I Thessalonians 5:13 MSG, “And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!”

When was the last time you called, text’d or emailed your pastor, mayor, governor or president to tell them you appreciate them and love them? I daresay I’ve only done it to our pastor, I’ve never sent a letter or email to anyone in public office. The truth is, we have a hard time encouraging and showing appreciation when we don’t agree with what they’re doing. But that’s not what the Word says, is it? It says to overwhelm them with appreciation and love. Wow, that’s a hard pill to swallow for most of us.

We are to honor those in authority over us, in any office! Our supervisor, our bosses, our husbands, our parents, yes, even our president. You may not of voted for him and may not agree with his methods or stance on subjects, but it does NOT take away from the honor God tells us to give. You don’t have to agree to honor. You don’t have to agree to show appreciation and love. I’d also like to point out that praying for does not mean what most of us think. We don’t pray that they will die, or that God would strike them down. No, we pray that the love of God would surround them, that they are open to the Holy Spirit and His leading. That God will open the eyes of their understanding and give them dreams and visions that will help them lead the country, business or home that they’ve been given to lead.

The only thing we accomplish by complaining and speaking evil of our leaders is that we open the door for the things we speak against them to come back on us. If THAT doesn’t make you stop and think before you speak, I don’t know what will. Remember the children of Israel when they were wandering in the wilderness? They spoke against Moses and God opened the earth and swallowed them up. You can’t murmur and complain and expect the blessing of God to come into your life. Lets be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Stop voicing your disagreement with what they’re doing and pray that they be filled with the wisdom and favor of God.

Father, forgive me for complaining. Thank you for reminding me again to treat others as I want to be treated, giving honor to everyone in authority, not just those I like. I pray for my president. I ask that Your wisdom be in him and on him. May he look to You and seek Your face. Surround him with wise people, those who know You and know Your name and Your power. Father I humble myself before You, my great leader and Father. Forgive me for my sin of dishonor and forgive the sins of my nation, for I have sinned against you. Forgive any dishonor I have shown toward those you’ve placed over me. I speak blessing and favor over my president, my governor, my mayor, my pastors, my boss, my parents and my husband. Open doors for them. Cover them with Your wings and protect them from the evil one. I thank you for Your great grace and mercy to forgive and cleanse me from all unrighteous thoughts and words. It’s in Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen

Lately I’ve been hearing people say, ‘My body is a temple’, from believers and unbelievers alike. When I ask them what that means to them, they say something to the effect of, be careful what you eat, get exercise and rest, you know, treat your body like a temple.  This verse is found in 1 Corinthians 6:19 (Voice) and says, “Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who comes from God and dwells inside of you? You do not own yourself.”

Although it’s very important to eat right, exercise and get rest, this verse is a reminder that we are merely carriers of the presence of God, the Holy Spirit. He lives in us so that His will and Kingdom will be seen in the earth. I like that last part, ‘You do not own yourself.’ That means that you’ve been purchased, signed, sealed and delivered to the Father when you placed your trust in His Son, Jesus Christ. You’re no longer a part of this world to live after the world, you are a part of a much larger plan and purpose. HIS!

So my question to all of you out there is this; Who lives in your temple? Is it empty? Is there so much self in there that there is no room for anyone else? Perhaps your temple looks great from the outside, but inside it’s filthy, cluttered and holding things it wasn’t meant to hold. Bitterness, hatred, lust, perverseness, foul thoughts and jesting or perhaps simply no thoughts about God. They say ‘you are what you eat’, but what about ‘you are what you read, what you think, what you speak’.

For the love of all that’s Holy and good and honorable, God’s not looking for perfect people, He’s looking for yielded people. People who are willing to lay down their desires to be consumed by Him. He’s looking for emptied out temples, those who don’t give Him a corner of themselves that comes alive on Sunday only, He wants daily temples. He wants to be worshiped in Spirit and truth. To know Him in all his fullness and glory.

