OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW!

12-31-2013. . . .OUT WITH THE OLD IN WITH THE NEW!

"When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!" (2 Cor 5:17 TLB)  The process of sanctification is continual. Daily, weekly, monthly and yearly we should see more and more of our old sinful nature leave and more and more of the divine nature of Christ manifested.  The more willing we are to release the old, the more willing He is to manifest the new!  So, on this last day of the year 2013, its a good time to say and mean, OUT WITH OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW!   Happy New Year!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for another year.  Lord as we enter a brand new year, one we've never seen before and will never see again, help us to be more yielded to your Spirit!  Let the old be gone and the new come.  Amen!

2 Peter 1:2-4. . . .Do you want more and more of God's kindness and peace? Then learn to know him better and better.  For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us!  And by that same mighty power he has given us all the other rich and wonderful blessings he promised; for instance, the promise to save us from the lust and rottenness all around us, and to give us his own character.  TLB

STEP INTO YOUR NEW SEASON!

12-30-2013. . . . .STEP INTO YOUR NEW SEASON!

"And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't get discouraged and give up."  (Gal 6:9 TLB)  "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up!" (T.A Edison)   You are closer then you think to your breakthrough.  In fact, as 2013 comes to an end, so will also many of your struggles!  God is shifting the season to harvest time and we shall reap if don't get weary now!  Take these three things with you into the new year: ANTICIPATION; realize in advance what God has prepared for you! EXPECTATION; we shall reap based not solely upon what we've done, but upon who God says we are!   DETERMINATION; develop a 'whatever it takes' attitude and don't give up, give out, give in, or give over until you see the manifestation of your blessings and favor!   Now, by faith, step into your new season!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for bring us through another year and season!  Thank you for your faithfulness to your word that has never failed to cover and keep us.  We Anticipate your shifting of the season and with great Expectation we position ourselves to move forward with your flow.  Finally, with Determination we renew our commitment to and your kingdom work here on earth.  Thy will be done in us and in the world! Amen.

Dan 2:20-21. . . ."Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.  He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.  He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. (NIV)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

12-27-2013. . . .HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As we celebrate and commemorate the birth of our Savior and Lord, Jesus the Christ, and culminate another year, Coretta and I thank you for following and supporting "Excerpts For Living."  Your prayers, comments and words of encouragement continue to be a source of blessing and inspiration for us. We wish you and your family all God's choice blessings during the holidays. We pray that the joy of Jesus will fill your hearts and homes to overflowing and that His love will forever embrace and keep you in the coming new year!

From our family to your family, Happy Holidays and have a Blessed New Year!

Prayer: Father, thank you for the gift of your son, Jesus! I pray for every person that reads this blog. I pray that you will bless them beyond measure and show them great and mighty things they have not even imagined! I declare and decree health,, protection, provision, and  prosperity in and over their lives as well as, their families and everyone they are connected to.  Finally, may your peace that surpasses all understanding keep their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus! In the name of our blessed Lord Jesus I pray, Amen!

Num 6:24-26. . . .The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. KJV

PREPARE FOR GREATER!

12-26-2013. . . .PREPARE FOR GREATER!

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." ( Phil 3:13-14 KJV)  Nothing more can be done about the things in our past; that includes the good things as well as, the not so good things.  There is however, much to be done about what lies ahead of us!  Although, there many be giants in the land, (obstacles, things to overcome) we are well able to achieve if we set our minds to press forward no matter what.  The prize is ahead of us not behind us!  Prepare for greater!  2014. . . . Here We Come!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the opportunity to enter into another new year.  We will not be detoured by obstacles or hindrances that may appear in our way.  In

You we press ahead toward the prize!  Amen.

Heb 12:1-2. . . . Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.   Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterwards; and now he sits in the place of honor by the throne of God.  TLB

DIVINE PURPOSE WILL PREVAIL!

12-24-2013. . . .DIVINE PURPOSE WILL PREVAIL!

"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men." (Matt 2:166 KJV)  Divine purpose will always draw demonic opposition!  The good news is, no matter what the enemy does, or how many attempts he makes to try and stop or kill us, all his efforts will fail and Divine purpose will prevail!

Prayer: Lord, thank you that your divine purpose concerning us will always prevail! Thy will be done. Amen!

Isa 54:17. . . .No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. KJV

WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM!

12-23-2013. . . .WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM!

"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." (Matt 2:1-2 KJV)   If only all men were as wise as these. What are we seeking? Who are we seeking and who's sign are we following?  More importantly, where will we end up by following them? "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isa 55:6-7 KJV)  Wise men still seek Him!

Prayer: Father, thank you for the gift of your Son! May we forever lift Him up that He may drawn all men unto Him! Amen.

