Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. Ephesians 5:1

As I sat reading this morning, the thought occurred to me, ‘You become who you hang around with.’ This was something I used to tell the girls when they were young. Any time they would come home with bad habits, I would question who they were hanging around with. It’s not that their friends were bad, well some of them…., it was perhaps more that they weren’t raised with the same values as we had.

I’m extremely watchful as to who influences me on a regular basis. I have few close friends, but those I have love the Lord like I do and love to talk about His Word. We constantly share with one another and build each other up by using what we know and love the most-The Word of God.

If in talking with someone I constantly hear negative and discouraging news, I know they’ve been influenced by the world more than the Word. If after attempting to change the subject or shift the focus onto God and His promises they walk away, I’m not offended, I’m simply aware of God stepping in and guarding me from wrong influences.

When I was about 9 or 10 years old, a family moved into an old house close by us. She was about my age and we began playing together each day. I’d never had any close friends because I was painfully shy and withdrawn due to constantly being made fun of for being chubby. She had a horrible habit of lying about everything and I quickly picked that up. When I was caught lying, my dad asked me, “Who have you been playing with?” When I answered, he immediately said, “You are not to play with her anymore!”

Why would he say that? Because he knew that bad influences corrupt good people and he didn’t want that for me. It took years for the ‘rod of correction’ to drive that lying spirit out of me. In fact it wasn’t until I surrendered my heart to the Lord at 15 and was filled with the Holy Spirit that I was free of lying. To this day there are times I do something stupid and am tempted to lie to get out of it, but the Spirit of God convinces me that is not the way.

So how do we imitate God? Lets read on to verse 2;  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

My dear friends, we cannot imitate who we do not know. We can’t hang around with the world, be friends with the world and walk in love. It’s impossible to be like Jesus if we don’t follow his example. You can’t talk like Him if you don’t fill yourself up with the Word. You can’t walk in His love if the love of the Father isn’t in you.

Do an inventory today of what you spend time doing, hearing and saying. Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal where the weeds are and how to get rid of them. You don’t have to tell your friends, “My daddy told me I can’t hang around with you anymore because you’re a bad influence!” AWKWARD! No, the more you change from the inside out, the more the Love of God influence you, they will either be hungry to change too or they just won’t want to be around you anymore. It’s all good! God will bring new influences to you so you’ll grow be more like Him.

Oh Father, thanks for the reminder. Acts 17:28 tells me that it is through You that I live and function and have my identity; just as Your own poets have said, ‘Our lineage comes from Him.’  As I sit and soak in Your sweet presence today, infuse me with Your Spirit to a greater degree so that when I open my mouth to speak, others my be set ablaze with Your love. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He’s given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God. 1 John 4:13-16 MSG

Have you embraced the love that God has planted in your heart? It’s deep, rich and so thick it covers things that others would try to expose. Christians who truly love don’t seem to notice the wrongs people do. They simply do what the Spirit prompts us to do, love.

I always thought I embraced it. That is until I sat before the Lord, pouring out my love to Him and He quietly said, “If you really want to convey your love to me, actions speak louder than words. I would rather you show it to others because that shows the world you are Mine.”

My mind automatically went to the many times I saw my girls ministering to others, hugging and loving on them, helping someone with a need, being a listener and just being kind and how proud I was of them. I felt it was a reflection of how we raised them and in a very small way it was. But seriously, we only reflect what we know and if we don’t know Love, we can never show Love to others.

I capitalized the word Love for a reason. Love isn’t a feeling or emotion, Love is God and God is Love. If we don’t allow His Love to be planted in our hearts, we cannot grow and reflect His Love to others. If the love we demonstrate is selfish, unkind, jealous, petty, boastful, proud, etc., it’s not Gods love that’s growing in our hearts but rather a perverted and perhaps religious kind of love.

If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both. 1 John 4:20-21 MSG

So embrace it! If you don’t, there’s no hope for this world. We MUST love people to show Gods love, period, end of story! THE POWER IS IN LOVE!!!!! Nothing else but Love!

Change us Lord, conform us in the image of Your Son, the one who was truly a reflection of You. The only way I can reflect You is to spend time in Your presence and go out into the world and be Love. Fill me up so that I can spill out. I embrace it with every fiber of my being. I embrace the great commission of Love. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He loves us so much that we are actually called God’s dear children. And that’s what we are. For this reason the world doesn’t recognize us, and it didn’t recognize him either.  1 John 3:1 GW

There was a song my girls used to sing that’s been ringing in my ears today. It’s based on 1 John 4:7-8 and it goes just like this: Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who loves not, knows not God, for God is love. Beloved, let us love one another. 

