Kim Clement: "THERE SHALL BE THREE GREAT MOMENTS OF FAVOR--MARCH, MAY, AND OCTOBER."
"Three swords of favor--they're in your hand, in your heart, and in your life--you can use them or you can lay them down for somebody else to take."
February 16, 2007--Toledo, Ohio
Three Swords of Favor
The gates of hell shall not prevail. The Spirit of God says, "This year, tremendous favor will be granted to My people--the elect of the Lord. Who is the one that would say, 'I am the elect of God.' Who is the one that would say, 'I believe that God has elected me and set me aside.'" The Spirit of God says, "There will be three great moments of favor that will take place during this year. This is your year to multiply and accelerate."
"Your enemy has focused on this nation and made a declaration, 'We will bring to them great evil.' I have made promises that I will not allow the enemy to dictate what shall take place in the month of March, May and October--three months," says the Lord, "I shall grant an unusual multiplication of favor. Favor to those who are struggling and favor to those who cannot see the breakthrough. There shall be a destruction of barrenness, no more barrenness."
"Mark these words, for tonight I give you three swords. Three swords of favor--they're in your hand, in your heart, and in your life--you can use them or you can lay them down for somebody else to take." The Spirit of God says, "I will give you three months of divine favor. There will rise up an enemy the month before the favorable month. When the enemy comes against you like a flood, I will raise up a standard against him."
"There is a brand new dimension of favor I'm giving to you. There is a standard that I have set, and My people will climb to a greater height. This year has been set aside for you to destroy the power of the barren one that is inside. No more barrenness only fruitfulness--this is My promise--now would you take this sword and use it?" says the Spirit of the Lord.
Manifestation through Secular Media
God tells me to say this to the nation tonight, "I will prove Myself, and I will show Myself not on Christian television; I will always manifest My power through My people. I am about to manifest Myself on secular media through an unusual course of events that will take place and will cause this nation to look back again to Iraq; to look back again to the Middle East and say, 'My God, how could we have missed that?'"
God says, "I will shake you, but the shaking will bring about a divine contradiction. I will cause the government of this nation and your President to be put in a place of vindication because of an unusual manifestation that will take place before the end of his term. This is not about Republican or Democrat; this is about My Kingdom."
"I will shake it, and I will show Myself through the secular media, and they will have no choice. Even Larry King will have to say, 'I heard the King...the One and only King.' You say, 'That's impossible,'" God says, "Watch Me!" God said, "I'll even take ABC, and I'll go there and prove Myself," because God said, "you see, I spoke about the many deaths of many famous people that would take place. You watched it at the end of the year," and God said, "each one of them represented something that's taking place in this nation, whether it be of a spirit of evil or good--whether a man that was upright died or a man that was evil."
I Received Anna Nicole Smith
"Even as Anna Nicole died, there is a reason. There is something that must be stated from the mouth of the prophet regarding this lady's death." For God says, "The whole nation mourns, but I mourned long before she died, for she was crying out to Me three days before she died, crying out, 'God help me--I'm lost; I'm stuck.' Does anybody realize that three days before her death, I was there by her side, and I was touching the lady that they call Anna Nicole Smith?"
God tells you America, "It shall also be a warning to many that I'm about to judge the perversion in this nation." God says, "I will show Myself strong and raise up people like her to minister to those that are in the streets. There shall be a resurrection because the enemy took her," but God says, "I received her into My arms."
To watch the Video Clip of Kim Clement prophesying about Anna Nicole Smith CLICK HERE.
Kim Clement Prophetic Image Expressions http://www.kimclement.com
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Rick Joyner's word of the week 10
As we have been addressing in our study this year, a large part of the teachings in Scripture about righteousness are on management—being a good steward of what we have been entrusted with. It is for this reason that most of the earthly wealth and riches are presently in the hands of heathen. Why? Because they have more "common grace" in the areas of management than believers. We may have been quoting the verses about how the wealth of the wicked will be given to the righteous, but because good management is also a part of righteousness, the ones we were probably thinking of as the wicked may be more righteous than we are in the area of common grace, and therefore have been trusted with more.
Great wealth will destroy those who are not prepared for it. The statistics are pretty clear that even seemingly strong Christians have had their lives wrecked by winning the lottery. The wealth of the wicked will be given to the righteous who are prepared to handle and manage it rightly. It is one of our priorities to see this changed in the church, while also fortifying the other basic issues of righteousness such as morality, integrity, and the devotion to truth.
Before continuing, I must warn you that I am about to start offending many people with what I am going to say. This is not my purpose, as I really do not want to offend anyone, but there are some things which must be said if we are going to be prepared for the time to come.
I think anyone who has read much of what I write about or heard what I speak knows that I am devoted to the local church. I have always known, but am even more convinced now, that there is a severe limit to our spiritual maturity if we do not have a vital local church life. In the time to come, I do not believe it will be possible for people to remain faithful to the Lord without this vital relationship. I am sharing what I am about to share out of love, not trying to be critical of the church, but to address some issues which must be addressed for the very survival of the church in the time to come.
There are some churches and ministries which are very well run and managed. However, in general, the church, many ministries, and many charities which have Christian foundations are as poorly run and managed as just about any entity on the planet. This must, and will, change. Not only the wealth of the wicked, but the wealth of the nations will be coming to the Lord's people. Those who are not ready for this will be destroyed by it.
As we have covered before, there is a reason why the mark of the beast is an economic mark that determines whether we can buy, sell, or trade. However, the sin is not taking the mark, but worshiping the beast. The mark is just evidence that this is what they are doing. This beast in the Book of Revelation comes "up out of the earth" (see Revelation 13:11), and speaks of earthly mindedness. It is the ultimate maturity of the seed of Cain, who was "a tiller of the ground" (see Genesis 4:2), which also speaks of earthly mindedness. Earthly mindedness is the primary spirit of this beast. If this still has a grip on us when great resources start coming to us, we will be destroyed by them—they will seal our fate as worshipers of the beast.
Those who do not take the mark of the beast are the ones who take the Lord's mark which God gives to His bondservants (see Revelation 7). The only thing which will keep us from worshiping the beast will be to become true bondservants of the Lord. We may think that all Christians are bondservants, but in fact very few are. Most go on living for themselves, thinking that the Lord is more of their servant than they are His.
True bondservants wake up daily asking their Master what He would have them to do because they know they were bought with a price, and their life belongs to the One who purchased them with His own blood. True bondservants do not freely spend the money they have because they are well aware of the fact that it is not theirs, but belongs to their Master, and they are just stewards. Because we have been trusted with the King's own resources, we must do the best that we can to manage them well. As He made clear in the Parable of the Talents, this is a basic issue that determines whether we will hear "Well done, good and faithful servant" (see Matthew 25:21 NIV), or "You wicked, lazy slave!" (see Matthew 25:26).
In I Timothy 3:5 Paul wrote, "but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?" Presently, there are not many Christians who are managing their own households well. In general, Christians are as entangled by the things of this world as non-Christians. They are in much debt, and serve mammon more than God. If we took the time to learn a few basic management principles, and then lived by them, we would not be serving mammon as much as we are now; rather, it would be serving us and our purpose in the Lord.
