PERSISTENCE part three

God wants to know how much we want Him. He wants to know if we want Him at all. God is a living breathing, feeling being. Sometimes He will allow us to get into a place of spiritual desperation. Has this ever happened to you? It has happened to me several times. Each time, I have come closer to God.

Earlier this year, I was laying in the hospital with some serious kidney failure. The doctor said “surgery” among other things, and I stopped listening and started praying more intensely... In fact, this event in my life caused me to pray certain prayers that I never intended to pray at my age. I explained to the Lord that I was not ready to die because I really felt as if I could die from the sickness plaguing my body. God spoke to me about getting enough rest and balancing out my life. He also showed me some things that I still need to do for Him. It was not my time to die yet. But the entire experience took me much deeper in my relationship with God.

Today, I feel much better! It took several months to get fully well, but all glory and honor and praise goes to the Living God! God is my healer! Glory!

Persistence in God takes patience. Persistence in getting to know God can sometimes take patience. I found that all those times that I was waiting on God, He was waiting on me too! Doing God's will takes persistence and patience as well.

Patience is something that a lot of believers think they have already, but really do not have. A lot of people who do not have patience are quitters. Do you see the connection that I am making?

Think of an athlete training for the Olympics. This is not a task that you just sign up for the day before! It takes patience and persistence to train, to practice, to get your body in shape, to get your mind in the game, to be a team player...

The same with becoming a professional musician: it takes a lot of patient and technical practicing and persistence and consistence with the craft.

I encourage you to wait on God and do not give up! Be consistent in your pursuit of God. Be persistent in your relationship with God. Wait patiently on Him and He will meet you more than halfway. Jesus said:

“Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!” (Matthew 5:6 amplified).

Thought

Are you going through something that does not make sense? This is your opportunity to take time out and ask God to show you what it is that He is trying to teach you during this season. Be persistent in your pursuit of the one true Living God!

Prayer

Lord, please help those who are reading this blog and feel like giving up on you. Lord God, inspire them, surround them with your love, open their eyes to who you really are and reveal to them their destiny in you! Strengthen your children, Lord, we need you today. Give us hope for the future and wisdom in accomplishing the everyday things in order that we might get there. Show us how to glorify you in everything that we do. Blessed be the name of the Lord! In Jesus' name, Amen.

Read

Jeremiah 29:11, Matthew 5:6, Romans 2:7

Song In My Head

'The greatness of the Lord is inconceivable! The love that He shows is unconditional! The power of the Lord is unbeatable! Great is the God we serve! God is great! And greatly to be praised!' - Ricky Dillard

PERSISTENCE part two

In the amplified Bible, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 reads: ' Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]...' Do you ever find this hard to do? Paul is writing to the church people in Thessalonians and telling them to pray ALL the time and never stop! 

How do you do that? 

 It takes persistence and perseverance and time.

Is there something that you have been praying about for a very, very, very long time? Do you feel like giving up? do you ever run out of stuff to say to God? Are you getting mad at God? One famous Pastor I know says that it's ok to be mad at God because HE can handle it. But you cannot stay mad at God. Work through it, now. God only has your best interest in mind.Don't give up on God since, He will not ever give up on you! He reaches out to  you lovingly and wants to lavish that love on you beyond your comprehension.

It is easy to fall into asking God questions unnecessary questions:

“God, why do I have to wait so long?”

“Do you hear me God?”

“God, are you there?”

“God, do I not deserve the answer?”

“God? Where are you?”

I had an epiphany last year about unanswered prayer: sometimes, it is not about me waiting on God, but God is waiting on me. Get ready and stay ready. Strength training goes deeper.

Are you ready for God to answer your prayer? Are you asking God for something that you are completely unprepared for?

For example: Let's say I am asking God for a car, but I do not have a place to park it. Or I do not have a job with income to pay for the insurance, gas, and upkeep. Or I do not have a license to drive. This proves me unprepared to own or even drive a car. Get ready for the answer to your own prayers.

It is true that God can do what HE can do, but He will not do what you can do. Have you ever heard the saying that God helps those who help themselves? To me, this means: you take one step towards God and He will take two or more steps towards you.

Paul said that he had to work out his salvation. (Philippians 2:12). I do not believe in the philosophy once saved always saved. The Bible is clear that this is a daily walk with God. Everyday, I am required to ask God to purify my heart, cleanse me from any sin that I have committed knowingly or unknowingly, and to make sure that the old me is still dead to sin and that my newly created self in the Lord is alive and thriving in His kingdom.

Relationships take work. My relationship with God takes work, time, and effort. Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage. He will strengthen your heart. (Psalm 27:14).

Seek first the kingdom of GOD and His righteousness then all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33). Are you asking God to do or be something that He is not? Is what you are asking God to do really pleasing to Him? Is it within His will and plan for your life? And remember that God's plans are never to harm us! (Jeremiah 29:11).

