Growings Pains

Have you ever prayed for God to move something or someone out of your life? I know I have, in fact I notice the closer I get to God the more circumstances around me get more intense. What’s that about? This morning a light bulb came on; that during those moments of tension are actually times of development.

God is more interested in changing you, than the circumstances around you. If you pray for a stronger love walk, then your going to encounter situations to test your love walk. How else are you going to develop and grow in that area of your life, than to experience it?

I started to call it, a life course. In order to get a passing grade, I must measure it by the way I react to the circumstances around me, this will determine my success.

I realize that in order for me to become successful in any area in my life I have to able to endure the times of development. So instead of praying for God to remove me from the fire, I ask for Him to give me strength to endure these trials of development, so that I can overcome these challenges and use it as a testimony. I pray to comprehend where I am at spiritually during those times of emotional challenges and give thanks for God preparing me for the next level.

I know that my own development is greater than the gift. The promises are going to come; the concern is being able to keep the gift once it comes. If you can’t manage $100.00 you can’t manage $100,000.00.

I have to be open to acknowledge the areas in my life that need improvement. So when God starts to develop and grow me in those areas I don’t run from the pain, instead I learn to embrace the growing pains and look forward to the results. By faith, I know that God will never leave me, He is faithful and by the love of Christ that lives in me and surpasses all knowledge and understanding, I know I will survive and pass every life course that I encounter.

Ephesians 3:16-21
16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Fight for your life

Before you go into any fight three major keys must go into action. You must be spiritually, mentally, and physically fit. I know a lot of Christians who are fit in one or two of the three mentioned. But unfortunately I do see plenty of Christians who are not physically fit. It hurts my heart to see people with great gifts and talents from God, but can’t fully walk in there calling do to health problems. To see someone who can’t stand for all of the praise and worship due to exhaustion. To see powerful men and women of God pass away from Heart Disease or compilations from diabetes all from not living a healthy lifestyle. It’s a trick of the enemy and it’s time for the children of God to know the truth. God wants you whole spiritually, mentally, and physically.

It’s imperative that you realize just how important it is to maintain physical health, as it is for you’re spiritual and mental health. You can’t just read and study about it. You must put your knowledge and understanding into action and learn to discipline your body by your thinking.

In the beginning your flesh will reject what’s pure; mainly because it’s unfamiliar. Your body craves whatever you put into it, spiritually, mentally and physically. We have to break down those old bad habits and build them up with new healthy habits. During any type of self development training the tearing down process is painful, but the building up process can be even more of a challenge. It takes discipline, you must get your mind determine on what your about to accomplish. Your thinking is navigated by your discipline. Your discipline is in alignment with your willingness to change. Limitations are set by your own discipline, which reflects your thinking. Fight for your health by making a decision to live a balance lifestyle.

Proverbs 10:17
The road to life is a disciplined life; ignore correction and you're lost for good.

Proverbs 12:1
If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it— how shortsighted to refuse correction!

Proverbs 23:12
Give yourselves to disciplined instruction; open your ears to tested knowledge.

Just to be with you

Dear Friend

I don’t want a zeal for you, without the knowledge and understating of you. My zeal comes from your wisdom and joy now rooted in me, formed from our personal relationship. I see you all around me….it’s so overwhelming at times to know that someone as large as you craves to have a relationship in me. You’re my first love, my best friend, my every thing, humbling I walk into your glory worshiping your presence. I seek you daily, awaiting our next encounter. It’s such a privilege to have an intimate relationship with you, and don’t take it for granted. Knowing you has become like the air I breathe. I can’t live without you.

Psalm 27:4

4 I'm asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I'll contemplate his beauty; I'll study at his feet.

What are you talking about?

Larry grew up in an environment that was far from God. His mother was so upset with her past choices she expressed her anger and unhappiness towards Larry. Because Larry’s mother was abused as a child, always made to feel inadequate and told over and over again how much she was a mistake. She repeated the same type of behavior towards her own child. Larry grew up hearing the same familiar rage his mother heard as a child.

Unfortunately, a family curse was planted in this generation years ago; today Larry is married with a baby of the way; Larry battles with depression, and anger issues. He needs daily encouragement from his wife and questions why someone as lovely as her would want to stay with him and all his issues. These feeling were formulated by the words his mother planted in his mind as a child. Larry has to make a NOW decision to create the future God desires for his life, not what the enemy desires.

