Quality Family Time

Genesis 7:1 (Message)

Next God said to Noah, “Now board the ship, you and all your family—out of everyone in this generation, you’re the righteous one.

The holidays bring houses full of every generation of family member from young to old, close to distant and functional to dysfunctional. For some it is a time of great joy, sadly for many it is the opening of wounds, hurts and rivalries. How does your family survive in the same house for an extended period of time? Are you happy when the day is over and your family is gone? Or is the time too short until you can all be together again? Noah and his family were handpicked by God for an “extended holiday” together aboard the ark while God cleansed the earth of sin. Noah and his relatives were together inside the gopher wood walls in close proximity for well over a month. Could your family survive 40 days and 40 nights in pounding rain in the hull of a ship with no power, limited food, and no entertainment except the sights and smells of every animal known to man? Or is it difficult for your family to occupy the same space for 40 minutes let alone a whole day?

Quality family time is not defined by civility and tolerance but rather connected to the heart condition of the members of a family and their ability to enrich each other when together. God called Noah the righteous one. As the head of his family, it was up to him to set the standard of love for his family. Noah had purposed in his heart that his family would serve God and led by example. His example saved his entire heritage through choosing obedience. Even in the midst of adversity and condemnation, Noah chose righteous obedience and thereby his family was blessed. Does your attitude create an atmosphere of love and obedience? Not every person in a family may know Jesus Christ, but you as a believer have a mandate of righteousness that will cause your family to be blessed. As Noah worked on the ark day after day preparing for an event that only he and God were aware of, it would only be expected that his conversations with God were lengthy and intense. Through this constant dialect, God’s anointing poured through Noah’s hands into the walls of the ark creating a home that was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit which made it a holy place and a sanctified environment that would be conducive to harmony and love. The preparation for this time of lengthy togetherness was not in the time it took to build the boat but in the rending of Noah’s heart for God so that when it was time to be in close proximity – God would be honored. As families gather, it is important to make prayer part of the preparation process. Not many families in Biblical times or today could have survived such an extended time in such a confined environment like the ark without the power of God in control. Though we are not in a life or death situation, many of our friends and family are without salvation. May the Lord make our time together throughout the holidays count for His Glory and achieve His Purpose of introducing His Son, Jesus, to everyone!

Psalm 101:1-2 (NLT)

I will sing of your love and justice, Lord. I will praise you with songs. I will be careful to live a blameless life—when will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.

It is His Presence that creates a loving home that makes family time peaceful and loving. It promotes righteous living and God’s Favor. The influence of the Holy Spirit will take the most dysfunctional of all families and make it work. Sin makes all people dysfunctional in some way so this principle applies to all Christian homes. Those who come to your home will experience a peace like never before and will seek that which you have. Lengthy visits will become enjoyable. Togetherness will become pleasant regardless of the spiritual condition of your friends and family. To live lives of integrity every day is the foundation laid for powerful family gatherings that promote unity and love. Your home will be a light in the darkness and you will be blessed. If God can produce quality family time for Noah and his family in the midst of a ship full of animals with all its challenges, how much more can he do with the blessings available in the freedom given through Jesus Christ!

One Voice

I Kings 19:11-13 (NLT)

“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Everyone has an opinion. Even those people who choose not to openly share their thoughts and convictions concerning life have them. It is not uncommon for others to freely share their experience and knowledge to aid a friend, acquaintance, and sometimes even an absolute stranger in making it through a challenging circumstance. God’s most solid Christians have moments of uncertainty when the outside counsel of others seem appropriate only to create thunderous roars of endless banter. The storm that is created in one’s mind dulls all reasonable thinking as anxiety and fear rise up from the enemy. The endless chatter rattles the mind until a proverbial earthquake effect is created shattering all that was once firmly grounded as truth. The burning fire of man’s inspection and dissection of life created by the tinder of a sin-based assessment threatens to overtake the controlled-burning of the Holy Spirit. The question even becomes unclear in the dust and rubble of doubt. Hiding away in hopes of disappearing, you hear it. It’s different from the other voices. It is quiet and still. The gentleness breaks your heart in a new way as the comforting peace of God sweeps over you! It’s Him, It’s the Lord! He hasn’t forgotten you! He has just been waiting on His Turn to be heard! Are you listening?

