My Thoughts

This Is A Season Of Worship

2010-10-07T10:43:00.000-04:00

What is worship?
Singing praises, dancing, clapping and the lifting of hands?
Worship goes even deeper than that!
Worship comes from the heart.
Close your eyes for a moment and picture yourself dancing with the One that you love.
He holds you gently and protectively in His arms, and twirl you around to the soft and soothing music that is playing.
As you gaze into His eyes, you see security and love.
As the arms of the Almighty holds you tight, He gives you the feeling of everlasting protection and security, which fills you with all the peace that you need to conquer the world.

Worship!
The perfect way to communicate to your Lord and Savior.
When you are feeling hurt, worship can soothe your pain.
When you are feeling down and out, worship can lift your spirits high.
When you are feeling anxious, fearful and confused, worship can bring you much needed clarity.
Worship reminds you that God is always there for and with you.

Even though you may be walking through a dark valley, you have no need to fear because the Lord God Almighty is with you. He is walking beside you with His rod to ward off the terrors and His staff to guide, protect and comfort you. (Psalm 23:4)

He is giving you a reason to Worship!
He is assuring you that you need not bow your head in tearful sorrow, but lift it high and sing praises to Him. Giving Him thanks for all that He is doing, all that He has done and all that He is about to do.
When you worship, thoughts of circumstances that God has pulled you through comes to mind and gives you fuel to praise Him even more.

The bible talks about a sinful woman who anointed the feet of Jesus. This was an example of true worship.
It didn't matter to her what people were saying about her, she continued doing what the Spirit had led her to do.
She lived a life filled with sin, yet when she got the opportunity, she praised her Savior by washing His feet with her tears, drying them with her hair and anointing them with perfume from her alabaster jar.

The Pharisee's that witnessed this act, complained about who she was and the sins that she had committed. But Jesus only saw her act of love and her need for His mercy, grace, forgiveness and love. All of which He gave to her at that moment. (Luke 7:36-50)

Those around you may not understand why you are worshiping and they may be holding on to your sinful nature in their heart and mind without even knowing the depths of your pain.
But Jesus.....
He doesn't care what anyone has to say about you, He just wants to bask in the praises that you are giving to Him.

So worship, sing praises, clap your hands and dance for your Savior because He is the only One that can take away your sorrow and give you peace.....

Be blessed by CeCe Winans as she ministers to us through her words and explains to us what true worship is all about......

My Name Is Victory!

2010-09-08T10:00:00.003-04:00

God is not a man, that he should lie. He is not a human, that he should change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? (Numbers 23:19)

VICTORY!

I command you - be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

VICTORY!

Lord, you have brought light to my life; my God, you light up my darkness. In your strength I can crush an army with my God I can scale any wall. As for God, his way is perfect. All the Lord's promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. (Psalm 18:28-29)

VICTORY!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding! (Proverbs 3:5)

VICTORY!

He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

(Isaiah 40:29-31)

VICTORY!

Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

VICTORY!

But in that coming day, no weapon turned against you will succeed. And everyone who tells lies in court will be brought to justice. These benefits enjoyed by the Lord, their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken! (Isaiah 54:17)

VICTORY!

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28)

VICTORY!

For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need. (Philippians 4:13)

VICTORY!

And we can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for. (1John 5:14-15)

VICTORY!

God's word is evident to us all that we have Victory!

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. (John 3:16-17)

Through His word, we are given the confidence to soar, to trust, to hope, to love but best of all, to be VICTORIOUS!!!!

The Fight Of Your Life!

2010-09-07T12:33:00.000-04:00

Genesis 32:22-31

Jacob Wrestles with God

But during the night Jacob got up and sent his two wives, two concubines, and eleven sons across the Jabbok River. After they were on the other side, he sent over all his possessions. This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a Man came and wrestled with him until dawn. When the Man saw that he couldn't win the match, he struck Jacob's hip and knocked it out of joint at the socket. Then the Man said, "Let me go, for it is dawn."
But Jacob panted, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
"What is your name?" the Man asked.
He replied, "Jacob."
"Your name will no longer be Jacob," the Man told him. "It is now Israel, because you have struggled with both God and men and have won."
"What is your name?" Jacob asked Him.
"Why do you ask?" the Man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.
Jacob named the place Peniel - "face of God" - for He said, "I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared." The sun rose as he left Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.

Jacob fought with this Man because of his past sin. He was preparing to meet up with his brother Esau, whom he had betrayed many years before. Jacob had talked his brother Esau into giving him his birthright one day when Esau came home starving from a long day of work. Esau had asked his brother Jacob for a bowl of the stew that he was cooking. But Jacob made him give up his birthright for the bowl of stew.
Jacob was a schemer in many different ways and proved this throughout his story.

Jacob was so afraid of facing his brother because of what he had done, that he felt as if God would allow Esau to kill him and his family.
(O Lord, please rescue me from my brother, Esau. I am afraid that he is coming to kill me, along with my wives and children. Genesis 32:11)

So Jacob did what he knew was best. He sent every one and everything on ahead of himself and he spent the night in PRAYER!

