Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door & saw Him, they were amazed (Acts 12:16 NLT)
So the people then weren't much different than we are a lot of times today. They were praying for Peter to be released but they were amazed when it happened. How many times do we do that? Kind of like "wow God really heard me & did that". We need to be more expectant! One thing you need to know is when I write something it's because God is talking to me about it. I am really praying for an opportunity in ministry right now. It's really on my heart to encourage people, reach people, & share Gods word. I would love to be able to do this full time but I might not always expect that answer. I need to be looking for that answer each day. Maybe you have something similar in your life. Something you're really praying about & maybe you just need the expectancy to go with it. Expect God to move & open that door! If you will I will.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Come close
Come close to God, & God will come close to you. Wash your hands,you sinners: purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God & the world (James 4:8 NLT)
this verse reminds me of a great Michael W. Smith song, Draw Me Close. Sometimes you just need to know its you & God. Get rid of all the problems, frustrations, & distractions & just get close to God. It promises if we draw close to Him, He will draw close to us. We come into Gods presence every time we pray, read His word, praise Him, or gather with other believers. There isno better place to be. Dwell in His presence & lay any burdens &/or sins you have at His feet. He will lighten your load. Also if you want to experience closeness with God you need to make sure your attention is not divided. Straddling the fence isnot a good place to be. God wants youto choose. He wants all f you & if you will give that to Him, He will do great things in & through you. You can't have anything or anyone more important than Him in your life. Find you a place where it's just you & God, let Him know how you feel, ask Him to move in you, & tell Him He is your one & only!
this verse reminds me of a great Michael W. Smith song, Draw Me Close. Sometimes you just need to know its you & God. Get rid of all the problems, frustrations, & distractions & just get close to God. It promises if we draw close to Him, He will draw close to us. We come into Gods presence every time we pray, read His word, praise Him, or gather with other believers. There isno better place to be. Dwell in His presence & lay any burdens &/or sins you have at His feet. He will lighten your load. Also if you want to experience closeness with God you need to make sure your attention is not divided. Straddling the fence isnot a good place to be. God wants youto choose. He wants all f you & if you will give that to Him, He will do great things in & through you. You can't have anything or anyone more important than Him in your life. Find you a place where it's just you & God, let Him know how you feel, ask Him to move in you, & tell Him He is your one & only!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Rediscover the power
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, & pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much (James 5:16 NASB)
I think that today a lot of times the power of prayer is overlooked & we as Christians are missing out on one of most important tools. A lot of times people will say "all I can do is pray". Hallelujah! I will take it because that's the best thing you can do for me anyway. Sometimes when that's "all" we can do that is when we are the strongest & most powerful because we're saying it's out of our hands & it's up to You God. God loves those situations when we're completely dependent on Him. He loves to work then. This verse is telling us to clear up our sins with others & with God when we pray. He is Lord of your life & He doesn't want things between you & Him. When your checkbook looks hopeless, your medical report isnt good, the future is uncertain talk to God about it. It says here it can accomplish much. If we want improvement in our country, pray! Ask God to move in your life, the lives of others, & in our nation. If we all are doing that, what is too hard for God?
I think that today a lot of times the power of prayer is overlooked & we as Christians are missing out on one of most important tools. A lot of times people will say "all I can do is pray". Hallelujah! I will take it because that's the best thing you can do for me anyway. Sometimes when that's "all" we can do that is when we are the strongest & most powerful because we're saying it's out of our hands & it's up to You God. God loves those situations when we're completely dependent on Him. He loves to work then. This verse is telling us to clear up our sins with others & with God when we pray. He is Lord of your life & He doesn't want things between you & Him. When your checkbook looks hopeless, your medical report isnt good, the future is uncertain talk to God about it. It says here it can accomplish much. If we want improvement in our country, pray! Ask God to move in your life, the lives of others, & in our nation. If we all are doing that, what is too hard for God?
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Masterpiece
For we are Gods masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the great things He planned for us long ago (Eph. 2:10 NLT)
Let that sink in a minute. When God (the creator of the universe) created you, He was excited! He created a perfect you, a masterpiece. He didn't just think you were alright, He was proud of His work. So even though we think we have a lot of flaws, imperfections, or things we can't do, God created us just as we need to be to accomplish His work. Once we become His child, we become a new masterpiece. He continues perfecting us for the rest of our lives. He equips us with everything we need. He lines us up where we need to be if well just follow Him. God didn't create you as His masterpiece only to put you on a shelf to collect dust. He wants to show off the work He has for you to do. You're important to Him. He cares about you. Your creator is proud of you! Wake up in the morning & tell God thank you for making you a masterpiece, & then live like you are!