Oh Father, my Father. I’m tired of myself, me, me, me, I want, I need, such vain things we desire. Turn my hunger up for more of You. I’m not satisfied until there is nothing left of me and all that people see is You, Your love, Your grace, Your mercy. I lay down my life so that You may live rich and full in me. I will carry You as I would the biggest and best treasure. I will honor You and give you the praise and honor you deserve. It’s my desire to live for You. Amen

2 Chronicles 20 tells us that there was a mighty army coming for the people of Israel when Jehoshaphat was king. When the king heard about it, he was afraid, so he called for a fast throughout all of Judah and Jerusalem. Then he stood before the temple and began to remind God of his promises if they came before him, ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’

So you’re in a battle, perhaps not against a mighty army of men who are hell bent on killing you and destroying your home, but none-the-less, a war has been waged against your faith, family, finances and future. What should you do? Fast and remind God of what His Word says. Oh wait, you don’t know His Word or His promises to you? So you’re not armed for battle then. You’re facing your greatest adversary and you don’t know what to do. If I were you, I’d get myself to the house of God where His Name is preached and call out to Him. I’d repent for being consumed with the things of this world and not being battle ready and I’d commit to reading the Word and arming myself to win.

There are two reasons the enemy comes after Christians; either you’re an easy prey or you’re a threat to his kingdom. Which are you? If you’re an easy prey, you’ve separated yourself from the body of Christ and decided you’d rather do what you want, not what God wants. If you’re a threat to his kingdom, simply link arms with other believers, declaring the Word of God and your trust in His ability to deliver you. Confidence in self won’t make you a winner, only confidence in God will give you the victory.

The story continues as they stood before the temple, the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the priests and he delivered a message in verse 17; “You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.” God then gave them instructions to send out the worshipers to sing praises, so they did. It so confused the enemy that they turned on each other and killed each other, the people of Judah didn’t lift a finger, they only obeyed Gods instructions.

Revelations 12:11 says that we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony, and not to love our life but lay it down. That’s how we do it. We don’t fight like the world, we fight from a position of victory because Jesus overcame and handed us the authority to win as well.  We don’t go by what we see in the natural, we go by what we know in the Spirit. What do you know? Have you positioned yourself to stand in faith regardless of your symptoms or the balance in your checking account. God has the power to turn it all around, we only need to trust in Him and call out to Him.

Father, the things I face today will not be here tomorrow. I stand before You reminding You of what You said, “I will never leave you or forsake you. Never, no never!” The battle is not mine, it’s Yours and I stand behind Jesus, my example and my victor. I will not fear! I will not be discouraged. I will shut myself away with your Word until I come out with a Word from you about the outcome of this battle. My heart is set on You. I am surrounded by a mighty army of angels who wait to hear the voice of your Word. I lend the voice to Your Word. It is in me and I stand firmly on those promises, knowing that You are well able to keep what I’ve committed unto You. It’s in Jesus’ Mighty Name I pray. Amen

John 10:3 Voice, “The guard who is posted to protect the sheep opens the gate for the shepherd, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”

This morning as I read this beautiful passage, I saw our pastor as the guard who was posted to protect the sheep and open the gate for the shepherd. In turn, I saw sheep (God’s people) knowing His voice, following the leading of the Holy Spirit. So many sheep just want to do their own thing, come and go as they please and not submit to the gates and guards that are there to keep them safe. They wander into the world like Red Riding hood, unaware the old woman they’ve met is really a wolf trying to eat them up. They’re all good with dating that wolf, even marrying that wolf, with or without their pastor’s blessing, but the minute that wolf steps out of his disguise, they run back to the sheepfold expecting the guard to open the gate and fix all their problems.

Gates and gatekeepers are designed for protection and guarding of precious things. They do more then just preach a good message on Sunday morning, they keep watch, making sure that there are no breaches in the fence where foxes can get in and do harm to the sheep. We need to trust the gatekeeper to do his job!

When the Shepherd arrives, He calls them by name and His sheep know His voice and He leads them out. There’s something we’ve been missing here and it’s allowing the gatekeeper to open the gate for the Shepherd. Sometimes we think we’ve heard from God and want to go out and do it with no covering or blessing from our gatekeeper. We come to him or her with a word from the Lord and expect them to leap up and tell us, “Go! Do it!” but they’ve been trained by the Lord to wait, double check credentials, make sure it’s legitimate before putting on their stamp of approval. So next time you meet someone who you’re sure is the right someone for you, bring them into the sheepfold so the gatekeeper can know them and see how well they submit and hear the Shepherd before you allow them to put a ring on your finger and sleep in your bed.