Isa 55:6-9. . . .Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call upon him now while he is near. Let men cast off their wicked deeds; let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy upon them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon! "This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are my thoughts the same as yours! For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than yours. TLB

WE ARE WHO WE ARE!

12-20-2013. . . .WE ARE WHO WE ARE!

"And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.   But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."  (Matt 4:3-4 KJV)  We are who God says we are!  What the tempter says or what our haters say is of little or no importance.  We don't have to prove who we are, (Jesus didn't fall for it) just be who we are!  Never feed off what the world has to offer, (bread alone) but by the proceeding word of God!  It will constantly and consistently lead us and verify to the world that we are who we are!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for declaring, even before we were formed in the womb, who we are!  Living by your proceeding word verifies to the world that we are who we are!  Amen.

Heb 11:3. . . . Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. KJV

COMPLETE SUBMISSION!

12-19-2013. . . .COMPLETE SUBMISSION!

"Mary said, "I am the Lord's servant, and I am willing to do whatever he wants. May everything you said come true." And then the angel disappeared." (Luke 1:38 TLB) We may not understand everything that the Lord speaks to us or desires to do through us. In fact, some things may seem virtually inconceivable to us. Nevertheless, in complete submission we too should respond as Mary responded; 'I am your servant' therefore, whatever you say is what I will do!'  In so doing, blessings come to us and through us!

Prayer: Lord, let your awesome will be done in us and through us. We are your servants. Thy will be done. Amen!

Ps 138:8. . . .The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.KJV

LEARN QUICKLY!

12-18-2013. . . .LEARN QUICKLY!

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV)  No man is an island and no man stands alone.  Don't allow pride to stand in the way of promotion!  Humility before God is demonstrated through our humility and submission to those He has place in authority over us.  This teaching process places us on a fast track to promotion.  The quicker we learn, the shorter the length of the lesson!  Learn quickly then and don't be a candidate for remedial training!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for our process to promotion.  Athough at times we may become impatient, help us to humbly submit to the process and to those you are using to perfect us through it.  Amen!

 Prov 16:18. . . . Pride goes before destruction and haughtiness before a fall. TLB

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND JUDGEMENT!

12-17-2013. . . .ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND JUDGEMENT!

"Tell them how the Lord our God dried up the river right before our eyes and then kept it dry until we were all across! It is the same thing the Lord did forty years ago at the Red Sea!  He did this so that all the nations of the earth will realize that Jehovah is the mighty God, and so that all of you will worship him forever."   (Josh 4:23-24 TLB)  There is really on one world "SUPER POWER" and He is the Lord God Almighty!  Whether He is acknowledged as such by all nations and all people at this time does not change the reality of who He is!  The time is coming (sooner rather than later) when there will be no choice but to acknowledge; and with that acknowledgement will be His judgement!  

PRAYER: Lord, we pray for our world and world leaders that they may come to know and acknowledge that you alone are the Almighty God!  Empower us now to be your witnesses without fear!  Amen!

Acts 1:7-8. . . . But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  NIV

THE BEST HANDS!

12-16-2016. . . .THE BEST HANDS!

"My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. (Ps 31:15KJV)  "You're in good hands with Allstate," is the slogan of this well known insurance company.  The implication is that there is no need to worry about anything because with Allstate, you're protected.  To an even greater degree, the same can be said of being in God's hands.  We have no need to worry are fear anything or anyone.  We are not only in good hands, we are in the best hands.

PRAYER:  Lord, your hands are the best hands and we are thankful to be in them!  Amen.

Job 23:10. . . .But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

KJV

DON'T REWRITE THE SCRIPT!

12-13-2013. . . .DON'T REWRITE THE SCRIPT!

"They can see that you are a letter from Christ, written by us. It is not a letter written with pen and ink, but by the Spirit of the living God; not one carved on stone, but in human hearts." (2 Cor 3:3 TLB) Our lives are an open letter from God to the world, written by the Holy Spirit within us! When the world reads us, let what is written be a witness unto Him. Take care that the way we live does not rewrite the script.

Prayer: Lord, thank you that our lives are a living and open letter from you to the world. Help us to daily put our pens down and simply allow your script to be read as written. Amen!

1 Cor 3:16-17. . . .Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. (NIV)

THINK ABOUT IT AN BE ABOUT IT!

12-12-2013. . . .THINK ABOUT IT AN BE ABOUT IT!

"There are "friends" who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Prov 18:24 TLB)  It has been said that "A friend in need is a friend in deed."  Most of us have lived long enough and much to our chagrin, have found that statement to be true.  While our frustration may be warranted in most cases, the real question to pondered here is, 'What kind of friend our we?'  A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly! (Prov 18:24 KJV)  Friendless in times of need results from failure to be a friend in times of need!  Think about it and be about it!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for being that friend the sticks closer than any brother!  Help us to never be guilty of failing to be a friend in times of need.  Amen!

