Don’t Worry, BE HAPPY

Problems and troubles don’t take a break just because the holiday season is upon us. Matter of fact, there seems to be MORE than the usual load of burdens lately. Sickness, separation, and sorrow have all paid recent visits to members of my own family and my congregation. I COULD be worried out of my noggin.

I could be worried, . . . but I’m NOT.

Instead, I am CHOOSING to follow the scriptural commandments found in Proverbs 3:5-6. It reads, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”

By living by these words daily, I am buoyed in any crisis that may arise. Like the Weebles (anyone remember them?), I “wobble, but I don’t fall down.” Like Timex watches, I can “take a licking and keep on ticking.”

And if I can do it, ANY ONE can do it. Don’t believe me? Then try practicing this promise from God: “I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

If you’re under a load of cares and concerns, I encourage you not to worry about them. Instead, “in everything by prayer and supplication, let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God that passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ” (Philippians 4:6-7).

So don’t worry, . . . BE HAPPY!

[Youtube]v=d-diB65scQU&feature=fvst[Youtube]

Today’s PRAYER

May today there be peace within you.

May you trust ME that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you see those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you bve content knowing that you are a child of MINE.

Let MY presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, to dance, and to bask in the SON.

I AM here for each and every one of you.

Why PRAY

Prayer.

The very word, depending upon your personal beliefs and/or experiences, generates mixed emotions ranging from apathy to excitement.

By definition, prayer involves communing with Me. Some of you do so regularly with deep convictions that I both hear and will anwser you in the manner you so desire. The problem I have with such prayers is that you do all the talking (begging, whining, demanding, pleading) and seldom (if ever) take the time to listen to what I might want/need to say to you.

Many of you, however, don’t commune with Me regularly. In most cases when you do talk to Me, it’s only because you feel like you have no choice or like you have nothing to lose. Still, I hear and respond to you every time, but often you are too emotionally-driven to recognize My still, small voice.

A lot of you enjoy pretending that you are talking to Me when, in reality, you are merely attempting to impress the people who may be listening. The reason I know this is because when there is no audience around, you barely have anything to say at all.

So many of you have been so disappointed in prayer (mainly because you’ve limited Me and My answers to your own, lowly expectations) that in your anger and disillusionment you actually refuse to commune with Me (like I can’t read your minds and don’t already know what you’re thinking).

Whether you choose to commune with Me (or not), however you prefer to commune with Me (loudly in front of a crowd, silently alone, or somewhere in between), know this: I AM LISTENING. I HEAR YOU EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T SAY A WORD. AND I TRULY UNDERSTAND.

More importantly, I WANT TO HELP YOU BY BEING PRESENT TO YOU ALL THE TIME.

That’s why you need to commune with Me continually. Don’t EVER think I AM unconcerned, too busy, or indifferent to your feelings and/or your situation. Believe Me, I LOVE AND CARE ABOUT YOU MORE THAN YOU’LL EVER COMPREHEND IN YOUR TIME ON EARTH.

So, starting here and now, why not CHANGE THE WAY YOU LOOK AT ME THROUGH PRAYER? Instead of making our commune a dry empty ritual, a meaningless coin toss, or a tirade of anger, try letting it be what it always was, is, and will be: LIVING IN MY UNCONDITIONAL, UNCHANGING, UNDYING LOVE FOR YOU. I guarantee you on MY Name, once you do this you will NEVER desire to return to monologues and/or the silent treatment.

I AM and I am waiting. For you. Always.

So. PRAY.

TAKEN Over

We’re living in a day when the Holy Ghost is being poured out on all flesh. Are we ready for a Holy Ghost takeover?

Do we want to see the Holy Ghost move everywhere no matter what happens afterwards? Are we hungry and thirsty after God’s righteousness enough for the Spirit to refill us again and again? Do we want our churches, our homes, our neighborhoods, our cities, our states, our nation and all the nations of the earth to be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea?
If our answer to each of these questions is “Yes,” I challenge us to prepare ourselves for unexpected blessings and miracles. Let’s keep our eyes, ears and hearts open to the Holy Ghost’s directions. When we sense Him leading us to follow a certain commandment, let’s be quick to obey Him.
As we allow Him to lead us, the Holy Ghost will guide us into all truth. He will bring to our remembrance the things Jesus said and did.

He will reveal the future to you through dreams and visions. He will empower us to lay hands on the sick and they be healed. He will enable us to cast the devil out of people’s minds and emotions. Yokes will be destroyed because of the anointing of God’s Spirit in our lives. By the Holy Ghost, we will challenge demons and wickedness in high places without fear. In the Spirit, we will wage spiritual warfare in the heavens and conquer Satan’s strongholds knowing that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.

