The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD. Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." - Jeremiah 1:4-10
The Message. The Prophet Jeremiah – God Calls. This is the calling of the prophet Jeremiah. The Lord is speaking to Jeremiah and reassuring him that he was formed in his mother’s womb with a purpose. That purpose was for him to be a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah’s response isn’t much different that others (such as Moses) when called for such an awesome task.
His response is, But God I cannot speak I am only a child. Maybe our response isn’t the same as Jeremiah, but we can relate. Maybe your response to God when he spoke his purpose to you was, I can’t do that, or will people listen to me, or even I don’t know enough, I’m not good enough. Whatever the excuse is, God’s answer to us is the same as it was to Jeremiah.
God told Jeremiah, do not say you are a child, but you must go and speak everything I command you to say. Do not be afraid to speak the words I give you for I will rescue you. In other words, I will be with you as you speak the words I give you to speak.
Then God reached out and touched Jeremiah’s lips and said, I now put my words into your mouth, so go forth and do as I have commanded. God’s word comes through us to uproot and tear down those attitudes, behaviors and beliefs that would set themselves up above God. God’s word also comes to build up and to plant, to build up his people for the fight ahead and to plant the good seed that will take root and bring forth fruit.
Today, God is calling. He is calling for his people to step forth and walk in the truth as he sets forth. He is calling his people to pick up their armor and begin to run this race, his way. I pray for us today that we allow the truth of God’s word to set us free from the sins that so easily besets. God has a message for us, are we listening?
Monday, March 31, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Words of Encouragement
We look to the hills, from which cometh our help.We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests. Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. – Psalm 20:5-7
You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God! – Psalm 68:35
He is Risen, What Next? We receive power. One of the most difficult things in our lives is facing those things that disappoint us, hurt us or devastate us. Some how we want those things to simply disappear, but no amount of wishing will make life’s situations go away. Some may even believe that when you become a Christian you are exempt from the tragedies, disappointments and upsets in life. The truth is Christians are not exempt from life’s situations, but are equipped for them.
God will grant to us our requests or prayers for his power to help us through our situations. Sometimes we may pray for him to remove them, but he sometimes says no I will not remove them, but I will strengthen you to go through so that I can make you better in the process. We do not always understand the reason, but we must simply acknowledge that God’s ways are above us and his understanding is higher than ours.
We do not have to feel defeated because of our situations because we are not in them alone. God is there in the midst of the situation with you. The scripture says that God will save his anointed. We do not have to trust in chariots or in other words, physical power and might, but in the power that comes only from God.
God promises that he will give his people the power and strength they need. Today my heart is heavy for those that are being defeated by the tricks of the enemy. Satan wants someone to think, they don’t have enough inside to be able to stand. He wants you to think that what you are facing will last forever. I come to tell you this season you are in won’t last forever. God will keep you in the protection of his mighty hand. He will not allow you to bear more than you are capable. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. When you feel weak or unable to hang on, trust in God’s strength.
I pray for us right now, may the spirit of the liar be revealed for what he is, a liar. Lord do not allow your people to be tricked into giving up their victory. You already gave us the victory the day Christ died on the cross. Help us to see the truth. Give us spiritual eyes to see clearly. Satan does not care what lie we believe, as long as it is not the truth. Today, I speak
You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God! – Psalm 68:35
He is Risen, What Next? We receive power. One of the most difficult things in our lives is facing those things that disappoint us, hurt us or devastate us. Some how we want those things to simply disappear, but no amount of wishing will make life’s situations go away. Some may even believe that when you become a Christian you are exempt from the tragedies, disappointments and upsets in life. The truth is Christians are not exempt from life’s situations, but are equipped for them.
God will grant to us our requests or prayers for his power to help us through our situations. Sometimes we may pray for him to remove them, but he sometimes says no I will not remove them, but I will strengthen you to go through so that I can make you better in the process. We do not always understand the reason, but we must simply acknowledge that God’s ways are above us and his understanding is higher than ours.
We do not have to feel defeated because of our situations because we are not in them alone. God is there in the midst of the situation with you. The scripture says that God will save his anointed. We do not have to trust in chariots or in other words, physical power and might, but in the power that comes only from God.
God promises that he will give his people the power and strength they need. Today my heart is heavy for those that are being defeated by the tricks of the enemy. Satan wants someone to think, they don’t have enough inside to be able to stand. He wants you to think that what you are facing will last forever. I come to tell you this season you are in won’t last forever. God will keep you in the protection of his mighty hand. He will not allow you to bear more than you are capable. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. When you feel weak or unable to hang on, trust in God’s strength.
I pray for us right now, may the spirit of the liar be revealed for what he is, a liar. Lord do not allow your people to be tricked into giving up their victory. You already gave us the victory the day Christ died on the cross. Help us to see the truth. Give us spiritual eyes to see clearly. Satan does not care what lie we believe, as long as it is not the truth. Today, I speak
life back into the heart of your people that are feeling burden by their trials. You Lord will not leave us or forsake us. You are truthful and you would never lie to us. So you tell us we can trust you, so help us to trust you completely, even when everything around us seems to be falling apart. Help us to know with clarity that you have the final say in every situation, and we can trust you to do what is best. Help us now to receive the strength back into our very bones. Help us to receive your power. We need your power to stand, to stay the course and to walk in the victory you have just for us in our situations and circumstances. This is my humble prayer for your hurting people, Amen.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Someone You Should Know!
Michelle with her sisters and brother (now deceased) at the recording.Jewel - How does your music inspire you?
Michelle - Well, I don't know if my music inspires me so much, but I'll say God definitely inspires me. He'll take an everyday situation and all of a sudden in the quiet, in the stillness of a moment...literally--He will place words and a tune in my heart and mind and it just will keep on coming and flowing. That's what happened when I found my brother dead in my deceased parents living room. After reflecting...it felt so empty, cold, lonely, hopeless...but God--placed His presence and love in the midst of the void and He kept on pouring the words in me. The same happened during on of the last times I saw my dad alive in the hospital...in the hospital bed...where he deteriorated to a sub-vegetated state...God right there flooded my soul with John 14:27 or 26, "Peace I leave with you...not as the world--giveth--give I unto you..."
He gave the melody along with the words instantaneously and I had to literally run out of the E.R. and ask the guard for the location of the hospital's chapel and I found it and hopped on the organ minutes after...so I wouldn't lose the revelation. God gave me the entire song in a matter of 5 minutes...I know it sounds weird, yet it was as if He was giving my dad a last song--to play--before He took him on to glory! Praise God! So I will say the inspiration is from God-Himself and the awesome opportunity He gives me to express His glory in a very tangible manner.
I thank Michelle for taking the time to answer my questions. Her answer were insightful. I don't think it's strange how God inspired her to write her music. I was rejoicing because that is how he does me with my writing. He will take the every day things and show me something. I have to sit down and write it as soon as he gives it to me, not because I'll lose it, but because it will continue to play in my thoughts until I put it on paper. I've sat down and written entire plays in one sitting, because I could not stop the flow of the words. I often tell people, I am just the typist. So again, thank you Michelle. Her current project as she mentioned is to do a musical. We will keep you abreast of the developments of that.
Words of Encouragement
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, - Romans 8:1-3
The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. – Psalm 18:24-26
He is Risen, What Next? Our records are clear. I was speaking with someone on yesterday and this thought came to my mind. When we accepted the gift of salvation from Christ we also accepted a new start. The old life, our life of sin, lies; backbiting, etc. were erased and removed from our records. We were given a new start, a new record. As we walk this journey, all the things that need to be changed in us are not instantly removed. God’s longsuffering ways grants us his mercy to cover us as he gets our attention to those things that need to be changed.
When he gets our attention, he reminds us there is no condemnation now, you are free from this sin because you have seen it and repented of it. He then tells us go forward and come this way no more. I also began thinking, how are we called righteous, or faithful or blameless? Is it because we have always been righteous, or faithful or blameless in our walk? I can dare to say no. We are these things because our records are clear. They are clear because of the power of the blood. It washes away our sins. It washes away the sins we commit, even when in our hearts we thought we were doing right. It was the mercy that said, I will hold you today…and each day, until you see the full picture.
I have a question for us, when we finally see where we are not living up to God’s standard, does he beat us over the head with it? Does he bring back what we did wrong several years ago to remind us of how wrong we are; is he still judging us by our lack of understanding from 1999? No. He simply reassures us that he loves us and our records are clear. What we should take from this is, we as believers need to be more like God when dealing with each other. We are good at holding what someone did wrong, and not letting go of it. We want to forever see them through what they did wrong (real or perceived). Yet, we can take comfort in this, God says our records are clear! So even when someone wants to tell you about all the wrong you have done, you can say to yourself, “well if you check with God, he’ll tell you, my record is clear”. That thing isn’t even on the list anymore. That is how we are called faithful, righteous and blameless. It is because the blood continues to wash away the stains, leaving us spotless before God.
I pray for us today that we would rejoice in knowing that we have a clear record with God. Not so that we can boast, because the record isn’t clear by our own power, it is clear because of the power of Christ. We can rejoice and know when the enemy comes to condemn us; we can tell him there is now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus, because his gift is continually perfecting me.
The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. – Psalm 18:24-26
He is Risen, What Next? Our records are clear. I was speaking with someone on yesterday and this thought came to my mind. When we accepted the gift of salvation from Christ we also accepted a new start. The old life, our life of sin, lies; backbiting, etc. were erased and removed from our records. We were given a new start, a new record. As we walk this journey, all the things that need to be changed in us are not instantly removed. God’s longsuffering ways grants us his mercy to cover us as he gets our attention to those things that need to be changed.
When he gets our attention, he reminds us there is no condemnation now, you are free from this sin because you have seen it and repented of it. He then tells us go forward and come this way no more. I also began thinking, how are we called righteous, or faithful or blameless? Is it because we have always been righteous, or faithful or blameless in our walk? I can dare to say no. We are these things because our records are clear. They are clear because of the power of the blood. It washes away our sins. It washes away the sins we commit, even when in our hearts we thought we were doing right. It was the mercy that said, I will hold you today…and each day, until you see the full picture.