Elijah was on a “mountaintop” of ministry when he suddenly found himself hiding from his enemies in a cave. How did that happen? His head reeling with the warnings of the people, his faith was now completely buried in the rubble of the words of others. All well meaning, yet not necessarily accurate in assessment! It was true that there were threats against his life. Elijah and the prophets were making headway for God. But in these warnings, fear and doubt was harbored and now this mighty man of God was cowering in a cave high on a mountain. In his solitude, God came forward to be heard. He asked His Child, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” See God didn’t tell him to go there, to hide and to relent. God did not tell him to be scared and retreat. The Lord never once introduced the notion of death to Elijah. But the enemy did through the words of others. My friend, the enemy of your soul is using the same tactics today that he did that day in the life of Elijah. God’s promise for you is alive and well. The Truth that your God spoke directly into your heart is not subject to the opinion of others. His purpose is clear in your mind because it is in the care of the Holy Spirit until the time of readiness. Others will not understand no matter how inclined they may be to think so. Your greatest purpose is revealed in one-on-one communication with God. Don’t let the words of others steal your victory today! God is whispering to you! Forget the noise! He is peaceful and sweet in His Great Love for you and will not add to the pressure but dismiss it completely!

Ezekiel 3:22-23 (NLT)

Then the Lord took hold of me and said, “Get up and go out into the valley, and I will speak to you there.” So I got up and went, and there I saw the glory of the Lord, just as I had seen in my first vision by the Kebar River. And I fell face down on the ground.

Is God calling you to the valley today? If it has become impossible to think in the midst of clamoring opinions, rattling insights, and pounding pressure, it is definitely time to turn off the noise and listen for your Father! The Lord will speak directly to you concerning any and every situation if you will just separate yourself from the noise. His Voice is quiet and peaceful and His Words are truth! They will make your path straight and open His Kingdom to you right now, right here. When you do this, you will see the Glory of God! Your answer will be clear and certain! Peace will be yours! Purpose fulfilled and Promises revealed! Listen, Jesus is calling you to the valley. He wants to speak to you today!

Truly Thankful

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (Message)

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

 

Are you stressed out yet? Do you have at least five lists concurrently running? Is the turkey really thawed or are you in for a real surprise today around dinner time? Will your in-laws become out-laws? Will all your leftovers fit in the refrigerator? How can there possibly be more that your children could want after last Christmas and why in the world can’t it be compatible with the previous game system? Seriously, are ten Christmas parties and three productions absolutely necessary to welcome the newborn King? With heart racing and numbers crunching, anxiety building and depression looming as the holiday season officially arrives, I would like for everyone to stop! Take a deep breath and let it out! Now breathe in again and allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse the clutter from your mind. Today is Thanksgiving which literally means to “give thanks.” However, you may already be overwhelmed with the new arrival of the season that the concept of being truly thankful has been lost. The truth is all the details that create “the” perfect holiday with all the delicious foods, overworked cooks, reduced budgets and pressing details do not promote the heart of the holiday that your Heavenly Father intended. He hardly was thinking of Butterball when He called His Children to be thankful. In fact, God directly links cheerfulness with thankfulness and prayer. The more we are able to convey our appreciation to the Lord the more joy we experience in everyday life. It really is quite simple and does not require a detailed menu, extended guest list or meticulous time schedule, it is a moment of peaceful quiet when all these meaningless things are pushed aside and God’s Child says, “Thanks Dad! I am happy just because you are the Lord of my life! I am content in the blessings you have placed in my life and long only for that which comes from you!”  These simple words will bless God’s Heart!

There is a dinette set which was the first piece of “new” furniture that was purchased for our home. Perfect for a large family and a small space, it fit neatly in the eat-in and its cozy bench for our little girls perfect. It has served our family well over the past several years and endured many family meals, school projects and only the Lord knows what else. It has many blemishes from its years of faithful service and there is an ongoing discussion of replacing it. But this table’s marks are images of great triumphs and victories of God’s great love and care for our family for if you look closely it bears the inscription our little girl who struggled for a long time to write her name until Her Heavenly Father said enough and touched her little body! The awkward letters proclaim the healing touch of God. It is a powerful reminder of a God who is mindful of me. When I wash away the crumbs or sit to grab a bite to eat it reminds me to be thankful for God in all things even those things that to others may prove unsightly. Today stop and look around and allow God to remind you of how He met you and loved you and cared for you! The turkey can wait, the football game recorded but this moment will be wasted if not claimed.

