For God's Glory

When Mary and Martha's brother Lazarus died, they were rightfully devastated. Of course they were upset with the death of their brother, but it hurt even more because they were close to Jesus. While Lazarus was still alive they sent word to Jesus for Him to come and minister to their brother. Yet, by the time Jesus showed up, Lazarus had been in the grave for a couple of days.

Martha voices her distress to Jesus: "...Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." (John 11:21b) Mary reiterated the same view when she saw Jesus. However, Jesus was unfazed.  Even as he worked through his own emotions, Jesus pointed out that the occurrence was a prime opportunity to see God's glory.

Jesus had the family roll away the stone, and He called Lazarus back into the land of the living.

Sometimes we feel like Mary and Martha. We consider ourselves to be close to the Lord, but it seems as if our prayers have gone unanswered. We sought the Lord in times of true need, and it seems like He didn't show up for us.

Could God possibly be working something out in a way that will allow you to see His glory?

The Bible says that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. He will never leave us hanging. He will always answer when we call. Even if your situation now seems unsolvable... even if it seems like the subject is dead... even if you have buried away the thing that you cried out to God about... don't let your faith die.

Continue to trust in believe in the God that can do exceedingly, abundantly, and above all that you can ask or think. It's never over, until God says so.

Verse of the Day: Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. John 11:40-44

 

 

 

Anchored in God

With floods washing away whole communities in Colorado, fires wiping out the progress in New Jersey, and a shooter on the loose in DC, America has been buffeted by one tragic scene after another these past few days.

Looking at this kind of news and seeing the devastation just reminds me of how important it is for people to be anchored in the Lord. We were never promised perfectly happy lives. God never told us that He would make every single day for us a perfect one. Some sort of storm will rain on our parade through the course of our lives.

God has given us the tools to make it through anything that comes our way. Even when it seems like everything is falling apart and tragedy is all around, God has made a way for us to go through with His strength, wisdom, and peace. We just have to stay anchored in Him.

Being anchored in the Lord means that whatever we go through, we keep ourselves firmly planted in Him. We stay in touch with Him through prayer, we continue to follow the path He has for us, and we walk according to His will in all things.

It's best to get anchored in God while the sun is still shining and no storm clouds are in sight. It's hard to hunker down when the wind is whipping and the waves are crashing into you.

Anchoring yourself in God consists of knowing His voice, having His word planted on the inside, and building a firm foundation of faith in Him.

God's voice will guide you when you don't know where to turn. Having God's word on the inside of your spirit will allow the Holy Spirit to bring those verses to your remembrance when your hope is fading. A firm foundation of faith will keep you from giving in to despair and will give you assurance to keep going.

Are you anchored in God? If a storm passed your way today, would you be able to stand firm in faith? Take some time while the sun is still shining to gird up yourself in the things of God, so you can successfully walk through whatever comes your way.

Verse of the Day: So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Hebrews 6:18, 19

Give It Up!

One day, a man came to Jesus looking for the key to eternal life. This man was a person who followed after the Law from when he was a child. The Bible points out that he was rich and he had the status of a ruler among the community. This man was wise enough to see that Jesus had insight that other leaders of the day had not attained.

However, Jesus expertly tapped into the young man's weak spot:

Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. Luke 18:22, 23

 

This young man could not give up everything to follow after Jesus. Even though he recognized the wisdom and power Jesus had, he could not give Jesus full reign of his life. He could not give up his title, his money, and he possessions for the eternal life that Jesus had for him.

 

What do you have in life that is precious to you? It may be your job, your car, your status in your church, or your beautiful home. Can you honestly say that those things aren't more important to you than your relationship with Jesus? If He asked, would you freely give it all up for Him?

 

Today, check your heart. Are you holding on to something that God is asking you to let go of? Are you placing something of this world as your first priority instead of your Savior?

 

Don't miss out on your eternal blessings for the temporary things this world has to offer! Allow yourself to put Jesus first, so you can reap the heavenly rewards that never expire. No matter how dearly you held the things you give up, they can never match what the Lord will give you in return.

 

Verse of the Day: And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. Luke 18:29, 30

 

 

Wednesday's Word: Stand Firm

And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest. For he was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses served faithfully when he was entrusted with God’s entire house.


But Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a house deserves more praise than the house itself. For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God.