I have a question for us, when we finally see where we are not living up to God’s standard, does he beat us over the head with it? Does he bring back what we did wrong several years ago to remind us of how wrong we are; is he still judging us by our lack of understanding from 1999? No. He simply reassures us that he loves us and our records are clear. What we should take from this is, we as believers need to be more like God when dealing with each other. We are good at holding what someone did wrong, and not letting go of it. We want to forever see them through what they did wrong (real or perceived). Yet, we can take comfort in this, God says our records are clear! So even when someone wants to tell you about all the wrong you have done, you can say to yourself, “well if you check with God, he’ll tell you, my record is clear”. That thing isn’t even on the list anymore. That is how we are called faithful, righteous and blameless. It is because the blood continues to wash away the stains, leaving us spotless before God.
I pray for us today that we would rejoice in knowing that we have a clear record with God. Not so that we can boast, because the record isn’t clear by our own power, it is clear because of the power of Christ. We can rejoice and know when the enemy comes to condemn us; we can tell him there is now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus, because his gift is continually perfecting me.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Someone You Should Know!
Jewel - How do you want your music to affect people, or what do you want them to get from it?
Michelle - I must say your questions are very insightful...I think--you should also go into journalism...well, you're already a writer so you can actually say 'been thre, doing that'. Anyway, I want people to hear hope. There was a day where I was feeling really heavy and after work I wanted to have some music minister to me...just like the shepherd boy--David ministered to Saul's emotions...well, I think I finally found some music where the Spirit of God penetrated through the stress and burdens I was experiencing. Afterwards, I felt light and God's love and grace and in turn experienced His promises and numerous benefits.
Michelle's music does help you to find hope as you listen to the words. There are many that I love, so I cannot pick a favorite, you simply have to listen to the entire CD. Come back and read the final answers to this interview.
Michelle - I must say your questions are very insightful...I think--you should also go into journalism...well, you're already a writer so you can actually say 'been thre, doing that'. Anyway, I want people to hear hope. There was a day where I was feeling really heavy and after work I wanted to have some music minister to me...just like the shepherd boy--David ministered to Saul's emotions...well, I think I finally found some music where the Spirit of God penetrated through the stress and burdens I was experiencing. Afterwards, I felt light and God's love and grace and in turn experienced His promises and numerous benefits.
Michelle's music does help you to find hope as you listen to the words. There are many that I love, so I cannot pick a favorite, you simply have to listen to the entire CD. Come back and read the final answers to this interview.
Words of Encouragement
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. – Matthew 6:14-15
He is Risen, What Next? We can forgive the unforgivable. Sometimes it seems impossible to forgive the mean and hurtful things people say and do to you. This is especially true when those hurting you say they belong to Christ. It is hard to reconcile the things people assume and then speak as if it is truth. I must be honest; this was an area that was very difficult for me. I could not understand the saints saying the mean things they did to me.
I could not understand the hurtful words that come from their mouths, instead of the words that should encourage. I could not understand how do we claim to be Christians and do such mean things. Sometimes the hurt and struggle does not come from outside the church, sometimes the struggle comes right in the midst of the place that should be a place of worship.
Well what does that mean? It means that regardless of what others do, we must be like Christ. It means that when some one lies on us, we must continue to be like Christ. It means that when others would say mean hurtful words, we must continue to be like Christ.
This is not something we can do in our own ability. I could not forgive those that hurt me, lied on me and misused me in my own ability. It took the risen Christ living in me to enable me to do so. It takes the Holy Spirit helping me to be able to forgive the unforgivable. To be able to forgive means you do it, even when the other party may never say a thing, or acknowledge their need for forgiveness.
I pray for us this week that we seek God to help us forgive those that have hurt us, talked about us, lied on us and mistreated us. Help us to show love even though others may not be showing it in return. Jesus showed loved to an angry mob as he hung on the cross. He could have rightly called angels from heaven to stop what was happening, but he knew that it was all to fulfill God’s plan. We must look at the mistreatment of others and ask the same question, what is best for me? Is it best that I move from this area, or is it best that I allow you to bring me through? You’ll find out that God many times wants us to go through because he is using these times to bring about something in us. So let us turn to God when people mistreat us, or do us wrong. If we are not willing to forgive what others have done to us, we then cannot expect God to forgive our sins. For our sins against God is far greater than anything anyone else could do against us.
He is Risen, What Next? We can forgive the unforgivable. Sometimes it seems impossible to forgive the mean and hurtful things people say and do to you. This is especially true when those hurting you say they belong to Christ. It is hard to reconcile the things people assume and then speak as if it is truth. I must be honest; this was an area that was very difficult for me. I could not understand the saints saying the mean things they did to me.
I could not understand the hurtful words that come from their mouths, instead of the words that should encourage. I could not understand how do we claim to be Christians and do such mean things. Sometimes the hurt and struggle does not come from outside the church, sometimes the struggle comes right in the midst of the place that should be a place of worship.
Well what does that mean? It means that regardless of what others do, we must be like Christ. It means that when some one lies on us, we must continue to be like Christ. It means that when others would say mean hurtful words, we must continue to be like Christ.
This is not something we can do in our own ability. I could not forgive those that hurt me, lied on me and misused me in my own ability. It took the risen Christ living in me to enable me to do so. It takes the Holy Spirit helping me to be able to forgive the unforgivable. To be able to forgive means you do it, even when the other party may never say a thing, or acknowledge their need for forgiveness.
I pray for us this week that we seek God to help us forgive those that have hurt us, talked about us, lied on us and mistreated us. Help us to show love even though others may not be showing it in return. Jesus showed loved to an angry mob as he hung on the cross. He could have rightly called angels from heaven to stop what was happening, but he knew that it was all to fulfill God’s plan. We must look at the mistreatment of others and ask the same question, what is best for me? Is it best that I move from this area, or is it best that I allow you to bring me through? You’ll find out that God many times wants us to go through because he is using these times to bring about something in us. So let us turn to God when people mistreat us, or do us wrong. If we are not willing to forgive what others have done to us, we then cannot expect God to forgive our sins. For our sins against God is far greater than anything anyone else could do against us.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Someone You Should Know!
This is my middle daughter singing with another one of the children.
We want to finish the interview with Michelle regarding the recording of her CD.
Jewel - What do you hope to do going forward with your music? I have some ideas, don't forget I'll be needing someone to score my movie.
Michelle - That's great that God has planted so many wonderful ambitions in your heart...and He will surely bring'em to pass as you continue to consult him. Well, all this initially was of course--merely an annual Scholarship Benefit initiative. So even though the first year featured piano performances from summer students and the second year was the CD production, I feel the Lord is leading me to produce a Music/Production/Play where there will still be another CD release (with approximately 17 more songs) but incorporating a story/drama in the production. Again, the Lord was speaking to me at last year's Youth Convention, this time--from the Grapevine, Texas area and I was pretty much asking Him what His specific will was--for '08. So pretty much the overall future looks like...to continue providing artistic venues for youth to express themselves as they honor their Heavenly Father--and ultimately benefit their futures by raising funds from these annual events--so they can enroll in various music classes that will partly be funded by some of the available monies.
Come back again for the rest of this interview.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Words of Encouragement
But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. – 2 Corinthians 3:16-18
He is Risen, What Next? We can reflect Jesus. Easter or Resurrection Sunday has come and gone, but does that mean we should lose the focus we gained during this time? I believe the answer to that is no. In fact, we should begin to ask the next question, what is next for us to do? This isn’t just a question for the unsaved that have now accepted Christ, but also for the one that already believes. We should continually ask, what next Lord?
In this scripture, the New Covenant is being spoken about. Paul speaks about Moses and how he wore the veil over his face because the people could not look upon the glory of God on his face. The comparison is we do not have to place a veil on our faces, we can allow the Spirit of God to reflect through us and have the freedom of reflecting Jesus.
The glory that shown upon Moses faces faded, but this does not have to be what transpires with the believer today. We can reflect the Spirit, which is the Lord’s Spirit, and continually be transformed into his likeness with an ever-increasing glory. In other words, as we release more of ourselves into the hand of God, the more we will reflect his Son (Sanctification).
We can be changed to show the world the beauty of the Lord. We are not able to do this without the risen Christ. So what’s next? The next thing for us to day is to release ourselves into the hand of God so that He can receive glory from our lives as we walk before him and before men.
I pray for us today that we reflect on what the Lord has spoken to our hearts during this past Holy Week and then move into action on what he has shown us. Has he shown you he desires more worship? Then worship. Has he shown you he wants more commitment? Then commit, yield. Has he shown you that there are some things in your life that need to be nailed to the cross, put to death so that the new purpose in your life can be resurrected? Then nail those things to the cross and move forward in His purpose. Today, is our call to action, what will you do, what is next for you?
He is Risen, What Next? We can reflect Jesus. Easter or Resurrection Sunday has come and gone, but does that mean we should lose the focus we gained during this time? I believe the answer to that is no. In fact, we should begin to ask the next question, what is next for us to do? This isn’t just a question for the unsaved that have now accepted Christ, but also for the one that already believes. We should continually ask, what next Lord?
In this scripture, the New Covenant is being spoken about. Paul speaks about Moses and how he wore the veil over his face because the people could not look upon the glory of God on his face. The comparison is we do not have to place a veil on our faces, we can allow the Spirit of God to reflect through us and have the freedom of reflecting Jesus.
The glory that shown upon Moses faces faded, but this does not have to be what transpires with the believer today. We can reflect the Spirit, which is the Lord’s Spirit, and continually be transformed into his likeness with an ever-increasing glory. In other words, as we release more of ourselves into the hand of God, the more we will reflect his Son (Sanctification).
We can be changed to show the world the beauty of the Lord. We are not able to do this without the risen Christ. So what’s next? The next thing for us to day is to release ourselves into the hand of God so that He can receive glory from our lives as we walk before him and before men.
I pray for us today that we reflect on what the Lord has spoken to our hearts during this past Holy Week and then move into action on what he has shown us. Has he shown you he desires more worship? Then worship. Has he shown you he wants more commitment? Then commit, yield. Has he shown you that there are some things in your life that need to be nailed to the cross, put to death so that the new purpose in your life can be resurrected? Then nail those things to the cross and move forward in His purpose. Today, is our call to action, what will you do, what is next for you?