Colossians 4:2 (NLT)

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

Be on alert! The people and things that comprise your home and your life are gifts directly from the Hand of God to you His Child! Let that which surrounds you promote a continuous prayer of thankfulness for it marks God’s constant inhabitants in your life. His Blessing has sustained you and His Favor maintains it with the promise of a fabulous future. The joy and peace of this holiday season begins in a moment of being truly thankful exactly where you are with precisely what you have without the pressure to perform and the need to satisfy others. Breathe in His Peace today and you will exhale praise and thanks to Jesus the One who loves you most and was willing to show you with His Life.

A Content Heart

Hebrews 12:13-15 (Message)

Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.

There is a lifetime between man and God that is to be filled with moment after moment. How this time is spent will dramatically affect the process of preparation for the Kingdom of God? Time is different there as are God’s priorities. Once a person becomes saved, their hunger and appetites change based on the promise of God concerning their life and purpose. Suddenly those things that once satisfied or numbed the longings are just not enough. Consecrated lifestyles separate man from the worldly comforts that once temporarily satisfied the carnal desires. Now all of that seems insufficient. These new longings can only be filled by that which is found in the Presence of God but will never be satisfied with a discontent heart. When God is at work it often appears as though, He is not working at all because His Ways are different from the world’s way. Therefore it is a challenge to maintain  faith when taken to the very edge of possibility, dangerously close to failure and beyond the help offered by others or one’s own hands. It is the release of all self-control and total reliance on the ability of God. It is at this extreme where one may experience the temptation to abandon the pathway set before them by the Lord and take the easy way out. Those who remain on course with a content heart will meet God!

Successful advertising is the key to commercial success and the promotion of company products and services nationwide. The more exposure a company receives the more their product sells and the higher the profit. The corporation that is able to make their product a household name that is coveted by many, directly benefits the establishment. Once we are saved, God begins to show us the greatness of His Purpose designed for us and suddenly we become discontent with the things around us. His Plan is to woo us into a consecrated life of service to Jesus that we may experience the incredible blessings of His Kingdom. Our selfish need for immediate gratification, however, will almost inevitably lead us to make impulsive decisions if our heart is not satisfied in the Lord. God is looking for sanctified lives with righteous standards to make His Dwelling Place and to prosper. He will exalt those who are able to separate themselves from self-promotion and invest in long term commitment to Kingdom Goals.  One tiny seed of discontentment can completely derail a journey to the Promise of God. A sanctified life is marked by a peaceful heart that is content to be productive and conducive to spiritual blessing. Those who remain in right standing with God will begin to prosper and be vessels of abundant overflow. No need for religious lifestyles but simply maintaining the right position to obtain and redirect God’s Blessing!

Psalm 65:4 (Amplified)

Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You choose and cause to come near, that he may dwell in Your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple.

On those days when you feel frustrated that God is taking too long or maybe your blessing seems just out of reach, close your eyes and open your heart. Those who God calls to be sanctified and set apart for His Use are truly happy, fortunate and to be envied. However, when discontentment settles over our eyes, we fail to see the Hand of God at work. The weeds it produces choke out all spiritual growth and allow doubt to cover the pathway to victory. Inspect your heart today and ask the Holy Spirit if discontentment has crept in. It is easy to spot as it is marked by bitterness, envy, jealously and pettiness that steals from the beautiful courts of God’s Dwelling Place – your heart! Ask the Lord to reveal those bitter seeds of discouragement that are threatening the exponential growth and unhindered freedom that is yours!

Release Fear

Revelation 3:10-12 (Message)

“Because you kept my Word in passionate patience, I’ll keep you safe in the time of testing that will be here soon, and all over the earth, every man, woman, and child put to the test. I’m on my way; I’ll be there soon. Keep a tight grip on what you have so no one distracts you and steals your crown. I’ll make each conqueror a pillar in the sanctuary of my God, a permanent position of honor. Then I’ll write names on you, the pillars: the Name of my God, the Name of God’s City—the new Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven—and my new Name.”

The time of the return of Jesus Christ may be sooner than we think as prophecy daily is fulfilled with astonishing clarity. Cunning coincidence or clear revelation it is a time filled with great testing and trials for God’s Children to hope tight to their faith in the midst of great uncertainty. The world daily offers situations and circumstances designed to make an evil exchange of Jesus-based faith for enemy-derived fear. There is a spiritual struggle not to hang on to the faith woven in salvation and grown through painstaking perseverance. No one knows the day or hour of our Lord’s return. Yet there are things that God has given us in careful preparation for that day and then there are those unsuitable notions that the enemy has attempted to smuggle into our Spirit! Those who are able to “keep a tight grip” on what God has given us and avoid the distractions of the thief who wants to steal everything that is good are those who will be richly rewarded for their passionate patience.