Moses was certainly faithful in God’s house as a servant. His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later. But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ. 

That is why the Holy Spirit says,
“Today when you hear his voice,
don’t harden your hearts
as Israel did when they rebelled,
when they tested me in the wilderness.
There your ancestors tested and tried my patience,
even though they saw my miracles for forty years.
So I was angry with them, and I said,
‘Their hearts always turn away from me.
They refuse to do what I tell them.’
So in my anger I took an oath:
‘They will never enter my place of rest.’”
Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. Hebrews 3:1-14 (NLT)   Don't lose your confidence in the Lord. Remain firm of your convictions in Christ. As you stand in faith, believing His Word, you will share in Christ's reward.   Have a blessed Day!

Flashback: Faith Decision Moments

Yesterday I was blessed to minister the word impromptu during our service. It's amazing what the Lord can do! The Holy Spirit is amazing because I had no clue I'd be speaking.

What came to my mind was a post that I've done speaking on deciding to move forward in faith. So many of us are looking at the open door God has provided, and we are deciding in some form or another not to walk through it.

Maybe it's fear. Maybe it's complacency. Perhaps it's doubt.

No matter what is holding you back - reconsider. God is holding an open door in front of you! Why would you not want to walk through?

Today, make the decision to trust God's Word. Decide to walk forward in faith!

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In our walk with the Lord, we will encounters faith decision moments. In those moments, we will decide either to move forward in faith or shrink back in fear.

Moses had his moment right before he stepped in to see Pharaoh after his time in the wilderness.

David had his moment after he picked up those five stones for his slingshot before facing Goliath.

Esther's was right before she walked in to see the king unannounced.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had their decision moment when the furnace doors were flung open and they felt the heat on their faces.

Peter's was right before he stepped out to minister to the crowds after the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Right before these men and women of God faced their greatest time, they had one moment where they could have decided to turn back. They could have consciously decided to not believe God. They could have listened to the fear, doubt, and indecision that was probably present in their minds. They could have decided not to follow through.

But they chose to walk forward boldly in faith. And when they decided to move forward, God was able to do what man had never seen before.

Maybe right now you're facing your faith decision moment. Maybe right now you're poised to move into something that no one's experienced before. Maybe the Lord has placed something on your heart that seems out of this world to you, and you are pausing wondering if you should really follow through with what He has spoken.

Don't be like Jonah and run from the call! At the least, be like Gideon and find some more courage before moving forward. But, most importantly, move! Do what God is calling you to do! Decide to move forward in faith and watch what the Lord does with your life.

On the other side of your fear is greatness. On the other side of the unknown is victory! Don't allow indecision to snatch away your dreams. Don't allow doubt to keep you from your destiny in God.

Choose to move forward.

Verse of the Day: Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Hebrews 10:38

12 Days of Christmas: Hold on to God's Word

When Jesus was taken to the temple by His parents, a man named Simeon was led by the Spirit to the temple that same day. Simeon knew by the Spirit of the Lord that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. When he saw Jesus, he gave thanks to the Lord and knew that he could finally die in peace. The Lord revealed that Jesus was the One Simeon had been waiting for.

What has God promised to you? What has He spoken over your life that has yet to come to pass?

Make sure you stay in the Spirit! Don't lose hope. Don't give in. Don't allow the passing of days, weeks, months, or years to stop your faith. Remain ready to follow the Spirit of God. Keep your eyes peeled for the manifestation  of God's promise!

Simeon remained sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading. Imagine if he had not kept a prayerful attitude. He might have missed the very day that Messiah was brought to the temple. Or, he may have been present and not have recognized that the Savior was in the building!

God is not a man that He should lie. (Numbers 23:19) Whatever He has spoken to you, He will bring it to pass! Keep your faith strong. Believe in the promises of the Lord, for they are sure. God is going to do what He said!

Verse of the Day: And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name [was] Simeon; and the same man [was] just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word... Luke 2:25-29

Recognizing God's Authority

In my studies today, I looked at the story of the centurion who came to Jesus in Caperneum. The centurion came to Jesus asking Him to heal the soldier's sick servant. There are a couple of details in this story that struck me and challenged me.

First: The centurion, a man who commanded at least 60-100 men, came to visit Jesus for the healing of his servant. The man was important. He said himself that he had many servants to tend to his wants and needs. Yet the anguish and turmoil of one man caused him to come to the Lord for an answer. The centurion's heart was so loving for one of his servants that he went out of his way to seek out Jesus to get Him to heal one of his men.

