works for you, in ALL he says and does in worship and praise to you.
I pray you bless and keep Him close to Your Heart, remember Him in every way. Not just today, but everyday. Thank you for this man you have put into my life, this one you have given me to pray for, to care for, to encourage and to love.
AMEN
Thursday, March 22, 2012
What Will Your Answer Be?
Why do you do the things you do? Why do you stand for what you stand for in your life? How do you know what direction to go or what job to take? What is it in your life, that makes you so sure of anything you have ever trusted in, decided on, or standards and morals to live by? Can you answer that for yourself? Do you even know?
When someone questions your boundaries, questions your standards or code of conduct you live by, what do you do? Do you question them yourself, do you stand up and defend them for all they are worth to you, or are you silent? Do you care that others don't agree with your lifestyle? Do you care that they do agree with it? Does it make a difference to you when you are being questioned, or do you welcome the opportunity to stand for your beliefs, stand for your morals, character, and faith? Where do you stand? What is it you stand on? If you don't know what you believe or where you stand right now, are you searching, or does that part of life even matter to you yet?
When you stand before God, what will your answer be? When God calls you home, calls your name and you stand before Him on the day of Judgment, what is going to be your answer to Him? What would most people say your answer, your stand, or how you lived your life? Will they say it was carefree, you didn't have any sort of beliefs, that you lived your life to the fullest and other's beliefs and convictions were not important to you? Would they say, outwardly, he was a blast, fun to be with, she was amazing, always a girl "up for anything" and didn't care about the consequences, or would they say, "oh, that is a true child of God. They knew how to stand up and be counted, you knew whether they were talking or just there, that their mind was always on the things of the Lord, that they lived, heart and soul for God's purpose, for advancing the kingdom and loved others well." is this what they would say?
What do you want their answer to be? What do you want YOUR answer to God to be? I love you Lord, I lived for you every day of my life, outside, AND INSIDE my house! Are you able to say, "I lived for you no matter what the cost, and you gave me strength to make it through each day, you have given me so much, that the only thing I could give back to you, MY GOD, was me, myself, Inside and OUT! Wholly and Holy for YOU!"
When Christ was sitting with His disciples He asked them, "who do men say that I am?" they were able to tell them a lot of answers, teacher, prophet, and many others, but when He said, "Who do YOU say that I am?" Peter answered, "thou are the Christ, Son of the Living God." Jesus knew that in Peter's heart, that he could not have known that without God revealing that to Him personally. He even told Peter just that, that the only way he would have known was through God's revelation to him in his heart. That is when Christ told Him, YOU ARE A ROCK, upon this ROCK I will build my church." Christ needed to leave someone in charge, but could only leave the one who could be still and listen to God. Listen to what the Spirit would tell and show him in his own life as well as in the life of the other men and women he would meet in his lifetime.
Peter was strong in the Lord, in the presence of the Lord, but showed that he did not have strength alone without Christ by His side. Until the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came down and filled each one of the disciples with his strength and might. He received POWER by the Holy Ghost (Dynamos = we get Dynamite) and he literally became "Walking Dynamite" for God. He gave him so much boldness after that, so when it came to standing up for the Lord, Walking in Faith, Standing in the Crowd and saying "Yes, I am HIS!" Peter could do it.
Do you have this power to stand for God? Do you have the Holy Spirit ready to rise up in you and shake the earth with His word and In HIS POWER? You can today. Ask Him In. Ask Christ to live in Your live, to take control. Even if you have already been saved, you can call on God, tell Him you want HOLY BOLDNESS for Him. The Holy Spirit is already living in side of you, Peter told everyone in Col. 2:10, "You are complete in Him..." You already have it, it is there, inside of you. You have to make it real, ask God to help you grow and lean on Him. Learn to line up your mind and soul with your spirit, by renewing your mind, Romans 12:2 and living for God, day in and day out. Read your bible, pray without ceasing, and fellowship with other believers that will walk and talk with you, strengthen you and help you to Grow in God. You can do it, I know you can. Most of All, God KNOWS YOU CAN DO IT!!!
What will your answer be???
When someone questions your boundaries, questions your standards or code of conduct you live by, what do you do? Do you question them yourself, do you stand up and defend them for all they are worth to you, or are you silent? Do you care that others don't agree with your lifestyle? Do you care that they do agree with it? Does it make a difference to you when you are being questioned, or do you welcome the opportunity to stand for your beliefs, stand for your morals, character, and faith? Where do you stand? What is it you stand on? If you don't know what you believe or where you stand right now, are you searching, or does that part of life even matter to you yet?
