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The Lord said to the Apostle Paul, "my grace is sufficient for thee". Grace in its simplest definition is the unmerited favor of God. God's favor, what an awesome thing to have. Humanly speaking if someone has your favor they are in your "good graces", or in other words you are pleased with them.
I think its the same with the Lord. One thing that comes to mind as I write this is the admonition in Hebrews 11:6 where we learn that "without faith it is impossible" to please God. It as we walk out our lives in faith, trusting in, relying on and adhere to him that we please him, it is also through faith that we access this grace (favor) wherein we stand. (Rom. 5:2) Something else to consider. Think about what Paul was facing, tumults, shipwrecks, being stoned and left for dead and unjustly jailed to name a few. This messenger from satan was making life tough for Paul (don't know about you but tougher stuff than I've faced for the most part). Yet Paul looks at it all and says if I have His favor it's all good. He said later on in the letter to the Philippians that he had learned .. that he could do all things or was sufficient for all things through Christ who strengthened him. I was just thinking. Lord if you are pleased with me the rest of "it" really doesn't matter. Life can throw some crazy stuff at us at times, but as long as we stick to Jesus, trusting in and obeying him he will be pleased and thats what counts ... right? I want to hear him say "well done thou good and faithful servant". Stick with Jesus ... His Grace is sufficient to make you sufficient. SELAH
Walking by Faith
June 5, 2010
The Bible tells us that we are to walk by faith and not by sight. The word 'sight' has to do with what we understand through our five natural senses as opposed to knowledge that comes by revelation apart from the senses. God is a Spirit. He deals with us, that is communicates with us through our spirit primarily. Jesus told us that His words, (the Word of God) are spirit and life. God used His Word to create everything we interact with in this natural world. If His Word (which is spiritual not natural) created the natural, His Word can change the natural. The Word of God is the highest form of power there is. Praise God it is available to us. Can you feel, taste, touch, smell or see words (excluding reading of course) :-)? No, but words can effect anything that you can perceive with your 5 natural senses. Rom 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Faith is a substance, a heavenly materiality, or a spiritual material and it is the evidence of things "not seen" or "not perceived by the natural senses". It is just as real as the Father, Jesus or their Word but outside the parameters of the natural senses. Acting in faith or believing is acting upon the Word of God as though it true (which it is) even if natural circumstances are contrary. It is agreeing with what God said instead of the what is perceived by your senses. At some point we have to come to the decision that the Word of God is the Truth and the foundation of life we will live. We have to choose to believe the Word above anything else. The Word of God must have the final say in all decisions, if we are to know its full benefit in our lives. Having said all that, here is an interesting bit of information. The account of the "Lady with the issue of blood" in Mark 5 and Luke 8 is the only instance out of all the people Jesus healed where it is mentioned that either Jesus or the person who was healed felt anything. This leads me to the conclusion that feeling something (tingles or goosebumps, or whatever) is the exception not the rule. I will say from experience that most of the times I've ministered healing to someone I didn't feel anything, sometimes I do but most of the time not. There are times the receivers feel something and I don't. In fact the most notable healing's that have taken place in my ministry had no "feelings" in either myself or the person ministered to. Decide to agree with and walk by the Word. Let your faith rest in God and His Word not your feelings. SELAH
CHRIST IN YOU
May 2, 2010
CHRIST IN YOU
Colossians 1:27 (King James Version)
27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Unlike Old Testament saints, the Lord of Lords, the Father of Glory and the Holy Spirit dwell within you and I that have chosen to put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.
Jesus told us that if we kept His commandments the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit would make their abode in us.
Paul prayed in Ephesians 3, “that Christ may dwell in your (our) hearts by faith”. What do you believe about Christ dwelling in you? Are you convinced that Jesus and the Father are in your heart? Are you fully persuaded that the Greater One dwells in you? Do you know that you are the temple of the Holy Ghost?
Christ has been defined as, “The Anointed One and His Anointing”. You cannot separate Jesus from His Anointing, that’s what makes Him the Anointed One, that is the Christ. If you have one you have the other, it’s a package deal.
Think about it, Christ (The Anointed One and his Anointing) in you, your hope of glory your confident expectation of glory (His presence manifest). His anointing is His ability. His ability is the ability of God. You can do all things, you are sufficient and you are strong for all things through the One (The Anointed One and His Anointing) who constantly infuses you with power.
1John 4:17 contains the phrase, “as He is so are we in this world”.
How is he?
Who is He?
What does He have?
Where is He?
How will Him being in you effect what you do?
Christ (The Anointed One and his Anointing) in you, your hope of glory.
Be joyful and be confident in your anticipation of His presence manifest in your life.
SELAH
DON'T LOOK NOW!
March 13, 2010
If you are following the Shepherd (The Lord Jesus) goodness and mercy are following you, and the will continue to as long as you follow. According to Duet. 28 if you are keeping His commandments (which for New Testament believers is Walking in Love) His blessings are coming upon you and overtaking you.We don't have to chase the blessing of God we need to chase Him. Seek Him first and the rest will be added.