Are our hearts tuned in to those around us who serve? There are numerous men and women working hard every day, so that we have a better quality of life. No, we may not have servants in our homes, but there are many people whose services we use on a daily basis. Are we paying attention to their needs? Are we tuned into what is going on with them? Have we gone out of our way to get them the Answer for their needs?

Second: The centurion knew who to go to for an answer to a problem he could not solve. Who knows how the centurion came to know of Jesus. Maybe he heard Jesus preach and witnessed Jesus ministering healing to the sick with his own eyes. Or maybe the centurion had heard stories from other witnesses who had experienced Jesus first hand.

Either way, the centurion knew without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was the answer for his need. He came to the Lord confidant that He could handle the situation. In fact, the soldier was so confident that he said that all Jesus had to do was say the word, and he knew his servant would be healed. The centurion recognized the power of Christ, and he knew how the process of authority worked. Because of the great power of Jesus, all it would take was His word for something to come to pass.

Are we aware - I mean really aware of the power that our God has? Do we recognize and respect the authority that He wields? When we come before His throne are we truly confident in His ability to answer us?

Because of the centurion's faith, his servant was healed within the hour. Jesus said Himself that day that many outside of the tribe of Israel would sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob because of their faith in God. (Matthew 8:11) Do we possess this kind of faith?

Today, take some time to meditate on the authority and power that Jesus has. Then, pray for someone that serves you. Ask God to meet their need, heal their heart, and grant them peace. Your great faith could cause someone's dire situation to turn completely around for the good.

Verse of the Day: The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.  For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Matthew 8:8-10

No Adjustments Necessary

Often when God gives us a promise, instruction, or request we take His words and modify them to fit into our own more comfortable views of what we would like. Instead of trusting His word completely, we tweak little sections here and there to make His word more palatable to our taste buds... or we ignore it altogether.

Abraham tweaked the word of God concerning his offspring. He believed that his wife was too old to bear children, so he took on a mistress. (Genesis 16:1-4)

Moses grew so angry with the children of Israel, that instead of speaking to the rock like God commanded, he struck the rock in order for water to spring forth. (Numbers 20:11)

Jonah ignored God's Word altogether after he took it upon himself to figure out what the outcome would be if he followed the Lord's call. (Jonah 4:2)

Those little tweaks and adjustments brought strife and division to Abraham's household, death to Moses, and landed Jonah in the belly of a great fish.

God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-seeing. At this very moment, He is keeping universes in motion. Galaxies were created by His very word.

Who are we to question it? Who are we to doubt His will? When He speaks to us and gives us the privilege of knowing His plans for us, who are we to think we can make any adjustments for the better?

Don't allow doubt, fear, impatience, or indecision to cause you to tweak God's will for you. Don't let your own narrow views cause you to adjust your sight off of what God is trying to show you.

If God told you something, you can trust it completely. If He is telling you to go right, don't you dare even think about going left. He's leading you to guaranteed greatness. Are you certain that your way will really be better?

Verse of the Day: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

Afternoon Ti: Working For the Good

This past week was a true week of faith for me and my family. We have had to stand, and having done all to stand, stand firm in the face of fear, doubt, and anguish. And as we stood, God proved Himself faithful. In the midst of our mourning, the Lord kept us with joy. In the midst of sorrow, we found we had peace. Where we should have despaired, we found ourselves full of His everlasting love.

Even though I may not be happy with or even understand God's decisions, I was reminded yesterday that all things work together for the good of those who love God.

I can only imagine how Abraham felt as he believed God for the son the Lord had promised him. Who knows what thoughts swirled through his mind as the years ticked away, and he still had no heir. Yet, Abraham believed God, and God stayed true to his word and gave Abraham a son in his old age.

Or, think of Noah, tasked with the feat of making something he had never seen for a phenomenon he had never heard of. Still, Noah worked faithfully in the face of ridicule from his neighbors believing what God had told him. The Lord sent the rain like He promised, and Noah was delivered from the flood.

Even Daniel had to trust that God would stand with him as he continued to worship the Lord in the midst of a pagan nation. And when his very life was threatened for following God, Daniel chose to lose his life because of how much love he had for the Lord. As a result, God honored his public stance and delivered Daniel from the mouths of the lions.