He wrestled with the Man (a representation of an Angel) all night long!

Have you ever had a night of fighting with a situation that totally left you panting and then limping in the morning? (figuratively speaking of course)
Then you are like Jacob.
Jacob wrestled throughout the night with God. He called out, he cried out, he didn't give up and he didn't give in. He continued fighting for his life throughout the night.
Many times we sit up at night wrestling in prayer asking, begging and seeking God for solace. Our situation is filled with so much despair that we fight so hard with "the Man" and we won't let up until we win!
This was Jacob's issue. He wouldn't let up because he feared for his life and the life of his loved ones.
But God!
Allowed him to win and gave him a remembrance of his fight by touching his hip and knocking the joint out of socket so that with every limp, Jacob would remember what he had to go through in order to receive God's redemption from what he had done to his brother.
Jacob was sorry and wanted to mend the broken relationship with his brother, but he was just so fearful that his brother would not feel the same.
We fight over things we have no control over, and God fights along with us, knocking at the joint in our hearts and inflicting a good pain that we would be able to carry around with us as a remembrance and a testimony of his grace and mercy.
We fight throughout the night with tears, prayers, shouts and fists shaking at heaven. In the morning we are exhausted from our hard night.

(I cried out to the Lord in my suffering, and he heard me. He set me free from all my fears.

For the angel of the Lord guards all who fear him, and he rescues them. Psalms 34:6-7)

Do you know that God goes ahead of you and prepares the way for your situation to work out in your favor so that your fighting would not be in vain?

Jacob came face to face with God Almighty and lived to tell his story. God spoke to the heart of Esau and showed him another side of his brother Jacob that brought compassion to his heart and a notion of forgiveness and not resentment.

After his fight and Jacob limped off into the sunrise, he later met up with his brother and they made peace with each other.

(Then Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his brother, he bowed low seven times before him. Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him affectionately and kissed him. Both of them were in tears. Genesis 33:3-4)

Do you know that weeping (fighting and praying really hard), may endure throughout the night, but joy (along with grace, mercy and God's unconditional redemption) comes to us in the morning!
As Jacob fought the battle of his mind throughout the night and after he was struck with a pain, he was asked the question; by the "Man" "what is your name?" When Jacob replied he was given another name, Israel, which meant that he fought with God and won.

REDEMPTION!

Jacob was released from a mind that was tormented by the sins he had committed in the past and he was given a new name as a representation of a deliverance, salvation and restoration.

After fighting your battle all night long, what's your name?

God's Love Never Fails!

2010-09-02T10:18:00.001-04:00

Have you ever been in a dark situation where you feel as if you are all alone?

Do you know that God is right there with you?

Have you ever felt as though nothing in your life is going right and the walls around you seem to be crumbling down?

God is right there with you!

Have you ever felt as though God has left you and you can't even feel His presence?

Do you know that He is right there with His arms around you?

If that's so, why can't I feel His touch?

Is it because you are all tangled up in your own emotions?

The situation that you are in may have you so consumed that the breath that God is breathing upon you can not be felt, because you are so overwhelmed with you?

Jesus promises to never leave us or forsake us.

Hebrews 13:5b - For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Have you ever been so consumed with stress that all you want to do is cry?

Do you know that God's joy comes in the morning?

With His joy come new mercy and grace that will carry you through any situation.

Psalm 30:5b - Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning.

Isn't it good to know that we can be washed with a new grace and a new mercy every day.

That is His promise to us and His word does not go out void. Every promise in His book is true and just. I have proven them over and over again.

Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to him purpose.

If you search deep within yourself you will see that His love has never failed......

Beauty

2010-07-20T21:17:00.000-04:00

1 Peter 3:3-4

Do not let your adornment be merely outward, arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel, rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

Beauty is not only skin deep, it goes much further than that.

Beauty should go right down to our heart.

Your heart is where all of your beauty lives.

You can have a beautiful face, nice figure and always dressed in the latest styles and fashion, but, if your heart is not right, then your beauty is not real. If your heart is pure and humble, it will shine on your face.

God's word tells us that we as women do not need to wear gold jewelry, braided hair and fine clothing to dress up our outward appearance.

What we need to do is work on our inner self.

We need to work on humbling ourselves (e.g. being more thoughtful of others), and also work on quieting ourselves (e.g. refrain from gossip) and this will show our worthiness to our Heavenly Father.

A lot of times we feel that we should 'dress up' our self-esteem. We should be a perfectionist, making sure that our shoes, hat, purse and outfit are all matching and we are wearing the correct accessories.
All of this will not get us into the kingdom of Heaven. God loves us just the way we are, know matter what our appearance. He loves us unconditionally.

The only thing that God is concerned about, is our hearts.

All we need to do is purify our hearts and our beauty will shine through and through. If we get God's word in our mind and heart every day, then we would see the lines underneath our eyes just diminish.

Instead of hiding behind expensive make-up and jewelry, simply pick up the word of God, get focus, read and act out His word, then we would see our beauty go 'heart deep'.

