The Answer

Father I stretch my hand to thee! In thee I trust and I believe.


We don't have the answers. We are not purposed to have the answers. We are designed to trust in HIM with unwaivering faith. HE knows the end and the reasons why. We shouldn't spend another moment trying to figure it out. Ask HIM! He knows, so ask HIM. Then wait. Wait for the answer to your question. Don't rush it. Don't try go out and ask someone else. Wait. If HE wants the answer revealed to you through another, then HE will arrange for them to tell you. It will be HIM working through them to provide it. You will also get confirmation of the answer. Not your answer but HIS answer. Sometimes the answers are immediate. If you know the voice of God, then you may hear it in your spirit. Note this is not our answer, but HIS answer. Sometimes the answer comes slowly. It comes after things have taken place in such a manner that you will then recognize the answer. Nevertheless, if you ask, IN FAITH, in HIS will, in Jesus name, then you shall receive...the answer.

You say, " Well what if I don't understand the answer or wanted another answer. Take this one back and give me another one! " (smile) Once again, we are not designed to have the answers. HE has the answers. Ask HIM to make it plain. Make it clear for your understanding. Then continue to trust in HIM. Have faith in HIM. He is Our Father. Our Deliverer. Our Savior. Our Healer. Our Strength. Our Everything.

Even as you go through, HE is the answer. Even when you lose a loved one, HE is the answer. Even when you don't know what else to do, HE is the answer. Even when your eyes are filled with tears and you can't see your way, HE will see you through. Trust and depend on HIM and Always Push Forward!

1John 5:14-15 "And this is the confidence that we have in HIM, that, if we ask any thing according to HIS will, HE heareth us: and if we know that HE hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."

Breaking the Line

A group of us were standing in a LONG line. We'd been standing there for at least 20 minutes, waiting for the doors to open. I watched as a couple strolled up and waited in the front. They were oblivious to all of us who'd been waiting. They had an air about them as if they were supposed to be in the front. As the doors opened I watched them waltz on in ahead of all of us. I started to get mad but then I realized that I was close to the front and there were plenty of seats. No need to worry or be concerned. I then had a quick thought about heaven. How great it will be when we enter the gates. We won't be angry. We won't care who is in the front. We will just be happy to be there. Then there will be a real praise party.




Then I thought about my Savior. Suppose He was to come back while I was standing outside in that line. I immediately felt my chest rise with pride. The Holy Spirit reminded me that I am entitled! Entitled to fellowship with Him now. Entitled to enjoy my relationship with Him. Entitled to bask in His presence. What an awesome feeling. If He were to crack the sky right then, the non-beleivers would be left behind standing in the line and whether or not someone else got in first wouldn't matter at all.



Sometimes we just have to stop and put things in perspective. Alot of the little things we worry about aren't worth a second thought. People around us do things that bother us, we get upset, and they go on about their lives unphased because they didn't even know they'd done anything. Let's make it a point to try and not sweat the small stuff. Yes, we are human with human emotions. We are going to get riled up every now and again but for the most part, let's focus on the BIG picture and as always push forward.



1 Thessalonians 4:15-17...and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.

Forward Focused Faith

No matter what happened before you went to sleep, the morning brings brand new mercies. Before I open my eyes in the mornings, I tell the Lord, “Thank you for another day. Another opportunity to get it right! (SMILE)
I read this is Judy Jacobs’s book today and it spoke to me. It was so powerful; I wanted to share it with you all. It said, “Don’t let regrets make you miss your moment. Let the past go and forget it. Don't get stalled in regrets. Do not allow the distraction of looking at the past cause you to miss enjoying your now.
That's powerful people. How often does the enemy bring to your remembrance something that occurred in your past just as you are enjoying your present? He is quick to remind you of something that has long passed. There is nothing that you can do about it now. It's over. It's done with. You can't go backward. My pastor always said, "If you are driving while looking in the rear view mirror you are going to hit something. The windshield is big for a reason. It's there for you to look forward."

Instead of focusing on what happened or could have or should have happened, focus on what is going to happen. Follow God’s example and speak those things into existence. In Romans 4, It states “…God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were…..” Focus on the power within you and follow through on the plans that are ahead. In the book the Power of Focus by Jack Canfield, it states, "Everything you want is on the other side of fear!" Picture a wall that you need to get over and what you want is on the other side. That wall is called FEAR. If you are afraid to even approach the wall then how are you going to get to the other side? Fear is one of the enemy's weapons. If he can prevent you from trying he doesn't have to worry about your accomplishments. Then he throws in some doubt plus worry and what do you have nothing. That's right. You are stalled. Stuck and unable to move forward!