Over the next few weeks, we are going to get much more practical, and if we will start applying these basic principles by the end of this year, we can be in a radically different financial state, which would automatically help many be in a much better spiritual state. In two years, we can be twice as well off as we are now, and I think that needs to be a personal goal we have. Remember, the good steward multiplied what he was entrusted with. We should have a vision for doing the same, not to increase our standard of living, but to increase our standard of giving, so that the Lord can use us as stewards for even greater resources.
Shortly, we can be financially independent, which should be the condition of every Christian. To be financially independent does not necessarily have to do with how much we have, but it means that we should never have to make a decision on whether we have enough money or not, but simply on whether it is the Lord's will.
Right now most of the stress on most people is financial. This is just as true of Christians as non-Christians. We can and must get completely free of this stress. There is only one yoke that we are supposed to have on us—the Lord's yoke, and His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Resolve right now that you are going to get free and you are not going to get entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
During this past Christmas shopping season, I went to one of the largest shopping malls in the region looking for a specific store that I knew was there. When I went to the information map that told where all of the stores were, it was much more difficult to use because it did not have the usual star or dot that says "You Are Here!" Any map is useless if you do not know where you are on the map. This is where we are going to start next week, seeking to determine just where we are so we can determine the course we need to take. This is actually a part of the highway we must build to help prepare the way for the Lord.
Great wealth will destroy those who are not prepared for it. The statistics are pretty clear that even seemingly strong Christians have had their lives wrecked by winning the lottery. The wealth of the wicked will be given to the righteous who are prepared to handle and manage it rightly. It is one of our priorities to see this changed in the church, while also fortifying the other basic issues of righteousness such as morality, integrity, and the devotion to truth.
Before continuing, I must warn you that I am about to start offending many people with what I am going to say. This is not my purpose, as I really do not want to offend anyone, but there are some things which must be said if we are going to be prepared for the time to come.
I think anyone who has read much of what I write about or heard what I speak knows that I am devoted to the local church. I have always known, but am even more convinced now, that there is a severe limit to our spiritual maturity if we do not have a vital local church life. In the time to come, I do not believe it will be possible for people to remain faithful to the Lord without this vital relationship. I am sharing what I am about to share out of love, not trying to be critical of the church, but to address some issues which must be addressed for the very survival of the church in the time to come.
There are some churches and ministries which are very well run and managed. However, in general, the church, many ministries, and many charities which have Christian foundations are as poorly run and managed as just about any entity on the planet. This must, and will, change. Not only the wealth of the wicked, but the wealth of the nations will be coming to the Lord's people. Those who are not ready for this will be destroyed by it.
As we have covered before, there is a reason why the mark of the beast is an economic mark that determines whether we can buy, sell, or trade. However, the sin is not taking the mark, but worshiping the beast. The mark is just evidence that this is what they are doing. This beast in the Book of Revelation comes "up out of the earth" (see Revelation 13:11), and speaks of earthly mindedness. It is the ultimate maturity of the seed of Cain, who was "a tiller of the ground" (see Genesis 4:2), which also speaks of earthly mindedness. Earthly mindedness is the primary spirit of this beast. If this still has a grip on us when great resources start coming to us, we will be destroyed by them—they will seal our fate as worshipers of the beast.
Those who do not take the mark of the beast are the ones who take the Lord's mark which God gives to His bondservants (see Revelation 7). The only thing which will keep us from worshiping the beast will be to become true bondservants of the Lord. We may think that all Christians are bondservants, but in fact very few are. Most go on living for themselves, thinking that the Lord is more of their servant than they are His.
True bondservants wake up daily asking their Master what He would have them to do because they know they were bought with a price, and their life belongs to the One who purchased them with His own blood. True bondservants do not freely spend the money they have because they are well aware of the fact that it is not theirs, but belongs to their Master, and they are just stewards. Because we have been trusted with the King's own resources, we must do the best that we can to manage them well. As He made clear in the Parable of the Talents, this is a basic issue that determines whether we will hear "Well done, good and faithful servant" (see Matthew 25:21 NIV), or "You wicked, lazy slave!" (see Matthew 25:26).
In I Timothy 3:5 Paul wrote, "but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?" Presently, there are not many Christians who are managing their own households well. In general, Christians are as entangled by the things of this world as non-Christians. They are in much debt, and serve mammon more than God. If we took the time to learn a few basic management principles, and then lived by them, we would not be serving mammon as much as we are now; rather, it would be serving us and our purpose in the Lord.
Over the next few weeks, we are going to get much more practical, and if we will start applying these basic principles by the end of this year, we can be in a radically different financial state, which would automatically help many be in a much better spiritual state. In two years, we can be twice as well off as we are now, and I think that needs to be a personal goal we have. Remember, the good steward multiplied what he was entrusted with. We should have a vision for doing the same, not to increase our standard of living, but to increase our standard of giving, so that the Lord can use us as stewards for even greater resources.
Shortly, we can be financially independent, which should be the condition of every Christian. To be financially independent does not necessarily have to do with how much we have, but it means that we should never have to make a decision on whether we have enough money or not, but simply on whether it is the Lord's will.
Right now most of the stress on most people is financial. This is just as true of Christians as non-Christians. We can and must get completely free of this stress. There is only one yoke that we are supposed to have on us—the Lord's yoke, and His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Resolve right now that you are going to get free and you are not going to get entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
During this past Christmas shopping season, I went to one of the largest shopping malls in the region looking for a specific store that I knew was there. When I went to the information map that told where all of the stores were, it was much more difficult to use because it did not have the usual star or dot that says "You Are Here!" Any map is useless if you do not know where you are on the map. This is where we are going to start next week, seeking to determine just where we are so we can determine the course we need to take. This is actually a part of the highway we must build to help prepare the way for the Lord.
Nothing Hidden
Nothing Hidden
Woodrow Kroll
Jeremiah 16:16-17 ~nkjv~
"Behold, I will send for many fishermen," says the Lord, "and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity hidden from My eyes."
A man went to steal some corn from his neighbor's field. As a safeguard, he took his little boy with him to keep a lookout. Before beginning the heist, the man looked all around. Not seeing anyone, he was just about to fill his bag when his son cried out, "Daddy, there's one way you haven't looked yet!" The father, supposing that someone was coming, asked his son which way he meant. The young lad answered, "You haven't looked up!" Conscience-stricken, the father took his boy by the hand and hurried home without the corn he had planned to take.
The people of Jeremiah's day were equally sure that they could commit their evil deeds without anyone knowing. But God warned them through His prophet that none of their iniquities were hidden from Him. Whichever way they might turn, whatever wickedness they might perpetrate, God's eye was on them. Even if they sought to hide under the waters, on the mountains or in a hole in the ground, God knew where to find them. Escape from His watchful gaze was impossible.