Does he continue to feel sorry for his self, and blame his unloving childhood for his current situation? Does he have a right to stay angry with his mother for the mistakes she made? We all have generational curses, but that isn’t an excuse to repeat the behavior, nor to carry unforgiveness. You have every right to stay in your mess, but thank God for Jesus who has shown us away out. You can break that curse! You say, “Starting today I am a different person, this curse ends with me and will not continue in my family.” You have a choice. You don’t have to believe to lies the devil has tried to put on you.

Larry didn’t realize that what the devil meant for bad God turned it around for his glory. Larry’s wife is believer in Jesus Christ and prayed for him to be delivered and released from the strongholds on his life. Thanks to God, Larry realized who he really was, and everything that his mother said to and about him was a lie. He forgave his mother, and understands that it was never personal; she just didn’t know any better. The great part now is because Larry has forgiven his mother, God can work on her in Larry’s behalf.

Words are very powerful, so powerful that God created the earth and everything in it by speaking it into exist.

We kill people everyday with the words that come out of our month. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me….WHATEVER!! Why do you think that man picked up that stick and hit you with it? Someone said something to him. You can make or break someone by your words.

Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Family, please take time to watch who you’re killing today by your words, you never know when someone can be right on the edge of jumping; your words can save them or push them off the bridge. Words have the power to kill your dreams, goals, self esteem, and even someone’s life. Instead use this power to uplift, encourage, grow, guide and lead someone into their destiny.

Obedience is better than a Sacrifice

Unlike us silly humans, our God is the same God yesterday, today and tomorrow. There’s power in going back into God’s read and remembering who he is and what he’s done for us and what’s still come…. it’s a privilege. I love it.

As I read Jeremiah today 7:13-28 and got reminded to listen to the voice of God and to obey it. Obedience is better then a sacrifice. YES, thank God that today we live by His mercy and grace, but the message remains the same. You’re not hurting God by your disobedience or only hurting yourself.

No one else could tell todays blog better than Jeremiah himself, as God told him, in chapter 7:13-28 (The Message Translation)

13-15"'So now, because of the way you have lived and failed to listen, even though time and again I took you aside and talked seriously with you, and because you refused to change when I called you to repent, I'm going to do to this Temple, set aside for my worship, this place you think is going to keep you safe no matter what, this place I gave as a gift to your ancestors and you, the same as I did to Shiloh. And as for you, I'm going to get rid of you, the same as I got rid of those old relatives of yours around Shiloh, your fellow Israelites in that former kingdom to the north.'

16-18"And you, Jeremiah, don't waste your time praying for this people. Don't offer to make petitions or intercessions. Don't bother me with them. I'm not listening. Can't you see what they're doing in all the villages of Judah and in the Jerusalem streets? Why, they've got the children gathering wood while the fathers build fires and the mothers make bread to be offered to 'the Queen of Heaven'! And as if that weren't bad enough, they go around pouring out libations to any other gods they come across, just to hurt me.

19"But is it me they're hurting?" God's Decree! "Aren't they just hurting themselves? Exposing themselves shamefully? Making themselves ridiculous?

20"Here's what the Master God has to say: 'My white-hot anger is about to descend on this country and everything in it—people and animals, trees in the field and vegetables in the garden—a raging wildfire that no one can put out.'

21-23"The Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel's God: 'Go ahead! Put your burnt offerings with all your other sacrificial offerings and make a good meal for yourselves. I sure don't want them! When I delivered your ancestors out of Egypt, I never said anything to them about wanting burnt offerings and sacrifices as such. But I did say this, commanded this: "Obey me. Do what I say and I will be your God and you will be my people. Live the way I tell you. Do what I command so that your lives will go well."

24-26"'But do you think they listened? Not a word of it. They did just what they wanted to do, indulged any and every evil whim and got worse day by day. From the time your ancestors left the land of Egypt until now, I've supplied a steady stream of my servants the prophets, but do you think the people listened? Not once. Stubborn as mules and worse than their ancestors!'

27-28"Tell them all this, but don't expect them to listen. Call out to them, but don't expect an answer. Tell them, 'You are the nation that wouldn't obey God, that refused all discipline. Truth has disappeared. There's not a trace of it left in your mouths.