BEAUTY was taken from the book:
'My Feelings For You; Inspirational Thoughts For Comfort'
written by; Pamela Adderley

Love Them Know Matter What!

2010-07-14T15:34:00.002-04:00

Luke 15:11-24 (The Message Bible)

Then he said, "There was once a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, 'Father, I want right now what's coming to me.'

"So the father divided the property between them. It wasn't long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs.

He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop,

but no one would give him any.

"That brought him to his senses. He said, 'All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death.

I'm going back to my father. I'll say to him, Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you, I don't deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.' He got right up and went home to his father.

"When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: 'Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son ever again.'
"But the father wasn't listening. He was calling to the servants, 'Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We're going to feast! We're going to have a wonderful time! My son is here - given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!' And they began to have a wonderful time.

Does this story sound familiar to you. Yes, it's the story of the Prodigal Son. The son that asked for his inheritance and when he received it, he left his family and went off and squandered everything. He came back begging his Father to forgive him and take him back, even if he took him back as a hired servant. The Father didn't even let him get his prepared speech out, before he started embracing him and preparing for a welcome home celebration. The Father didn't care about the sons apology, what mattered to him was that his once thought to be lost or dead son, was back in his arms.
Isn't that just like our God Almighty, our Heavenly Father. He knows that you are straying away from His arms, His path, His plan. Yet, when you walk towards Him, He is running toward you with His arms open wide. When you take that long walk to the altar to ask for forgiveness, your Heavenly Father is meeting you halfway, loving on you and clearing the path for you to continue walking and by the time you've gotten to the altar, the feast and celebration has already began.

And don't you know where there is celebration, there is also criticism......

Luke 15:25-30 (The Message Bible)
"All this time his older son was out in the field. When the day's work was done he came in. As he approached the house he heard the music and dancing. Calling over one of the houseboys, he asked what was going on. He told him, 'Your brother came home. Your father has ordered a feast - barbecued beef! - because he has him home safe and sound.'

"The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen. The son said, 'Look how many years I've stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!'"

I'm sure that the older brother felt injustice and overlooked. Here he is working so hard at being the best son he could be. And here is the younger brother running off with his inheritance prematurely then come crawling back asking for forgiveness and then probably wanting another inheritance.
If you were the older sibling, wouldn't you feel wronged and overlooked?
If we allow pride and self to get into our thinking then we would agree with the older brother. But when we allow the Holy Spirit to speak to our mind, then we can understand that the older brother was wrong in the way he is thinking.
It's not up to us to judge anyone, and criticise how they are blessed. Know matter what sin a person has committed in the past, as long as the Father up above has forgiven them and has welcomed them back into His kingdom, then that's all that matters. Who are we to say that we've been here working so hard and yet we are overlooked?
Look around at all that you have that the same Father has given you!
Do not allow your own selfish pride to reek havoc upon someone else's blessing!

To those of you that may have a loved one who has strayed from the path that was etched out for them, don't give up on hope, keep on trusting, having faith and praying, knowing that God has a Master Plan (Jesus Christ) for their life and through this Plan, they will be redeemed!!

Luke 15:31-32 (The Message Bible) says; "His father said, 'Son, you don't understand. You're with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours - but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he's alive! He was lost, and he's found!"

I Won't Look Back

2010-05-31T00:24:00.001-04:00

I'm on my way ahead.
I can't look back.
I can see my future staring me in the face.
I won't turn around.
My past is there behind me, but it's calling my name.
My concerns seem to be catching me up.
They are right on my heal as I hurry away to my destiny.
My mistakes, my failure, my past sins, they are nipping at my heels.

I can't look back.
I'm moving ahead!
I won't be like Lot's wife.
In Genesis 19:17 the angels of the Lord told Lot and his family to leave the sinful city of Sodom and Gomorrah, run for their lives and don't look back!
But what did Lot's wife do?
She looked back!
And what happened to her?
Genesis 19:26 says; But Lot's wife looked back as she was following along behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
I guess she wanted to take one more quick look back at her past.
Was it worth it?
No because it cost her her life!
Why look back at your past failures, mistakes, sins and problems? Look forward to the goal of success!
You can look back from where you came from as you give your testimony of where you are right now!
But do not look back at where you were, basking in the filthy pleasures of your sins!
Press forward, move ahead, your past is just that, the PAST!

Luke 4:8 KJV says; And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Jesus told Satan to get behind Him, where He rightfully belongs!

We should take on this same manner and demand our obstacles, trials and
challenges to get behind us so that we can worship our Lord with our whole heart.
When our past is upon us it is up to us to continue to move on ahead, with our eyes focused on the prize which lies ahead of us, which is to carry out the ultimate plan that God has etched out for our lives.......

Lyrics | Israel Houghton lyrics - Moving Forward lyrics

How Close Are You?

