Picture Post

Picture Post

Following Habakkuk

Wait For It

Habakkuk 2:3  NKJV 
"For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry".

Evil and injustice seem to have the upper hand in the world. Like Habakkuk, Christians often feel angry and discouraged as they see what goes on. Habakkuk complained vigorously to God about the situation. God's answer to Habakkuk is the same answer he would give us: "Be patient! I will work out my plans in my perfect timing."

It isn't easy to be patient, but it helps to remember that God hates sin even more than we do. Punishment of sin will certainly come. As God told Habakkuk, "Wait patiently." To trust God fully means to trust Him even when we don't understand why events occur as they do.

Picture Post

Picture Post

Elijah

Elijah's Provisions

1 Kings 17:2-4:

"And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.


Elijah’s provision wasn’t where he was; it was where God told him to go! This is profound!


Some of you have an impression from God to do something. Maybe you’re supposed to start a new business, make a job change, move to another town,  speak to a person, etc. You want to do it, but you’re holding back because the provision isn’t there yet. You’re saying, “God, I can’t do what You’re asking without first seeing the provision. How do I know all these things are going work out‌” This principle in 1 Kings applies directly to your situation. God is sending the provision for your needs not to where you are but to where He told you to go! The question is, “Are you all ‘there’‌” Some of you aren’t experiencing supernatural provision because you aren’t “there.” There is a place called “there” for you.


In verse 4, God said, “I have commanded the ravens,”, meaning He had already spoken to these ravens and they were on their way to where Elijah was supposed to go.


First Kings 17:5 says,
So [Elijah] went and did according unto the word of the Lord: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
 

In other words, if Elijah had stayed where he was, he could have prayed and fasted, saying, “God, why haven’t You supplied my needs‌” But he wouldn’t have seen God’s provision if he hadn’t gone where God instructed.
 
One of the reasons we aren’t seeing a greater provision from God financially, emotionally, or in our circumstances is because we aren’t doing what God told us to do. We’ve got a word from God that we haven’t acted on. We’re somewhere other than where He told us to be.


Now, this is an important point because I teach on the grace of God a lot. I talk about how God’s grace is - how He provides things and that it’s not based on our obedience or holiness. God loves us independent of our performance—that’s absolutely true! But does this mean obeying Him is unimportant?‌ Just the opposite. I believe God has a plan for each of our lives but if we don't  obey Him, step out, and do what He tells us to do, God still will provide, but you will miss out on the Great provisions because those provisions are "there" and you have to go  “there” in order to get them.  God definitely makes things come to pass; but it does take some cooperation on our part. Amen?!


I've seen this happen a lot more than one would think. The Lord gives them a word and tells them to go to so and so or do so and so, but they struggle with it because they’ve got good paying jobs, nice houses, families, and friends they don’t want to leave. The security of those things keeps them from taking a step of faith because they don’t see how God is going to provide. But for those that step out on faith and do as the Lord instructs them - And  they get to their place called “there,” they find themselves with better jobs and better houses, and things work out. Their entire lives change. And there would have been no way to anticipate this before they took that step of faith. I’m telling you, when you get out of doubt and into your place called “there,” when you start doing what God called you to do, there is supernatural provision. This is one of the great lessons from the life of Elijah.

Let’s look at 1 Kings 17:6:
And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.


As I mentioned before, I believe that since God had already commanded the ravens, if Elijah hadn’t obeyed, God would still have been faithful to send the provision where He told him to go. I believe that these ravens would have brought bread and meat every morning and evening but that it all would have piled up beside the brook and gone to waste. Elijah could have starved to death even though God had been faithful to provide for his needs.


Here’s something else to consider: How did Elijah know which spot along the brook Cherith to go‌ If the brook was ten miles long, he could have been five or ten miles away from where the ravens were bringing him food. The ravens could fly faster than Elijah could walk or run. I’m convinced that one of the ways he knew he was at the right spot was because the ravens were already “there” with the bread and meat. When Elijah saw the provision God had promised, that was one of the signs that he was in the right place.