God works everything together for the good of those who love Him. It is up to us to cultivate that love, to deepen and strengthen it. God is always there willing to pour out His love for us, we just have to get in His presence and receive it. When that love is there, nothing can change, shake, or remove it. And that love will carry you through anything and cause you to overcome everything.

No matter what you may be facing, draw on the love that God has for you. Don't let circumstances pull you away from your relationship with the Lord. Press into His presence. Come closer to His throne. Continue in talks with Him, and allow Him to work everything out for your good. Allow yourself to experience the faithfulness of God.

Verse of the Day: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Throwback Thursday - P.U.S.H.!

Today we're going to look back at a post I did a while back. Since we've been talking about action this week, I felt this post would fit right in. Have a blessed day!

Christians love to use the acronym PUSH – Pray Until Something Happens. Today I’d like to redefine it: Pray, Prepare, and Perform Until Something Happens.


Too often, I feel, saints put all of the responsibility on God to make their visions, aspirations, and dreams come to pass. We pray and look to the skies for our blessings to fall in our lap without any hard work on our part. Yes, God is our Ultimate Help, and His whole mission for having us here is to fulfill His purpose for us. However, God wants us to be an active part of the process in realizing our dreams.

We cannot really appreciate obtaining God’s promises for us if we haven’t put any sweat into the process. If everything just appeared out of the sky, we would take our answered prayers for granted. There is growth in stepping out in faith trusting that God will fulfill His Word. Character is honed and defined when we take initiative and work the process to pave the way for the promise to develop.

How can God send your new job when you haven’t sent out your resume? What financial increase can you obtain if you’re always spending all of your extra money? How do you expect for your husband to find you when you’re running up behind every potential man you see without a wedding ring?

Okay, okay. I’ll leave you alone.

What I’m trying to say is we all have a part to play in causing some prayers to be answered. We have to actively position ourselves to receive the answer. Even if all we can do is speak the Word over our situation, then we must speak the Word! Faith without works is dead, so let’s revive our faith by putting our actions behind our prayers.

Verse of the Day: …I will shew thee my faith by my works. James 2:18b

Why Do You Believe?

I read an interesting article this morning about a woman who walked away from her faith and is now an atheist. What caught my attention is that she listed her reasons for walking away from religion but I couldn't find any reasons for her to disbelieve in God.

So that got me thinking. It's true. Some aspects of faith are illogical - they don't make sense to our human minds. Many aspects of Christianity rely on belief in a supernatural element. There are tenets that hinge on the spiritual, unseen realm. They require a solid foundational belief that God is real.

Many people today are introduced to Christianity by going to church. They're taught to believe there's a God "somewhere". They're taught to read the Bible. They're taught to say their daily prayers.

But we don't teach how to seek God. We don't instruct how to hear His voice. We don't spend quality time showing others how to build solid, personal relationships with the Lord. People view faith in God as adhering to a set of rules, living according to a moral code, or simply church attendance.

As a result, they can be tricked into seeing Christianity as invalid. They can be persuaded that "God" can mean different things to different people and still be correct. They can even go as far as to not believe that a God exists and see Him as a "nice idea".

Why do you believe? What persuades you that the Lord is real? Have you had a personal encounter with the Lord? Can you say that you know that God is real with certainty?

If you haven't experienced God on a personal level, I encourage you to seek God. Simply ask God to reveal Himself to you. Ask Him to speak to you, to show you His existence in a way that will give you a certainty beyond any doubt that He is real.

I know that the Lord will answer your request. How do I know? Because I asked Him for myself one day, and He answered my call. I know God is real, and no one can make me think any differently.

Verse of the Day: But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king... Jeremiah 10:10a

Faith Decision Moments

In our walk with the Lord, we will encounters faith decision moments. In those moments, we will decide either to move forward in faith or shrink back in fear.

Moses had his moment right before he stepped in to see Pharaoh after his time in the wilderness.

David had his moment after he picked up those five stones for his slingshot before facing Goliath.

Esther's was right before she walked in to see the king unannounced.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had their decision moment when the furnace doors were flung open and they felt the heat on their faces.