Wow, what a powerful lesson to be taught.....thank you for your mercy and grace. And thank you for your holy spirit that leads and guides me daily.
Don’t refuse discipline; go after the truth, not your own lustful desires.

~Obedience is better than a sacrifice.

Moving Forward!!

“You don’t think I know that I fail at school ten years ago, I know that much. Do you really need to remind me that my first marriage failed or I wasn’t a good parent? I mean really… you don’t think I thought about that? I think I know I’m over weight, I look in mirror everyday. Must you continue to remind me of my debt, I'm doing the best I can?”

Your friends and family can keep you in your past, never allowing you to move forward. Believe it not, they aren’t always doing it to hurt you, they think their just advising you, or showing their concern, or pointing out the possible dangers by recalling past events.
What they really are doing is opening doors for fear to come in. You can’t move forward if you’re dwelling on events in the past.

Your past DOES NOT create your future. Your past creates your NOW, and you’re now choices create your FUTURE. The world has convinced you that your past mistakes will make your future. Let’s say this again, your PAST creates your NOW not your future. If you don’t like where you are now, make better choices today and create a future.

For the past five years of your life you ate junk food daily, working out was the last thing on your mind. You’re NOW over weight; this is what you have created, by your bad habits in your PAST. Does that mean your always going to be over weight? No, you can change your FUTURE by changing your NOW decisions.

For years you have cheated, lied and step on people to get whatever you wanted out of life. You have learned to influence every situations for your own good, never caring who may get hurt during the process. That was your PAST decisions; that NOW makes you feel this current anxiety in your life. But that doesn’t mean that has to be your FUTURE. You can change your mind, your thinking and your behavior, by your NOW decisions.

I don’t need to know about my past in order to move forward. What I need to know is that, because I recognized and acknowledge my past mistakes, came to the Father and repented, God has forgiven me for all your past sins. If God doesn’t need to bring it up, then why should I? I need to know that no matter what I did in my past or today; God’s love for me will never change. I need to know that my focus needs to be on my future, what God has for me and that I’m moving forward and NEVER going back to my PAST.

Paul says it best in the message translation Philippians 3:13

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running and I'm not turning back.

What's your Motivation

What’s your motivation for praying? Are you afraid that if you don’t pray, you’re going to hell? Do you pray to be successful because you don’t want to lack anymore? Do you pray for relationships, because you’re afraid of being alone? Do you pray for healing because you’re afraid someone is going to die? There is a common denominator in all of this FEAR. Your prayer can not be base off of fear, God works by faith. What is your motive behind the prayer? Whatever you start with is what you'll end with.

Fear is not a good thing. If you start to lose weight because you're afraid of being fat, or getting sick. That will be your base throughout your entire life; if someone were to ask you, “Let’s go and get ice cream” your response will be in fear. “Oh, no I can’t because I don’t want to eat that; I may start getting fat again.” Now you’re not eating because of the fear of getting fat again. The same principle stands for money. “I’m afraid to spend this money because what if something happens, yes I have extra, but you just never know.” Fear is ruling your life.

God operates by faith, the devil operates by fear. Sometimes, it may be hard to understand the difference between being wise and being in fear. This was a challenge for me. I had to get serious and look at myself. I turned to the word of God.

James 4:2-3
1-2Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.
2-3You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way.

I wanted my way, and I would pray out of fear of not getting it, or living without it. I had to turn my prayers into FAITH prayers, by taking myself out of it. Whatever God has in store for me will be, and I'm ready to receive it. I had to use common sense, God does not want me to lack in any area, (Philippians 4:19) so why am I tripin’? FEAR that’s why, not trusting God to provide all my needs, thinking that I’m missing out on something; the only thing that I was missing out on.... was TRUST. If I can’t trust God, I can’t have the faith to see everything come to pass.

If a close friend came to you and requested that you do them a favor, and you were so excited that they thought enough of you to allow you to help them out. But as you were getting everything together and working on their behalf; you notice that they were working on the same thing they asked you for help with. How would that make you feel? Maybe you would think that they don’t trust you? Maybe you would just stop everything all together and let them do it, considering their doing it anyway. Stop trying to figure out stuff that you have turned over to God. Let God be God. Why would you ask for help and not let Him help you? Maybe because you’re afraid that it won’t happen on your time or your way?

