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Banishing Fear

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God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. I John 4:17-18 Message

I just looked up the definition of the word ‘banish’ and this is what it says: to expel from or relegate to a country or place by authoritative decree; condemn to exile; to compel to depart; send, drive, or put away. Do you see what love does to fear? Love gives you the authority to ban fear from operating in your life. It doesn’t allow your fears of failure, defeat or loss to dictate the outcomes of your future.

Love at its finest is God. Do you see that? Surrendering to that kind of love is life changing. It’s empowering. On it’s wings comes peace and assurance. Trying to control things you weren’t meant to is where fear comes from. Surrender to God puts trust where it belongs, in Him.

Ephesians 3:14-20 says it like this:

My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Gods purpose isn’t to control us and make us do things, it’s in surrendering to the depths of His love that we experience freedom. As Paul said in Galatians 2:20; I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Banish fear and plant yourself in Love today.  Watch the fruit become evident in every area you come in contact with.

 

 

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To Know God

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There is something about the stillness of the morning that I love. No other noise but the fan swirling overhead and the warm presence of the Holy Spirit. Psalm 46:10 slips into my thoughts, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

The definition of this word know, is to perceive or understand as fact or truth; to apprehend clearly and with certainty; to have established or fixed in the mind; to understand from experience or attainment.

“Be still and KNOW that I am God!”

Even when the answer alludes you and you’re desperate to know what to do; be still and know. Jesus took the little and made it much, how much more will He do for you? Be still and know. When the report of the enemies advancement into your territory looms loudly before your ears; be still and know.

Without the knowing, there is no peace. Don’t allow the things you face to erase the peace of His presence in your life. Be still and know. If you don’t know, you won’t have peace. If you don’t know, stress will crush you. I KNOW He is able to keep me. I KNOW He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above what I can ask or imagine. I KNOW He is in me and His abiding grace washes over my life. I KNOW.

Do you know? Do you understand as fact or truth, clearly and with certainty? Is He fixed in your mind? Have you experienced His goodness, grace and mercy? Philippians 4:9, Paul says this, “Keep on doing all the things you learned and received and heard from me. Do the things you saw me do. Then the God Who gives peace will be with you.”

This week, may you focus on Who you know, not what you see.

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Moving Right Along

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“Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world. He did not send him to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

If Gods goal was to save the world, shouldn’t that be our goal too? Sometimes we get distracted, side-tracked if you will. It’s like passing by a car accident on the road and everyone slows down, not for safety, but because they want to gawk. The accident could have been on the other side of the highway, but because people are just curious, they create havoc for everyone else.

Understand that life if full of problems. It doesn’t take much to get our focus off God and onto what’s happening around us. Social media has offered opinions and perspectives that daily suck people in and deceive them. But can we please go back to the words Jesus said? Can we just stick to the simple truth and let that be the one thing we measure everything else against?

Jesus answered them, “Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” John 16:31-33 Message

God is still on the throne.  We are in this world but we are not OF this world. We belong to another Kingdom, the Kingdom of God. It’s a Kingdom of LOVE. We are to obey our King and love one another, not argue or post our opinions as to what is right or wrong. Let the Holy Spirit do HIS work and you do YOURS. LOVE! Straight up! Simple! No fluff or stuff! Just LOVE!

So lets keep it moving along. Keep the traffic flowing so we can reach our destination in a timely and safe fashion. Love that is selfless, always considering others first. Always reflecting the selfless love of the Father who gave His Son for a world of lost and distracted people.  Let’s be the ones who make the difference and light the way back to the one who matters most.

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Friends For Life

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“And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat knelt and worshiped Him, saying, Truly You are the Son of God!” Matthew 15:32-33

Now get this, these were the same men who followed Jesus from town to town watching him do multiple miracles. He had just fed 5000 plus with 5 loaves and 2 fish and STILL they didn’t know he was the Son of God? Seriously? It’s only when there’s a storm and they’re about to die and he walks on water to save them, THEN they believe?

What does God have to do for us to get us to believe? We say we believe with our lips, but at the first sign of trouble, we’re all up in His face wondering where He is and why He’s not listening. What about Psalm 34:15 and I Peter 3:12 where His eyes are always on us and His ears open to our cry? 

Is God a fair-weather friend to you? No!  He is an honored, faithful forever friend to you! Does He keep His Word only when you see it or even when you don’t? Will you love and trust Him only when it makes sense or even when it doesn’t? 

He has already done everything He will ever do for you and now, it’s on you to believe it, receive it and speak it out. It’s time your faith in His promises becomes more then just a familiar passage that’s thrown out like a lifeline to someone struggling to stay afloat. To convince others, we must first believe it ourselves. That the same God who spoke it is able to back it up.

Jesus followed His Fathers example, He spoke it and it happened. We have His Holy Spirit! Are we following His example? Is our confidence in our ability or in His? In myself I can do nothing, but in Christ, I can do all things. Everything done must be for the glory of God, not for our glory. If He is lifted up and exalted, He will draw all men to Himself.

