Releasing Your Destiny

Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

God has a purpose and a plan for your life, but as our pastor stated last Sunday, the destiny God designed for you is trapped inside your spiritual transformation.

As we learned earlier this week, God had a destiny (pre-ordained purpose and plan) for Gideon that involved defeating the Midianites who were oppressing Israel.  But, before Gideon could fulfill his destiny, he had to believe God’s declaration that he was a mighty warrior and surrender to his spiritual transformation by being obedient to what God called him to do (executing God’s plan and purpose for his life).

After hearing God say he was a mighty warrior, what if Gideon had focused on his perceived shortcomings and refused to believe God?  Well, for starters, Israel would have remained oppressed and a few thousand years later we would not be reading Gideon’s name listed among the heroes of the faith in Hebrews, chapter 11.

But instead, after temporarily questioning God’s declaration that he was a mighty warrior, Gideon believed what God said about him, and then stepped out and obeyed God.  Gideon’s destiny was trapped inside God’s plan for his spiritual transformation, and only a “yes” response was able to release it.

In Luke 4:18, Jesus said “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.” And then, in John 14:12, Jesus goes on to say that we are called to do the same and even greater works!

You see, God also sees you as a mighty warrior, and He has equipped you to set free those who are oppressed by the spiritual “Midianites” of our time (our spiritual adversary, the devil).  Will you say yes to whatever steps God is calling you to take?  Your destiny is trapped inside you and only your surrender to God’s spiritual transformation in your life will release it.

But, but . . .

Today's post has been contributed by Denise Friedman:



As soon as you have experienced the love of God in a life-changing encounter, you might immediately be filled with the following thoughts:

But how can God use me in this way with what happened in my past?  My background is going to prevent me from being successful.  God can’t use me because I am not perfect, in the past, I have . . .

But how can God use me in this way, I don’t know anything about . . . or I don’t know anything about how to . . .

But how can God use me in this way, look at me!  I could never accomplish this because I am too . . .(old, young, thin, fat)

But how can God use me in this way, I don’t have enough . . . (time, money)

The enemy will try to keep you focused on these four areas to rob, steal, kill and destroy all that God is trying to use you for to further His Kingdom on earth. 

Here are some responses for you to declare as soon as you feel these “but” statements creeping in.

Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ’s blood, how much more (certain is it that) we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God. (Romans 5:9 AMP)

I can do all things through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

So is my word that goes out from my mouth:  It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)

To GOD be A-L-L the Glory!

Today's bog post is contributed by Denise Friedman--

As we continue to seek transformation into our destination, I am praying each and every one reading this blog has an encounter with God as Gideon did.  We learned yesterday, once you have an encounter with God, you will realize that your perspective may need to be refined as God reveals to you what He has planned and purposed for you. 

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better – Ephesians 1:17.

Once you experience an encounter with God, it is important to expect God to bring about some form of reduction in your life.  We continue studying Gideon today.  He has been told to save Israel from the Midianites.  After Gideon tested God to confirm the word he received, he and his men were ready to fight.  Before they could begin, God reduced the size of Gideon’s army from thirty-two thousand men to three hundred. (This account can be found in Judges 7:2-8) Why would God only allow Gideon to fight with a fraction of the army?  There was no way an army this size would be able to defeat the Midianites. This is precisely the reason – God did not want Israel to claim the victory as their own, God needed to receive the glory. 

Once you have an encounter with God, you need to expect God to bring about some form of reduction.  Remember, even though this reduction may seem painful in the process, we are encouraged in Romans 8:28, We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  Trust that God is faithful to provide for his children.  Once you have received that provision, remember – To God be the glory! 

 

 

Do you see what I see?

This week we are focusing on transforming into our destiny.  Our prayer focus this week is on the following scripture found in Ephesians 1:17:

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Let’s take a look at a true transformation found in the Bible, Gideon.  If you are unfamiliar with the story (found in Judges 6), Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress, hiding from the Midianites, who had been invading Israel for seven years. The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” (Judges 6:12)  Interesting choice of words – mighty warrior – I don’t picture someone hiding from their enemy as a mighty warrior!