True children of God love. Why? Because God is love. Not just any old love, but a deep abiding love that is so deep and so wide there is nothing that can compare to it. It’s the kind of love that is blind to our obvious flaws and failures. It doesn’t expose, it covers. It’s how you can see the difference between those who are truly born of God and those who wear their own robes of righteousness.

This morning as I sat before the Lord basking in His presence, He began to reveal something to me that I’ve not seen clearly before. If we allow ourselves to receive the love of God, changing us from the inside out, losing our own agendas and twisted thinking, we could change the world just as Jesus did.

We’ve prayed, “Your Kingdom come! Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven!” We’ve expected hell fire and damnation to be poured out on the sinners because the times are evil but in all reality, His is a Kingdom of Love and it’s the love of God, not judgement of mankind that will be this last great revival we see in the earth.

Love-not conditional but unconditional, that’s what moves God. Jesus went about healing the sick and raising the dead unbelievers, not those who claimed to know God. Love begets love. God is love and if we’re His children then we too are love. We are to love them all! The sick and twisted need God more than ever today. Those who behave badly need a Savior more than ever today.

We’ve been longing to see signs, wonders and miracles follow us but they only follow Love. Oh what love the Father had for us that while we were yet sinners, Love died for us. Why? Because first the seed of Love must fall into the ground and die before it can bring forth much fruit.

It’s so simple really! We’ve tried to overcomplicate the most simple plan in the universe; Love one another as I’ve loved you, so love one another. Love. If you have all the special programs in the world and have not love, it’s nothing. If love doesn’t unconditionally propel you into the darkest part of the world so that they may know the true love of God, you’ve missed it. Love should cause you to share your coat. Love should cause you to share your food. Love should cause you to share your wealth. If it doesn’t, you love things more than you love God.

Father, teach me to love like You. I have missed it so many times in the past, give me another chance to Love. May I receive Your Love so that I can be so full that it spills over and puts out the flames of hate and evil around me. May it not only change me, but may it change my neighbors, coworkers and those in my community. May Your love spread like a fire in Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

All this is for your sake so that, as God’s kindness overflows in the lives of many people, it will produce even more thanksgiving to the glory of God.  That is why we are not discouraged. Though outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are renewed day by day.  Our suffering is light and temporary and is producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine.  We don’t look for things that can be seen but for things that can’t be seen. Things that can be seen are only temporary. But things that can’t be seen last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:15-18 GW

So often we tend to focus on what we see in this natural realm but remember, it’s only temporary. We can place our trust in God and know that He who is not seen is more real then that we do see. Say this with me; It’s only temporary! This too shall pass!

When the snow comes down as it often does, and it piles up in drifts around the house, we know that eventually it’s going to warm up, the snow will melt and we will see it no more. There are probably some in the north that hope this happens sooner rather than later! But my point is, it’s only temporary!

It’s important to remember that our words may not be seen, but when they connect with Gods Word, they become powerful tools of breakthrough. You see my friends, we are spirits. Our bodies are simply a house for our spirits but our body is temporary. We should be spending more time feeding our spirits then our bodies. It should be our top priority because God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth.

If we took just half the time we spend on social media and invest that time in our spirits, we’d have more giants in faith then seen in the past. There would be more of us listening and doing and less of us blabbing about what they saw on FB or Twitter. Let’s remember that the Word lasts forever but laws, politics and people are just temporary.

Father, I choose to focus on You today. All of Your promises are real, they are true, they never fail. Heaven and earth will pass away, but Your Word will remain. I commit to focus on You today, to listen to Your voice and do what You ask me to do. It’s for Your glory and in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Some Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come. His answer was, “The Kingdom of God does not come in such a way as to be seen.  No one will say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’; because the Kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21 GNT

Oh this great and wonderful truth of what we carry inside of us. It’s not found externally, but internally. It’s not eating and drinking, it’s righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. There’s nothing in this world that can imitate it because it’s only found in Him.

I love what Paul wrote in Colossians 1:27; God’s plan is to make known his secret to his people, this rich and glorious secret which he has for all peoples. And the secret is that Christ is in you, which means that you will share in the glory of God.

Who is this that lives in us? LOVE. God is Love. The power of love changes and transform us from the inside out. It is Love (God) in us that will change the world, heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons. When we as believers begin to operate in that kind of unconditional, sacrificial Love, everything around us will change.