2010-05-13T12:53:00.000-04:00

How close are you to God?
Do you wake up with Him on your mind and fall asleep thinking about His goodness?
Do you think about Him during the day?
Do you have conversations with him throughout your day or do you just wait until you are faced with a challenge and you really need Him?
Do you know that He wants you to feel close to Him?
Do you know that He wants to have a relationship with you?
Did you know that one of God's desires is to have you love Him unconditionally and not just on a need basis?
If you are in a relationship with someone right now, are you always thinking about them?
Are they on your mind day and night?
Do you call them throughout the day just to say "I love you," or even just to hear their voice?
That is what God desires from us.
To call on Him, not only when you need Him, but just to say; "Daddy I love You! Daddy I praise You! I worship and adore You! You alone are worthy of all of my praises and more!"

I will praise you seven times a day because all your laws are just. Psalm 119:164

Be blessed by the words of Dewayne Woods song, I Wanna Be Where You Are.......

Life's Issues Can Be Lessons To Strengthen

2010-04-30T12:25:00.001-04:00

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 says; "Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again. Tie them to your hands as a reminder, and wear them on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

In this verse of scripture, Moses is instructing us, as parents, to teach our children to love the Lord with all of their heart, soul and strength. God wants us to commit ourselves to His commands, teaching them continuously to our children. He wants us to talk about them at home, in the car, and wherever you may be with your children. We are instructed to hold onto the word of God keeping it embedded in our minds. It is wise to keep notes of the word around your home so that you would always stay focus on God.

Do you know that you use a bad situation to give good instruction to your children?

As a parent, you should find every opportunity possible to give a life's lesson to your child(ren).

In doing this you are leading your child(ren) to the cross!

As parents, my husband and I would use stories from the news or situations that occurred at school as a learning tool for our kids. When our children come to us with a story or a situation that happened at school, we first question them and place them in the negative portion of the situation and ask them how they would have handled it. We then use their comment as a subject tool and add a scripture or story from the bible, to show them God's point of view.

I find God in every situation and point it out to my children, so that they would see how and where He dwells no matter what the circumstance may look like.

In order for our children to develop a relationship with Jesus our Savior, we must give them life-oriented skills and not only information-oriented skills. Its one thing to read something out of a book, magazine or newspaper, but it makes that something more real when a life lesson is attached to it. Our children can learn better when we give them practical learning lessons that they can relay too as well as lessons that may be right in front of their eyes.

In the New Testament Jesus used parables to teach people.

Mark 4:33-34 says; He used many such stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they were able to understand. In fact, in his public teaching he taught only with parables, but afterward when he was alone with his disciples, he explained the meaning to them.

Jesus did not use parables to cause confusion but to challenge the people to sincerely know and understand the words that He was speaking. When you give practical teaching, such as the parables that Jesus taught, you are giving the listener a clear understanding of the lesson that is being taught.

Why do you think Jesus was so wise in the word?

Because He was the Word and He had a personal relationship with the Creator of the Word.

(In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and He was God. John 1:1)

Jesus needed His Father To become a part of this world. He also needed His Father to impart wisdom in Him. We as parents are given children to raise in this world, and it is our job to impart wisdom in them. We can not allow them to be taught by this world, because then they would be conformed to the ways of this world.

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. Romans 12:2

When a child is conformed to the world's way of thinking, their mind will be filled with confusion because it will not be lined up with God. You can turn on the news, listen to shows that talk about the lives of celebrities and see the confused minds of young people living in this world without having a relationship with God.

Think about it, before you were saved, I'm sure that you made a lot of bad decisions because you were not lined up with the word. As soon as you began a relationship with Jesus, your thinking and decision making changed.

Remember the word that says; But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants; day and night they think about his law. Psalm 1:2

Impress the word of God into the mind of your child so that their focus would be on what's right and they would be able to develop a relationship with their Heavenly Father.

Let's follow the instructions of the word of God and build up our children through life's lessons.......

God Wants All Of You!

2010-04-23T12:15:00.001-04:00

Not some, not a half, but ALL!!
God wants all of us!
He does not want a part of you, He wants all of you!
God wants you to surrender your life to Him.
Not, today I walk with you God and tomorrow I'll walk in the world.
No!
He wants all of you.
Why?
Because, He loves you and He created you to live in this world but to love Him no matter what the world is offering you.
Because, He has a plan and a purpose for your life here in this world. He has destined your life even before you were in your mother's womb.
Jeremiah 1:5 says I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.
How do I give God my all?
By surrendering your life to Him!
Do you know Jesus and your Lord and Savior?
Do you want to be saved?
For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

Find a bible teaching, Jesus loving church and give the Lord all of you today and forever!

Enjoy this song by Forever Jones......

I Will Not Be Afraid

2010-04-23T11:07:00.000-04:00

Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. Psalm 23:4

The Lord is my light and my salvation so why should I be afraid? The Lord protects me from danger, so why should I tremble? Psalm 27:1

Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will know no fear. Even if they attack me, I remain confident. Psalm 27:3

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

The word of God says over and over that we have no need to be afraid!

The word tells us that even though we walk in a dark valley and it feels as though death is present, we have no need to fear, because God is there with us.

You may be in the midst of a dark valley right now, and you may even be contemplating death, but can I tell you that God's word can give you that much needed light in your darkness to cause you to want to live!

Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.