Friday, March 21, 2008
Words of Encouragement
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. – 1 Corinthians 15:56-58
Sacrifice of Praise. Sacrifice brings victory. On this “Good Friday” we take the time to reflect on what took place for you and I to be able to stand in victory. Jesus willingly allowed himself to be crucified as the scripture foretold for our transgressions, our sins. He became the living sacrifice for the atonement of sin. What that means is the blood of the animals was not enough to remove the sins of the people. It was only a temporary covering. The blood of Christ became the true remover of sins. The blood of Christ doesn’t simply cover them over and allow them to still be there, he completely removes them. Yet, these sins were not removed with out the payment of Christ blood.
Jesus’ sacrifice became the door to victory over the sting of death. Jesus’ sacrifice gives us victory. Paul then tells his listens, “therefore”. Therefore means as a result of this, something else can happen. So as a result of Jesus’ sacrifice for our victorious living, we then should live victoriously. That means we should stand firm in the truth and allow nothing to move us. Bad treatment, bad attitudes, bad situations, bad circumstances, NOTHING, should move us.
We should always give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord because what we do for Christ will last. One sacrifice (Jesus’) calls for another sacrifice (ours). Jesus gave his life for us, so that we can lay ours down for him. Our sacrifice of praise manifests itself in our willingness to live a victorious life for Christ. When we live victoriously we show the world that the power of Christ is real.
When we live defeated, angry, complacent, fearful or unfulfilled lives as believers, we bring doubt to onlookers about the ability of God. Is this Christ really resurrected? If he is, why does his people have no power over the natural things? For if this Christ be raised, then shouldn’t his people also be raised (moved from sin)? Shouldn’t they have power over those things of the flesh? Shouldn’t they have power to overcome as Christ did? If Christ was able to fulfill his mission on the cross, shouldn’t his people be able to fulfill theirs also? If Christ did not allow naysayers, mockers and enemies to stop him for going to his cross, shouldn’t his people be able to go to theirs and carry that which is for them to carry?
Today as we prepare for the resurrection, let us take one more look at the cross. As I saw a play at New Life Church of God on last Sunday and it came to the part where Christ lowered his head and said it is finished, I thought about myself. We most times think of this saying of “it is finished” as the end of life. But there are going to be times when we must carry one cross to be later replaced with a different cross throughout our spiritual walk. There are sometimes I must crucify some things, nail them to the cross (my fleshly way of handling it) and speak it is finished over them. So that I can be resurrected to newness (the place where I have victory over the flesh in that area), where that which was crucified has no more affect over me, for I have received the victory over that.
Yet, I will have to repeat the process with the next cross I must pick up. I pray that we seek God this Resurrection Sunday and ask, is there something I need to nail to the cross? Is there some attitude, some behavior, or some mindset that needs to be crucified? If so, let me make the sacrifice so that I can have victory over it, when you resurrect me to the newness of my walk.
Sacrifice of Praise. Sacrifice brings victory. On this “Good Friday” we take the time to reflect on what took place for you and I to be able to stand in victory. Jesus willingly allowed himself to be crucified as the scripture foretold for our transgressions, our sins. He became the living sacrifice for the atonement of sin. What that means is the blood of the animals was not enough to remove the sins of the people. It was only a temporary covering. The blood of Christ became the true remover of sins. The blood of Christ doesn’t simply cover them over and allow them to still be there, he completely removes them. Yet, these sins were not removed with out the payment of Christ blood.
Jesus’ sacrifice became the door to victory over the sting of death. Jesus’ sacrifice gives us victory. Paul then tells his listens, “therefore”. Therefore means as a result of this, something else can happen. So as a result of Jesus’ sacrifice for our victorious living, we then should live victoriously. That means we should stand firm in the truth and allow nothing to move us. Bad treatment, bad attitudes, bad situations, bad circumstances, NOTHING, should move us.
We should always give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord because what we do for Christ will last. One sacrifice (Jesus’) calls for another sacrifice (ours). Jesus gave his life for us, so that we can lay ours down for him. Our sacrifice of praise manifests itself in our willingness to live a victorious life for Christ. When we live victoriously we show the world that the power of Christ is real.
When we live defeated, angry, complacent, fearful or unfulfilled lives as believers, we bring doubt to onlookers about the ability of God. Is this Christ really resurrected? If he is, why does his people have no power over the natural things? For if this Christ be raised, then shouldn’t his people also be raised (moved from sin)? Shouldn’t they have power over those things of the flesh? Shouldn’t they have power to overcome as Christ did? If Christ was able to fulfill his mission on the cross, shouldn’t his people be able to fulfill theirs also? If Christ did not allow naysayers, mockers and enemies to stop him for going to his cross, shouldn’t his people be able to go to theirs and carry that which is for them to carry?
Today as we prepare for the resurrection, let us take one more look at the cross. As I saw a play at New Life Church of God on last Sunday and it came to the part where Christ lowered his head and said it is finished, I thought about myself. We most times think of this saying of “it is finished” as the end of life. But there are going to be times when we must carry one cross to be later replaced with a different cross throughout our spiritual walk. There are sometimes I must crucify some things, nail them to the cross (my fleshly way of handling it) and speak it is finished over them. So that I can be resurrected to newness (the place where I have victory over the flesh in that area), where that which was crucified has no more affect over me, for I have received the victory over that.
Yet, I will have to repeat the process with the next cross I must pick up. I pray that we seek God this Resurrection Sunday and ask, is there something I need to nail to the cross? Is there some attitude, some behavior, or some mindset that needs to be crucified? If so, let me make the sacrifice so that I can have victory over it, when you resurrect me to the newness of my walk.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Words of Encouragement
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. – Matthew 6:14
Sacrifice of Praise. Forgiving the unforgivable. Jesus taught what was required of those that would call themselves children of God. What Jesus taught was not only in words, but also in deeds. Jesus willing showed us how to forgive, by his speaking his forgiveness over those that nailed him to the cross. He also spoke not only forgiveness for those standing there but he also spoke a prayer for us to come.
This is one of the gifts that salvation has brought to us. It has brought us the ability to be a living sacrifice as Jesus was. It gives us the ability to withstand the deeds done to us by others. This is the only answer for how we are able to forgive hurts, lies and betrayal.
Jesus gives us this commandment with a stipulation. If we are not willing to forgive others sins against us, how can we expect God to forgive our sins that are far worse than anything anyone can do to us? How can we expect to seek forgiveness from God for our sins that hurt the heart of God, the lies we live and the betrayal of his ways, if we won’t do the same for others?
Jesus then is telling us, we must be willing to give a sacrifice of ourselves, which is praise unto the Lord. I have come to believe praise is not just what I do when I sing songs on Sunday. It also is when my life lines up with the will of God and I walk in the ways of the Lord that my life begins to show as a sacrifice of praise unto God. When my personal time of worship comes, I am an act of praise.
Today, I speak to someone that is having a hard time forgiving hurts, disappointments in others, fears of trusting again, those that have been betrayed by friends, family and loved ones. You can forgive because God has equipped you with the ability to do so. God has given you the tools you need to forgive any injustice you have suffered. He has not removed these things, but he has thought it best to allow you to go through them so that he could perfect something inside of you. Let God help you offer a sacrifice of praise through your life by offering forgiveness to the unforgivable. When you do, know that God stands waiting to forgive you of all that you do that transgresses his will. He not only offers forgiveness for what we do now, but also his forgiveness stands waiting for us for those sins yet undone. His forgiveness is endless. Lord I forgive those that have hurt me and release them into your hands; I forgive them even for those things yet undone, because of the offer of forgiveness that you have offered to me. So help me now to heal from the hurts, so that I can continue to walk in my path and have the victory over all that has been done against me, in Jesus name, Amen.
Sacrifice of Praise. Forgiving the unforgivable. Jesus taught what was required of those that would call themselves children of God. What Jesus taught was not only in words, but also in deeds. Jesus willing showed us how to forgive, by his speaking his forgiveness over those that nailed him to the cross. He also spoke not only forgiveness for those standing there but he also spoke a prayer for us to come.
This is one of the gifts that salvation has brought to us. It has brought us the ability to be a living sacrifice as Jesus was. It gives us the ability to withstand the deeds done to us by others. This is the only answer for how we are able to forgive hurts, lies and betrayal.
Jesus gives us this commandment with a stipulation. If we are not willing to forgive others sins against us, how can we expect God to forgive our sins that are far worse than anything anyone can do to us? How can we expect to seek forgiveness from God for our sins that hurt the heart of God, the lies we live and the betrayal of his ways, if we won’t do the same for others?
Jesus then is telling us, we must be willing to give a sacrifice of ourselves, which is praise unto the Lord. I have come to believe praise is not just what I do when I sing songs on Sunday. It also is when my life lines up with the will of God and I walk in the ways of the Lord that my life begins to show as a sacrifice of praise unto God. When my personal time of worship comes, I am an act of praise.
Today, I speak to someone that is having a hard time forgiving hurts, disappointments in others, fears of trusting again, those that have been betrayed by friends, family and loved ones. You can forgive because God has equipped you with the ability to do so. God has given you the tools you need to forgive any injustice you have suffered. He has not removed these things, but he has thought it best to allow you to go through them so that he could perfect something inside of you. Let God help you offer a sacrifice of praise through your life by offering forgiveness to the unforgivable. When you do, know that God stands waiting to forgive you of all that you do that transgresses his will. He not only offers forgiveness for what we do now, but also his forgiveness stands waiting for us for those sins yet undone. His forgiveness is endless. Lord I forgive those that have hurt me and release them into your hands; I forgive them even for those things yet undone, because of the offer of forgiveness that you have offered to me. So help me now to heal from the hurts, so that I can continue to walk in my path and have the victory over all that has been done against me, in Jesus name, Amen.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. – Matthew 26:14-16
Sacrifice of Praise. Even when Judas is in the midst. We oftentimes talk about how Jesus examples for us what it looks like to be one of his followers and that is true in this chapter of scripture as well. This chapter begins with Jesus telling of his coming death. The religions leaders gather to plot how to destroy Jesus. This information is placed right in the midst of this chapter as Jesus begins to prepare for the Passover.
In the midst of the celebration of the Passover, Judas in his mind is plotting how to handover Jesus to the chief priests. In the midst of a time of remembering the sacrifice made so that the children of Israel would be safe from the spirit of death that came upon Egypt, Judas plots the death of the Lamb of God. They were celebrating the Passover, which was an Old Covenant observation. Jesus was showing them now the “Passover” celebration that would be part of the New Covenant.