Newborns arrive with the distinct ability to tightly grasp anything placed in their tiny palm. As they begin to grow, this grip reflex intensifies as their little human minds develop selfish wills refuse to release that which they covet. Unknowingly a baby will firmly grab things that are dangerous as their ability to discern such has not developed yet through knowledge and experience. Once they decide they want something, a child will simply refuse to let go. This often results in a struggle between worried parent and willful child to wrestle away the unwise choice. When born again, a person gains access to a peaceful and purposeful life. With a secure future and constant provision, there really is nothing to worry or be anxious for yet in our immaturity we choose to hold tightly to fear rather than release it to obtain the faith and the benefits found in a life based on it! The intense innate need to hold tightly to something has creating a generation motivated by fear and God is calling His Generation, His “Temple Pillars” to release their hold on fear and doubt and get a “tight grip” on faith-generated living that calls us to persevere, praise and pray under pressure. Those who can see beyond the order of the day to the Ordination of the New Jerusalem understanding the current state of affairs is no reflection on the future plan and promise of the Savior.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

God has not given His Children the “gift” of fear so it is not something that we should readily hold on to. God has given us power, love and self-discipline. It is these things we should grab hold of with great passion and patience. Self-control allows us to choose that which we hold on to in life whether it is overwhelming faith or undermining fear is totally up to you. The Lord has called us to keep a tight grip on the reality of the spiritual realm and its impact not only on today but the future. Release those things that call you to doubt God and all that He has promised you! Jesus is offering power to the powerlessness, love to the unlovable and self-discipline to the undisciplined. What an offer? Three key characteristics for productive powerful living in exchange for completely worthless notions define the constant giving of our Savior. The Lord has plenty of good things for His Children to hang on to today! Release doubt and begin to take hold of all your Father has for you!

In The Rain

Proverbs 16:15 (Amplified)

In the light of the king’s countenance is life, and his favor is as a cloud bringing the spring rain.

In the subtle sound of the falling rain is peace, it makes an environment of serenity. Could it be our humble beginning in our mother’s womb draws us to the sound of water for comfort and peace? Is it the sound of the gentle rhythm like a serenade that causes the heart to relax and beat in tune? Maybe it is the covering of clouds that hang over like a canopy to shield the sun? It is the gentle rain that calls people to covered porches with comfortable chairs to watch as the earth is replenished and nurtured right before their eyes. The soft falling droplets that wash away the dirt, dust and debris that has built up over time to reveal the potential of what is beneath it call to those who seek. It is incredible the peace that a light rain can bring to a busy day as it may interrupt a busy schedule to make a new relaxing plan.

Throughout God’s Word, there are many references to seasons of rain in the life of God’s Children from the gentle rains shared to the harsh storms linked to the Judgment of God. Today let’s focus on the light showers of a Loving Father. Is there a storm cloud in sight? Maybe its presence has caused momentary agitation as your day that was carefully planned has been interrupted and your mind must change its course of action. The formation of the cloud causes worry to furrow the brow as time is short and more is coveted. Interruptions are seldom welcomed as they are clearly not on the “to do” list. Our minds are full of the things that we “just have to do” as the inconvenience of rain threatens.

“His Favor is as a cloud bringing the spring rain…” Why is spring rain important? It washes away the debris of the winter and prepares the soil for the next season. A time of renewal is in the light consistent showers of spring. It nourishes new potential. There is a revelation of purpose in the work of the water flows. It calms the soul and brings light to the new day. God’s Favor is like the clouds. In the Presence of God is a season of rain and it enters your life like a cloud. No one really knows what a cloud may hold whether a heavy downpour or a few sprinkles. It calls the attention of those who have carefully laid plans and agendas. It halts such things as we focus on the potential of the rain. God desires to rain in your life today! It is a downpour of peace, love, mercy, grace, and favor. Peace calls the mind to silence. Love elevates the voice of our heart. Mercy covers the many times we have failed and grace all those other times we surely will. Then there is favor and that takes care of every other detail in life! All this packed in the cloud that draws our attention from our plans to God’s!