The Lord continues, “Go in the strength you have, and save Israel out of Midian’s hand.  Am I not sending you?” (Judges 14)

Gideon’s response may be our very own response when God calls us to do something, “Pardon me, my Lord, but how can I save Israel?  My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

God, in his mercy answers Gideon, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”

Imagine this type of encounter with God!  From the beginning of the conversation, God reveals Gideon as a mighty warrior.  Up until this point, Gideon was not a mighty warrior, nor did he see himself as a mighty warrior.  However, God was revealing Gideon’s destiny to him.  God had a very different perception of Gideon than Gideon held of himself, as well as a different perception of Gideon than who Gideon was until that time. Once Gideon received this revelation, his perspective of his future was refined.  Knowing God’s plan for him was to be a mighty warrior, Gideon could not possibly continuing threshing wheat in secret in a winepress.

In order to transform into our destiny, we need to know how God sees us.  Ask God today to reveal this to you.  Be open to whatever He shares with you.  Do not dismiss anything that He reveals, fearing as Gideon did, that you are the least.  Be prepared to be amazed!

 

Are you ready to be transformed into your destiny?

Today's post was contributed by Denise Friedman:

Before you answer this question, let’s take a look at what we are really asking.  Merriam-Webster defines transformation as an act or process of changing completely, and usually in a good way.   Destiny is defined as what happens in the future.  Are you ready to be changed completely into what God has planned and purposed for you in the future?  As we ponder this, let’s focus on the following scripture found in Ephesians 1:17:

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Genuine transformation cannot occur without revelation from God.  No matter how hard we try to change, unless God is involved, we will not be transformed.  We might be somewhat successful in the short term, but there will not be lasting effect of change.

Sometimes, we are comfortable right where we are, thank you.  We do not see a need to change, nor do we want to change.  Let’s be honest, change is frightening.  Many times, we take comfort in the knowledge of where we currently are.  It is difficult, if not impossible to imagine transformation.  If we evaluate ourselves honestly, many of us (myself at the top of the list!) would have to admit, we know we are not living the destiny God has planned and purposed for us.  We need transformation in order for this to occur.

As we move through this week, spend some time with God and ask Him to give you wisdom and revelation; he is waiting to pour into you!  He longs to be in a closer relationship with Him, so His Kingdom can be advanced on earth. 

Let me ask you again . . . are you ready to be transformed into your destiny?

“Pray without Ceasing”

“Pray without ceasing.”

I Thessalonians 5:17

 

The command given above is pretty straightforward.

Obedience to it is another thing altogether.

Need something to pray about?

Sometimes our prayer time can become quite self-absorbed.

The petitions coming from our prayer closet can be filled with only I, me and mine.

Is this wrong?

It can be if that is all we pray about.

There is a world of needs waiting to be brought before God.

Here are just a few to get us started –

 

Pray for the release of Pastor Saeed Abedini from Iranian prison.

Pray for our leaders to make wise decisions that honor God.

Pray for those entangled in human trafficking – both the victims and the traffickers.

Pray for your city and its leaders.

Pray for the school down the street or around the corner.

(You need not have children in the school to lift it up before God.)

Pray for the church to shake off any distractions, rising up to honor God in her actions.

I am sure the Holy Spirit will impress other needs as you pray.

It’s time to press in…

 

The Great Project Finisher

Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

I was recently reviewing a job posting for an open project manager position at a local company, but instead of referring to the traditional “project manager” job title, the posting used the terminology “project finisher,” emphasizing the need for a candidate who can not only manage a project, but bring it to completion.

As Christians, we follow the ultimate project finisher – God!  He specializes in taking on difficult projects – conforming you and I into the image of His son – and bringing them to completion.  He doesn’t leave anything half done.  He promises to finish what He started.  Philippians 1:6 says “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

So, the next time you are tempted to become discouraged or throw in the towel because of repeated failures and (what appears to be) slow progress in your quest to think and act more like Jesus, keep your eyes fixed on Him and remain unwavering in your belief that God is completing the good work He started in you.