Our sins are covered and then the spirit of death passes over us because we are under the doorpost that has been covered by the blood of the lamb. This Lamb is Jesus and the doorpost that has been covered is the doorpost to our hearts. So Jesus sets in motion the new observation of Communion, of remembrance of His sacrifice that came to all people to keep us safe from the death penalty of sin when it comes passing through the land.
An important things for us to see is even though there was one in the midst that had come to destroy, Jesus did not stop his purpose of observing the Old remembrance and installing the New one. He did not let the devil in the midst stop him from honoring His Father.
The example is the same for us. Even when we find ourselves in situations where there is a Judas among us that is seeking to destroy us, we must continue to be about our Father’s business. And part of that business is praising and honoring him. Jesus made a sacrifice of praising His Father even when there was one that he knew would betray him. How many of us can continue to stay focused, when we know someone or something is about to destroy us? It would not be easy to do. We would want to defend ourselves, or expose the situation. Yet, that isn’t our responsibility (unless God tells us to). Instead our responsibility is to continue to offer up our sacrifices of praise unto the king.
Today I pray for us that we continue to offer up our sacrifices of praise even in the midst of our own situations that seem to be waiting to destroy us. Let us continue to focus on and remember the gift of the blood. Let us focus on the lamb that was slain and let God handle the Judas’ amongst us.
Sacrifice of Praise. Even when Judas is in the midst. We oftentimes talk about how Jesus examples for us what it looks like to be one of his followers and that is true in this chapter of scripture as well. This chapter begins with Jesus telling of his coming death. The religions leaders gather to plot how to destroy Jesus. This information is placed right in the midst of this chapter as Jesus begins to prepare for the Passover.
In the midst of the celebration of the Passover, Judas in his mind is plotting how to handover Jesus to the chief priests. In the midst of a time of remembering the sacrifice made so that the children of Israel would be safe from the spirit of death that came upon Egypt, Judas plots the death of the Lamb of God. They were celebrating the Passover, which was an Old Covenant observation. Jesus was showing them now the “Passover” celebration that would be part of the New Covenant.
Our sins are covered and then the spirit of death passes over us because we are under the doorpost that has been covered by the blood of the lamb. This Lamb is Jesus and the doorpost that has been covered is the doorpost to our hearts. So Jesus sets in motion the new observation of Communion, of remembrance of His sacrifice that came to all people to keep us safe from the death penalty of sin when it comes passing through the land.
An important things for us to see is even though there was one in the midst that had come to destroy, Jesus did not stop his purpose of observing the Old remembrance and installing the New one. He did not let the devil in the midst stop him from honoring His Father.
The example is the same for us. Even when we find ourselves in situations where there is a Judas among us that is seeking to destroy us, we must continue to be about our Father’s business. And part of that business is praising and honoring him. Jesus made a sacrifice of praising His Father even when there was one that he knew would betray him. How many of us can continue to stay focused, when we know someone or something is about to destroy us? It would not be easy to do. We would want to defend ourselves, or expose the situation. Yet, that isn’t our responsibility (unless God tells us to). Instead our responsibility is to continue to offer up our sacrifices of praise unto the king.
Today I pray for us that we continue to offer up our sacrifices of praise even in the midst of our own situations that seem to be waiting to destroy us. Let us continue to focus on and remember the gift of the blood. Let us focus on the lamb that was slain and let God handle the Judas’ amongst us.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Words of Encouragement
You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. – Jeremiah 12:2
Sacrifice of Praise. Praise is not lip service, but heart service. This 12th chapter of Jeremiah does not reference the word praise and it might seem like a strange place to go in reference to praise. This scripture (the entire book of Jeremiah) has meaning, especially to me. Jeremiah has a complaint he is giving to God in this chapter. Jeremiah is asking God a question about the wicked. He starts this chapter by saying that God is a righteous God, yet his question is about how God judges.
He asks God how do you allow the wicked to prosper and the faithless to live in ease? Here Jeremiah says in this verse that you have planted them, they have taken root and grow. Yet, even with all that the provisions you have given them, they are only giving you lip service. Oh you are on their lips, but you are not the motivating factor behind their actions, which come out of their hearts. He then says, but you know me. You have seen my heart and you know my motivations.
God’s answer, which is quite funny, comes shortly after Jeremiah’s question. It is funny because when I accepted my call to preach, this is the book God sent me to for eight months to speak to me about what he was requiring of me. I too like Jeremiah had a complaint about telling what he gave me to tell, when the wicked only seem to continue to prosper, while I had to deal with the fallout of being obedient. This is God’s answer (starting with verse 5). “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” It took me a moment before I began to laugh. What God’s answer to Jeremiah was, if you are being worn down by those I send you to on foot, what will you do when I send you to those on horses. Or made even simpler, if I send you to these (the people) and you are tired, what happens when I send you to those greater (kings and rulers), those more challenging, and those that will require you to run a stronger race?
What does this have to do with lip service and praise? God was telling Jeremiah this; I see those that give lip service to me. I know those that profess, but do not possess. You, though I am requiring to continue to run where I send you. I require you to do as I say even when your brothers and family may want to destroy you. You, I am requiring to make a sacrifice unto me of yourself, your praise, and your very life.
We today are required to do the same. It is not longer the lone prophet that is required to make the sacrifice for God. It is a requirement of all God’s children. Jesus gave us this ability through his sacrifice of blood and the gifting of the Holy Spirit. I pray for us as we draw closer to Resurrection Sunday, that we take a close look at ourselves. Are we where God has called us to be? Are we making the sacrifice, as he requires it? Let us make sure we are not as Jeremiah said regarding the people of his time, planted (having given ourselves to being God’s people) but only having God on our lips but not in our hearts. Let us be set a blaze for the Lord so that both our lips and our hearts are in union as we offer up praises unto God.
Sacrifice of Praise. Praise is not lip service, but heart service. This 12th chapter of Jeremiah does not reference the word praise and it might seem like a strange place to go in reference to praise. This scripture (the entire book of Jeremiah) has meaning, especially to me. Jeremiah has a complaint he is giving to God in this chapter. Jeremiah is asking God a question about the wicked. He starts this chapter by saying that God is a righteous God, yet his question is about how God judges.
He asks God how do you allow the wicked to prosper and the faithless to live in ease? Here Jeremiah says in this verse that you have planted them, they have taken root and grow. Yet, even with all that the provisions you have given them, they are only giving you lip service. Oh you are on their lips, but you are not the motivating factor behind their actions, which come out of their hearts. He then says, but you know me. You have seen my heart and you know my motivations.
God’s answer, which is quite funny, comes shortly after Jeremiah’s question. It is funny because when I accepted my call to preach, this is the book God sent me to for eight months to speak to me about what he was requiring of me. I too like Jeremiah had a complaint about telling what he gave me to tell, when the wicked only seem to continue to prosper, while I had to deal with the fallout of being obedient. This is God’s answer (starting with verse 5). “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” It took me a moment before I began to laugh. What God’s answer to Jeremiah was, if you are being worn down by those I send you to on foot, what will you do when I send you to those on horses. Or made even simpler, if I send you to these (the people) and you are tired, what happens when I send you to those greater (kings and rulers), those more challenging, and those that will require you to run a stronger race?
What does this have to do with lip service and praise? God was telling Jeremiah this; I see those that give lip service to me. I know those that profess, but do not possess. You, though I am requiring to continue to run where I send you. I require you to do as I say even when your brothers and family may want to destroy you. You, I am requiring to make a sacrifice unto me of yourself, your praise, and your very life.
We today are required to do the same. It is not longer the lone prophet that is required to make the sacrifice for God. It is a requirement of all God’s children. Jesus gave us this ability through his sacrifice of blood and the gifting of the Holy Spirit. I pray for us as we draw closer to Resurrection Sunday, that we take a close look at ourselves. Are we where God has called us to be? Are we making the sacrifice, as he requires it? Let us make sure we are not as Jeremiah said regarding the people of his time, planted (having given ourselves to being God’s people) but only having God on our lips but not in our hearts. Let us be set a blaze for the Lord so that both our lips and our hearts are in union as we offer up praises unto God.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Words of Encouragement
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. – 1 John 3:16
Christ and the Cross. True love. I do not know about you, but I am often amazed at the love of God. My understanding still is not able to grasp completely the love of God. How do you completely understand a love that is so great, you would sacrifice yourself for your enemy? God loved us so much that he gave his son that he loves for our sin. He allowed the innocent to die for the guilty, how do you completely understand that?
Or how do you understand that the cross was on the mind of God even before man was created? Before the foundation of the world, God was preparing a way for man’s release from sin. God’s love is patient with us. When we were his enemy he could easily have required our lives, but instead he granted us mercy so that we would have the opportunity to accept his love. We foolishly believe that what we do (in our sinful state) is because of who we are and in our own ability. We get in our cars, go to our jobs, and accomplish the things we think we should all with a pat on our own backs. What we do not realize is if God had not granted us his mercy we would not be able to get in our cars (without God we wouldn’t have use of our limbs), go to our jobs (it’s his mercy that granted us the job) and accomplish anything (all done in his mercy).
God gives to us his love. He plants it down within our hearts. If you cannot love, then it is safe to say that you do not have God. God is love and when we accept his gift of Jesus’ sacrifice, he imparts to us his love in us. If you find yourself not loving your brother, it is a safe sign that you need to check yourself. The scripture from 1 John tells us that because we have the love of God, we are now empowered to love our brothers. Jesus our example laid down his life for you and I, and we ought to do the same for someone else.
This takes us back to having deliverance over ourselves. Because we have the freedom of “self” we can sacrifice ourselves so that God can use us to reach someone else. We can let go of our agenda, our plans, and our ideas for God’s agenda, God’s plan and for godly ideas. Today I pray for us that we rejoice in what the gift of Christ has offered to us. There are so many more godly provisions that have been opened to us we only need seek them. When you go to worship this week, go seeking God’s direction so that he can show you his plan for your life.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. – 1 John 3:16
Christ and the Cross. True love. I do not know about you, but I am often amazed at the love of God. My understanding still is not able to grasp completely the love of God. How do you completely understand a love that is so great, you would sacrifice yourself for your enemy? God loved us so much that he gave his son that he loves for our sin. He allowed the innocent to die for the guilty, how do you completely understand that?