When you stand before God, what will your answer be? When God calls you home, calls your name and you stand before Him on the day of Judgment, what is going to be your answer to Him? What would most people say your answer, your stand, or how you lived your life? Will they say it was carefree, you didn't have any sort of beliefs, that you lived your life to the fullest and other's beliefs and convictions were not important to you? Would they say, outwardly, he was a blast, fun to be with, she was amazing, always a girl "up for anything" and didn't care about the consequences, or would they say, "oh, that is a true child of God. They knew how to stand up and be counted, you knew whether they were talking or just there, that their mind was always on the things of the Lord, that they lived, heart and soul for God's purpose, for advancing the kingdom and loved others well." is this what they would say?
What do you want their answer to be? What do you want YOUR answer to God to be? I love you Lord, I lived for you every day of my life, outside, AND INSIDE my house! Are you able to say, "I lived for you no matter what the cost, and you gave me strength to make it through each day, you have given me so much, that the only thing I could give back to you, MY GOD, was me, myself, Inside and OUT! Wholly and Holy for YOU!"
When Christ was sitting with His disciples He asked them, "who do men say that I am?" they were able to tell them a lot of answers, teacher, prophet, and many others, but when He said, "Who do YOU say that I am?" Peter answered, "thou are the Christ, Son of the Living God." Jesus knew that in Peter's heart, that he could not have known that without God revealing that to Him personally. He even told Peter just that, that the only way he would have known was through God's revelation to him in his heart. That is when Christ told Him, YOU ARE A ROCK, upon this ROCK I will build my church." Christ needed to leave someone in charge, but could only leave the one who could be still and listen to God. Listen to what the Spirit would tell and show him in his own life as well as in the life of the other men and women he would meet in his lifetime.
Peter was strong in the Lord, in the presence of the Lord, but showed that he did not have strength alone without Christ by His side. Until the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came down and filled each one of the disciples with his strength and might. He received POWER by the Holy Ghost (Dynamos = we get Dynamite) and he literally became "Walking Dynamite" for God. He gave him so much boldness after that, so when it came to standing up for the Lord, Walking in Faith, Standing in the Crowd and saying "Yes, I am HIS!" Peter could do it.
Do you have this power to stand for God? Do you have the Holy Spirit ready to rise up in you and shake the earth with His word and In HIS POWER? You can today. Ask Him In. Ask Christ to live in Your live, to take control. Even if you have already been saved, you can call on God, tell Him you want HOLY BOLDNESS for Him. The Holy Spirit is already living in side of you, Peter told everyone in Col. 2:10, "You are complete in Him..." You already have it, it is there, inside of you. You have to make it real, ask God to help you grow and lean on Him. Learn to line up your mind and soul with your spirit, by renewing your mind, Romans 12:2 and living for God, day in and day out. Read your bible, pray without ceasing, and fellowship with other believers that will walk and talk with you, strengthen you and help you to Grow in God. You can do it, I know you can. Most of All, God KNOWS YOU CAN DO IT!!!
What will your answer be???
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Without a Vision, the People with Perish!
This saying came to my mind today. We have a vision for our ministry, we have a vision for our family, we have a vision for the church we attend, and even a vision for the community we live in. Not visions we came up with on our own, but ones we feel we were lead to by the Holy Spirit. God wants His Children to get a vision for what they are supposed to do for Him, how they are supposed to lead, or follow, and what God's will is for their lives.
Have you seen your vision yet? Has God shown you something and you just haven't figured out exactly what it is He has shown you? Are you working on your vision? Are you hiding your vision? Are you afraid, confused, or are you just waiting?
God has a plan for each one of us, but we can only know that plan through our own one-on-one relationship with Him. He wants to talk to you, teach you, lead you, and show you through the Bible, what He has for your life. It is up to you to take the time to listen. It is up to you to start taking that time with God. Alone, not those moments where you say, "oh yeah, hi God, can you help me today?" and go on with your own life. He wants to meet with you, in your prayer closet. In your secret place where you can be found. He wants to share with you all he has for your life. Are you going to let him in? Are you going to let Him show you?
If you don't know how, I encourage you to contact me, talk to your minister of your local church, a prayer partner, or someone, to help you walk along with God, to show you how to find His presence. Find your presence with God, learn to commune with Him. YOU will NEVER be the same again. That is for sure!
Have you seen your vision yet? Has God shown you something and you just haven't figured out exactly what it is He has shown you? Are you working on your vision? Are you hiding your vision? Are you afraid, confused, or are you just waiting?
God has a plan for each one of us, but we can only know that plan through our own one-on-one relationship with Him. He wants to talk to you, teach you, lead you, and show you through the Bible, what He has for your life. It is up to you to take the time to listen. It is up to you to start taking that time with God. Alone, not those moments where you say, "oh yeah, hi God, can you help me today?" and go on with your own life. He wants to meet with you, in your prayer closet. In your secret place where you can be found. He wants to share with you all he has for your life. Are you going to let him in? Are you going to let Him show you?
If you don't know how, I encourage you to contact me, talk to your minister of your local church, a prayer partner, or someone, to help you walk along with God, to show you how to find His presence. Find your presence with God, learn to commune with Him. YOU will NEVER be the same again. That is for sure!
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