Or perhaps this is the case for you: not only does God enjoy your company, which He does, but He may be wanting you to go deeper in your prayer life with Him. Perhaps He is preparing you to be come an intercessor! Learn how to pray effectively. Jesus said:

“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'” (Matthew 6:9-13).

I encourage you to pray this prayer and ask God to show you how to pray better. Remember, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled! (Matthew 5:6)

Thought: If you were to stop waiting on God will you regret it in the future?

Read: Matthew 5-7, Galatians 6:9-10, Ephesians 6:13-18

Prayer: Lord God, please give me the wisdom and the strength to continue standing in the gap and teach me how to pray. Teach me how to love You better and to serve You better. Breathe on me Holy Ghost! In Jesus' name, Amen.

Song in my Head: 'Devil, you can't have my mind! You can stop wastin' yo' time! Devil, you won't steal my peace, 'cause victory belongs to me! I'm back! Yes, I'm back wit' a smile on my face!' -Lonnie Hunter & Structure

Persistence

The parking garage where occasionally I park my car has many pipes running along the walls and ceiling. Every year in the Spring there are a couple of doves who insist on building their nest over an old hot water pipe. They carefully build their nest and balance it on the hot water pipe. The nest is poorly built and it leaves a huge mess over our cars. But it works for the doves. I call the pretty dove “Mama Dove” and the more masculine dove “Daddy Dove”. They are some tough birds and they don't take no mess.

I find twigs, feathers, lint, cotton and all sorts of creative things on the ground or on my car. This has been their prime spot for raising their baby doves for as long as I can remember. The spot is warm and cozy and it works for them.

One day earlier this year, a crow attacked the nest and destroyed it. The un-hatched baby doves died. I saw broken shells on the ground. It was really sad to see after watching all their hard work. I did not expect Mama Dove and Daddy Dove to return, but after about a month I saw them staking out the same spot again. Now, they have re-built their nest-- in the same location over the same hot water pipe. This really surprised me. I was astonished to see them sitting there as if nothing had happened.

"Bazinga!"
(If the doves could talk I think they would say that to the crow, LOL!)
Soon they will hatch young, healthy baby doves.

This is persistence. Perseverance. Endurance.

Sometimes, when it comes to waiting on God's promises we give up all too soon. We grow tired and weary in well-doing and sort of fall into a spiritual coma or nap time of sorts and end up missing out on great things that God has for us. This happens when we have not learned perseverance, endurance. I do believe that God has a lot of people in strength training right now. How strong are you in your faith? Is God toughening you up for something that He has called you to do?

When the enemy attacks you, do you fold up? Do you run or do you fight back? When territory is stolen from you by the enemy do you just let him take it?

We have weapons that are not carnal, but supernatural. (Ephesians 6).

Sometimes, it is too hard to fight back when the enemy attacks because we are so weighted down by things that do not matter. Weighted down by things that have nothing to do with our purpose. What is weighing you down today? (Hebrews 12:1).

I want to encourage you to focus and re-prioritize your life according to God's WORD. Be persistent in what He has called you to do. Persevere. Endure. Strength training is tough because you can feel your muscles hurting sometimes after a work out, but with time the pain will go away. You will be stronger. You will overcome. Lost territory will be returned. Keep sowing seeds in God's kingdom. Be persistent in the Lord!

Thought: Are you in God's strength training right now?

Read: Ephesians 6, Hebrews 12:1, 1 John 5:4

Prayer: Lord, help us to be persistent and consistent in doing your perfect and holy will each day. Strengthen us and help us to operate in and through Your love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Song in my Head: 'Your latter will be greater. The best is yet to come!' -Israel Houghton and New Breed

Holy Week and the Day He Wore My Crown of Thorns

With wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes in diverse places, famines, pestilences, unrest, nations rising against other nations, (Matthew 24:6-7) it is easy to fall into wonder and ask where is God in all this...and what in the world are "pestilences"? LOL. Pestilences are unpleasant things.

The truth is this: it could be a lot worse if the Lord had not already come. You see, He came through for us over 2000 years ago. He was thrilled to do it and He came to save us in love.

He came in riding on a young colt during Holy Week. And we, all of mankind, threw down our coats and palm branches in the road for Him to ride upon. And then one week later, we- that is all of mankind- decided to kill this the Son of God.

The Bible says that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). In one week, we went from praising Him and worshiping Him to calling for His crucifixion! I say "we" because no matter what era or generation Jesus would have chosen to be apart of, the end result would have still been the same.