Or how do you understand that the cross was on the mind of God even before man was created? Before the foundation of the world, God was preparing a way for man’s release from sin. God’s love is patient with us. When we were his enemy he could easily have required our lives, but instead he granted us mercy so that we would have the opportunity to accept his love. We foolishly believe that what we do (in our sinful state) is because of who we are and in our own ability. We get in our cars, go to our jobs, and accomplish the things we think we should all with a pat on our own backs. What we do not realize is if God had not granted us his mercy we would not be able to get in our cars (without God we wouldn’t have use of our limbs), go to our jobs (it’s his mercy that granted us the job) and accomplish anything (all done in his mercy).
God gives to us his love. He plants it down within our hearts. If you cannot love, then it is safe to say that you do not have God. God is love and when we accept his gift of Jesus’ sacrifice, he imparts to us his love in us. If you find yourself not loving your brother, it is a safe sign that you need to check yourself. The scripture from 1 John tells us that because we have the love of God, we are now empowered to love our brothers. Jesus our example laid down his life for you and I, and we ought to do the same for someone else.
This takes us back to having deliverance over ourselves. Because we have the freedom of “self” we can sacrifice ourselves so that God can use us to reach someone else. We can let go of our agenda, our plans, and our ideas for God’s agenda, God’s plan and for godly ideas. Today I pray for us that we rejoice in what the gift of Christ has offered to us. There are so many more godly provisions that have been opened to us we only need seek them. When you go to worship this week, go seeking God’s direction so that he can show you his plan for your life.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Words of Encouragement
But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. - Philippians 1:18-20
Christ and the Cross. Deliverance. What enables Paul to rejoice while in chains? He is in chains and could possible lose his life at any time, yet he encourages others to continue for the sake of Christ. What can make a person while in bondage rejoice?
It could only be Christ. We (me included) oftentimes forget the great significances of Christ and the cross. We tend to preach the “cross”. Meaning we preach only that Jesus saves us from our sins. While that is a great deal, it isn’t the entire story. Sometimes we tend to preach “resurrection” only. We preach because Jesus was raised, we too will be raised. This is a great gift, yet it isn’t the entire story.
The only way we can teach or preach the entire story is to preach Jesus. Jesus came to do so much more than we can even grasp at one time, so we do not want to limit the message. One of the many things Jesus came to bring is deliverance. He brings deliverance from sin, but he didn’t stop at that when he hung on the cross. He brought us deliverance from the tricks of the enemy and most importantly from ourselves. He gave us deliverance from the stronghold of “self”. That was a losing battle we often fought, when trying to do anything that would cause us to have to limit ourselves.
Why do you think Paul could rejoice while in chains? He had received the deliverance from the stronghold of self. Paul says in the scripture that he knows with the prayers of the righteous and the power of the Holy Spirit, the situation he finds himself in, will turn out for his deliverance. He wasn’t necessarily talking about his release from the physical chains he was in, but in any spiritual chains that might try to attach themselves to him and then truly make him one in chains (spiritual ones). He had freedom to move in the power of the Spirit, even with the captor thought he had him limited. He has the power of God to rescue him from whatever would keep him from fulfilling the will of the Father. And Paul was ready to go even to death, if it meant fulfilling the will of the Father.
Today we can rejoice because that same power of deliverance that was there for Paul is available to us. We can fulfill the cause of Christ in our lives because he has delivered us from ourselves. He has given us the Holy Spirit to equip us to stand even in the situations where the captor tries to hold us back. What rejoicing we can have, because even though Paul was in chains, it did not stop the spread of the gospel it actually encouraged the spread of the gospel. That is what God will do in our lives. He will allow the chains we find ourselves in to encourage others because they see in us the hope of glory. They see in us a made-up mind and a determined spirit. They see that even though our situation has us seemingly locked up, we move freely in the power of God.
I pray for us today that we meditate on the goodness we have been give through the total sacrifice of self that Jesus did for us. He examples us what total surrender to the cause of God can do. Today Lord help us yield completely to you, so that we can experience total freedom through your gift of deliverance.
Christ and the Cross. Deliverance. What enables Paul to rejoice while in chains? He is in chains and could possible lose his life at any time, yet he encourages others to continue for the sake of Christ. What can make a person while in bondage rejoice?
It could only be Christ. We (me included) oftentimes forget the great significances of Christ and the cross. We tend to preach the “cross”. Meaning we preach only that Jesus saves us from our sins. While that is a great deal, it isn’t the entire story. Sometimes we tend to preach “resurrection” only. We preach because Jesus was raised, we too will be raised. This is a great gift, yet it isn’t the entire story.
The only way we can teach or preach the entire story is to preach Jesus. Jesus came to do so much more than we can even grasp at one time, so we do not want to limit the message. One of the many things Jesus came to bring is deliverance. He brings deliverance from sin, but he didn’t stop at that when he hung on the cross. He brought us deliverance from the tricks of the enemy and most importantly from ourselves. He gave us deliverance from the stronghold of “self”. That was a losing battle we often fought, when trying to do anything that would cause us to have to limit ourselves.
Why do you think Paul could rejoice while in chains? He had received the deliverance from the stronghold of self. Paul says in the scripture that he knows with the prayers of the righteous and the power of the Holy Spirit, the situation he finds himself in, will turn out for his deliverance. He wasn’t necessarily talking about his release from the physical chains he was in, but in any spiritual chains that might try to attach themselves to him and then truly make him one in chains (spiritual ones). He had freedom to move in the power of the Spirit, even with the captor thought he had him limited. He has the power of God to rescue him from whatever would keep him from fulfilling the will of the Father. And Paul was ready to go even to death, if it meant fulfilling the will of the Father.
Today we can rejoice because that same power of deliverance that was there for Paul is available to us. We can fulfill the cause of Christ in our lives because he has delivered us from ourselves. He has given us the Holy Spirit to equip us to stand even in the situations where the captor tries to hold us back. What rejoicing we can have, because even though Paul was in chains, it did not stop the spread of the gospel it actually encouraged the spread of the gospel. That is what God will do in our lives. He will allow the chains we find ourselves in to encourage others because they see in us the hope of glory. They see in us a made-up mind and a determined spirit. They see that even though our situation has us seemingly locked up, we move freely in the power of God.
I pray for us today that we meditate on the goodness we have been give through the total sacrifice of self that Jesus did for us. He examples us what total surrender to the cause of God can do. Today Lord help us yield completely to you, so that we can experience total freedom through your gift of deliverance.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Words of Encouragement
And there rejoice before the LORD your God, you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites from your towns, who have no allotment or inheritance of their own. Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings anywhere you please. Offer them only at the place the LORD will choose in one of your tribes, and there observe everything I command you. – Deuteronomy 12:12-14
and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. – Romans 24-26
Christ and the Cross. The right kind of sacrifice. In the Old Testament times the people were required to bring sacrifices unto the Lord. If you read in the Law you see they were to make several types of offerings in several different ways. The scripture verses here, remind them about one such sacrifice. When the people are to come, they must be careful not to come offering the burnt offering anywhere they chose, but to offer them only in the place where God has chosen. We may read this and say, what’s the big deal; they were offering the sacrifice, why does it matter where they did it? It matters greatly. It matters because to follow part of a commandment of God and not the entire command is complete disobedience.
What does this have to do with the cross? God sent Jesus to the cross to die for you and I so that we would not have to stand accused of the sins in our lives. God had a complete plan on how Jesus was to accomplish this. Jesus was to present himself as the sacrifice of atonement, just as the priest had done in Old Testament times. It was through the shed blood of the animal that the people’s sins were “temporarily” cover. Jesus was to shed his blood to “permanently” cover our sins. Jesus did not follow His Fathers instructions partly, but completely. In doing so, he opened up the opportunity for you and I to be forgiven.
Now it stands to us. We cannot accept the cross partly, because to do so, we are in fact rejecting it completely. To accept Christ and the cross, we must accept that this is the only way to God. This is the specific place we have been told to go to offer our sacrifices of ourselves before God. Jesus lifeblood was shed so that we could have a right relationship with God. And the instruction to us today is, do not make your sacrifice (of your life) anywhere you so please. In other words, don’t think you will say to God, well I lived for you, I read my Bible, I do this or that, but I just couldn’t accept that I needed Jesus in my life or that I needed to follow those things he said. Then let me tell you what you have done, you have in fact said, I refuse to accept you God, for this way of salvation was God’s plan.
Today, I pray for us to be careful in our sacrifices. We do not want to do as we please, but we want to do as God says and what is pleasing to him. Lord, help us to be living sacrifices your way, and in your power and might. Help us to see the example of Jesus. He was the right kind of sacrifice because he was obedient to your will. Help us to be the right kind of sacrifice, by being obedient to you.
and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. – Romans 24-26
Christ and the Cross. The right kind of sacrifice. In the Old Testament times the people were required to bring sacrifices unto the Lord. If you read in the Law you see they were to make several types of offerings in several different ways. The scripture verses here, remind them about one such sacrifice. When the people are to come, they must be careful not to come offering the burnt offering anywhere they chose, but to offer them only in the place where God has chosen. We may read this and say, what’s the big deal; they were offering the sacrifice, why does it matter where they did it? It matters greatly. It matters because to follow part of a commandment of God and not the entire command is complete disobedience.
What does this have to do with the cross? God sent Jesus to the cross to die for you and I so that we would not have to stand accused of the sins in our lives. God had a complete plan on how Jesus was to accomplish this. Jesus was to present himself as the sacrifice of atonement, just as the priest had done in Old Testament times. It was through the shed blood of the animal that the people’s sins were “temporarily” cover. Jesus was to shed his blood to “permanently” cover our sins. Jesus did not follow His Fathers instructions partly, but completely. In doing so, he opened up the opportunity for you and I to be forgiven.
