Hugs for Him!

Why do we lift our hands?

I was not raised in a church where people raised their hands. The first time I encountered this was when I was 19 years old. I went to a pentecostal church for the first time. I did not get saved that night, but God certainly had my number. I came back the next night and cried the whole service. Needless to say, I gave my heart to God that night. I was very eager to learn everything I could! I remember asking my husband about people raising their hands. I understand now. If you have always done something, and then one way someone asks you why, it might be hard to put it in words. So I thought I would tackle this question now that I know more about it.

We teach the children, raising your hands is an expression of your love to God. Simply put, it is like giving God a hug. We hug our children because we want them to feel our love for them. We raise our hands for the same reason. We want God to know our love for Him.

When do you raise your hands? How do you know when its a good time? Every time you think about it, do it! You can never show God too much love!

Psalm 63:4 KJV
Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

Names of God

El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)
El Elyon (The Most High God)
Adonai (Lord, Master)
Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah)
Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner)
Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)
Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals)
Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There)
Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)
Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You)
El Olam (The Everlasting God)
Elohim (God)
Qanna (Jealous)
Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)
Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts)

Odd Bird Out!

Mat 10:29  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

Luk 12:6  Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

Jesus wanted to teach us a very important lesson, and He decided to use a bird to make His point. What bird did He use? The eagle, majestic and beautiful? NO! What about the dove, or the exquisite peacock? NO! Jesus knew the problems that would plague His people. He told of the sparrow. Now the sparrow was the most common of birds. They sold roasted sparrow on every street in those days. And people could buy them for a little bit of nothing. And what’s more? It was buy 4 and get the 5^th one free!

Then Jesus told them, not one sparrow falls to the ground without God knowing it. He valued every sparrow. And He values you even more!

Luk 12:7  But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

God wants you to know how precious you are to Him! Regardless of what you have been through in life that made you feel worthless, He wants you to know, you matter to Him. He sees great value in you. When you know how valuable you are to God, you will stop living in fear of what others think of you.

God loves you. He desires you to open up your heart to Him. Let Him love you. You have searched your whole life for someone to love you. He has been waiting your whole life for you to LET Him love you. Do it today!

Bondservant of Jesus

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me . . . —Galatians 2:20

These words mean the breaking and collapse of my independence brought about by my own hands, and the surrendering of my life to the supremacy of the Lord Jesus. No one can do this for me, I must do it myself. God may bring me up to this point three hundred and sixty-five times a year, but He cannot push me through it. It means breaking the hard outer layer of my individual independence from God, and the liberating of myself and my nature into oneness with Him; not following my own ideas, but choosing absolute loyalty to Jesus. Once I am at that point, there is no possibility of misunderstanding. Very few of us know anything about loyalty to Christ or understand what He meant when He said, “. . . for My sake” (Matthew 5:11). That is what makes a strong saint.

Has that breaking of my independence come? All the rest is religious fraud. The one point to decide is— will I give up? Will I surrender to Jesus Christ, placing no conditions whatsoever as to how the brokenness will come? I must be broken from my own understanding of myself. When I reach that point, immediately the reality of the supernatural identification with Jesus Christ takes place. And the witness of the Spirit of God is unmistakable— “I have been crucified with Christ . . . .”

The passion of Christianity comes from deliberately signing away my own rights and becoming a bondservant of Jesus Christ. Until I do that, I will not begin to be a saint.

One student a year who hears God’s call would be sufficient for God to have called the Bible Training College into existence. This college has no value as an organization, not even academically. Its sole value for existence is for God to help Himself to lives. Will we allow Him to help Himself to us, or are we more concerned with our own ideas of what we are going to be?

Genuine Love by Sister Norma Miles

It is very easy to tell your children, grandchildren, and family members you know, and even others you have come to know, that you love them. People think that to tell someone you don’t know that you love them is bizzar! How can you love someone you don’t know? The same would go for the question of how you can love God if you don’t know Him. When you are born again with the spirit of God dwelling in your heart, you can love as Christ loved. You are able to say “I love you” with the honesty that comes from the heart, and you are able to show love and compassion, even to those who seem unlovable!

John 13:34 

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Before Christ left the Disciples, He would give them a new commandment. They were to love each other the way Christ intended for us to love one another. Loving one another promotes the gospel, and people see the God that dwells in our hearts and a genuine love in the body of Christ. When we don’t have love for one another, then people really wonder who sincere, and reject the love that is demonstrated by those that ARE sincere!