Psalm 119:105

God is saying that He will give you a light to guide you down a path that seems very dark. God does not want you to trip and fall so He gives you the Light, His Son Jesus, that you will need to walk in peace and with courage and grace. When we read and then hold on to the word of God, we have an assurance that we will see our way clear and stay on the right path.

The question is asked in the word; "The Lord is my light and my salvation so why should I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)

Now, what is your answer?

My answer to this question is, I will not be afraid because the Lord is my light and my salvation!

I will not let the dark shadow of fear overwhelm me and keep me imprisoned within myself!

Fear and being afraid is not just limited to harm being bought upon you. Fear and being afraid shows up in your feelings of rejection, in your body in the form of sickness, being misunderstood by a friend of loved one and being uncertain of a situation.

If you allow it, fear will dwell within you, overpowering your mind which will eventually spill over in your body in the form of stress and bring sickness upon you.

Is it really worth it?

Just take the simple route and trust God with all of your heart and lean not upon your own understanding. Proverb 3:5

With everything that is happening in the world today especially with the economy, we can feel bombarded.

Fear brings on that feeling of being under an attack, in our finances, our health, our relationships and even in our emotions. The enemy has a way of stirring things up inside of us, causing us to feel all kinds of fear. But the word of God reminds us that even though we feel surrounded and under the attack, we have no need to fear and we can walk in confidence. (Psalm 27:3)

How can we keep this confidence stirring in our heart and soul?

Through time spent with Jesus in prayer!

The word says that we should be anxious for nothing, but pray about everything. Philippians 4:6

When you go to God in prayer, He will answer you and free you from all of your fears. (Psalm 34:4) When you pray to Him, you can walk away comforted by His peace, grace and mercy, with the knowledge that what you are asking for is taken care of.

So, have no fear because the Lord Jesus Christ is always near and He will never leave you nor will He forsake you! (Hebrews 13:5)

Father, Can You Hear Me?

2010-02-22T22:55:00.004-05:00

Have you ever found yourself asking God the question, "Father can you hear me"?
Have you ever wondered if God heard your prayer?

How many times have you wondered, "How long Lord, how long"?
Have you ever been so discouraged that you just wanted to give up?
How many times have you called out to God in prayer with tears of pain?
How many times have you called out to our Heavenly Father and the response was just dead silence?

Take a moment to listen to the words of this song by Israel Houghton

& Mary Mary,

and know that God always answers prayers......

Lyrics | Israel Houghton Lyrics | Every Prayer Lyrics

I pray that you have been blessed by the words of this song and that you know in your heart that God hears you and He will answer your prayer......

Who Are We Without Love?

2010-02-17T10:46:00.000-05:00

If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn’t love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Love will last forever, but prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will all disappear.
There are three things that will endure - faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is love. (1Corinthians 13:1-8,13)

What are words when they have no meaning?
Why say to a person, I love you, when it is not sincere, nor is it coming from your heart?
Why boast about your accomplishments or abilities when you don’t have love as the foundation?
Why be rich in faith and bankrupt in love?
Why have a heart filled with superficial joy and a soul that lacks supernatural love?
Why say that you love, when it’s only your need that wants to be fulfilled?
Why say that you love someone, but as soon as there is a conflict you are ready to throw in the towel and give up?

The word of God clearly defines love as patience, kindness, endurance, perseverance, everlasting, trusting, modest, humble, complimentary, tolerant, truthful, hopeful and filled with faith.
Society allows us to confuse love with lust. We sometimes say that we are in love with a person, but we are actually feeling is lust! This allows confusion to erupt in our lives because we are not being truly honest with our feelings.

Love is giving of ones self (unselfish).

Lust is fulfilling a self need (selfish).

If you are in a relationship and you are feeling as though you are the only one that should be fulfilled, then you are not in love and you are only wasting your time as well as the other person!
We were created in the image of God, (so God created people in his own image; Genesis 1:27a), therefore love was deposited in each one of us upon our creation, because God is love.

(Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. 1John 4:7a)
The world has taught us to convert that Godly love into lust without us even realizing it. The world has taught us that it is all about “ME” and as long as “I” am pleased then it really doesn’t matter. As long as my needs are fulfilled then it doesn’t matter who gets hurt in the process.
We see this played out on television just about everyday. We have a tendency to judge and criticize and give our opinion to situations that don’t even concern us. Everyone has an opinion on someone else’s life, yet we keep our own under wraps.

Where is the love in that?
Where is the love in talking about others when our situation is far worse than theirs?

(Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Matthew 7:1,3-4)
Does God judge and criticize us every time we stumble, or is His love so unconditional (agape) that He is willing to forgive us every time we fail Him?

(But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. 1John 1:9)
The Word of God teaches us in 1Corinthians 13, that love is not only a feeling but it is a choice and an action that we take. Because love is deposited in us from our creation, we have the choice to take action with this love and dispense it throughout the earth. Or we can choose to turn the natural love within us into hate and animosity, but what good would that do to us, but destroy us from the inside out and bring havoc in and around our lives.

Is it really worth it to not love the right way??

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in him. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. 1 John 4:16-17a

Our God Reigns Supreme!!!

