FLOODED OUT!

7-30-2010. . . .FLOODED OUT!

"When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him." (Isa 59:19b KJV)  When a flood hits, the tides and currents are so swift and strong that everything that is unstable will get swept away.  That is want the enemy tries to do to us!  He comes at us swiftly and strongly (like a flood) in hopes of catching us off guard and sweep us away.  However, God flips the script on him and like a flood, God lifts up a standard against the enemy!  God's standard for us is Victory!  The devil retreats because he can not compete by only offering defeat!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for raising the standard of Victory against our enemies!  Helps never to be found in an unstable place.  Amen! 

Ps 61:1-4. . . .Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.   From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.  I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.  KJV

DO IT ANYWAY!

7-29-2010. . . .DO IT ANYWAY!

"There is a saying, 'Love your friends and hate your enemies.'  But I say: Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!  In that way you will be acting as true sons of your Father in heaven. (Matt 5:43-45 TLB)  If we are honest, most of  us would respond to this admonition from Jesus with a "I Don't Want To!"  Especially considering, the damage they've done and pain they've inflicted is still fresh and hurting.  It is okay to acknowledge that you feel that way.  In fact, you may even find it cathartic.   However, when you get through with the acknowledgement, then comes the realization that it is not about our feelings, its about our faith!  We may not want to do it, but we do it anyway!   Why because, that is what Jesus says; He knows what is best for us; we believe in Him!   So remember, Do it anyway! 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for allowing us to always be honest and open with you about our feelings.  Strengthen us to rise above our feelings and stand firmly on our faith in order to do the right thing and obey you no matter what.  Amen! 

Prov 25:21-22. . . . If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. NIV

DON'T LAUGH, THANK GOD!

7-28-2010. . . .DON'T LAUGH, THANK GOD!

And now, although ten thousand enemies surround me on every side, I am not afraid.   I will cry to him, "Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God!"  And he will slap them in the face, insulting them and breaking off their teeth. (Ps 3:5-7 TLB)   Although your enemies may weary you showing up in your face everyday to harass and tress you, be patient and give it time!  Soon they will show up snaggletoothed, but don't laugh, thank God!

Prayer: Lord, You know!  Grant us patients to wait on you as you bring you word to pass concerning our enemies.  Help us not to laugh when we see their teeth knocked out!  Amen.

Ps 3:7. . . . Arise, O LORD!  Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. (NIV)

LET GOD DEAL WITH THEM!

7-27-10. . . .LET GOD DEAL WITH THEM!

"None of those who have faith in God will ever be disgraced for trusting him. But all who harm the innocent shall be defeated." (Ps 25:2-3 TLB)  It is natural to want to attack those who attack us, but what does that do to our witness?  Resist the urge to retaliate!  Remember, our enemies are God's enemies.  He has promised to deal with all those that harm us.

Prayer: Love I love you because you hear my cry and respond to my request.  Deal with those who position themselves against me and strengthen me to allow me to do so.  Amen!

Ps 25:1-3. . . .To you, O Lord, I pray.   Don't fail me, Lord, for I am trusting you. Don't let my enemies succeed. Don't give them victory over me.  TLB

ADVERSARIES WILL BE ADVERSARIAL!

7-26-2010. . . .ADVERSARIES WILL BE ADVERSARIAL!

"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison." (Matt 5:25-26  NIV)  It is always better to try and settle a matter quickly and peaceably before it escalates into something much worst. The weight of this responsibility is on we as believers because our adversaries will always seek to be adversarial!

Prayer: Lord, give us wisdom to always seek the ways that make for peace even when we are not the offender.  No matter what path others take, help us always do what is right.  Amen!

Ps 34:14-16. . . . Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.  The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;  the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. ( NIV)

WAIT ON GOD!

7-23-2010. . . .WAIT ON GOD!

"And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land." (Ex 9:5 KJV)  God sets His own times and keeps His on schedule!  If He declares a thing, surely He will bring it to pass!   Get in sync with God and wait on Him!  Remember, He scheduled our moments before there was none of them!  He's in control and He has everything under control!

Prayer: Lord, how awesome you are in all your marvelous splendor!  It blows my mind How you are always way ahead of the game.  Before I was formed you scheduled every day of my life!  Why then are we impatient?  Help us Lord, to wait on You!  Amen.

Ps 139:15-16. . . . You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion!  You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!  TLB

HANG IN THERE AND KEEP FIGHTING!

7-22-2010. . . . .HANG IN THERE AND KEEP FIGHTING!

"And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly."  (Rom 16:20 NKJV)   If you have ever watched a professional boxing match, you've noticed that when the rounds are about to end, the pace of the fighters quicken.  When the final round of the fight comes, the battle seems to intensify all the more because both fighters know this is there last opportunity to get their punches in!  Our battle with Satan has intensified only because he knows his time is short.  Soon, he will be crushed under our feet and our arms will be raised in victory!  Hang in there and keep fighting!  The fight is fixed! :-)

Prayer: Thank you Lord for victory through Jesus Christ.  Strengthen us to withstand the battles in order that we may win the war.  Amen.

