Some of you may remember about this time last year my faith was on FIRE! I had gotten hold of some awesome teaching that just really made the reality of how faith works explode in me and my husband. We saw miracles happen a lot. We were on a mountaintop.
Then, in the fall of last year, things sort of dwindled. I don't know if it was because maybe we weren't continually feeding the fire like we should have, or if outside circumstances became too distracting or what. There were still amazing things happening and God was using us, but I would say that after Christmas, things seemed to really go downhill in that department.
I think we just allowed the thief to steal the Word through the cares of the world. I found out we were pregnant, some bad things were going on with our neighbors, we moved again, sicknesses etc. The sad part was I didn't really care at the time because I was so overwhelmed and didn't feel good. But I know what I'm supposed to do- do not let go and do not give up because it will come to pass when you stand. I've not wanted to seek God, though I know that's exactly what I need. I didn't even want to listen to some of my favorite ministers and teachings for encouragement. Pathetic.
What happened? Did the pressure just get turned up a lot and that's why we've crumbled a bit? Did we just try to coast on past experiences? Yeah, I think so, all of it. Well, I happened on to a minister named Jerry Savelle. The past two weeks he has been on the Believer's Voice of Victory broadcast teaching about his book called, get this,
"Called to Battle, Destined to Win."
Aha! Duh, I forgot that living in this world as a Christian is a battle, duh!! But, I also know that the battle is already won, it's just a matter of time before the unseen becomes manifested. Everything he has been saying is exactly what I needed to hear. For instance, he says that sometimes when we are standing in faith for something, say healing in the body, many times we will get to a point where it doesn't look like it's going to get better. The pressure will be even worse than before. What does this mean? It means that you are about to get the answer and because of that there is great tribulation on satan's part- the thing you are believing for is about to come to pass and he's mad because if you get this victory you will get stronger and be victorious next time. He loses ground and credibility in your life.
Oh, so that's why last week was from the pit of hell...I get it. The last couple of weeks I've been feeling like we're on the brink of something, like if we really press into God we'll see some amazing things, but if we don't we won't get the best of what He has for us. It's up to us to do what we ought.
Also, many times we're standing between the 'Amen' of our prayer about something and the victorious outcome and we're having a hard time. The pressure is on- the enemy will come and tell us we can't take anymore, God doesn't really care, this isn't going to work etc. What to do? Rekindle that fire.
For me, I can go back and listen to the teachings that first opened my eyes about this whole faith thing. I can sing praises to the Lord for what He has done, for God inhabits the praises of His people. For us, we finally needed to ask for outside support from our church family. Their is so much strength in the body, both in prayer and just support for each other. We got a special word from God to keep standing on the Word and He would hasten to perform it. So there, that settles it.
"Standing on the promises of Christ my king...standing, standing, standing on the promises of God my Savior..." Yes, I do know some hymns, or parts of them :)
I highly encourage anyone to go over to the left hand sidebar and click on 'Kenneth Copeland Ministries' and watch this weeks and the week before broadcasts. They're only about 20 minutes long each and you can download them to MP3 players or realplayer and watch them at your convenience all for free! You will be encouraged and empowered. Everyone needs that!
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
May 14, 2009
May 5, 2009
Don't be afraid
For anyone feeling worried about the new flu epidemic, I have some reassurance for you. First of all, no matter what they said, I wasn't worried about it because the job of the media is to create emotion/drama. Of course they're going to paint this awful picture- people panic and other people make money.
Here are some stats from my favorite 'doctor', Dr. Schulze, and amazing herbalist.
"Influenza virus infects both humans and animals. The two main animal viruses are the Bird Flu, which affects birds, and the Swine Flu (officially called SIV, or Swine Influenza Virus) that is a respiratory viral disease of pigs.
Here are some stats from my favorite 'doctor', Dr. Schulze, and amazing herbalist.
"Influenza virus infects both humans and animals. The two main animal viruses are the Bird Flu, which affects birds, and the Swine Flu (officially called SIV, or Swine Influenza Virus) that is a respiratory viral disease of pigs.
Occasionally humans get both of these viruses, but usually only a very few people get infected and usually these people have had direct contact with the sick animals. It is not normal, and very difficult, for these animal viruses to spread from human-to-human.
When they do, as it is suspected now, it can be dangerous. In the past when this happens, and an animal virus starts spreading from human-to-human (and does this easily), it usually also dies out quickly. But, on rare occasions, it can cause a pandemic, which is a widespread, worldwide epidemic, making millions sick and killing millions more. Notably, this happened in the 1890's with the Russian Flu, the most famous being the Spanish Flu of 1918 that killed about 100 million people on the planet (killing more people than the Black Death of Europe in the 1300's), and the Hong Kong Flu of 1957 that almost killed me.
This current Swine Influenza outbreak may actually not even be a Swine Flu virus at all. It is suspected that it may be caused by a new strain of Influenza type A, subtype H1N1, and also a blend of an avian (Bird Flu) and possibly a few strains of Swine Influenza Virus all mixed together in a dangerous and potentially lethal new viral cocktail. But, identifying viruses, especially rapidly, is not an exact science."
Should you be worried?
Not really, but you should always be prepared.
The Dr. Schulze "Swine Flu Scale":
I say on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being "who cares" and 10 being "it is time to get your food, guns and herbs in the basement and staple-gun 10-mil plastic over your house", we are currently at a Dr. Schulze Stage 3.
Medical doctors, scientists and even I all agree that we are overdue for a worldwide influenza pandemic of huge proportions. That said, in spite of the news hysteria, the reality is that very little is actually known so far, and very few people are getting sick, fewer hospitalized, and very few deaths, but it is certainly worth watching and being cautious.
It could turn into a worldwide pandemic killing millions and millions, but it probably won't.
I say this simply because I lived through the big Swine Flu Scare of 1976, when the American government's panic was so overblown, they said that we were going to have a killer Swine Flu epidemic / pandemic. They almost forced inoculations, Congress actually voted it in, and people lined up and rushed to get their Swine Flu Shot. Television and newspapers made millions, pharmaceutical companies made billions, and then... nothing happened. Well, actually something did happen.
There were very few cases of actual Swine Flu, but 25 times more people died from the inoculation than from the Swine Flu itself. So, I have seen flu panic, and medical flu treatment, kill.
Also, to put this in perspective, hundreds of Americans die every year from taking aspirin, and to date, 100 more people have died so far this year from bee stings in America than the Swine Flu, and 1 million will die from taking doctor prescribed prescription drugs, so we need to take a step back, take a deep breath, put this outbreak into perspective and observe. And we don't need the government, the CDC, the WHO, the news media and the office of Homeland Security turning this into a political pandemic."
Furthermore, there is a great article discussing the flu by Dr. Mercola. You can read it here.
But to be smart in general, because there are so many diseases going on, there are things you can do. We all know that vitamin C is important for boosting immunity. I like to buy the drink packets called EmergenC, which is 1000mg of vitamin C in each packet, empty into water or juice and it fizzes up. Easy for everyone to drink.
Also, being sure that your body is properly nourished with healthy fats, being hydrated, balancing protein and whole grains and reducing any processed foods or white sugar would CERTAINLY help :)
Echinacea, preferably taken in tincture form, is also very well known for boosting the immune system. I prefer Dr. Schulze's formula, because he packs as much herbs as you can possibly get into his vats and it's a high quality product. He recommends taking it for the first week of each month.
Garlic, duh. Garlic kills the bad super quick. Hot peppers boost circulation and kick things into gear, plus, if you can eat hot peppers, I doubt a virus could survive in your body for long :)
Now here is another thing that I just learned and was amazed at. Our thyroid glands filter all the blood in her our body every 17 minutes. As it passes through, the iodine in the gland is able to weaken any bad invaders to the point of them dying. However, if you are not taking in enough iodine, you thyroid is weak, can become sluggish resulting in a HOST of problems. I just had no idea how important the thyroid was to the body and how important iodine is to the gland.
I learned all of this here. Getting more iodine is easy. Make sure your salt has iodine in it, eat foods high in iodine, taking kelp tablets, or paint yourself with iodine tincture :) Yesterday I took some kelp, and it really did help when I was feeling low.
But most importantly, you need to know what God says about this.