Technology today has increased astoundingly. Plastic surgeons can alter a person's appearance, and counterfeiters can provide fake identification. But God can't be eluded. His watchful eye can see through any disguise. The one who has deceived those around him has yet to reckon with the One above him. Others may be baffled, but God knows and sees it all.
If you feel a victim of deception, rest assured that God has not been taken in. He has seen every deceitful deed and will eventually bring the guilty party to account. No hiding place is so secure that God's eye cannot see; no guilty party so clever that God will not bring him to justice.
Only a fool thinks he can fool God.
<><><><><><> <><><><><> <><><><> <><><> <><> <> <><> <><><> <><><><> <><><><><> <><><><><><>
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Almighty and Most Holy God,
I want all of my life to be lived out to Your glory, a living testament of thanks to You for the grace You have given me in Jesus. While I do not always do this as well as I would like, I lovingly offer You my words, my actions, my heart and my mind to bring You glory by doing Your will. Please, use your Spirit to remove the areas of self-deception from my life so that weakness and hypocrisy will not rob my discipleship of its intended worship of Your majesty. In the name of Jesus, my gracious Lord, I pray. Amen and Amen
Woodrow Kroll
Jeremiah 16:16-17 ~nkjv~
"Behold, I will send for many fishermen," says the Lord, "and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity hidden from My eyes."
A man went to steal some corn from his neighbor's field. As a safeguard, he took his little boy with him to keep a lookout. Before beginning the heist, the man looked all around. Not seeing anyone, he was just about to fill his bag when his son cried out, "Daddy, there's one way you haven't looked yet!" The father, supposing that someone was coming, asked his son which way he meant. The young lad answered, "You haven't looked up!" Conscience-stricken, the father took his boy by the hand and hurried home without the corn he had planned to take.
The people of Jeremiah's day were equally sure that they could commit their evil deeds without anyone knowing. But God warned them through His prophet that none of their iniquities were hidden from Him. Whichever way they might turn, whatever wickedness they might perpetrate, God's eye was on them. Even if they sought to hide under the waters, on the mountains or in a hole in the ground, God knew where to find them. Escape from His watchful gaze was impossible.
Technology today has increased astoundingly. Plastic surgeons can alter a person's appearance, and counterfeiters can provide fake identification. But God can't be eluded. His watchful eye can see through any disguise. The one who has deceived those around him has yet to reckon with the One above him. Others may be baffled, but God knows and sees it all.
If you feel a victim of deception, rest assured that God has not been taken in. He has seen every deceitful deed and will eventually bring the guilty party to account. No hiding place is so secure that God's eye cannot see; no guilty party so clever that God will not bring him to justice.
Only a fool thinks he can fool God.
<><><><><><> <><><><><> <><><><> <><><> <><> <> <><> <><><> <><><><> <><><><><> <><><><><><>
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Almighty and Most Holy God,
I want all of my life to be lived out to Your glory, a living testament of thanks to You for the grace You have given me in Jesus. While I do not always do this as well as I would like, I lovingly offer You my words, my actions, my heart and my mind to bring You glory by doing Your will. Please, use your Spirit to remove the areas of self-deception from my life so that weakness and hypocrisy will not rob my discipleship of its intended worship of Your majesty. In the name of Jesus, my gracious Lord, I pray. Amen and Amen
Surrender Part 2
SURRENDER Part 2
Vineyard Church NW - Jody Burgin
SURRENDER vs. Self-reliance
Yielding to the authority, direction, and gracious care of God
"I will…"
daily acknowledge to God that I need his power and direction.
consult God and his Word before making important decisions.
recognize and confess my stubborn self-will.
offer my life as a living sacrifice to God in attitude and actions.
This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name Matthew 6:9
A great Christian woman was asked how she prayed to God. She said:
“I pray as if I were to offer a petition to a monarch of whose kindness and wisdom I have the highest opinion. In such a case my language would be: ‘I wish you to bestow on me such a favor; but your majesty knows better than if it would be agreeable to you or right to grant my desire. I therefore content myself with humbly presenting my petition, and leave the results of it entirely to you!’”
The spirit of this prayer is the essence of the habit of surrender – yielding to the authority, direction, and gracious care of God. One prays expecting kindness and wisdom from the King, yet the prayer is already answered in the privilege of praying. Contentment comes from the asking itself.
Aren’t we all like little children who have a million requests to make to our heavenly Parent? As we clamor for this or that, we have no real idea of what is best for us. We know, however, that we can always ask. That freedom to request, that easy access to petition, is our greatest favor and honor. We are never turned away in our questioning, pleading – even crying – to God. If we trust him, we will also say that we “leave the results of it entirely to you.” God’s results are always good, always best, always right.
O Christ, you know what is best for me. Thank you for always hearing my request and giving me what I need.
Vineyard Church NW - Jody Burgin
SURRENDER vs. Self-reliance
Yielding to the authority, direction, and gracious care of God
"I will…"
daily acknowledge to God that I need his power and direction.
consult God and his Word before making important decisions.
recognize and confess my stubborn self-will.
offer my life as a living sacrifice to God in attitude and actions.
This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name Matthew 6:9
A great Christian woman was asked how she prayed to God. She said:
“I pray as if I were to offer a petition to a monarch of whose kindness and wisdom I have the highest opinion. In such a case my language would be: ‘I wish you to bestow on me such a favor; but your majesty knows better than if it would be agreeable to you or right to grant my desire. I therefore content myself with humbly presenting my petition, and leave the results of it entirely to you!’”
The spirit of this prayer is the essence of the habit of surrender – yielding to the authority, direction, and gracious care of God. One prays expecting kindness and wisdom from the King, yet the prayer is already answered in the privilege of praying. Contentment comes from the asking itself.
Aren’t we all like little children who have a million requests to make to our heavenly Parent? As we clamor for this or that, we have no real idea of what is best for us. We know, however, that we can always ask. That freedom to request, that easy access to petition, is our greatest favor and honor. We are never turned away in our questioning, pleading – even crying – to God. If we trust him, we will also say that we “leave the results of it entirely to you.” God’s results are always good, always best, always right.
O Christ, you know what is best for me. Thank you for always hearing my request and giving me what I need.
Rejection and Forgiveness Part 1
Rejection and Forgiveness - Part I
By Tracie Miles
Galatians 1:10, “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (NIV)
Devotion:
Rejection is something we all face in life. Rejection comes in many forms – affairs or divorce, supervisors who can’t be pleased, teenage rebellion, being turned down for a job, shut out from a club or sorority, or the betrayal of a friend. Although this list is not exhaustive, you get the idea. These things have one thing in common - they are painful, and very damaging to our self-esteem.
In the midst of rejection, we are so focused on ourselves that it is difficult to pull away from the hurt and think clearly or rationally. Our thoughts are often, How could that person have done/said that to me? Do they know how much I have done for them? Have they taken a hard look at themselves? We all share these thoughts when we are consumed with despair caused by hurtful words or actions from others.
