Have you forgotten?

Surprise visits

David said to Abigail, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you to me.  May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands." 

1 Samuel 25:32-33

Pay attention to surprise visits - sometimes we need to heed the God-message that comes through whilst in the midst of the visit.

Victories in the making

Power!

"... The Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power.  The ropes on his arms became like charred flax and the bindings dropped from his hands."

Judges 15:14

I'm telling you when you are a child of God, when you surrender your life to him, there is no devil in hell, no demon in this world that can stop you from attaining the victories before you.  Yes, when you are God's child you speak to the mountains and they crumble and move out of your way.

GET UP!!!

"During that night the Lord said to Gideon, "Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands."

Judges 7:9

GET UP! GO!  

My friend, the Lord is giving you the victory so go and take it already.

Those that work for it

"...The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few..."

-Luke 10:2

In essence, and in my own opinion, this verse suggests this:

Those of us that are willing to work for greatness, great things, using God as our Leader, will most definitely find it.  However, those that want greatness, great things, through deception, lies, or shortcuts, may find it for a moment but soon it will watch be taken right out of their hands.

Hence, work hard for the goals and dreams God has placed in you because the victories will be well worth it.

Strip off the past and dress for the future

“Strip down, start running – and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins…

don’t sit around on your hands!  No more dragging your feet…

Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent.  A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time.”

-Adapted from Hebrews 12:1-3; 4-11; 14-17 MSG

It’s time to move on.  The past is over, the future is at hand, and the time is now.  So, get on with your amazing life, there’s so much in store for you and all you have to do is take a bold step forward -  friend, God is patiently waiting for you to do so.

Yes, the time is now: time to live; time to breathe! Strip the past from yourself and move forward fresh and new.

Yes, the time is now: time for God to take control and for you to give it up to him.

Believers are so powerful!

“These are some of the signs that will accompany believers: They will throw out demons in my name, they will speak in new tongues, they will take snakes in their hands, they will drink poison and not be hurt, they will lay hands on the sick and make them well.” 

Mark 16:17-18

As believers we are so powerful.  Powerful because the Spirit of Christ died on the cross and rose again in Spirit, living in each and every one of us.  We have power and ability, all because we have been given the Spirit of sweet Jesus.  Therefore as believers - BELIEVE - we can do ALL things through Christ Jesus!

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No equipment necessary

"... He gave them authority and power to deal with evil opposition.  He sent them off with these instructions:

"Don't think you need a lot of extra equipment for this.  You are the equipment... keep it simple."  Mark 6:7-9 MSG

You are God's miracle worker here in this world.  Again, YOU, not your money, title, status, schooling, world, or family.  So, whether you have all the equipment, or none of the equipment, go out and be a blessing:  lay hands on the sick; speak prayers over the lost; give to the less fortunate; build up your neighbor - be a light in the darkness. 

My friends, this world needs those of us that claim to be God's children; we are His hands and feet, we are his equipment and we are equipped to do whatever it is that we are called to do.

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Peace made perfect in you through Christ

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

John 14:27 AMP

Perfect peace is found only in God.  So, if you want relief from your worries and anxieties, (and absolutely anything else that puts darkness in your heart), then the only sure way to find relief is to run to God, grab hold of him and never, ever, let him go!!

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It's our turn to bless God

^10-13 David blessed God in full view of the entire congregation:

Blessed are you, God of Israel, our father
    from of old and forever.
To you, O God, belong the greatness and the might,
    the glory, the victory, the majesty, the splendor;
Yes! Everything in heaven, everything on earth;
    the kingdom all yours! You’ve raised yourself high over all.
Riches and glory come from you,
    you’re ruler over all;
You hold strength and power in the palm of your hand
    to build up and strengthen all.
And here we are, O God, our God, giving thanks to you,
    praising your splendid Name.

1 Chronicles 29:10-13The Message (MSG)

Now it is our turn.  Let’s lift our hands and bless God out loud! 

For all he’s done for us, it’s the least we can do!

The Message (MSG)

Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by +Eugene H. Peterson

True friends

“… but Moses’ hands got tired.  So they got a stone and set it under him.  He sat on it and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on each side…” Exodus 17:10-13, The Message

A true friend lifts you up when you are down, listens when you need to talk, talks when you need to listen, sticks with you through the tough times, and celebrates with you in good times and milestones.  A true friend will stand by your side in the heat of a battle and sit with you in silence, when words need not be said.  A true friend prays for your often and encourages you to follow your dreams.  A true friend is a blessing; a true gift from God sent just for you.  Therefore, a true friend is someone to embrace and hold on to for life.

Those who believe can do the amazing

“And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe; in My name they will drive out demons, they will speak in new languages; they will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well.” Mark 16:17-18 AMP

Do you believe?  If so, you can be a miracle, you can do the miraculous, and you are anointed to do great things in this life.  God’s love showers over those who believe, and those who are showered with His love, are showered with gifts and talents, which enable them to do mighty works in His name.  So, as a believer, go out and do what others say can’t be done.  You can heal the sick, trample serpents, be surrounded by His shield, and drive the most evil of demons out of your life, as well as many other lives around you.

So, live it out; live it out to the fullest, my friend.  And, remember, what you believe, you can conceive; and what you conceive, you can achieve – all in the mighty name of Jesus!  Praise Him!

 

Why commit this great evil?

“Why do you commit this great evil against yourselves… Why do you provoke Me to anger with the works (idols) of your own hands…?” Jeremiah 44:7,8 AMP

Let’s think about this?  Why do we sin, which is, in essence, committing evil?  Really, though, why?  All it does to ourselves, and, sometimes, other innocent victims involved, is cause trouble, produce hurt, and generate resentment, anger, and the like.  It is amazing to me how we can fall so easily when the consequences can be so severe.

For me, I can honestly answer that a lot of my sin is from wanting to be in control, and to avoid confrontation and/or hurt.  However, the more I think about it, the more I realize that when I’m in control, things end up in a mess; and when I try to avoid confrontation, it always comes back to smack me in the face, making the confrontation double of what it could have been.  What about you?  What makes you fall into sin easily?  Well, whatever it is, I think it is of the utmost importance that we seriously think before we speak and/or act.  

 

So, is sinning really worth the pain, hurt, resentment, anger, malice… evil?  I have to answer, “No!”.  Therefore, join me in taking more time to think about our actions, and our words; I honestly think that it will transition the world around us into a much more gentle, peaceful, loving; hence, God-like, place.