When the Spirit Guides

Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot."
– Acts 8:29

Are you aware that the Holy Spirit is constantly with you, walking beside you?  Do you feel Him helping you in your day-to-day activities?  I think that sometimes, the Holy Spirit is the most neglected of the Trinity and He is the One who is here expressly to help us get through this thing called life.

I like to think of the Holy Spirit like a fishing guide.  My brother and I took a fishing trip one time and we hired a guide because we were going to a lake we had never been to before.  When we got to the lake, the guide had everything ready for us – all the tools we would need for a successful trip.  He had all of the tackle and bait prepared, the boat was fueled up and ready to go, he checked the weather reports, and he had already consulted with other resources to make sure that we would be fishing in spots that would yield the best catches and result in a memorable outing.

Had we not hired a guide, we would have gone to the bait store and just guessed at what to get; we would have driven around the lake and picked a spot based on proximity to parking (since we didn't have a boat); we would have thrown our line in the water blindly hoping that a fish would swim by – our trip would probably have been unsuccessful.  And while I'm sure we would have had a good time, we would not have had a fruitful time.

The Holy Spirit is like the guide – He knows your life and He knows the situations you are going to encounter today.  Listen for His voice and you just might hear Him say, "throw your line over there, I want you to talk to that person," or "try this approach, This person needs to hear some kind words today."  Let Him guide you through your day and let Him use you to reach this hurting world – you will be amazed at the success you have navigating through this thing called life.

Prayer
Lord, I thank You for Your wisdom in providing the Holy Spirit as a helper for my life.  I know sometimes I neglect or even ignore His promptings and for that I am so sorry.  Help me to have an ear to hear His promptings and the courage to act on them.  I pray that I will never be too busy to listen to Him because I know that He is helping me fulfill Your plan for my life.  I welcome Your Spirit right now and I ask that You use me Lord, use me to reach your world, through the divine guidance of Your Holy Spirit.

Have a Blessed day everyone!

No Matter What!

At about that same time, Abimelech and the captain of his troops, Phicol, spoke to Abraham: “No matter what you do, God is on your side."
– Genesis 21: 22

Do you know that people are watching you? They observe how even though you face the same day that they face, you always seem to get through your day with a smile and things just seem to work out for you. They see it, and they know it, and they wish they had what you have – they want to know your secret.

When we build a Love Relationship with Jesus, our light shines brightly even while those around us are dimming and fading. It's not by accident and it isn't a fluke ...it's because of the Light and the Love that shines within us. It's because we live in the F.O.G. (Favor of God), and that means that no matter what we do, no matter what we face each day ...God surrounds us with His Favor.

The deeper the Love-Relationship you have with Jesus, the greater the F.O.G. in your life. The greater the F.O.G., the more the world around you notices and marvels, and the greater the witness you are ...simply by living your life.

Dive deep into God's Word today and build that Love-Relationship that will establish your Favor of God. His Grace for your life will never fail ...because God is on your side.

Be Blessed my Brothers and Sisters!

He Knows Your Ways

8  Abram said, “Master God, how am I to know this, that it will all be mine?”
9  God said, “Bring me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, and a dove and a young pigeon.”

– Genesis 15: 8-9

Our God sure is a patient, Loving, and Understanding Father!

I would have answered with something like ..."WHAT?! How DARE you question me!?"
It's a good thing I'm not God!

God knows exactly what we need from Him to bolster our faith. He knows our customs and our understanding of how the world works (even if it isn't accurate). He know, He knows, He knows.

He knew Abram as well, and He knew that Abram had a deep need to serve Him (God) in the tradition of his people – with the offering of sacrifices, so He answered Abram in a way that would speak to Abram's spirit and give him the confidence he needed to Believe.

Each one of us hears from God in our own special way, because each of our walks is different – our lives are different, our experiences are different, and our knowledge of God is different depending on the relationship we've built with Him.

So don't expect God to answer your prayers the same way He answers your neighbor's. His answer for you will be Lovingly and exclusively yours, and it will be delivered in a way that speaks to your special relationship and unique to your walk and present circumstances.

God LOVES you!
He KNOWS you!
He HEARS you!
And He WILL answer you – yes YOU – in a way that will strengthen your faith in Him.

God  doesn't mind when you question Him ...especially when you are trying to develop the deep Love Relationship that He desires.

Be Blessed my Brothers and Sisters!

Believing God

And he believed!
Believed God!
God declared him "Set-Right-With-God."
– Genesis 15:6

We Believe a lot of things – some things we shouldn't ...but we do.