"You shall not be afraid... of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction tha] lays waste at noonday. " Psalm 91:4
Pestilence- plague or disease
"A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; [But] it shall not come near you." Psalm 91:7
But you must take refuge in God, you must dwell in His secret place and abide in the shelter of the Almighty. You must say with you mouth that the Lord is your refuge and that you trust in Him. God is bigger than any swine flu, He can keep you from getting sick and He will, you just have to believe on His Word no matter what you see or feel.
May 1, 2009
The Easy Yoke
Well, I still can't use our laptop. I bought a cord for it yesterday ($80!!!) and it wasn't the right one. So, no pictures or post about my 'Brain in a Box' yet.
In trying to decide what to share today, I think about all that has transpired in a week. Internally, there are lots of things going on right now. My life is at the brink of a big change, or not, or a really big change. It all just depends, which isn't a comfortable feeling. I deal with things that many others do not, such as my oldest child has some special needs that complicate things. I have to fight for her to get what she needs because she can't. Going up against a system is very frustrating at times. (I am referring to the public school) Plus, the fact that most of the time she can't tell me what she wants, feels, thinks, needs etc. Add in that her physical skills are limited, such as, at the age of 6 she isn't potty trained yet, she can't dress herself, she can't buckle her own seatbelt or step down out of the van by herself. (well, sometimes she can) But the worst part, is she knows everything in her mind, she just can't seem to get it to come out of her mouth. She doesn't want to do sign language either- she wants to say it, but it's very hard for her.
I have a meeting next week with the school about her attending regular kindergarten next year, and so far, all those meetings about it in the past have not gone well. If this one doesn't get what I want, then I will either have to get a lawyer or move again. Homeschool is not an option this year.
Yet I have a strong nesting instinct, which is why I'm working so hard to get rid of clutter and get organized before summer- before I get too big and tired and have all my children at home to care for.
However, many people have their own challenges in life, which is why this story should help. Right now, things don't look good in the world. If were an unbeliever, I am sure I would be full of fear. But, Christians know or should know what is going on. We don't have to be afraid because we are being allowed the privilege of watching Bible prophecy being fulfilled. We know the ending of the story and we're on the winning side. Therefore we shouldn't be worried about money and necessities, because if we trust in the Lord, He will direct our paths and be our provider.
A lady from church was really asking God what it means to trust Him fully. He showed her a little dream or vision, of herself in a river. She was thrashing around and struggling for her life, trying to save herself. The next picture was of her in a raft, laying back, relaxing while floating down the river. God told her that trusting Him was just resting in Him and allowing Him to work, not trying to do it yourself.
So the next picture went back to her struggling in the water again, and God said to her "Stand up!" And she did. The water was only up to her knees when she stood! The problem wasn't really a problem after all, because when she got her feet on something solid (the Word and Jesus) she could stand her ground.
Why do we let ourselves run wild with worry and trying to solve it ourselves? I don't know...for me it's the feeling of the unknown thatI don't like. I like to have a plan to work towards and not be in the dark. I like to be prepared, especially when expecting a baby. When I can't see what's ahead of me, I allow worry to creep in, which is actually sinning. It's like telling God He isn't big enough to handle it on His own.
God has really blessed me this week with a desire to be efficient and responsible for my home and family. He has blessed me with strength and energy to accomplish A LOT! I look forward to doing my laundry :) Big for me...many things I had been wanting to do but hadn't, I finally did. I finally made crockpot yogurt again, and it came out great. I actually prepared my grains/flours properly this week and decluttered many troublesome areas. I've been reading my Bible daily.
So, be encouraged to give things to the Lord and enjoy peace and calm. I will need to remind myself of that as well since I have a big to do list today.
So far, I've done my morning routine, gotten two loads of laundry washed and 1 folded, got my butter softening for baking.
Next I have to: take my vitamins
deep clean girls' room- it stinks!
Mop
wash one more load of clothes
bake up two loaves of banana bread and something for dessert
start chicken stock in crockpot
clean the refrigerator-bleck
go through toys again
And these are just the most important things :)
In trying to decide what to share today, I think about all that has transpired in a week. Internally, there are lots of things going on right now. My life is at the brink of a big change, or not, or a really big change. It all just depends, which isn't a comfortable feeling. I deal with things that many others do not, such as my oldest child has some special needs that complicate things. I have to fight for her to get what she needs because she can't. Going up against a system is very frustrating at times. (I am referring to the public school) Plus, the fact that most of the time she can't tell me what she wants, feels, thinks, needs etc. Add in that her physical skills are limited, such as, at the age of 6 she isn't potty trained yet, she can't dress herself, she can't buckle her own seatbelt or step down out of the van by herself. (well, sometimes she can) But the worst part, is she knows everything in her mind, she just can't seem to get it to come out of her mouth. She doesn't want to do sign language either- she wants to say it, but it's very hard for her.
I have a meeting next week with the school about her attending regular kindergarten next year, and so far, all those meetings about it in the past have not gone well. If this one doesn't get what I want, then I will either have to get a lawyer or move again. Homeschool is not an option this year.
Yet I have a strong nesting instinct, which is why I'm working so hard to get rid of clutter and get organized before summer- before I get too big and tired and have all my children at home to care for.
However, many people have their own challenges in life, which is why this story should help. Right now, things don't look good in the world. If were an unbeliever, I am sure I would be full of fear. But, Christians know or should know what is going on. We don't have to be afraid because we are being allowed the privilege of watching Bible prophecy being fulfilled. We know the ending of the story and we're on the winning side. Therefore we shouldn't be worried about money and necessities, because if we trust in the Lord, He will direct our paths and be our provider.
A lady from church was really asking God what it means to trust Him fully. He showed her a little dream or vision, of herself in a river. She was thrashing around and struggling for her life, trying to save herself. The next picture was of her in a raft, laying back, relaxing while floating down the river. God told her that trusting Him was just resting in Him and allowing Him to work, not trying to do it yourself.
So the next picture went back to her struggling in the water again, and God said to her "Stand up!" And she did. The water was only up to her knees when she stood! The problem wasn't really a problem after all, because when she got her feet on something solid (the Word and Jesus) she could stand her ground.
Why do we let ourselves run wild with worry and trying to solve it ourselves? I don't know...for me it's the feeling of the unknown thatI don't like. I like to have a plan to work towards and not be in the dark. I like to be prepared, especially when expecting a baby. When I can't see what's ahead of me, I allow worry to creep in, which is actually sinning. It's like telling God He isn't big enough to handle it on His own.
God has really blessed me this week with a desire to be efficient and responsible for my home and family. He has blessed me with strength and energy to accomplish A LOT! I look forward to doing my laundry :) Big for me...many things I had been wanting to do but hadn't, I finally did. I finally made crockpot yogurt again, and it came out great. I actually prepared my grains/flours properly this week and decluttered many troublesome areas. I've been reading my Bible daily.
So, be encouraged to give things to the Lord and enjoy peace and calm. I will need to remind myself of that as well since I have a big to do list today.
So far, I've done my morning routine, gotten two loads of laundry washed and 1 folded, got my butter softening for baking.
Next I have to: take my vitamins
deep clean girls' room- it stinks!
Mop
wash one more load of clothes
bake up two loaves of banana bread and something for dessert
start chicken stock in crockpot
clean the refrigerator-bleck
go through toys again
And these are just the most important things :)
November 5, 2008
More from The Tongue, A Creative Force
I'm finally adding to this series...sorry it's taken so long. This the second part of where we left off last time. You can read the first half here.
FAITH FILLED WORDS
********************************************************************
Now let's see what Jesus had to say about faith-filled words. I want you to see how He used His words and how they produced for Him. In Mark chapter 11, verses 1-4, we read, " And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when He had looked round about upon all things, and now eventide was come, He went out unto Bethany with the twelve. And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, He was hungry:And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, He came, if haply He might find any thing theron: and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And His disciples heard it."
Now Jesus had gone to the fig tree to get some figs and found none. And He said, "No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever," and He just walked off. When they came back that way the next day, verse 21 says the disciples called Jesus' attention to the fig tree. They said (I'll paraphrase), 'The leaves are withered; that thing died from the roots. Did You notice that, Jesus? The tree You cursed.'
I always wondered why Jesus 'cussed' the fig tree. I thought He 'cussed' it when I was a little child, but you see, the word 'curse' means that Jesus spoke negativism to it. I want you to notice the words that the Bible uses. It says He put a curse on the fig tree.