To love those as God loved is to love and know God.  Have you ever told someone you didn’t know on a personal level you love them, and you automatically feel that spirit of rejection towards you, and get no response, or they act like they didn’t hear you?

That is exactly the way God feels when we don’t allow the love of God to rule and reign in our hearts, so that we can demonstrate the true love of God towards others.

1 John 4:7-8 

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

So if we have the love of God in our hearts, we can love all who cross our path, whether we know them or not! Because of the spirit of the Lord that dwells in our hearts, when we are born again of God’s Spirit. We can look through the eyes of God and say, “I love you!”

Turn Around by Sister Betty Richardson

Luke 19:10  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

When a sinner sins, he willfully sins. That same sinner can willfully turn to Jesus, leaving sin behind him.  Salvation means that  a  man turns to Jesus. Every man was made with the power of choice to turn. Come unto me. He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.  As soon as man turns, Jesus is there. Jesus finds him. The cross is the answer for the most desperate sinner on this Earth. Are you being held by the power of the devil? You have the power to turn around. When you turn to Jesus, He has the power to set you free. Quick! Hurry! Turn around! Jesus is coming soon!

The Butterfly

1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

There is a theory in the science world called the “butterfly effect.” This theory says that the slight movement of the butterfly’s wings can affect the atmosphere in a series of motions that can lead to big results. Example? They claim that a butterfly flapping its wings can cause swirls of wind, that leads to other swirls of wind, and hundreds of miles away, it can lead to a violent storm.

So what am I getting at? Do you ever feel like you are just a tiny, insignificant creature in a giant universe, and nothing you are doing is changing anything, anywhere? Do you feel like you pour into someone day in and day out, pray for them, fast for them, believe God for them, and never see any results? I’m telling you, don’t get disheartened. You are working for the Kingdom of God, and you are sowing those seeds to the kingdom. You may not see the results. The results of your prayers may happen hundreds of miles away. Or even in another country. But God is taking notice.

I remember at Christmas one year, we had a Christmas party for the children. We had them all write a short note on a slip of paper for each person there, and put it in a bag to be picked up at the end of the party. When it was over, we were so exhausted, and still had to clean up. We were really just scraping bottom, if you know what I mean. I started reading the notes in my bag, and came across one, and I felt the presence of God come over me. It was like God Himself wrote it. What did it say?

KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING!

One of the children had written this on my paper. But what an encouragement. Keep going! Keep doing! Keep praying! You may not see the results, but they are there!

Method of Missions from My Utmost for His Highest

Go ye therefore, and teach (disciple) all nations. —Matthew 28:19

Jesus Christ did not say – Go and save souls (the salvation of souls is the supernatural work of God), but – “Go and teach,” i.e., disciple, “all nations,” and you cannot make disciples unless you are a disciple yourself. When the disciples came back from their first mission they were filled with joy because the devils were subject to them, and Jesus said – Don’t rejoice in successful service; the great secret of joy is that you are rightly related to Me. The great essential of the missionary is that he remains true to the call of God, and realizes that his one purpose is to disciple men and women to Jesus. There is a passion for souls that does not spring from God, but from the desire to make converts to our point of view.

The challenge to the missionary does not come on the line that people are difficult to get saved, that backsliders are difficult to reclaim, that there is a wadge of callous indifference; but along the line of his own personal relationship to Jesus Christ. “Believe ye that I am able to do this?” Our Lord puts that question steadily, it faces us in every individual case we meet. The one great challenge is – Do I know my Risen Lord? Do I know the power of His indwelling Spirit? Am I wise enough in God’s sight, and foolish enough according to the world, to bank on what Jesus Christ has said, or am I abandoning the great supernatural position, which is the only call for a missionary, viz., boundless confidence in Christ Jesus? If I take up any other method I depart altogether from the methods laid down by Our Lord – “All power is given unto Me . . , therefore go ye.”

I Will Go by Sister Betty Richardson

Isaiah 6:8  Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Isaiah overheard God saying “Who will go for us?” The call of God is not for the special, it is for everyone.

Whether or not I hear God’s call depends upon the state of my ears, and what I hear depends upon the state of my heart.

Many are called, but few are chosen. That is, few prove themselves the chosen ones. The chosen ones are those who have come into a relationship with God, their ears have been unstopped, and they hear the still small voice questioning all the time.  “Who will go?”