Father, thank you for our pastor’s who know you and work for you keeping the sheep safe. I so appreciate their deep love for You and their obedience to Your Word. They’re not afraid to admit they’ve made mistakes. They are trustworthy and caring. Father I speak blessings over their lives, their homes, their finances and their ministries. Protect them as they’ve protected us. See to their needs and keep them in a safe place, surrounded by your angels day and night. May they not grow weary doing what you’ve called them to do. It’s in Jesus’ Name I ask this, Amen

Psalm 139:13-14 ERV, “You formed the way I think and feel. You put me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because you made me in such a wonderful way.  I know how amazing that was!”

The first part of that passage caught my attention this morning; He formed the way I think and feel. Everything about me, the way I look, my makeup, the thoughts and desires I have, my weird sense of humor, HE made me that way. Yes! To all of my close friends who continually shake their head and comment about my craziness, I come about it honestly because my Father made me this way. To Walt, who rolls his eyes each time I spontaneously break out into a song because of phrases I catch him saying, it’s a God thing! HA!

So many of us try to conform, to be accepted as ‘normal’, go with the flow and not stand out in a crowd, but God wants us to be different from one another. Stop making apologies for who you are and be thankful for the you that you are. God’s not finished using you because you’ve made mistakes, nor because you have no talent. He’s forgiven every mistake and you have talent, it’s just waiting for you to jump out of your insecurities and delight in who God made you to be. Stop limiting yourself by trying to be who you’re not made to be. Discover who you are by spending time with your maker until you become comfortable in His presence being you.

Father, I praise you because you made me in such a wonderful way.  I know how amazing that was! The day you formed me in my mothers womb, you mixed in joy and laughter, you put a song in my heart, lots of love to give out, and yes, a very weird sense of humor. You knew there was someone in my future who would need what I have inside of me, and You placed my feet on a path that is ever changing and full of surprises. I am fearfully and wonderfully made and You take great delight in the plans you have for me. Today and every day, heaven celebrates me. You are proud of me and that is all that matters. It’s all for Your purpose and Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Joel 2:25-17, “I, the Lord, sent my army against you. The swarming locusts and the hopping locusts and the destroying locusts and the cutting locusts ate everything you had. But I will pay you back for those years of trouble. Then you will have plenty to eat. You will be full. You will praise the name of the Lord your God. He has done wonderful things for you. My people will never again be ashamed. You will know that I am with Israel. You will know that I am the Lord your God. There is no other God. My people will never be ashamed again.”

Have you ever suffered loss? I’m sure you have! Most of us have experienced the loss of something in our lives if we’ve lived any length of time at all. A loss of something that can be replaced is one thing, but how about the loss of a loved one or a relationship? Whatever the loss has been, it’s still a difficult thing to experience. But what about a cycle of loss? You know, when it doesn’t matter what you do, how you give, minister, invest, you lose everything, over and over and over again.

Not long ago, the Lord had me type this passage up, laminate it, then give it to some friends who’ve been in this cycle of loss for years. Never have I met more faithful tithers and givers, not only of finances, but time and energy. As I handed them this laminated group of verses, the Lord said, “I have sent the locust to devour, but I will pay you back double for your trouble, and just as this paper is sealed, I have sealed my Word to you. Your turn around season is here and you will bless my name and never be ashamed again.”

When God says it, it’s a done deal! You can hold that promise in your hand, memorize it, mark the day on your calendar, sew it into your clothing, stick it on your bathroom mirror, whatever you need to do to remember, God is paying you back. It’s like getting an open ended credit line that never needs to be paid back. God hasn’t forgotten your season’s of loss or how you went through that season. He said He would pay you back and He will.