2010-01-15T13:46:00.003-05:00

Our God Reigns!
He Is Our Alpha And Omega!
He Is Our Beginning And Our End!
He Is Lord Of Lords And King Of Kings!
He Is Our Sovereign God!

Listen to the words of this song, Sovereign God, and be blessed by it........

Lets Continue To Run This Race.......

2010-01-14T12:19:00.002-05:00

Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets
the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might bed disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

In order to win a race you must first be disciplined and you must have a purpose, and that purpose is to finish victoriously.

How do you come in first in your race?

With strict training, self-control, discipline, trust and faith!

In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul is teaching us that in order to walk with the Lord you must deny yourself, work hard and prepare for the victory even harder. As children of the Most High God, we should work towards a heavenly reward, which is meeting and living eternally with Jesus Christ.

Rewards here on earth have no comparison to an eternal life in heaven!

Paul says that we we should discipline ourselves with prayer, studying the bible, worshiping and also serving and carrying out the plans that God has for our life.

By doing this, we can run our race with intensity, endurance, perseverance, hope and faith, using resistance against the enemy as he nips at our heels, attempting to trip us during our race.

So, it is up to us to train hard and eat right (letting the word be your daily bread), stay alert and in top shape (talking to God daily through prayer) and training hard and exercise (walking in your purpose according to God's plan for your life).

These things are what allows us to reach the finish line with success and enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with joy!

John 6:47-51
"I assure you, anyone who believes in me already has eternal life. Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. However, the bread from heaven gives eternal life to everyone who eats it. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven. Anyone, who eats this bread will live forever; this bread is my flesh, offered so the world may live."
Philippians 4:6
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

How are you running your race?
Share your comment.........

My Thoughts, Gods Thoughts....

2009-12-15T12:09:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 55:8 and 9 says; "My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are highter than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."

Sometimes in life we feel as though we know what God has planned for us, but we find out that it isn't so. Alot of times we put God in a box and we feel as though the small capacity of that box is all that God can do. God can not be molded to your way of thinking or being. He expands as far as the east is from the west. He can not be contained into a small area of anyone's life. When we feel as if God is doing all that He will in your life, something will happen that will stir things up in you and then you will come to realize that God is even greater than what you were thinking.

That is why His word says that His thoughts are completely different from ours. We think small, God thinks big! God likes to think outside of the box and He wants us to do the same.
He encourages us to be open minded through His word that says; "I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me." Revelation 3:8

We are foolish when we try to make God's plans and purpose fit into our own. What we should sort after to do is to fit into God's plans.
The word says that His thoughts are completely different from ours!

His thoughts are of good things for us and not evil towards us. God's thoughts are of peace, joy and love in abundance in our life.

Are you thinking good thoughts towards your life?
What plans are you making for your life?
Are they lining up with what you feel God has instore for your life?
Are you living and walking in your purpose at this time, and if you are, are you willing to step out of your complacency box and allow God to take over completely?
Our God is so much bigger than our plans and our thoughts.

When we are thinking just apples and bananas, God is thinking of a complete fruit salad!
When we are thinking about just getting through a situation, God is thinking complete restoration!
What are you thinking about?

Share your thoughts and comments.......

Are You Self-Sufficient or God-Sufficient?

2009-12-11T13:34:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 50:4-11(nlt)

The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know what to say to all the weary ones. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will. The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me, and I have listened. I do not rebel or turn away. I give my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pull out my beard. I do not hide from shame, for they mock me and spit in my face.
Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be dismayed. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will triumph. He who gives me justice is near. Who will dare to oppose me now? Where are my enemies? Let them appear! See, the Sovereign Lord is on my side! Who will declare me guilty? All my enemies will be destroyed like old clothes that have been eaten by moths!
Who among you fears the Lord and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord and rely on your God. But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon lie down in great torment.

The book of Isaiah chapter fifty, clearly states that God gives us His words of wisdom so that we would know what to say to those in need. God wakes us every morning and opens our understanding to His will. He speaks to us and we are to listen to His voice, and not turn away from it in defiance.

This means that we are God-Sufficient!

This means that we rely on God to make our moves in life. We depend upon Him to guide us in the simple things of life such as opening our mouths to speak. Without God controlling our tongue, we tend to say the wrong things. A wise person would think and quickly pray, before opening their mouth to respond to a situation.

This wise person is God-Sufficent!

James 1:19 says: My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry.

God wants to put His sufficiency in us so that we would not have to stumble in anger or fall into a fight because of our words. He will help us so that we would never have to be distressed. All God wants is for us to look to Him always and do the will that He has carved out for our lives.

We know that we will walk in victory, joy and satisfaction when we are God-Sufficient!

Self-Sufficiency has a way of raring its ugly head within us, by making us believe that we can do anything through our own strength and not from the strength of God.

Philippians 4:13 says: For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.

A self-sufficient person is a foolish minded person who relies on their own source and strength and not the power, wisdom and understanding that God has placed inside of them. They place their confidence in themselves, and allow the world to let them believe that through their own intelligence, looks, power through accomplishments they are self-sufficient.