God did not single out Isaiah, Isaiah was just in the presence of God, and he heard the call.  He said, “Here I am. Send me.”

When God called the disciples he said “Follow me.” If we let the spirit of God bring us face to face with God, we too will hear as did Isaiah did, and we will say, “He I am. Send me!”

Soul Winner!

"This is a faithful saying,and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men" Titus 3:8).

We have a desire to see people saved. Its natural. You gained that desire the day you made Jesus your Lord and Savior. This verse tells us something very important about winning souls: you must maintain good works. What does that mean? Be careful to maintain a faithful testimony. A person will never trust you to lead them to Jesus if they don't see Jesus in you. This world is hungry for something real. They are absolutely fed up with all the phoneys. Be that faithful Christian who people trust.

3 Giving no offence in any thing,that the ministry be not blamed: 2 Corinthians 6:3

Be faithful. Be holy. Be a soldier in God's army He can trust!

Stand in Love!

John 15:9
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

Jesus is saying “The amount of love the Father loves me, I love you THAT MUCH!” He loves us that much!! The quality of that love, or the passion. He loves us so much!

How do we continue in God’s love? Christ was the supreme example. (Luke 22:42) Jesus came to the world and was obedient to the full will of God the Father. He humbled Himself to the point of death. We must also lay it all down for the will of the Father. We must continue THAT love. We are called to love God, and love others.

Love is an action. It is a decision. It is not a feeling or an emotion. Don’t wake up one day without a fuzzy, mushy feeling, and say to yourself, “Well Self, something must be wrong. I must have let Him down. The love just isn’t there anymore!” We have to decide every day, Today I will live for God. Today, I will love Him. Today I will bring Him glory.

Psalms 103:2

(2) Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
We must make a conscious decision. Command your soul, reign over this mortal body. Say to yourself, “Bless the Lord, O my soul!” Don’t let yourself fall away. Don’t back up one inch. Keep moving forward. Submerge yourself in His presence, His Word, His love.

Continue on. Pray harder. Study longer. We don’t have the promise of tomorrow. So I close with the words of the Apostle Paul.

Ephesians 6:10-18

(10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
(11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
(12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
(13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
(14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
(15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
(16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
(17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
(18) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Just Do It!

2 Thessalonian 3:7
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

They could appeal to them as witnesses,and God also,how holily,justly,and unblamably they walked among them. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to live holy, to do those things we know please God. We always drilled it into the children: Pray, Study your Bible, and Go to Church. These sound so simple, but if you have a heart for God, they will come easy to you! My heart's desire is that Jesus will be the very air I breathe. He is essential to my life. Child of God, do what you know! You know how to live a holy life. If there has ever been a time to press in, I believe its now!

The Lord's Just Reign

Golden Text: The Lord shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one. Zechariah 14:9

Central Truth: The Lord will come to establish His kingdom in its fullness.

Evangelism Emphasis: All who will can become citizens of God’s kingdom by accepting Christ as Lord.

Study Text: Zechariah 14:1-21

The next event in history, is going to be the rapture of the church.
(1 Thessalonians 4:16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

(1 Thessalonians 4:17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

After the rapture, it will be the period called the Tribulation, which will begin with a peace treaty made by the Antichrist. For 3 ½ years, there will be peace. But afterwards, there will be chaos. The Antichrist will go back on the treaty he signed with the Jews, and desecrate their temple. He will command that all people worship him.

The battle of Armageddon is the final battle, when the armies of the Antichrist invade Jerusalem, and attempt to overthrow God’s people.

When the battle looks to be a lost cause, the Lord Himself, Jesus Christ, will emerge. He will return on the Mount of Olives, splitting it east to west, creating a way of escape for His people. With every road blocked, the Lord will open a way through the very center of the mountain, as He opened a path through the Red Sea.

The Battle of Armageddon will be a very great battle, like none other before. The blood is said to be the depth of a horse’s bridle and 200 miles long.

Cross Reference Scriptures

(Zechariah 12:2) See, I will make Jerusalem a cup of shaking fear to all the peoples round about, when Jerusalem is shut in.

Zechariah 12:3
(3)  And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

Ezekiel 38:11
(11)  And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

Ezekiel 38:12
(12)  To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.


