Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word. Psalm 103:20

I don’t think or talk about angels much, not that I don’t believe in them because I do! I just know that we are to exalt the name of the Lord, not his angels, but lately I’ve been thinking of the role they play in Gods plan.

They are in essence worker bees, the ones who go out and gather the pollen to make the honey. They have been trained to hear the Word of the Lord. So when we speak His Word in faith (which is the activator of the Word), they are dispatched to go after that Word.

I see this in the book of Jeremiah where God is training him to speak what he sees God says, “You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.” If we have an understanding of who we are and whose we are and more importantly, the power of OUR words, we would be more earnest to speak more of HIS Word over our situations then to curse, spit, sputter and worry over them.

“When you speak, angels are authorized to act based on your words. Choose words of life and not death to commission your angels in your life.” Bill Winston

If we actually believed that we are seated with Christ in heavenly places, then from that position of authority, we would be imitators of Christ, healing the sick, raising the dead and bringing hope to the hopeless. I believe God has called all of us, like Jeremiah in chapter 1:10, “See, I have this day appointed you to the oversight of the nations and of the kingdoms to root out and pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

Seriously? How can I do that? I’m just a simple woman without qualifications or education. I have no influence over the nations or kingdoms of this earth! Oh yes I do! Let me remind you that Jeremiah was just a simple man doing his own thing when God found him. I have great influence because I have the hidden treasure of His Word in my heart. When I speak in faith, in my prayer closet and over things God burdens me for, I have more influence in the earth then any casual conversation I could have with anyone.

I think the key here is that I must believe that when I speak what God shows me to speak, my words will be effective.  I do my job (speaking) and angels listen and are my worker bees in making that happen. We want a lot of things, but our purpose is what Jesus’ purpose was, “to do the will of the Father that sent me.”

Time to give the angels a job to do and begin declaring over your family, finances, health and future. Speak the Word over your neighbors, your pastors, your parents and siblings. Speak it over the nation (not your opinion but the Word), your president, senate, state and local leaders. We are carriers of the Word of God, not just to fill us up and make us sound smart. Not even to voice our opinion over what should or could be done differently, but to be useful in the Kingdom of God and speak what He’s purposed us to speak.

“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.” Psalm 141:3

I love the story of Daniel. What an example he set to constantly place God as highest priority. Daily he rose early to pray, even after law was passed to stop. What he received for his seeking the face of God is found in Daniel 9:20-23.

” I went on praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people, pleading with the Lord my God for Jerusalem, his holy mountain. As I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came swiftly to me at the time of the evening sacrifice. He explained to me, “Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and understanding. The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God. Listen carefully so that you can understand the meaning of your vision.”

Lots of things here, but two that personally spoke to me. When you prioritize the Lord and the things that are dear to his heart: 1. You gain insight and understanding. 2. You become very precious to God.

There is a high price tag that comes with seeking the face of God which makes you not real popular with man. They don’t understand why you’re not more like them, why you don’t value what they value, why you don’t fit in. You become a social outcast, a misfit, people plot against you, set you up for a fall, sometimes it’s your own family, even members of your church. They tell you not to be so extreme, they don’t understand why you weep for the lost, why you carry such a heavy load, why you’re loud or so passionate.

Can I just encourage you for a moment, my remnant friend? Set your face toward God and carry what he’s called you to carry. I would rather leave this world light then to try to carry it with me. Knowing you’re obedient to the voice of the Lord is probably the most rewarding choice I’ve ever made.

Am I perfect? Not by a long shot. God’s probably the only thing I’ve been able to focus on (squirrel) in my life. Sometimes I think even our pastor shakes his head and wonders what to do with me. I still blurt out inappropriate comments, still get upset and still vent about ‘stupid people’, but my heart is set on God and little by little he’s changing me to care more about what HE wants and less about whats mine.

This isn’t a fad or a style change that if you decide you don’t like it, you can take it back and exchange it. This is for keeps! Don’t try this at home and live something else on your job. It’s not like make-up that you take off at night, it’s permanent! You won’t find it in any church; you find it on your knees.

When he finished teaching, he said to Simon, “Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch.” Simon said, “Master, we’ve been fishing hard all night and haven’t caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I’ll let out the nets.” It was no sooner said than done—a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch. Luke 5:4-7

This morning I’m reminded of when Jesus told a tired Simon Peter who had fished all night and caught nothing to put his net down for a haul. His obedience enabled him to provide for his family so he could go on the road with Jesus.

I’m tired of trying! It’s something I’ve been hearing alot lately, mostly from my own mind. I’m pretty sure I’m not alone. Day in and day out you do what you’re supposed to do and after awhile you just want to throw in the towel and give up. But I’m no quitter! In fact I’m pretty sure I heard the Lord say, “Let’s go fishing!”

