Acts 26:12-18 ERV tells of the great conversion of Paul; “One time the leading priests gave me permission and the authority to go to the city of Damascus.  On the way there, at noon, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun. It shined all around me and those traveling with me. We all fell to the ground. Then I heard a voice talking to me in Aramaic. The voice said, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? You are only hurting yourself by fighting me.’

“I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

“The Lord said, ‘I am Jesus. I am the one you are persecuting. Stand up! I have chosen you to be my servant. You will tell people about me—what you have seen today and what I will show you. This is why I have come to you. I will keep you safe from your own people and from the non-Jewish people, the ones I am sending you to. You will make them able to understand the truth. They will turn away from darkness to the light. They will turn away from the power of Satan, and they will turn to God. Then their sins can be forgiven, and they can be given a place among God’s people—those who have been made holy by believing in me.’”

This morning as I read the words, “You’re only hurting yourself by fighting me!” I thought, how are we fighting you, God? The answer to that came quickly, “By not doing what I ask you to, not living the way I created you to live, not being a light in the world around you, and not setting yourself apart to be different from the world. My people were never meant to blend in, but to stand out. They think they can get the benefits without obedience. They want the good stuff I offer without any commitment to be wholly mine.”

Paul was totally and completely sold out! Everything he endured, he simply found a way to learn and grow from, then share it with others. In prison, beaten, shipwrecked, you know his story, yet he was able to write letters of his deep revelation that we are still learning from today. Where did this begin? From seeing Jesus. That one blinding experience, seeing the glory of God, changed him completely, forever. Revelation does that.

If Paul were alive today, he would more than likely write a letter to us asking why we’ve turned away from our first love. Why Jesus is an after thought instead of our first thought. He would remind us that a life ‘sold out’ to the cause of Christ, doesn’t mean holding some of our lives in reserve for ourselves.

Perhaps that’s the distinction between Paul and us; We’ve yet to have deep revelation of Jesus and all that was accomplished by His death and resurrection. Our own ‘Damascus road’ experience wasn’t impactful or revealing enough for us. We truly think we can have our own life, do our own thing and still squeak past the Pearly Gates.

I believe that God has so much more for us, but the only way to access this abundant life is by dying to self. I believe that once we see who Jesus really is and what he completed for us on the cross, it will change us from pathetic to powerful, from losers to winners, from poor to rich. People can beat us with their words but it won’t affect our princely posture. Kings and priests would emerge because that’s who we REALLY are! He doesn’t merely live, HE LIVES IN US!

Father, as You gave Your Son for me, I give my life to You. What You planted in the ground has sprung forth to bear much fruit in the earth. More sons. More to love. More to give love. Sons who are sold out to Your cause, to see the world as soil to plant more seeds of love. May I not reject one opportunity to love others as You loved me. Make me a true lover. Teach me to love like You. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

Did you know that the word remember is mentioned 230 times in the NKJV? Neither did I! That’s a whole lot of remembering for sure! Yet I felt the Lord had me go down this trail for a reason so I hopped over to get the definition of the word and this is what I found; to retain in the memory; keep in mind; remain aware of; to retain in the memory; keep in mind; remain aware of.

So many of the old testament verses I found, began with, “And you shall remember,” as if the recollection of what God did would be a reminder of WHO God is. I’m thinking that there’s something to this, for even before the words were written about God, they were told and retold, generation after generation, so they would hearken diligently to His voice, that the great deliverer always made good on His promises.

Why is it that we choose to remember the wrong things? We remember all the unanswered prayers and think that God just doesn’t care, when in reality, it is us who has forgotten He’s a good God, full of love and tender mercies. That rain falls on the just and unjust, but the just has promises to remember, a refuge in time of storm, a peace only accessible in His presence. We make our own paths, want our own way, until we’re in a desperate situation and than we cry out to God to save us, heal us, provide for us.

I will constantly keep reminding God of what He’s promised me. I know he hasn’t forgotten me, but I need to remind myself and build my faith and thats what reminding does. Reminding myself that He watches over His Word, it never returns to Him without doing what He sent it to do. I read the stories of old because God is looking to see if I will trust Him THAT much. I’m His, therefore I will remember.

