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Archive for May, 2011

Never Settle for Less than God’s Best

Posted in Uncategorized on May 30, 2011| Leave a Comment »

“THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

We cannot fathom what God has planned for us.  Many of us will not let go of our own will and surrender to God’s will.  When we hold on to our wills, we miss God’s very best for our lives.  Our minds are finite and limited in thinking.  God is infinite and with Him all things are possible.

Too many of us settle for the little things in life, not pursuing our dreams, thinking we don’t deserve greater things.  God desires our faith, He wants us to trust Him to deliver blessings and plans we could have never imagined for ourselves.  He loves us.

We think of heaven and he mansions Jesus talked about, but we don’t think of what we can have, and accomplish, through God on this earth.  How many of us live up to our potential?  When God sees us, He does not see a person with limits or shortcomings.  God sees what He is creating us to be and what He desires us to be – the image of Christ.

We limit God in our lives with our lack of faith and our lack of vision.  God is creating dreams and visions within you right now.  What is stopping you from pursuing your purpose?  It is time we start putting our faith and trust in God, and believe in the impossible.  Pursue God’s will for your life today and let Him order your steps.

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Trials of Joy

Posted in Love, The Righteous on May 27, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  James 1:2-4

Do you like tests?  Most people would say no.  However, our faith is constantly tested as we face trials in this world.  James said to count it all joy when we face trials.  It takes a lot of faith to find joy in trials; through trials our faith is strengthened and we learn patience.

One reason we should find joy in trials is that God has a plan and purpose in mind.  God is concerned about our growth and wants to conform us into the image of Jesus.  We can’t expect to escape trials in our lifetime.  We should look at trials the way God does – the perfecting of our faith and working patience within us.  Trials are not to be looked upon as punishments or God’s disproval of us.  On the contrary, when God allows us to go through a trial He is showing His love for us.  He wants us to be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  God finds joy in our trials because He has in mind the person He wants us to become.  God has our very best in mind.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

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May 21, 2011 – A Dangerous Prediction

Posted in Heaven, Jesus, Salvation on May 20, 2011| 1 Comment »

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2

“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.  Matthew 25:14

Harold Camping, Family Radio, has predicted and prophesied that the rapture will take place on May 21, 2011 and five months from then the world will end on October 21, 2011.  Camping has convinced some people that they will be raptured by Jesus on May 21st and the rest will be left to face God’s judgment.  This is not the first time someone has set a date for the rapture or the end of the world.  However, my criticism is not concerning Camping’s prediction but what really should concern us is the foundation of people’s faith.

In 2000 I was very involved in the teaching and timing of the rapture.  I remember how there were some of us who believed that the rapture would take place that year based on some events happening in the world and the timing of the earth.  One of the dates came and went and we learned that someone in our group actually committed suicide because the rapture did not happen.  We realized how dangerous it is to prophesy a specific date for the rapture or the end of the world.

As I have watched the news about this current prediction I remembered my own disappointment in 2000 and the craziness I was involved in.  It did nothing to increase or benefit my faith, nor was I effective in leading others to Jesus. I believed what I wanted to believe even though it wasn’t based on truth or God’s word.  My fascination with predicting the rapture almost became a detriment to my faith.  Since then I have grown in my relationship with Jesus and have accepted that it really is not for me to know the dates and times that have been set by God.  Instead I am learning how to live heaven on earth.  Our prayer should be that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

After the resurrection Jesus instructed the disciples to preach the gospel to all the nations of the world.  Jesus left but He did not take the Kingdom with Him, instead He told us to occupy while we wait for His return.  Our message is to teach the world about the gospel and the Kingdom.  We are to bring heaven to earth.  Jesus said the world would know us because of the love we have for one another.

There are many that believe tomorrow the rapture will take place.  Some have even emptied out their savings and have given stuff away, awaiting for tomorrow.  If the rapture fails to take place what will they do?  What will happen to their faith?  What price have they paid listening to Camping?  I pray that they will come to know Jesus in a more intimate way and just understand how much the Father loves them.  The very things they desire they can have in Jesus today.  They will remember that Jesus abides in us and we abide in Him. 

Our hope and faith must be based on the foundation of Jesus, not on another person, event or some date.  We know that one day Jesus will return and we all hope it will take place in our lifetime.  However, let us not forget the bigger picture and that is that God desires that all will come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.  God takes no pleasure in the destruction of people; neither should we.

John preached that the Kingdom of God was at hand and told the people to repent.  Jesus came and preached the gospel and the kingdom of God; and we as believers must continue to take the gospel to the entire world. 

Jesus tells us in Matthew 25 the signs of His coming.  Many of the signs are just the beginning of the end.  Jesus said the end would come when the gospel of the kingdom was preached to the whole earth.  So each day Jesus tarries we must continue preaching the gospel of the kingdom – the hope that we have in Jesus.  Most of all let us share the gospel in the spirit of love and compassion; and not with fear and judgment.