When we read the Easter story about Jesus, riding on a young colt on Palm Sunday, the Passover, the kiss of betrayal, the interrogations, the scourging, the crown of thorns, Peter's betrayal, the cross, His death...I dare you to say "we" when you read the historical account in the four gospels, or better yet "I". It makes history personal. I am undone, I feel uneasy saying "Ahhh, Calvary! I caused all the pain, I caused all the shame. He gave Himself the day He wore my crown..." (The Day He Wore My Crown). The day Jesus wore my crown of thorns, and was beaten within inches of His life. That should have been me getting beaten and bloodied for my sins, it should have been me getting crucified on that cross and laughed at. I should have died that day not the Son of God. He was blameless.

We could not stand to look at Jesus, to look upon His glory, to behold the Son of God. It was too much for us...so we killed Him.

"Give us Barabbas!" we cried out. "We want the other guy to be set free, you know, the serial killer?"

"Are you kidding me? I cannot find anything wrong with this guy right here! Are you sure?" said a very confused Pilate.

"Yes, we want you to crucify Him and give us Barabbas the serial killer!"

Pilate washes his hands. A public display showing that everything was completely out of his control.

But by the grace of God there was a greater plan. Jesus came in love. he died knowing the outcome, knowing that He and only He could conquer death, conquer hell, and conquer the grave!

What a a pitiful story it would be if Jesus had not risen from the dead. If He had not come back to appear to over 500 people including His own disciples.

No other religious or spiritual leader has been able to upstage Jesus on this! Jesus is the Son of God and He has the power over death and hell and He was murdered by capital punishment and after three days He arose from the dead! It was a miracle! We have no body! We have eye witness accounts of a resurrected Jesus, even in conversation. This is our proof that Jesus really did rise from the dead.

Thought
If you do not know Jesus as your personal Savior, ask Him to come into your heart today.

Pray
Dear Lord Jesus, Thank you for dying on the cross for me! I am a sinner and I am sorry for what I have done. It should have been me on that cross. Please forgive me of my sins and make all things new. Lead me and guide me in your truth. In Jesus' name , Amen.

Read
Matthew 26-28, Mark 13-16, Luke 19-24, John 13-21*

Song in my head:
'Who is this King of glory that pursues me with His love?' -Third Day

*I use these translations of the Bible: the Amplified Bible, the King James Version, the New Living Translation, and the New International Version

Stay In the Boat With Jesus!

The disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee with Jesus. (Mark 4). Jesus decided to take a nap. There was a sudden a great and furious storm. Then the disciples started trippin'! LOL! We used to say that in high school, "trippin'".


The story really hits home because as readers we realize how silly the disciples were knowing that the Son of God was in the boat with them!


"Master!!! Do you not care that we are dyyyyinnng?!?!" They yell over to the Lord across the storm tossed boat.


Jesus, though fully Divine, was fully human. He had been working in ministry and teaching all day. He spoke in many parables about the Kingdom of Heaven trying to help the people understand. Then after teaching he taught His disciples further revealing to them deeper meanings. He got onto the boat so that he could sit down and rest while he taught from the shores. After he finished teaching, Jesus just wanted to take a little rest on the water.


But the disciples' faith was immediately tested and they hardly passed the test. What would they have done if Jesus jsut slept through the whole thing? Would they have jumped off the boat and left the Lord sleeping in the boat while they tried to swim away from the storm?

They woke Jesus up with their yelling and panicking. "Peace, be still," Jesus says to the storm. Instantly, the waters were calm and peaceful.

Jesus gets up looks at the furious storm and says:


Then he turns to his disciples and says: "Why are you so afraid? Where's your faith?!"


The disciples have no answer. But they learned that day that their Lord could control the weather!


As a child, in my mind, I always imagined Jesus rolling his eyes and going back to His nap! LOL! But the Lord responded in love to His disciples, and I think that a renewed sense of calm and trust began flowing between Himself and the disciples...and the weather. Perhaps, they all settled down for a nap. But the Scripture says that the disciples were in awe and their fear of the storm turned to fear of the Lord after seeing His authority over the storm!


What amazes me is that the Lord always takes care of our Spiritual needs and our physical needs. Food for the soul, rest for the body, peace for the mind.


I would be very worried if I was in the boat and Jesus was NOT in there with me! Are you going through a storm right now? Stay in the boat with Jesus! Trust Him. No need to worry! Stay where Jesus is because there is peace in the center of that storm.


Thought
Are you going through one of life's storms right now? Look for Jesus and trust that HE is your peace in the center of that storm!


Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to learn how to trust You more. Even when life is tossing us about like a raging and furious storm! Give us Your peace and hope. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Read Mark 4


Song in My Head
'Lord, I could sing of YOUR goodness all day long. For YOU are so amazing to me! I lift my hands in adoration to YOU!' -Forever Jones

The Struggle Into Your Strength

Have you ever stopped to look at a caterpillar in a cocoon? A cool little mystery the way it gets all neatly wrapped up and snug and warm, sleeping in there all cozy. Hmmm. Yet there it is in a seemingly deep and refreshing sleep. Ahhh sleep. But in the middle of the dreamlike state the caterpillar outgrows its surroundings! One day, it begins to burst forth out of its cocoon!