Psalm 65:9-11 (NLT)

You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The river of God has plenty of water; it provides a bountiful harvest of grain for you have ordered it so. You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops. You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.

Gentle rain is God’s invitation for a visit today! It is a call to set aside your plans, wipe clean the slate and spend time in the “King’s Countenance”. Everything that one may seek is available in His Presence and so much more. His Favor is set to shine on those who make way for arrival. God’s rain showers in life will melt hard hearts and level uncertain futures. Is Jesus calling to you in the gentle rain today? The Lord desires to bless you! He is anxious to pour His Favor into your life so take a few moments to soak up His Rain today! Everything you need for a successful prospering life is in each drop of His Downpour. Accept it! Dance in God’s Presence! Oblivious to the world that begs for sunshine, pray for rain!

Hurry Up and Wait

2 Peter 3:14-15 (Amplified)

So, beloved, since you are expecting these things, be eager to be found by Him [at His coming] without spot or blemish and at peace [in serene confidence, free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts]. And consider that the long-suffering of our Lord [His slowness in avenging wrongs and judging the world] is salvation (that which is conducive to the soul’s safety)…

The military has a secret motto known as “Hurry Up and Wait”. It is unspoken but any soldier or family member can tell you it is probably the most frustrating practice that warrants great patience to survive. Once enlisted the in the United States Military, a young man or woman becomes part of intricate network of a unified body designed to work together efficiently and secure all objectives. Failure is never an option and their lives are laid on the line every day as their seal of promise. The call to serve one’s country to the death is certainly a high honor with great responsibility not to be taken lightly therefore it requires the ultimate commitment even when that means long periods of “waiting”. Waiting certainly does not feel productive. It appears to serve no purpose. However to the authorities responsible for the safety and wellbeing of not only their soldiers but an entire nation it is absolutely priceless.

There is always a bigger picture than our finite mind can comprehend. Once Jesus Christ became our Lord and Savior our calling and commitment was taken to a new level through submission to a much higher authority. No longer was our existence menial but vital. As God’s Plan for our life unfolded it became quite apparent that the salvation of our family, friends, acquaintances and even our enemies was our objective. The committed lifestyle of a Believer yielded to the authority of their God and Savior is a life that draws attention to the Lord who is worthy of such a surrender. Others notice, but not everyone who seeks salvation runs to it. No, there are some people who are hesitant to give their life to Jesus Christ. In their hesitation is your purpose unfolding as you hurry up and wait!

Maintaining a life of constant commitment to God’s Purpose while living in “serene confidence, without fear or agitation” is to achieve the great goal of one’s calling. God’s Children who patiently wait for His Action, His Intervention and His Return exemplify to other’s the benefits of salvation to its fullest. The absence of complaining, worry and sin tells others of the great certainty that has been found through a life consecrated to God. Others do not have such a peace and long to achieve it. It is in the “waiting” of life that great victories are won for the Kingdom of God. While we wait, we pray more, we study more, we praise more, we fast more, and we seek the Face of God with great eagerness, producing an explosion of strongholds that allow the lost to see the Father through our existence.

Genesis 29:1-4 (NLT)

Then Jacob hurried on, finally arriving in the land of the east. He saw a well in the distance. Three flocks of sheep and goats lay in an open field beside it, waiting to be watered. But a heavy stone covered the mouth of the well. It was the custom there to wait for all the flocks to arrive before removing the stone and watering the animals. Afterward the stone would be placed back over the mouth of the well. Jacob went over to the shepherds and asked, “Where are you from, my friends?”

It was a custom for the shepherds to gather around wells to water their flocks and then wait for their colleagues to arrive at which time they would remove the cover and work together to water their livestock. God uses this same method to “water His Sheep” today. In our waiting is time for gathering the Lord’s Children. It is purposeful. As you wait today, look around and note those “waiting at the well” with you! Extend your hand to them in welcome as Jacob did. In doing so that which you have long awaited may arrive and purpose will be watered with God’s Great Favor and providential timing! Not a minute is wasted in God’s timing, so smile as you wait for God’s arrival – it may be sooner than you think as you hurry up and wait!

Mountain Moving 101

Matthew 17:20 (Amplified)

He said to them, Because of the littleness of your faith [that is, your lack of firmly relying trust]. For truly I say to you, if you have faith [that is living] like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to yonder place, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.