There are three basic truths in handling rejection:
Truth #1: Understand that you are made in the image of God. We are told in Genesis 1:27 that God created man in His image. Men and women are God’s most unique works of art, His masterpieces! There is no one more valuable and precious than the children of God. Remember who you are in Christ and choose to see yourself through God’s eyes.
Truth #2: Rejection is only destructive when we internalize it, allowing it to creep into our personal belief system. Since we cannot control what other people think, we have no control over whether or not people approve of us. We are only in control of our own attitudes and beliefs. If we allow the opinions of others to affect the opinions we have of ourselves, then we are allowing those who hurt us to control our thoughts. If we keep our thoughts focused on how much God loves us, we won’t dwell on the opinions of others.
Truth #3: We can combat the destructive forces of rejection by understanding our position in Christ. We are God’s most prized possessions! Spend time focusing on who we matter to instead of who we don’t. We are told through out the first book of Peter that we are chosen, royal, holy, accepted, and instruments for God’s work. Our position is one of royalty, and we are each a significant instrument in God’s spiritual orchestra.
During painful times in our life, we can triumph if we remember that God is our strength. God is a forgiving God, and He desires for His children to be forgiving as well. He is sufficient to get us through our problems. He is our Almighty Redeemer. We do not need the world’s approval, and we will never be able to please everyone. We only need the approval of God. God is waiting to wash our souls with His grace and mercy to help us through any situation, but first we must have our spiritual eyes and ears open to hear His loving, comforting voice.
Dear Lord, I pray for Your wisdom on how to deal with situations in which I feel hurt, rejected, and worthless. Fill me with Your love so that I can forgive others. Help me remember that Your approval and acceptance is all I need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
The Confident Woman by Anabel Gillham
Do You Know Him?
Listen to Today's Radio Show
Application Steps:
Ask God to intervene in your situation, and help you forgive this person and mend your relationship. It may seem hopeless, but nothing is too big for God to handle.
Create two lists. List 1: write down all the wonderful traits, talents and skills that God has gifted you with. List 2: write down all the people in your life who love you. Seeing all these things on paper will help relieve the pain of the person(s) who made you feel unworthy and rejected.
Reflections:
Unforgiveness is poison to our soul – do you need to forgive someone who has hurt you? Are there people in your life that you would do anything to gain their approval? Would your behavior change if you were only concerned with God’s approval, not that of man?
Do you thank God daily for the privilege of being made in His image, and remember that you are beautifully and wonderfully made?
Power Verses:
Psalm 36:5, “Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.” (NIV)
1 Kings 8:50, “And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their conquerors to show them mercy.” (NIV)
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org
By Tracie Miles
Galatians 1:10, “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (NIV)
Devotion:
Rejection is something we all face in life. Rejection comes in many forms – affairs or divorce, supervisors who can’t be pleased, teenage rebellion, being turned down for a job, shut out from a club or sorority, or the betrayal of a friend. Although this list is not exhaustive, you get the idea. These things have one thing in common - they are painful, and very damaging to our self-esteem.
In the midst of rejection, we are so focused on ourselves that it is difficult to pull away from the hurt and think clearly or rationally. Our thoughts are often, How could that person have done/said that to me? Do they know how much I have done for them? Have they taken a hard look at themselves? We all share these thoughts when we are consumed with despair caused by hurtful words or actions from others.
There are three basic truths in handling rejection:
Truth #1: Understand that you are made in the image of God. We are told in Genesis 1:27 that God created man in His image. Men and women are God’s most unique works of art, His masterpieces! There is no one more valuable and precious than the children of God. Remember who you are in Christ and choose to see yourself through God’s eyes.
Truth #2: Rejection is only destructive when we internalize it, allowing it to creep into our personal belief system. Since we cannot control what other people think, we have no control over whether or not people approve of us. We are only in control of our own attitudes and beliefs. If we allow the opinions of others to affect the opinions we have of ourselves, then we are allowing those who hurt us to control our thoughts. If we keep our thoughts focused on how much God loves us, we won’t dwell on the opinions of others.
Truth #3: We can combat the destructive forces of rejection by understanding our position in Christ. We are God’s most prized possessions! Spend time focusing on who we matter to instead of who we don’t. We are told through out the first book of Peter that we are chosen, royal, holy, accepted, and instruments for God’s work. Our position is one of royalty, and we are each a significant instrument in God’s spiritual orchestra.
During painful times in our life, we can triumph if we remember that God is our strength. God is a forgiving God, and He desires for His children to be forgiving as well. He is sufficient to get us through our problems. He is our Almighty Redeemer. We do not need the world’s approval, and we will never be able to please everyone. We only need the approval of God. God is waiting to wash our souls with His grace and mercy to help us through any situation, but first we must have our spiritual eyes and ears open to hear His loving, comforting voice.
Dear Lord, I pray for Your wisdom on how to deal with situations in which I feel hurt, rejected, and worthless. Fill me with Your love so that I can forgive others. Help me remember that Your approval and acceptance is all I need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
The Confident Woman by Anabel Gillham
Do You Know Him?
Listen to Today's Radio Show
Application Steps:
Ask God to intervene in your situation, and help you forgive this person and mend your relationship. It may seem hopeless, but nothing is too big for God to handle.
Create two lists. List 1: write down all the wonderful traits, talents and skills that God has gifted you with. List 2: write down all the people in your life who love you. Seeing all these things on paper will help relieve the pain of the person(s) who made you feel unworthy and rejected.
Reflections:
Unforgiveness is poison to our soul – do you need to forgive someone who has hurt you? Are there people in your life that you would do anything to gain their approval? Would your behavior change if you were only concerned with God’s approval, not that of man?
Do you thank God daily for the privilege of being made in His image, and remember that you are beautifully and wonderfully made?
Power Verses:
Psalm 36:5, “Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.” (NIV)
1 Kings 8:50, “And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their conquerors to show them mercy.” (NIV)
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org
When the weather is wonderful
When the weather is wonderful, temperatures are pleasant, and a gentle breeze blows, people will sing:
“This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
But-
When the weather is horrible, temperatures are at the extremes, and perhaps the wind is a gale force, people aren’t as likely to sing.
Yet-
God makes both kinds of days!
We need to remember that God is good all the time.
His goodness is not dependent on how much we like our current situation!
That must have been Jeremiah’s perspective.
At a time when his soul was “downcast” within him-
- he could look beyond the immediate to the eternal! Lamentation 3:20.
Rather than allowing his circumstances to drag him down-
- he focused his attention on God’s faithfulness and said, “I have hope”.v. 21.
You probably know the next verse:
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” .v. 22.
It’s easy to sing the hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” when things are going well!
Yet-
- the verses from which that theme is taken do not come from a time of smooth sailing for the prophet.
Instead, it was a time of extreme difficulty.
Jeremiah knew that God is good all the time!
And that even in the worst of times He is faithful.
Even when life looks hopeless-
Remember that looks can be deceiving.
Hope in the ever- faithful God.
Ask God today to help you be a person of hope.
Don’t let the immediate cloud your view of the eternal.
Hope in the ever-faithful God!