Now it stands to us. We cannot accept the cross partly, because to do so, we are in fact rejecting it completely. To accept Christ and the cross, we must accept that this is the only way to God. This is the specific place we have been told to go to offer our sacrifices of ourselves before God. Jesus lifeblood was shed so that we could have a right relationship with God. And the instruction to us today is, do not make your sacrifice (of your life) anywhere you so please. In other words, don’t think you will say to God, well I lived for you, I read my Bible, I do this or that, but I just couldn’t accept that I needed Jesus in my life or that I needed to follow those things he said. Then let me tell you what you have done, you have in fact said, I refuse to accept you God, for this way of salvation was God’s plan.
Today, I pray for us to be careful in our sacrifices. We do not want to do as we please, but we want to do as God says and what is pleasing to him. Lord, help us to be living sacrifices your way, and in your power and might. Help us to see the example of Jesus. He was the right kind of sacrifice because he was obedient to your will. Help us to be the right kind of sacrifice, by being obedient to you.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Someone You Should Know!
Michelle taking the children through a song.We continue with our talk with Michelle about her music.
Jewel: How important was it for you to complete the task, even with all that you faced during this time?
Michelle:Wow, it was important becasue God was very specific as to the assignment. He spoke to me during the Youth Convention in Orlando, Florida in December of 2006. He had me fast, coupled with prayer of course to truly discern His direction and voice, for all the details (example - location, song-choice, musicians, date. etc.). So it was important that I received His consultation and direction for every facet of the project 'cuz actually, it could have easily become 'overwhelming', in my own flesh. That's when the Spirit-man (Holy Spirit) and His ultimate leadign makes all the difference. The project wasn't daunting but became joyous, light, fun and a total adventure.
Warriorz of Praise CD (for more information about how to obtain this CD, send us a line and we'll pass on the information.)
Words of Encouragement
When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!" In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' " In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. – Matthew 27:35-44
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. – Mark 8:34
Christ and the Cross. The truth of the cross. We often times look at the cross of Christ and think about all that we received because of the cross, but we tend to miss all that Christ gave because of the cross.
The cross was an insult. The cross was punishment for the criminal. There was horror in the cross. The cross was a means of disgrace to the one being hung upon it. As we read the scripture in Matthew we see the treatment Jesus received. He was charged as a criminal, yet he was innocent. He was counted among the criminals when he was placed between the robbers. Those that stood around insulted him. He was mocked and told to show himself by coming down off his cross. He was yelled at to save himself as they continued to heap insults upon him.
This did not stop Jesus from finishing the task of the cross. Jesus was counted as unrighteous so that the righteousness of God could be fulfilled. Jesus withstood the insults and the mocking because he knew in God’s perfect timing he would be shown righteous again.
Jesus was counted as a mere criminal so that you and I could be counted as children of the most high. Jesus did not come down from the cross because he knew that if he did, all would be lost. He willing died so that we could live.
So when we hear the command from Jesus, to deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow him, what does that mean for you and I? The truth in the cross is you and I were give liberty or freedom from sin, so that we could be the avenues for freedom for someone else. When we take up our cross we must be willing to stand under the insults and mocking. There will come those that will insult you for what you do and mock you as a fool. There will come those that will count you as a criminal, yet God knows you are righteous. Yet you willing stand up to the mocking because you know in God’s perfect timing he will show you righteous before all. To take up your cross you willing die to your desire to prove who you are. Jesus could have proved who he was and come down from the cross, but in doing so, he would have turned aside God’s plan. So instead he stayed on the cross and proved who he was that way, but showing his ultimate power over sin.
You and I must withstand the trick of the enemy to make us come down from where God has placed us. We must resist the pleas to show who we are. Instead we must continue to carry our cross until God himself shows to all, who we really are.
Today I pray for us that we thank the Lord for not only what we received from the cross, but to show our thankfulness for all that Jesus gave up for us. He gave up all, and mainly he gave himself. Today let us take the stand, the challenge of Jesus, let us give up all, and mainly ourselves and follow him.
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. – Mark 8:34
Christ and the Cross. The truth of the cross. We often times look at the cross of Christ and think about all that we received because of the cross, but we tend to miss all that Christ gave because of the cross.
The cross was an insult. The cross was punishment for the criminal. There was horror in the cross. The cross was a means of disgrace to the one being hung upon it. As we read the scripture in Matthew we see the treatment Jesus received. He was charged as a criminal, yet he was innocent. He was counted among the criminals when he was placed between the robbers. Those that stood around insulted him. He was mocked and told to show himself by coming down off his cross. He was yelled at to save himself as they continued to heap insults upon him.
This did not stop Jesus from finishing the task of the cross. Jesus was counted as unrighteous so that the righteousness of God could be fulfilled. Jesus withstood the insults and the mocking because he knew in God’s perfect timing he would be shown righteous again.
Jesus was counted as a mere criminal so that you and I could be counted as children of the most high. Jesus did not come down from the cross because he knew that if he did, all would be lost. He willing died so that we could live.
So when we hear the command from Jesus, to deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow him, what does that mean for you and I? The truth in the cross is you and I were give liberty or freedom from sin, so that we could be the avenues for freedom for someone else. When we take up our cross we must be willing to stand under the insults and mocking. There will come those that will insult you for what you do and mock you as a fool. There will come those that will count you as a criminal, yet God knows you are righteous. Yet you willing stand up to the mocking because you know in God’s perfect timing he will show you righteous before all. To take up your cross you willing die to your desire to prove who you are. Jesus could have proved who he was and come down from the cross, but in doing so, he would have turned aside God’s plan. So instead he stayed on the cross and proved who he was that way, but showing his ultimate power over sin.
You and I must withstand the trick of the enemy to make us come down from where God has placed us. We must resist the pleas to show who we are. Instead we must continue to carry our cross until God himself shows to all, who we really are.
Today I pray for us that we thank the Lord for not only what we received from the cross, but to show our thankfulness for all that Jesus gave up for us. He gave up all, and mainly he gave himself. Today let us take the stand, the challenge of Jesus, let us give up all, and mainly ourselves and follow him.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Something New!
I was on Amazon.com and came across some really interesting information that I thought you would like to know. As I was reading some of the post, I stumbled across a blog called "Teen Lit Review". The blog reviews different books that our kids want to read. If you go onto the blog you can be entered to win free books.
The creators of this blog decided to start a teen book review in order to help parents find out what really is in the books they allow their children to read. Since they could not find anything that was doing what they were looking for, they decided to do it themselves. I found the site helpful.
If you are interested go to: Teen Lit Review
http://teenlitreview.blogspot.com/
The creators of this blog decided to start a teen book review in order to help parents find out what really is in the books they allow their children to read. Since they could not find anything that was doing what they were looking for, they decided to do it themselves. I found the site helpful.
If you are interested go to: Teen Lit Review
http://teenlitreview.blogspot.com/
Words of Encouragement
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." – John 3:16-21
What Jesus’ Gift Brings. Love. Image if you will that you have done a crime punishable by death. You stand before the judge awaiting your sentence. Someone steps up to speak. The person that steps up to speak is the person that you wronged. What they say to the judge astonishes you. They tell the judge that they will take you punishment of death.
Or what if you had a debt that was over a trillion dollars. There was no way you could pay it. You owed it and punishment for not being able to pay it was coming soon (in ancient times, you were put in prison or your family until you could pay off the debt). Yet to your surprise the one you owe the debt to says, I’ll pay the debt in full.
These two attempts really cannot explain the fullest of what we were forgiven of when Jesus stepped in to take on our sins. When he took our sins on himself he paid the penalty for our crimes and he paid the debt we could not fulfill.
God loves mankind so much, that he sent his son to die for you and I. All he requires from us is the belief in his plan. We have to believe that Jesus is the only way to the Father. We cannot try to make our own way, decide our own plan of salvation because there is no other way other than through Jesus Christ.
The message in the scripture is clear. If you do not accept the love of God you are in fact condemning yourself. I’ve heard many a person say, God is love so he wouldn’t send anyone to hell. The truth in that statement is this, because God wishes none to perish, he made a way of escape. However, he will not force you or I to take it. If we decide to miss the avenue of escape it is in fact our own foolishness that sends us to hell, not God. The scripture tells us that the verdict is this; some do not come to the light because they do not want their deeds exposed.
Yet, let us not be fooled. Even if we try to hide our deeds in darkness, there still comes a time when the light will expose that which we do. It would be better, however that we allow God to remove the darkness so that we can live in the light than to be eternally engulfed in darkness and miss heaven. To miss heaven is what we would not want to do. To miss heaven means when you stand before the judgment seat of God in that moment I believe you will see a fuller understanding of God to quickly have it removed. The real punishment of hell is you will forever remember that moment when you were exposed to the fullness of God’s love and to know eternally you will never have it again. If that isn’t hell, I don’t know what is.
Today, I pray for us to really meditate on God’s love. God’s love is freely given to us all; let us not reject God’s love. I pray that we would examine all our deeds so that they will be done in the light so that it can plainly be seen we do all things through Christ.
What Jesus’ Gift Brings. Love. Image if you will that you have done a crime punishable by death. You stand before the judge awaiting your sentence. Someone steps up to speak. The person that steps up to speak is the person that you wronged. What they say to the judge astonishes you. They tell the judge that they will take you punishment of death.
Or what if you had a debt that was over a trillion dollars. There was no way you could pay it. You owed it and punishment for not being able to pay it was coming soon (in ancient times, you were put in prison or your family until you could pay off the debt). Yet to your surprise the one you owe the debt to says, I’ll pay the debt in full.
These two attempts really cannot explain the fullest of what we were forgiven of when Jesus stepped in to take on our sins. When he took our sins on himself he paid the penalty for our crimes and he paid the debt we could not fulfill.
God loves mankind so much, that he sent his son to die for you and I. All he requires from us is the belief in his plan. We have to believe that Jesus is the only way to the Father. We cannot try to make our own way, decide our own plan of salvation because there is no other way other than through Jesus Christ.
The message in the scripture is clear. If you do not accept the love of God you are in fact condemning yourself. I’ve heard many a person say, God is love so he wouldn’t send anyone to hell. The truth in that statement is this, because God wishes none to perish, he made a way of escape. However, he will not force you or I to take it. If we decide to miss the avenue of escape it is in fact our own foolishness that sends us to hell, not God. The scripture tells us that the verdict is this; some do not come to the light because they do not want their deeds exposed.