You’ve got to try and understand this because it’s the key to everything in the Kingdom. It has nothing to do with how good you are or how you act or dress, it’s an internal thing. You are only holy because Christ lives in you. “ so that it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. This life that I live now, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me.” Galatians 2:20

I could go on and on and on all morning about this, but the truth is found in the fact that we must know God to know Love. To love as God loves we must die to self and surrender and allow Him to fill every nook and cranny of our lives with Him. If we want signs and wonders to follow us, Love. The true power is found in Love.

Father, it’s my desire to know You deeply and completely so I release those I’ve held prisoner, those who have hurt me, deserted me, lied to me, used and abused me. You said that love covers a multitude of sins, so I choose to cover not expose. Father forgive them, they don’t know what they’ve done! I ask Your grace and mercy be on them today and that they may truly know You in the deepest way. They are Your sons and daughters who have been deceived. May Your deep Love open the eyes of those blinded and may they be set free today. It’s in Jesus’ name and for Your glory, Amen.

Then the Philistines once again made a raid on the valley. Therefore David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. And it shall be, when you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” So David did as God commanded him, and they drove back the army of the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gezer. I Chronicles 14:13-16

Here’s a lesson to start off your week:

1. When faced with great opposition the first thing I should do is ask God what my next move should be.  
2. I should listen and follow instruction carefully.  
3. Give God the credit because the victory I experience belongs to him.

Until I learn this very important lesson, I will not walk in the victory God wants for me. I must rely on HIM, ALWAYS! When I begin thinking I can do it alone, I will end up lonely. When I am dependent on Him, I remain hidden in him, surrounded by his glory and victory is assured.

Whatever I face, I will face it with You, Lord. I am never alone for You are always with me according to Your Word. You said that if I seek You I will find You so I’m seeking You with all my heart. Your Words were, “Ask and it will be given, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be open to you.”

You desire to give good gifts to me and I desire to ask for and receive them. Every good and perfect gift comes from You so I give You thanks for direction, for wisdom and guidance. Today is going to be the best day ever because You will be glorified in all I do, all I say, all I type. Victory belongs to the King and I stand with Him. It’s in Jesus’ name, Amen.

But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.  Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.  Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,  saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ” And they remembered His words. Luke 24:2-8

No it’s not Easter and yes there’s a reason for this message. What I want to point out in this is that regardless of how many times we hear a promise or a word from the Lord, it is easy to forget. Why? Because we can’t see it, we hear but don’t hear, it’s just not relevant to our circumstance…..yet.

That’s how it was when Jesus first spoke these words. Everyone around heard him, they just didn’t understand what he meant by it. Jesus was notorious for speaking in parables, so I think they just thought it was another one of those stories. They probably thought to ask him later but there was so many other things that they let it go. Sometimes in the speaking, it’s merely a declaration of things to come.

Here’s something important to remember; God always has purpose for everything spoken. His Word always does what it was sent to do, just not when we think it should be done.

Approximately 5 years ago, our then pastor stood by me, grabbed my hand and said to me, “Every Word! Every Word spoken will come to pass! Every Word!” He kept saying it over and over with such force, so much power coursing through his hand to mine, I still feel it. Has every word happened? Not yet. But I know beyond a shadow of a doubt it will.

It had nothing to do with the man who delivered the message. He was just a method to deliver that word to me. But I won’t forget that Word or the powerful impact it had on me. Each time I think of a promise, I remember. Each time I look at something not completed, I remember. Each time I’m discouraged and want to give up hope, I remember.

I don’t pretend to know Gods plans or understand His methods, but I do know He is God. Omnipotent. The Great King has a plan that my mind can’t understand and my intellect can’t figure out. It’s ok! I know who’s in charge and I trust that my very small part has significance. I will trust Him while I remember.

When things look bleak-remember to place your hope in Him for He will never fail you.. When the pain is great-remember, He is the great Healer. When the needs are great-remember, He is the great Provider. When the river is a mere trickle-remember the rain is coming. He will bring water to a dry and thirsty land.

Thank You Father for this reminder to remember. I will watch as You draw the curtains aside so the sun shines through. I will crawl up into Your lap and warm myself in Your presence because You are mine and I am Yours. It’s in Jesus’ name. Amen

II Corinthians 9:8 AMP: And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.

That word, Abundance means; an extremely plentiful or oversufficient quantity or supply.

