Rebellion

The Bible says that the sin of rebellion is just as bad as the sin of doing witchcraft. There are levels of sin, but all sin leads to pride and bondage and separation from God.

The prophet Samuel said these words to King Saul one day to inform him that his anointing to be king over Israel was being removed because of his stubbornness and rebellion.

Yes, God's love is far reaching, deep, wide, incomprehensible, and amazing! But when you commit sin knowing that it is against God, knowing that it is wrong, knowing that it hurts the heart of God, this separates you from Him.

Rebellion is rejecting the Word of the Lord, (1 Samuel 15). The Word of the Lord became flesh and dwelt among us, John 1) . The Word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, (Psalm 119:111)! The Word of the Lord is Faithful and true, (Revelation 19:11)! The Word of the Lord was with God in the beginning, (John 1). The Word of the Lord cannot go out and return void once it leaves the mouth of God it must bring forth a plentiful harvest, (Isaiah 55)! The Word that became flesh said:

"Man cannot live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God,"
(Matthew 4:4).

We are to hide the Word of the Lord in our hearts so that we might not sin against God, (Psalm 119:105)! The Word of God is a sharp and fresh weapon against an old enemy: the sword of the Spirit, (Ephesians 6:17).

I want to encourage you to get into the Word of God and get the Word in you! Read it, study it word by word, memorize it, "eat" the Word, ponder it. And know this for real: Jesus is the living Word of God! The enemy could not defeat Him! The Word went down into hell and took back authority that had been misused! The Word of God holds the keys of death and hell, not satan! And remember, satan is not God's equal! God is far greater than that old devil! God's power is unmatchable!

 If you have to Word of God on your mind, in your heart, in your belly, there is no room for rebellion and stubbornness. If you truly love God with all of your heart, your mind, your soul, you will not have any desire for sin. You will desire purity and integrity and truth.

All sin branches out from fear rooted in your heart which leads to pride which leads to bondage in the enemy's camp.

"Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient..." (Isaiah 1:18-19).

"...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..." says the writer of Hebrews, (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Is there something that God is asking you to do for His kingdom? Maybe you feel called to preach, or to help others in ways that may be outside of your comfort zone, maybe you feel called to pray for others. Whatever it is that God is telling you to do for His glory, do not miss the call! This is a season of second chances, God is redeeming the time and you cannot miss this window of time in His kingdom! Ignoring God's call is rebellion and stubbornness.

Overcome your fear with courage. Move forward. The Word will light your path.

Thought
If you disobey God now, will you regret it later?

Prayer
Lord God, move in us! Let your Word become alive in us! Open our eyes so that we can see what you are saying, open our ears to hear what you want us to do, give us courage to move forward. Strengthen us by your power and let your Holy Ghost breathe on us, Lord! In Jesus' name, Amen.

Read
1 Samuel 15, Hebrews 12

Song in my head: 'In your presence, all fear is gone! In your presence there's healing!' -Jason Upton

I Am the One Whom Jesus Loves!

I am the one whom Jesus loves!

How did this happen? I have been a Christian for a long time, but I had no real comprehension of the love of God. Then one day God decided that I needed to know: God loves me. I was watching Joyce Meyer online. She was talking about the love of God. The only reason I was watching her is because I felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit telling me to go to her website and watch her latest sermon. She told her listeners to do a Bible study on the love of God and to study it until you really get it: God loves me.

Can you look in the mirror and say those words: "God loves me!"?

I knew that the message Joyce Meyer was preaching online was for me because my Pastor had preached a similar sermon one year earlier. After hearing the divinely inspired sermon again, I went and found my notes and re-read them. Joyce Meyer and my Pastor were saying the same thing.

(By the way, they do not hang out. Not even sure if they know each other. This was simply the Lord's doing. I needed to hear the sermon twice.)

So I started talking to myself, when no one was looking, and I would go to the mirror and say stuff like this:

"God loves me. I am God's child. I have faith in God. God loves me...."