What is it you need to remind God of? Are you going to focus on the problems you face or what the Word says about those problems. Luke 18:2-8 tells a story of a woman who constantly went before the judge to plead her case, she wore him down by daily taking her case before him. “For a while the judge refused to do anything. But then he thought, ‘This widow really annoys me. Although I don’t fear God or respect people, I’ll have to give her justice. Otherwise, she’ll keep coming to me until she wears me out.’”

This was Jesus’ response to this in teaching us a lesson found in verses 6-8; “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge thought. Won’t God give his chosen people justice when they cry out to him for help day and night? Is he slow to help them? I can guarantee that he will give them justice quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word. I have to speak it. I have to remind myself and trust in God, because in doing that, I keep discouragement at bay and build my faith. You’ve heard the old saying, ‘The squeaky wheel gets the grease?’ Well, start squeaking! Gods standing with his big ole can of WD-40 just waiting to spray you down with blessings. Today is your day!

Father, I choose to remember You are good, all the time and all the time, You are good. I’m excited for what You have in store for me just because You love me and know that I trust in You. You won’t leave me without an answer because Jesus is my answer. I trust in Your sacrifice. I trust in Your grace. I trust that Your plans are better than I could ever imagine. In the process of waiting, I will continue to do what I know to do, encourage others, pray for others, focus on You and listen to Your voice. It’s in Jesus mighty and holy name I pray, Amen.

How would you like to spend the entire day with so much joy that it bubbles up out of you and spilled out to others around you? Well Psalm 16:11 says; You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

One moment in the presence of the Lord can change everything. Abraham met with God & was blessed beyond measure. David never went into battle without talking with God first. So many lives have been changed when they met with Jesus. Everyone He touched was healed, and even the dead came to life.

To those who feel lost and alone in the middle of their swirling troubles, whisper the name that will calm the storms of your life and create peace and joy at every turn. Jesus. He longs to hear you say, ‘I can’t fix this! I need you! Jesus, help!’ He runs to your rescue.

Greater than any hero in a storybook, his presence floods the room bringing peace and joy you’ve only imagined. There is no problem too large that he can’t solve it. There’s no obstacle that he hasn’t already found a way around it. He has the answer to every question, and He longs for you to enjoy the life He created you to have.

Father, it’s time to stop doing things my way, because my way is the wrong way! Jesus! I’m ready to surrender. I lay everything in Your capable hands. I have hope because You are in me. Just thinking on You takes me away from the worry and into Your presence where I find joy. Today, I will keep my eyes fixed on You. Everything I have need of, You’ve already provided. I trust in You. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Do you remember pop quiz’s? You’d sit down in class and the teacher would announce that they were giving a pop quiz. I think they called it that because it was something that could pop up at any time without any warning.  The purpose, I’m sure, was to so the teacher could gage who was ‘getting’ it and who was not.

Sad to say, I never passed one pop quiz until I actually had to read the material, and become familiar with it, in order to find the answers in the open book exams. At which point, I got strait A’s, which proved that if I searched for it, I could find it.

I see this in the body of Christ. We sometimes think God is mad at us, or punishing us, but that’s not true at all. If you really knew God, you’d understand it’s merely him checking where you are in your journey.  Let me show you how the Word of the Lord is tested in our lives:

“He sent a man before them—Joseph—who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters, He was laid in irons.  Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him.” Psalm 105:17-19

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac,” Hebrews 11:17a

Life is full of tests! Some of which we are prepared for and some we are not at all. They always take us by surprise (thus the pop quiz), they’re seldom fun, but they’re definitely beneficial to our growth. What we do in the testing season determines at what rate we progress. Some of us refuse to study, to be sure of what we should know, only to have to repeat the process until the teacher is satisfied with the answers we give.

Just how sure are you of the promises of God? If you’re unaware, chances are you’ll have to repeat the test until you get it right.  You can’t cheat by copying my answers, you must find them, think on them and learn to apply them for yourself. There’s nothing like reading and discovering the promises that are yours, then applying them to your situation until you pass the test.

The first question you need to ask yourself is, “Where is that in the Word of God and is it for me?” Then you meditate on it, talk about it, repeat the promise, until it becomes deeply rooted inside of you. Then you stand on it until it manifests in your situation. You don’t stop when doubt hits your mind, and it will! Once the revelation knowledge of that promise hits your heart and you know that it’s your’s, no one will be able to take it from you.