It’s not just ‘one word’ that changes everything, it’s obedience to that one word. What have you been hearing? What have you been doing? I encourage you to keep doing what you’re doing even when you’re tired of doing it. Remember that faith without works is dead!

All aboard! Get your nets together and let them down when I say. I’m going to provide more than you were expecting. Let me infuse you with strength for this final fishing trip. I’m with you always! Jesus

“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” Matthew 5:43-48 Message

I was thinking about how easy it is to love those who love you, but how very difficult it is to love those who criticize you and say mean and nasty things about you and sometimes to you. I often wonder how Jesus did it-you know-die for those who had just beat him and yelled ‘crucify him’.

You probably think, well he’s God son so he has Gods nature, easy peasy! But the truth is that the moment we believed upon Jesus, we too became Gods children. Look with me at Romans 8:15-17;

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!

Father and children, that is what we are and because of that, we can love like that. It only becomes easy when we see our own sin forgiven. Every opportunity we’re given to show that same love and forgiveness is a chance for someone to know our Father. That’s how He did it. He wanted us to know Father as He did.

I will choose to love the haters. I will choose to love the hurters. I will choose to love them because You first loved me and purchased my salvation on Calvary. In Jesus’ precious and lovely name, Amen.

The Spirit makes it clear that as time goes on, some are going to give up on the faith and chase after demonic illusions put forth by professional liars. These liars have lied so well and for so long that they’ve lost their capacity for truth. They will tell you not to get married. They’ll tell you not to eat this or that food—perfectly good food God created to be eaten heartily and with thanksgiving by believers who know better! Everything God created is good, and to be received with thanks. Nothing is to be sneered at and thrown out. God’s Word and our prayers make every item in creation holy. 1 Timothy 4:1-5

A few years back we were told to follow a low fat diet, then they flipped it and stated that fats are good for you as long as they are healthy fats. Back and forth, back and forth, now it’s all about gluten and wheat. We’ve become obsessed with what to eat, but have forgotten the simple truth that God created everything and merely wants us to be thankful.

So don’t fall for all that wasting your time with trying to only eat certain foods. Be thankful for what God has provided for you and in giving thanks, you’re also confessing that you trust God that the food you eat will benefit your body, not destroy it.

Thanks Father that You not only created everything, but that You make it good for me. I will be thankful and trust that what I consume, You’ve blessed. I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You. It’s in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and trust also in me. John 14:1

Let is such a small word with such big meaning. The dictionary defines this word as to allow or permit; to allow to pass, go or come; to grant the occupancy or use of for rent or hire.

With this understanding, let’s re-read this verse again; Don’t allow or permit your hearts be troubled (fearful). Don’t grant fear an occupancy permit. Trust, rely and lean heavily on God. Remember that God can be trusted in ALL things, not just a few things. If your heart is troubled, it’s time to take a look at what you’ve let in.

I’m reminded of Proverbs 4:23 GW which says; Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it. 

Think about this; your heart pumps the blood through your body, right? It provides oxygen and life to every part of you. What if there’s a blockage in your leg that doesn’t allow the blood to flow to your foot? You lose blood flow, you lose your foot plain and simple. Or say there’s an infection in your blood, your heart pumps that infection to every part of your body so that it spreads. It doesn’t stay isolated, it spreads. That’s why it’s so important to guard your heart!

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:6-7 MSG

My dear friends, unless you address the problem with what you ‘let’ or what you allow to  come into your ears, eyes, minds and hearts, you will live in fear instead of faith. I don’t know about you but I don’t want fear to poison me and keep me from trusting in God. I will measure everything against the Word of God and the nature of God. God is LOVE and if it goes against LOVE it’s not God. If I use that as a measuring stick, I will never come up short.

Father, I trust in You and You alone. I will not be afraid of the storms of life for You spoke peace over me, not the worlds peace but Your peace. It passes all understanding and it guards my mind and heart. I trust You in everything, the seen and the unseen, the known and the unknown. You’ve made me an active participant in this choice and I choose You. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16

What does it mean to be renewed? I love this definition: to restore to a new or fresh condition. Thats what happens when we spend time reading the Word of God and meditating on it, our minds begin to adapt new thought patterns and we exchange the old for the new. 

God is doing a new thing, so new that there are not words to describe it. You can’t put new wine in old wine skins because they will burst and become good for nothing. I have to get rid of my old thinking, my desire for the old or former things in order to take in and enjoy the new things of God. My mind cannot accomadate the old and new.

This new thing is nothing we can figure out or fit it into our box or schedule. The only way to experience true renewal is to seek Gods face, go after him with your face buried in the Word, hungry and thirsty for his body and blood. It must be a personal thing! Don’t look for it in your church till you find it on your knees. I have a ‘more taste’ in my mouth for fresh manna, not yesterdays bread.