It was hard at first. In fact, I whispered the words to the mirror in the dark for the first few months. Sounds sooo silly, but the truth is that I began to see how much I did not feel that I deserved God's love! What?!

I turned the lights on earlier this year and began to say the words aloud to the mirror. I became bolder. I began to repeat the words over and over while driving. Now, whenever I can, I slip it into conversation. By the way, God loves me! In case I had not mentioned it earlier. And He loves you too!

I began to give God more honor and glory for all that He has done in my life. It was like God became my buddy for real! I feel Him shadowing me more now. Actually, He was always there, omnipresent, I am just more aware of Jehovah God. I am more aware of God my loving Father. God did it!

Did you know that God loves you too? God's love is far reaching. His love is so deep. His love is so wide. His love goes on for so long as if it has no end!

I want to encourage you to do a Bible study search on the love of God today, tonight, all week, all month, all year...until you really get it. God keeps doing stuff to get your attention. Did you see it? He keeps calling your name. Do you hear Him? God keeps putting people in your path to remind you of His love. Do you remember?

Saint John the Beloved, noted Joyce Meyer, really got it. He was immersed in God's love. Rested his head on Jesus. Put his trust in Jesus. He even put it in his writing: I am the one whom Jesus loves, he said, (John 13:23). But Jesus was not playing favorites. His love is evenly distributed. You have to reach for it in faith and watch how he pours out His love on you!

Thought
You are the one whom Jesus loves!

Prayer
Lord, help us to really get how much you love us! Take us deeper with you, Lord God! Cause us to see you when you move, when you speak, when you are trying to get our attention so that we can become fully immersed in your love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Scripture
John 12-15, Romans 8:38-39

Song in My Head
Oh, love of God! How rich and pure! How immeasurable an strong! It shall forever more endure, this the saints and angels song. -old hymn

God's Timing

 God wants us to stop sitting at His spiritual green lights. Too many Christians are way too comfortable sitting in the warmth and coziness of green lights! Green means “GO!” So why are the green lights clogged up with lazy believers who do not want to move when God says move?

It could be fear keeping God's people from moving forward. It could be lack of inspiration. Or maybe we are asleep at the light?

Is God telling you to do something for Him today? Maybe you have a calling on your life to preach, or maybe you are called to pray for sick people, or to be an intercessor who stands in the gap praying on behalf of others, or maybe you are called to be a musician, or a teacher, or a singer on a worship team. Don't be a “bench warmer” at church sitting in the pew every Sunday and just eating the Word, getting warm fuzzies, getting fat and full, but never sharing your faith in any way shape or form!

It's time for God's people to move out from the green light before it turns red again. God's timing is perfect. We move when He says move and if we do not move when He says move we end up with deep regrets.

Don't sit at the green light. When God says “Go,” you go. Get out there and be and do what God wants you to be and do!

What if Abraham had said to God:

“I have to rent too many U-hal's to get all my stuff from here to the Promised Land.”

What if King David had said "no" to Samuel's anointing oil?

What if Jospeh decided not to forgive his brothers? Would his story have been in the Bible?

What is God speaking to you about doing for Him as you read this blog? Is it evangelism? Is God telling you to go talk to someone about Jesus today? Is god telling you to go pray over someone and encourage them?

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord!

Now, go make it a good day but go in the strength and Spirit of the one true living God. Take the gospel message of Jesus to someone today, but do it lovingly and with kindness.

Thought

Has God given you the green light? Are you moving forward or sitting still in fear?

Prayer

Dear God, help us to move when you say move! Increase our faith! Put a holy fire under us and give us strength to be and do everything you have called us to be and do for your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen!

Read

Matthew 5, Hebrews 12:1-2

Song In My Head

'The Lord has given us freedom, given us freedom, given us joy!' -Shekinah Glory Ministry

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