Yet, let us not be fooled. Even if we try to hide our deeds in darkness, there still comes a time when the light will expose that which we do. It would be better, however that we allow God to remove the darkness so that we can live in the light than to be eternally engulfed in darkness and miss heaven. To miss heaven is what we would not want to do. To miss heaven means when you stand before the judgment seat of God in that moment I believe you will see a fuller understanding of God to quickly have it removed. The real punishment of hell is you will forever remember that moment when you were exposed to the fullness of God’s love and to know eternally you will never have it again. If that isn’t hell, I don’t know what is.
Today, I pray for us to really meditate on God’s love. God’s love is freely given to us all; let us not reject God’s love. I pray that we would examine all our deeds so that they will be done in the light so that it can plainly be seen we do all things through Christ.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Words of Encouragement
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." – John 3:16-21
What Jesus’ Gift Brings. Love. Image if you will that you have done a crime punishable by death. You stand before the judge awaiting your sentence. Someone steps up to speak. The person that steps up to speak is the person that you wronged. What they say to the judge astonishes you. They tell the judge that they will take you punishment of death.
Or what if you had a debt that was over a trillion dollars. There was no way you could pay it. You owed it and punishment for not being able to pay it was coming soon (in ancient times, you were put in prison or your family until you could pay off the debt). Yet to your surprise the one you owe the debt to says, I’ll pay the debt in full.
These two attempts really cannot explain the fullest of what we were forgiven of when Jesus stepped in to take on our sins. When he took our sins on himself he paid the penalty for our crimes and he paid the debt we could not fulfill.
God loves mankind so much, that he sent his son to die for you and I. All he requires from us is the belief in his plan. We have to believe that Jesus is the only way to the Father. We cannot try to make our own way, decide our own plan of salvation because there is no other way other than through Jesus Christ.
The message in the scripture is clear. If you do not accept the love of God you are in fact condemning yourself. I’ve heard many a person say, God is love so he wouldn’t send anyone to hell. The truth in that statement is this, because God wishes none to perish, he made a way of escape. However, he will not force you or I to take it. If we decide to miss the avenue of escape it is in fact our own foolishness that sends us to hell, not God. The scripture tells us that the verdict is this; some do not come to the light because they do not want their deeds exposed.
Yet, let us not be fooled. Even if we try to hide our deeds in darkness, there still comes a time when the light will expose that which we do. It would be better, however that we allow God to remove the darkness so that we can live in the light than to be eternally engulfed in darkness and miss heaven. To miss heaven is what we would not want to do. To miss heaven means when you stand before the judgment seat of God in that moment I believe you will see a fuller understanding of God to quickly have it removed. The real punishment of hell is you will forever remember that moment when you were exposed to the fullness of God’s love and to know eternally you will never have it again. If that isn’t hell, I don’t know what is.
Today, I pray for us to really meditate on God’s love. God’s love is freely given to us all; let us not reject God’s love. I pray that we would examine all our deeds so that they will be done in the light so that it can plainly be seen we do all things through Christ.
What Jesus’ Gift Brings. Love. Image if you will that you have done a crime punishable by death. You stand before the judge awaiting your sentence. Someone steps up to speak. The person that steps up to speak is the person that you wronged. What they say to the judge astonishes you. They tell the judge that they will take you punishment of death.
Or what if you had a debt that was over a trillion dollars. There was no way you could pay it. You owed it and punishment for not being able to pay it was coming soon (in ancient times, you were put in prison or your family until you could pay off the debt). Yet to your surprise the one you owe the debt to says, I’ll pay the debt in full.
These two attempts really cannot explain the fullest of what we were forgiven of when Jesus stepped in to take on our sins. When he took our sins on himself he paid the penalty for our crimes and he paid the debt we could not fulfill.
God loves mankind so much, that he sent his son to die for you and I. All he requires from us is the belief in his plan. We have to believe that Jesus is the only way to the Father. We cannot try to make our own way, decide our own plan of salvation because there is no other way other than through Jesus Christ.
The message in the scripture is clear. If you do not accept the love of God you are in fact condemning yourself. I’ve heard many a person say, God is love so he wouldn’t send anyone to hell. The truth in that statement is this, because God wishes none to perish, he made a way of escape. However, he will not force you or I to take it. If we decide to miss the avenue of escape it is in fact our own foolishness that sends us to hell, not God. The scripture tells us that the verdict is this; some do not come to the light because they do not want their deeds exposed.
Yet, let us not be fooled. Even if we try to hide our deeds in darkness, there still comes a time when the light will expose that which we do. It would be better, however that we allow God to remove the darkness so that we can live in the light than to be eternally engulfed in darkness and miss heaven. To miss heaven is what we would not want to do. To miss heaven means when you stand before the judgment seat of God in that moment I believe you will see a fuller understanding of God to quickly have it removed. The real punishment of hell is you will forever remember that moment when you were exposed to the fullness of God’s love and to know eternally you will never have it again. If that isn’t hell, I don’t know what is.
Today, I pray for us to really meditate on God’s love. God’s love is freely given to us all; let us not reject God’s love. I pray that we would examine all our deeds so that they will be done in the light so that it can plainly be seen we do all things through Christ.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Words of Encouragement
Deal with your servant according to your love and teach me your decrees. I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes. It is time for you to act, O LORD; your law is being broken. – Psalm 119:124-126
What Jesus’ Gift Brings. Discernment. This is a long Psalm and it broken into several sections. The overarching theme in this scripture is following the precepts of God. In this section titled “Ayin” there are eight verses. The writer states he has done what is right so do not leave him to those that would oppress him.
The writer states he is looking diligently for God’s salvation. The writer understands that as hard as his situation may be, there is only one place to find help and that is in the Lord. He says I am your servant so deal with me according to your love and teach me your decrees.
The writer says he needs discernment. He needs God to help him have the ability to judge what is right and what is wrong. He also understands that he needs the ability to be sensitive to spiritual things. Without the help of the Holy Spirit we cannot be sensitive to the workings of the Spirit. We cannot see clearly the tricks of the enemy without the ability to be sensitive to the Spirit. The ability to discern helps us to separate what is good from evil. We can detect the smallest things that would slip right past us in our own abilities.
With the ability to discern we are able to then understand God’s way. This is another way that the comforter helps us in our daily walk. He will tell us what is truth and then we are able to determine what is right before God. If Jesus had not come and opened this gift to us, we would not be able to understand or discern those things that are spiritual. We would not understand them because we would be lost in darkness. That is still true today. There are those that do not understand and are not able to discern the enemies hand in events in our world, their actions or their lives. They are not able to discern the source of these things because they are in darkness.
Those of us that are in the light understand the things of the light. Those in the darkness do not understand because they cannot be understood in the darkness. That is why we that are of the light do not always understand the foolishness of the actions of people. We are discerning the outcome of their actions, which they cannot see. This is then the place that we can rejoice in knowing God’s gift to us allows us to see clearly the affects of good and evil. So today, let us thank God for his gift of discernment. Let us also pray for those we see that are making decisions in the dark. Seek God to open their eyes to the light so that they can move from darkness to light and receive the ability to discern what is right in the eyesight of God.
What Jesus’ Gift Brings. Discernment. This is a long Psalm and it broken into several sections. The overarching theme in this scripture is following the precepts of God. In this section titled “Ayin” there are eight verses. The writer states he has done what is right so do not leave him to those that would oppress him.
The writer states he is looking diligently for God’s salvation. The writer understands that as hard as his situation may be, there is only one place to find help and that is in the Lord. He says I am your servant so deal with me according to your love and teach me your decrees.
The writer says he needs discernment. He needs God to help him have the ability to judge what is right and what is wrong. He also understands that he needs the ability to be sensitive to spiritual things. Without the help of the Holy Spirit we cannot be sensitive to the workings of the Spirit. We cannot see clearly the tricks of the enemy without the ability to be sensitive to the Spirit. The ability to discern helps us to separate what is good from evil. We can detect the smallest things that would slip right past us in our own abilities.
With the ability to discern we are able to then understand God’s way. This is another way that the comforter helps us in our daily walk. He will tell us what is truth and then we are able to determine what is right before God. If Jesus had not come and opened this gift to us, we would not be able to understand or discern those things that are spiritual. We would not understand them because we would be lost in darkness. That is still true today. There are those that do not understand and are not able to discern the enemies hand in events in our world, their actions or their lives. They are not able to discern the source of these things because they are in darkness.
Those of us that are in the light understand the things of the light. Those in the darkness do not understand because they cannot be understood in the darkness. That is why we that are of the light do not always understand the foolishness of the actions of people. We are discerning the outcome of their actions, which they cannot see. This is then the place that we can rejoice in knowing God’s gift to us allows us to see clearly the affects of good and evil. So today, let us thank God for his gift of discernment. Let us also pray for those we see that are making decisions in the dark. Seek God to open their eyes to the light so that they can move from darkness to light and receive the ability to discern what is right in the eyesight of God.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Someone You Should Know!
Some proud parents sitting and watching our children (that's me in the blue/green outfit).
This minister working with the children also signs during the recording. She has often offered her time to teach the children sign language during the VBS (Vacation Bible School) season.
These children were all prepared to do their part. These two that are leading this song are top students and are involved in many programs that they excel in.
We had many proud grandparents and great grandparents as well. This is my mother-in-law smiling at the children. There are some other proud grandparents seated next to her.Come back for some more of the pictures from the Smart Museum taping.
Words of Encouragement
then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, - Proverbs 2:5-7
What Jesus’ Gift Brings. Wisdom. This Proverb is titled in one Bible reference as the moral benefits of wisdom. The writer starts with an encouragement for the reader to hear these words and to live by them. He tells the reader to turn his ear to wisdom (good judgment and insight) and apply his heart to understanding (thoughtfulness).
He tells the reader that it is wisdom that will hold them and keep them blameless before the Lord. He warns do not allow the wicked or those that turn from the truth to influence you to do what is wrong. He says it is wisdom that will keep the feet of the godly from turning after the things of the wicked. He even states in verse 16 that if your spouse moves away from the truth of God, do not follow them because the path they are on leads to death and destruction. The writer wants us to understand we are not to allowing anything to stand between godly wisdom and us.