Thank you Father for paybacks, the good kind, not the bad! Thanks that we don’t have to deserve it or do good deeds to get it, You simply give it to us. I love that about You. Good, bad or ugly, You love us all the same and have promised to take all the bad and use it for Your good. I trust in You, Lord. I won’t try to figure it out because it just can’t be figured. I will just allow your goodness and tender mercy to be poured out on me, to wash away all the pain of our losses as you lavish us with blessings. It’s all because of Jesus, your son. I’m so in awe of your love. Thank you! Amen

Matthew 5:15-16 NLV, “You are the light of the world. You cannot hide a city that is on a mountain.  Men do not light a lamp and put it under a basket. They put it on a table so it gives light to all in the house.  Let your light shine in front of men. Then they will see the good things you do and will honor your Father Who is in heaven.”

If you’ve ever used a kerosene lamp, you’ll be familiar with the smell, the flicking of the light and that the light is not as bright as electric light. However, if you keep the lamp filled, the chimney (globe) clean and the wick trimmed and turned up just so, you can light a whole room with the light it gives out and it will last for days. The higher the placement of the light, the larger the area it reaches.

I was thinking of the light we are to the world around us. Some of us are running on fumes because we haven’t taken the time to fill our lamp. We arrive at church for a ‘fill up’ only to burn out before we go to work on Monday morning. Our globe is smokey so what light we do give out, doesn’t give clear direction for anyone around us. What cleans us? The washing of the water of the Word. What fills us? The oil of the Holy Spirit. How do we stay filled up? It’s not just about reading the Bible and saying a prayer, it’s about being in His presence, worshiping and being thankful.

If we were to do this everyday, can you imagine the powerful presence of God that would transform lives as we gathered together in one accord on a Sunday morning. The light would be blinding and the smell of oil would fill the place of worship. You can’t have my oil and I can’t have yours. I can’t run a hose from me to whomever needs it, it must come from the Father of lights. I’d love to share what is in me. But there is only one filling station, and that is the powerful presence of God. All I can do is help others find the way and show them how to fill themselves up, but I can’t do it for them.

Father, today I see so many who have allowed the cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches smoke up their lives and keep them from coming for their fill of Your oil. You sent us into the world so that the world would be saved, but we’re so self focused that we try to burn the lamp for only ourselves and in the process, we’ve lost what little light we have. We can only fill up as we give out to you. Transfuse me. Transform me. Cleanse me and make me new that the light of your glory will flood my space and inspire others to pursue you. It’s in Jesus’ Name, Amen

Ephesians 4:32, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

I used to think that the person who wrote this, must have never experienced real hurt. Sometimes, hurt goes so deep that it’s easier to avoid or close the door on that relationship rather than walk in love and forgive. I’ve watched some people attract hurt like it’s a magnet, like there’s an all out war waged against them to see how much they can withstand. You can’t compare hurts, that’s like comparing boo boo’s. On the surface, they may look the same, but some go deep and takes longer to heal. Some are so deep they take a surgeons hands to repair damaged tendons and bones.

Just like everything else in life, forgiveness takes a conscious decision and a disciplined mind set. I remember asking a wise man once, “How do I know I’ve really forgiven?” His answer was, “You will always remember the wounding, but it will no longer hurt you.” In other words, you’ll not relive the pain of the event as if it just happened to you.

Not there yet? Let me give you an exercise to do. Whenever you feel the pain of the episode, remember what Jesus took for you and say, “Thank You!” Then ask the Lord to bless that person. Matthew 5:44-45, Jesus said these words; “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.“

It’s in our nature to forgive, not hold a grudge because we are sons and daughters of God. Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person will die. Oh the thoughts will come back, trust me! But you have a choice to continue thinking that way, or let it go and bless them. Remember, as a man thinks, so is he! If you hate how you feel, change the way you think.

Father, today I want to live as a daughter who loves, letting go of the crippling affect of hurt. I want to stand upright before you, walking in your grace and forgiveness. Forgive them, they don’t know what they’ve done. I know that as I forgive others, I am forgiven. I’ve probably hurt others and not even known it. If that’s the case, may I have the opportunity to make it right so that I may set free the captive from their prison of rejection and hurt. You long for us to walk in total forgiveness, it’s the reason you sent Jesus to die in our place, to take the full punishment for all our sins so we could stand before you forgiven. Oh how I long to live daily in that grace. Today, I step toward your outstretched hands and place in them, every hurt I’ve held onto. It’s in Jesus’ Name and for the price He paid. Amen

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 ERV; Always be full of joy.  Never stop praying.  Whatever happens, always be thankful. This is how God wants you to live in Christ Jesus.