Tomorrow is never promised to us.  So when May 21st does come let us rejoice and be glad in the day that the Lord has made.  “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34

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Performing Signs and Wonders

Posted in God's Glory, Healing, Knowing God, The Father, The Holy Spirit on May 18, 2011| Leave a Comment »

26“I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel;
For He is the living God and enduring forever,
And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed,
And His dominion will be forever.
27“He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders, In heaven and on earth,
Who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” Daniel 6:26-27

“I believe in miracles with every atom of my being… because I believe in God – but Kathryn Kuhlman has nothing to do with the healing of sick bodies.  I have no healing power. It’s the power of God that does the healing. The only part I have in it is making Jesus real to the hearts of men and women. Any results there might be in this life of mine, is not Kathryn Kuhlman. It’s the Holy Spirit; IT’S WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES THROUGH A YIELDED VESSEL.” – Kathryn Kuhlman.

I found this quote by Kathryn Kuhlman, who was a great faith healer and evangelist in the 1940s through 1970s, and pondered this for quite some time.  Miracles, signs and wonders are to point people to our God.  They are not meant to elevate men or cause others to glorify and worship us.  Miracles are a testimony to the power and glory of God.  We see this in the book of Daniel.

King Darius threw Daniel into the lions’ den because Daniel did not stop praying to God.  King Darius hoped that God would save Daniel because it was the king’s injunction that got Daniel thrown in the lions’ den.  When King Darius saw the next day that Daniel had not been harmed and eaten by the lions’ he was grateful and gave glory to God.  It was God’s provision that caused King Darius to make the above confession about God.  See that is the purpose of miracles, signs and wonders.

Kathryn Kuhlman understood this too.  She knew that healing had nothing to do with her ability or power but that it was all God and she was just a vessel.  Daniel understood this too.  He acted as a vessel for God to cause the kings of Babylon to bow to Him; to confess that God was above all and that His kingdom would endure forever.

As Christians we must be yielded vessels, allowing the Holy Spirit to do the work of bringing conviction of sin to the world and the world to Jesus.  The greatest miracle is the death and resurrection of a life – when someone who is dead in their sin is made alive in Jesus.  God said that whenever we preach the gospel signs and wonders would follow as a confirmation of His word.

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No Slaves in Heaven

Posted in Heaven, Knowing God, Money, The Father, The Word on May 13, 2011| Leave a Comment »

 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave. Proverbs 22:7

The average person has some type of financial debt that they owe to a bank, financial institution, company, school, hospital, IRS or person(s).  Many of us owe money on our homes, cars, education, etc.  These lenders have the power to repossess our property, foreclose on our homes, or impose massive financial penalties for late payments and our inability to pay.  In essence we are slaves to these lenders. 

For years our family has been trying to pay down our debts.  We have consulted financial advisors, read books on money management, cut expenses, and worked out a budget.  Yet still we live paycheck to paycheck like most people trying to make ends meet.  In this time when gas and food prices are increasing the looming debts that we owe overshadow our finances.  We have spent years paying our mortgage but when we look at our principle loan amount not much of it has been paid, most of the money goes toward the interest.  I do praise God for the provision but honestly the burden of debt has gotten to be too much.  It seems to only bring stress, worry and doubts about the future.  So I did the only thing I could do and I cried out to God.

I told God we have not robbed Him.  We pay our tithes and offerings.  We have listened to man’s wisdom and strategy.  We have done our best to be good stewards with the money God has entrusted us with, but still we are bound to these lenders where most of our money goes toward paying off debts.

Is God willing to cancel our debts?  I pondered this question as I struggled on how to pray.  I know that God has paid our sin debt through the blood of Jesus.  Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection sin and death no longer have power over us.  What about our financial debts?  Is it our responsibility to get ourselves out of debt since we got ourselves in debt in the first place?  These questions caused me to doubt God’s willingness to get us out of this burdensome situation.  Then I heard God ask “Are there slaves in heaven?”

I thought about it.  There are no slaves in heaven.  Then I remembered Jesus teaching His disciples to pray that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  It is not the will of God that we be slaves on earth.  He does not want us to be enslaved by lenders.  So what do we do?  We pray that God’s will be done, and we surrender to God’s will for our finances.  We trust God for wisdom and direction in getting ourselves out of these situations.  It may require some tough decisions and a lot of discipline.  With God all things are possible.

So if you are in debt and feel enslaved by your lenders then know that is not the will of God.  There are no slaves in heaven.  You do not have to wait until you get to heaven to be free.  For whom the Son sets free is free indeed.  Be encouraged and believe that God can and will free us from any situation we find ourselves in.   We shouldn’t have to work for money, money should work for us.

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The Godly Wives

Posted in God's Glory, The Righteous on May 5, 2011| Leave a Comment »

10An excellent wife, who can find?
         For her worth is far above jewels.
11The heart of her husband trusts in her,
         And he will have no lack of gain.
12She does him good and not evil
         All the days of her life.