Now, we, as believers, have put curses on people by the words of our mouth. I've heard people do it. Someone would come and get saved in the service. They would say, "Oh I know them. They get saved every time we have a revival. You just watch, they;ll go away and in three weeks, they'll be right back in sin." And sure enough, they were bac in sin. They thought that was a prophetic utterance but it wasn't; it was a curse.
And they said, 'See, I told you so."
They were part of the problem. The words of their mouth worked against that person. Instead of putting faith-filled words there by saying, " God's power is enough to keep them; God's power is enough to hold them; God's power will deliver them, and they'll not fall; I believe they'll stand."
They have been deceived by the evil one to tear down what God was trying to build by the words of their own mouth.
THE GOD KIND OF FAITH
********************************************************************
I want you to notice that Jesus new there was power in His words. When He spoke to the fig tree, it withered and died. Now notice, in verse 22 He said," Have faith in God." or have the GOD KIND OF FAITH. Then in verse 23, Jesus stopped long enough to tell His disciples how the GOD KIND OF FAITH works.
You and I need to know how it works. If you have faith in your heart, it is the GOD KIND OF FAITH. The Bible says in Romans 12:3, "...God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. " And it is the GOD KIND OF FAITH. He didn't say " a measure"; He said "the measure.
It is the same measure everybody got when they were born again. The problem is, some haven't developed it.
The WORD tells you how to develop your faith. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17) The literal Greek says, "Faith cometh by reoprt, and that report comes from God." Hearing what God said will build faith inside you, because He's able to perform His every declaration.
Now, Jesus tells you how to apply the GOD KIND OF FAITH and get it to work. Perhaps you've tried it in all kinds of ways. You've tried it by bombarding the gates of heaven, by just praying it over and over and over, and you found that didn't work.
Well, let's see something that does work, and let's act on it. Here is what Jesus said: "For verily I say unto you, That whoseoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith" (Mark 11:23)
He didn't say just the things you say to the mountain. He said "THOSE THINGS WHICH HE SAITH"; everything you say. You must watch what you say. You have to believe that those things that you say- everything you say-will come pass.
That will activate the GOD KIND OF FAITH within you, and THOSE THINGS WHICH YOU SAY WILL COME TO PASS. He said, HE SHALL HAVE. He didn't say he had it then, did He? He said, "HE SHALL HAVE WHATSOEVER HE SAITH." One of the translations says, " He shall have whatsoever he is saying." In other words, it shows he's continually saying that.
The Bible says, "Let us hold fast to the profession (confession) of our faith..." (Heb. 10:23)
It didn't say, "Hold fast to your prayer." When you hold fast to the prayer, you're holding fast to your problem, because most of the time you've prayed the problem. Turn loose of the problem and get hold of your confession. Quit praying the problem. And start saying the answer. "For verily I say unto you, whosoever shall say unto this mountain be thou removed..."
When you prayed and said, "Lord, the mountain's getting bigger; it's not getting any better. I've prayed, and it's not working out," you were holding on to the problem. You haven't got to the answer. You're not there yet; you are still too involved with the problem.
The answer is in the confession. The answer is in believing and confession what the WORD says. THE WORD SAYS THAT IT WILL BE REMOVED AND CAST INTO THE SEA.
We should continually affirm and confess this; " I thank God, though it looks like the mountain's getting bigger, in THE NAME OF JESUS, I see it removed by the eye of faith. BY THE EYE OF FAITH, I SEE IT REMOVED."
There is creative power within you. Learn to use it wisely.
NOTE: I realize this may sound weird to many. The next chapter is called 'Christian Sense' and deals with how to make this sensible :)
FAITH FILLED WORDS
********************************************************************
Now let's see what Jesus had to say about faith-filled words. I want you to see how He used His words and how they produced for Him. In Mark chapter 11, verses 1-4, we read, " And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when He had looked round about upon all things, and now eventide was come, He went out unto Bethany with the twelve. And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, He was hungry:And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, He came, if haply He might find any thing theron: and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And His disciples heard it."
Now Jesus had gone to the fig tree to get some figs and found none. And He said, "No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever," and He just walked off. When they came back that way the next day, verse 21 says the disciples called Jesus' attention to the fig tree. They said (I'll paraphrase), 'The leaves are withered; that thing died from the roots. Did You notice that, Jesus? The tree You cursed.'
I always wondered why Jesus 'cussed' the fig tree. I thought He 'cussed' it when I was a little child, but you see, the word 'curse' means that Jesus spoke negativism to it. I want you to notice the words that the Bible uses. It says He put a curse on the fig tree.
Now, we, as believers, have put curses on people by the words of our mouth. I've heard people do it. Someone would come and get saved in the service. They would say, "Oh I know them. They get saved every time we have a revival. You just watch, they;ll go away and in three weeks, they'll be right back in sin." And sure enough, they were bac in sin. They thought that was a prophetic utterance but it wasn't; it was a curse.
And they said, 'See, I told you so."
They were part of the problem. The words of their mouth worked against that person. Instead of putting faith-filled words there by saying, " God's power is enough to keep them; God's power is enough to hold them; God's power will deliver them, and they'll not fall; I believe they'll stand."
They have been deceived by the evil one to tear down what God was trying to build by the words of their own mouth.
THE GOD KIND OF FAITH
********************************************************************
I want you to notice that Jesus new there was power in His words. When He spoke to the fig tree, it withered and died. Now notice, in verse 22 He said," Have faith in God." or have the GOD KIND OF FAITH. Then in verse 23, Jesus stopped long enough to tell His disciples how the GOD KIND OF FAITH works.
You and I need to know how it works. If you have faith in your heart, it is the GOD KIND OF FAITH. The Bible says in Romans 12:3, "...God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. " And it is the GOD KIND OF FAITH. He didn't say " a measure"; He said "the measure.
It is the same measure everybody got when they were born again. The problem is, some haven't developed it.
The WORD tells you how to develop your faith. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17) The literal Greek says, "Faith cometh by reoprt, and that report comes from God." Hearing what God said will build faith inside you, because He's able to perform His every declaration.
Now, Jesus tells you how to apply the GOD KIND OF FAITH and get it to work. Perhaps you've tried it in all kinds of ways. You've tried it by bombarding the gates of heaven, by just praying it over and over and over, and you found that didn't work.
Well, let's see something that does work, and let's act on it. Here is what Jesus said: "For verily I say unto you, That whoseoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith" (Mark 11:23)
He didn't say just the things you say to the mountain. He said "THOSE THINGS WHICH HE SAITH"; everything you say. You must watch what you say. You have to believe that those things that you say- everything you say-will come pass.
That will activate the GOD KIND OF FAITH within you, and THOSE THINGS WHICH YOU SAY WILL COME TO PASS. He said, HE SHALL HAVE. He didn't say he had it then, did He? He said, "HE SHALL HAVE WHATSOEVER HE SAITH." One of the translations says, " He shall have whatsoever he is saying." In other words, it shows he's continually saying that.
The Bible says, "Let us hold fast to the profession (confession) of our faith..." (Heb. 10:23)
It didn't say, "Hold fast to your prayer." When you hold fast to the prayer, you're holding fast to your problem, because most of the time you've prayed the problem. Turn loose of the problem and get hold of your confession. Quit praying the problem. And start saying the answer. "For verily I say unto you, whosoever shall say unto this mountain be thou removed..."
When you prayed and said, "Lord, the mountain's getting bigger; it's not getting any better. I've prayed, and it's not working out," you were holding on to the problem. You haven't got to the answer. You're not there yet; you are still too involved with the problem.
The answer is in the confession. The answer is in believing and confession what the WORD says. THE WORD SAYS THAT IT WILL BE REMOVED AND CAST INTO THE SEA.
We should continually affirm and confess this; " I thank God, though it looks like the mountain's getting bigger, in THE NAME OF JESUS, I see it removed by the eye of faith. BY THE EYE OF FAITH, I SEE IT REMOVED."
There is creative power within you. Learn to use it wisely.
NOTE: I realize this may sound weird to many. The next chapter is called 'Christian Sense' and deals with how to make this sensible :)
October 21, 2008
Am I laboring in vain?