1 Cor 15:58. . . .So, my dear brothers, since future victory is sure, be strong and steady, always abounding in the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever wasted as it would be if there were no resurrection.  TLB

HE STILL HAS IT TWISTED!

7-21-2010. . . .HE STILL HAS IT TWISTED!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:   According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Eph 1:3-4 KJV)  Before there was a "Sin Problem" God had already put a plan in place to deal with it!  The devil thought he deceived Eve, and by her, Adam.  But really, he himself was deceived in thinking he could deceive what God had conceived!  He still has it twisted!

Prayer: Lord thank you for solving our problem before we had knowledge that there was a problem.  Through Christ and His finished work at Calvary, we have unlimited access to the unlimited resources of heavenly blessings!  Amen.

Eph 1:3-5. . . .How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every blessing in heaven because we belong to Christ.  Long ago, even before he made the world, God chose us to be his very own through what Christ would do for us; he decided then to make us holy in his eyes, without a single fault-we who stand before him covered with his love.  His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. And he did this because he wanted to! TLB

ETERNITY WITHIN!

7-20-2010. . . .ETERNITY WITHIN!

"Everything is appropriate in its own time. But though God has planted eternity in the hearts of men, even so, many cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end." (Eccl 3:11 TLB)  There is much more to our lives than our finite mines can comprehend.  As life unfolds before our eyes we get glimpses of eternity and our place in it!

Prayer: Lord, how awesome you are in all your splendor!  You placed eternity within the hearts of men!  Give us wisdom to perceive it!  Amen.

Eph 3:17-18 . . . .And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God's children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself. TLB

WHAT TIME IS IT!

7-19-2010. . . .WHAT TIME IS IT!

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: ( Eccl 3:1 NIV) Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall.  How does one discern the difference between the seasons?  By observing the signs and changes occurring around them.  When it comes to the changes of the seasons, these changes are easy to discern.  When it comes to changes in our lives, the signs may not be as obvious.   They are there nevertheless!  Look, listen and feel the flow of the winds and tides of your life and go with them, not against them!

Prayer: Lord, you have set the times and seasons of our lives.  Help us to discern the signs and flow smoothly with the changes.  Amen! 

Ps 31:14-15. . . .But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.   My times are in thy hand: KJV

DON'T SWEAT IT!

7-16-2010. . . .DON'T SWEAT IT!

"And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.  (Mal 3:11 KJV)  No matter what you do, there will always be outside forces whose sole purpose is to destroy your (produce) fruit. Their success is based upon their ability to create distractions that will result in loss of focus.  God says however, don't sweat it!  Stay focused!   I got this!  I will repel everything and everybody that comes against you.  Nothing shall hinder or abort the manfestation of your divine purpose! 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for always having our back!  Help us stay aligned with will and purpose.  Amen!

  
Prov 16:7. . . .When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him. (NIV)

GOD'S SIMPLE BLESSING PLAN!

7-15-2010. . . .GOD'S SIMPLE BLESSING PLAN!

"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so that there will be food enough in my Temple; if you do, I will open up the windows of heaven for you and pour out a blessing so great you won't have room enough to take it in!"  (Mal 3:10 TLB)  God's simple blessing plan.  Bless His house and He will bless our house!  Got it?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving us a simple blessing plan.  Help us in obedience to never deviate from it.  Amen.!

Luke 6:38. . . . Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.  KJV

WHO DOES THAT!

7-14-2010. . . .WHO DOES THAT!

"Will a man rob God? Surely not! And yet you have robbed me.  "'What do you mean? When did we ever rob you?'  "You have robbed me of the tithes and offerings due to me.  And so the awesome curse of God is cursing you, for your whole nation has been robbing me. ( Mal 3:8-9 TLB)   To seal is one thing, but to rob is another thing all together.  One who steals waits for an opportune time when no one is around or looking, then takes what belongs to another.  One who robs, has blatant disregard for one he robs!  He looks them in the eye and by force, takes what rightly belongs to them.  Who does that?  Who has nerve enough to do that to God?  A curse is certainly the appropriate response from God!

Prayer: Lord, everything we have comes from you and belongs to you.  How dare we ever consider robbing you of the small percentage you have set apart as your own.  Unto you we freely and cheerfully give.  Amen!

Prov 3:9-10. . . . Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. NIV

HIS WAYS NOT LIKE OUR WAYS!

7-13-2010. . . .HIS WAYS NOT LIKE OUR WAYS!

"Though you have scorned my laws from earliest time, yet you may still return to me," says the Lord Almighty. "Come and I will forgive you. (Mal 3:7 TLB)  What would you do if you were God in this situation?  How patient would you be?  How willing would you be to grant chance after chance after chance again?  Don't bother considering it because at best, we could only apply our human standards and even on our best day, we'd fall woefully short of God's longsuffering towards us.   We need only check are track record with are friends and dealings with others to verify this fact.  Its a blessing to knowing His ways are not like our ways!