Peter's was right before he stepped out to minister to the crowds after the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Right before these men and women of God faced their greatest time, they had one moment where they could have decided to turn back. They could have consciously decided to not believe God. They could have listened to the fear, doubt, and indecision that was probably present in their minds. They could have decided not to follow through.

But they chose to walk forward boldly in faith. And when they decided to move forward, God was able to do what man had never seen before.

Maybe right now you're facing you're faith decision moment. Maybe right now you're poised to move into something that no one's experienced before. Maybe the Lord has placed something on your heart that seems out of this world to you, and you are pausing wondering if you should really follow through with what He has spoken.

Don't be like Jonah and run from the call! At the least, be like Gideon and find some more courage before moving forward. But, most importantly, move! Do what God is calling you to do! Decide to move forward in faith and watch what the Lord does with your life.

On the other side of your fear is greatness. On the other side of the unknown is victory! Don't allow indecision to snatch away your dreams. Don't allow doubt to keep you from your destiny in God.

Choose to move forward.

Verse of the Day: Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Hebrews 10:38

Partners In Prayer

I am a strong believer in prayer. Prayer connects you with God, and it allows you to hear His voice. Prayer - when done correctly - has a way of calming your emotions and causing you to focus on what's really important.

I find it interesting that in a passage that speaks on effective prayers, we are instructed to confess our sins to each other and pray for one another.

Frankly, sometimes I find it difficult to confess my sins just to God, let alone another person! But, this verse is speaking to the great fellowship and family we are to have as believers. We all should have a confidant in our Christian walk. Some folks call them accountability partners or prayer partners. Whatever the name, we should all have someone who we can be transparent with in our walk with God.

None of us know it all. All of us fall short of God's glory. When we can humbly admit our faults, we are able to grow and change for the better.

On the flip side, when we can listen to someone admit where they've gone wrong and not judge or condemn them... When we can keep their confidence and not go gossip to others... When we can embrace them still in love and bring them up before the Lord... That's when our prayers become effective. That's when our prayers produce results.

Do you have someone with whom you can share your struggles? Is there someone else praying with you about the things you are dealing with? If you don't, ask the Lord to show you another believer that you can trust to stand with you in faith.

Are you a trustworthy person with whom someone can confide in? Are you believing God for someone else's breakthrough and not just your own?

Make sure that you are taking full advantage of the power of prayer. Sometimes you do need another person in your corner. Sometimes it takes the faith of another person standing with you to see something come through.

Verse of the Day: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16 (NLT)

There's Nothing Too Hard For God: Believe It!

There's a popular saying in the church that goes, "There's nothing too hard for God." We Christians like throwing that phrase around. We say it with our chest puffed out because the phrase reiterates that the God we serve is so powerful, nothing can stop Him, nothing can beat Him, nothing can make Him fail.

Yet, when problems come our way - I mean serious problems - why do we get so fearful? Why do we worry? Why do we stress wondering how we're going to make it through? We're the same folk who boast that our God can do anything, but our 'big' problems make us shake in our boots.

Do we really believe there's nothing too hard for God?

When you believe something, you're at rest. You're at peace. Right now, I'm believing that my chair is going to continue holding me up. I'm not worrying about falling on the floor in the next moment, I'm not stressing out about how to make this chair strong enough to hold me. I'm at peace. I'm not even thinking about it. I believe in the strength of this chair to hold my weight.

If we can put simple faith in a chair, how much more should we be able to put faith in our God? If He told us something, why should we not believe Him? If He made a promise, who are we to think that it will not be fulfilled?

Still, we do it every day. We face a problem and try to take it on by ourselves because deep down we're not fully sure that God is really able. We look at the size of our challenge and get intimidated. We forget how great our God is, and we succumb to fear. We worry instead of standing on God's Word.

Today, take a moment and check your faith level. Do you really believe that God can do it? Be honest. And if you don't believe, bring your doubts to God! He is so loving and will honor your honesty. And then He will prove His Word to you. He will show you that, yes, He can handle it.

There is nothing too hard for God. We just have to give Him an opportunity to showcase His strength.

Verse of the Day: And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. Mark 10:27

Take Heart, God's With You!

When it was time for Joshua to take over leading the Israelite people, God made sure that Moses encouraged Joshua's heart before he took the reigns. Moses reminded Joshua that the Lord was on his side and that he had no reason to fear. Moses even encouraged Joshua in front of all the people to make sure the people would not fear following Joshua either.

