Month: January 2015

10 Reasons I would never forgive

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I hope to capture in a few phrases, the power of forgiveness, the absolute necessity of it and the reasons why forgiving others should be a lifestyle of the believer. If forgiving others were not a righteous requirement for receiving God’s forgiveness – I would never forgive others. If forgiveness others were not the soil in which I could grow in holiness and become a bit more like Jesus – I would never forgive others. If forgiving others were not the right attitude for maintaining my sanity (mental and emotional) – I would never forgive others. If forgiving others were not the springboard from which a life of momentum, zeal and endurance ensue – I would never forgive others. If forgiving others were not a testimony, a declaration and a demonstration to the world of how much I’ve been forgiven – I would never forgive others. If forgiving others didn’t have a positive effect on my physical health – I would never forgive others. If forgiving others didn’t allow God to bring justice and avenge …

Are Afflictions Wordless Prayers?

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“Tears are words that need to be written.” — Paulo Coelho And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction. Genesis‬ ‭16‬:‭11‬ KJV) This is one of the strangest verses I have ever seen in the Bible. On a human level, we cannot hear affliction. We can feel it and other times see it. To hear affliction is unthinkable, at least in my finite mind. We usually hear about how God saw the afflictions or heard the cries of his people in their afflictions. But we almost never read about him hearing our afflictions. This must be a thing that God alone can do. Could it be that all our afflictions are wordless prayers that God hears? Could it be that our afflictions are supposed to be louder than our voices lifted up in prayer during times of affliction? I want to believe that an affliction is a reflection of a need. …

Are you an Altar Junkie?

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In most churches there is a time for congregants to gather at the altar for a time of prayer. Usually in response to a message people will voluntarily come forward to receive a blessing, a touch from God or simply to consecrate themselves either for the first time as a new believer or for some a deeper walk with the Lord. An altar junkie would be a person who ceases every opportunity to spend time with the Lord at the altar. They are like the Sparrow who finds a home; the Swallow who builds a nest at the altar of the Lord and raises its young right there. Like those who dwell in His house ever singing his praise. They are like doorkeepers/gatekeepers in the house of the Lord. They understand that “better is one day at the altar than a thousand elsewhere.” Unfortunately, there is a misconception among many believers about spending time at the alter. In some places, altar time in is widely and only seen as a place for sinners to come …

Comfort Foods

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Comfort, comfort, comfort! Who doesn’t like to be comforted? The problem is we often seek it in all the wrong places. For me, finding comfort in food is my drug of choice when I am seeking comfort in difficult times. For some, it might be alcohol,  drugs, or some kind of temporary fix to cause you to forget your pain. Still for others, it is an escape into a world of fantasy,  entertainment,  the adrenaline of a fast life or a lustful, soulful,  sexual experience. In any case, we usually, if not always come away more empty than we went in. But it’s time for you to see and taste of the “sweetest of love, where your heart becomes free and your shame is undone. “ We find those in the comfort that comes only from the Father of all comforts.  If you are tempted in any way today,  to go looking for comfort in all the wrong places,  know that you will never be satisfied.  But if you choose to look upon the face …

The Strongman is just and Old Man

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We are all afraid of something.When it come to dealing with the enemy if our soul, that ancient serpant. We sometimes think he is stronger, bigger and badder. How much of a game changer would it be to understand that the strongman is just an old man. What difference will it make in your approach to dealing with him, if you had an insider’s understanding about what he thinks about you? What matters most in spiritual warfare, is not what you think about your enemy, it’s what your enemy thinks about you. Here is a story that does just that God appeared to him and called him “a mighty man of valor.” In the same chapter, just a few verses between each other,mother Lord commissioned him to “go and deliver Israel in this might that is yours.” God also insisted that “I will be with you.” The Lord established a covenant with him. Yet Gideon did not believe and asked God on two separate occasions to either wet or dry a fleece. Even after the …

7 Days without Prayer makes 1 weak

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Just a thought Fasting and praying is not for the faint hearted. It takes a tenacious person, one who is willing to go the distance, deeper, farther than necessary. That’s when you find God in all His glory. The edge of the desert Moses was taking care of the flock for his father-in-law Jethro, Midian’s priest. He led his flock out to the edge of the desert, and he came to God’s mountain called Horeb. The Lord’s messenger appeared to him in a flame of fire in the middle of a bush. Moses saw that the bush was in flames, but it didn’t burn up. Then Moses said to himself, Let me check out this amazing sight and find out why the bush isn’t burning up. When the Lord saw that he was coming to look, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” Moses said, “I’m here.” Then the Lord said, “Don’t come any closer! Take off your sandals, because you are standing on holy ground.” He continued, “I am the God …

Sprinkled for greater works

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The Reference 1 Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬ NLT “Now the LORD said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.” 1 John 2:27 NLT “But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie-just as it has taught you, abide in him.” The meaning The word “anoint” means to rub or sprinkle on; apply an unguent, ointment, or oily liquid to. Persons in the Old Testament were often literally anointed with oil. For example, priests were anointed for their special service to the LORD (Exodus 28:41). Literal oil would be applied, but as a sign of the Holy Spirit upon their lives and service. The oil on the head was only …

A prayer for clarity

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My Story It was December 28 2014 at about 8:15, just a week or so ago – I stood up in church and prayed a simple prayer: “Lord I need clarity and wisdom to deal with certain situations I have been dealing with. I am not asking for you to wet a fleece or dry it. I trust that you will speak in a way that I can understand. Thank you for showing me what to do, in Jesus’ name Amen!” I went home and didn’t think about it again until He spoke to me. The way he spoke was so clear I didn’t have struggle to understand what he was telling me to do. Every prayer offered in faith is answered by a faithful God. At this time of the year, all of us are faced with the challenge of decision making. Business decisions, Ministry decisions, family budgets, career change, is it the right time to buy a car or a house. Decisions, Decisions, Decisions! I would like to urge you quiet your soul, …

I will not offer the Lord anything that costs me nothing

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1 Chronicles 21:24 But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” I have always heard this passage use in the context of a fundraiser. Where the preacher urges the congregation or his audience to reach deep within their pockets and give an extravagant financial gift. I love the simplicity and the power of this challenge, but too often my desire to give disappear because the challenge is coming from, well, another TV evangelist, who always seem to want my money. My somewhat skeptical feeling is somehow true – because half or none of what I am being asked to give, really goes toward that cause. I think, in many ways, we have lost the act of motivating others to make greater impact with their substance and the act of inspiring them at the same time because of so much abuse from the pulpit. People are longing to be moved, …

Sin is…

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The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. (Isaiah 61:1-3) Sin is… Bad news A heart breaker A captive taker A tyrannical oppressor A blinder A curse A death sentencer A bondage giver A joy stealer A separator A beauty eraser Jesus is… Good news Healer of the broken hearted Proclaimer of liberty to the captive Opener of prison doors Comforter Deliverer Joy …