After all, God has a vested interest in completing the work He began in you, because He has specific tasks He needs you to carry out here on earth.  Ephesians 2:10 says “For you are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that you would walk in them.”

Where are we going?

Today's blog post is contributed by Denise Friedman:



This week God has reminded us we need to relentless pursue him, he has invited us and promised “it’s gonna be wild, it’s gonna be great.”  God continues to speak to us through worship songs.  The next song I heard as I was writing was Oceans, by Hillsong United.  I just love how God took us on this journey though worship songs!

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

We have decided to go with God, but often during this journey, we do not know where that may lead.  As the verse above indicates, we may be led into the great unknown.  During these times, we need to stand on our faith and call out to God, who has never failed us. 

How often do we ask God where He is taking us before we take the first step?  How often do we ask God, how long until we get there?  Are we almost there?  If you have traveled with children, you are very familiar with these questions!  Often, we are like children on a road trip.

Recently I had an experience similar to this.  I was called to do something which quite honestly scared me a bit.  As I was preparing to go, I asked God to give me a glimpse of what it would be like.  I was full of fear.  Yet, I trusted God and followed him.  It was an incredible experience.  I am so glad I didn’t let the enemy win at his attempt to prevent me from going. 

What is God calling you to do today?  Is it something that is a bit scary (or even extremely terrifying)?  Find encouragement in these lyrics from Oceans:

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

I will call upon Your name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine

YOU are invited!

Today's blog post is contributed by Denise Friedman:

If you read my previous post, you will know that it was inspired by a song I was listening to as I wrote.  The next song that played was Come away with me, by Jesus Culture.  Here are the lyrics for this song.

Come away with me, Come away with me

It’s never too late, it’s never too late

It’s not too late for you

I have a plan for you

I have a plan for you

It’s gonna be wild

It’s gonna be great

It’s gonna be full of me

Open up your heart and let me in

 

God is inviting you today to come away with Him.  It is NOT too late.  Do not believe the lies the enemy may be whispering in your ear, or speaking through those around you.  God extends an open invitation. He wants you to come away with Him.  Note when you come away with someone, you usually have to leave things behind, you can’t bring everything you currently have with you.  There is sometimes security in what you currently have, or know, even if these things are not what is God’s best for you. It’s time to leave some of these things behind.

The next words are so full of hope and promise – God has a plan for YOU!  We have been reminded of this many times:  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.  God does not, cannot lie.  He has wonderful plans for you.  Yes, it will be wild and yes, it will be great, and yes, it will be full of HIM!

The only thing God asks is that you open your heart and let Him in.  I realize this may not be an easy request, so does He.  Our God of mercy and grace will be right there waiting for you – it’s not too late!

Will you accept this invitation?

 

Scorpion Omelets

“For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds;

and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?

Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Luke 11:10-13

 

Beat together three eggs, some milk and your favorite ingredients to make an omelet.

It’s just that simple.

Now, no one would include scorpions as an ingredient.

Jesus uses an illustration that seems pretty absurd to make a point:

If your child is asking for something, like a fish or an egg for example, would he or she receive back from their father something deadly instead?

We would not do that.

How much more is our heavenly Father prepared to give us good things when we ask?

Then why is it that we do not ask?

So often we have learned – from the hands of man – that when we ask we are disappointed.

Instead of that good thing we have received back paybacks, anger or silence.

We have learned from those, who should bless, that we can sometimes receive anything but blessings.

This has made us hesitant or unwilling to ask of our Father in heaven.

Our mistake is to equate our earthly petition granters with our Heavenly Father.

There is no comparison.

God reveals His goodness and love for us through the cross and through a thousand more ways in the course of a single day.

He is, unlike any other, trustworthy.

We can confidently bring our petitions to Him knowing that His plans and His answers to us are good.

But even the answer that is a clear “No” is given with our best interests in His heart.

Seek Him.

Knock at the door.

Ask of Him.

He has good gifts waiting for the seeker who asks.

He won’t serve you scorpion omelets!

 

What are you pursuing?