Revelation 16:13-16
(13)  And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
(14)  For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
(15)  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
(16)  And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.



Revelation 19:11-21
(11)  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
(12)  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
(13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
(14)  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
(15)  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
(16)  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
(17)  And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
(18)  That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
(19)  And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
(20)  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
(21)  And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

My Redeemer Liveth

Continually I have spoken to the reader concerning Christ crucified,who is the great hope of the guilty; but it is our wisdom to remember that our Lord has risen from the dead and lives eternally. You are not asked to trust in a dead Jesus,but in One who, though He died for our sins,has risen again for our justification. You may go to Jesus at once as to a living and present friend. He is not a mere memory,but a continually existent Person who will hear your prayers and answer them. He lives on purpose to carry on the work for which He once laid down His life. He is interceding for sinners at the right hand of the Father,and for this reason He is able to save them to the uttermost who come unto God by Him. Come and try this living Saviour,if you have never done so before.

Charles Spurgeon

God's Desire

Psalms 27:8   

When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

Do you set your heart to seek His face every day? Do you focus on Him? Do you long to come closer to Him? To be drawn? His eyes are fixed on you.  He wants you. He’s come for you. He wants all of you. Not just one day a week. Not just one hour a day. He longs to completely take you over, that you are not yourself anymore.

2 Corinthians_5:17   

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Become a new creature in Him. Let Him totally, completely, immediately take you over. Let Him change you.  Cry out to Him today! Change me, O God! Make me hungry. Make me thirst. Create a desire in me that cannot be explained.

He wants to show you His beauty, His glory. Focus on Him.  Spend time lying before Him in worship.  More of You, and less of me, God! The cry of my heart, is more of You. Let me be the fragrance of God on Earth.

He is calling out right now. Yield to His voice, and answer His call. Listen to His heart. Learn to worship Him. Learn to love Him more and more every day. Answer His call today. He longs for you. He loves you. He desires you.

Take Me Away!

Psalms 91
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

In the desert, the sun was a very dangerous thing, especially if you had no place to escape to.  God had blessed the children of Israel.  They had tents, water, and food. God had become their shelter, their provider. 

But where is that “secret place” that David is describing here? Have you ever been so overwhelmed with the stress of life and cares of this world, that you felt like you just need to retreat to a secret place?  We always joke about screaming “Calgon, take me away!”  But actually it is God who is screaming, “Let me take YOU away!”  Come away with me, let me restore and refresh you.  I am your peace. I am your hiding place. 

If we don’t find that secret place personally, the presence of God all through the day, how are we supposed to minister to others? We MUST live in the presence of God. We have to find that secret place, and dwell there.  God is not our place to go to, He is our place to dwell in.  If we live in God’s presence, He is there for us all through the day. 

And if we do this, we have the promise that we can abide in the shadow of the Almighty. It was a law of Israel that if a stranger came and grabbed the cord of their tent, they were required to take them in and help them.  The law of hospitality.  You could find safety in the shadow of their tent.  God blessed Israel, so they could bless others. God does not want to bless us just so that we are blessed.  He blesses us, so we can bless others. 

Get into the secret place of the Almighty, and learn to live there. Abide in Him. God is not just a Sunday or Wednesday affair, He is a lifelong, daily, minute-by-minute relationship. Find that secret place today, now, and don’t ever leave!

The Meaning of The Lord's Prayer

Our Father – This shows that God is the Creator of us all. He is our Heavenly Father, our Parent, our Guardian. The One who watches over us, protects us, guides us, and loves us!  

Which art in heaven – This signifies God’s majesty, He is everywhere, knows all things, and is all powerful.  

Hallowed be thy Name – God’s Names is pronounced, or declared, HOLY! His Name is to be celebrated, honored, and respected.  

Thy kingdom come – This is a desire, a prayer, that God’s will be obeyed everywhere. A true child of God will cry out for Him to reign everywhere  

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven – God’s will is that people everywhere would obey, and be holy. The word “will” means “what is acceptable in His sight. It is God’s desire that people would hunger to know His will, and long to please Him. In heaven, His will is obeyed perfectly. We should pray that would be the case on Earth as well.  

Give us this day our daily bread – Bread represents everything necessary for life. He is our provider!  

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors – Our sins put us in debt to God. We are guilty of breaking His law, and are condemned to death. But He chose to forgive us through the complete work of the blood of Jesus Christ. We are forever in His debt. What does He ask in return? Forgive others. Love others. Treat others with the kindness we would show Him.
   