I am finding out more and more what it truly means to be crucified with Christ. Dying to self...becoming a living sacrifice.
You see, if my aim is to be His servant, to be used by Him in whatever way He needs me, then that means that some things won't make sense, or even seem fair. For instance, I posted awhile back, many months ago, about a friend who was my best friend growing up. She was an atheist at the ripe age of 12 and I began praying and witnessing to her when I felt the Lord leading me. Long story short, she got into drugs and alcohol and prostitution to get the drugs and alcohol, had a failed marriage and health problems. I saw her off and on throughout the years after her 'liberation' and continued to pray. Well she finally saw the light and got saved in the fall of '06. We became best buds again yet enhanced because now we were on the same side. It was awesome! Well, after a year or so, she just kind of dropped me.
So, now I see. When everyone in her life is casting her aside, she turns to me. Now, during this year she got lots of Bible teaching and fellowship; I spent lots and lots of time with her doing these things and just hanging out, driving her places, helping her in whatever way I could. I was there when she needed me even though I had a husband and children and a home to take care of.
So then I move here and get some neighbors who we become friends with. Well, they are newly married have lots of problems. Enter us- my husband and I. We've spent MUCH time staying up late at night and doing things with them etc. The wife has renewed her relationship with the Lord and we have formed a friendship. However, the husband is way messed up and basically just lies to us- he acts like a Godly Christian to us, yet goes home and treats her like dirt and doesn't even try. But see, I've just now realized this. So they are splitting up and I've lost another friend, who oddly has the same name as the aforementioned one.
What am I? Do I just fill the needs of the hurting and broken and they move on? Do I just continue to pour out my life to those who need love and attention and God, yet allow them to use me or move out of my life?
Yes. Why? Because when it's all said and done, it is worth it all to just help one person come to Christ or renew their relationship with Him. There is a song on my playlist over there called 'Worth it All' by Disciple. Listen to it.
It doesn't matter if I never have another good friend again besides dh and Jesus--I must do His work. I am frustrated because of the lack of a happy ending, but all I can do is my part. Which, I am still praying hard for his eyes to be opened. Still, the realization that I was being lied to is hurtful. I must forgive and move on.
I was so disheartened this morning that I couldn't even read my Bible and wanted to look for another house to rent. But then I felt led to call my mother-in-law, who just lost her mother. I called and ended up lifting her up and encouraging her and felt uplifted myself! I talked myself up, because I was speaking the Word of God to her :) LOL
So, do not grow weary in doing His work, because great will be your reward in Heaven. He sees it all and will bless you. Right now He needs willing laborers- the fields are white with harvest, yet who will bring it in??? ME!!! Use me!!!
You see, if my aim is to be His servant, to be used by Him in whatever way He needs me, then that means that some things won't make sense, or even seem fair. For instance, I posted awhile back, many months ago, about a friend who was my best friend growing up. She was an atheist at the ripe age of 12 and I began praying and witnessing to her when I felt the Lord leading me. Long story short, she got into drugs and alcohol and prostitution to get the drugs and alcohol, had a failed marriage and health problems. I saw her off and on throughout the years after her 'liberation' and continued to pray. Well she finally saw the light and got saved in the fall of '06. We became best buds again yet enhanced because now we were on the same side. It was awesome! Well, after a year or so, she just kind of dropped me.
So, now I see. When everyone in her life is casting her aside, she turns to me. Now, during this year she got lots of Bible teaching and fellowship; I spent lots and lots of time with her doing these things and just hanging out, driving her places, helping her in whatever way I could. I was there when she needed me even though I had a husband and children and a home to take care of.
So then I move here and get some neighbors who we become friends with. Well, they are newly married have lots of problems. Enter us- my husband and I. We've spent MUCH time staying up late at night and doing things with them etc. The wife has renewed her relationship with the Lord and we have formed a friendship. However, the husband is way messed up and basically just lies to us- he acts like a Godly Christian to us, yet goes home and treats her like dirt and doesn't even try. But see, I've just now realized this. So they are splitting up and I've lost another friend, who oddly has the same name as the aforementioned one.
What am I? Do I just fill the needs of the hurting and broken and they move on? Do I just continue to pour out my life to those who need love and attention and God, yet allow them to use me or move out of my life?
Yes. Why? Because when it's all said and done, it is worth it all to just help one person come to Christ or renew their relationship with Him. There is a song on my playlist over there called 'Worth it All' by Disciple. Listen to it.
It doesn't matter if I never have another good friend again besides dh and Jesus--I must do His work. I am frustrated because of the lack of a happy ending, but all I can do is my part. Which, I am still praying hard for his eyes to be opened. Still, the realization that I was being lied to is hurtful. I must forgive and move on.
I was so disheartened this morning that I couldn't even read my Bible and wanted to look for another house to rent. But then I felt led to call my mother-in-law, who just lost her mother. I called and ended up lifting her up and encouraging her and felt uplifted myself! I talked myself up, because I was speaking the Word of God to her :) LOL
So, do not grow weary in doing His work, because great will be your reward in Heaven. He sees it all and will bless you. Right now He needs willing laborers- the fields are white with harvest, yet who will bring it in??? ME!!! Use me!!!
October 8, 2008
Creative Power in You
This is the second chapter in Charles Capps' book, The Tongue- A Creative Force
"Man was created in the image of God and His likeness. There was creative power that flowed out of the mouth of God, and you were created in the image of God. Then, according to the Scriptures and what Jesus said, you have the same ability dwelling or residing on the inside of you.
Adam gave man's authority over to Satan. Jesus got that authority back. He was born of a virgin.
The way He was born of a virgin was the way that God created the universe. God said it will be done. And it is not impossible for God to perform His every declaration.
When He found a woman who agreed with Him, it could be done, ' Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?' (Luke 1:34)
She didn't doubt it could be done. She just asked, "How?" and He said, "...the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee...' Luke 1:35
In verse 38 Mary said, '...be it done unto me according to thy word...'
She agreed with the WORD, establishing that fact upon the earth, and it came into being. Now is it so unreasonable to believe that?
God said in His Word that we are '...born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever' (1 Peter 1:23) The Word of God implanted into your spirit caused you to become a new creation that never existed before, born again of the Spirit of the living God.
The re-birth of the human spirit took place because the WORD OF GOD LODGED IN YOUR SPIRIT. It caused you to act upon THE WORD, and you were born again. You became a new creation. You were once a sinner, but now YOU'RE BORN AGAIN, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD fully able to stand in the presence of the Father in holy boldness and say, 'Father, I come to You in the name of Your Son, Jesus without fear of condemnation because I am the righteousness of God in Christ,' not a poor sinner, crawling around in the dust, begging and pleading, 'Dear Lord, help me please," as some songs say. No, we are the righteousness of God, joint-heirs with Jesus Christ!
That Word, planted in your spirit caused you to become a new creation, because the Word of God declared it.
THE WORD MADE FLESH
************************************************************************
Now, I want you to see how God caused a virgin to conceive and bear a child. The virgin said, 'be it done unto me according to your Word.'
The Bible says, ' And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us...' John 1:14. Now the Word was in the beginning with God. The Word came unto Mary and said, ' It will be so.'
Mary said, ' I receive it, be it done unto me according to your Word.' She first received the Word into her spirit (heart) then it was manifested in her physical body. THE WORD OF GOD was implanted into her womb, it was the embryo, the seed, and it took upon itself flesh, just as the living Word of God placed in you spirit took upon itself new creation- life. The Word of God literally formed within her womb and took flesh upon it. The Word of God became alive, living, walking, and talking on this earth. He came here to destroy the work of the devil that was done in Adam.
The work that was done in Adam was destroying the creation of God and the ability of God to work through man. When Jesus came He took the authority back, and He delegated it back to man, to the believer.
Jesus stood on the mountain before He ascended and said, '...All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth' Matt. 28:18. He had it ALL. Then He turned to the believers and said, '...these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;...they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover' Mark 16:17,18
Jesus is saying, "Now, you go in my name. You cast out demons. You speak with new tongues. You lay hands on the sick and they WILL recover.' Now you see God's power. God's authority, delegated back to man. So man is not restored to his original state, (which he was); he is in better shape than he has ever been! Thank God! The born-again man is a joint-heir with Jesus. PRAISE THE NAME OF THE LORD! If Jesus is the righteousness of God, then you are the righteousness of God in Christ.
