Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Withholding...

Ananias and Sapphira withheld a part and was judged.

I ask us a simple question today, while we preach, teach and live as examples of consecration, "What are we withholding?"

Have I given Him all?

My time? My will? My Finance? My Effort?

What am I reserving for myself?

Search me O' Lord and help me surrender all!

Acts 5:1-11
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Learning the Way of the Cross

Surrender
Discipline
Sacrifice
Giving
Loving

Oh, that I can learn the way of the Cross...

Friday, February 20, 2009

Satan has You Right Where God Wants You!

Satan is so dumb! (I say that in the kindest possible way...smile)

I have noticed that God loves to let Satan think that he has you right where he wants you. When, in reality, he is positioning you for your greatest victory.

Pharaoh thought he had Israel right where he wanted them. With mountains to each side and a sea before them, Pharaoh bore down on them. However, God
had a different plan. God was using the enemy for His own purposes.

Purpose One - To show Israel who He is.


To show them…

...that He is the God of all the elements.

(Cloud, Fire, and Sea)
...that He is well able to deliver.
...that He is well able to defeat any enemy no matter how large or advanced their armies may be.

Purpose Two - To show us the type and shadow of the New Birth message


Israel
...left their old life - Repentance
...passed through the sea - Baptism
...passed through the cloud - Holy Ghost

Therefore, the enemy was just a tool in the hands of God used to fulfill God's purpose in the lives of His people.

Satan thought he had Joseph where he wanted him… (Egypt)

Satan thought he had Daniel and the Hebrew boys where he wanted them… (Lion’s Den and the Fiery Furnace)

Satan also thought he had Jesus where he wanted him... (On the Cross)


Once again God was just using Satan's lust for power and his hatred for man kind to fulfill His purpose. He allowed Satan to orchestrate circumstances that seemed to be a defeat for God and His people, only to use those circumstances to propel His purpose in to the light for all to see.

So, when you feel that you have reached the end and the enemy has won.


Don't give up!


You are only being positioned for your promise!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Why Do We Seek the Lord?

Revival?
Growth?
Miracles?
Signs?
Wonders?
Finance?
Provision?
Direction?
Miracles?
Healing?
Salvation?

So many reasons... seemingly valid reasons... seemingly noble reasons...

However, I hear the voice of the Lord crying... "What about Me?"

He is wanting us to seek Him for Him... Relationship!

If we will ever seek Him for Him... Then true revival will come! All that we so desire is only found in Him and a relationship with Him!

Let us stop seeking Him so that we can grow a church or even reach our cities.

Let us seek Him for Him. Let us fall in love with Him. Then and only then will we truly have what He wants us to have.

Then and only then will we find His direction...His love...His compassion...His power...

Forgive me Oh Lord for seeking You for my own means... Help me to seek You for You!

Only when my will and desires become one with His will I truly be revived.

Help me to stop being "holy" for me... help me to stop "praying" for me... help me to stop "preaching" for me... help me to stop "reaching souls" for me...

Let my ego die on the cross. Let me become of no reputation for Your glory. Let me live only to establish and maintain a relationship with You.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

The Power of Wonderful Words

I was thinking today of how powerful words can be...

Negative words...

For years I thought I could not sing, even though I enjoyed singing, all because my sister used to tell me I "couldn't carry a tune in a bucket." I am 38 and her words still ring in my ears as if she said them today. I am still not a great singer but I can sing enough to get by...

Ugly, Dumb, Absent Minded, Sloppy...on and on... negative words ring their demoralizing tune.

Positive words...


"Your handwriting is so neat," were the words of some nameless substitute spoken to me in 5th grade. Almost 30 years later I can still hear these words of encouragement.

"You are too smart for this level of work," were the words of my 8th grade English teacher after I have failed miserably one six week period. I became her best student and went on to AP English classes in High School. (Even though you may not can tell it now...

You're Smart, Organized, Precise, Loving, Kind, Generous... Powerful Words!

Words are Powerful!

Whoever made up the rhyme "Sticks and Stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" was just kidding themselves.

I've seen bruises and breaks heal much faster that destructive words. In fact, many times wounds from words never heal.

Let us be careful today... Give someone the gift of wonderful words today! Maybe you will give them something to build on for the future.

There is Power in Your Wonderful Words!

Friday, January 30, 2009

Its Dark!

We live in a dark hour in the history of the world. It seems that the enemy has won. He has captured the airwaves and the political power of our world.

Truth, Purity and Righteousness is made the punch line of the enemies jokes.

Collectively and individually we are battling things that we have never battled.

Financial stress interrupts peaceful dreams...

Sin steals our brothers and our sisters...

Drugs ravage the youth of our culture...

Sexual Perversion is winked at and accepted...

Nevertheless, the Light is still shining!

The Church is still victorious!

Jesus is still on the Throne!

Its Dark! Yes...

Keep Shining...

Keep Praying...

Keep Worshiping...

Keep Reaching...

Keep Walking...

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Helpless does not equal Hopeless...

There are many times in life that we feel helpless. The current of life's circumstances push us along in a direction that we do not always understand and problems seem to overwhelm us.

We cry out to God in our weakness and the heavens seem to be made of brass.

However, we must always remember that helpless does not equal hopeless. We feel helpless...yes. Yet our faith is built on nothing less that Jesus Christ and His Righteousness!

We firmly believe that He knows the way that we take.

In fact, our helplessness is the perfect environment for Jesus to perform.

2 Cor 12:9
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Heb 11:32-34
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Ps 16:9
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

You may feel HELPLESS...but you are not HOPELESS!

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