Let that sink in a minute. When God (the creator of the universe) created you, He was excited! He created a perfect you, a masterpiece. He didn't just think you were alright, He was proud of His work. So even though we think we have a lot of flaws, imperfections, or things we can't do, God created us just as we need to be to accomplish His work. Once we become His child, we become a new masterpiece. He continues perfecting us for the rest of our lives. He equips us with everything we need. He lines us up where we need to be if well just follow Him. God didn't create you as His masterpiece only to put you on a shelf to collect dust. He wants to show off the work He has for you to do. You're important to Him. He cares about you. Your creator is proud of you! Wake up in the morning & tell God thank you for making you a masterpiece, & then live like you are!
Friday, January 25, 2013
Bring down the walls
The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on their horns, Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For the Lord has given you the town!" (Joshua 6:16 NLT)
Nothing had happened yet. The walls were still up & victory had not yet been achieved. God had given them a very specific list of things to do in order to achieve victory & up to this point they had followed it. They had one more thing to do to achieve that victory, they had to shout. What if they had said this is dumb, it isn't working, it's hot out here, i knew it wouldn't work it never does for me, or some other excuse? Would the walls have come down, would they have achieved victory? What if they lacked enthusiasm & instead of shouting they spoke in their normal voices? Would they have achieved victory? I don't think so. God wanted to see their obedience, their faith during the battle, & He wanted to see their passion. Is He seeing those things from us? Can we shout before victory? It might be what we need to bring down those walls.
Nothing had happened yet. The walls were still up & victory had not yet been achieved. God had given them a very specific list of things to do in order to achieve victory & up to this point they had followed it. They had one more thing to do to achieve that victory, they had to shout. What if they had said this is dumb, it isn't working, it's hot out here, i knew it wouldn't work it never does for me, or some other excuse? Would the walls have come down, would they have achieved victory? What if they lacked enthusiasm & instead of shouting they spoke in their normal voices? Would they have achieved victory? I don't think so. God wanted to see their obedience, their faith during the battle, & He wanted to see their passion. Is He seeing those things from us? Can we shout before victory? It might be what we need to bring down those walls.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Walk through
There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me (1Cor. 16:9 NLT)
Back in the Old Testament the Israelites were all set to go into the Promised Land with all the rewards that God had for them but they got afraid of the giants in that land. God had already promised them the victory but they let the opposition stop them. Oftentimes we are just getting ready to step into our Promised Land when all of a sudden Satan sends in the opposition. Satan doesn't want us to see our Promised Land & he's going to do whatever he can to make us afraid to go in. The closer we get the harder he will fight but God is the victory. We have to stay in Him & follow Him through that wide-open door. I believe that there is a wide-open door for ministry out there right now& I believe that is why Satan is fighting so hard. We have to fight harder. The battle takes place on our knees, being Gods hands & feet, & in Gods word. The world is hungry for Gods message & it's looking in a lot of the wrong places. It's up to us to go through that wide-open door & show them the narrow way.
Back in the Old Testament the Israelites were all set to go into the Promised Land with all the rewards that God had for them but they got afraid of the giants in that land. God had already promised them the victory but they let the opposition stop them. Oftentimes we are just getting ready to step into our Promised Land when all of a sudden Satan sends in the opposition. Satan doesn't want us to see our Promised Land & he's going to do whatever he can to make us afraid to go in. The closer we get the harder he will fight but God is the victory. We have to stay in Him & follow Him through that wide-open door. I believe that there is a wide-open door for ministry out there right now& I believe that is why Satan is fighting so hard. We have to fight harder. The battle takes place on our knees, being Gods hands & feet, & in Gods word. The world is hungry for Gods message & it's looking in a lot of the wrong places. It's up to us to go through that wide-open door & show them the narrow way.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
All you've got
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Col. 3:17 NIV)
After we have Gods vision for our life & weve been moved to action, we must do it with everything we have. Gods not big on half-way or good enough to get by. Continue to seek Gods will & don't be afraid to get in & work. Thank Him for the opportunity. There are countless opportunities for us to find what God wants us to do & if were faithful to do it He will bless the work as well as us. Don't get up to heaven & say "man I wish I would have done more, I wish I would have told that person about Christ. Do it today! If you missed an opportunity as we all do sometimes, ask for another chance. God loves & rewards willingness. I'll say it again, be the difference! If you do Gods work wholeheartedly, the reward will always be worth it. The work may seem bigger than you & I hope it is because that's when God will take your efforts & abilities & multiply them infinitely. Give God everything you've got, He loved you enough to give you everything He had!
After we have Gods vision for our life & weve been moved to action, we must do it with everything we have. Gods not big on half-way or good enough to get by. Continue to seek Gods will & don't be afraid to get in & work. Thank Him for the opportunity. There are countless opportunities for us to find what God wants us to do & if were faithful to do it He will bless the work as well as us. Don't get up to heaven & say "man I wish I would have done more, I wish I would have told that person about Christ. Do it today! If you missed an opportunity as we all do sometimes, ask for another chance. God loves & rewards willingness. I'll say it again, be the difference! If you do Gods work wholeheartedly, the reward will always be worth it. The work may seem bigger than you & I hope it is because that's when God will take your efforts & abilities & multiply them infinitely. Give God everything you've got, He loved you enough to give you everything He had!
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