The important question for us to ask is if wisdom is important for us to obtain, how do we get it? This is one of the provisions we are offered through the gift of Jesus. When Jesus went to the cross he opened to you and I a way to God. This gift of Jesus is salvation for all that will come. It is also for us to be able to obtain what we need from the Father to walk in this way. God provided the way and then the ability to stay in that way.
This is another reason why we do not have to be afraid of the challenges we face. We can find comfort in the Lord because we have access to godly wisdom. This Proverb warns the reader to seek wisdom in all things. We need wisdom in our choices, in how we handle our relationships, how we allow others to influence us and how we face test and trials. We need wisdom even to help us deal with the challenges of dealing with others. The enemy tricks us and uses us sometimes (if we are not careful) by how we respond to things. We think we may be doing what is right, and if we do not test our thoughts and actions against godly wisdom we will find ourselves having to apologize for our lack of wisdom.
I pray for us today and say as the writer of this Proverb, the Lord gives us wisdom and he will give us victory when we us that wisdom in all that we do. It is God’s wisdom that allows us to be able to walk blameless. It is our pursuit of godly wisdom that helps us to keep in line with what God wants us to do and it helps us to see the devil at a distance and uncover his tricks and traps he sets for us. Today, let us thank God for wisdom. Let us meditate on the wisdom of God so that we can be victorious.
What Jesus’ Gift Brings. Wisdom. This Proverb is titled in one Bible reference as the moral benefits of wisdom. The writer starts with an encouragement for the reader to hear these words and to live by them. He tells the reader to turn his ear to wisdom (good judgment and insight) and apply his heart to understanding (thoughtfulness).
He tells the reader that it is wisdom that will hold them and keep them blameless before the Lord. He warns do not allow the wicked or those that turn from the truth to influence you to do what is wrong. He says it is wisdom that will keep the feet of the godly from turning after the things of the wicked. He even states in verse 16 that if your spouse moves away from the truth of God, do not follow them because the path they are on leads to death and destruction. The writer wants us to understand we are not to allowing anything to stand between godly wisdom and us.
The important question for us to ask is if wisdom is important for us to obtain, how do we get it? This is one of the provisions we are offered through the gift of Jesus. When Jesus went to the cross he opened to you and I a way to God. This gift of Jesus is salvation for all that will come. It is also for us to be able to obtain what we need from the Father to walk in this way. God provided the way and then the ability to stay in that way.
This is another reason why we do not have to be afraid of the challenges we face. We can find comfort in the Lord because we have access to godly wisdom. This Proverb warns the reader to seek wisdom in all things. We need wisdom in our choices, in how we handle our relationships, how we allow others to influence us and how we face test and trials. We need wisdom even to help us deal with the challenges of dealing with others. The enemy tricks us and uses us sometimes (if we are not careful) by how we respond to things. We think we may be doing what is right, and if we do not test our thoughts and actions against godly wisdom we will find ourselves having to apologize for our lack of wisdom.
I pray for us today and say as the writer of this Proverb, the Lord gives us wisdom and he will give us victory when we us that wisdom in all that we do. It is God’s wisdom that allows us to be able to walk blameless. It is our pursuit of godly wisdom that helps us to keep in line with what God wants us to do and it helps us to see the devil at a distance and uncover his tricks and traps he sets for us. Today, let us thank God for wisdom. Let us meditate on the wisdom of God so that we can be victorious.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Someone You Should Know!
The children are receiving their instruction for the recording.
I had the opportunity to ask Michelle some questions about her music and we will share them this month. Let's get started!
Jewel: Michelle, how did you come up with the different songs and what period of time did this happen?
Michelle: I came up with those songs in a 3-5 year period of time. Some stretched back from when I worked as a sixth grade teacher. "I'll Acknowledge You", was in 2002-03 school year. The others have been throughout the last few years. Many through a lot of tests and trials.
I remember writing "Singin' Praises to Your Name" based on Psalms 92 because at the time, someone or something was getting on my nerves. The Lord told me to start counting my blessings and quit complaing about the minor stuff...and then two months afterwards...he took my mom home to be with Him. That's when he told me to add 1 Thessalanians 5:18 "In everything give thanks"...no matter what happens there's always an element to thank God for even in the midst of the most treacherous of circumstances.
Minister Mario Jenkins leading "I'll Be Still".The same is true for "I'll Be Still". I was wrestling with the future of my marriage, my son, finances--asking "shoud I do this or that" and the Lord was saying (in my own lingo--'chill & be still Michelle'--cux your little pint-sized peanut thoughts can't compare to my great mind).
"Celebrate" (which is also the video clip from 2/29, take a listen) was from when I was hired for a job at a college where God graced His unmerited favor in my life. Again, I was jut thinking of all His benefits and reflecting on His faithfulness...I could go on and on, but you get the picture.
Jewel: As you listen to the words of her songs you hear the Word of God brought to life through the music and it does something to encourage you when you facing your situations. Michelle uses the words of scripture in her songs in a fresh way. She allowed many of the youth to sing either solo's or to be a part of the song. This was also something great for them as well.
Michelle is a generous writer. Even though these are her songs, she is open to God to allow others to add to the creation . On the song, "I'll Be Still" the lead singer, Mario Jenkins also played a part by adding an additional line in the song. This song has become one of my favorites. We all can understand what Michelle mentioned about us wondering what to do in the midst of our own sitations. We need a reminder to "chill and be still" because God's ways are far above our understanding.
We will continue this interview with Michelle, so come back and read what else she as to say about her music.
Words of Encouragement
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. "You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. – John 14:26-28
What Jesus’ Gift Brings. Peace. Jesus in this 14th chapter of John is preparing his disciples for what is about to happen. He tells them he is going away and what he does it lets them know he is not leaving them alone and unprepared for their life ahead. Jesus comforts his disciples with the knowledge that they will see him again if they follow his ways.
He also comforts them by telling them the way to get to the blessings of eternal life with God and that is through Jesus. He lets his disciples know they can get to the Father through him because he is the way that God has prepared for all men to come to the Father.
Then Jesus promises them with the comforter. He tells them that even though he must go back to the Father, he is not leaving them alone. The difference is the world cannot see him or know him because they will not accept him to live in them. The comforter will only be shown to those that seek the Father through the Son. There was one that asked, why would you show us but not the world?
Jesus answers and says anyone that loves him will obey his teaching and the Father will come and make his home with them. But those that do not obey his teaching cannot see the Father. So after Jesus has comforted his disciples with what is to come, he again reminds them of what he is going to do.
These verses tell them that Jesus is sending the comforter so that they will have what they need. He will teach them all things, he will remind them of all that they have been taught and he will guide them. This promise then is topped off with the promise of godly peace. Jesus promises them peace not as the world gives but a peace that can only come from God. Jesus shows them in these verses how peace will be enacted through the Holy Spirit (comforter). Because the Holy Spirit will guide you, teach you and remind you of what you have been taught, it takes the worry from you on what to do and how to do it. You and I don’t have to worry about having ALL the answers for the “test”. Have you ever prepared for a test and you crammed trying to keep everything inside, but sometimes it just didn’t work out. Well we can go into our “test” without the stress of thinking we need to have all the answers remembered, because this test is different. The Holy Spirit’s job is to come alongside of us in the midst of our test and to bring back that which we know and then to teach us that which we do know. He is the one we go to for the answers. He has the correct answer key to every test; we just need to trust him.
This is why we can have peace and not be afraid in our life’s journey. I pray that we take the time today to thank God for his gift of peace. Let us thank him for the opportunity offered to us through the cross of peace. We can be still when the world around us is in unrest. We can find tranquility and calm when the pressure on our emotions would want to make us feel like a ship beaten by the heavy waves of the ocean. We can find that secret place, that sheltered place that only comes from our trust in God’s Spirit. He leaves us peace, peace that the world cannot give. The world cannot give this peace because the world does not know the Father and they have no part with him. Jesus gives us the peace through his gift of the cross. His gift to know the Father is given when we allow ourselves to know him.
What Jesus’ Gift Brings. Peace. Jesus in this 14th chapter of John is preparing his disciples for what is about to happen. He tells them he is going away and what he does it lets them know he is not leaving them alone and unprepared for their life ahead. Jesus comforts his disciples with the knowledge that they will see him again if they follow his ways.
He also comforts them by telling them the way to get to the blessings of eternal life with God and that is through Jesus. He lets his disciples know they can get to the Father through him because he is the way that God has prepared for all men to come to the Father.
Then Jesus promises them with the comforter. He tells them that even though he must go back to the Father, he is not leaving them alone. The difference is the world cannot see him or know him because they will not accept him to live in them. The comforter will only be shown to those that seek the Father through the Son. There was one that asked, why would you show us but not the world?
Jesus answers and says anyone that loves him will obey his teaching and the Father will come and make his home with them. But those that do not obey his teaching cannot see the Father. So after Jesus has comforted his disciples with what is to come, he again reminds them of what he is going to do.
These verses tell them that Jesus is sending the comforter so that they will have what they need. He will teach them all things, he will remind them of all that they have been taught and he will guide them. This promise then is topped off with the promise of godly peace. Jesus promises them peace not as the world gives but a peace that can only come from God. Jesus shows them in these verses how peace will be enacted through the Holy Spirit (comforter). Because the Holy Spirit will guide you, teach you and remind you of what you have been taught, it takes the worry from you on what to do and how to do it. You and I don’t have to worry about having ALL the answers for the “test”. Have you ever prepared for a test and you crammed trying to keep everything inside, but sometimes it just didn’t work out. Well we can go into our “test” without the stress of thinking we need to have all the answers remembered, because this test is different. The Holy Spirit’s job is to come alongside of us in the midst of our test and to bring back that which we know and then to teach us that which we do know. He is the one we go to for the answers. He has the correct answer key to every test; we just need to trust him.
This is why we can have peace and not be afraid in our life’s journey. I pray that we take the time today to thank God for his gift of peace. Let us thank him for the opportunity offered to us through the cross of peace. We can be still when the world around us is in unrest. We can find tranquility and calm when the pressure on our emotions would want to make us feel like a ship beaten by the heavy waves of the ocean. We can find that secret place, that sheltered place that only comes from our trust in God’s Spirit. He leaves us peace, peace that the world cannot give. The world cannot give this peace because the world does not know the Father and they have no part with him. Jesus gives us the peace through his gift of the cross. His gift to know the Father is given when we allow ourselves to know him.
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