When I first looked at this verse, I thought, how can you always be full of joy? This is an impossible verse to keep! How can I be thankful for whatever happens? What if it’s bad? How can I be thankful for ‘whatever’ happens. But then I read the last statement and I get it. It’s how God wants us to live in Christ Jesus.

You see, when you’ve died to self and set aside your life and allow Jesus to live in you, it’s no longer you that lives. Paul said it best in Galatians 2:20, “So I am not the one living now—it is Christ living in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God. He is the one who loved me and gave himself to save me.” Oh my! Do you see it yet? To be always full of joy, I look at what Christ did for me. He redeemed me from a sentence of life in prison without parole (Always be full of joy). He gave me access to the Father (never stop praying). I can’t stop thanking Him for taking my shame, my punishment, my sickness, my disease so that I could tap into HIS victory and live free. That is life in Christ. It’s not repeating a prayer or ritualistically going to church or reading the Bible. It’s not calling on God when I desperately need a fix or get into a tough situation. It’s knowing who our Father is and walking in the power and authority we have in Him.

My cousin Jerry, was a race car driver. This is for you, Jerry! If I had a fast car and knew it could go 200 mph, trust me, I’d find somewhere to take it to it’s fullest potential. To drive it at 35 mph everyday would be such a sin! That car was made to go fast! Well guess what? The power we have in us should be used to it’s fullest potential, daily. No need to be cautious with it or afraid we’ll run out, there’s plenty more where that came from, an inexhaustible supply.

Father, I need a tune-up to get me to optimal operating speed. I’m so excited to open up the throttle and let the Holy Spirit flow through me. My example is my brother, Jesus. I will love like Him and trust in the same power that was in Him, that raised Him from the dead, to also keep me full of joy, thankful and trusting in You. I love You so much. To reflect you is my desire and my right. I won’t allow the cares of this world or the deceitfulness of riches, distract me from the purpose I was created for. I take authority over all outside forces that would try to drain my fuel and gum up my carburetor. I’m on an open highway with You, Lord. Let’s go! In Jesus’ Name, Amen

James 5:16 NIRV;  So confess your sins to one another. Pray for one another so that you might be healed. The prayer of a godly person is powerful. Things happen because of it.

I believe the most powerful thing happens when we humbly confess our faults to others. It makes others able to relate to us. If we appear to be perfect, we make people feel they can never attain the status of a ‘good’ Christian, when in reality, we are merely sinners who have been saved by grace, bathed in love, covered by the blood, forgiven and walking daily on the journey toward becoming like our Father. We are simply hidden in Christ.

I remember the first time I went to a marriage retreat and heard others tell things they were going through in their marriage. The first thought that crossed my mind was, “I’m not alone! Others are dealing with the same things I am!” Remember, the trick of any enemy is to alienate the weak in order to overpower and defeat them. It’s what the devil does to us, making us feel we are the only ones experiencing these things when in reality, everyone is, just no one talks about it.

The second and most important part of this passage is that we pray for one another. Notice it doesn’t say, pray for yourself. No, in praying for each other, it automatically causes a great principle to happen; inner healing for us. So when I open up to others about problems I am having or have had, it allows them to feel they can open and share with you so that you can pray for them and they and yourself can experience healing. Wow. God sure does know how to do things, doesn’t He!

Father, help me to be that person that others feel comfortable sharing their hurts and sorrows with. Forgive me for not being sensitive at times, for rushing through life focused on me and mine. You created me for others, just as Jesus was focused on others, may I also deny myself, take up my cross and follow you, others focused. Wherever there is sickness, may healing flow through me. Wherever there is hate, may love overpower it. Wherever hopelessness is found, may hope well up and overflow. It’s in your precious name I pray, Amen.