Sunday, April 20, 2014

It Is Finished!

28 "Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.”[a] 29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit."~John19:28-30

Some of the sweetest words you can say or hear are these 3..It is finished! During this time of reflection of the cross and what it represents for us these are inspiring words to meditate upon.  How exciting it is to hear that it is finished. It is complete! It is done! Whatever you are facing be reminded that it will not last forever. There is a beginning and an ending for everything. 3 "For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven."~Ecclesiastes3:1(NLT) Rejoice in the promise that the king of kings gave us. It is finished!

There are 3 more words that serve as awesome reminders of God's power and sovereignty. These words are It is written! 3 "The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[a]”~Matthew4:3-4(NIV) When we get tempted by doubt and unbelief tries to creep in, declare these words..It is written! The only way we can grab a hold of the promises of God is if we know them. The words it is written are powerful because even when we get tempted and when the enemy comes in with lies and plots and schemes, we just have to be reminded of what is written in God's holy word. It is written that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us! It is written that “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”~1Corinthians2:9(NLT) 

The next time you are faced with a decision to believe God's unfailing word or believe lives remind yourself that when you are redeemed by Christ you have an expected end! 11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."~Jeremiah29:11(KJV) You have been redeemed and your redeemer lives! 23 "Oh, that the words I now speak were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book [carved on a tablet of stone]! 24 That with an iron pen and [molten] lead they were graven in the rock forever! 25 For I know that my Redeemer and Vindicator lives, and at last He [the Last One] will stand upon the earth."~Job19:23-25(AMP)

I would love to touch and agree with you today in prayer. Father God, I thank you for your unchanging word. I praise you that you are your word and your word is you. I ask that you would touch the people that read this prayer on today and remind them of your promises. Remind us on today that your word never changes and that every promise that is written is for each of us. Give us a desire to not only know your word but to become your word. Etch your words on our hearts Lord. Thank your for the ultimate sacrifice which was the offering of your son for our sins. Show each of us our expected end. Ignite a passion in us to continue to speak what you have written, It is finished and It is written! When we get weary, when we feel defeated, when we feel like giving up, and when we feel like giving in, let us meditate on the words it is finished and it is written. Father God, I thank you. In Jesus name, Amen. If you do not know the Lord Jesus as your personal savior, won't you accept the best gift of all? The gift of eternal life.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

What insecurity or struggle in your life is keeping you from maturing in Christ?

11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.~1 Corinthians 13:11(NLT)

I have a 3 and a half year old son. His name is Jonathan. Well, Jonathan is our 3rd child. He has an older brother and sister. All was well in Jonathan's world until my sweet baby girl, Jayda came along. When Jayda was born, Jonathan had a very hard time giving up his spot as the youngest child. You see, Jonathan still wanted to be mommy and daddy's baby. We noticed that once Jayda came he was no longer excited about potty training and he would tell us that he was our baby. See, Jonathan was wanting to hold on to his spot at whatever cost. He was not willing to put away childish things and be a big brother. Here recently he has officially became potty trained and in the process it made me start thinking. I began to think about our walk with Christ. When we get saved, we are babies in Christ. We are not ready for meat we have to have milk, but as we grow we become ready for meat. "Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready."~1 Corinthians3:1-2  The problem many of us are having is that we are not growing in Christ. We are happy with staying the baby. We are happy drinking milk and not eating meat. We have to understand as we grow we need more. Milk will no longer be enough. Milk will no longer sustain you.

What is hindering you from maturing in Christ? What is stopping you from seeking Him more? What is keeping you from moving from reaching for His hand to becoming His hand? What insecurity in your life is keeping you from gaining knowledge of who He is? What struggle in your life right now is keeping you from drawing closer to Him? There is a reason that you are not wanting to give up your spot as a baby in Christ. There is a reason that you have been going to church Sunday after Sunday and Wednesday after Wednesday and there has not been a change in your life. Once you get to the root of your insecurity and your struggle you will be able to yank it up and mature in Christ.

See, Jonathan's insecurity was that he thought he was no longer going to be important because he was no longer the baby. He was not used to more responsibility. He was not use to being a big brother and he did not like it. Once it clicked for him that he was still special, he got excited about being a big boy. He got excited about being a big brother. Jonathan became okay with giving up his spot as a baby. We have to get before God and yank up the root of our insecurity and be okay with maturing in our calling. As we mature, we become able to help our brother's and sister's in Christ. As we mature, we get excited about our responsibilities. We must realize that our struggle was designed to draw us closer to God and not push us away from Him.

I would love to touch and agree with you on today in prayer. Father God, I come before you today on the behalf of my brother and sister in Christ. I come touching and agreeing with them in faith that as you reveal to some what their insecurity are and as you heal the insecurities in others that you will remind them that you will complete the work that you have begun in them. Father, I thank you for maturing them in their walk with you. I thank you for the desire and zeal that you are renewing in them for your glory. Continue to have your way in their lives. Remind them on today that their struggles are designed to draw them closer to you and that you will never leave them nor forsake them. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen. If you have not accepted the most wonderful gift of eternal life, won't you accept that gift today? It is always the right time to accept the gift of eternal life.