There is a solution. You can get over that wall by talking a leap of FAITH! Faith in GOD! Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. (New Living Translation)” In the book, “Putting your Faith into Action Today” there is a poem which states,”Faith is leaping across the gaps between the known and the unknown! The actual and the possible-the grasp and the reach! There is always a chasm between where you are and where you are going-by faith make the leap forward.

When you find yourself stalled out, repeat this phrase. “FORWARD, FOCUSED, FAITH”. Pushing forward, focusing on my future, with faith in my GOD! That’s cause for a praise break!

Father God,

Thank you for another day. Thank you for allowing me another opportunity to be your willing vessel and praise your name. Thank you for keeping my mind focused on you. I pray right now that all that are reading this are blessed beyond measure. Bless their coming and going. Cover them in every aspect of their lives. You are all powerful and able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we may ask or think. You know the desires of our hearts Lord. Grant us that Forward Focused Faith. In Jesus most precious, magnificent, matchless name. Amen!

I WILL GO

Would you do it? Would you volunteer? You know…...to lay down your life! To die for someone else! You know for folks that have done wrong. Sinners! You know those people. The ones that lie, cheat, steal, gossip. People that are mean spirited, evil and malicious. The ones that smile in your face and talk about you behind your back. Would you do it? Could you do it? Would you even consider it?


HE did! He died so that we might live. Live an eternal life with our FATHER. Galatians 4:4-5 says: “But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights.” Did you hear that? So that we, you and me could become HIS children, joint heirs with full rights! All for us!

That’s so powerful. He was born, lived, preached, healed, saved , tortured, beaten, bruised, crucified and raised from the dead with ALL POWER so that we can have ETERNAL life. So that we can call GOD our FATHER! So that we can say “Father, I’m sorry! Please forgive me for I have sinned.” And because we are imperfect humans, we do it again and we say, “Father, I am such a wretch Lord, I have sinned again. I continue to sin Lord, please forgive me and He does!” Isn’t that awesome! He loves us just that much. Unconditional love. Agape love. There is rest in HIM. Peace in HIM. Hope in HIM. LIFE in HIM!

As we celebrate Maundy Thursday…. The commemoration of the Last Supper, take a moment and think of all that HE continues to do for you. How HE blesses you. Thank him for your right mind, your sight, your ……… (take it from here..fill in the blanks)! The blessings become too numerous to count. I am thankful for Jesus, for you, my friends and family. I love you and continue to Push Forward!

Why is Life so Hard?

Okay people. I’m going to put it out there. “Why is life hard?” There, I said it! Come on! Don’t act like you’ve never said that before or thought it. I’ve heard people go so far to say, “Why are we here if this is all there is to it. There has to be a better way!”


Of course there is a better way. In Matthew 11:30, Jesus says “For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." (NIV). In that HE is saying that HE knows that sin makes life hard. We are shaped in sin. Sin is a part of our everyday life therefore life is not going to always be easy. Yes, some days are better than others, but while we are in this flesh, we are sinners. Yes, we repent, but we are still shaped in sin. Romans 7:20 (amplified) explains “Now if I do what I do not desire to do, it is no longer I doing it [it is not myself that acts], but the SIN [principle] which dwells WITHIN me [[c]fixed and operating in my soul]. The good news is that when we are in Christ, HE bears the sin thus making our burdens easier. HE alone is the one that can save us. HE doesn’t say that we won’t have burdens and that as Christians, we are exempt. He is saying that our burdens are lighter and we can rest in HIM.

Have you ever seen a yoke? A yoke is a shaped wooden CROSSpiece bound to the necks of a pair of oxen or horses. It is held on the animals' necks. It transmits force between the animals' shoulders making it easier to carry a load. Imagine that you are going through a tough trial and you are all alone. You are trying to carry this heavy burden on your shoulders and the more you try to walk the heavier it gets until you are almost crawling on the ground. THEN you call on JESUS and you become yoked with HIM. He is strong and equipped. He picks up the burden you are carrying and walks beside you. Did you just feel that relief!! The awe in knowing that HE cares enough about you to carry you! The burden just got easier. Once again, it didn’t go away but now you can rest in HIM. That’s incredible news.

I leave you with this. One of my favorite songs is “Stand” by Donnie McClurkin. In it he says, after you’ve prayed and cried and have done all that you can, you just STAND. I know that I can Stand up and strong when I am yoked to Jesus. HE is there to dust my knees off, STAND me up and allow me to push forward. That is my prayer for you today, STAND, in Jesus’ name… Amen!

Warning! Self Esteem killer on the loose!