We need to quit praying and saying, "Lord, I'm unworthy.'
Thank God - if Jesus is not unworthy, you're not unworthy. You have the right to stand in the throne room of God. We've been beaten down, and the devil has just trampled us in the dust because of a sense of unworthiness. I'll tell you, when this WORD gets in your spirit, you'll never be the same. Lay hold on this Word, rise up and enter into it.
The enemy knows there is power in your words. That is why he tries so desperately to get you to confess doubt, fear, and unbelief. You see, confessing that you are unworthy after being born again is contrary to the Word. You were unworthy, but that old man died with Christ. You are now a new creation in Christ. Anyone in Christ cannot be unworthy.
******I will continue this later, my wrists hurt :)
For anyone interested in hearing Charles Capps talk about this go here. This is the first video in a two week series and Kenneth Copeland talks for a few minutes before Charles Capps gets started, so stay with it :)
"Man was created in the image of God and His likeness. There was creative power that flowed out of the mouth of God, and you were created in the image of God. Then, according to the Scriptures and what Jesus said, you have the same ability dwelling or residing on the inside of you.
Adam gave man's authority over to Satan. Jesus got that authority back. He was born of a virgin.
The way He was born of a virgin was the way that God created the universe. God said it will be done. And it is not impossible for God to perform His every declaration.
When He found a woman who agreed with Him, it could be done, ' Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?' (Luke 1:34)
She didn't doubt it could be done. She just asked, "How?" and He said, "...the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee...' Luke 1:35
In verse 38 Mary said, '...be it done unto me according to thy word...'
She agreed with the WORD, establishing that fact upon the earth, and it came into being. Now is it so unreasonable to believe that?
God said in His Word that we are '...born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever' (1 Peter 1:23) The Word of God implanted into your spirit caused you to become a new creation that never existed before, born again of the Spirit of the living God.
The re-birth of the human spirit took place because the WORD OF GOD LODGED IN YOUR SPIRIT. It caused you to act upon THE WORD, and you were born again. You became a new creation. You were once a sinner, but now YOU'RE BORN AGAIN, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD fully able to stand in the presence of the Father in holy boldness and say, 'Father, I come to You in the name of Your Son, Jesus without fear of condemnation because I am the righteousness of God in Christ,' not a poor sinner, crawling around in the dust, begging and pleading, 'Dear Lord, help me please," as some songs say. No, we are the righteousness of God, joint-heirs with Jesus Christ!
That Word, planted in your spirit caused you to become a new creation, because the Word of God declared it.
THE WORD MADE FLESH
************************************************************************
Now, I want you to see how God caused a virgin to conceive and bear a child. The virgin said, 'be it done unto me according to your Word.'
The Bible says, ' And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us...' John 1:14. Now the Word was in the beginning with God. The Word came unto Mary and said, ' It will be so.'
Mary said, ' I receive it, be it done unto me according to your Word.' She first received the Word into her spirit (heart) then it was manifested in her physical body. THE WORD OF GOD was implanted into her womb, it was the embryo, the seed, and it took upon itself flesh, just as the living Word of God placed in you spirit took upon itself new creation- life. The Word of God literally formed within her womb and took flesh upon it. The Word of God became alive, living, walking, and talking on this earth. He came here to destroy the work of the devil that was done in Adam.
The work that was done in Adam was destroying the creation of God and the ability of God to work through man. When Jesus came He took the authority back, and He delegated it back to man, to the believer.
Jesus stood on the mountain before He ascended and said, '...All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth' Matt. 28:18. He had it ALL. Then He turned to the believers and said, '...these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;...they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover' Mark 16:17,18
Jesus is saying, "Now, you go in my name. You cast out demons. You speak with new tongues. You lay hands on the sick and they WILL recover.' Now you see God's power. God's authority, delegated back to man. So man is not restored to his original state, (which he was); he is in better shape than he has ever been! Thank God! The born-again man is a joint-heir with Jesus. PRAISE THE NAME OF THE LORD! If Jesus is the righteousness of God, then you are the righteousness of God in Christ.
We need to quit praying and saying, "Lord, I'm unworthy.'
Thank God - if Jesus is not unworthy, you're not unworthy. You have the right to stand in the throne room of God. We've been beaten down, and the devil has just trampled us in the dust because of a sense of unworthiness. I'll tell you, when this WORD gets in your spirit, you'll never be the same. Lay hold on this Word, rise up and enter into it.
The enemy knows there is power in your words. That is why he tries so desperately to get you to confess doubt, fear, and unbelief. You see, confessing that you are unworthy after being born again is contrary to the Word. You were unworthy, but that old man died with Christ. You are now a new creation in Christ. Anyone in Christ cannot be unworthy.
******I will continue this later, my wrists hurt :)
For anyone interested in hearing Charles Capps talk about this go here. This is the first video in a two week series and Kenneth Copeland talks for a few minutes before Charles Capps gets started, so stay with it :)
October 1, 2008
Explanation
Ok I realize that what I posted down there is a bit, different. But I wanted to give some practical examples of how to live this out.
1. A few weeks ago I started feeling really bad. Like dizzy and weak and just plain bad. I laid down on the bed thinking "Oh no, what's wrong, what's going on...." And then I remembered, this is when I have to walk by faith in the Word of God and not by my senses. So I said," well, the Word says that by His stripes I was healed. So that means I am healed and that nothing is wrong with me; that I am perfectly healthy and whole from the top of my head to the soles of my feet, so body, get in line with the Word. "
And I got up. It was a fight though. I still felt shaky and dizzy and weak. I finished cooking dinner and doing dishes. We sat down to eat. After a few minutes I felt TOTALLY BETTER! One reason was I was just getting overly hungry, but if I had confessed with my mouth, I must be getting sick, then that would have opened the door for me to get really sick. Make sense? You pray the answer, not the problem.
2. A friend was going through great emotional turmoil; spiritual warfare everywhere. It looked real bad. But, me, my husband and his wife, all stood on the ground that we had prayed for deliverance, we had prayed for healing in his heart, we had rebuked the enemy from him in Jesus' name, and that was it. We kept thanking the Lord for what he had done in him and that a miracle was taking place. Well, it did. He has made a 360 degree turn around in a matter of a few short hours. (after watching Fireproof)
3. Looking at the numbers there was no way we could afford to move into this house. No way. But, we felt that God wanted us here and that we should step out in faith. Everything went together so perfectly, that we knew it was God's direction. So we stepped out. Since then we've not had to go into more debt, we've gotten awesome free beds and clothes and many other things, we have a large garden site to grow things and a place for chickens, which we've been wanting to do, the house has a large garden tub which I greatly missed and a lovely sunny eating area surrounded by windows. ALL things that I desired anyways, and by obeying Him, we were blessed. So many other things have happened that I can't even remember. We spoke prosperity and abundance with our mouth and it came.
"My God supplies all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Phil. 4:19
Here is a personal story of how words can give you exactly what you say.
When my older two girls were 23 months and 11 months, I became pregnant. Now, my husband and I were in disagreement on birth control- I thought you should let God have complete control and dh didn't. So in order to 'keep the peace' we didn't use any. (bad un-submissive wifey) The day we decided to not control, I got pregnant. When I found out, my husband was not happy at all. He was mad. This made me feel terrible as well. It took all day to get him to talk to me about it and he expressed his anger. Then I said this, "Well, maybe something will happen and you won't have to worry about it anymore." What I meant was, maybe I would miscarry. I felt in my gut/heart/spirit that I shouldn't say it, but I was hurt and mad too so I did.
I had hard pregnancy- I felt bad. Much worse than just morning sickness, I could barely get up and take care of my other two. I just felt like I was going to faint all of the time. After two months I had the church lay hands and pray for me. I started feeling better each day. I went to the doctor, we had the ultrasound which showed a healthy baby at gestation 11 weeks. One whole month later, I felt great! I was planning for the baby and getting excited. Then one night I noticed some dark blood spots on my underwear. I didn't think much of it. The next day, more blood. I called the doctor, they just told me to lay down and rest. As the day wore on I start bleeding heavier and bright red. I knew in my heart what was going on. I finally got a doctor to talk to me and I went up there. They did an ultrasound and found no heartbeat. The baby died shortly after the first ultrasound, yet I carried it another month before my body did anything. Once I realized it, then my body started to miscarry with cramping and bleeding.