Today's blog post is contributed by Denise Friedman:

As I was preparing to write the blog entry for this morning, I sat with no ideas, none.   I had my music on and I asked God what He wanted to share this morning.  The very next song to come on was Relentless Pursuit, by Kim Walker-Smith.  This made so much sense to me, since this week our church is spending a week searching God and drawing near to Him:

It's a relentless pursuit, relentless pursuit
I will not stop chasing after you
It's a relentless pursuit, a passion in pursuit
I will not stop chasing after you

I sensed the word relentless was the word we needed to focus on.  The Merriam-Webster definition of relentless is to continue without becoming weaker, to remain determined. 

Throughout my walk, there have been periods of time where I have been in relentless pursuit of God.  Often those times require sacrifice.  This could be a sacrifice of time, as I clear my calendar to spend time with God, talents, as I offer myself to be His hands and feet, or treasure, as I sow into His Kingdom. 

Initially, it was difficult to sacrifice these items, but I knew I wanted more of Him.  Yet, as I relentlessly pursued Him, I realized the sacrifice was not anywhere near as great as the reward of being in His presence.  He blesses me with his perfect peace.

There have also been times where my pursuit of Jesus is, quite frankly, lazy.  I try to squeeze time in around other things going on in my life.  During these periods of time, I often find myself frustrated, anxious and anything but peaceful.  The job, promotion, material items, or relationships that I seek instead of searching for God do not provide a reward that even begins to compare with Him.

Today, the Holy Spirit gently reminded me, I need to be in relentless pursuit of Him at all times. Will you join me today in a relentless pursuit of the King of Kings? Let’s chase after Him, continuing without become weaker, remaining determined to be with God!

A ‘Kodak Moment’ of Faith

“Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland.”

Isaiah 43:18-19

  

We moved into our present home in 1994.

I remember well some of the events of moving day that Memorial Day

week-end 20 years ago.

We were leaving the first home we had purchased back in 1983.

I will admit, though, I was a bit surprised by my wife’s tears that day.

After all weren’t we making a move to a much newer, larger home that would better serve our family?

What was there to be sad about?

But her ‘sadness’ was not associated with what we were moving forward to but what we were leaving behind.

While in that home our son was born and we watched him grow from birth to age nine.

We had welcomed our foster daughter into our family and saw a house capable of holding two bursting as we tried to hold four.

What had served our purposes in the past would not do so in the future.

Sure, it was a bittersweet day but we couldn’t know then what doors God would open for us in the future as we moved from one place to another.

Change often demands that we move – not from the uncomfortable – but from the comfortable. It means we may be required to move from a place of Gods’ blessing and favor to a place of Gods’ greater blessings and favor.

Here’s the clincher though.

We can look back easily and see those blessings and favor.

It requires faith and trust in God to see it looking forward.

Who of us hasn’t looked back at photos of a happy moment in our past and smiled remembering the moment.

Technology cannot deliver the same for our future.

But trust in God can.

He holds that future.

Are you facing change?

I want you, through prayer, to place that future change in His hands and let that be your ‘Kodak Moment’ of faith.

See the future, when it is placed in His hands, as a host of good memories not yet experienced!

“Get Up and Go!”

“The hand of the Lord was on me there, and he said to me,

“Get up and go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you.”

So I got up and went out to the plain.

And the glory of the Lord was standing there,

like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown.”

Ezekiel 3:22-23

 

What a curious command from God.

Ezekiel had to move in order to receive the next Word of the Lord.

Wasn’t God, through the instructions being given, already speaking to Ezekiel?

Why was it necessary to leave where he was in order to receive the next revelation?

Why?

Why couldn’t God give it to him as he sat in those familiar surroundings?

I can’t answer that.

Perhaps God knew his surroundings had to change in order to hear Him.

Maybe it was God tuning Ezekiel’s hearing and obedience to His voice.

Whatever the reason, or reasons, Ezekiel could not receive what God had for him next without getting up and going.

So often we like our life plans laid out like one of those Bible timelines where we know exactly what will happen from beginning to end.

In fact it is – at least to God.

He knows our lives – every day, every detail.

But for us, like the scroll Ezekiel ate, life with God unfolds little by little.

It is a walk by faith (the rolled up scroll) and not by sight (the timeline).