Faith that can “move a mountain” would be an excellent attribute if the challenges we faced were all made of dirt and rocks with a bit of grass and maybe a few trees. However the complex problems that face God’s People today are generally comprised more of shifting sands and human variables making it all the more difficult to excavate. The enemy is an excellent mud slinger who will be sure to bury any progress made in clearing our hearts and heads of the notions and ideas that threaten to bury our faith as we attempt to clear the way and nurture it. The mountains in life seem to be getting bigger not smaller. Where is the progress? Just a glimmer of light through the darkness of its mass would be encouraging and fuel our passion to continue to cultivate that faith that “moves mountains”.

Mountain excavation is a tedious task. Imagine those who have the task of moving actual mountains. These individuals are faced with the enormous task of disassembling a nature and redistributing it elsewhere. Like with any project of such magnitude, in the beginning there is a plan of action that must be modified thorough out the process to meet the challenges of the unknown. The only way that the excavation project will be completed is if the crew continues every day. In their diligence is “pay dirt.” There are days when the sky opens and rain turns dirt to pasty mud and misery when the workers want to throw in their hard hats and seek a new profession. On other days, great mounds of progress collapse as dirt walls give way and sizable progress slides in to create more work to be done all over again the next day. Even with all the tools and machinery, it still requires concentrated human effort to clear land for construction or infrastructure.

God has given us a plan for the construction of purpose-driven, success-filled, blessed lives. It requires a focused effort to see the progress God desires. No Christian sitting on the ground with both hands cupping a tiny seed has ever seen the flourishing abundance of God’s Garden of Prosperity. No along the way hands must get dirty, clothes soiled, perspiration produced with feet firmly planted and eyes focused only on God’s Plan. Mountain-moving faith is a product of taking that little seedling of faith God gave you and making a commitment to not give up until it grows. It requires firmly, relying on the Word of God. To rely on something is to be dependent on it for support – it is leaning on it with full force. Our faith must lean on the mountains of life. If we continuously apply pressure the mountain will move. Not all at once, but it is in the consistent effort to press into the situation that excavation begins. It is a relentless process in the midst of great opposition as the enemy attempts to bury any and all progress. Mountain movers show up every day and do not give up on purpose regardless how slow progress is or how messy it gets sometimes even working through the night. Their tears soften the land as the pressure gains way to entrance to God’s Throne Room and summons His Assistance. Who better to move the mountain than its Creator?

Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT)

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

No matter what the situation that you are facing today, God is ready, willing and able to assist you in removing the hindrances that threaten your progress. It is essential to continue to apply pressure to the situation through your faith. Prayer is an excellent land mover. Praise washes away the debris. Persistent faithfulness yields great results. God is looking for Children who show up to work every day with a “can do” attitude holding nothing back but throwing their entire being into accomplishing the impossible for that is the faith that will move your mountain!

Fill In The Blanks

Isaiah 54:9-10 (NLT)

“Just as I swore in the time of Noah that I would never again let a flood cover the earth, so now I swear that I will never again be angry and punish you. For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

Crossword puzzles create formidable challenges to test the mind and enhance knowledge. A momentary repast from the hectic schedules of life, it is easy entertainment to pass the time. When faced with a question that one may not know the answer to, most of the time one would skip ahead to the next question for which they know the answer. By placing the correct answer in another space, it will offer clues to the perplexing word which cannot be found. In the midst of many unknown variables, it is helpful to place the words you do know in the proper place to offer clues to the answers that you seek. Successful Christian living may be achieved in very much the same way. Instead of focusing on what we do not know, God is calling us to focus on the Truth of what we do know. God reminded His People that He promised Noah to never flood the earth again. The next time there was a torrential downpour there would be comfort in knowing that God has promised never to destroy the earth. To better answer the questions of life, one must apply the principles of God’s Truth in the blanks of what they do know and God will make clear the answers that we do not know or understand.

God made a bold statement in Isaiah 54:10, one that may be of great comfort in the current state of affairs. “My covenant of blessing will NEVER be broken.” A covenant is a contract or vow made by God who just stated in this passage that His Faithful Love will remain forever. Let’s fill in the blanks of your situation with what you do know just from one simple Old Testament passage. God has promised to never destroy you so whatever the situation you are facing whether physical danger or illness or mental or emotional distress, He has promised that you will live and not die. You are a survivor because the Lord alone is the only one who holds that power in your life. The truth about God is that His Love is faithful and steadfast. His Heart concerning you will never change or be moved. The most excitingl truth in this declaration God has made is that no matter what things may look like or how they appear – the covenant of blessing over your life will NEVER be broken. Rejoice friend that means no matter how the cycle begins it will always end in blessing. It is a provisionary contract and God does not lie or change which is another answer that will only continue to provide the answers you are desperately seeking today!