Joshua had a huge task in front of him. After living their lives as slaves, then wandering in the wilderness for forty years, it was finally time for God's people to obtain His promise to them. In order for them to receive the promise, they were going to go out and do things they had never done and fight giants and powers they had never imagined.

Without courage in their hearts and faith in God and their leader, the Israelites could have easily lost out on the promise God had for them. But they were able to march forward with boldness because they knew that the Lord was with them.

You may be facing something new right now that has you trembling inside. Up ahead, there may be giants waiting on you to cross their path. But in facing the giants, you will be able to take hold of God's promise to you. In facing the unknown you'll be able to know that the Lord is with you.

Be strong and of good courage! The Lord is with you! He's bringing you to your promise!

Remember what He's already done for you. Remember how He saved you from bondage. Remember how He's kept you up to this very point.

Yes, what's ahead may be something you've never dealt with before. Maybe your instructions are something you've never heard of before (Walking around a city to make the walls fall, anyone?) But God is on your side! He won't let you fall! He won't let you be ashamed!

Be encouraged. Go forth and do it!

Just like Joshua went ahead and was able to rout every enemy that stood in his path, you will be able to go forward with great success. Trust in the Lord Who is with you. Stand firm and don't doubt. Believe His Word and watch what He does with your faith!

Verse of the Day: Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:9

Believe in Yourself

I've said this earlier this year, but it bears repeating: God created you on purpose. He made you for a reason. He put you together as a part of His large divine plan. You're not here by accident. It's not a fluke that you're breathing.

So, why do so many of us suffer through doubt, indecision, and low self-esteem? Why do so many of us second guess ourselves? Why do we hesitate to act on the dreams and aspirations that are in our hearts and minds?

When God formed you, He put everything inside of you that you would need. He believed that His remarkable creation - you - would accomplish its purpose. He tucked those dreams inside your heart, He placed those visions deep in your mind. He put all that inside of you believing that you would be the perfect person to get the job done.

Don't let fear and unbelief stop you from reaching your purpose! Don't let your own self trick you out of accomplishing the very thing you were created to do! God put you together, gave you the breath of life, and allowed you to be born for this very moment in time.

He believes that you can do it. It's time for you to believe it for yourself.

Go ahead and reach for the stars. Step out of fear and into your destiny. Stop making up excuses and do what you feel in your heart. The Lord of All believed in you enough to place all of that inside of you, the least you can do is back Him up and get it done.

Verse of the Day: ...for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Isaiah 43:7b

What Are You Expecting To Happen?

Yesterday I was inspired by a message by Joel Osteen. He was ministering on doing an act of faith to show God that you believe that He is going to answer you prayers. In the message, Joel mentioned the story of the lame man who was lowered through the roof and placed at Jesus' feet in a crowded house. As a result of their act of faith, their friend was healed.

This morning I am meditating on expectation. Those friends expected their lame friend to be healed. They brought him to Jesus on purpose expecting Jesus to heal him. And, even when they encountered a large crowd and couldn't get right to Jesus, they figured out a way to get their friend in that house because they knew that he would be made whole.

What are you expecting? Do you have anything up before the Lord? Are you expecting Him to answer your prayers? Or, are you just praying out of fear or formality or desperation?

When you expect something to happen, you act as if it's already done. You make plans based on that thing coming to pass. You look for signs of it showing up. You speak in terms that it has already happened. Your mind is set on what you are expecting and your mood matches that expectation.

Are you expecting the right thing? Are you choosing to stand on God's Word believing that it will come to pass just as He said? Or are you just hoping and wishing? Don't just hope with the Lord, stand strong in faith! Believe that His Word is true! Have faith that He is coming through for you!

It is faith that moves God to action. It is that positive expectation that the Lord will come through that prompts Him to do exactly that.

Verse of the Day: And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. Mark 2:4, 5

Showing Love for All

In 2 Kings chapter 5 we find the story of a young girl who was taken into captivity by the Syrians. She was made a slave to the wife of one of the captains who defeated her country. Yet even while enslaved, the young girl displayed the love of God.

Her master, Naaman, was a leper. Seeing his sickness, the young girl spoke up. She mentioned to his wife that Naaman should go see the man of God because she knew that Naaman could be healed if he went to see him. As a result of this young girl's suggestion, her master was ultimately healed after following the prophet Elisha's instructions.