Really, there is only One important Truth in our lives that we need to believe in and if we do, the Truth will set-us-right-with-God!

What do you Believe in?
I mean REALLY Believe in – with your whole heart, your whole mind, and ALL of your heart? The easy answer would be to say, "I Believe in God!" But if you take an honest look at your beliefs, is there evidence to prove your statement?

• What about when the mortgage is due and you're running negative in your bank account?
• What about when you, or one of your loved ones is seriously sick?
• What about when everything around you seems to be falling apart?
• What about when you are worrying about something that hasn't, or might not even ever happen, but you're worried about it anyway?

We all experience times when God seems far away. But it's how we respond to those times that proves whether we truly Believe or not. Whether we Trust in God's Word and His Promises. Whether we trust in chariots, or whether we trust in the Name of the Lord our God.

Yes, it's easy to say, "I Believe in God!" But if so, then it's time to STOP worrying, and fretting, and questioning, and whining about every circumstance of your life, and it's time to START Standing, and Praying Faith Prayers, and denouncing the enemy, and Declaring God's Word in EVERY situation.

God doesn't want or need our lip service ...He wants our Heart ...ALL of our Heart, and ALL of our mind, and ALL of our love. He wants us to acknowledge Him as Lord of ALL of our lives – not just in the good times, but in the crazy, hectic, uncertain times that make up the majority of our existence here on earth.

He wants us to Know Him!
God wants us to Trust Him!
He wants us to Believe Him!

God Believes in You ...it's time to return the favor!

Dive into God's Word today and start Believing like you've never believed before. Let God declare you ..."Set-Right-With-God."

Be Blessed my Brothers and Sisters!

Get Behind God's Shield

After all these things, this word of God came to Abram in a vision: "Don't be afraid Abram. I'm your Shield. Your Reward will be grand!"
– Genesis 15: 1

Are you living with fear?

Does the unknown consume your thoughts and cause you to lay awake at night?

Are "what-if's" paralyzing your walk and preventing you from stepping out in Faith?

Well ...God has a Word for you!

"I Am Your Shield!" says the Lord. 

And if you will let Him go before you, there is nothing that can stop the Vision and the Plan and the Promise (Reward), He has for your life. If you can picture yourself firmly planted behind God's Force-Field and moving freely and without fear through every step of your life, you will quickly realize that those "what-if's" can turn into "What's Next!?"

Let God lead you through your life. Release your fears and allow Him to Guide you and to Direct your path as you step into a Victorious Life. Live like you've never lived before and thrive in the Love, and Joy, and Peace, and Strength of our Lord!

Y.B.H. (Yes But How?)
It's so easy ...
...Go to your shelf ...pick up your Bible ...open It ...Read! ...Read! ...Read!

The Word of the Lord came to Abram in a Vision. You have to SEE the Word in order to Read the Word, and once you start reading and seeking wisdom for understanding, God removes the fear and replaces it with Fearlessness! He sets His Shield around you and He puts you on the Path that He designed for your life ...a life full of Grand Rewards!

God is your Shield!
God is your Strength!
God is your Promise!
And God is your Reward!

Be Blessed my Brothers and Sisters!

Get Up and Go!

After Lot separated from him, God said to Abram, “Open your eyes, look around. Look north, south, east, and west. Everything you see, the whole land spread out before you, I will give to you and your children forever. I’ll make your descendants like dust—counting your descendants will be as impossible as counting the dust of the Earth. So—on your feet, get moving! Walk through the country, its length and breadth; I’m giving it all to you.”
– Genesis 13: 13-14

I love how God always waits for just the right time – for our lives to be clear of "anchors" and bad influences – to position us for His next Promise. It usually comes after we have gone through a difficult struggle or when we get to a point in our walk where we are free from familiar distractions, or when we remove bad influences from our lives, or when we are willing to let go of the past. That's when God says "Now!" and He gives us our marching orders.

It means separating ourselves from old "friends" or from toxic relationships so that Peace can enter our lives. It's never easy severing the ties that took years to establish, but when those ties turn into tourniquets and start choking the life out of us, the difficult choice needs to be made.

That's when God says "Hey! I've got your back! I have plans that'r gonna knock your socks off! I'm gonna bless you and as a result, your blessings are gonna overflow to everyone you know."

"But ..."

God always requires a move from us. In order for us to realize His Promise, we need to Get Up, Dust Off, and Get Moving. We need to have Faith – to BELIEVE – and then "Go" without knowing the details or the outcome. We need to Trust – no matter how uncertain or how scared we are – because it's in the Moving that miracles happen. It's when we Act, in complete faith and confidence, that God moves mountains and orchestrates the symphony of Blessings on our behalf.

