DRAW AND DRINK!

1-30-2018. . . .DRAW AND DRINK!

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. (12:2-3 KJV)  

There is nothing more comforting than the confidence we have in the Lord to save and deliver us from all our fears.  The spirit of fear which is not from the Lord, will at times come upon us in an effort to threaten and paralyze us. However, with power, love and a sound mind we draw and drink deeply from the wells of our great salvation!  Don't be afraid, DRAW AND DRINK!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the confidence we have in you!  We need not ever be afraid to draw and drink from your well of salvation whereby our thirst is always quenched.  Amen!

Ps 56:9-12. . . . The very day I call for help, the tide of battle turns. My enemies flee! This one thing I know: God is for me!   I am trusting God-oh, praise his promises! I am not afraid of anything mere man can do to me! Yes, praise his promises.  I will surely do what I have promised, Lord, and thank you for your help. TLB

BYE BYE TO FEAR!

1-25-2018. . . .BYE BYE TO FEAR!

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Tim 1:7 KJV) 

Fear can never be allowed to control our motion or emotions!  We have been empowered to defeat fear! How?  With POWER: Force fear to falter and fail understanding that it's either IT or YOU!  With LOVE: Erase and eradicate all barriers!  Love conquers all!  With A SOUND MIND: Think positively and advance through the adversity; reclaim the high ground.  Fear should never be on top or out front!  When we use what we have, we can confidently say, BYE BYE TO FEAR!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for giving us everything we need to defeat fear.  Thy kingdom come, thy will be done!  Amen.  

Ps 56:3-5. . . . But when I am afraid, I will put my confidence in you. Yes, I will trust the promises of God. And since I am trusting him, what can mere man do to me?  TLB

RUN-RUN-RUN!

1-18-2018. . . .RUN-RUN-RUN!

The Lord is a strong fortress. The godly run to him and are safe. (Prov 18:10 TLB)   There is no shame in our game!  We run and we know where to run.  We don't run out of fear, we run because of favor.  God, Himself is our security.  Our safe place from every enemy and foe.  So, saints, RUN-RUN-RUN!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being our fortress and strong tower.  We gladly run to you and are safe.  Amen.

Ps 61:3-5. . . I shall live forever in your tabernacle; oh, to be safe beneath the shelter of your wings! 5 For you have heard my vows, O God, to praise you every day, and you have given me the blessings you reserve for those who reverence your name. TLB

STILL RELEVANT!

1-16-18. . . . STILL RELEVANT

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."  (Matt 16:18 KJV)

While many voices exist that argue the contrary, "The Church" as an organism and organization; individual and institution, is still relevant today.  What God through Jesus Christ establishes, man cannot nullify.  In spite of what it may look like, what it has been through, and though many have brought reproach against it, "The Church" yet stands and is not merely surviving, but thriving!  Look out hell, you cannot, will not, and shall not prevail against it!       

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your church!  Thank you for making us a part of the organism and the organization.  Continue building it as you see fit and may we be a help and not a hindrance.  Amen!

Heb 10:23-25. . . .Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word.  Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out,  not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching. 

GO FOR IT!

1-11-18. . . GO FOR IT!

"Do you see what this means — all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running — and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.  Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed — that exhilarating finish in and with God."   (Heb 12:1-2 LBT)

With patience and determination, catch your second wind and run your race to the end.  Others have successfully run before us and are cheering us on.  We cannot let them down and more importantly, we cannot let God or ourselves down.  The finish line is in sight.  Stay focused and, Go For It!

PRAYER: Lord, strengthen us to run this race of faith with patience and determination.  Thank you for the opportunity and we won't let you down.  Amen!

1 Cor 9:24-25. . . . In a race, everyone runs, but only one person gets first prize. So run your race to win.  To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best. An athlete goes to all this trouble just to win a blue ribbon or a silver cup, but we do it for a heavenly reward that never disappears.  TLB

FOCUS

1-9-18. . . .FOCUS!

"I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.  So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision — you'll see it yet!  Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it." (Phil 3:14-16 MSG)

We are on our way and have been so since the day of our conversion.  Our goal is to become who and what God intended us to be.  We will get there but we must stay focused.  God is focused on us and we, in turn, must focus on God.  Whatever it takes and no matter the sacrifice, FOCUS!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for saving us and changing us and charging us.  Help us this year to maintain our focus and keep the main thing the main thing.  Amen!

Ps 138:8. . . . Finish what you started in me, God.  Your love is eternal — don't quit on me now. 

TIME FOR A CHECK UP!

1-4-18. . . .TIME FOR A CHECK UP!

But grow in spiritual strength and become better acquainted with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be all glory and splendid honor, both now and forevermore. Good-bye. 

 (2 Peter 3:18TLB)

This is a good time to check our spiritual levels.  Check faith, love, patience, hope and by all means, we must check our grace level.  We should see and be experiencing greater levels of God's favor in and on our lives as we walk boldly in this season of authority.  Seize every opportunity to make a demonstration of God's great power in the earth.  We are called to do so and there is no better time than now to do it!  Check your levels!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for great grace and favor!  As we grow in grace help us to make a full demonstration of your great power as we boldly walk in the authority you have given us.  May our witness be true and fruitful.  Amen!

John 14:12-14. . . . "In solemn truth I tell you, anyone believing in me shall do the same miracles I have done, and even greater ones, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask him for anything, using my name, and I will do it, for this will bring praise to the Father because of what I, the Son, will do for you.  Yes, ask anything, using my name, and I will do it!  TLB

SHIFT!

1-2-2018. . . .SHIFT!

"What can I give back to God for the blessings he's poured out on me?  I'll lift high the cup of salvation — a toast to God!  I'll pray in the name of God; I'll complete what I promised God I'd do, and I'll do it together with his people."  (Ps 116:12-14)

Welcome to a brand new year and for all who are ready, welcome to the SHIFT!  The blessings God has bestowed on us in all previous years have prepared us for this moment.   God is shifting us from being GETTERS to being GIVERS; from just RECEIVING BLESSINGS to BEING A BLESSING!  Notice here that I did not say He is shifting us into being BLESSERS; for He alone retains that status.  We are literally "THE BLESSING!"  Take a moment right where you are and speak it into your atmosphere: I AM THE BLESSING!  Where ever God sends you and whatever circumstances you find yourself in, know that you are there as THE BLESSING and God has deposited something in you to give in or to that situation!  Remember, the SHIFT is not about getting, it's about Giving!  WE ARE THE BLESSING!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for trusting us enough to shift us into being the blessing!  As we proceed in this new year, help us now in every circumstance and situation to be cognizant of our responsibility to be THE BLESSING and discern what and how to give.  Amen! 

2 Cor 4:7. . . But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.  KJV