Prayers: Lord, thank you that your ways are not like our ways!  Although we don't deserve it, for your own name sake you continue to forgive us and grant us another chance!  For this we continually give you thanks and praise.  Amen!

Mal 3:7. . . . Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.  KJV

UNCHANGEABLE!

7-12-2010. . . .UNCHANGEABLE!

"For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." (Mal 3:6 KJV)  God declares to us that He does not change!  We change often, but He remains the same!  If God changed as often as we do, certainly, He would have consumed us long ago.  How assuring and reassuring it is to know that God is consistent.  His mercy keeps us so His grace can reach us!

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you are the unchangeable God!  Your lovingkindness towards us is incomparable!  How blessed we are and equally grateful!  Amen.

Lam 3:21-24. . . .Yet there is one ray of hope: his compassion never ends. It is only the Lord's mercies that have kept us from complete destruction.  Great is his faithfulness; his loving-kindness begins afresh each day. TLB

RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY!

7-9-2010. . . . .RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY!

“You are free from the law, but that doesn't mean you are free to do wrong. Live as those who are free to do only God's will at all times.” (1 Peter 2:16 TLB)   With freedom comes responsibility and accountability! Being made free by the truth of the Gospel, our responsibility is to ensure that that same Gospel truth reaches as many people as possible. We must also ensure that our lives exemplify what real freedom is. Doing God’s will all the time!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for freedom! We not only except your freedom, but we also accept the responsibility and accountability that comes with it. Amen!

1 Peter 2:16-17 . . . . As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. KJV

IT IS WHAT IT IS!

7-8-2010. . . .IT IS WHAT IT IS!

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31-32 KJV) Whatever is ‘Set’ free can always be bound again. Whatever is ‘Made’ free can never ever be bound.   Once made, it cannot be ‘unmade!’  It is what it is!   Know the truth and never be bound again!

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you are the Way – the Truth – and the Life! Nothing or no one can ever bind us again! Thank you for this great freedom. Amen!

Rom 8:1-3. . . . So there is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit-and this power is mine through Christ Jesus-has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death. We aren't saved from sin's grasp by knowing the commandments of God because we can't and don't keep them, but God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours-except that ours are sinful-and destroyed sin's control over us by giving himself as a sacrifice for our sins. TLB

DON'T FALL FOR THE OKEY DOKE!

7-7-2010. . . .DON'T FALL FOR THE OKEY DOKE!

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."(Gal 5:1 KJV)  The problem with seeing how close one can get to the fire without getting burnt is, one almost always gets burnt.  The devil will continue to tempt us with things we've been freed from as long as we show an interest it.  Don't fall for the okey doke!  It's a trap designed place you back in bondage.  Stand firm in your freedom and don't go back!

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Prayer: Lord, thank you for setting us free from the bonds of sin.  Help us to seek the ways of escape you provide for us when temptations come.  Amen!

1 Cor 10:13. . . .There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. KJV

COMPLETE AND ABSOLUTE!

7-5-2010. . . .COMPLETE AND ABSOLUTE!

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:35-36 KJV)  For two hundred years or better, one group of people were enslaved by another group of people. After much struggle, the enslaved group was granted their freedom, but quickly discovered, that freedom was limited. The struggle yet continues.   Freedom granted by man will always be limited by hidden agendas. Freedom granted by God through His Son, is unlimited and in fact, complete and absolute! Once one is made free, (by the truth) one can never be bound, ever again!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for complete and absolute freedom from all that would bind or hinder us! Amen.

John 8:36. . . . If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. ASV

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND!

7-2-2010. . . .WAHT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND!

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Gal 6:7 KJV)   Its and unchangeable law of reciprocity; what one sows, one reaps. Put another way, “What goes around, comes around.”   What do you want coming around?   Little money or lots of money - - hatred or love - - frowns or smiles - - meanness or kindness!   Send out what you want back and send It out in large quantities. It will return by the same measure.

Prayer: Lord, thank that you are unchangeable. Help us to be consistent in always sowing in abundance what we want to reap. Lord send the harvest. Amen!

Gal 6:9-10. . . . 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. That's why whenever we can we should always be kind to everyone, and especially to our Christian brothers. TLB

SHARE YOUR HARVEST!

6-30-2010. . . .SHARE YOUR HARVEST!

“For God, who gives seed to the farmer to plant, and later on good crops to harvest and eat, will give you more and more seed to plant and will make it grow so that you can give away more and more fruit from your harvest. (2 Cor 9:10 TLB)  God is the giver of seed and the giver of harvest! Faithfulness and good stewardship over the harvest will bring more and more seed which in turn equates to more harvest!  Share your harvest; see increased seed!

PRAYER: Lord, you are the God of the harvest and the seed! As good stewards, help us to be faithful over both, Amen!

2 Cor 9:11-12. . . . Yes, God will give you much so that you can give away much, and when we take your gifts to those who need them they will break out into thanksgiving and praise to God for your help. TLB