Life is hard and confusing! Children of God are not of this world which means that in order to understand our future and the Promise of God His truth must provide the missing pieces of life because everything else just does not add up! The outcome is according to the instrument that is acknowledged. God’s Covenant is His Contract which is binding that states you will be blessed! It is an absolute outcome based on His Promise. However, if the instrument is not executed like a legal document then it is not in effect. It is up to the recipient to claim that which has been given. If ignored, God’s Promises for your life are just words in a book rather than the Powerful Potential that will answer your questions and provide your blessing.

John 8:31-32 (NLT)

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

No matter what challenges you may be facing today, there is a contract in effect for your life that entitles you to be blessed. When the Truth concerning you that is in the details of your covenant with the Lord are thoroughly studied and activated in your life, the answers that have perplexed you will begin to fall into place. God will fill in the blanks surrounding His Truth with divine understanding to those who choose to accept His Covenant and study His Word. It holds all the answers! Activate God’s Word concerning you today and experience the life God intended for you! Though puzzling, the Lord holds all the answers for those who seek Him! There is freedom in the Truth!

Share The Wealth

Psalm 37:5-7 (Message)

Open up before God, keep nothing back; he’ll do whatever needs to be done: He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon. Quiet down before God, be prayerful before him. Don’t bother with those who climb the ladder who elbow their way to the top.

The Favor of God will inevitably shine and permeate the life of every Child of the Living God through Jesus Christ. It is God’s heart desire to bless His Creation. When life is lived openly before God in a consecrated effort filled with commitment, prayer, devotion, love and worship, amazing things will begin to happen. It is an exchange that began in the Old Testament and was only dramatically increased by the perfection of grace in the New Testament. Like all things that are of the Lord, there is a process associated with the arrival of God’s Favor. Character must be prepared to receive such power and glory manifested in the natural. Therefore there are challenges and trials along the way. Each victory is savored and enjoyed while appreciated all the more as victory is realized. People begin to notice when God’s Spotlight shines on the His faithful, diligent children. One will begin to move in different circles of influence as God begins to introduce His Child to His Purpose.

The principle of God’s Favor shines like light and stretches far and wide. As God’s Favor enters a Believer’s life, it is a natural effect for it to spill over into the lives of those around them. All of a sudden friends, colleagues and neighbors will begin to experience unexplainable blessing and goodness without the same dedicated process that drew God’s attention in the first place. The enemy finds that to be a quite useful tool of distraction to remove the focus from Jesus and place it on the co-worker or acquaintance that also seems to now be experiencing the great favor of God minus the investment or dedication. It is in that moment that Christians feel cheated and discontent. It is a robbery of satisfaction rather than a moment of thankfulness that once again God is using His Child to touch another. The same idea is what moves individuals from church to church based on radical moves of God in each membership. Watching for the light, but never committing to the process they move under the Grace Overflow and attempt to catch the stream released by the petitions and prayers of others. For these people understand that God is not a respecter of persons and will bless them as well if they are positioned close to the favor and light of His Children.

As a Christian who understands the flow of God’s Grace and His Powerful Purpose invested in each of His Children, one must understand that God will not send anything to His Child that is not intended to be shared. God’s abundance always comes with an overflow for His Orphans. The people around His Children who do not have a relationship with their Father and are desperately searching for the Truth are the very ones that your Father will bless in the abundance of favor and grace that flows from your life. It always pleases a parent to see their child share with another – no less is the case with our Heavenly Father!

Psalm 36:7-9 (NLT)

How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights. For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.

God’s purpose is manifested in His Child’s Life through expressed Favor that reaches the lives of all God’s Children not just those who live in His House. The next time you feel tempted to be angry about the unmerited blessing of others who are not living for the Lord – DON’T! The Favor of your life has simply overflowed into theirs as your Father intended and it is a good thing! All humanity is God’s target not just His Own. It is our job to live lives that produce an inviting environment for the Presence of God, Provision of God, and Power of God which will in turn “feed” all God’s People both dedicated and indecisive. You have become God’s Fountain of Life for others and in that rejoice! Do not be robbed of the sheer joy of being God’s Favored Child and be glad to share His Wealth!