Read Lamentation 3:19-26.============ ========= ========
“This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
But-
When the weather is horrible, temperatures are at the extremes, and perhaps the wind is a gale force, people aren’t as likely to sing.
Yet-
God makes both kinds of days!
We need to remember that God is good all the time.
His goodness is not dependent on how much we like our current situation!
That must have been Jeremiah’s perspective.
At a time when his soul was “downcast” within him-
- he could look beyond the immediate to the eternal! Lamentation 3:20.
Rather than allowing his circumstances to drag him down-
- he focused his attention on God’s faithfulness and said, “I have hope”.v. 21.
You probably know the next verse:
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” .v. 22.
It’s easy to sing the hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” when things are going well!
Yet-
- the verses from which that theme is taken do not come from a time of smooth sailing for the prophet.
Instead, it was a time of extreme difficulty.
Jeremiah knew that God is good all the time!
And that even in the worst of times He is faithful.
Even when life looks hopeless-
Remember that looks can be deceiving.
Hope in the ever- faithful God.
Ask God today to help you be a person of hope.
Don’t let the immediate cloud your view of the eternal.
Hope in the ever-faithful God!
Read Lamentation 3:19-26.============ ========= ========
Scripture of the day 6 March 07
Scripture of the Day
Daniel 2:19-23
19) Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20) Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
21) And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
22) He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
23) I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter. (KJV)
19During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 20and said: Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. 21 He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. 22 He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. 23 I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king. (NIV)
2:19 Then the secret was made clear to Daniel in a vision of the night. And Daniel gave blessing to the God of heaven. 2:20 And Daniel said in answer, May the name of God be praised for ever and ever: for wisdom and strength are his: 2:21 By him times and years are changed: by him kings are taken away and kings are lifted up: he gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those whose minds are awake: 2:22 He is the unveiler of deep and secret things: he has knowledge of what is in the dark, and the light has its living-place with him. 2:23 I give you praise and worship, O God of my fathers, who have given me wisdom and strength, and have now made clear to me what we were requesting from you: for you have given us knowledge of the king's business. (BBE)
Daily Devotional
Verses for the Day:
Proverbs 10:22-26
22) The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.23) It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.24) The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.25) As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.26) As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him. (KJV)
22The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it. 23A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom. 24What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted. 25When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever. 26As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is a sluggard to those who send him. (NIV)
10:22 The blessing of the Lord gives wealth: hard work makes it no greater. 10:23 It is sport to the foolish man to do evil, but the man of good sense takes delight in wisdom. 10:24 The thing feared by the evil-doer will come to him, but the upright man will get his desire. 10:25 When the storm-wind is past, the sinner is seen no longer, but the upright man is safe for ever. 10:26 Like acid drink to the teeth and as smoke to the eyes, so is the hater of work to those who send him. (BBE)
Thoughts for the Day:
This list of maxims in Proverbs makes some pointed statements about life in general. Verse 22 tells us that when we receive riches that are from the Lord, they do not come with sorrow. Prosperity that comes from God is given to those who follow and obey God. Many people who are prosperous find that their wealth has sorrow attached to it. When people have not given their money to God, they are continually fearful of losing it. Fear has torment and is a form of sorrow. Some wealthy people are surrounded by people who are not true friends. For the wealthy, friendship and companionship are often bought, and are not based on love and respect. Their money attracts people who are continually trying to con them out of it. Wealth that does not come from God is many times a replacement for God in their lives. Those with riches can buy anything they want, so they feel they do not need God. Their riches are really a curse, because they are missing the true riches from God -- love, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Verse 2 3 makes a comparison between a fool and a wise man. Those who are self confident fools are always getting into mischief and making sport of it. They love the attention. However, because they lack wisdom, they end up in trouble. I remember a number of years ago; we were visiting a coastal city during a hurricane warning. The news reporters were tracking the storm, and interviewing a crowd of young people who were drinking and having a "hurricane party" on a nearby island. They were warning people to leave the island as the hurricane was soon to strike there, before hitting the mainland. One particular young man was drunk and making sport of the whole thing in a very prideful and vocal way. He declared he was not leaving, nor was he afraid of a windstorm! He simply scoffed at the warnings.
A few hours later, the same television reporter stayed on the island and filmed the hurricane as it hit the hotel where the party was going on. He filmed a very terrifying scene. The large plate glass windows in the hotel that were facing the ocean suddenly were blown out when an explosion of glass and water sent all the party goers and the reporter running for cover to the basement. As the reporter was getting the last shots of this horrific scene, I noticed the same kid who had challenged this storm with his foolish words was running in fear, with the most terrified look on his face. He no longer was a mocker. The thing that he had scoffed was now a terrifying reality and he had no control over it. He was the epitome of the self confident fool the Bible speaks about. Many people today who scoff about God and mock Him will find themselves in the same predicament. They will eventually have to bow their knee to the Almighty God! The wise man, on the other hand, will have understanding and heed the warnings in the Word of God and kneel at His feet now.
Verse 24 says the fear of the wicked will come upon him. When men are out of the will of God, they experience fear. Most of them know that something bad can happen to them when they are sinning. If we are in rebellion and are disobeying God, we are in Satan's territory and we leave a door open for the devil to attack us. When bad things happen to us, it is not God punishing us, but rather the result of us leaving the protection of God. Fear is the opposite of faith, so if we allow fearful thoughts to rule our minds, we will believe the lies of the devil. Those bad things can happen, if we do not know how to overcome them with faith and repentance. However, if we repent and trust in God, the devil will have to flee with his temptations and we can walk in the Lord's mercy and grace. We are promised, as God's children, that we may have the righteous desires of our hearts.
James 4:7-8
7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
8) Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (KJV)
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (NIV)
4:7 For this cause be ruled by God; but make war on the Evil One and he will be put to flight before you. 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Make your hands clean, you evil-doers; put away deceit from your hearts, you false in mind. (BBE)
Verse 25 tells us that just like a tornado destroys everything in its path, the devil will destroy the wicked the same way. However, the righteous cannot be destroyed as we are eternal beings and we shall live forever with the Lord.
Romans 6:23
23) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (KJV)
23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)
6: 2 3 For the reward of sin is death; but what God freely gives is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. (BBE)
Verse 2 6 states how the "sluggard" affects people. What is the definition of a "sluggard?" It comes from the same root word as "sluggish" and it means someone who is habitually lazy or idle. We can see in this verse why we would not want to give the responsibility of sending a person like this to do a job. God does not choose people like this to do a job for Him either. If we desire to be used of God, we must first learn to work and do a good job for others. God is looking for faithful people who will take responsibility, so He may commission His work to them. The Amplified Bible translates verse 2 6 this way:
Proverbs 1 0: 2 6
As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who employ and send him. (AMP)
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Father, Thank You for giving us such good advice in the Bible. Give us the grace to heed it. Lord, help me to do a good job at each task that is before me. I want the works of my hands to glorify You. Lord, I ask You to keep Your hand of protection on me and my family and my loved ones. I pray for all who read this devotional that You will also protect and guide them. Reveal Yourself to them in a deeper way. Touch and heal them and bless each of them this very day. Give us all the grace to overcome the things in our lives that are not pleasing to You. You are so good to us, Lord. I am very thankful for all You are doing in my life and the wonderful work You are doing in the lives of Your people all over the world. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Keep each other in PrAyer and display HuMility. Have a BlEssed day and stay ENcourage.