And lead us not into temptation - Whenever we are tempted, O thou that helpest our infirmities, suffer us not to enter into temptation; to be overcome or suffer loss thereby; but make a way for us to escape, so that we may be more than conquerors, through thy love, over sin and all the consequences of it. (Wesley)  

But deliver us from evil – Satan is the evil one, the parent of all evil. Here we are taught to pray, “deliver us from his power, his snares, his arts, his temptations.”

For thine is the kingdom – Everything belongs to God, the Creator of the Universe. He reigns over it all, and therefore has control over it.  

and the power – All power belongs to God. We are weak, He is strong, and has the power to accomplish all we ask.  

and the glory forever – Nothing is done for us, but all things should be to the praise of Him! All glory, honor, and praise. Everything we do should always point to Him!  

Amen - This is a word of Hebrew origin, from a verb signifying “to be firm, secure, to be true and faithful.”

Unheeded Mercy Brings Judgment

Nah 1:6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. This is a book of prophecy written by Nahum to the Ninevites. Does that name sound familiar? Yes, that’s right! Same people that repented approximately 100 years earlier. Ninevah is the capital city of Assyria, which is the enemy of God’s people. That is why it was so hard for Jonah to go to them! It would be about like a Jew going to Hitler in 1943 and trying to get him to repent, so he would be able to go to the same heaven you will. So don’t be so hard on Jonah. He had a very hard job! But this week, we are learning what happened 100 years later. After they repented. After the revival. After the popular preacher left town. What happened? Does this sound like anything you have experienced today? People come in and repent when a revival comes to town. A big name preacher comes in and everybody flocks to the church. But what happens when he leaves? Will you be able to stand for God after the revival is over? Nahum prophesied the judgment of Ninevah. And this time, there were no more chances. They had exhausted God’s mercy and grace. Judgment came. America is in danger of experiencing God’s judgment for the atrocities we have indulged in. But its not too late. Yet. There is still time. We have been told over and over by preachers for the past 30 years. Repent! Judgment is coming! Church, Pray! Repent for the sins of this nation. We can call on the God of mercy, and He is longsuffering.

Focus

God gave me a word, several months ago, and when He spoke it to me, I felt like I needed to write it in big letters, and put it on my refrigerator.  He said, “Focus on the Positive, Praise Me for the good.” 

These words came to me during a time when all I could think about, was the bad.  You know what I mean.  Sometimes, we get so preoccupied with something, it absolutely overwhelms our lives!

This is where I was living. I was not backslid.  I was praying every day.  I was at church every service.  But all I could think about, was the turmoil I felt in my heart. I was almost in mourning!  But God showed me, that the way I was living, was in a state of oppression.  The enemy was taking over.  I was no good to anybody in that condition.  So I did as I was told, and I wrote “Focus on the Positive, Praise Me for the Good” and put it on the fridge.  And every time I noticed my mind trying to run away, I remembered these words.  God wants us to focus on Him.  When we pray, He is our focus. When we worship, He is our focus. When we study, He is our focus.  But now, God was telling me, He is to be my focus, in the good times and the bad.  On the mountain, and in the valley.  If you only shout victory when the battle is won, you are missing a great blessing that the Lord has for you. 

Try putting the Lord as your focus, no matter what you are doing. If you are mopping, ironing, driving, or making lunch. If you are driving a tractor, or hammering, or running a machine in a factory, stay in the presence of God.  He was to bring you deeper.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank you for every mountain, and for every valley.

I thank you that you are always there to guide my every step.

I thank you for the many blessings I see every day,

And for all those I may never see. 

Help me to put you center in my life.

I want my focus to be Jesus Christ.

Remind me of your presence throughout my day.

I love You, and can’t wait to know You more!

It's Time!

2 Timothy 4:2, 7 KJV

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

I love being around people who always have a good word from the bible. The kind of person who is always excited about something they read. That excitement, that enthusiasm for the wisdom of God, is priceless! And what's more than that, its also contagious!

I want to be ready all the time to say good things about my God. That is what we are all called to do. Go and preach and teach! But how can you teach if you never learn?

We are called to show this world Jesus. Get into the Word. Spend some time every day figuring out what God wants to tell you. He desires for you to know Him.