What do you do in the mean time? Rest in the assurance that God does not lie! That He loves you! That He wants good things for you! Rest in His promises that He will never leave you or forsake you. Don’t look at God like a genie in a bottle that you can make a wish for something and it will come true. He is God! He’s to be adored, reverenced, revered, honored and glorified. He knows if you’re manipulating Him to get what you want so you can do what you want to do. But if you have truly made Him Lord of your life, get to know who you serve and allow Him to do great and mighty things through and for you.

Father, I will endure the tests and lean on and trust in You. If I fail, I know You’ll tutor me so I grown in wisdom and knowledge each day. You are amazing, kind, merciful and full of grace. You always grade on the curve! You even reward those who fail because they trusted in You. I’m always in awe at the wonder of You. As my faith grows and I allow Your Word to grow and mature in me, may I stand still and see Your salvation. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Lately I’ve seen so many people, especially in the body of Christ, feel it’s their duty to expose sin or wrongs that someone has done. It really grieves my heart, as I’m sure it does Gods heart as well.

He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends. Proverbs 17: 9 

It’s so easy to see wrongs in others and ignore the wrong in us. Jesus talked about this when he said, “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?” Really? Is it that obvious? Why didn’t I see that? Because I’m intent on magnifying the tiny speck in their eye to even notice my own.

I’ve seen the kindest people be put under a microscope of sorts in an attempt to find some flaw that makes them feel better about themselves.  They just can’t be THAT good, there must be something they’ve done wrong! I’ve watched people literally destroyed by ‘Christians’ who seem to only want to justify their own good.

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins. Proverbs 10:12

Where did love go? Like a big fluffy blanket, we should be covering the sin, not exposing it! Jesus could have told the Father, “These people don’t deserve to know Your love. They aren’t worthy of it!” But he went to the cross and covered it all so that we could once again walk in fellowship with Father and know His love so that we too could be love to the world.

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. I John 4:8

Do you know Love? Have you experienced the kind of Love that blows you away? You’ll never experience it until you know the Love that’s God. The more you know God, the more you know Love. The more you know Love, the more you want to extend it to others, even when they don’t agree with you or believe like you do.

Instead of trying to focus on their wrongs, try focusing on their rights. Let’s turn the world upside down with the Love that extends to EVERYONE, not just those who love us back. Let’s do what our Father is, LOVE.

Father, I thank You for loving me even when I was hard to love. Thanks for blanketing me in the warmth of it. You’ve kindled a fire inside me that allows me to burn for you and set ablaze those whose fire has dwindled along the way. Forgive me for the hurt I’ve caused along the way. Wash my eyes with tears so that I can see others the way You do.  I lift up those who’ve been viciously attacked for the wrongs they’ve done or not done. I ask that they would experience Your deep and abiding love. Cause them to love those who’ve harmed them so that it blesses others. It’s in Jesus’ name, the one who loved us enough to die for us, Amen.

It matters. Everything that is seen and unseen, known and unknown, dreams, goals, promises, all of it matters to God. If it matters, then why does it take so long, you ask? If you could see what God has planned, you would trust that he also knows the perfect time for it to happen.

I Samuel 1 tells us the story of Hannah who desperately wanted a child. When God finally opened her womb, she conceived a son and named him Samuel. She gave her firstborn  back to the Lord and had him serve in the temple. Samuel quickly learned to hear God’s voice and became the prophet who anointed kings.

Sometimes what God is doing sets us up for something beyond our understanding. During your time of waiting for the promise to manifest, allow God to finish you. Yes that’s right, just like making a fine garment, the finishing touches are the very thing that makes it beautiful. When I made Stacys wedding dress, it was the hand sewn pearls on that blasted bodice that took so much time, but when it was all put together and fitted to her perfectly, it was finished.

Trust me, Gods putting it all together, every pearl, every seam, every part of every promise and it will be a perfect fit to you. Wait for it. Yes indeed, wait for it. Psalm 27:14, “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous, yes wait patiently for the Lord.”

Father, I’m so excited to see the manifestation of Your promise. You have customized it just for me and it will fit perfectly. I’m thankful for every detail, for your thoughts toward me are good and not evil. You use everything satan thought to destroy me with and use it to bless me. I glorify and bless Your great and holy name for You are great. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.” Isaiah 40:31 AMP

Such a great verse, I’m sure we’ve read it hundreds of times but catch this; if you want to change & renew your strength & power, you must expect, look for and hope in Him. Your expectation, determines your manifestation. There is only one way to receive what you’re hoping for; rest in the knowledge that God is God. He says what He means and means what He says!