25Strength and dignity are her clothing,
         And she smiles at the future.
26She opens her mouth in wisdom,
         And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
30Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
         But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:10-12, 25-30

We have so many TV shows about wives: Desperate Housewives; The Real Housewives of Orange County, New York, Atlanta, Miami, New Jersey, D.C., Beverly Hills; Army Wives; Basketball Wives; and now Mob wives the list goes on.  Sadly the majority of the women on these so called reality shows depict wives as being rich, spoiled, mean, vindictive, shallow, etc.  It seems the best drama comes from the fighting that occurs on these shows.  It really is pitiful how these wives are portrayed.  However, we must love it because there seems to be a new show coming each year focused on wives.  Honestly, these shows do not depict the average wife.

Proverbs 31 describes a wife of noble character.  The writer asks who can find an excellent wife.  Truly her worth is more than fine jewels.  She gives her husband no trouble.  She is not a backbiter, backstabber, deceitful, malicious, or anything contrary to nobility.

So today let’s celebrate and praise the Godly wives – the women who fear the Lord.  She is the jewel of her husband’s eye.  She is blessed and is a blessing to others.  Here are more attributes of the Godly wives:

14She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar.
15She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household and portions to her maidens.
16She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
18She senses that her gain is good; her lamp does not go out at night.
19She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle.
20She extends her hand to the poor, and she stretches out her hands to the needy. Proverbs 31

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Unity!

Posted in government, The Righteous, Unity on May 3, 2011| Leave a Comment »

“Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand.  Matthew 12:25

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!  Psalm 133:1

How wonderful it was to see on Monday May 2nd the unity that America showed when we learned the news of Osama Bin Laden.  It was great to hear that people everywhere where unified on this issue.  There was no democrats, republicans, black, white, class, etc.  It was just Americans celebrating the strength of this nation – the United States of America. 

For the past few years we have been so divided over so many issues and that divide seemed to be getting greater and greater.  Since the economy has been in bad shape we as a nation have been pointing fingers and blaming each other.  The rhetoric that has been spoken has been full of hate and very divisive.  But yesterday we showed that we can be better than that.  We can be a better nation.

Last week I was reading that China may soon pass the US as the global superpower.  Many continue to predict the demise of the US.  It was not like that just a few years ago but our division has taken a great toil on this nation.  It is this division that will destroy us, not another country or even a terrorist group.  If we are divided against ourselves we cannot stand.  The problems we are facing in this nation effect everyone and we must be united in solving our problems.  We may disagree on many issues but that disagreement does not need to divide us.

When the forefathers founded this nation many of them had differing opinions and ideals but they were united by one common cause – freedom.  It was that unity that founded this country and made it so great.  Unfortunately, these past couple of years there is talk of some states wanting to secede.  Some saying we have to take our country back (not sure from whom?).  The division amongst races and classes is getting worse.  It would be a great tragedy if this nation is laid to waste because of our division.

We are better than this, yesterday was proof.  We can be united once again by a vision of a better future, and coming together to solve our nation’s problems.  The naysayers are saying we will be laid to waste, but we don’t have to accept this.  We should not accept this.  The United States is still a very young country especially compared to many other nations.  The one thing that has always defined us from all others is that we were and still can be “One nation under God.”  There is power and blessing in Unity.  God bless the United States of America.

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Why Celebrate?

Posted in Justice, Sowing and Reaping, The Father, The Righteous on May 2, 2011| Leave a Comment »

The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous, but is terror to the workers of iniquity. Proverbs 21:15

Today news spread that Osama Bin Laden had been killed by Special Forces of the US Military.  There were images of people celebrating in front of the White House, in New York City at Ground Zero, on college campuses and in other cities in the US.  People were rejoicing about the capture and death of Bin Laden.  Finally, one of the most wanted men on earth had been killed.  But why rejoice some Christians ask?  Some have said that we are no better than Bin Laden by rejoicing in his death.

Let’s put this in perspective.  Yes as Christians we are to show love and mercy for all.  We are to extend the love of Christ to everyone including our enemies.  Jesus said that if they hate us they hated Him first; of course Jesus died for all of our sins.  Osama Bin Laden declared Israel and Christians his enemy.  He led terror attacks, death sentences, and declared war on those who did not believe in the god he believed in.  For years thousands of men, women and children died because of Osama Bin Laden.  Since 9/11/2001 he has been hiding but still calling upon the death of Americans and Israelites everywhere.  He showed us no mercy but God showed him mercy every day he lived on this earth.  Osama Bin Laden had a chance every morning to repent and turn from his wicked ways, but he chose not to and in the end fought until his death.

During years of terror and death, people cried out to God for justice.  Families and loved ones wanted justice for all the people who died in terror attacks orchestrated by Osama Bin Laden.  We prayed for justice for the troops that lost their lives in pursuing Bin Laden and fighting two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  America demanded justice and today America got justice.

This is why people flooded the streets in celebration and jubilee.  For years the people longed for justice and finally their prayers were answered.  The good news is that even if we are wrong, God is not.  Osama Bin Laden will give an account before God and God will have the final say.  God is just, and is the administrator of all justice.

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