The same is true for the church.

We walk by faith individually and corporately.  

Maybe God is commanding you (individual) and us (the church) to “Get up and go!”

When Ezekiel obeyed, the scriptures tell us that:

“…the glory of the Lord was standing there.”

God’s glory was there waiting for his act of obedience to be fulfilled.

Is God speaking to you today to “Get up and go!”?

Don’t miss the unfolding of His plans for you.

Don’t miss His glory standing in that place of obedience waiting for you.

 

A Change Worth Making

“Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while

he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

Acts 24:31-32

 

 

I remember an incident several years ago in our family that reminds me of the subject of ‘change’ we looked at yesterday.

We had some family visiting and our daughter was not behaving well.

I sent her to her room and told her: “Don’t come out until you’ve changed!”

Ten minutes later she came out of her room with a new set of clothes on.

At first we didn’t understand so I asked her:

“Amanda what are you doing out here?”

She responded: “You told me not to come out until I changed, are these clothes alright!”

Yes, we laughed because she had totally misunderstood the ‘change’ we were expecting.

 The Bible tells of two disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus.

It says their faces were ‘downcast’ and they said this:

“…but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel…”

They were speaking of Jesus, to Jesus, not knowing it was Him.

There had been a lot of ‘changes’ in their world in the last few days.

They failed to understand why what had taken place needed to take place.

At least, that is, until Jesus opened their eyes.

My daughter ‘changed’ her clothes because that is what she honestly understood our request to be.

Sometimes we look at change in our own lives and perceive it to be a threat or a bad thing when, in fact, God is orchestrating that change for our good.

We want to simply ‘change’ clothes and He is after ‘changed’ hearts.

Read the account in Luke 24 of the two disciples.

Discover the ‘change’ to them when they understood Gods’ whole plan concerning all that had taken place in the last few days.

Ask God to walk alongside you and open the eyes of your heart to understand His purposes behind the changes you are facing.

As He did with those two disciples He will do for you.

He can take the doubt, fear and anxiety and change it to trust, courage and peace.

That’s a change worth making!

Will You Trust Him?

“There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,”

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

 

 

Change

Just uttering the word can send chills up some spines.

And the inevitability of it in all of our lives doesn’t make it an easier pill to swallow.

We’d rather avoid it – thank you very much!

But of course we can’t.

No one can.

From the simplest of changes to the life altering ones we more often drag our feet than embrace it.

Why is that?

What makes it so tough?

When it comes to the things of God and His plans, change ultimately becomes a question of trust.

Do I trust that God knows what He is doing?

Do I trust that He does indeed have good plans for me?

Why are His ‘good plans’ leading me down this hard road?

David framed His fear of change in a statement we all recognize:

“Even though I walk

    through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

    for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

    they comfort me.”

I believe David’s words were inspired by the Holy Spirit (as was the whole of scripture) and that they speak to you and me today.

Are you facing some changes?

Move forward with the confidence that God is with you.

He will not be taken by surprise wherever He leads you.

What a wonderful rest and peace that brings to us!

One last question -

Will you trust Him with this change?

 

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Note: If you are a faithful reader of this blog you will note that, besides my own contributions, I also regularly post blog contributions by David Trotta and Denise Friedman. Neither one has ever had direction from me as to specific content in the posts they write so if it seems like a repetition I would encourage you to receive that as emphasis of a particular topic from the Holy Spirit. It is likely something that bares repeating and that we need to hear more than once. Be encouraged and strengthened as you read today's entry.
                                                                    - Stephen Brisson



Today's blog is contributed by David Trotta:

My almost 2 year old grandson is at that age where he is very attached to his mother.  If his mother leaves his sight, he immediately looks for her, and if he can’t quickly find her, he will begin to cry.  Then, once his eyes spot mom, everything is ok again.  He can go back to playing and having fun because, in his mind, his protector and the provider of all his needs is nearby.  He feels safe and secure.  When he sees his mom, everything is right with the world at that moment.