The same will be true of you when you step out. You have to take a step of faith with no guarantees that things are going to work. And then you will start seeing the provision of the Lord. It’ll be confirmation that you’re going in the right direction and doing what He told you to do. You’ll be able to say, “It was God who told me to do this.”


This is how it’s working out in my life. I’m applying what 1 Kings 17 is talking about and taking steps of faith to get where I am right now and where I want to be tomorrow and the day after and the day after. And I’m going to keep taking these steps of faith until I get "there". One thing I do know about God and the Bible- All you have to do to get started is take a step of faith and the Lord will walk along side you every inch of the way.


There is a place called “there” for you.


It isn't necessarily a location; you may not have to change where you live. It could just be an attitude change or decision you need to make. But when you take a step of faith and start following what God tells you to do, there is a supernatural flow of provision — not only of finances but also of peace, joy, blessing, anointing, influence, power, and authority—that you cannot duplicate with all your human effort. All of these kinds of things follow obeying the word of the Lord.

You can look at the life of Elijah and apply it easily to your own; he was a nobody before he had a word from God and acted on it. But then—boom—after he stepped out in faith, he became the dominant figure in the nation. He was blessed, miracles began to happen, a person was raised from the dead, and a revival broke out.


You’ve got to find your place called “there” and then get there! It’s imperative. I tell you, this could change your life if you would act on it. If the reason you won’t step out is because you’ve got some form of “security” but you’re miserable and things are just going wrong, I encourage you to do what God tells you to do. Your place called "there" is waiting on you!

Picture Post

Picture Post

Crying Out

Lamentations 2:19  NKJV 

“Arise, cry out in the night, At the beginning of the watches; Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him For the life of your young children, Who faint from hunger at the head of every street.”

People's suffering from their sins should be enough to bring them to the Lord, weeping for forgiveness. Sadly; many allow their pride and disbelief to hold them back.

Only when our own sins and the sins of others completely breaks our hearts will we turn to Him - fully expecting God come to our rescue. And He will; of that you can rest assured.

Still; it is not just feeling sorry about experiencing sin's consequences that brings forgiveness. It is Faith in God and Faith that we are forgiven by the shed Blood of Christ that brings about the forgiveness.

When we cry out to God for forgiveness, He will forgive us of our sins and heal our soul.

What? Are you waiting on?

Picture Post

Plans for You

Jeremiah 1:5  NKJV 

 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you... "

God knew you, as He knew Jeremiah, long before you were born or even conceived. He thought about you and planned for you.

When you feel discouraged or inadequate, remember that God has always thought of you as valuable and that He has a purpose in mind for you.

Picture Post

Picture Post

An Exciting Idea!

Timeless Tips Towards A Better Life

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. & while you walk, SMILE.  It is the ultimate antidepressant.
 
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

3. When you wake up in the morning, Pray to ask God’s guidance for your purpose, today.

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food  that is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink plenty of water. Eat blueberries, broccoli, and almonds.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control.  Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. Remember that life isn’t always fair, but it’s still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Forgive them for everything!

11. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.

14. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years, will this matter?’

17. Help the needy, Be generous! Be a ‘Giver’ not a ‘Taker’

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. Time heals everything.

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your  friends will. Stay in touch.

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night before you go to bed, Pray to God and Be thankful for what you’ll accomplish, today !

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. Be open and willing to change negative aspects of your life. Do Not be willing or open to negative aspects of life changing you.

God Loves You! Everything else are just details.

STOP!

Forgetfulness ...  in His Name Sake

Isaiah 43:25  NKJV 
“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. 

How tempting it is to remind someone of a past offense in the heat of an argument! But when God forgives our sins He totally forgets them. We never have to worry that He will remind us of them later- He has forgotten them.

Because God forgives our sin, we need to forgive others, forget them and move on along. The next time that you are tempted to remind another of a wrong that they have done; stop! take a moment and ask yourself:

Am I better than God?

If the answer to that is "No" then don't bring it up. Let forgiveness and forgetfulness go hand in hand as God has done for you.