Prov 17:17. . . . A true friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. TLB

LOVE IS WHAT WE DO!

12-11-2013. . . .LOVE IS WHAT WE DO!

"Even those closest to you-your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will betray you and have you arrested; and some of you will be killed.  And everyone will hate you because you are mine and are called by my name.  But not a hair of your head will perish! For if you stand firm, you will win your souls." (Luke 21:16-19 TLB)  As we live out the 'Last Days', haters will increase and be revealed!  Don't be caught off guard and lose focus.  Stand firm in faith and love through it!  Hate is what they do; love is what we do!   Remember, love hardest when it's the hardest to love!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your example of love.  Even in the face of your haters, you loved through it. Help us to always follow your example and do the same.  Amen!

Luke 21:17. . . .  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.  KJV

THE GIFT OF YOU!

12-10-2013. . . .THE GIFT OF YOU!

"He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1:11-12 KJV)  Those who we expect will, won't; and those we expect won't, will!  Don't waste any time, effort, or energy in addressing people who don't accept, affirm, and appreciate you! (Haters)  Rather, allow to the fullest degree those that do, to be blessed by the gift of you!

PRAYER: Lord, help us to recognize and bless those that accept and celebrate us and to leave our haters in your hands.  Amen!

Prov 17:17. . . . A true friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. TLB

 

IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT!

12-6-2013. . . .IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT!

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Gal 5:22-23 NIV) Where the Holy Spirit is present, there is evidence of His presence!  No evidence, no presence.  It's as simple as that!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your Holy Spirit that lives within us.  Let the evidence of His presence be evident in us and in the world.  Amen!

John 14:15-17. . . . If ye love me, keep my commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  KJV

POTENTIAL WITHOUT PRODUCTION!

12-5-2013. . . .POTENTIAL WITHOUT PRODUCTION!

"In the morning, as he was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry and noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, "Never bear fruit again!" And soon the fig tree withered up."  (Matt 21:18-19 TLB)  Are we actually producing fruit, or just appearing to have the potential do so?  Potential without production is perpetration! 

PRAYER: Lord, help us to maximize our potential and produce our full capacity of fruit!  May we never be guilty of perpetration.  Amen!

Matt 25:29-30. . . . For the man who uses well what he is given shall be given more, and he shall have abundance. But from the man who is unfaithful, even what little responsibility he has shall be taken from him. And throw the useless servant out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' TLB

AT ANY AGE AND ANY STAGE OF LIFE!

12-4-2013. . . . .AT ANY AGE AND ANY STAGE OF LIFE!

"But the godly shall flourish like palm trees and grow tall as the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted into the Lord's own garden and are under his personal care.  Even in old age they will still produce fruit and be vital and green."  (Ps 92:11-15 TLB)  There is no time limit on fruit bearing!  Our productivity for the kingdom is not contingent upon our ability, but rather upon our availability to be used of God at any age and any stage of our life!

PRAYER: Lord, may we always be available to be used by you at any age and at any stage of our life.  Thy kingdom come; thy will be done!  Amen.

1 Cor 15:58. . . . 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. NIV

PLANTED PROPERLY PRODUCE FAITHFULLY!

12-3-2013. . . .PLANTED PROPERLY PRODUCE FAITHFULLY!

"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." (Ps 1:3 KJV)  The visible, tangible, undeniable evidence that we are in the right place, at the right time, doing the right things, is the fruit we successfully produce!  Season after season and without fail, we continuely prosper!   When we are planted properly, we produce faithfully!

PRAYER: Lord, our daily delight is in you.  Nurish us Lord that we my produce fruit continually!  Amen.

Ps 92:11-15. . . .But the godly shall flourish like palm trees and grow tall as the cedars of Lebanon. 13 For they are transplanted into the Lord's own garden and are under his personal care. 14 Even in old age they will still produce fruit and be vital and green. TLB

FRUIT DON'T LIE!

12-2-2013. . . .FRUIT DON'T LIE!

"Different kinds of fruit trees can quickly be identified by examining their fruit.  A variety that produces delicious fruit never produces an inedible kind. And a tree producing an inedible kind can't produce what is good.  So the trees having the inedible fruit are chopped down and thrown on the fire.  Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit produced." (Matt 7:16-20 TLB)  The fruit of our actions is what tells the world who we really are!  The kindhearted, through their acts of kindness; the generous, through the demonstration of their generosity.  Conversely, the deceitful, through their perpetual deceitfulness; the evil, through their acts of evilness.  What are our actions saying to the world about us?  Remember, the fruit don't lie!

PRAYER: Lord, help us daily to produce good fruit and be good examples of the kind of people that represent you in the world.  Let our fruit be truthful without fear.  Amen.  

Matt 5:16. . . . Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. KJV