“My self esteem is shot!” Wow! How painful! The very core of someone’s being has been damaged. It has been torn apart by the enemy as he roams to and fro, seeking to destroy anything that is good. It’s time to fight!

SHOT!

To hear that someone has been shot brings to mind a painful scene. The first thing we ask is if they are okay? We wonder if they are severely injured or near death. SHOT! It’s a scary thought, a scary thing to hear about. Yes, we hear about someone getting shot on the news all of the time. It’s become a standard part of life. Crimes are reported every day. We can become de-sensitized to it until we hear about someone that we know. Then it becomes personal.

CALL 911

We should feel the same way, when we hear that someone’s self esteem has been tattered, torn or possibly destroyed. It’s serious. Immediate aid is needed. The same special care should be taken. We should ask, if they are okay. We should ask how badly they are injured and pray with them to assist them in healing. They may not be dead physically, but what about spiritually or mentally. We should care. We have to care and we have to act quickly to as in any 911 situation. We have to minimize the damage as soon as possible.

FIGHTING FOR VICTORY!

How do we react you may ask. We have to fight. We have to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11) Gird ourselves up! Pull out our swords (the word) and fight! Don’t cower. That’s what the enemy wants us to do. He wants us to be fearful, hide and slink into a corner defeated. Once he senses that we are weak, he will send out all kinds of attacks because he senses a victory. Once again, he is a confused. We are God’s chosen children. We have to face him head on and call him out for the liar that he is. Speak it out loud! “I am God’s child! I am chosen! God carefully put me together and personally planned my life and my purpose! I will carry it out! HE has promises for my life! The war is already won and I am a winner, a winner in HIM, in Jesus name.. Amen!!

HEALED

Don’t you feel better??? Whew, I do! Just speaking the word back to HIM makes HIM smile. HE is ready and willing to come to our defense. The WORD causes the enemy to flee!

A friend of mine shared a word with us at practice tonight. He said that he’d heard someone say, that “God honors HIS word over HIS name!” HIS WORD! All of HIS promises are YES and I believe it and receive it! IN HIM we ARE healed! Confidence is restored! Worth intact! HEALED!

Hurdles-How I Got Over!

Hurdles- How I got over!!


Have you ever run hurdles? It’s all about skill, timing and mindset. When I was growing up, I had the skill. I could run and I was fast. My 9th grade gym teacher recognized this and asked me to run track. One of the events that she wanted me to participate in was the hurdles. She figured a cheerleader that could run would be a perfect combination. The training began with timing. She had me count out the steps between the hurdles to teach me the rhythm. Then a problem presented itself. I didn’t have the mindset. Seeing those hurdles placed in front of me seemed like a daunting task. How in the world was I going to do this? Keep in mind, I liked to excel at everything that I did and this was not coming easily. I knew that in order to get to the finish line, I had to clear them. If my timing was off, I would either fall or knock the hurdles down. A misstep could actually cause me to lose the race! More about this later…

PERCEPTION VS REALITY

Those hurdles looked like HUGE obstacles to me. It was the perception. Just as in life, if we allow our hurdles to scare us, we are already defeated. We can easily psyche ourselves out of running. Every step toward them may cause us to pause, stop or turn around. We begin to tell ourselves that there is no way we will ever be able to get over the hurdle. What do we do then? Give up and quit! Defeated!

On the other hand, there is another choice. We can choose to face the hurdle head on! Instead of a defeatist attitude, we can choose to win. Our hurdles are not insurmountable. The hurdle event in track and field is defined as a sport where the sprinter runs over the hurdle or barrier. RUN over the barrier!! That’s right. The barriers are there but it is expected that we RUN OVER THEM! That’s good to me people. If it was an impossible task then there would be no need for the sport. That’s the same for you and me. Barriers may be in front of us. The hurdles may appear monumental BUT with faith in GOD all things are possible. With perseverance and HIS help, all things can be won! We can clear those hurdles. When we cross the finish line and look back and see how we got over, we can see why the barriers were there. There to show us that we can do it. There to teach a lesson and growth. Showing us that we CAN push forward!

I AM A WINNER

Back in the 9th grade, the hurdles won. I let them defeat me. I gave up and moved onto to something else. Although, I gave up, I learned a valuable lesson from that experience. I learned that I should have stuck with it. I shouldn’t have let the fear of failing get in my way. I learned that although I was intimidated by the task, it was only my perception. It wasn’t real. I have taken that lesson and used it in life. Used it to remind me to push forward, even when I don’t feel like it! Push forward, even when I don’t want to because the end result will be oh so sweet! We can win the race! We are victorious and we are winners! In Jesus name, AMEN!

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7