Many people think that it was God's will that they baby should not be born. From what I've learned I honestly think that my words opened the door for the Destroyer to come in.
"The thief comes to steal, and to kill, and destroy. But I've come that you might have life and more abundantly." John 10:10
God brings life not death. It was my words. They started things in motion to bring about what I said. Think of all the times people say "I just about died I laughed so hard." "You almost gave me a heart attack!" "That just tickles me to death." We are speaking of death all the time!!! How can that be good??
I know that there are several other factors involved in my child's death, such as the state of my health, but if I had spoken differently, I truly believe that we would have that child. So, after learning much more, and after deciding to wait several months to a year before trying for another one, we got pregnant! Now we have our sweetheart Sarah.
The next chapter goes into more detail about the things I've just said. No one has really commented at all, but I am going to continue posting the book. It's for yours and my own good :)
1. A few weeks ago I started feeling really bad. Like dizzy and weak and just plain bad. I laid down on the bed thinking "Oh no, what's wrong, what's going on...." And then I remembered, this is when I have to walk by faith in the Word of God and not by my senses. So I said," well, the Word says that by His stripes I was healed. So that means I am healed and that nothing is wrong with me; that I am perfectly healthy and whole from the top of my head to the soles of my feet, so body, get in line with the Word. "
And I got up. It was a fight though. I still felt shaky and dizzy and weak. I finished cooking dinner and doing dishes. We sat down to eat. After a few minutes I felt TOTALLY BETTER! One reason was I was just getting overly hungry, but if I had confessed with my mouth, I must be getting sick, then that would have opened the door for me to get really sick. Make sense? You pray the answer, not the problem.
2. A friend was going through great emotional turmoil; spiritual warfare everywhere. It looked real bad. But, me, my husband and his wife, all stood on the ground that we had prayed for deliverance, we had prayed for healing in his heart, we had rebuked the enemy from him in Jesus' name, and that was it. We kept thanking the Lord for what he had done in him and that a miracle was taking place. Well, it did. He has made a 360 degree turn around in a matter of a few short hours. (after watching Fireproof)
3. Looking at the numbers there was no way we could afford to move into this house. No way. But, we felt that God wanted us here and that we should step out in faith. Everything went together so perfectly, that we knew it was God's direction. So we stepped out. Since then we've not had to go into more debt, we've gotten awesome free beds and clothes and many other things, we have a large garden site to grow things and a place for chickens, which we've been wanting to do, the house has a large garden tub which I greatly missed and a lovely sunny eating area surrounded by windows. ALL things that I desired anyways, and by obeying Him, we were blessed. So many other things have happened that I can't even remember. We spoke prosperity and abundance with our mouth and it came.
"My God supplies all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Phil. 4:19
Here is a personal story of how words can give you exactly what you say.
When my older two girls were 23 months and 11 months, I became pregnant. Now, my husband and I were in disagreement on birth control- I thought you should let God have complete control and dh didn't. So in order to 'keep the peace' we didn't use any. (bad un-submissive wifey) The day we decided to not control, I got pregnant. When I found out, my husband was not happy at all. He was mad. This made me feel terrible as well. It took all day to get him to talk to me about it and he expressed his anger. Then I said this, "Well, maybe something will happen and you won't have to worry about it anymore." What I meant was, maybe I would miscarry. I felt in my gut/heart/spirit that I shouldn't say it, but I was hurt and mad too so I did.
I had hard pregnancy- I felt bad. Much worse than just morning sickness, I could barely get up and take care of my other two. I just felt like I was going to faint all of the time. After two months I had the church lay hands and pray for me. I started feeling better each day. I went to the doctor, we had the ultrasound which showed a healthy baby at gestation 11 weeks. One whole month later, I felt great! I was planning for the baby and getting excited. Then one night I noticed some dark blood spots on my underwear. I didn't think much of it. The next day, more blood. I called the doctor, they just told me to lay down and rest. As the day wore on I start bleeding heavier and bright red. I knew in my heart what was going on. I finally got a doctor to talk to me and I went up there. They did an ultrasound and found no heartbeat. The baby died shortly after the first ultrasound, yet I carried it another month before my body did anything. Once I realized it, then my body started to miscarry with cramping and bleeding.
Many people think that it was God's will that they baby should not be born. From what I've learned I honestly think that my words opened the door for the Destroyer to come in.
"The thief comes to steal, and to kill, and destroy. But I've come that you might have life and more abundantly." John 10:10
God brings life not death. It was my words. They started things in motion to bring about what I said. Think of all the times people say "I just about died I laughed so hard." "You almost gave me a heart attack!" "That just tickles me to death." We are speaking of death all the time!!! How can that be good??
I know that there are several other factors involved in my child's death, such as the state of my health, but if I had spoken differently, I truly believe that we would have that child. So, after learning much more, and after deciding to wait several months to a year before trying for another one, we got pregnant! Now we have our sweetheart Sarah.
The next chapter goes into more detail about the things I've just said. No one has really commented at all, but I am going to continue posting the book. It's for yours and my own good :)
June 2, 2008
Who's in Charge?
Is God in control? Can God do anything He wants? Why doesn't He just end world hunger or stop innocent people from being killed? Why do bad things happen to Christians?
Ever asked these questions? What are some answers we've heard?
" All things work together for good."
"It was God's will"
"Sometimes bad things happen to good people."
"God's bringing judgment on sinful world."
How about this- bad things happen because we let them. Yes, I said because we let bad things happen. Because of a lack of knowledge.
"My people perish from lack of knowledge."
So what in the world am I talking about?
Well a lot of people think that God is totally in control of everything, and ultimately He is, BUT, He can't overtake free will. He has chosen not to. Many Christians either don't really believe that there is a devil or realize that he is out to get them. Many Christians are lazy and want to let God do it all for us, so they just blame Him when something goes wrong.
Let's go back to the beginning. Genesis 1:27-31
"So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which [is] upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which [is] the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein [there is] life, [I have given] every green herb for meat: and it was so.
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, [it was] very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day."
Genesis 2:1
"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
Gen 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made."
So, God made a beautiful place for us to live and lots of food to eat, made us, then gave us dominion on the earth, or authority. Then, He sat down. He handed it over to us. The earth is still under our authority. Animals still run in fright when they see humans and just as Jesus did, we can in His name, take authority over storms/tornadoes etc. I've done it before.
Now, the church is the body. We all have a part to play in His plan. However, who is our head? This is what the Bible says:
Ephesians 1:20-23
"Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places], Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.."
Christ is our head and we are His body. A head can't go anywhere by itself. It needs a body and feet. That is where we come in. Notice however that Christ is at the right hand of God, meaning He is in authority, and all things are put under His feet. Who are the feet? US!!!
We are the ones in control of what happens in our life. Jesus came and died for us, rose again and went back to the Father. The Holy Spirit dwells in us to be our guide and teacher, BUT, it is up to us to do what He says. We always have a choice. When I got locked out of my house I had a choice- panic and make a big issue calling my husband and making him come all the way home to unlock the door, or, do what the Bible says and pray in faith for God's help. If we see weather forecasts about storms and tornadoes we can panic and be fearful or we can pray and thank God for His protection as laid out in Psalm 91 and expect to be fine.
Always a choice. It is up to us and our faith in His Word, which is really faith in Jesus. Our words plant seeds as well, and if we're constantly speaking things like, " Well it'll be my luck that such and such will happen (negative)" or " There's a history of such and such disease in my family so I'll probably get it." Other things I'm catching myself in are saying things like " I just about died laughing" Or " That tickled me to death." Think about those words, though said in jest, I am basically speaking death over myself! The enemy has so fooled us we don't even realize what we're saying!
But I digress...
God's will is us exercising the God given authority over the circumstances in our life and the evil one. His will for us is always good and not evil. Anyone that says that God wants us to suffer for Christ is a liar. God is not glorified in the deaths of His saints or seeing them afflicted. It is costly to Him to lose His army on this earth. We need to practice what Jesus taught and really live by faith- faith that moves mountains and walks on water. If Jesus did it as our example, than we can do it too.
Ever asked these questions? What are some answers we've heard?
" All things work together for good."
"It was God's will"
"Sometimes bad things happen to good people."