God is Good All the Time!!!
Daniel 2:19-23
19) Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20) Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
21) And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
22) He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
23) I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter. (KJV)
19During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 20and said: Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. 21 He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. 22 He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. 23 I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king. (NIV)
2:19 Then the secret was made clear to Daniel in a vision of the night. And Daniel gave blessing to the God of heaven. 2:20 And Daniel said in answer, May the name of God be praised for ever and ever: for wisdom and strength are his: 2:21 By him times and years are changed: by him kings are taken away and kings are lifted up: he gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those whose minds are awake: 2:22 He is the unveiler of deep and secret things: he has knowledge of what is in the dark, and the light has its living-place with him. 2:23 I give you praise and worship, O God of my fathers, who have given me wisdom and strength, and have now made clear to me what we were requesting from you: for you have given us knowledge of the king's business. (BBE)
Daily Devotional
Verses for the Day:
Proverbs 10:22-26
22) The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.23) It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.24) The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.25) As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.26) As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him. (KJV)
22The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it. 23A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom. 24What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted. 25When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever. 26As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is a sluggard to those who send him. (NIV)
10:22 The blessing of the Lord gives wealth: hard work makes it no greater. 10:23 It is sport to the foolish man to do evil, but the man of good sense takes delight in wisdom. 10:24 The thing feared by the evil-doer will come to him, but the upright man will get his desire. 10:25 When the storm-wind is past, the sinner is seen no longer, but the upright man is safe for ever. 10:26 Like acid drink to the teeth and as smoke to the eyes, so is the hater of work to those who send him. (BBE)
Thoughts for the Day:
This list of maxims in Proverbs makes some pointed statements about life in general. Verse 22 tells us that when we receive riches that are from the Lord, they do not come with sorrow. Prosperity that comes from God is given to those who follow and obey God. Many people who are prosperous find that their wealth has sorrow attached to it. When people have not given their money to God, they are continually fearful of losing it. Fear has torment and is a form of sorrow. Some wealthy people are surrounded by people who are not true friends. For the wealthy, friendship and companionship are often bought, and are not based on love and respect. Their money attracts people who are continually trying to con them out of it. Wealth that does not come from God is many times a replacement for God in their lives. Those with riches can buy anything they want, so they feel they do not need God. Their riches are really a curse, because they are missing the true riches from God -- love, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Verse 2 3 makes a comparison between a fool and a wise man. Those who are self confident fools are always getting into mischief and making sport of it. They love the attention. However, because they lack wisdom, they end up in trouble. I remember a number of years ago; we were visiting a coastal city during a hurricane warning. The news reporters were tracking the storm, and interviewing a crowd of young people who were drinking and having a "hurricane party" on a nearby island. They were warning people to leave the island as the hurricane was soon to strike there, before hitting the mainland. One particular young man was drunk and making sport of the whole thing in a very prideful and vocal way. He declared he was not leaving, nor was he afraid of a windstorm! He simply scoffed at the warnings.
A few hours later, the same television reporter stayed on the island and filmed the hurricane as it hit the hotel where the party was going on. He filmed a very terrifying scene. The large plate glass windows in the hotel that were facing the ocean suddenly were blown out when an explosion of glass and water sent all the party goers and the reporter running for cover to the basement. As the reporter was getting the last shots of this horrific scene, I noticed the same kid who had challenged this storm with his foolish words was running in fear, with the most terrified look on his face. He no longer was a mocker. The thing that he had scoffed was now a terrifying reality and he had no control over it. He was the epitome of the self confident fool the Bible speaks about. Many people today who scoff about God and mock Him will find themselves in the same predicament. They will eventually have to bow their knee to the Almighty God! The wise man, on the other hand, will have understanding and heed the warnings in the Word of God and kneel at His feet now.
Verse 24 says the fear of the wicked will come upon him. When men are out of the will of God, they experience fear. Most of them know that something bad can happen to them when they are sinning. If we are in rebellion and are disobeying God, we are in Satan's territory and we leave a door open for the devil to attack us. When bad things happen to us, it is not God punishing us, but rather the result of us leaving the protection of God. Fear is the opposite of faith, so if we allow fearful thoughts to rule our minds, we will believe the lies of the devil. Those bad things can happen, if we do not know how to overcome them with faith and repentance. However, if we repent and trust in God, the devil will have to flee with his temptations and we can walk in the Lord's mercy and grace. We are promised, as God's children, that we may have the righteous desires of our hearts.
James 4:7-8
7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
8) Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (KJV)
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (NIV)
4:7 For this cause be ruled by God; but make war on the Evil One and he will be put to flight before you. 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Make your hands clean, you evil-doers; put away deceit from your hearts, you false in mind. (BBE)
Verse 25 tells us that just like a tornado destroys everything in its path, the devil will destroy the wicked the same way. However, the righteous cannot be destroyed as we are eternal beings and we shall live forever with the Lord.
Romans 6:23
23) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (KJV)
23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)
6: 2 3 For the reward of sin is death; but what God freely gives is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. (BBE)
Verse 2 6 states how the "sluggard" affects people. What is the definition of a "sluggard?" It comes from the same root word as "sluggish" and it means someone who is habitually lazy or idle. We can see in this verse why we would not want to give the responsibility of sending a person like this to do a job. God does not choose people like this to do a job for Him either. If we desire to be used of God, we must first learn to work and do a good job for others. God is looking for faithful people who will take responsibility, so He may commission His work to them. The Amplified Bible translates verse 2 6 this way:
Proverbs 1 0: 2 6
As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who employ and send him. (AMP)
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Father, Thank You for giving us such good advice in the Bible. Give us the grace to heed it. Lord, help me to do a good job at each task that is before me. I want the works of my hands to glorify You. Lord, I ask You to keep Your hand of protection on me and my family and my loved ones. I pray for all who read this devotional that You will also protect and guide them. Reveal Yourself to them in a deeper way. Touch and heal them and bless each of them this very day. Give us all the grace to overcome the things in our lives that are not pleasing to You. You are so good to us, Lord. I am very thankful for all You are doing in my life and the wonderful work You are doing in the lives of Your people all over the world. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Keep each other in PrAyer and display HuMility. Have a BlEssed day and stay ENcourage.
God is Good All the Time!!!
Because of you by John Fischer
Because of you
by John Fischer
by John Fischer
Your mission is to live your life.
In 1 Corinthians 7, the Apostle Paul addresses believers who are married to unbelievers, and outlines a general rule that if the unbelieving spouse chooses to stay in the marriage, it would be good for the believer to stay, too. He gives two reasons for this: First, the children will have a godly influence through the believing parent, and second, the unbeliever may be converted “because of you.” (1 Corinthians 7:16) (Exceptions to this rule would of course be situations of abuse and endangerment of a spouse or child.)