It occurred to me this morning that when the prodigal son left home, the father did NOT wring his hands, worry and fret, cry and ask God to send his son home. The reason he saw his son afar off is because he was EXPECTING him. From the day his son left, he watched for his return. I know this is a parable, but I believe Jesus was trying to show us the very nature of God. Without faith, it’s simply impossible to please God. This father had faith and rested in God.

Where do I get that kind of faith? I find it in the Word of God. I find it in knowing God as a personal Father, Friend, Comforter, Guide, Helper, Provider, Healer and anything else I need Him to be. This old song just popped into my head, “I expect a miracle, everyday! God will make a way, out of no way! Just believe and receive it, God will perform it today!”  I know God never fails, is always on time, and has great plans for me.

It’s like that when I come before the Lord each morning. He’s called me and I expect a great word, I look for it and I receive it. What are you expecting this morning. Don’t leave till you get what you’ve come for. No one can assure you except the knowledge of who God is and the belief that He will be that for you!

Father, thank you for your promise for strength and power. Thank you for the knowledge of You and that You are the rewarder of those who diligently seek You. I seek You today with all my heart and thank You for being who You are. I love You Lord. I expect You to make good on Your promises to me. You alone can do what You what You said You can do! AMEN!

The word stress is defined by dictionary.com as a load, force, or system of forces producing a strain.

It seems to be when pressures come at you from every angle and your needs become greater than your source. When what you see consumes you and you find yourself staring at the problem again, even though you tell yourself, ‘God is bigger! He has this!’ The battle wages for control of your thoughts. ‘Is God really going to do that?’ ‘Did He really say that to you?’

Sound familiar? Trust me, we’re all under attack in some way because satan is on assignment to deceive! He did it to Eve in the garden, “Did God really say that?” But James 4:7 says it like this: “So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.” He’s trying to get you to believe that what you see with your physical eyes cannot change with what you know with your spiritual eyes.

2 Corinthians 4:7 ERV says; We have this treasure from God, but we are only like clay jars that hold the treasure. This is to show that the amazing power we have is from God, not from us. We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated. We often don’t know what to do, but we don’t give up.  We are persecuted, but God does not leave us. We are hurt sometimes, but we are not destroyed.

So I encourage you, child of God! Yes thats right, you are His child with full access to HIS treasure and resources, stand your ground! Don’t give an inch! When the devil pushes you, push him back! God has trained us to stand against those giants in our lives so lets all band together as a mighty army, praying for one another.

I speak strength into you my friend. Put on your armor, gather your weapons (the Word) and lets quench us some darts today! Be strong in the Lord

Ps 37:4-Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

There’s a place where we can go, a vacation of sorts, to forget about whats going on in our lives and bask in the peace of His presence. It costs us nothing, yet it cost Him everything. The equivalent of an all expense paid cruise to an island getaway.  It’s there we can give attention to the faithfulness of the Lord. Where our hearts are made tender to receive His mercies.

Better than any vacation memories are the times spent in His presence, the secret place of the most High. In the most trying moments when life overwhelms you with deadlines, close your eyes, step away and focus on Him. Delight yourself in Him. Not for what He can do for you, but what you can bring to Him. Ps 100:4b says, “Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.”

Father, I praise you for your goodness! You meet all my needs according to YOUR riches, not mine. Every step I take is ordered. There are no mis-step with You! You never leave me nor forsake me. You know my name and you answer me in time of trouble. You’re my rock, my strong tower, my refuge, my fortress and I trust in You. I bless Your holy name.

I’m acutely aware of You, even though I’ve never seen You, I know Your voice. You always look for ways to bless me, even when I feel I don’t deserve it. You anticipate my desires, even the desires unspoken. You know my heart and You hear my thoughts. My heart belongs to  You. Everyday, you bring me peace and satisfy me with food that causes me to grow stronger and younger. You’re such an awesome and wonderful friend, one that stays closer than any other. I’m forever grateful to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Hebrews 12:15 says, “Be careful that no one fails to get God’s grace. Be careful that no one loses their faith and becomes like a bitter weed growing among you. Someone like that can ruin your whole group.”

There have been times in my life when things did not work out as I’d planned. It’s times like this that I feel I may have missed it somehow. Then I remember this verse:

The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
And He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One [a]who holds his hand. Psalm 37:23-24