Are you being weighed down by a bad relationship? Are there toxic  "friendships" that you really need to put behind you? If so, it's time to give them up (graciously). Bless them and then send them on their way. Then ...when God whispers His instructions for the next season of your life ...Get Up ...Dust Off ...and Get Moving!

God has your back and He holds your future in the palm of His hand. He'll clear the path for you to succeed and to thrive in your life.

God's Blessing and Promise is waiting for you ...are you ready to get your socks knocked off?

Blessings my Brothers and Sisters!

The Vision for Victory

Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.
– Acts 26: 19-20

Paul saw Christ on the road to Damascus – this vision gave him the vision and the power to change his life forever. In turn, he changed the lives of millions – in fact, that vision is still changing lives to this day.

How has your encounter, collision, and vision of Christ changed your life? Have you taken that vision and used it to change lives, or are you a hoarder of Christ's Blessings?

It's time to "SEE" the world around you and start sharing the Vision that Christ gave you.

What's that, You say? He didn't give you a vision?

I submit that He did. He gave you a Vision for Hope, and Promise, and Love, and Peace, and Righteousness, and Grace.  He gave you a Vision that is meant to be shared and not hoarded.

Yes, but how? How am I supposed to share this Vision of Christ?

1. Stop. Christ's Vision allows you to stop and consider the lives around you.
2. See. He sees you, which allows you to have confidence that Jesus has your back.
3. Stand. Be proud of your call and your relationship with Christ – don't hide it.
4. Step. Step out of your comfort zone and Go and Do all you can to help others.
5. Satisfy. Your soul thirsts for the changed heart. It cries out for the helpless. Satisfy that thirst by sharing the Love of Christ with those Jesus puts on your heart. Yes ...He puts people on your heart as long as breath is in your lungs.

God's Vision for you is for you to share that Vision with others.

BE the Vision.
LOVE the Vision.
LIVE the Vision.

That Vision is the key to Victory in your life ...SEE the Victory and Go for it!

Blessings my Brothers and Sisters!

Your Present is HIS Purpose

 I want to report to you, friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. All the soldiers here, and everyone else, too, found out that I’m in jail because of this Messiah. That piqued their curiosity, and now they’ve learned all about him. Not only that, but most of the followers of Jesus here have become far more sure of themselves in the faith than ever, speaking out fearlessly about God, about the Messiah.
– Philippians 1:12-14

Are you thriving while you're thirsting? Are you representing Jesus in your present circumstance – in a way that will cause others to want what you have – even while you may be struggling? Or are you one of those "woe is me" kind of people, always moaning and complaining about how bad things are in your life? If the last description is you, then you might want to consider that your present circumstance has a purpose – and that purpose is to honor God and to let others see Christ in you while you move forward through the trial.

Are you sick? Call on Jesus with Love in your heart.
Are you broke? Help others who are broker.
Are you in mourning? Serve your community with Love and Compassion.
Are you suffering the consequences of a bad decision? Proclaim the Grace and Love of Jesus for giving you the opportunity to turn your life around.
Are you being treated unfairly? Smile and pray for those who mistreat you. Show them that you are carrying your cross with dignity and with the strength of Christ's Love.

I'm not saying any of this is easy to do. I'm not saying things will get better right away. What I am saying is that "you are where you are" and THAT, for the moment, IS your purpose.

So Live your life on purpose!

BE all that God created you to be on purpose!

Live like you know that ALL of this is temporary and Heaven is your destination.

Love others like Jesus Loves you ...and then watch as those very people who are expecting you to fail turn their hearts towards Jesus.

SEE the transformation of those who would pity you as they gather around to hear your story.

KNOW the Joy of a heart Saved and a life transformed ...all because you understood your present purpose ...to LOVE Jesus and to Live your life – no matter what ...on purpose ...for HIS purpose!

Be Blessed my Brothers and Sisters!

This Life is on Fire!

...the godless are at their wit's end:
"Who among us can survive the firestorm? Who of us can get out of this purge with our lives?"

The answer is simple:
  Live right,
  Speak the truth,
  Despise exploitation,
  Refuse bribes,
  Reject violence,
  Avoid evil amusements.
This is how you raise your standard of living?
– Isaiah 33, 14-16

Who can stand up against God's refining fire? His purification of your life will not stop until it's complete. He will change your life and then you can stand up against anything and everything the world can throw at you. Isaiah lays out the simple answer for those who want to live the Truth:

Integrity – Do your words match your life?
Justice – Do you reject dishonest gain?
Convictions – Do Godly values steer your decisions?
Positive focus – Do you refuse to dwell on the negative?
Purity – Do you discipline your mind to live a clean and pure life?
Security – Are you firmly planted and established in Christ?