Just what does he mean by “because of you,” I wonder? Does it mean you are on a personal crusade to save your spouse? Does it mean that you will preach the Gospel to your spouse at every possible opportunity? Does it mean you will turn your house into a religious institution that coerces your spouse to either put up with Christianity or leave? No, it doesn’t mean any of these things.
It means simply what it says: “… because of you” – because of who you are, because of how you live, because of the way your faith affects everything you do, because of the way you carry on your life, because of the reality of Christ in your life. That’s it. No more; but certainly, no less. Paul is suggesting that living your life with a sense of purpose that comes from your faith in God is enough to convert someone.
It occurs to me that this could be applied to all believers in relation to life in the world among people with whom we work and associate who are not believers. General rule: Don’t leave the world. (Where would you go anyway?) Stay in the world – in relationships with unbelievers – for the chance that someone may be converted “because of you.”
We are not on a crusade; we are on a mission to live our lives according to God’s purposes. When we do that, we make possible an environment of change where a person who does not have a meaningful relationship with God might become curious about someone who does. “Because of you” is a statement of subtle influence, not coercion, and in the context of Paul’s advice in 1 Corinthians 7, it is a steady influence over time, as would be implied by a marriage. There’s nothing complex or even premeditated about a “because of you” influence. This is a believer going about the process of believing; and this is an unbeliever going over their life with a microscope, observing the good, the bad, and the ugly. Does not matter if God is there.
Thought for the day: Don’t ever sell short what God can do “because of you.”
Monday, March 5, 2007
Surrender Part 1 of 5
SURRENDER
Vineyard Church NW - Jody Burgin
SURRENDER vs. Self-reliance
Yielding to the authority, direction, and gracious care of God
The need to surrender to God's will is a central theme in Scripture. Abraham obeyed God's call to migrate to a foreign land. Moses yielded himself to God and led the Israelites to freedom, out of their Egyptian bondage. Jesus, when agonizing in the Garden of Gethsemane, prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42).
"I will…"
daily acknowledge to God that I need his power and direction.
consult God and his Word before making important decisions.
recognize and confess my stubborn self-will.
offer my life as a living sacrifice to God in attitude and actions.
“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
To love means to commit oneself without guarantees, to give oneself completely in the hope that the love given will live in the loved person. Love is an act of faith, and whoever is of little faith is also of little love.
Our intimacy with God is in direct proportion to the faith we place in God. The risk of surrender, “to give oneself completely,” is the core of spiritual health and hope. The more we trust, the more we risk and the more we love. The more we love, the more that love bears fruit. There are no guarantees in the risky business of loving others, but love is never wasted. The apostle Paul describes a love that “does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong… bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:5-7). Such love comes from the risk we take when we surrender.
Dear lover of my soul, teach me to love deeper, better and freer.
Vineyard Church NW - Jody Burgin
SURRENDER vs. Self-reliance
Yielding to the authority, direction, and gracious care of God
The need to surrender to God's will is a central theme in Scripture. Abraham obeyed God's call to migrate to a foreign land. Moses yielded himself to God and led the Israelites to freedom, out of their Egyptian bondage. Jesus, when agonizing in the Garden of Gethsemane, prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42).
"I will…"
daily acknowledge to God that I need his power and direction.
consult God and his Word before making important decisions.
recognize and confess my stubborn self-will.
offer my life as a living sacrifice to God in attitude and actions.
“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
To love means to commit oneself without guarantees, to give oneself completely in the hope that the love given will live in the loved person. Love is an act of faith, and whoever is of little faith is also of little love.
Our intimacy with God is in direct proportion to the faith we place in God. The risk of surrender, “to give oneself completely,” is the core of spiritual health and hope. The more we trust, the more we risk and the more we love. The more we love, the more that love bears fruit. There are no guarantees in the risky business of loving others, but love is never wasted. The apostle Paul describes a love that “does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong… bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:5-7). Such love comes from the risk we take when we surrender.
Dear lover of my soul, teach me to love deeper, better and freer.
Fearing God Part 5
March 5, 2007
Fearing God (Part Five)
by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
I will give heed to the blameless way. When wilt Thou come to me? I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart.
Psalm 101: 2
Some boys were tempting a young lad to pull a prank with them. The three young men taunted the other lad: "Come on, do this with us. Nobody will find out."
Finally, the boy mentioned his father. So they taunted him further. They said, "Oh, you're just afraid because if your father finds out he might hurt you!" And the boy looked back at the others and said, "No, I'm afraid if he finds out, it'll hurt him."
The more you fear God-the more you spend time in His presence-the more you dread displeasing Him. His presence in our lives shouldn't be a heavy yoke around our necks. But we need to have a healthy dread of displeasing or hurting or disappointing Him.
If you could stand before God today in His throne room and watch a video of your life with Him, would there be a smile on His face? Would He be nodding His head in approval, saying, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant?" Would you like to have the confidence right now that God is smiling? You can...by beginning to respect Him, to practice the presence of God daily and to make your choices on the basis of what pleases Him.
At any point of time during the day, I would like to be ready to be ushered into the presence of God and see a smile of approval on His face. I don't want Christianity to be a spare tire, fire insurance or something that is just there to bail me out of trouble. I want to walk with Jesus Christ moment by moment, yielded to the power of the Holy Spirit.
The fear of the Lord, then, should be a powerful, motivating factor in our lives. We shouldn't be legalistic about it-viewing God with a giant flyswatter in the sky, ready to crush us when we displease Him.
Let this new concept of a healthy fear of God refresh you. Let the presence of God refurbish you. Practicing Christ's presence in your life will set you free.
Suggested Prayer:
That your marriage would be characterized by the benefits of fearing God.
Discuss:
What will practicing the presence of God in your life liberate you to do?
2 Timothy 4:1-2
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.1 Thessalonians 3:13May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
I welcome your sharing or any prayer requests.May God's glory and presence be with you as you read His Words daily.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
God bless you all abundantly!
Fearing God (Part Five)
by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
I will give heed to the blameless way. When wilt Thou come to me? I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart.
Psalm 101: 2
Some boys were tempting a young lad to pull a prank with them. The three young men taunted the other lad: "Come on, do this with us. Nobody will find out."
Finally, the boy mentioned his father. So they taunted him further. They said, "Oh, you're just afraid because if your father finds out he might hurt you!" And the boy looked back at the others and said, "No, I'm afraid if he finds out, it'll hurt him."
The more you fear God-the more you spend time in His presence-the more you dread displeasing Him. His presence in our lives shouldn't be a heavy yoke around our necks. But we need to have a healthy dread of displeasing or hurting or disappointing Him.
If you could stand before God today in His throne room and watch a video of your life with Him, would there be a smile on His face? Would He be nodding His head in approval, saying, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant?" Would you like to have the confidence right now that God is smiling? You can...by beginning to respect Him, to practice the presence of God daily and to make your choices on the basis of what pleases Him.