I have been reminded a lot lately, especially during stressful and difficult times, to keep my inner eyes fixed on Jesus.  And when I do, I know everything will be ok.  A peace comes over me because I know that no matter what I am facing, God is in control and He has plans to prosper me, not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

God is always there.  He promises never to leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).  My daughter is a great mom and always keeping an eye on my grandson, but he needed to see His mom to be reassured.

We need to constantly look upon Jesus to give us strength, confidence, and reassurance to walk the path He set before us.

Will you join me in asking the Lord to take us into a deeper season of our life where our inner eyes (the thoughts and affections of our heart) are constantly looking to Him?

Looking to Jesus takes our eyes off our circumstances and puts them squarely on the One who is able to keep us from stumbling.  Looking to Jesus reminds us that if He is for us, who can be against us?  Looking to Jesus reminds us the He is in control and immediately sets our lives back on course.

The lyrics to the old hymn “Turn your eyes upon Jesus” sums it up beautifully…

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
  In the light of His glory and grace.

Put On Your Spiritual Blinders

Todays blog entry is contributed by David Trotta:

 

 



If you’ve ever seen horses on a racetrack or out in public, you may have noticed a covering over their eyes called “blinders.” Blinders restrict the horse’s peripheral vision, causing the horse to focus on what is in front of him.  Based on some research I did, it appears many racehorse trainers believe blinders encourage the horse to pay attention to the race rather than other distractions, such as crowds. Blinders are also commonly seen on driving horses, to keep them from being distracted or spooked, especially on crowded city streets.

I was recently reminded of a couple occasions where I witnessed a horse pulling a carriage and noticed the horse had blinders on.  I then thought “hmmm, I could use a pair of blinders for my spiritual eyes.”

I don’t know about you, but I can be easily distracted by the things around me, and many of those distractions are not God’s best for me.  Distractions can come in many different forms.  They can be very subtle, and some may even look good on the outside, but if we don’t make a conscience effort to keep our eyes looking forward on the path God has set before us, we will most likely wander off the path, possibly into harm or danger.

Proverbs 4:25-27 says “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”

As we run the race marked out for us, will you join me in putting on our spiritual blinders to ensure our eyes stay fixed on Jesus?

Remember the Promises

 “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises

    and faithful in all he does.”

Psalm 135:14

 

 

Often the Holy Spirit can speak so clearly and repeatedly to us on what you might be inclined to consider a pretty ordinary day.

I have a day off today and we were expecting new mattresses and box springs to be delivered.

Not wanting to embarrass ourselves by all the dust bunnies under the bed I had my marching orders when my wife left to take her mom to a doctor’s appointment –

“remove the ‘stuff’ under the beds and vacuum up the dust!”

When I lifted off the old mattress and box spring from our bed one of the items underneath was one of those low profile under-the-bed storage totes.

I was going to move it out of the way when I felt the Holy Spirit say: “Look inside.”

When I did I discovered it was actually filled completely with old photos.

Curios now I grabbed (randomly I thought) one of the old drugstore envelopes to see what pictures were inside.

When I did the very first several photos I pulled out were of a rainbow we had apparently photographed some time ago.

I felt the Holy Spirit whisper to me “Remember the promises!”

I have to be honest and say I just kept on working and now moved to my daughters room.

As I lifted off her mattress and box spring I discovered a magazine my mother-in-law used to subscribe to called “Reminisce”.

It is filled with photos and stories of people recalling the past.

Hard headed as I can sometimes be – I picked it up, tossed it aside and kept on working.

A short time later as I was checking my e-mail there was a message from the Pastor which – in part – asked me, along with others, to bullet point our churches history from the point of a receiving a significant prophetic word through the present.

A look back at the road God has brought us on.

At last I cried ‘Uncle!” or perhaps more appropriately – “Father!”

It is a good thing to look back when what we are looking back at is the promises and provisions of a loving heavenly Father.

We look back and discover His hand at work in our lives when – at the time – we may have missed it.

The path faith brings us down is often clearer in hindsight.

Have you discovered that?

If not, maybe it’s’ time for a look back.

You may just see more clearly how the hand of God has been leading you all along!

It may help you to remember the promises He has made concerning you!