Romans 5:11 says that we rejoice because of what God has done through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has now made us God’s friends. Perhaps we need to re-define what friendship with God looks like so that we understand His faithfulness and consistent love. He’s not a name on a social media page that ‘unfriends’ you when your views differ from His. He’s your friend when you forget He’s even there.

Oh my Forever Friend! How kind and true, how all knowing are You.  I would never run to another when You’re so near. You’re always speaking but I must tune in to hear. There is no other who see’s and know’s all that I have need of before I do. You’ve got everything I need in Your hands and just as I need to see it, You blow it to me as an invisible kiss. My heart is Yours alone.

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Thought Watchers

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One of my many favorite verses is found in Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
 
I can have the end result, perfect peace, IF and WHEN I stay focused on God and trust Him. I think thats pretty straight forward, don’t you? But HOW? How do I stay focused on Him?
 
I truly believe that it’s how you train yourself to respond to things. You either allow your thoughts to control you or you control your thoughts.
 
I used to daydream all the time. I could imagine the most awful things and end up crying. I decided I didn’t like that feeling so I put a stop to it. I began by thinking differently and praying in my prayer language more. When my mind would wander, I would grab the bible and begin reading.
 
The weapons we use in our fight are not the world’s weapons but God’s powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds. We destroy false arguments; we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 GNT
 
My focus can’t remain on the storms of life or I would be no use to others. When thoughts creep up and try to capture my attention, I cast them down. It’s not always easy, but it’s something I train myself to do. You can too! If you’re going to think, think on the good in people instead of the bad.
 
Peace comes when I train my mind to constantly think on God and His promises, even when bad storms come into my life and I don’t understand whats happening. Creating habits, good or bad, comes by repeating the same behavior over and over again. I will keep bringing my mind back to what God said and rest in His promises.
 
Father, I struggle every day with an overactive imagination! But I will rather use it to imagine You in all Your glory. I will close my eyes and think on Your majesty and power, Your awesome wonder. You will keep me in perfect peace as I think on You because I trust You. Amen
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Listen For His Whisper

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I will stand at my guard post. I will station myself on the wall. I will watch to see what he will say to me and what answer I will get to my complaint. Then the Lord answered me, “Write the vision. Make it clear on tablets so that anyone can read it quickly. The vision will still happen at the appointed time. It hurries toward its goal. It won’t be a lie.
If it’s delayed, wait for it. It will certainly happen. It won’t be late.” Habakkuk 2:1-3 GWT
 
Each part of this verse is HUGE!
 
1. Stand at your guard post! This is my post and position. Each morning I come before the Lord and we talk, me to Him and He to me. I wait before the Lord because He always has something to say to me.
 
2. When He speaks, write it down so you can go back and read it. Sometimes its not for now, but for an appointed time or season. Sometimes it’s for someone else and not for you.
 
3. Allow your words to encourage others. Don’t post to gloom and despair, post the promises. Be responsible for giving out water to the thirsty every day.
 
4. What God says WILL certainly happen! It won’t be late but it may be delayed. Why is not important, but be assured that it will happen. What He said will not lie, it will happen just as He said.
 
What has God spoken to you that you knew was for you? Just because you haven’t seen it yet, don’t give up on the promises of God. He’s never wrong and He’s never late! Remember this my friend, God doesn’t wear a watch, that would make Him us and not the Great I Am.
 
Your position today is to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord! Standing still speaks of peace and rest, not moving or allowing yourself to fall down. Find God’s voice in the noise going on around you today and know that He’s got this.
 
Father, as I sit at Your feet in the quiet of the morning, I know that You are here with me. I sense Your stirring deep within my soul and I’m listening. Listening for Your whispers of love, fanning the flame of my desire for more of You. Take me into the secret place that my soul may delight in Your love. Sweet and satisfying are Your words, oh Lord.
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Faith-Your Servant

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The apostles said to the Lord, “Make our faith greater.” The Lord answered, “If you had faith as big as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Pull yourself up by the roots and plant yourself in the sea!’ and it would obey you.

“Suppose one of you has a servant who is plowing or looking after the sheep. When he comes in from the field, do you tell him to hurry along and eat his meal? Of course not! Instead, you say to him, ‘Get my supper ready, then put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may have your meal.’ The servant does not deserve thanks for obeying orders, does he? It is the same with you; when you have done all you have been told to do, say, ‘We are ordinary servants; we have only done our duty.’” Luke 17:5-10 GNT

I used to think that Jesus just randomly put the story about the servant in here, but as I read it this morning, I realized He was referencing faith as a servant. Let me take it a step farther, He was referring to the role words have in conjunction with faith.

Let’s put it in todays terms; Let’s say you hired a maid to clean your home and cook your dinner. You would first communicate your expectations and expect that the tasks assigned would be completed prior to paying for the services. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, their job would not be complete until you had eaten dinner. Words were used in this transaction, and faith in their ability to do what you say is also a key factor.

Jesus was saying that you must say what you expect and you get what you say. It may take time to complete the assignment, but your expectations can’t change because of the time factor. Just as God spoke and created, He gave us the same ability to speak and create.