I’ve heard stories about a young boy who saw a caterpillar struggling to emerge from a cocoon. He was filled with a great deal of compassion. He wanted to help the poor thing. He wanted to make the caterpillar's life easier. He ran inside the house and begged his mother for a pair of scissors.

The boy's mother knew that he was up to something. She followed him outside. He knelt down and looked again at the struggling caterpillar. It had beautiful wings protruding from its back! But it seemed to be in a great deal of pain as it tried again and again to rid itself of the cocoon that contained it.

The boy, with tears in his eyes cut the cocoon from the caterpillar. He was amazed to see a beautiful butterfly as the remains of the cocoon fell away to the ground.

The butterfly stumbled, limped really, and began dragging its wings behind it. The butterfly’s wings were too heavy. He seemed to not have enough strength to lift his wings an fly!

“Mommy, why isn’t the butterfly flying?” the boy asked his mother with tears in his eyes. She too was crying.

“Honey, you helped too much. That butterfly needed to build his muscles, but you made it too easy for him. He needed to struggle his way out before he could fly.”

“Mommy, I was trying to help him. He was looking’ like he was in pain.”

As the story goes, the butterfly never flew, nor did it ever come to know its full potential. It was crippled for life and continued to drag its wings until a few hours later it died brokenhearted, too weak to go on.

When tough times come the easy and quick fix seems to be the best way to make things better. Tough love is still love! I am a witness that in your struggles through life, you will gain strength! But you must keep your eyes fixed on the Lord. Always go where Jesus goes. If He is standing still don’t move ahead of Him or fall away. Just stand still with Him. Patience is a virtue, a gift. To learn it well is a priceless thing for every believer.

I believe that the Lord is reminding us all in the body of Christ, and also individually about not living up to our full potential in Him. There are believers who would rather stay cozy in their cocoons rather than to try and trust in the Lord. God is not boring. He’s not deaf. He’s not some old guy sitting on a cloud with a large bottle of tobasco sauce! (Like in the old super bowl commercial, LOL!)

The Bible says that God is love. (1 John 4:7-8.) And now, "Love" as in God wants you to be the best version of you that you could ever be in Him! Embrace your trials. Allow them to push you closer to the one True Living God. Take time to struggle into your new strength! Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, do not lean to your own unerstanding! (Proverbs 3:5-7) Now, watch God move in your life as you move, as you struggle into your new strength! And remember this: you 'can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!' (Philippians 4:13).

Thoughts
Have you outgrown something in your life? Is the Lord telling you to move on up to the next level in your walk of faith with Him?

Prayer
Lord, for those of us who may be struggling to grow, help us to have the right attitude and mind of Christ! Make us stronger

Read
Psalm 121, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, 2 Corinthians 12:9

Song In My Head
‘Glory! Glory in your sanctuary! Splendor and majesty Lord! Before You all life adores You! All the earth will declare that your love is everywhere!’ -All the Earth, Don Moen

We Make It Harder Than It Has To Be (Part 2)

Jesus said that it is harder for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven than it is for a camel to walk through the eye of a needle! (Matthew 19:24) Wow! Jesus was pretty clear on this concept. This tells me that the love of money and things and power will keep you from truly experiencing the fullness and wholeness of the love of God that he freely gives!

Why allow yourself to love money and things more than truly experiencing love from a Living God who actively pursues us with His grace and mercy? David says that no matter where you go in life, God is there and if He is not, He can see you and know your heart. (Psalm 139).

It is not hard to become a Christian, but if your heart is not willing to accept Him, you will suffer the trials of this dark world in the worst way, without His help and guidance. You cannot have both this dark world and the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy… (Romans 14:17).

And once you have Jesus, He has promised to send you the Comforter, that is the Spirit of God to guide you. As Christians we are in the world, but not apart of it. But you have to accept Jesus into your heart

Jesus said that in this world you will have trouble. (John 16:33) He goes on to say that He has overcome the world. Why not put your trust in the One who has already overcome this troubled world?

Thought
What must I do to be saved?
Ask God to reveal Himself to you in a real way. Pray this prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I am a sinner. Please forgive me of my sins and be Lord of my life. Show me the way, the truth, and the life. Help me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer
Dear God, Put a sense of urgency in the hearts of all who read this blog and are not already saved that they might come to understand how important it is to call upon your name, Lord Jesus, and be saved.

Read
St. John, Acts 2:21, Romans 10:9-13, Ephesians 2:1-10

Song in my Head
‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness. And all these things shall be added unto you. Allelu, Alleluia!’