Get FEAR out of your prayer life. And watch God work. As Christians we pray by FAITH not by FEAR.

It's Only Temporary

When things start to get overbearing for me in my life; such as the pain I endure from spin class, the drama at work with my co – workers, or even a stressful moment in my personal life at home; I always say, it’s temporary. I have to remind myself; that this season that I’m in, right now, is temporary. So why give it anymore attention than what’s needed.

Moments of frustration, is where you’re able to see your level of faith. Who do you run too? What keeps your attention, the truth or the lies the devil is working on daily trying to plant in your mind. You do know that the devil can’t do anything without your help? He lives in your secrets, in those dark closets where you pushed your insecurities into, hoping that no one will ever find out. If you don’t entertain those thoughts, the devil has no power. If you’re transparent about your mistakes, no one can throw them back at you, if you try your best to walk in truth; the lies said about you will never prevail. Don’t allow the enemy to dictate what’s already written for your life. This moment in time is temporary, but God’s word is permanent.

Numbers 23:19-20
God is not a man, that he should lie,

nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.

Does he speak and then not act?

Does he promise and not fulfill?

20 I have received a command to bless;

he has blessed, and I cannot change it.

Let’s work on focusing on what’s permanent, not temporary such as God’s love, which will never change! Aren’t we excited about that…. No matter what you say or do He will never stop loving you. Remember, when you were out there acting like a wild animal, stealing, fighting, lying, and cheating. God loved you with his mercy and grace. PRAISE GOD.

What a privilege it is to know Jesus, what a privilege it is to know who you are in Christ. And by Christ I am, the righteousness of God. What a privilege it is to know, that my past is behind me, and I am not that person anymore and no one can tell me different. What a privilege to have daily favor. Thank you Jesus! What a privilege it is to know that this season is temporary and I ONLY focus on what's permanent. Which is my GOD, my savor, my father, my healer, my provider, my deliverer, and my KING.

Controlling Your Envirnoment

It’s very interesting that the world has manipulated words such as authority, control, dominant, and superior to be conveyed as an aggressive, forceful, overbearing, or someone arrogant. In fact, contrary to popular belief, God’s word tells us to be conquers, and that we have dominion over all things, including your personal environment.

There is power in having the ability to control your environment. It’s actually kinda fun, you should try it. Let me share an example, I was at a popular store and the check out clerk was very rude to the person in front of me, she created a unpleasant work environment for herself. I wasn’t about to allow her to do the same to me. So when I reach the counter, she didn’t speak, so I did. I read her name tag and notice she had a very pretty ring on, I said, “Hi Lisa, beautiful ring you’re wearing.” She looked up at me for the first time after ringing up five or six items and noticed me smiling at her. For a short second, she smiled and put her head back down replying, “hello, and thank you.” About half way through my pail of goodies, I made another honest comment followed by a question, “wow, your pretty fast at this, I’m glad I choose your lane. Is you’re day just beginning or ending?” Lisa looked up and smile saying, “It’s just starting….” After a $150 later, I had Lisa talking about her mother who gave her the ring and we laughed about my daughter in the basket. As I said thank you for the great service, and push the basket away, I heard Lisa greet the next customer with a smile. I had changed her environment.

I have dominion over everything on earth. God’s word in Genesis 1:26 says

… Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth

Understanding the truth that is written in Genesis 1:26, I can't turn around and be submissive to some demonic spirit, I think not, I have every right to not agree with someone’s thoughts or values, but instead of arguing and creating an unpleasant environment for everyone, I've learned to control my thoughts, and not letting the environment control me. I could have allowed Lisa’s nasty attitude to feed right into me; instead I feed my positive attitude into her. Yes, every situation varies and some are more complicated than others, but the principle remains the same. You have the ability to control your environment by how you response to what's presented in you.

God doesn’t control us, He allows us to create our destiny by the choices we make. The great thing about God is that He teaches us, through His word. He shows us the outcomes of our choices, rather we choose life or death. You’re in a powerful place when you learn to control your environment and not let it control you. What’s controlling you? Is it the truth or a lie? If you don’t know the truth; you can’t be ruled by it. Control isn’t a bad thing; it’s who’s doing the controlling that you have to be concerned about.