Unfortunately for the self-sufficient made person, these things that they have relied on will slowly diminish and they will become tormented by their own independently foolish mind!

This torment brings darkness without a ray of light, which is Jesus Christ. And the more we rely upon ourselves the greater the torment within us will grown.

But, when we trust and obey God and rely upon Him, His sufficiency will bring us a glorious ray of light and hope through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Who makes you sufficient? Share your comment.......

Got Wisdom?

2009-11-23T12:19:00.000-05:00

Throughout the bible we read about men and women of great wisdom, but none stands out more to me than our brother Job.

What wisdom, what patience, what faith, what hope and trust Job had in our Lord God Almighty.

Job was one of the richest people in the area that he lived in!

No doubt, through his wisdom he was able to obtain such riches.

Because of his wisdom, he was not only wealthy, but he was a man of high standards and a good character.

The one thing that stands out to me from reading about Job is the fact that he was deeply concern about the spiritual welfare of his children.

Every year when his seven son's had a birthday, they would all get together with their three sisters and others and have a celebration which would sometimes last several days.

But, whenever the celebration was over, early the next morning, Job would arise and purify his children through his burnt offerings to God. He would give an offering on behalf of each of his children because he was concerned that they may have unknowingly sinned during their celebration. Job made sure that he went before the Lord and prayed on behalf of his children for the things that they had done.

Fast forward to the present and those burnt offerings that Job offered up to God has now become prayers. We can send up prayers to God on behalf of our children.

As parents, we are responsible for our children's welfare and well being. We are responsible for them developing a relationship with God. We should be the one to introduce our children to God and encourage them to love and serve Him wholeheartedly.

As Job sent up burnt offerings for his children's spiritual welfare, we are to send up prayers for our children's salvation. We are to pray daily for our children that may be wayward and have strayed away from what is right.

It is up to us to get the wisdom that the book of Proverbs talks about in chapter four. In verse ten it encourages us to listen to the wisdom that our parent(s) are teaching us and do as they say so that we can live a long good life. Job had that type of wisdom so he didn't stumble or did he become limp when he was faced with so many challenges in his life.

As parents, we should sacrifice time daily to pray for wisdom for ourselves so that we would be able to guide our children in the way that God wants us to. We should also pray daily for the safety of our children and for them to become the person that God created them to be.

If you need wisdom, if you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. (James 1:5)

Got Wisdom? Share your comments.......

Love Is.....

2009-11-06T12:39:00.001-05:00

Love is that strong feeling of affection and compassion that you have towards another person or thing.
Love does not endure conditions, therefore, it works its best in an unconditional mode.
Love is having a 'no matter what' state of mind.
Love can turn wrongs into rights.
Love can take a bad situation and rotate it 360° to a total blessing in your favor.
Love can carry you through the toughest of situations.
Love can be a crutch to hold you up and help you walk through your darkest hour.
Love can take away your fears and replace them with confidence and assurance.
Love can remove all pain, bitterness and offense.
Love stands tall in the midst of it all.
Love can under gird you in order for you to fly high like an eagle.
Love can allow you to do all the things that you set out to do.

What does the bible say love is?

The ultimate expression of God's loyalty, purity, and mercy extended towards His people - to be reflected in human relations of brotherly concern, martial fidelity and adoration of God.

When you sit back and reflect on this definition, you can see the power of God.

His loyalty lies in the form of a crutch, that will hold you up, also, an under girded power to allow you to soar like an eagle.
His purity will remove your pain and bitterness, it will allow your fears to run and then ask confidence to take its place. God has so much love for us that His perfect love can expel all of our fears. (1John 4:18nlt)
His mercy reigns so that your bad situations will turn good, because He promises to perfect those things that concern you. (Psalm 138:8 nkjv)

God wants us to always have concern for each other. For husbands and wives to be faithful in their relationship and live in loyalty. And the most important thing of all, is to have adoration towards Him.

God sent His only Son whom He created, out of Himself, to come to this earth and walk as we walk, and live like we live, just because He loves us. (John 3:16)

When it was time for Jesus to return home to Heaven, He was gracious enough to leave a Counselor in the form of a Spirit. Jesus made us a promise that this Spirit would never leave us and He will always lead us into the truth. (John 14:16-17)

You can use the Search engine to look up the scriptures if your bible is not near by.

Love Is.........share your comment.......

What's Tempting You?

2009-11-03T11:18:00.000-05:00

What is in your path that is tempting you?
Who are you hanging around that is bringing temptation to you?
Who are you helping out of temptation and are you finding yourself falling into their temptation?
Is it a particular person, a certain food, a specific thing that is tempting you?
In the bible the word "Temptation" is defined as being enticed by sin, being put to the test and making a trial of.
Webster's Dictionary defines "Temptation" as being enticed or lured into, having a strong desire, being coaxed, persuaded or attracted to.
Which one of these describes your "Temptation"?
A lot of times we set ourselves up to be tempted because we place ourselves in situations that we know we have no business being into. We acquire things that we know are not good for us, because it feels, taste or looks good so we set our own self up for a fall and then say that we were tempted.
We blame the enemy for a lot of things that we created ourselves, allowing him to be glorified.
We walk knowingly into an atmosphere that we know is wrong for us, but it appease our flesh.
One time I was told by a nurse that "if it tastes good, then spit it out, because that means it's not good for you!"
I thought to myself, "Hmmm, that must be why you are so thin!!"
I could not understand why I should not eat something if it taste good, does that mean my diet should be bland?!
No!!
It means that if you are doing something that you know is wrong but it feels so very right then drop it and RUN!!!!!
That's right, I said it.....RUN!!!!!
Get out or away from, as quickly as possible because you are yielding to temptation. You are glorifying the enemy and giving him the credit that he feels he deserves.