Keep your eyes on Jesus, He is the prize!
SELAH
Today I Choose
November 25, 2009
TODAY I CHOOSE
Today I choose to be patient, to be kind and to be free from envy. I choose to think of myself properly, to not be boastful or proud. I will act in a way becoming a child of God. I will look out for the other guy not just myself. I will not be easily provoked with others or myself. I will not take into account a suffered wrong, I choose to forgive and forget. I choose to the think the best, believe the best and hope the best for everyone. I will not think, meditate or hold on to evil but will rejoice in truth.
God is love. I am born of love. God cannot fail and neither will I.
Today I choose ... What do you choose?
DECIDE THE DAY.
SELAH
LOVE NEVER FAILS
November 13, 2009
1Cor 13 ... Love never fails.
1Jn 4 ... God is Love.
Rom. 5 ... The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
The love spoken of in these verses is 'agape' which is the God kind of love. This kind of love is first and foremost a decision, it requires an act of the will, it is an action we choose to take. Because this Love is the nature of God and He resides in us as believers we CAN choose this path.
Let me suggest that you read John 14 and 15 and as you do consider the benefits that come from keeping the Commandment of Love.
Love NEVER fails. We may fail to love at times, but Love NEVER fails.
SELAH
Faith in Action
November 11, 2009
The book of James tells us "faith without works is dead", barren or unfruitful. Another translation says, "faith without corresponding actions" is dead.
In other words, if you say you have faith, or you believe something or someone but it doesn't effect your actions you really don't believe what you say you do. You may be coming to a place of faith, but until you take action the power of your faith lies dormant.
For example, you say you believe in tithing but you are struggling in your mind with "how can I do this"? You may agree in your heart that its the right thing to do but until you decide to act the blessing of tithing is blocked to you.
Let your faith in God and His Word move you to action. How can you act on your faith today?
SELAH
God is Good
November 8, 2009
God is Good
I'm sitting here on this beautiful autumn morning watching the sun rise with Jesus. Mt. Hood is in the distance, the fire is burning, my granddaughter is eating cereal and there's coffee in my cup. Ahhhh! Life is good. God is good, always good to me.
Everyday He loads us with benefits. Everyday He loads or reloads us with strength, health, peace, joy and life abundantly. He loads us up with Love and compassion so we have plenty to share. He gives us wisdom, understanding and direction so are ways are blessed.
GOD IS GOOD, GOD IS GOOD TO ME. ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD. Say that a few times and let it soak in because He is good to you as well.
SELAH
The Flip Side
October 27, 2009
THE FLIP SIDE
12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: 13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. 14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
Mark 11:12-14 (KJV)
19 And when even was come, he went out of the city. 20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. 22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Mark 11:19-23 (KJV)
Have you ever wondered why Jesus cursed the fig tree?
One reason I've heard has to do with the symbolism of the fig tree and the nation of Israel, this then being a prophetic act.
I would like to submit a second. I am willing to say this is my opinion, but I believe it to be one inspired by the Holy Spirit.
I believe that Jesus was demonstrating to us the power of our words, both positive and negative. For Him to curse the fig tree seems a bit out of character at least from the standpoint of His being angry with the tree. He could have just as easily said, 'tomorrow you will be full of fruit' and it would have obeyed Him, but He didn't.
Perhaps you have heard the message preached from this passage that, "we can have what we say"? While I do not disagree with that message if we look at this incident from another point of view I believe we can see Jesus giving us a warning. Not only is He saying, we can have what we say, but that we get what we say.
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Luke 6:45 (KJV)
A Pastor of mine used to say, "what your full of will splash out when your bucket is bumped". What we believe will make it out of our mouths and what comes out of mouths will effect our today's and our tomorrows. The seeds of our words and actions are our thoughts (the conversations we have with ourselves on the inside) and those words need to be monitored as well.
Thank God for His mercy and grace. Thank God He is willing to help us put a guard on our minds and mouths if we but ask and then cooperate.
Today is wonderful and tomorrow will be even better.
SELAH
THINKING
7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Prov 23:7 (KJV)
thinketh a primitive root; to split or open, i.e. (literal, but only as denominative from <H8179> (sha`ar)) to act as gate-keeper (see <H7778> (show`er)); (figurative) to estimate :- think.
—Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary
To think; to split or open. I imagine a picture of a seed being opened, releasing whatever is inside. The earth (our heart) is holding (meditating or pondering) the seed and as it germinates it splits open releasing the life within. It could be a magnificent flower or fast growing weed.
When we looked at the word meditate we found that the beginnings of the meditation could be positive or negative. We choose what thoughts we mull over, what seeds we crack open.
This definition also carries the thought of 'gate keeper'.
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. "Prov 4:23 (KJV)
Take the time to consider what seeds are you planting. Your harvest depends upon the seed you sow.
SELAH
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