If you find yourself being challenged by any of these, ask God to set your life on fire – ask Him to refine your life and to help you become the masterpiece He created you to be. God is faithful to complete His work and you can be confident in the outcome because He IS the Master Craftsman.

Burn up the old you and Light up YOUR life through God's refining Fire! You'll experience first-hand what TRUE POWER is ALL about!

Be Blessed my Brothers and Sisters!

The Confident Prayer

Then let us approach the Throne of Grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find Grace to help us in our time of need.
– Hebrews 4:16

Are you confident in Jesus? Do you believe He is who He says He is? Do you know that He lived and breathed and experienced life (and death) in this world in a time in history when there was no electricity, or running water, or TV, or public transportation (except for donkeys and camels)? Do you understand that He had callouses and blisters and cavities and stomach issues and money problems and that He had to deal with tax collectors and mean people and bad politics and corrupt religious leaders and fair-weather friends? He even experienced being cold and hungry and hot and sweaty and tired and achy and sad and lonely and on and on and on.

Jesus ...our Lord ...our Savior ...THE Creator of all things, was fully man and He experienced everything that a human being can experience, and He did it at a time that was one of the most difficult to live in ...just so that we – His children – could have confidence that He knows and has understanding and compassion for what we face every day on this spinning rock.

Why then, do we (His children), doubt and wonder and question whether He hears us or whether He can possibly understand what it is we are going through? Why do we fail to pray? Why do we ignore Him until we are backed into a corner and have nowhere else to go? Why do we live our lives according to our own limitations and abilities (or should I say "inabilities")?

We need to understand ALL that Christ went through, so that THEN, we can approach the Throne of Grace with confidence ...in HIM. Confidence in HIS Ability and HIS Compassion and HIS Love for us. We need to BELIEVE in HIM at least as much as He believes in us.

I believe that nothing pleases the Father, our Lord Jesus more, than when we (His creation) approach Him with Confidence and with Bold Assurance in who He is. He KNOWS what we need and He's just waiting for us to know - to have Faith - in Him.

Let Jesus know that you know Him today. Prove your Faith with confident prayer and Bold petitions. He is waiting for YOU - His Creation - to approach Him with full Faith, Confidence, and Understanding for every need in your life.

Blessings my Brothers and Sisters!

The Altared Life

From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.
 – Genesis 12:8

Your worship is a reflection of your heart towards God. How do you approach the Creator of ALL things and the Commander of the Angel Armies? Do you casually prepare (or maybe you don't prepare at all)? Do you show up late to church and half-heartedly join in singing the words on the screen? Do you go through the motions like a kid doing chores so you can "get 'er done"? Or ...do you take a page from Abraham and prepare your altar before calling on the name of the Lord?

Whether your "worship" is singing to and praising the Lord, or jumping into your prayer closet for some much needed quiet time, or giving your best effort at the gifting God's Blessed you with, your Worship should be preceded by very careful preparation.

Abraham prepared by stacking stones to honor God and to commemorate His presence and Providence and Promises – each stone a reminder and an acknowledgement of God's Blessings. Abraham carefully and purposefully selected and then lovingly stacked each stone, yes, to show God he (Abraham) knew who his God was, but also to show off who his God was to the world. He made great ceremony in the stacking of each stone and he chose just the right place to erect his altar. This was Abraham's preparation to begin his worship.

He didn't gather any old stones and dump them in a pile just to get the task done. He din't half-heartedly mumble the words to some old spiritual and call it praise. He didn't rush around out of some sense of duty so that he could get on with his busy life.  No ...Abraham made a day out of it, and I'm willing to bet that after a while, he built some pretty impressive altars (some of which are still standing to this day).

So ...how do you prepare your heart to worship? If you make an honest assessment can you be assured that God is pleased with your worship?  Are you giving God your very best? Because I guarantee that He's given you His.

I'm not saying you need to become a stone mason (in the literal sense), but I guarantee that if, as you examine your heart before worship (as you should do), you remove the stones from around your heart (unforgiveness, jealousy, bitterness, hate, envy, etc.), and carefully and thoughtfully and lovingly lay them at the feet of Jesus, your worship will take on new meaning and your relationship with our Lord will soar to new heights. Your worldly relationships will also flourish and become deeper and more meaningful as well.

So let's start this year off right in the way we prepare and worship our Lord. Build yourself an altar from the blessings in your life and THEN worship God with all that is within you! Call on the name of the Lord and Bless HIM with your heart of worship!

