Don't be fooled by what you currently see!

"After that, the Word of God came to me: “Zerubbabel started rebuilding this Temple and he will complete it. That will be your confirmation that God-of-the-Angel-Armies sent me to you. Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? They’ll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone in place!” Going back to the vision, the Messenger-Angel said, “The seven lamps are the eyes of God probing the dark corners of the world like searchlights.”~Zechariah4:8-10(MSG)

Today I dropped my daughter off for her first day of first grade. As we sat there, I looked around. My baby girl is 6 and is in a multi-age classroom. That means that there are both first and second graders in one classroom. Even though she is not the oldest child in the classroom, she is the tallest child in the classroom. It made me think back to when I was a child. I hit my growth spurt sooner than a lot of my classmates. So, if you seen me you would have thought I was going to be tall. Well, that was not the case. See, I hit my growth spurt early but I stopped growing when others kept on growing. That is what happens a lot of times doesn't it? You can look around and it looks like everyone else is so much farther along than you. They can look so much bigger than you through your eyes. My friend, don't get discouraged or fooled by what you currently see! God is not through with you! Others may seem bigger but be encouraged because God is still stretching and growing you!


It is easy to look at others and compare ourselves to them. Comparison is one of the quickest robbers of joy! Don't you know that when we compare ourselves to our brothers and sisters in Christ we lose focus of our strengths? It is easy to see only your weaknesses when you look at someone else's strengths. Instead of comparing yourself to others, rejoice when you see God's anointing upon others. Pray for them. Encourage them. You do not know what seeds were sown and watered in there life for God to bring forth the increase of strength that you see. One thing you can be rest assured of is the fact that seeds were sown. If you know anything about a seed, you know that different seeds grow at different rates. Not only do different seeds grow at different rates but the ground the seed is sown in determines how well that seed will grow. Lets make sure we are good ground so that we can grow as God desires for us to grow us.

I want to leave you with some encouragement on today. Rest on this word. You, my friend, are unique and you are beautiful. You are God's handy work. Never allow yourself to feel smaller than you are. "I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well."~Psalm139:14(AMP) I love that God, asked the question in Zechariah does any dare despise this day of small beginnings. Never allow yourself to despise where you are in God. God is yet working in and through you. Perfecting everything He started in you.

Let me pray with you on today. Father God, I come before you right now in the mighty name of Jesus. Father, I thank you for each person that took the time to read this blog. I pray that it encouraged them and drew them closer to you. Oh God, you declare in your word that when we draw close to you that you will draw close to us. We thank you of that drawing on today. Father, I ask that you would open their eyes so that they would see themselves through the eyes of Christ. Allow them to see who they are in your eyes. I bind the spirit of fear right now in the name of Jesus. I speak what your word declares for you have not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Have your way in the lives of your people! Remove any hindrance or weight in the name of Jesus! We count it as done and we give you the highest praise due to your holy name in the matchless name of Jesus, amen!

If you do not know Jesus as your personal savior and would like to receive the greatest gift you will ever receive, the gift of salvation join me in prayer on today. Father, I confess that I have sinned against you. I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that you are Lord. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for me and rose from the dead to sit on the right hand of God the Father. Enter into my heart today to live forever more. I give you access to every part of me. Thank you, Jesus for saving me on this day! In Jesus name, Amen!

You are too strong to be weak!

"The Lord is my Strength and my [impenetrable] Shield; my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him."~Psalm28:7(AMP)

I was laughing, joking and play fighting with my oldest son when I told him, you are too strong to be weak. See, my eleven year old son is almost as tall as me and weighs ninety four pounds. He does not realize his strength. He does not realize how big he is. As soon as the words came out of my mouth, I got excited! Think about it. Let it marinate. Many of us do not realize our own strength. We don't realize just where our strength comes from. The world would have us think it is from our size, but don't you know our strength comes from our God! Psalm28:7 reminds us that the Lord is our shield not only our shield but a impenetrable shield. That means absolutely nothing will be able to get past that shield. Now, that is the very definition of strong. When we know that we know that we know that God is our strength, we are able to walk out and live the remainder of Psalm28:7.  Our hearts trust in, rely on, and confidently lean on Him! We know that we are helped and our heart greatly rejoices and with our song will we praise God! Now, that right there is a promise to stand on.