"God's bringing judgment on sinful world."
How about this- bad things happen because we let them. Yes, I said because we let bad things happen. Because of a lack of knowledge.
"My people perish from lack of knowledge."
So what in the world am I talking about?
Well a lot of people think that God is totally in control of everything, and ultimately He is, BUT, He can't overtake free will. He has chosen not to. Many Christians either don't really believe that there is a devil or realize that he is out to get them. Many Christians are lazy and want to let God do it all for us, so they just blame Him when something goes wrong.
Let's go back to the beginning. Genesis 1:27-31
"So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which [is] upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which [is] the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein [there is] life, [I have given] every green herb for meat: and it was so.
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, [it was] very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day."
Genesis 2:1
"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
Gen 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made."
So, God made a beautiful place for us to live and lots of food to eat, made us, then gave us dominion on the earth, or authority. Then, He sat down. He handed it over to us. The earth is still under our authority. Animals still run in fright when they see humans and just as Jesus did, we can in His name, take authority over storms/tornadoes etc. I've done it before.
Now, the church is the body. We all have a part to play in His plan. However, who is our head? This is what the Bible says:
Ephesians 1:20-23
"Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places], Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.."
Christ is our head and we are His body. A head can't go anywhere by itself. It needs a body and feet. That is where we come in. Notice however that Christ is at the right hand of God, meaning He is in authority, and all things are put under His feet. Who are the feet? US!!!
We are the ones in control of what happens in our life. Jesus came and died for us, rose again and went back to the Father. The Holy Spirit dwells in us to be our guide and teacher, BUT, it is up to us to do what He says. We always have a choice. When I got locked out of my house I had a choice- panic and make a big issue calling my husband and making him come all the way home to unlock the door, or, do what the Bible says and pray in faith for God's help. If we see weather forecasts about storms and tornadoes we can panic and be fearful or we can pray and thank God for His protection as laid out in Psalm 91 and expect to be fine.
Always a choice. It is up to us and our faith in His Word, which is really faith in Jesus. Our words plant seeds as well, and if we're constantly speaking things like, " Well it'll be my luck that such and such will happen (negative)" or " There's a history of such and such disease in my family so I'll probably get it." Other things I'm catching myself in are saying things like " I just about died laughing" Or " That tickled me to death." Think about those words, though said in jest, I am basically speaking death over myself! The enemy has so fooled us we don't even realize what we're saying!
But I digress...
God's will is us exercising the God given authority over the circumstances in our life and the evil one. His will for us is always good and not evil. Anyone that says that God wants us to suffer for Christ is a liar. God is not glorified in the deaths of His saints or seeing them afflicted. It is costly to Him to lose His army on this earth. We need to practice what Jesus taught and really live by faith- faith that moves mountains and walks on water. If Jesus did it as our example, than we can do it too.
May 26, 2008
Testimonies
God has been making it more clear to us that we acted rightly by choosing to move here. This was a huge step in our faith, because the numbers on the paper said we couldn't make the rent, but we had peace and confidence that this is where He wanted us and if He did, then He would work it out.
1. This house has some features that I've always wanted to have in my own house- breakfast nook surrounded by windows; larger bathrooms and big tub; an area in the main room for the children's toys; um, a nice POOL!
2. Our neighbors offered to let us connect to their highspeed wireless internet. We don't have to pay for that now.
3. My husband is working at a different location and the company he works for is paying for his gas.
4. Saturday I was trying to take a nap and realized that we needed to find a bed! Here's the history- last May Matt and his mom brought down a set of bedroom furniture from Michigan to the other house. The plan was to keep it there until his parents made the move to Texas. So that's what we used. Well, now that they are selling the house, they are coming this weekend to take the furniture back. We had just put the mattress on the floor in this house until we found something else.
So, I thought, well, God will help us find a nice bed that we can afford. Less than 30 minutes later I got a call from a friend that they were getting a new bed and didn't have a place for the old one. It was a KING SIZE POSTURE PEDIC PILLOWTOP mattress and boxsprings. For free. They brought it over that afternoon and it is wonderful! I still have a set of king size sheets, but not a comforter yet. The bed is just on the floor for now, but Matt's parents have an extra king size frame, so they're bringing it for free. I was about to start crying Saturday as they were setting it up. I hadn't said a word or even really prayed for a bed. He just did it.
Another one: Last Monday I got called on my cell phone and had to go outside to take it because we get terrible signals here. After I was done I realized the door had locked behind me. The front door was locked, my car was locked, I was barefooted and all of the girls were inside taking naps. I could either run down boiling hot pavement or grass full of stickers and fire ants in the hopes that maybe our landlady still had an extra key, or, I could call dh and make him come all the way home to unlock it. The windows were locked and high off the ground. A still small voice said to me, well, I AM here. So I prayed- the Bible says He is a very present help in time of trouble and that He has the keys to the kingdom. I said" Lord, you're gonna have to open that door because I can't get in. You're Word says that whatever we ask in the name of Jesus that You would do it, so I ask in Jesus name that door be unlocked right now."
I went to the door and tried it- still locked. I messed with it a little. Finally I looked at it and said" You come open in the name of Jesus!" I heard a click, and I opened the door :)
Talk about shouting for joy- I was internally, didn't want to wake the littles. God cares so deeply, loves so infinitely I cannot comprehend it. Earthquakes and wars and lots more important things going on, yet when He sees His child standing in faith like Jesus did, He is there! I'm sure He was very excited to see His child model after Jesus, in faith.
And He will do this for anyone. He wants to do it for everyone everyday, but they have to believe and not doubt. Faith like a little child. I have been raised in 'faith' church- that was all that was preached. Yet the years of seeds being planted and watered and germinating have finally just now sprung into plants. The reality of what we can do if we believe is hitting me. If Jesus rebuked a storm so can we, I've done that before too. If He walked on water, or changed water into wine, so can we. He was our example and He lives in us. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in those who have accepted Him as their Saviour.
Today is the day of Salvation, now is the accepted time. We are in the generation that all Christians past have wanted to live in. We will see miraculous things and He will use us to make those things happen if we are willing and obedient. I have not 'arrived' or reached some higher plane. I am moving up in my walk with Jesus, but I am still learning and growing. I am just so excited about all that He is showing me I gotta tell it. This is for anyone! Listen to the Holy Spirit, ask Him what He wants to teach you and be open to Him, with ears to hear. He'll speak.
I am still working on my picture post- we are still moving stuff from the old house and had some company over the weekend, so it's been real busy. This is going to be a busy week too. But I shall not neglect my blog, hopefully :) Happy Monday everyone :)
1. This house has some features that I've always wanted to have in my own house- breakfast nook surrounded by windows; larger bathrooms and big tub; an area in the main room for the children's toys; um, a nice POOL!
2. Our neighbors offered to let us connect to their highspeed wireless internet. We don't have to pay for that now.
3. My husband is working at a different location and the company he works for is paying for his gas.
4. Saturday I was trying to take a nap and realized that we needed to find a bed! Here's the history- last May Matt and his mom brought down a set of bedroom furniture from Michigan to the other house. The plan was to keep it there until his parents made the move to Texas. So that's what we used. Well, now that they are selling the house, they are coming this weekend to take the furniture back. We had just put the mattress on the floor in this house until we found something else.
So, I thought, well, God will help us find a nice bed that we can afford. Less than 30 minutes later I got a call from a friend that they were getting a new bed and didn't have a place for the old one. It was a KING SIZE POSTURE PEDIC PILLOWTOP mattress and boxsprings. For free. They brought it over that afternoon and it is wonderful! I still have a set of king size sheets, but not a comforter yet. The bed is just on the floor for now, but Matt's parents have an extra king size frame, so they're bringing it for free. I was about to start crying Saturday as they were setting it up. I hadn't said a word or even really prayed for a bed. He just did it.
Another one: Last Monday I got called on my cell phone and had to go outside to take it because we get terrible signals here. After I was done I realized the door had locked behind me. The front door was locked, my car was locked, I was barefooted and all of the girls were inside taking naps. I could either run down boiling hot pavement or grass full of stickers and fire ants in the hopes that maybe our landlady still had an extra key, or, I could call dh and make him come all the way home to unlock it. The windows were locked and high off the ground. A still small voice said to me, well, I AM here. So I prayed- the Bible says He is a very present help in time of trouble and that He has the keys to the kingdom. I said" Lord, you're gonna have to open that door because I can't get in. You're Word says that whatever we ask in the name of Jesus that You would do it, so I ask in Jesus name that door be unlocked right now."