Father, we say we want to be more like You, but we are speaking spirits just as You are. When we worship You, it’s in spirit and truth that we do so.  The entire universe is held together by Your Words. Wow! Your Word can’t fail or the whole world would fail. I believe! Even when I don’t understand it all I still believe. Put a muzzle on my mouth today until I think out the path my words will take once I release them. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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Gods Great Adventure

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Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3
 
Here’s something to think on this weekend; Abram set out for a vague destination on a word from God. It says that he got to Canaan safe and sound, and that God didn’t speak to him again until he arrived. Check it out for yourself in verse 7. God appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your children.” Abram built an altar at the place God had appeared to him.
 
Everything wasn’t perfect when he got there. It says the land was occupied. Most of us would have stayed there, but he kept going further south.
 
Then there was a famine and he ended up in Egypt and the king took his wife. HELLO! That’s crazy! But it was simply a setup to make Abram’s name great and give him more wealth. Gods plans for him were greater then he could imagine.
 
Some of us have heard the Lord ask us to do something but refuse to move without confirmation. What if God is waiting for you at the destination He’s called you to so He can give you further instruction?
 
Psalm 37:23 tells us that God establishes the steps of man and He delights in his way.
 
God has planned an adventure for us with clues along the way that show us we’re on the right path. Don’t build your home where you don’t belong and miss the best part of the journey. We should never be comfortable before we reach our final destination. Every place in-between is just a part of the adventure.
 
Father, I see you looking on, smiling at the twists and turns in the path I’m on, knowing that what’s up ahead is a prize that my mind can’t fathom. I trust You! As a child trusts their parents to provide and keep them safe, I trust You. I may not know where I’m going, but I know who goes with me and I’m content in that. It’s in Jesus’ name I thank You. Amen
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Bold & Demanding

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He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over.  2 Kings 2:14
Picture this, Elijah had been a mentor and friend to Elisha and suddenly he witnesses his man of God being taken up in a chariot of fire. Can you imagine? Now, he’s left alone with a memory and a mantle, or coat that belonged to his friend.
 
He had witnessed things, but even before he began following Elijah, he had heard things about this man. A man who knew God and was unafraid to call out his demands.  In fact, the previous chapter shows the king sending men to kill Elijah and he called down fire to consume the captain and his 50 men. Boldly confident and trusting in God and unafraid to speak up for what he had a right to. 
 
Is there any wonder that the first thing he does after this is to strike the water and in a bold questioning statement says, “Where is the God of Elijah?” He wasn’t willing to settle for life as it once was, he wanted the double portion of what Elijah carried. The same demands Elijah placed on the power of God, Elisha now requires the same. 
 
And God honors his boldness and the waters divided and Elisha crossed over.
 
Nothing gets Gods attention like those who have faith in him. 
 
And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.  Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. Mark 11:22-24
 
You can’t demand things if you don’t believe that God is able. But if you believe and refuse to doubt regardless of what you hear, see or feel, Jesus said it, it will be granted.
 
Elisha’s demand was not out of line. Neither is yours. God is no respecter of persons and Elisha knew this. The same God that listened to Elijah, listened to him as well. Thus the question was thrown out and the answer tossed back. Basically God was saying, ‘I’ve got your back and will back up what you say.’
 
And that is what God is saying to you as well, “If you will believe in My power, believe I Am that I Am, what you ask according to My Word will be given to you. Healing, My Word! Provision, My Word. Protection, My Word. Believe in Me.” Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. John 14:12
I see what you’re doing, Father. You’re asking me to surrender all of my unbelief and trust You completely. Alright then. I believe, help my unbelief. I know that You are well able and willing to keep Your word to me. I will place a demand on every financial seed planted for a return on my investment. Not just 7 fold, but a hundred fold return. Signs, wonders and miracles will follow me because I believe. It’s in Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

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First Hand Knowledge of God

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While he was babbling on like this, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them. As they found themselves buried in the cloud, they became deeply aware of God. Then there was a voice out of the cloud: “This is my Son, the Chosen! Listen to him.” Luke 9:34 MSG
I believe this is a message for us all, “Listen to him!” We seem to want to hear Him through everyone and anyone who is speaking, but God has always been about personal relationships with individuals. He wants to speak to us, commune with us, just as He did with Adam in the garden of Eden at the beginning. In fact, that’s the reason Jesus came and gave His life. To pay the price and redeem us from the curse so we could enjoy fellowship with God once again.
Even though we have people we ‘follow’ who speak into us routinely, it should never take the place of our personal time with God. I may have a unique perspective, but I want my words to instill a desire for the Word, not be a substitute for it. I would stop blogging in a heartbeat if I knew it was that. I want you to know God. Not with second-hand knowledge, but first hand knowledge. I want Him to envelope you in the cloud of His presence so that you’re deeply aware of Him.
I love the words King David said to his son;
“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.” I Chronicles 28:9
Think about this today, the God of the universe wants you listen to His Son. That’s an invitation you can’t afford to ignore. The searcher of hearts wants you to find Him and He will let you. How about it? Are you in?
Father, I want to know You. Not from how someone else knows You, but to know You deeply for myself. To hear Your voice and feel Your presence as a cloud, wrapped around me like a blanket of love. Change me from the inside out. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.