This young woman had every right to be bitter. She was taken captive from her home and she was now forced to be a slave to a family of her enemy. But, this young woman was not bitter. She recognized a need and knew how it could be fixed. She spoke up in faith believing that God would heal even her enemy. In showing her faith in God, she was able to give Naaman his miracle and ultimately show him that the Lord was the one true God.

Are you in a "captive" situation? Do you find yourself working with someone or in a situation that you see as totally against your favor? Don't get so caught up in what you see as a slight that you allow bitterness and anger to cloud your vision. Choose to remain full of God's love. Bless those that curse you. Do good to those who despitefully use you.

As you showcase God's love - even to your enemies - He may point out some problems that only He can fix. As you speak up in faith, you may be just the instrument to bring someone their miracle and ultimately lead them to the Lord.

Verse of the Day: And he [Naaman] returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel... 2 Kings 5:15a

Stormy Days

Life is full of changes. We have days where everything seems to go right. We have days where everything seems to be falling apart. There are times that the sun shines bright, and there are times when the wind blows, rain falls, and clouds block our skies.

Stormy days have a way of unsettling us. No one likes to go through a storm. No one likes to have their world rocked beneath them. But, storms come to help us to grow. And, not all storms are bad.

In the Bible we have lots of examples of how storms can affect our lives.

Storms can come as a result of disobedience to God (sin). God decided to send a storm to cleanse the earth of sin. Only Noah, who was righteous in God's eyes was saved. Jonah ran straight into a storm that God caused because Jonah chose to run away from the call of God. It wasn't until Jonah volunteered to surrender his life that the storm quieted down.

But not all storms come as a result of sin.

A storm that Paul experienced also proved God's saving power. Even though the boat Paul was sailing on was completely destroyed, no one lost their lives and Paul was able to minister the gospel effectively to all that travelled with him.

Jesus used storms to point to the power of God as well. He showed the disciples that even the winds and the waves will obey words of faith. He showed Peter that you can even walk on water if you keep your eyes fixed on the Savior. Through Jesus' example we learn that we don't have to fear any storm that comes our way.

Maybe right now you are in the midst of a storm. Just because the winds may be blowing or the rain coming down, it doesn't mean that all is lost. This may be a signal that you need to ask God for forgiveness for a transgression that you did. Or it could be that you are going through a storm so someone else can see God's saving power. After you come through your storm unscathed, you'll be a better witness for the Kingdom.

Or, God may have possibly allowed your storm to come for you to use your faith. He may want you to grow in prayer or knowledge of His word. A storm may be just what you need to stand strong in the Lord and see what faith in Him can do.

So, yes, the wind blowing, rain falling, boat rocking, waves crashing, and dark skies may be the last thing that you want to experience. But God will never allow you to go through more than you can handle. There's a reason why you are going through the storm. Don't get so distracted with looking at the waves crashing around you that you start to sink. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and you will find yourself walking on solid ground while everything else is in chaos around you.

Verse of the Day: And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? Mark 4:37-40

Moving Forward

Right now, I am so excited with what God has given me to do! I've been taking some steps to move forward in the call that He has given to me, and I'm excited to see the results.

When Abraham was first called by God, the Lord told Him to get away from everything he knew and go to a place God would point out. God told Abraham that he would become a great person and be the father of a great nation.

At that time Abraham had nothing indicating that he would be the father of a great nation. He didn't have a son; He didn't even have a daughter. His wife was barren. Yet, Abraham chose to believe the word of the Lord. He chose to step out and follow God's instructions. And Abraham's obedience caused him to move into exactly what God had ordained for his life.

What has God asked you to do? Are you moving forward in the plans He's laid out for you?

It can be scary to initially move forward with God's plans. Often God asks us to do things that take a lot of courage and faith. But, it is when we pull up that courage and tap into our faith in God that He is able to move. God's not going to move until we do our part. He works with our faith. And faith without works is dead. (James 2:17) If you're not moving, you probably aren't in faith.

Move forward with God today! Be strong and very courageous! God won't ask you to do anything you're not capable of. God will never lead you into failure. His promises are "Yes" and "Amen". (2 Corinthians 1:20) You will not fail. As long as you keep moving forward with God, you will always succeed.

Verse of the Day: Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him... Genesis 12:1-4a