Picture Post

Picture Post

Picture Post

The Loftiness of Man

This morning I found myself in the Book of Isaiah 2 and as I read along I began to think upon the things that are taking place in the world today. Government shutdowns. Wars and rumors of wars. How men and women have gone off to foreign countries and participated in battles that I am sure many of them thought/think are useless and pointless but they did it because that is what Americans do.... only to come home maimed, injured, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually disabled. Only to be tossed aside as casual as yesterday's newspaper because they are no longer of use or value to the US Government.

"The loftiness of man shall be bowed down"

Let's look at that a moment. What constitutes being "lofty"?


merriam-webster defines it in this way:
rising to a great height:
very tall and impressive
very high and good
deserving to be admired
showing the insulting attitude of people who think that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people


dictionary online defines it in this way:
extending high in the air; of imposing height; towering: lofty mountains. 
exalted in rank, dignity, or character; eminent.
elevated in style, tone, or sentiment, as writings or speech.
arrogantly or condescendingly superior in manner; haughty: to treat someone in a lofty manner.


the free dictionary online defines it in this way:
Of imposing height.
Elevated in character; exalted.
Affecting grandness; pompous.
Arrogant; haughty


Clearly we can see that a state of being "lofty" can be a good thing or a bad thing- a good quality or a bad quality. But the Bible makes no distinction in either. It simply says that "the loftiness of man shall be bowed down".

I believe that you can look around you today and see a whole lot of loftiness taking place. When a hand full of people in Congress can grind a whole Nation to a halt then you can bet the farm that the spirit of loftiness is in action. When the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many something is seriously wrong.

I was reading in the news that while these "shutdowns" are in action that many social programs for the poverty stricken have ceased.

WIC ( WIC - Women, Infants and Children - Food and Nutrition Service) is one of those programs. "I'm sorry but while we hash out a budget plan you and your baby will not be given life sustaining formula to nourish it's body"

Veterans: The VA hospitals will remained open. But many services will be disrupted. The Veterans Benefits Administration will be unable to process education and rehabilitation benefits. What's more, if the shutdown lasts for more than two or three weeks, the Department of Veterans Affairs has said that it may not have enough money to pay disability claims and pension payments. That could affect some 3.6 million veterans. "I'm sorry but while we hash out a budget plan you will not be getting any services from the Government but thank you for having your arms and legs blown off on foreign soil just the same"


"The loftiness of man shall be bowed down"

Which leads me into asking the question of rather our current system of Government can possibly get any more "lofty" than it already is before God is reminded of His Word in Isaiah 2 and spring into action and begins to bow them down?

Honestly; I don't know. God's timing is perfect. It always has been and it always will be. But it is coming. On that you can rest assured.

All across this Great Nation; we as Americans, look to these 545 individual human beings that make up Congress to make these critical decisions for our lives- when we should be looking to God. Where we should be praying to God to lead them to do the right thing. Where we should be asking God to replace these 545 (or any part thereof) dysfunctional human beings that make up Congress with people that have some common sense, some decency, some righteousness about them. People that are motivated to do the right thing by the people of this Nation - as lead not by their own hidden agendas - but by the Holy Spirit of God.


John 15:5 says "Apart from me you can do nothing"


NOTHING. Did you get that saints? We can't even get out of the bed in the morning without God. Yet; we look to these people to make decisions that effect our every day lives - people that don't even bother to seek out God and see what He thinks before making life changing decisions that effect each and every one of us.

Has anyone in Government come to me and ask me my opinion about rather or not we should involve ourselves in Syria? Well; no, of course they haven't.

Has anyone in Government come to you and ask your opinion on matters of upmost importance? No? Well; that isn't any great surprise; is it?

They do not ask our opinion because they do not care about our opinion. In their state of "loftiness" they are convinced that they know what is best- and when it all turns to crap then they turn around and blame this party or that party or the President or whomever is handy and closest instead of taking personal responsibility and being held accountable.


"Apart from me (God) you can do nothing"

Until America wakes up and stands up then things such as Government shutdowns are going to continue. We the people are going to continue to suffer the consequences of stupid, thoughtless, rash decisions made by people that act apart and separate from God.

But take heart; because the loftiness of man shall be bowed down. We just have to wait on the manifestation of that particular blessing.

Amen?

WHAT DOES THE HOLY WORD SAY?