I went to the door and tried it- still locked. I messed with it a little. Finally I looked at it and said" You come open in the name of Jesus!" I heard a click, and I opened the door :)
Talk about shouting for joy- I was internally, didn't want to wake the littles. God cares so deeply, loves so infinitely I cannot comprehend it. Earthquakes and wars and lots more important things going on, yet when He sees His child standing in faith like Jesus did, He is there! I'm sure He was very excited to see His child model after Jesus, in faith.
And He will do this for anyone. He wants to do it for everyone everyday, but they have to believe and not doubt. Faith like a little child. I have been raised in 'faith' church- that was all that was preached. Yet the years of seeds being planted and watered and germinating have finally just now sprung into plants. The reality of what we can do if we believe is hitting me. If Jesus rebuked a storm so can we, I've done that before too. If He walked on water, or changed water into wine, so can we. He was our example and He lives in us. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in those who have accepted Him as their Saviour.
Today is the day of Salvation, now is the accepted time. We are in the generation that all Christians past have wanted to live in. We will see miraculous things and He will use us to make those things happen if we are willing and obedient. I have not 'arrived' or reached some higher plane. I am moving up in my walk with Jesus, but I am still learning and growing. I am just so excited about all that He is showing me I gotta tell it. This is for anyone! Listen to the Holy Spirit, ask Him what He wants to teach you and be open to Him, with ears to hear. He'll speak.
I am still working on my picture post- we are still moving stuff from the old house and had some company over the weekend, so it's been real busy. This is going to be a busy week too. But I shall not neglect my blog, hopefully :) Happy Monday everyone :)
May 12, 2008
Frugality and Abundant Life
Everyone is talking frugal these days. Sky high prices on gas are causing everything to go up. All the talk about the economy and recession and so on- it's disconcerting. But it also makes me a bit, well to be blunt, angry.
Not just because of tightened wallets, but at the response of Christians. So why am I angry at Christians getting upset about the rising costs of everything?
Because, we should know without a doubt that there is no need to worry. I think that is necessary to spend money wisely; I think it is necessary to know how to do things like cooking from scratch, sewing, how to make your own whatever in case it's not available or you need something and can't buy it. Generally when you make it yourself it's cheaper.
I think it's good that people have to stay home more because of gas or to watch less TV/have less computer time etc. This is forcing people to be more creative and to actually do something with their family members, LOL.
But when I hear Christian people preach doom and gloom I get real ticked. That is not the message of the Bible. What was Jesus' whole ministry on earth about? Faith, faith, FAITH!!!! What is faith?
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."Hebrews 11:1
A lot of people hope that God will do what He says in His word without really being convinced that He will. Faith is being fully persuaded that God will do what He said period- no matter what things look like on the surface. It is remaining steady and sure in what He has said regardless of how things look or feel.
God is not honored by poverty. It is not His will for us to barely scrape by. Look at the Israelites- God wanted them to go from poverty and slavery under Pharaoh's rule to the promised land, the land flowing with milk and honey. Abundant life.
"The thief comes to steal and to kill and to destroy, but I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly." John 10:10
This abundant life is our physical life as well as spiritual. God wants Christians to be so prosperous and healthy that everyone will see what a good God we serve and be drawn to Him. I am not worried about the circumstances of this nation. I know that no matter how bad it looks, that all things are possible with Him. I know He will not leave us high and dry.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes?...If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry...for your heavenly Father knows that you need them. " Matt 6:25-34, condensed
The Holy Spirit reminded me a moment ago of the little boy who had three loaves of bread and two fish, and from that Jesus fed the 5,000. Do we really and truly believe that God can perform miracles? Or is that just something that Jesus did? If He is living in us, then don't we have the same power? If God so loves us, then wouldn't He give us the tools we need to live in this earth? Faith, standing and believing no matter how it looks. God can multiply our funds, if we believe.
"...for verily I say unto you, if you have faith as a grain of a mustard seed, you say unto this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20
Believe and you shall receive. You have not because you ask not. My husband and I are being stretched in our faith right now. We have to move out of this house, yet we don't seem to have enough money to rent or buy a home. My husband's job is over 30 miles away (gas) he has to have highspeed internet and special cell phone for his job. These things are costly. We barely have anything extra as it is- cut down the satellite TV and things like that already.
But, we have been faithful to give the firstfruits to the Lord, which we do with a cheerful heart. We are sowing into His kingdom, and this is what He says about that:
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, ' says the Lord Almighty, ' and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,' says the Lord Almighty. Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,' says the Lord Almighty. " Malachi 3:8-12
We know that He is keeping us and is guiding us. Nothing is too hard for Him- He specializes in impossible things. (example, Jesus' birth and the resurrection of Lazarus and Jesus) So, this post is written to myself, and I hope it helps others. I am learning more and more about how to be more frugal and shave off extra things we don't really need, but I don't plan on being forced to eat only bread and water. Abundant life remember.
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
" Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things that these, because I am going to the Father." John 14:11-12
Not just because of tightened wallets, but at the response of Christians. So why am I angry at Christians getting upset about the rising costs of everything?
Because, we should know without a doubt that there is no need to worry. I think that is necessary to spend money wisely; I think it is necessary to know how to do things like cooking from scratch, sewing, how to make your own whatever in case it's not available or you need something and can't buy it. Generally when you make it yourself it's cheaper.
I think it's good that people have to stay home more because of gas or to watch less TV/have less computer time etc. This is forcing people to be more creative and to actually do something with their family members, LOL.
But when I hear Christian people preach doom and gloom I get real ticked. That is not the message of the Bible. What was Jesus' whole ministry on earth about? Faith, faith, FAITH!!!! What is faith?
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."Hebrews 11:1
A lot of people hope that God will do what He says in His word without really being convinced that He will. Faith is being fully persuaded that God will do what He said period- no matter what things look like on the surface. It is remaining steady and sure in what He has said regardless of how things look or feel.
God is not honored by poverty. It is not His will for us to barely scrape by. Look at the Israelites- God wanted them to go from poverty and slavery under Pharaoh's rule to the promised land, the land flowing with milk and honey. Abundant life.
"The thief comes to steal and to kill and to destroy, but I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly." John 10:10
This abundant life is our physical life as well as spiritual. God wants Christians to be so prosperous and healthy that everyone will see what a good God we serve and be drawn to Him. I am not worried about the circumstances of this nation. I know that no matter how bad it looks, that all things are possible with Him. I know He will not leave us high and dry.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes?...If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry...for your heavenly Father knows that you need them. " Matt 6:25-34, condensed
The Holy Spirit reminded me a moment ago of the little boy who had three loaves of bread and two fish, and from that Jesus fed the 5,000. Do we really and truly believe that God can perform miracles? Or is that just something that Jesus did? If He is living in us, then don't we have the same power? If God so loves us, then wouldn't He give us the tools we need to live in this earth? Faith, standing and believing no matter how it looks. God can multiply our funds, if we believe.
"...for verily I say unto you, if you have faith as a grain of a mustard seed, you say unto this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20
Believe and you shall receive. You have not because you ask not. My husband and I are being stretched in our faith right now. We have to move out of this house, yet we don't seem to have enough money to rent or buy a home. My husband's job is over 30 miles away (gas) he has to have highspeed internet and special cell phone for his job. These things are costly. We barely have anything extra as it is- cut down the satellite TV and things like that already.
But, we have been faithful to give the firstfruits to the Lord, which we do with a cheerful heart. We are sowing into His kingdom, and this is what He says about that:
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, ' says the Lord Almighty, ' and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,' says the Lord Almighty. Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,' says the Lord Almighty. " Malachi 3:8-12
We know that He is keeping us and is guiding us. Nothing is too hard for Him- He specializes in impossible things. (example, Jesus' birth and the resurrection of Lazarus and Jesus) So, this post is written to myself, and I hope it helps others. I am learning more and more about how to be more frugal and shave off extra things we don't really need, but I don't plan on being forced to eat only bread and water. Abundant life remember.
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
" Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things that these, because I am going to the Father." John 14:11-12
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