As I began to think about the reasons that we forget just how strong we are and become paralyzed and weak, the first thing that came to my mind was we think we have to be in the fight all by ourselves. We forget that it is a "fixed" fight! "The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm."~Exodus14:14(NLT) Don't you know that the Lord Himself will fight for you. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves to stand on Exodus 14:13. We have to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. The next time a situation tries to remind you of your weakness remind your situation who is perfected in your weakness! "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."~2Corinthians12:9(NIV) The next time fear and doubt come knocking and throwing up your weaknesses boast in them and let God's strength be perfected! God's grace is more than sufficient for every battle and storm you will face.

Never allow the size of your giant that you are up against cause you to forget the size of your God! "But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world." If that promise of God is not enough then lean on the strength that comes from this scripture:  "I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who [a]infuses inner strength into me; I am [b]self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]."~Philippians4:13(AMP) Our feelings change, our circumstances change, but the word of God remains the same. If you are having trouble seeing your strength, allow God to light up the path for you to see! You my friend, are too strong to be weak another day of your life! Embrace your strength on today.

I would love to pray with you on today. Father God, I thank you for each and every person that took the time to read this blog on today. I pray that it met them right where they were at and caused them to be reminded of how strong they are in you. Father, I thank you for perfecting your strength in them through their weaknesses. Oh God, I thank you that we can run to you in our times of not just trouble but of victory! How great it is to be able to come before the throne of grace and marvel at your majesty. Father, on today I pray that what ever battle my brother or sister is facing that you remind them that you are not only their guide but their guard! That not weapon that is formed against them will prosper and that every lying tongue will be condemned! Have your way God. Move by your spirit right now and cause every crooked place to be made straight for your glory! In the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal savior, I would love to pray with you on today to accept the greatest gift of all. The gift of eternal life. Repeat after me if you would desire to accept Him as Lord of your life. Father God, I  believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord. I ask that you would come in to my heart and reign forever more. I believe that you died for my sins on the cross and that you rose from the dead and sit at the right hand of God. I repent of all past sins. I give you my life this day forever more. In Jesus name, Amen!

Uncomfortable because of growing pains!

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."(Romans8:18NIV)

As I was in my bed last night trying to drift away to sleep, I began to think about the pain that is associated with growth. The very reason many of us are uncomfortable is because God is enlarging us  and we no longer fit in the same position that we once fit in. I don't know about you, but i have tried to fit into something that was too small. Let me tell you if you have never done this, it is beyond uncomfortable. It does not matter the length of time you try to keep what does not fit on, keeping it on will cause discomfort. That is what is happening right now in many of our lives. We are experiencing growing pains. We can no longer fit where we once could fit comfortably! God is enlarging your faith. God is enlarging your hope. God is enlarging your joy. God is enlarging your peace. God is enlarging your worship. God is enlarging your praise.  I want to encourage you that the pain is only temporary and the growth that is being produced in you will amaze you. Your present suffering is not even worth comparing for the glory that will be revealed in you!

When I think about growing pains, I think of my children. Each of them are in different stages of life and with each stage there comes a different set of growing pains. The exciting thing about growing pains is that with it comes growth. My oldest son is eleven and almost as tall as me. When I look at him I still see my baby boy that I held in my arms and rocked to sleep. As I prepare for him to soon be going to middle school, I watch in amazement.  The growth that he has experienced this summer has been awesome. The biggest change I see in him is his appetite. He is hungry all of the time now! What would once satisfy him is no longer enough. Let me let you in on a little secret. As you begin to grow, your appetite for the word will change. Your appetite will not only change but milk will no longer satisfy you. "For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action), for he is a mere infant [not able to talk yet]!
14 But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law."(Hebrews5:13-14AMP)  

I just wanted to encourage you to get excited about what God is doing in your life. Move from being unsure of what He was doing to rejoicing in what He is doing! Move from concentrating on the pain to rejoicing about His glory being revealed in you! Move from fitting in to standing out for His glory! You were not created to fit in."But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted."(1Peter2:9MSG)

Let me pray with you today. Father God, I come before you thanking you for each person that took the time to read this blog. I ask God that you would meet them right where they are and fill whatever need they are standing with on today. Father, I thank you for the ability to come to you in prayer. I thank you that when we come before your throne of grace we leave differently than when we entered in. Oh, God I thank you for the work you are perfecting even now and that even though we will have times of growing pains and of being uncomfortable we know that the glory that will be revealed in us will be incomparable! Father, I pray for those who may not know you as their savor and the pardoner of their sins. If you don't know Jesus as Lord and Savior, won't you accept the greatest gift you have ever received? The gift of eternal life. The gift of a Savior. Join in this prayer. Father God, I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord. That Jesus Christ died for my sins! That Jesus Christ rose from the dead and sits at the right hand of the father and I ask Him into my heart to reign forever more. In Jesus name, AMEN!