Bible Word Study
WHAT DOES THE HOLY WORD SAY?


In the courtroom of Heaven, the only acceptable Law is the Word of God. Now, even though the Judge is your Heavenly Father and He desires to rule in your favor, He can only do so if you base your case on promises and precedent from the Bible.


Isaiah 55:11
How does this verse relate to pleading your case?



Philippians 4:6
What should your attitude be as you go before the Throne? 



1 John 5:14-15
How do we strengthen our faith so that we can believe our prayers are answered?




Pleading Your Case:
Petitioning The Heavenly Judge
 
"I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted." Isaiah 43:25, 26
 

PUT GOD IN REMEMBRANCE

To put God in remembrance means that as a covenant believer, you can stand before the throne of God when you pray and remind God of His promises. You can lay your case legally before Him and plead your case as a lawyer would plead his case before a judge. God is inviting you to put Him in remembrance of His Word. He is asking you to lay your case before Him and plead your covenant rights before Him using the legal precedence of His Word.

Your job in prayer is to hold God's Word before Him and keep it there until that Word is manifested in the person or situation for which you are praying. You are to put together an airtight case based on the specific scriptures and to keep pleading that case in the court of heaven until your adversary, the devil, gives up and goes home.

When God says, "Put Me in remembrance," He's not telling you to remind Him of what a great person you are or how very much you want your prayer answered. He is telling you to put Him in remembrance of His Word. For according to divine law, that Word is the only plea to which He can respond.



GO BOLDLY TO THE THRONE

By standing on God's Word and pleading your case with Him. You find definite scriptures that promise what you need and continue to put God in remembrance of His Word according to your covenant rights. As you stand on God's Word and plead your case based on His promises, God will work on your behalf.
 

Be Specific

You can't plead your case based on a general belief in the Bible. You have to be specific. You have to study the Scriptures and find out exactly what you can expect God to do in your particular situation. Because God's Word abides in you, you can ask according to His Word and receive answers to your prayers. The greatest answers to prayer occur as a result of bringing God's Word to Him and reminding Him of what He said in His Word.


You're Not Alone

You don't have to present your case without the help of the Holy Spirit. One of His names is Advocate. As your Advocate, the Holy Spirit will lead you to the scriptures you need. He'll quicken them to your heart. He'll help you bring forth your case with such eloquence (both in other tongues and with your understanding) that the devil won't stand a chance against you. Then He'll help you stand strong until your case is fully won.


You Have A Right To Be There

Your right-standing with God gives you the right to plead your case before God without a sense of guilt, sin or condemnation. There is a confidence you experience, knowing that you will receive when you ask in faith, believing. Jesus made you the righteousness of God in Him. He put you in a position where you can stand in God's Presence. That's why you can boldly go unto the throne of grace; because He's made you righteous (Hebrews 4:16). The newborn babe in Christ has as good a standing with God and can get an answer to prayer just as quickly as the mature saint who has lived many years for God.



WORD STUDY- Dig Deeper
Look up the following words:

1. Remembrance

2. Let Us Contend

3. State Your Case



THOUGHTS TO PONDER ON

Every time you pray you must believe your prayers change things in the realm of the spirit even if you cannot yet see evidence of those changes in the natural world. You must believe God heard you and went to work on your behalf. Hold fast to the promise that His Word will not return void (Isaiah 55:11). But you must also understand there are forces of darkness working to hinder the answer to your prayer, and so you must be willing to stick with the process until you've prayed the answer all the way through.

To keep praying in faith in spite of all the adverse circumstances and negative reports that often come along, you must not only know what the Bible promises you, you must see a clear inner image of that promise being fulfilled. It must shine within you so brightly it chases away every shadow of doubt. Always remember that He hears you, He loves you, and He wants to meet your needs. 


Pleading Your Case Scriptures

Isaiah 55:11
John 16:23
Philippians 4:6
Hebrews 4:16
Matthew 21:22
Mark 11:24
1 John 5:14-15
Psalm 27:14
Jeremiah 1:1


Further Scriptures

Isaiah 62:6-7
1 John 2:1

 

Picture Post