At any point of time during the day, I would like to be ready to be ushered into the presence of God and see a smile of approval on His face. I don't want Christianity to be a spare tire, fire insurance or something that is just there to bail me out of trouble. I want to walk with Jesus Christ moment by moment, yielded to the power of the Holy Spirit.
The fear of the Lord, then, should be a powerful, motivating factor in our lives. We shouldn't be legalistic about it-viewing God with a giant flyswatter in the sky, ready to crush us when we displease Him.
Let this new concept of a healthy fear of God refresh you. Let the presence of God refurbish you. Practicing Christ's presence in your life will set you free.
Suggested Prayer:
That your marriage would be characterized by the benefits of fearing God.
Discuss:
What will practicing the presence of God in your life liberate you to do?
2 Timothy 4:1-2
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.1 Thessalonians 3:13May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
I welcome your sharing or any prayer requests.May God's glory and presence be with you as you read His Words daily.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
God bless you all abundantly!
ABC's of a Fruitful Life
ABC’s Of A Fruitful Life
Author Unknown
A lways put God first in your life.
B e a true friend and you will have many friends.
C ount and thank God for your many blessings daily.
D iscipline yourself. Decide to make your life count.
E dify and encourage others consistently.
F ollow great leaders and then become one.
G ive liberally and joyfully of your time, talents and means.
H ave an attitude of gratitude.
I nvert any negatives thrown your way. Turn them into positives.
J ourney through life one step and one day at a time.
K eep written goals set ahead. Make specific plans to accomplish them.
L ove and forgive everybody.
M aximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.
N ever, never, never give up!
O pen the door wide when opportunity knocks.
P ractice patience. Promote peace.
Q uit bad habits by replacing them with good habits.
R ead God's Word and other profitable material every chance you get.
S hare the Gospel whenever and wherever possible.
T ake time to appreciate everything and everyone God has given to you.
U se your God given common sense.
V isualize your dreams and stretch to reach for them.
W atch, listen and pray without ceasing.
X amine your motives on a regular basis.
Y ield to the Holy Spirit when He prompts you.
Z oom in on God's real purpose for your life.
Prayer
Father, use me to encourage your people to find their gifts to serve You. Use my faith
and conviction to help them dream bigger dreams for Your Kingdom and for their place
of service in that Kingdom. Raise up from our congregation great leaders for the future
of Your Church and for the cause of Christ. In Jesus' name. Amen and Amen
Author Unknown
A lways put God first in your life.
B e a true friend and you will have many friends.
C ount and thank God for your many blessings daily.
D iscipline yourself. Decide to make your life count.
E dify and encourage others consistently.
F ollow great leaders and then become one.
G ive liberally and joyfully of your time, talents and means.
H ave an attitude of gratitude.
I nvert any negatives thrown your way. Turn them into positives.
J ourney through life one step and one day at a time.
K eep written goals set ahead. Make specific plans to accomplish them.
L ove and forgive everybody.
M aximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.
N ever, never, never give up!
O pen the door wide when opportunity knocks.
P ractice patience. Promote peace.
Q uit bad habits by replacing them with good habits.
R ead God's Word and other profitable material every chance you get.
S hare the Gospel whenever and wherever possible.
T ake time to appreciate everything and everyone God has given to you.
U se your God given common sense.
V isualize your dreams and stretch to reach for them.
W atch, listen and pray without ceasing.
X amine your motives on a regular basis.
Y ield to the Holy Spirit when He prompts you.
Z oom in on God's real purpose for your life.
Prayer
Father, use me to encourage your people to find their gifts to serve You. Use my faith
and conviction to help them dream bigger dreams for Your Kingdom and for their place
of service in that Kingdom. Raise up from our congregation great leaders for the future
of Your Church and for the cause of Christ. In Jesus' name. Amen and Amen
Dancing with God
When I meditated on the word, Guidance, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.
When I saw "G", I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i".
"God", "u" and "i" dance."
God, you and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday.
May you abide in God as God abides in you.
Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.
I hope you dance!
-- Author Unknown
I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.
When I saw "G", I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i".
"God", "u" and "i" dance."
God, you and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday.
May you abide in God as God abides in you.
Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.
I hope you dance!
-- Author Unknown
The Greatest Test by Os Hillman
The Greatest Test
By Os Hillman
I know, my God, that You test the heart and are pleased with integrity.
1 Chronicles 29:17
God tests His children to know what is in their hearts. God's desire for each of His children is to walk in relationship with Him, to uphold His righteousness and integrity. It is a high calling that we will fail to achieve without complete dependence on Him.
The greatest tests come not in great adversities, but in great prosperity. For it is in prosperity that we begin to lose the sensitivity to sin in our lives. Adversity motivates us to righteousness out of a desire to see our adversity changed. Prosperity fails to provide this motivation for obedience. We fall into a satisfaction and confidence in life that is based on our prosperity rather than on God.
Hezekiah was a great godly king. He was a faithful, God-honoring king most of his life, but toward the end he became proud. God wanted to find out if he would still honor Him and recognize His blessings in his life. He failed the test when God sent an envoy to his palace to inquire about a miracle that God performed on behalf of Hezekiah. The test was designed to find out if Hezekiah would publicly acknowledge the miracle performed on his behalf.
But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart (2 Chronicle 32:31).
Hezekiah's failure resulted in his children failing to carry on as rulers of Israel, and the nation would eventually be taken over by Babylon.
The lesson of Hezekiah is clear. If we are to remain faithful to our Lord, we must remain steadfast in our obedience to Him. Prosperity can be our greatest test. Ask the Lord to give you the grace to be a faithful follower during times of prosperity.
By Os Hillman
I know, my God, that You test the heart and are pleased with integrity.
1 Chronicles 29:17
God tests His children to know what is in their hearts. God's desire for each of His children is to walk in relationship with Him, to uphold His righteousness and integrity. It is a high calling that we will fail to achieve without complete dependence on Him.
The greatest tests come not in great adversities, but in great prosperity. For it is in prosperity that we begin to lose the sensitivity to sin in our lives. Adversity motivates us to righteousness out of a desire to see our adversity changed. Prosperity fails to provide this motivation for obedience. We fall into a satisfaction and confidence in life that is based on our prosperity rather than on God.
Hezekiah was a great godly king. He was a faithful, God-honoring king most of his life, but toward the end he became proud. God wanted to find out if he would still honor Him and recognize His blessings in his life. He failed the test when God sent an envoy to his palace to inquire about a miracle that God performed on behalf of Hezekiah. The test was designed to find out if Hezekiah would publicly acknowledge the miracle performed on his behalf.
But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart (2 Chronicle 32:31).
Hezekiah's failure resulted in his children failing to carry on as rulers of Israel, and the nation would eventually be taken over by Babylon.
The lesson of Hezekiah is clear. If we are to remain faithful to our Lord, we must remain steadfast in our obedience to Him. Prosperity can be our greatest test. Ask the Lord to give you the grace to be a faithful follower during times of prosperity.
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