You were never meant to be broke; God is your Provider. You were never meant to be sick; God is your Healer. You were never meant to be fearful; God is your Protector. You were never meant to be alone; God is with you. Your husband is His. Your children are His. Your life is His. He is God and there is no other. If He is for you, who can be against you? Won’t you just take a moment and thank Him? He’s been all this and more to you.

Here we are trying to do it all in ourselves and God has already provided every favor and earthly blessing, every miracle needed, every way of escape, everything we will ever need, and placed it inside of us. He simply wants our trust. Think about that. How drastically would your life change if you really believed that verse? You wouldn’t sweat it, you’d believe and trust Him for direction and out of that trust, you’d submit and do it His way.

Father, so many times I just wanted to be in control and I’ve so messed things up! I repent of my self-sufficiency. What was I thinking? That I had enough wisdom in myself to make it happen? I realize now that everything in my life is designed to develop utmost trust in You. So today, I submit and surrender the lordship of my life to You, the author and finisher of my faith.

You have placed in me everything I need, it’s Your Holy Spirit who counsels me, instructs and directs my steps. He keeps me healthy and strong, keeps me balanced, helps me to walk in love, to forgive and accept forgiveness. He either removes obstacles or shows me how to get around or over them. Every good and perfect gift is from You. You are the only wise one. You have provided a table filled with goodness, grace and mercy, just as my enemy thought he’d defeated me, my trust in You paid off and you beat his loser self.

You are amazing beyond words, even beyond my ability to comprehend. Therefore I will hope in my God. I will not give up or quit. I know that You hear every word I speak, therefore I will remind You of Your promises to me and know that You deliver on them and keep Your Word. It’s in Jesus name and for Your glory, Amen.

So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. Ezekiel 22:30

Have you ever heard a report about someone that grieved your spirit? I’m not talking about shedding a few tears then going about your business, I’m talking about a deep sadness in your spirit that won’t let go of you. The kind that creates a sound of deep intercession for a soul.

I am going to attempt to put into words the things that I saw in my spirit as I began to cry out for this person. I saw their mother (who I’ve never met and who is long deceased), with her apron over her head crying out for her children. I heard her say, “Save my children that they may serve you and be mighty warriors in Your Kingdom.” She was rocking back and forth in deep prayer on a stool in her kitchen.

Suddenly I saw her words moving through the earth as if they were just spoken and I heard the Lord say, “The prayers of the saints still cry out to me, will you take up their cause? Will you cry out for their children and their childrens children? So many of my people are only concerned for their own, but if you will intercede for them, I will indeed watch over My Word for your children and their children unto the 3rd and 4th generation and they will serve me always.”

This has always been Gods way; sowing seed, doing for others, it’s the way His Kingdom operates in the earth. I just wanted to stir up in you what the Lord is stirring in me. Pray for others as if your own life depended on it. Cry out for the lost as if those were your children. Call them back to God in the spirit realm so that your words will join His word and their words and battle for their souls.

Father, I join the prayers of all the saints before me and I lift up their sons and daughters before you. I cry out with a loud voice, come back to God! Come back to the call of God! Stir up the gifts and anointings’ You’ve placed on them. Give them a deep sense of dissatisfaction that is only satisfied in You. Father, I join my words with those who have gone before me, that their children will be mighty in Your Kingdom. That signs, wonders and miracles will follow them and many will come to know You from their great testimony. It’s in Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

I was reminded this morning of the 10 spies Moses sent into the promised land. Eight of them came back reporting all of the bad and two of them came back and reported the good. Two remembered that God was on their side and 8 of them forgot that part. So what made the difference? Vision.

I hear people saying, “Seeing is believing!” but the Lord says, only those who believe will see. Faith must be firmly established in God, not the things we see in this natural realm. The bible states that without vision, we perish. Why is that? Because if we only believe what we see there is no hope, but if we believe what we don’t yet see, our faith filled words will cause them to show up in the natural realm.

What happened when God said, “Let there be light!” Light came!

What happened when God sent His Word and healed them and delivered them from all their diseases? Jesus came and did just that. He was the Word made flesh. Where did the breakdown come into play? Was it Gods Word that failed? NEVER! It was our failure to see and believe.

What makes a business plan succeed? Vision and faith in that vision plus determination to never give up. Regardless of the ups and downs, the highs and lows, they refuse to quit. This seems to be what Gods people are lacking. When they don’t see the results they want, they quit believing and try to find another way. God must be the ONLY way.

Jeremiah the prophet was such a great example of this. In chapter 1 beginning in verse 5 we read: