Tag Archive | faith

Keep The First Thing First

Apr27

When we teach children how to go from crawling to walking their first steps, we expect them to stumble. We expect them to take time to learn how to walk on their own. It takes patience, kindness and love as the children learn and grow. God is like that too. He is a loving and kind Father.

As we begin to walk with God, it takes time to read HIS WORD, learn HIS WAYS and obtain HIS KNOWLEDGE. He isn’t angry with us. He understands that our spiritual growth takes time to cultivate and grow. He bandages us up and continues working in our lives, all the while He is patient and stays with us until we reach our destination.

As we read in Proverbs 4:1-9, we are told to pay attention in order to gain and to know intelligent discernment, comprehension and interpretation for God gives us good doctrine. While we grow in our abilities to rightly divide and understand God’s word, we are not to forsake His teachings or corrections. It is written that we are to hold fast to His word, keep His commandments and we shall live.

The first and most important thing is get skilled, godly wisdom and understanding. By walking with God and reading His word, WISDOM will be added. But why is wisdom so important?

Wisdom leads to understanding, discernment, comprehension and interpretation. She keeps, defends and protects you. Proverbs 4:8, says to prize Wisdom highly and exalt her, and she will exalt and promote you; she will bring you to honor when you embrace her. She shall give to your head a wreath of gracefulness; a crown of beauty and glory will she deliver to you. Proverbs 4:13 says take hold of instruction and do not let go. Guard her for she is your life.

So in other words, Wisdom will always lead you to God’s best. Wisdom will guide you in all things. You will know how to rightly handle money, friends, family, commitments. She will lead you to make right choices.

Wisdom is life. Seek first the Kingdom and everything else shall be added. Read the Word, hear the Wisdom, get knowledge and discernment for they will fill your life with wonderful outcomes.

Life can get so busy that we forego reading the Bible and instead start watching teachings online or on the television. However there are many false prophets in the world today. They may be giving you only a small fraction of the truth that keeps you in a defeated pattern. The only true way of knowing God and having Him fill your life with sustainable truth is by reading HIS WORD yourself.

God’s Word is the truth and is worth reading every single day. It brings life, revelation, breakthroughs, miracles, healing, Wisdom, discernment and understanding. Isn’t that worth turning off the television, the internet or the video games to spend time with the Creator of the Universe who knows you better than you know yourself?

Don’t miss your moment. Keep First Things First! Get into the Word today and allow HIM to cultivate you. Be filled with Wisdom and all she offers. You will not be disappointed and your life will be filled with much greater things than you ever believed possible.

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Patience Grasshopper

Mar11

Have you ever found yourself wanting something to happen right now, but it seems to take longer than expected?

Well, I sure have. We live in a world of instant gratification. Just take a quick look around and you’ll see fast food restaurants, drive-thru pharmacies, quick remedies for weight loss and the “quick draw McGraw” of news…the internet. Isn’t it amazing how addicted we are to instant things? It really becomes prevalent when you have to wait in a checkout line at the grocery store and you realize just how impatient you are to get out of there; even if you don’t have anywhere else to go.

When time is of the essence and you have absolutely no understanding of what is happening; the most important thing you can do is have PATIENCE! It is certainly one of the hardest lessons to learn. Yet, it is one of the most crucial in your daily walk with God.

Here’s why…In James 1:2-4, God is very specific why we must learn patience.

“Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.  Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.  But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfectly and fully developed, lacking in nothing.”

In other words, God is telling us that we should rejoice in difficult situations, knowing that God tests our faith to bring out patience. During trials, all kinds of junk are brought to the surface. Things like anger, rebellion, self-pity, complaining and pride. It is so important to deal with this stuff so that God can take us to the next level.

So, let’s put it in a step-by-step process:

  1. Trials come and we face all the “icky” stuff
  2. This in turns helps us develop Patience
  3. Patience helps us develop Endurance
  4. Endurance creates a mature character
  5. A mature character brings us to absolutely nothing lacking within our lives.

Let’s face it…most of us have absolutely no clue what God is up to when He calls us. But one thing for certain is that He knows the end from the beginning. Ecclesiastes 7:8 reminds us, “Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patience in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” And Galatians 6:9 tells us, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

So, I don’t know about you but the ending sure sounds better than the beginning. It doesn’t matter how long we have to wait, it is far more rewarding to wait on the Lord’s timing because His timing is perfect and the outcome will exceed all of our expectations.