Monday, April 14, 2014

It is time to shine some light on your dreams!

One of my favorite things about Germany is the shutters that are on all of the windows in the homes. It can literally be noon and you would not know it unless you opened up the shutters. Now, this is a wonderful thing if you have nothing to do but rest. It is not so much of a good thing when you are relying on the sun to wake you up. How many of you have been in a place like a tunnel or inside a house that had dark curtains on the windows and you were not able to tell what time it was? This is happening in our spiritual lives as well. We have put shutters up around our dreams. We have not allowed God's light to shine on the very dream that He placed in our hearts. When God give you something, He gives it to you for it to shine for His glory. 
15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.~Matthew5:15-16(NLT) 

When I put on my makeup I like to do it in natural sun light. It is amazing how different artificial light is compared to natural sun light. Natural sun light is so much better. It allows me to see my features better. The same is true with the light that the son of God shines forth on us. There is no substitute for His holy light. We can try and mimic His light with self help books and get right plans. We will learn that once His light shines upon us we will never be the same. We will never be able to just sit in the dark any longer. It is time to open up the window of your soul and let His holy light shine upon you.

There is power in getting before God and allowing Him to awaken our dreams. Many times when we are basking in His presence He gives us new dreams. I love the beach. I love relaxing on the beach. It can be very dangerous even at the pool in the summer. Time can get away from us and we can forget how long we have been exposed to the sun. Too much sun can be harmful to our flesh. Just as physically too much sun can be harmful to us, not enough of the Son of God can be harmful to our spirit. You may be at place where it is dark. You may have been at this place for some time now and you are weary. You have questioned the dream that God has placed in your heart. You have thought that this dream is too big for you. I came on today to remind you that we serve a Big God! My friend, it is time to shine some light on your dreams! It is time to let the son of God come in and do what only He can do. It is time to shine for His glory. 3 “Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever.~Daniel 12:3(MSG) When you shine light on your dreams, you direct others to the right path so they can shine light upon their dreams as well!

I would love to touch and agree with you today in prayer. Father God, I come before you asking that as my friend reads this blog that you awaken each and every dream that has been sleeping in their lives. I call forth every idea and vision that you placed in their heart for such a time as this. I pray that you stir up the gift that is inside of them. Shine your light upon them like only you can so that they can shine bright for your glory. Father, I ask that you would remind them of who they are in you. Show them their purpose. Show them their strengths. When they are weak, come in and make them strong in you. Continue to show yourself mighty in their lives. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, amen. If you do not know Jesus as Lord, won't you make the best decision of your life on today and accept Him as your personal savior?

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Will you wear a cross or bear a cross?

23 And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [[a]disown himself, [b]forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, [c]refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [[d]cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].(Luke 9:23(Amp)

This past Sunday during the sermon a quote was read. This quote has played again and again in my mind. "It is much easier to wear a cross than to bear a cross."~Leonard Ravehill If you look around, you will see a cross displayed on just about everyones neck. It has became more of a fashion statement and less of a representation of our faith. To bear His cross is what we are called to do as His disciples. This is not always easy or comfortable, but it is always necessary. 


In order to bear that cross we must deny ourselves. The word in the text that echoes very loudly is daily. We are to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily. Next in the text the important key to being able to do this is written. That important key is to follow Christ. There is no way we will be able to deny ourselves and pick up our cross on our own. Oh, but there is power in following Him. There is confidence and hope in knowing that the one we are following is able to keep us from falling. 24 Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]—

When I think about the word bear, I think of child birth. I think of bearing a child or bringing forth fruit. Denying ourselves, picking up our cross, and following Christ will bring forth fruit in our lives. The more we give up of ourselves the more we gain our identity in Him. It is very empowering to know that daily we have the oppurtunity to be right where we need to be by making sure our minds, our hearts, and our feet are following Jesus. It is a choice that only we can make. It is a desire of our will. 

Living over seas for the past 3 years has taught me to stretch out of my comfort zone. I have been stretched especially when it comes to driving places that I am unfamiliar with. I have learned to rely on my gps to be able to direct me to where I need to go. I am so relieved when I hear the gps talk to me and say recalculating! I get anxious sometimes when it seems like it is taking forever, even though it only takes seconds for it to put me back on the right track. Don't you know we are the same way with God? When we veer off of track and are in a wilderness, we get anxious and it may feel like it is taking forever for God to lead us back in the right direction. I came to remind you today my friend, that God is desiring to place your feet back on the right path. He is longing to see you deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow after Him in every area of your life! Choose today to not just wear a cross but to bear a cross.

I want to end this blog today with touching and agreeing with you. I pray that your desire and your will come together on today and that you will experience the fullness of God's presence. That you will be reminded of how amazing it feels to abide in God's presence! Today, lay aside every weight that so easily draws your attention away from the Master. I pray that on today you will have a mind that is made up. A mind that is steadfast. That on today you will make a choice to stand for righteousness by releasing your need to be in control. Father I thank you for my sister or brother that took the time to read this and that is allowing you to touch them right now. In the mighty name of Jesus, amen! If you do not know Jesus, and you are feeling an amazing stirring on the inside. Won't you make the greatest decision of your life on today and ask Him into your heart as your personal savior?