A ‘Small’ Sacrifice

 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20

 

 

♫ “I am crucified with Christ,

 

Therefore I no longer live,

            But Jesus Christ now lives in me.”  ♪

 

So goes a song based on Galatians 2:20

 

I think, though, that we sometimes consider that verse and are unwilling to pay the price.

Why?

Because we wrongly equate the only acceptable sacrifice we can make must somehow be equal to Jesus’ crucifixion!

First of all, there is no sacrifice equal to what Jesus has done for you and me.

Secondly, when that is our frame of mind, we are defeated already.

 Jesus already did that and He paid the price we could not.

That does not mean that we need not crucify our flesh.

We can and we must.

But sometimes the sacrifices seem so trivial we discount them.

And yet, when we learn to be faithful in the little things – yes even in little sacrifices – God will entrust us with greater things.

Can you set aside a half hour of television and replace it with some time at His feet?

A small sacrifice.

Can you bless someone with an attentive ear when you would rather be doing anything else?

A small sacrifice.

Can your words – “I’ll pray for you.” – match your actions even when a crowded schedule demands focus in other areas?

A small sacrifice.

And yet all of these ‘small’ sacrifices reveal a faithful heart.

All of these small sacrifices develop in you and me a good discipline readying us for that greater sacrifice that will surely come.

Are you crucified with Christ?

Is it evident in a thousand small sacrifices in the course of your day?

Maybe that’s a measure far greater than the ‘big’ ones we never seem to make.

 

http://youtu.be/QrEDW-64ssk

How do you measure success?

Today's blog entry is contributed by Denise Friedman:

The Lord revealed something to me recently as I was getting ready for work.  Within thirty minutes of getting up, I checked my bank account, credit card balance, credit score and hopped on the bathroom scale.  Wow, that is a LOT of measuring within a very short period of time (yet another measurement!)  So much of what we use to determine success or failure is based on numeric measurements and I felt the Holy Spirit speak to me that these measurements only matter here on earth.

The Lord asked me to reconsider my measuring stick.  Let’s take a look at what scripture would suggest we use to measure in 2 Peter 5-8:

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self control; and to self control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Reread that scripture.  Nowhere does it mention the size of your bank account, your credit score, or your weight as measures of success in the Kingdom.  Instead, reread the measures of faith mentioned.  The reward of these characteristics – being effective and productive in my knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ- is a goal worthy of achieving! 

If you measure yourself according to 2 Peter 5-8, would you find you are seeing an increased measure of these attributes in your life each day?  I am confident several of us would be able to define ourselves as successful when we change our bar of comparison.  We can be thankful that God uses a different measuring stick than many here on earth do!

If you see an area that you want to see an increased measure in your walk, take time today and ask God to pour out over you.  He is waiting to bless you.   His is the measurement that truly matters!

What Are Your Eyes Fixed On?

David Trotta brings today's blog -

After detecting a threat to the nest, did you know African killer bees will sometimes pursue their alleged victims for miles?  I know, pretty scary thought, especially for those not fond of bees (like me!), but what a testament to their determination and perseverance.  While in pursuit, I’m sure those bees pass many distractions, like brightly colored flowers loaded with pollen, but they remain fixated on the object of their pursuit.

When it comes to running the race God set before us, we need to have that same determination and single-minded focus.  In Hebrews 12:1-2, God says “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The word “fixing” denotes a continual looking, not an occasional glance, but a constant gaze or abiding of our thoughts on Jesus.  As we learned earlier in the week, this “continual looking” will take great mental determination and focus, but it is the only way we are going to be able to faithfully run the race God has marked out for us.

Do you desire freedom from sin?  Do you want to stop being so easily distracted and weighted down by the cares and pleasures of this world?  If yes, develop the habit of continually fixing your inner eyes on Jesus.

In his book, The Pursuit of God, AW Tozer summed it up wonderfully by saying “The man who has struggled to purify himself and has had nothing but repeated failures will experience real relief when he stops tinkering with his soul and looks away to the Perfect One.  While he looks at Christ, the very things he has so long been trying to do will be getting done within him.  It will be God working in him to will and to do.”

What are your eyes fixed on?