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Jolt Yourself

Mar3

big-teeth-smiley-emoticonWhen things aren’t going your way, then kindly (and gently) slap yourself to wake up and get your attitude back. Say what?!?!?!?!?

Well, I bet I got your attention didn’t I. LOL

Okay, Okay…all kidding aside. What I really mean is sometimes we just need to WAKE UP and JOLT OURSELVES out of the day to day slumber, the stagnation, the chaos and really start prophesying to our lives.

It’s time for new beginnings. You’ve gone through enough and the past is just that…the past! It’s time to get up, brush off and take back what’s been stolen! How do you do that, you might be asking? Great question!

wakeup3_speak-life

Place yourself in front of a mirror and declare God’s word over your life. Say or yell (if you feel the need)…

  • I’m Going To Live and Not Die.
  • I’m going to share the good works of the Lord.
  • Today I choose Life and Life more abundantly.
  • It’s He who lives in me, is greater than he who is in this world.
  • I will have peace that surpasses all understanding.
  • I have more than enough to spare and share.
  • Today is my day for my turnaround.
  • Today is my day for complete restoration and healing.
  • Today I give my illnesses and addictions an eviction notice as they are trespassing on God’s territory.
  • Today, God is healing my broken heart and replacing sadness with unspeakable joy.
  • God is the Author and Finisher in my life. Whatever He started, He will accomplish through me.
  • I’m more than a conqueror.
  • For me and my house will serve the Lord. All of those lost shall come back to Him.
  • I’m blessed in the city and blessed in the field. God’s favor is exploding in my life.

wake-up2_time-for-action-combinado

It’s too easy to get placated in our lives and just continue going with the flow; becoming stagnant along the way. It’s time to jolt ourselves out of the “norm”. You are created for so much more! You are to be the light of the world! And the more you speak to your circumstances with God’s word, the more you’ll find situations turning around in your favor.

The question is…what do you want your year to look like? Do you want to keep going around the same mulberry bush and keep getting the same results…OR…would you rather let God be God and shower you with His amazing grace? Ask yourself…if not today, when? If not you, who? If God is going to bless someone, why not let it be you?

Why don’t you start each day doing things GOD’S WAY and let this year be the greatest year you’ve ever experienced. Talk yourself silly with God’s word. One small touch from God is all it takes! Will you dare to believe that Today is the beginning of your miraculous turnaround?

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Feelin’ Squeezed

Feb28

Sour Lemon FaceIs life throwing you lots of lemons right now? Does it feel like the weight of the world is upon your shoulders? Do you feel squeezed from every direction?

Job, David, Apostle Paul…they all went through a lot of squeezing in life. Between losing everything they owned, losing family, friends turning their backs on them and being put in jail. It didn’t look like there was any way out of the mess. They couldn’t break the chains of bondage. They didn’t deserve what happened. They had no clue they would have to go through so much pain and sorrow. The only thing they could do was stand on their faith, believing God had a plan that they couldn’t see.

BUT THEN…God moved in their lives, restoring what was lost, giving them health and the strength to go on. God has a way when you don’t see one. Stand up and dig in church! You might be squeezed from every angle of life. You might be crushed and heartbroken. But our heavenly father collects all those tears. He will help you every step of the way even when you feel all alone and no movement of God.

  • Psalm 30:2 “O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me.”
  • Psalm 34:2 “I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are helpless take heart.”
  • Psalm 34:4 “I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”
  • Psalm 107:4-6 “They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region; They did not find a way to an inhabited city. They were hungry and thirsty; Their soul fainted within them. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; He delivered them out of their distresses.”
  • Psalm 118:5 “Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free.”

Dig your heels in and keep standing in faith. Your God is bigger, stronger, lovelier, and is unlimited in ways we simply don’t understand. Today I ask you all, let God help you turn those sour lemons into your very own sweet-tasting lemonade. He won’t let you down nor will He forget your struggles while standing in faith. One small faith a size of a mustard seed is all it takes.Tasty Lemonade

He promises to take all your hurt, pain, sickness, disease, poverty, failed opportunities and relationships AND TURN THEM AROUND into your favor! Get ready to have an amazing testimony for when He squeezes so tight and everything falls apart, you can bet that He has something so amazing in store for you!

So today, let that squeeze come upon you. Rejoice in the midst of your pain and sorrow. For God is up to something in your life and your best days are just ahead! Stand firm and know that God can make the most heavenly lemonade there is! Dig in church! Dig in for that sweet taste of victory that’s coming your way today!

 

 

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