Father, as I sit with You this morning may I empty out the corruption that has snuck into my thinking. I’ve been slowly conforming to the worlds way without realizing it. It sounded good, it looked ok, but it’s taken a toll on the truth of Your Word. Forgive me once again. All that matters is found in You. May the light of Your presence expose what I could not see and restore me to a new condition in You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Romans 8:11

This is the word that kept looping through my head last night each time I woke up. Why? I have no idea.  I only know that when this happens it’s usually a teaching moment for me. Since I grew up in the King James version, that’s the way it came to me in the night.

This word quicken means to hasten or accelerate, to give or restore vigor or activity to, so when applied to this verse, we see that the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead has the same power to restore or give life to dead things within us as well.

Why else would God place His Spirit in us? John 14:26 says that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things and bring back to our remembrance all that Jesus said. All those years ago when Jesus spoke something, those words are still alive and powerful today. If you have heard them or read them, they are still working. It’s the Spirit of God who quickens or gives life to them.

When I listen to a message that is full of the Word of God and revelation begins to come to me, my spirit links up with the Spirit of God on that Word and comes alive in me. That’s why I’m so passionate when I speak about things God is showing me. It literally wakes me in the night because it’s always working, always revealing things, always!

That’s why it’s so important to spend time in the Word and allow it to settle in you. Psalm 1:2 Passion says it like this; Their pleasure and passion is remaining true to the Word of “I Am,” meditating day and night in his true revelation of light. In Proverbs 4:22 Solomon says the Word is equivalent to life for those who find them and health to their flesh. That’s pretty potent medicine right there.

So it is that the Spirit of God quickens or gives life to the Word in us to bring us everything we need for life today and always. What you feed grows, what you starve dies. Perhaps that is what we really need to hear today. If we feed the Spirit of God in us, the life that comes into us will be so powerful that nothing can harm us. The things in us that have died will come to life! Disease will have to be healed. Wholeness comes by the Spirit of God who quickens.

Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me! For without Your Spirit I will not live to do what You’ve created me to do. I will not have the strength or wisdom to do anything if Your Spirit doesn’t lead me and bring me into all truth. Stir up the dormant Word in me that I may speak and bring life to those who hear it. It’s in Jesus’ name and for Your glory, Amen.

Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying,  “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.  And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”

So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.  The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.  And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. 1 Kings 17:2-7

I’m pretty sure that if Elijah had stayed there, he would have died. But because he chose to listen and move on, God used him to save a widow and her son. God will always supply the means if we give Him the opportunity.

I believe that the thing we struggle with the most is that we shift our attention from the provider to the provision and when the provision dries up, we freak out. But those who trust in the Provider know that He will use any means necessary to care for us because we trust in Him.

So many times in my past I’ve allowed my lack to scream for attention. While I scrambled around trying to find enough to make ends meet, I only ended up stressed out and frustrated when nothing seemed to work for me. But in the morning I heard the call of the Provider, “Come to me! Seek my face! I will take care of you.”

How quickly we forget the words of Jesus, “Look at all the birds—do you think they worry about their existence? They don’t plant or reap or store up food, yet your heavenly Father provides them each with food. Aren’t you much more valuable to your Father than they?” Matthew 6:26

Oh Father, my Father, how deep is Your great love for me. If there was never a need there would never be opportunity to show us Your faithfulness as our provider. If we were never sick, how would You be our healer. In the place of our deepest need, we cry out for help which is what You long to hear. So we cry out for help, knowing that our help comes from You oh Lord. Until it manifests, we will sit in Your arms and await Your instructions. It’s in Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

What is the cost of peace? How much would we spend to get some? If your life is full of stress, worry and turmoil, that is NOT the place God wants you to dwell. Jesus paid the ultimate price for your peace but it’s up to you to own it.

“Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.” John 14:27 GNT

There are a lot of things that can steal your peace. Please be aware of what you’re reading on social media, what you watch on TV and even what you’re entertaining in the lunch room. Remind yourself that you’re a child of the most high God and that He knows what you have need of even before you ask. Answer every fearful thought with the unfailing Word of God.

I speak peace to your day, the peace that passes understanding, guarding your heart and mind. The peace that sweeps over you, bringing you everything you need for today, restoring everything missing or broken in your life.

Repairer of broken things, Redeemer of missed moments, wrong steps and deep losses, come press over us today. Don’t pass us by! Don’t allow us to be too busy that we miss this opportunity to soak in Your presence where Your peace is found. Amazing Father, as we sit in Your presence this morning, we thank You that in Your presence is fullness of joy, peace that passes understanding and overwhelming love.

We always come away with so much more then what we entered with. The exchange for our burdens and cares, pain and sadness is, deepest losses are met with Your grace and goodness. We walk away restored.

“No one ever cared for me like Jesus, there’s no other friend so kind as He. No one else can take the sin and darkness from me. Oh how much He cares for me.”