By the Holy Ghost, we will become a dynamic witness and soul winners for Jesus everywhere that we go. Remember the early church in the Book of Acts. Everywhere they lived and worked, Holy Ghost powered revival broke out and souls were converted by the thousands. Jesus said the Holy Ghost would convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment.

He will give us wisdom to deal with every situation and always have the correct answer to any questions someone may asks us. He will make us more effective and productive in everything that we do. He will move us with increased compassion to act on behalf of those who have been bound by sin and wickedness.

He will supernaturally protect us from dangers seen and unseen. He will transport us out of your natural bodies into the spirit world where we will see and hear things too wonderful and marvelous for us to even imagine. He will fill us with more love for the Lord than we ever have experienced before in your entire life.
One day, He will cause us to be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. He will change us from mortal to immortal in the twinkling of an eye. He will make our bodies into ones just like the Lord Jesus’ resurrected body.

If your answer to any of the questions is “No,” I warn you to be prepared for unexpected judgments and punishments. When the Holy Ghost takes over, liars are going to drop dead in church. Remember Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5.

When the Holy Ghost takes over, evil thoughts, wicked desires and secret sins are going to be exposed to your shame and disgrace. Remember Barjesus the socerer in Acts 13.

When the Holy Ghost takes over, everyone is going to know who is truly serving the Lord and who is not serving Him. Remember Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Remember the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19.

When the Holy Ghost takes over, God’s enemies are going to suffer in the worst possible way. Remember King Herod in Acts 12.

Remember, as God spoke to Zerrubabel , “Not by power, not by might, but by My Spirit, says the Lord.” May you and I be found caught up in the Holy Ghost as he takes over is my prayer in Jesus’ name.

Managing MADNESS

Anger is a reality within every human soul. Everyone becomes angry at some time about something or someone else’s actions. Anger manifests itself in a variety of ways, ranging from mild annoyance to murderous violence.

Often anger causes us to say harsh, cruel, even hateful things to others. By the time we realize the mental and emotional anguish our words have caused the damage has been done. Physical wounds usually heal themselves with time, but emotional wounds can linger for years if not acknowledged and healed.

How then do we manage anger in a godly manner? We usually attempt to deny we are even upset by what we perceive as some wrong word or mistreatment. When denial fails, we attempt to justify our anger. In truth, neither denial nor justification of anger meets the requirements of God’s Word. As James 1:20 tells us, “The wrath (anger) of man works not the righteousness of God.”

Yet anger is a legitimate, God-given emotion which, when channeled appropriately, can provide energy and inspiration for positive change. For a few moments, allow me to share with you some of the spiritual weapons God as promised to help us fight the urge to sin when we become angry:

Meditation Upon God. The Lord has promised in Isaiah 26:3, “I will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed upon Me; because he trusteth in Me.” Looking to God and remembering that He is always in control equips us to handle the temporary circumstances that would provoke us to say or do something we might later regret.

A Slow Response. Ecclesiastes 7:9 tells us, “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry.” By thinking before we speak, we can respond positively rather than react negatively to the source of our agitation.

A Gentle Reply. In Proverbs 15:1, we find “A soft answer turns away wrath.” By maintaining a calm tone in our voice and speaking respectfully and wisely, we can diffuse a potentially explosive situation. Remember, it takes two to fight.

A Forgiving Spirit. Our Lord Jesus demonstrated this principle in His prayer from Calvary’s cross: “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Rather than become judgmental and see the other person as an enemy and yourself as the wrongfully injured party, consider that both you and they are the beneficiaries of God’s mercies and therefore have no legal right to retaliate.

The Golden Rule. We have been commanded to do unto others as we would have them do unto us (Matthew 7:12). No doubt each and every one of us would like for others to always treat us nicely whether we deserve such treatment or not. What better way to curb our anger and glorify God than by demonstrating good to the ones who seem to deserve it least?

A Positive Outlook. Nehemiah 8:3 declares, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” By maintaining a generally optimistic attitude toward yourself and your life, you will be better prepared for the times when you encounter someone else’s negativity. Don’t live life harboring resentment and self-pity, which build a nest for angry emotions to rest in. Remember, “Anger rests in the bosom of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:9).

Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving. The apostle Paul exhorted the saints in Philippians 4:6-7 to “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. By keeping prayers in our hearts and praises upon our lips, we can avoid saying things that stir up anger.

In conclusion, may we always remember that James 1:8 told us to be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving ourselves. In other words, the only way to manager our anger effectively is by putting these principles from scripture into our daily lives through practice. May God bless and keep us as we do so.

Next Page »