Be Blessed today my Brothers and Sisters!

A Grace for Every Race

"Grow in Grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
– 2 Peter 3:18

Grace is a word that gets tossed around but that most folks don't fully understand.
– We say Grace before our meals.
– We are saved by Grace.
– We can claim to be Grace-full.
– We can Grace others by our mere presence.
– We even name our children Grace ...but what does it (Grace), really mean?

Today's reading tells us to "Grow in Grace" but how exactly do we do that? How do we grow in something we don't really understand? The secret is in the "and."

You see Grace alone means nothing without the knowledge and understanding of the One who sacrificed everything in order that we might live forever. Jesus is the key. HE is Lord, whether we know Him or not. Whether we acknowledge Him or not. Whether we believe in Him or not...He is Lord and He alone is the giver of Grace.

The more we seek Him, understand Him, come into intimate relationship with Him, the more we grow in the knowledge and understanding of Grace. Not just for ourselves but for ALL people. Yes, ALL people. Even the ones who get on your nerves or don't ascribe to your politics.

Grace is for ALL people everywhere. That means that Christ's Love is for ALL people ...the Jew, the Christian, the Muslim, the Atheist, the Sinner, the guy who cut you off on the freeway, the lady who took your parking spot, the boss who just fired you, and even the extremist murderer. It isn't for us to judge, it is for us to Grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.

The news media is doing a great job of growing us in fear and hate but we have a choice in what we will grow in. We can choose to know Christ and thereby know and grow in the Grace He freely gives to all of us.

Seek the "and" today. Dive into Christ and experience the Grace He has for you. Learn about Your Savior and GROW in Love for His creation. BE Grace-full as Jesus transforms your life and changes your world. It's not going to be comfortable, but you will be Blessed as the Grace that rescued the whole world lives in and through you.

Grace is for EVERYONE.
Be Grace today.

Blessings my Brothers and Sisters!

When A Limp Turns Into A Leap

And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him (David). So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.
- 1 Samuel 22:2

While David fled from Saul he attracted men just like him ...distressed, distracted, discontented, disillusioned, and discouraged. But David pressed on and through it all the Lord was with him and he honored God with his heart and with his life. David led those men into deep relationships with God and he encouraged them to overcome and rise above their circumstances.

Those very men who started out limping with him turned into mighty men of valor, accomplishing great and amazing things. Here are a few examples:

2nd Samuel tells us that a man named Adino slew 800 men in one battle; Eleazar struck down the enemy until his hand grew tired and froze to his sword; Shammah defeated a plot of ground against an entire army.

Impossible odds, insurmountable circumstances, incredible stories which ALL speak to the power of God in their lives ...all brought about via the leadership of one man ...David.

Are YOU in mid-limp right now? Are your circumstances and the outlook so dire and bleak that you can't possibly see how you're going to get through it? Take heart! Be strong! Be courageous! Know that Your God is the God of impossible circumstances! HE is the God who shines light in the darkness and fights for you in the bleakest of times!

YOUR God will turn you into a leader of men if you will only look up (away from your circumstances) and call out to Him!

He will Save you!
He will Raise you!
He will Deliver you!
Because HE Created you and HE Loves YOU so Very Much!

God will turn your limp into a giant Leap and you will be able to encourage others to do the same.

Praise God!

Are you a Many?

12 When Peter saw this, he said to them:
4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
– Acts 3:12, 4:4

Not everyone believes. There are even those who hear the Word but STILL don't believe. And if I'm being completely honest, there are some who "preach" but don't believe – if they did, their lives and their congregations would reflect that belief.

I want to be among the "Many" as described in today's verse. I want to believe in such a way that five thousand people would be moved to believe on their own! I want my faith to speak for me and to arrive before me. I want the devil to throw a tantrum when I arrive and I want heaven to cheer me on as I run my race.

How about you?
Are you a "Many?"
Do YOU Believe?
Are you effecting change by the power of your faith?

You can do it!
I Believe in you!
God BELIEVES in YOU too!

Blessings and much love!

You are Good!

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
– Genesis 1

God made you ...purposefully, perfectly, precisely created to be – in God's eyes – beyond compare. You were created uniquely and wonderfully You! Complete with all your insecurities and self-perceived "incapabilities" and idiosyncrasies. YOU, are God's workmanship, His art and His Joy and His pleasure ...YOU!

Embrace "YOU" this year and see what God will do through your willingness to serve His purpose ...HIS Wonderfully Crafted "YOU."

BE the Blessing ...and be Blessed!