When Joseph was being seduced by Potiphar's wife, he knew that it was not right so he RAN!!! He did not hang around contemplating or asking himself "should I or shouldn't I". He did not fall into the trap that she was setting for him. He did what we all should do when faced with temptation.
He RAN!!!
He spoke to his temptress and told her that her husband, Potiphar, had been to good to him, and he could never hurt him by sleeping with his wife and also that it would be a great sin against God. (Genesis 39:6-12)
Joseph could have easily yielded to temptation. There was no one around. No one would ever know, unless either one of them had let up on what could have happened.
But he had enough self control to stand tall to his enticement and speak to it and then not walk but RUN away from it. But the key ingredient to this bowl of "Joseph Temptation Stew" is the acknowledgment of sinning against God.

When we are tempted there are five things that we should do:

Pray; ask God to help you deal with your temptation,
Face Your Tempter; look directly at your tempter,
Speak To Your Tempter; confess with your mouth why you do not feel it is right to yield,
Acknowledge God; let your tempter know of Who you know and what He means to you,
RUN; need I say more.....don't even look back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You may say that, yielding to temptation, is easier said than done! But do you really lack that much self control???

Use our Search engine to read more Scriptures on Temptation:

Genesis 39 (Joseph's temptation)
Matthew 6:13
Mark 1:13
Luke 17:1-2 (for the tempter)
1 Corinthians 10:13
Galatians 6:1
Hebrews 4:15 (Jesus was tempted but did not yield)
James 1:14

What's Tempting You?.......Share your comments....

What's On Your Mind?

2009-10-22T11:29:00.000-04:00

Have you ever took a moment to just think?
What's going on in your mind right now?
Are you thinking about your job, your school work, your kids, the game that was on t.v. last night, what you're going to cook for dinner tonight, what you're going to have for lunch today? Really, what's going on in your mind?
A Mind is a Terrible Thing To Waste, is a slogan that was used in the Ad Council for the United Negro College Fund, back in 1972.
Today, 37 years later, this popular slogan is still used for various situations and organizations. There is power in those eight words. When you break down these eight words, you see that God is giving you a confirmation that He does not want your life to be idle. He does not want you to sit around doing nothing, but He wants you to carry out the plan that He has for your life.

A Mind
1Corinthians 1:10(nlt)
Now, dear brothers and sisters, I appeal to you by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so there won't be divisions in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, in thought and purpose.
Working together on one accord, no matter what you are going through. God's desire is to see His children moving in the plan that He has for their lives. This is done by using your mind, by sitting and listening to the voice of God, and finding out from Him what He wants you to do in order to become unified with His plan.
God does not want you to have a mind of fear, but of love, power and discipline which comes directly from His Holy Spirit. By carrying out these three things, you will have a sensible and sound mind to carry out the Word that says;
2Timothy 1:7 (nkjv)
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Is A Terrible Thing
Joel 2:31(nlt)
The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon will turn bloodred before that great and terrible day of the Lord arrives.
A mind can really battle something terrible!
You can sit and battle over something in your mind that has no real purpose in life or has already been worked out by God. So get up and do the work of the Lord!
The enemy can hold your mind captive for as long as you allow him, and he will place things inside of your head that may have no real relevance to your live. When you sit and let your mind wonder, without putting God in the midst of it, this will allow the devil to have playtime with your mind. This is his time to show you all of your faults and blame you for all of the wrongs in your life.

To Waste
Revelation 3:2 (nlt)
Now wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is at the point of death. Your deeds are far from right in the sight of God.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste!
God has blessed each and every one of us with a clear and sound mind. A clean conscience and a pure heart. It's when you allow an unpleasant feeling, thought and voice to come into your mind and begin corruption.
Allow your thoughts to be refreshed always with the word of God. Let the Holy Spirit take control of the things that go into your head, because remember, your mind is like a filter to your heart and it leaks out of your mouth.
The things of your mind and heart can either poison or bring forth fruit!
Use your spiritual weapon, which is the word of God, to break down the thoughts that causes your mind to be wasted. Hold every thought captive and make them accountable to the word. (2Corinthians 10:5nlt)
Do this by combating negative with positive.
"But I can't!" Respond with the word that says, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13nkjv)
"I know that God will never forgive me for what I have done!" respond with the word that says, "Your sins have been forgiven because of Jesus." (1John 2:12nlt)
Choose your thoughts wisely.......
So whats on your mind? Share your comment.........