Monday, April 30, 2012
God Is our "Great Physician"
Its been a few days since I have blogged,well the reason being is because I had to have some foot surgery done,and I will be the first to say,It Hurts!!!This leads me to my topic,The “Great Physician”.
There are several scriptures that refer to the great physician , JESUS came to heal the sick and that’s whether you were sick because you were living in sin or sick from a physical condition. What ever your condition is JESUS is there for it no matter if you are rich or poor we all have a chance to be delivered from our problem that’s one thing JESUS does not discriminate. HE rains on the just as well as the unjust. JESUS walked and lived among the poor and destitute never thinking that HE was more only feeling compassion and remorse for them. The same way He's feeling right now because
HE wants all of us to be healed so that we may have a chance to be apart of that great kingdom that’s been prepared for us. The bible says this in the book of Luke,5:31-32 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Jesus encouraged the active involvement of the sick in their own healing and faith was a necessary ingredient. "Faith," as expressed in the healing stories it entailed a strong trust in God’s healing power and the determination to gain access to it. Over and over, Jesus praised those he healed for their faith. Mark 5:25-29 says, And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal l under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. On the flip side, a lack of faith limited Jesus' healing in his hometown,Matthew 13:53-58
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” 58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. Jesus never healed when asked to prove himself. He only healed when people expected or asked to be healed.
God heals - and He is the great physician and He can heal anyone of any affliction, whether it be physical, mental, emotional, or financial. There are going to be times in your life when you'll need God to heal you or a loved one, so don't be afraid to pray to God for the healing that you need. And little do most people know, but reading the Bible can heal you, too. Maybe the Bible isn't magical, but it will put you in the proper state of mind to be healed. When you open your mind to positive healing, the most amazing things can happen to you if you have Faith.
This side of heaven, even we believers are plagued with sin, afflictions, sickness, death. So what are we to do? What is the antidote … the solution? You know very well – but your flesh is oh, so weak. Christ is our Great Physician and Savior! He alone can cure what ails us – both physically and spiritually. We see this at work in our Holy Scriptures every time we read.
You see we all desire to be healed when we get sick,being sick is no fun,and I truly believe that God desires all of his children to be well. I don't believe God ever intended for any of his children to be struck down by any sickness. I am praying everyday that my foot heals quickly , and that God somehow lessons the pain that I feel,but I also know while God is working on healing my foot, he is all
so working in different parts of my body at the same time. God is a healer of many thing,including the heart.
You see, the important thing to remember about Jesus as The Great Physician is not that He can heal the body, but that He can heal the soul! If he heals the body, that is wonderful ,but eventually, the body will still perish. However, what Jesus does for the soul is eternal. Are you saved today? Maybe you would have to confess that the Lord has been dealing with you and you know you need to come to Jesus. Why put it off any longer? While He is passing by, take the time to come to Him this day and ask Him to save and deliver you from Hell. And that, after all,that is what we all really need
Jesus Christ has the power to take any life that is broken and ruined by sin and make it over again. He is all-powerful, all-saving and awesome! He will lift you out of the affliction of your sins if you will only come to Him when He calls you
Blessings!!
Sunday, April 22, 2012
God wants to bless your relationships
Another amazing service at New Life today,God was there giving out double portions of His Holy Spirit too all that would choose to receive,you just had to be there. The Pastor continued his sermon series today,and I have to say it was an inspiring sermon,and I am truly blessed to be able to sit under pastor Troy,simply because of his obedience to the moving of the Holy Spirit in his heart, and his transparency to his congregation. You see he brings it to the congregation just as God gives to him,no “sugar coating” and that’s a good thing,and I so appreciate that quality in him.
Pastor spoke today on how we need to be aware of the relationships that we have developed in our life's . and whether or not they are positive and healthy to our life's and those we are involved with. We need to constantly evaluate those relationships that we have developed , and constantly be in prayer about them,the question being ,”are they healthy for me”?
The big question is this,God Wants a Relationship With Us,Which came first, man's need for a relationship with God or God's desire for a relationship with man? " We have all faced the age-old question about which came first, the chicken or the egg. This question could apply to our relationship with God: Which came first, man's need for a relationship with God or God's desire for a relationship with man?
Pastor touched on this scripture this morning,1John 4:19,"We love Him because He first loved us," ,but we learn I little more if we go back a little in scripture,1 John 4:10 says this,This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. I truly believe it was God's desire and plan to establish a relationship between human beings and Himself.
We must keep in mind the reason God created us, he did this for a reason,I believe that God designed human beings to reflect His very character—to be like Him. In Genesis 5:1 we read ,”This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;” But first I think we need to ask,what is a “relationship”?Webster's New World College Dictionary defines it as "the quality or state of being related, a continuing attachment or association between persons."
God desires a relationship with us, we should more than ever recognize we truly need Him.
In 1 John 3:1-3 we read words from the Apostle John,he briefly describes the nature of the relationship we are to have with God. "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure"
Here we see the purpose for the creation of mankind: God is building a family—His own family. He created us so we can have a special Father-child relationship with Him. God plans to bestow His immortality on us. As Paul explains, "this perishable body must be clothed with the imperishable, and what is mortal with immortality" 1 Corinthians 15:53. God wants an eternal relationship with us as His children.
Most relationships are based on real or perceived promises, commitments and expectations. For example, the marriage relationship is founded on promises of love, commitment, honor and respect. A friendship has expectations of understanding, trust, honesty and shared interests. The primary basis for the relationship between God and us is simple: It is love . The Scriptures tell us that God's nature, the primary motivation in all He does, is love,an unselfish concern for all humanity.
Rom 8:35-39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Can anything separate us from God’s love? God’s Word is clear with that: NOTHING can separate us from God’s love. The devil will try to deceive you. You may even tend to deceive yourself and think God does not care for you. These are lies! God is a God of relationship and Heb 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” God will never change! He loved you yesterday! He loves you today and He will still love you tomorrow!
God wants his children to develop “Good” relationships,and I truly believe that he will bless those relationships that we develop beyond our greatest desires,but first I believe that they must be in line with the will of God for our life’s We need to seek God daily, asks him ,but also be willing to hear what he has to say to you about those relationships,DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID? .you must be willing to “LISTEN” to God,as the Pastor said,and I stand behind him “God never intended for any of his children to be hurt”
Proverbs 3:5-6,Trust in the LORD with all your heart ,and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him,and he will make your paths straight.
Blessings!
Pastor spoke today on how we need to be aware of the relationships that we have developed in our life's . and whether or not they are positive and healthy to our life's and those we are involved with. We need to constantly evaluate those relationships that we have developed , and constantly be in prayer about them,the question being ,”are they healthy for me”?
The big question is this,God Wants a Relationship With Us,Which came first, man's need for a relationship with God or God's desire for a relationship with man? " We have all faced the age-old question about which came first, the chicken or the egg. This question could apply to our relationship with God: Which came first, man's need for a relationship with God or God's desire for a relationship with man?
Pastor touched on this scripture this morning,1John 4:19,"We love Him because He first loved us," ,but we learn I little more if we go back a little in scripture,1 John 4:10 says this,This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. I truly believe it was God's desire and plan to establish a relationship between human beings and Himself.
We must keep in mind the reason God created us, he did this for a reason,I believe that God designed human beings to reflect His very character—to be like Him. In Genesis 5:1 we read ,”This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;” But first I think we need to ask,what is a “relationship”?Webster's New World College Dictionary defines it as "the quality or state of being related, a continuing attachment or association between persons."
God desires a relationship with us, we should more than ever recognize we truly need Him.
In 1 John 3:1-3 we read words from the Apostle John,he briefly describes the nature of the relationship we are to have with God. "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure"
Here we see the purpose for the creation of mankind: God is building a family—His own family. He created us so we can have a special Father-child relationship with Him. God plans to bestow His immortality on us. As Paul explains, "this perishable body must be clothed with the imperishable, and what is mortal with immortality" 1 Corinthians 15:53. God wants an eternal relationship with us as His children.
Most relationships are based on real or perceived promises, commitments and expectations. For example, the marriage relationship is founded on promises of love, commitment, honor and respect. A friendship has expectations of understanding, trust, honesty and shared interests. The primary basis for the relationship between God and us is simple: It is love . The Scriptures tell us that God's nature, the primary motivation in all He does, is love,an unselfish concern for all humanity.
Rom 8:35-39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Can anything separate us from God’s love? God’s Word is clear with that: NOTHING can separate us from God’s love. The devil will try to deceive you. You may even tend to deceive yourself and think God does not care for you. These are lies! God is a God of relationship and Heb 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” God will never change! He loved you yesterday! He loves you today and He will still love you tomorrow!
God wants his children to develop “Good” relationships,and I truly believe that he will bless those relationships that we develop beyond our greatest desires,but first I believe that they must be in line with the will of God for our life’s We need to seek God daily, asks him ,but also be willing to hear what he has to say to you about those relationships,DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID? .you must be willing to “LISTEN” to God,as the Pastor said,and I stand behind him “God never intended for any of his children to be hurt”
Proverbs 3:5-6,Trust in the LORD with all your heart ,and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him,and he will make your paths straight.
Blessings!
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Hows your Relationship?
I want to continue to reflect on the sermon that Pastor Troy started last Sunday,it was a powerful beginning to what I feel is going to be a very impact full sermon series.
I know so many people out in this world that are in relationships that are less than what the Lord has designed for them, to say the very least they aren't even close to having or living how God has intended them to live. God has so much for each and everyone of his children,The bible says that his love is “everlasting”. That word “everlasting” means something which, like a river, is ever flowing.
I often finding myself asking God this question,”If seeing your precious children in hurtful relationships makes my heart heavy,how is it affecting you?”we serve such a forgiving God ,and he just wants to bless us so richly,why don't we get it?why do we constantly push his love aside?the bible says this in John 15:9-16a “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you…” Did you notice what the Lord said,he said “You are my friends if you do what I command you.”So I’m thinking if the Lord values a relationship of friendship between you and I, relationships must be right up there on his list of priorities.
Jesus prayed to the Father for you to have unity in your relationships. John 17:22-23 "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one,23 "I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
In a good relationship, with Jesus in the middle, each person is coming closer to Jesus becoming one with Him and also one with each other. I believe Many relationships go bad because people leave Jesus out of the relationship .Only God can give us the love, joy, and peace that we all are seeking. When you keep Jesus in the middle of the relationship, you will maintain your inner source of love, joy and peace, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Even if the relationship with the other person does not work out, you will have inner stability, because God is your source, not the other person.
I really believe relationships go bad because one or both people loose their focus on Jesus in the relationship. When this happens selfishness takes over, instead of caring about the benefit of God and the other person. James 4:1-3, What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?2) You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3)
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
This is one of my favorite scriptures regarding a relationships between a husband and wife,1 Corinthians 7:2-6 ,But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.3) The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4)The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.5)Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.6) I say this as a concession, not as a command.
So as I close let me present to you this question,What is God's greatest desire for you ? God wants to have a close relationship with you and More than anything I believe He wants you to have an intimate love relationship and friendship with Him. God wants you to spend time with Him and intimately communicate with Him, How much do you desire a deep,loving meaningful relationship with God?God needs to touch our hearts so that Jesus is our first and only love. we need to faithfully and passionately seek and follow Him, however and wherever He may lead us.
Jesus said that “I am come to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already
kindled” Luke 12:49. The fire He was speaking of was the Holy Spirit’s presence and
power in our lives. Jesus longs to pour out His Spirit into our lives and into our
relationships. It is with the Spirit’s power and presence in our lives that our relationship
with God, in our homes, with our families, friends, and at the work place as well as the
communities we live in. So my friends won't you let God be the center of each and every relationship that is formed,he so desires to bless you ,won't you let Him?
Blessings.
I know so many people out in this world that are in relationships that are less than what the Lord has designed for them, to say the very least they aren't even close to having or living how God has intended them to live. God has so much for each and everyone of his children,The bible says that his love is “everlasting”. That word “everlasting” means something which, like a river, is ever flowing.
I often finding myself asking God this question,”If seeing your precious children in hurtful relationships makes my heart heavy,how is it affecting you?”we serve such a forgiving God ,and he just wants to bless us so richly,why don't we get it?why do we constantly push his love aside?the bible says this in John 15:9-16a “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you…” Did you notice what the Lord said,he said “You are my friends if you do what I command you.”So I’m thinking if the Lord values a relationship of friendship between you and I, relationships must be right up there on his list of priorities.
Jesus prayed to the Father for you to have unity in your relationships. John 17:22-23 "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one,23 "I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
In a good relationship, with Jesus in the middle, each person is coming closer to Jesus becoming one with Him and also one with each other. I believe Many relationships go bad because people leave Jesus out of the relationship .Only God can give us the love, joy, and peace that we all are seeking. When you keep Jesus in the middle of the relationship, you will maintain your inner source of love, joy and peace, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Even if the relationship with the other person does not work out, you will have inner stability, because God is your source, not the other person.
I really believe relationships go bad because one or both people loose their focus on Jesus in the relationship. When this happens selfishness takes over, instead of caring about the benefit of God and the other person. James 4:1-3, What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?2) You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3)
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
This is one of my favorite scriptures regarding a relationships between a husband and wife,1 Corinthians 7:2-6 ,But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.3) The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4)The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.5)Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.6) I say this as a concession, not as a command.
So as I close let me present to you this question,What is God's greatest desire for you ? God wants to have a close relationship with you and More than anything I believe He wants you to have an intimate love relationship and friendship with Him. God wants you to spend time with Him and intimately communicate with Him, How much do you desire a deep,loving meaningful relationship with God?God needs to touch our hearts so that Jesus is our first and only love. we need to faithfully and passionately seek and follow Him, however and wherever He may lead us.
Jesus said that “I am come to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already
kindled” Luke 12:49. The fire He was speaking of was the Holy Spirit’s presence and
power in our lives. Jesus longs to pour out His Spirit into our lives and into our
relationships. It is with the Spirit’s power and presence in our lives that our relationship
with God, in our homes, with our families, friends, and at the work place as well as the
communities we live in. So my friends won't you let God be the center of each and every relationship that is formed,he so desires to bless you ,won't you let Him?
Blessings.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Will you let God Bless you?
Have you ever wondered why we limit God so much? Well let me rephrase that. I often wonder why I limit God so much. Over the last week I have read several different bible verses that talk about how God blesses his children ,and how much he wants to. I think as children of God ,we limit the blessings that God wants to give us.Have you ever prayed for something and God gives you something that does not look like what you have asked for? What was your response to it? Well I will tell you that I had a hard time with this because I couldn’t understand what was happening to me, I kept saying this is not how I know God to be, but indeed it is God. The beauty of God is that He provides clarification as you continue to walk with Him, and press forward into Him. Although I do not fully understand God’s ways, I have decided that the details is not my business but it’s God; my responsibility is just to trust Him, and with this the burden becomes lighter everyday and I am able to rest in Him more.
God has made us joint heirs with Christ. He offers us innumerable blessings and promises. Yet we are content to live on crumbs when a banquet table full of spiritual delicacies is spread for us.
We wallow in despair when God offers us joy. We live in anxiety when prayer can bring us peace. We feel lonely even though God is always with us. We tremble in fear when faith could help us stand. We struggle to endure when Christ offers the gift of long-suffering. God’s promises are exceedingly great and precious. Grab them. Claim them for your life. Don’t limit God. The Lord of the impossible is waiting for you to call on His name. Will you call on Him now? Well will you?
In Psalm 81, we see how God has blessed the nation of Israel greatly. He delivered His people from Egyptian oppression and provided for all their needs, including the land He had promised would be their home. God wants to bless you in a similar way. James 1:17 testifies,“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” Instead of being in bondage to sin and lacking the things that you need and desire, God wants to transform your life—giving you the abundant, joy-filled existence He created you for. God has all knowledge, power, and resources, and He delights in meeting your needs and giving you the desires of your heart.
God provides everything you need when you’re listening to Him and receiving His wisdom, protection, and provision. However, if you’re missing out on God’s blessings, you can do something about it.
Psalm 81:10–12 shows us why we are missing out on receiving God's resources for you.“I, the LORD, am your God, . . . open your mouth wide and I will fill it. But My people did not listen to My voice, and Israel did not obey Me. So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, to walk in their own devices.”
Do you have a deep personal relationship with God, or are
you living in defiance to Him? You’re going to do things God’s way or you’re going to insist on doing things your own way. You’ll either trust and obey Him, or you’re going to ignore Him and rely on your own resources. Many believers miss out on God’s best because they’re unwilling to have faith in Him.
Are you walking in the ways of the Lord? Do you want God’s best for your life? Then you must ask God to bless you, be specific about
what you desire, anticipate His answer, and walk in obedience to Him.
Will God show you His plan and purpose for your life? Of course He will! God. wants the best for you and because of that, He’ll teach you to walk in His ways with faith and confidence in Him. Because then He can work in
and through your life in a way that will show others that He is truly God.
Don’t allow anything to hinder you from receiving God’s blessings. Deal with whatever sin and unbelief are in your life so that God can show
you His power and love. Then, you’ll discover what God wants to do in your life and all the wonderful blessings He has in store for you.
The Lord said that he wants to fill our cup to overflowing,,,,well will you let him ? My friends may God bless you this week and days to come beyond your greatest expectations,that’s the business he is in , just receive and be blessed.
Blessings!
God has made us joint heirs with Christ. He offers us innumerable blessings and promises. Yet we are content to live on crumbs when a banquet table full of spiritual delicacies is spread for us.
We wallow in despair when God offers us joy. We live in anxiety when prayer can bring us peace. We feel lonely even though God is always with us. We tremble in fear when faith could help us stand. We struggle to endure when Christ offers the gift of long-suffering. God’s promises are exceedingly great and precious. Grab them. Claim them for your life. Don’t limit God. The Lord of the impossible is waiting for you to call on His name. Will you call on Him now? Well will you?
In Psalm 81, we see how God has blessed the nation of Israel greatly. He delivered His people from Egyptian oppression and provided for all their needs, including the land He had promised would be their home. God wants to bless you in a similar way. James 1:17 testifies,“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” Instead of being in bondage to sin and lacking the things that you need and desire, God wants to transform your life—giving you the abundant, joy-filled existence He created you for. God has all knowledge, power, and resources, and He delights in meeting your needs and giving you the desires of your heart.
God provides everything you need when you’re listening to Him and receiving His wisdom, protection, and provision. However, if you’re missing out on God’s blessings, you can do something about it.
Psalm 81:10–12 shows us why we are missing out on receiving God's resources for you.“I, the LORD, am your God, . . . open your mouth wide and I will fill it. But My people did not listen to My voice, and Israel did not obey Me. So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, to walk in their own devices.”
Do you have a deep personal relationship with God, or are
you living in defiance to Him? You’re going to do things God’s way or you’re going to insist on doing things your own way. You’ll either trust and obey Him, or you’re going to ignore Him and rely on your own resources. Many believers miss out on God’s best because they’re unwilling to have faith in Him.
Are you walking in the ways of the Lord? Do you want God’s best for your life? Then you must ask God to bless you, be specific about
what you desire, anticipate His answer, and walk in obedience to Him.
Will God show you His plan and purpose for your life? Of course He will! God. wants the best for you and because of that, He’ll teach you to walk in His ways with faith and confidence in Him. Because then He can work in
and through your life in a way that will show others that He is truly God.
Don’t allow anything to hinder you from receiving God’s blessings. Deal with whatever sin and unbelief are in your life so that God can show
you His power and love. Then, you’ll discover what God wants to do in your life and all the wonderful blessings He has in store for you.
The Lord said that he wants to fill our cup to overflowing,,,,well will you let him ? My friends may God bless you this week and days to come beyond your greatest expectations,that’s the business he is in , just receive and be blessed.
Blessings!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
The last couple of Sunday’s we have had some great prayer time before our services,and my good friend Mark and I talked about prayer and how sometimes we just don't seem to quite know what to say,but God always seems to give us the right words to say. I have been sharing on face book for the past couple of weeks ,what I consider to be important scriptures relating to prayer and the importance of it. I want to share a few thing about prayer that I think are important for all to know.
Have you ever noticed that different people pray in different ways? Some people are wonderful at praying for people they don't know off of a prayer list. Some people are great at praying for large things, like cities and governments. Other people feel led to pray for their church or their neighborhood. There are many different ways to pray.
The church has many different members and each one is unique. Each person filling a unique place and has been given unique gift. When some of those members don't do the job God has given them then the Body suffers. When we don't pray in the way God shows us or we try to imitate the prayer of someone else, then our portion is not getting done. God will show you how He wants you to pray .and who he want you to pray for. When someone pops into your mind, pray for them. When a concern pops into your mind, pray for it. God will tell you what and how to pray.
Don't EVER let anyone tell you that you pray wrong!! Prayer is nothing more than communication between you and God. Allow God to show you how to pray. Allow the Bible to show you how to pray. God knows what areas need prayer. God has commissioned you to pray for certain things in a certain way. Obviously, no one person can pray for all things. If we all allowed God be in control of our prayer life then there would be a huge increase in the number of answered prayers.
Often I have wondered if I am praying wrong. There are times when I just don't know what to say. It is frustrating. I sometimes feel like I am falling down on the job or that I am disappointing God. I read where miraculous things occur when other people pray and I wonder if I am using the wrong words, don't have enough faith, or am doing something wrong.
Nehemiah was a good example of a prayer warrior. We can learn about how to pray from him. The book of Nehemiah tells about how Nehemiah got bad news from the city of Jerusalem. The city of Jerusalem had been rebuilt after enemies had destroyed it, but the walls around the city had never been rebuilt and were lying in pieces. This greatly upset Nehemiah.
In Neh 2:4 he prayed a quick prayer while talking to the king. I would guess he prayed for the right words to use to convince the king and that the king would allow Nehemiah to rebuild the wall. Notice he prayed WHILE he was talking to the king. It appears he may have been in constant communication with God. Maybe he was "abiding" in God the way Jesus said in John 15:7, If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Looking back over my life, I saw times when God was speaking to me. I just hadn't paid attention. I have since learned that God speaks to different people in different ways. He knows what we can and can't handle and we can and can't understand. Some people receive visions, or pictures. God will come to each of us on an individual basis. He knows everything about us and knows what we need. He will meet us where we are. Our portion is to be seeking Him.
The bible says this,Psalm 19:14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer great scripture is ,Luke 11:9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
There are so so many great scriptures that mention prayer, and I am so convinced that prayer is so so important in the life's of God's children. I have tried to show the importance of prayer, but most of all I want to impress upon each and everyone that prayer is simply talking to God, simple communication between Father and child. I believe that God sincerely cherishes our each and every prayer that we offer up to Him. So I encourage you to pray what the Lord puts on your heart, there is no formula to prayer,as that famous sneaker add says “JUST DO IT”
Blessings!
Have you ever noticed that different people pray in different ways? Some people are wonderful at praying for people they don't know off of a prayer list. Some people are great at praying for large things, like cities and governments. Other people feel led to pray for their church or their neighborhood. There are many different ways to pray.
The church has many different members and each one is unique. Each person filling a unique place and has been given unique gift. When some of those members don't do the job God has given them then the Body suffers. When we don't pray in the way God shows us or we try to imitate the prayer of someone else, then our portion is not getting done. God will show you how He wants you to pray .and who he want you to pray for. When someone pops into your mind, pray for them. When a concern pops into your mind, pray for it. God will tell you what and how to pray.
Don't EVER let anyone tell you that you pray wrong!! Prayer is nothing more than communication between you and God. Allow God to show you how to pray. Allow the Bible to show you how to pray. God knows what areas need prayer. God has commissioned you to pray for certain things in a certain way. Obviously, no one person can pray for all things. If we all allowed God be in control of our prayer life then there would be a huge increase in the number of answered prayers.
Often I have wondered if I am praying wrong. There are times when I just don't know what to say. It is frustrating. I sometimes feel like I am falling down on the job or that I am disappointing God. I read where miraculous things occur when other people pray and I wonder if I am using the wrong words, don't have enough faith, or am doing something wrong.
Nehemiah was a good example of a prayer warrior. We can learn about how to pray from him. The book of Nehemiah tells about how Nehemiah got bad news from the city of Jerusalem. The city of Jerusalem had been rebuilt after enemies had destroyed it, but the walls around the city had never been rebuilt and were lying in pieces. This greatly upset Nehemiah.
In Neh 2:4 he prayed a quick prayer while talking to the king. I would guess he prayed for the right words to use to convince the king and that the king would allow Nehemiah to rebuild the wall. Notice he prayed WHILE he was talking to the king. It appears he may have been in constant communication with God. Maybe he was "abiding" in God the way Jesus said in John 15:7, If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Looking back over my life, I saw times when God was speaking to me. I just hadn't paid attention. I have since learned that God speaks to different people in different ways. He knows what we can and can't handle and we can and can't understand. Some people receive visions, or pictures. God will come to each of us on an individual basis. He knows everything about us and knows what we need. He will meet us where we are. Our portion is to be seeking Him.
The bible says this,Psalm 19:14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer great scripture is ,Luke 11:9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
There are so so many great scriptures that mention prayer, and I am so convinced that prayer is so so important in the life's of God's children. I have tried to show the importance of prayer, but most of all I want to impress upon each and everyone that prayer is simply talking to God, simple communication between Father and child. I believe that God sincerely cherishes our each and every prayer that we offer up to Him. So I encourage you to pray what the Lord puts on your heart, there is no formula to prayer,as that famous sneaker add says “JUST DO IT”
Blessings!
Monday, April 9, 2012
I love when God answers prayers!!!
This past Sunday,Resurrection Sunday was the start ot the new service schedule at New Life Assembly of God ,we went from one to two services and it was to say the least amazing!God always comes through in ways that we can't imagine,doesn't He?when I was informed that we would be expanding to two services I began to pray and lift it up to god,it wasn't that I was asking God to bring the people in,or that all the seats in the sanctuary were filled,my prayer was that pastor Troy would not be discouraged. To many of you that might sound like I doubted the ability of our pastor to stand strong,or that I in some way thought he is week,well I assure all that neither of those two are qualities of Pastor Troy Allen. If you don't know or are unaware Pastor is a very driven person, and in my opinion he does not take ,nor does he accept failure well, in fact I believe he doesn't know how to spell the word failure. You see I believe in the power of prayer,and I know he does to. I believe God hears the prayers of everyone. Oftentimes, when someone does not receive an immediate, favorable answer from God, he or she then assumes that God either didn't hear the prayer or doesn't care to answer. Even the most attentive and devout Christian has felt a touch forsaken by God at times when life seems to be dealing too many hard blows without any abatement fact ,God is answering all of our prayers as He sees fit. . Man can't ever assume that by merely asking God for something it becomes apt or fitting for his situation. Our Father knows how our prayers must be answered, and we must trust Him to make those decisions for us. By so doing we strengthen our holy faith in God.
God does not look for those who will do things for him, but rather He looks constantly for those he can do great things through. 2 Chronicles 16:9 in the Bible tell us that “His eyes roam to and fro across the entire earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully his.”
The Apostle Paul prayed (three times) for release from his physical illness but he was not healed. There was nothing deficient in Paul, God had another plan. Remember, his plan for you is for all of eternity, not just this period in time. Trust that he is working that eternal plan at this very moment.
God’s timing is perfect. Trust that he is answering and will answer. I believe that is the prayer of many at New Life,including Pastor Troy “If you want to know what God really wants you to do, ask him ... but if you don’t ask in faith, don’t expect the Lord to give you any solid answer.” James 1:5-6
Have you ever asked God for something and didn’t expect to get it? That’s why you didn’t get it. God works in our lives according to faith. So many times we say, “God, please guide me!” and we walk away not even waiting for guidance. We just immediately start to work We say, “God, I want you to give me wisdom; help me make the right decision.” But we don’t really expect him to do that. We think it all depends on us.
God has promised to give us wisdom, if we will ask. Wisdom is seeing life from God’s point of view. Wisdom is the ability to make decisions the way God makes decisions.
Think about this: God never makes a bad decision. He never makes a mistake. He says if we trust him and listen to him, he will guide us. But we must ask in faith.
I truly believe in the power of prayer and I have faith in our Father in heaven to hear those prayers,the bible says ,The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" James 5:16.,my friends never never,never put a limit on the power of prayer. I have seen so many amazing things in my lifetime, and I can only say that most if not all of those events are or were a direct result of prayer.,and I am standing rock solid in my belief that God answers prayer,and He DID!!,evidence you ask,well I present to all,the two services this past Sunday at New Life Assembly,,,PACKED!!!! need I present any more proof than that?
May we all learn a lesson from the example that Pastor Troy presented to congregation,he didn't say we should be more like him,he didn’t say we need to clean up our act before we come to church,or be more holy, He just lead by example,and his example was and is the very best one,JESUS
I am thankful for a Pastor that refuses to loose his vision, and by keeping his eyes and mind and heart constantly in focus ,i feel that in a sense empowers the congregation. May we all learn to listen to the voice of God,and accept the answers that he gives us,even when they don't quite line up with the answer that we waned to hear. We must always remember..GOD IS IN CONTROL!!!!!
Blessings.
God does not look for those who will do things for him, but rather He looks constantly for those he can do great things through. 2 Chronicles 16:9 in the Bible tell us that “His eyes roam to and fro across the entire earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully his.”
The Apostle Paul prayed (three times) for release from his physical illness but he was not healed. There was nothing deficient in Paul, God had another plan. Remember, his plan for you is for all of eternity, not just this period in time. Trust that he is working that eternal plan at this very moment.
God’s timing is perfect. Trust that he is answering and will answer. I believe that is the prayer of many at New Life,including Pastor Troy “If you want to know what God really wants you to do, ask him ... but if you don’t ask in faith, don’t expect the Lord to give you any solid answer.” James 1:5-6
Have you ever asked God for something and didn’t expect to get it? That’s why you didn’t get it. God works in our lives according to faith. So many times we say, “God, please guide me!” and we walk away not even waiting for guidance. We just immediately start to work We say, “God, I want you to give me wisdom; help me make the right decision.” But we don’t really expect him to do that. We think it all depends on us.
God has promised to give us wisdom, if we will ask. Wisdom is seeing life from God’s point of view. Wisdom is the ability to make decisions the way God makes decisions.
Think about this: God never makes a bad decision. He never makes a mistake. He says if we trust him and listen to him, he will guide us. But we must ask in faith.
I truly believe in the power of prayer and I have faith in our Father in heaven to hear those prayers,the bible says ,The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" James 5:16.,my friends never never,never put a limit on the power of prayer. I have seen so many amazing things in my lifetime, and I can only say that most if not all of those events are or were a direct result of prayer.,and I am standing rock solid in my belief that God answers prayer,and He DID!!,evidence you ask,well I present to all,the two services this past Sunday at New Life Assembly,,,PACKED!!!! need I present any more proof than that?
May we all learn a lesson from the example that Pastor Troy presented to congregation,he didn't say we should be more like him,he didn’t say we need to clean up our act before we come to church,or be more holy, He just lead by example,and his example was and is the very best one,JESUS
I am thankful for a Pastor that refuses to loose his vision, and by keeping his eyes and mind and heart constantly in focus ,i feel that in a sense empowers the congregation. May we all learn to listen to the voice of God,and accept the answers that he gives us,even when they don't quite line up with the answer that we waned to hear. We must always remember..GOD IS IN CONTROL!!!!!
Blessings.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Do You Diligently Seek God?
We had a very good,let me rephrase that ,we had a very excellent day at church this weekend. It started out with some very good prayer,and I have to say the prayers that were offered up to God in that small room at New Life Assembly were powerful to say the least. It is such a blessing to me to sit in a circle of believers that want nothing more than to just pour their hearts out to the Lord. To listen to true and sincere prayers ,offered up to God by his children,that are seeking his face ,and seeking His will in their life's ,well there just aren't any words in my vocabulary to explain how that make one feel.
After that prayer session was over,and believe me I didn't want it to end, my mind began to spin in about a million different directions,i couldn't help but to meditate on some of the prayers that I heard in that circle. I was questioning myself, am I truly seeking god in my prayer life, am I truly seeking God in my daily walk, am I truly seeking god at all??.I then had to ask myself this question, “What does it mean to seek first the Kingdom of God?”,and am I diligently doing it? So I opened up my bible and looked up some scripture on this subject, this is what the bible says,Matthew 6:31-33, So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
After reading that verse I tried to put my self into that scripture,I tried to view my spiritual life from a different angle. These verses say that your needs can be met if you seek first the kingdom of God. What does this really mean? Many people put this into practice by reading the bible and praying first thing in the morning. For many people, though, it ends there. They go about the rest of the day and do not even think about God,and if they over sleep or get up late,well then God gets put on the back burner, he gets forgotten,as the saying goes “out of sight,out of mind”you should seek God first in everything you do, all day long, but How do you do that? Instead of only doing morning devotions, you should seek God first in everything you do, all day long,i believe that you should incorporate God int every single thing that you do throughout your entire day.
Acknowledge Him, talk to Him, praise Him, and ask Him for help and guidance. As you are getting ready for work, thank God for all that He has given you. Thank Him for everything going smoothly and for good traffic so you make it to work on time and being calm and peaceful when you get there.
At work, thank Him for your job. It may not be the perfect job, but thank Him for it anyway and do your best job. If you run into a problem, instead of complaining and worrying, say "God, you have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Help me Lord to know what to do in this situation." God is always talking to us, but we are not always listening. When we do listen, many times we do not do what He says. So, we need to listen and obey, all day long.
One of my favorite scriptures is ,Proverbs 3:5-6 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight.
God is not a magic genie. He will answer our prayers but he will not jump out of a lamp in your living room and present you with what you want. God desires more for you than just giving you everything that you desire. He wants to teach you to be like His son, Jesus.
God will show up when you search for Him, but will you know it? Think of it like having a radio. Even with the radio in your possession, it is of no use to you unless you can hear it. You will be no closer to knowing God if you can’t hear His voice.
There is absolutely nothing that you give over to the Lord in this life that is worth comparing to what you get back – in this life and in the life to come. Nothing!
How diligently do you seek God? – Judge yourself ,that's what I had to do
But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged . 1 Corinthians 11:31
you have a choice to make. Do you want to “diligently seek” or “simply survive”? The choice is up to you and no one can make it for you. I hope you understand the value of the kingdom and if you don’t, I hope you are willing to diligently seek him for the revelation of the value of it with the certainty that if God said it was worth your time – then it is worth your time “for God cannot lie.” Become a “doer’ and discover the glory that He gives to those who “diligently seek.”
James 1:22-25,22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
So my friend, I urge you to seek God with all you do ,with all your strength, and of course with all your mind and heart, I came away from that short prayer session at New Life last Sunday with a new and fresh perspective on just what it means to diligently seek God. I only pray that I will grow closer and become even more familiar with God's voice and recognize ii when he speaks to me,I also pray that you my friends become closer to God on a daily basis as you seek him diligently throughout you prayer time. I close with this
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
Blessings!!
After that prayer session was over,and believe me I didn't want it to end, my mind began to spin in about a million different directions,i couldn't help but to meditate on some of the prayers that I heard in that circle. I was questioning myself, am I truly seeking god in my prayer life, am I truly seeking God in my daily walk, am I truly seeking god at all??.I then had to ask myself this question, “What does it mean to seek first the Kingdom of God?”,and am I diligently doing it? So I opened up my bible and looked up some scripture on this subject, this is what the bible says,Matthew 6:31-33, So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
After reading that verse I tried to put my self into that scripture,I tried to view my spiritual life from a different angle. These verses say that your needs can be met if you seek first the kingdom of God. What does this really mean? Many people put this into practice by reading the bible and praying first thing in the morning. For many people, though, it ends there. They go about the rest of the day and do not even think about God,and if they over sleep or get up late,well then God gets put on the back burner, he gets forgotten,as the saying goes “out of sight,out of mind”you should seek God first in everything you do, all day long, but How do you do that? Instead of only doing morning devotions, you should seek God first in everything you do, all day long,i believe that you should incorporate God int every single thing that you do throughout your entire day.
Acknowledge Him, talk to Him, praise Him, and ask Him for help and guidance. As you are getting ready for work, thank God for all that He has given you. Thank Him for everything going smoothly and for good traffic so you make it to work on time and being calm and peaceful when you get there.
At work, thank Him for your job. It may not be the perfect job, but thank Him for it anyway and do your best job. If you run into a problem, instead of complaining and worrying, say "God, you have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Help me Lord to know what to do in this situation." God is always talking to us, but we are not always listening. When we do listen, many times we do not do what He says. So, we need to listen and obey, all day long.
One of my favorite scriptures is ,Proverbs 3:5-6 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight.
God is not a magic genie. He will answer our prayers but he will not jump out of a lamp in your living room and present you with what you want. God desires more for you than just giving you everything that you desire. He wants to teach you to be like His son, Jesus.
God will show up when you search for Him, but will you know it? Think of it like having a radio. Even with the radio in your possession, it is of no use to you unless you can hear it. You will be no closer to knowing God if you can’t hear His voice.
There is absolutely nothing that you give over to the Lord in this life that is worth comparing to what you get back – in this life and in the life to come. Nothing!
How diligently do you seek God? – Judge yourself ,that's what I had to do
But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged . 1 Corinthians 11:31
you have a choice to make. Do you want to “diligently seek” or “simply survive”? The choice is up to you and no one can make it for you. I hope you understand the value of the kingdom and if you don’t, I hope you are willing to diligently seek him for the revelation of the value of it with the certainty that if God said it was worth your time – then it is worth your time “for God cannot lie.” Become a “doer’ and discover the glory that He gives to those who “diligently seek.”
James 1:22-25,22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
So my friend, I urge you to seek God with all you do ,with all your strength, and of course with all your mind and heart, I came away from that short prayer session at New Life last Sunday with a new and fresh perspective on just what it means to diligently seek God. I only pray that I will grow closer and become even more familiar with God's voice and recognize ii when he speaks to me,I also pray that you my friends become closer to God on a daily basis as you seek him diligently throughout you prayer time. I close with this
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
Blessings!!
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