Giving God the Glory

"The land of Egypt will become a desolate wasteland, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord. "Because you said, 'The Nile River is mine; I made it.'" -Ezekiel 29:9

"I did that."
"I built that."
"Because I deserve it."

In our Western way of thinking, we often think that the reason for our success is just because of us, even if we believe in God.  The mindset that, "It happened because of me," pervades our society.  But, is this really true?

The Bible says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17) Would we be able to have life without Him? 

The Psalmist knew the value of praising God.  "Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven! Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness!" Psalm 150:1-2 When we give God the glory in our lives, we put honor where honor is rightfully due.  

"So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant." Joshua 24:13 When we receive an inheritance from God, it is often not by the work of our own hands.  It is simply because of our obedience and God's grace in our lives.

Is there anything you need to give God the glory for in your life?  Even if we think nothing good has happened in our lives of late, we can be grateful for another day, another breath, the sun, the sky, the trees, and most of all, an opportunity to let His love and light shine through us to the world.  He is worthy of all praise.

A New Heart

"And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations." Ezekiel 36:24-28

You know, when we begin to think about the New Year, there is a lot of talk about New Year’s Resolutions.  In 2007, Richard Wisemen from the University of Bristol did a survey of 3000 people to see how many actually fulfilled their New Year’s resolutions.  According to his findings, a staggering 88% of people do not fulfill their New Year’s resolutions.  What does that say about us?  I think it says that only 12% of us keep our promises to ourselves!

Right before the time of Jesus, Israel had been stuck in a cycle of idol worship. The prophet Ezekiel prophesied that the people of Israel would become brand new: “I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you.”  Ezekiel prophesied the transforming power that Jesus would have in their lives.

Today, this hasn’t changed.  Jesus is changing lives & hearts all over the world, in every nation, in every kind of community!

Have you ever wanted a new heart, or a fresh start? If you want an authentic change in your life, and a new heart, why not ask Him to give you that today, even if you’ve already asked Him into your heart.  God is in the business of giving away new beginnings, because of His son Jesus who died, so that we might be live completely free and unfettered by our past.

Cast Your Cares on Him

"Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28 NLT)

You know, in this world we live in, it is easy to be stressed. There is so much to take care of, so many things that happen - it's amazing we get through some things.   The number of people taking anti-anxiety medication has skyrocketed in America.  According to USA Today, 1 in 5 people take behavioral medications.  Life transitions, illness, difficult family members - sometimes life seems like more than we can bear.

"...the times when you have seen only one set of footprints, is when I carried you." (Mary Stephenson)

I love the footsteps in the sand poem. When I was younger I found it cheesy, but its so true that during difficult times our Heavenly Father carries us, like He would a son or daughter, as we learn to "cast our cares on Him."

I've always imagined the first disciples as happy, exuberant people. From what we read about them, and in spite of much persecution, they seem to have been the most loving, joy-filled people on the planet.

Today we have almost every convenience we could wish for - and in America we can worship as we please without danger.  But with all the stuff and convenience we have, we are still the most stressed out.

Is there anything in your life you need to give to God today? He desires that we give our cares and burdens to Him, because He cares for us so much.

“Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”  (Ps 55:22 NLT)  "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."  (1 Peter 5:7 NLT)

Our One True God

"But the LORD is the only true God. He is the living God and the everlasting King! The whole earth trembles at his anger. The nations cannot stand up to his wrath." -Jeremiah 10:10

From the time Israel was released from bondage to Egypt until the time of Jesus, the Israelites struggled with idolatry.  Even though they had been given a set of instructions by Moses (the 10 Commandments), they still rebelled against the guidelines God gave them and set out to live the way they wanted.  As such, they began to worship idols, starting with the golden calf, when Moses was on Mt. Sinai getting these instructions from God.  (Exodus 32)

We humans have always had the same nature, trying to fill the voids in our lives where God should be.  But, the fact of the matter is, God is our only hope.  He is our only TRUE God. And He loves us more than anyone or anything ever could in our entire lives. 

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."  -John 3:16

Too often, we can find ourselves in a similar situation that Israel did.  If we’re not worshipping the one true God, we’re worshipping something.  We were designed for worship!

Is God the only true God in your life?  Ask Him today if there are any idols in your life that may need to be put aside.  Our lives function best when He becomes our one and only God. 

Forgetting the Former Things

“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.  Is 43:18-20

Are there things from your past that you keep going back to?  Old mistakes, past regrets, personal failures, or things that you still feel guilt over? Are there things that you need to “forget” or stop dwelling on in your life?

In the Old Testament, when the Israelites were far away from God, rebelling and worshipping other gods, the prophet Isaiah was one of the prophets to call them into account. But, even though the Israelites had done horrible things, (even sacrificing their children to idols! Ezekiel 16:20), God was willing to give them another chance. 

“‘Come now, let’s settle this,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow.  Though they are red like crimson,  I will make them as white as wool.’” - Isaiah 1:18

Sometimes we are unable to fully move forward in life because we are continually looking behind us.  Mistakes, regrets, and avoidable circumstances may continue to plague us even after we’ve asked forgiveness and laid it to rest - even against ourselves! But the fact of the matter is, when the past is behind us, and we’ve been forgiven, it really is no more.   Satan wants our past and present to be our future. But God always sees us for who we are becoming.

Are you ready to receive God’s forgiveness, and decide to let go of the “former things”? Pray and ask God to give you the strength and grace to leave the past behind you.  

Fill It With Him

"But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy." Ps 5:11

Sometimes things happen in our lives that leave a void.  The death of a loved one, divorce, an estranged child or parent, the loss of a job, a move, or changing friendships can all leave voids in our lives.  Yes, it is okay to grieve, and we should go through the grieving process. But what then?  What can we do about the emptiness we may feel inside?  How can we cope with these losses?

The Bible reminds us, "The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving." Ps 28:7

"But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, 'The LORD is great!'"  Ps 40:16

"Those who have been ransomed by the LORD will return. They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness." Is 35:10 & Is 51:11

When we feel something has been taken from us, we need more than ever to go before the throne of grace.  It is by going before God that He can fill us with His presence and fill the void that we feel in our lives.  The good news is, even if our loss was great, He can fill us with his presence and joy far greater than the void - to overflowing!  "I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." -Romans 15:13

Is there something missing in your life?  Fill it with God’s presence.  His Presence, joy, and peace are the best replacements for any void we may find in our lives. 

Salty Sweet

"Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body." -Proverbs 16:24
 
What does it mean to be salty or sweet? A friend of mine put together a website that parallels the internal state of our hearts with flavors. I thought it was such a great way to think about guarding our hearts and making sure we stay at a good balance of "salty" and "sweet"! 

I love being around salty sweet people. To me, this means a person who has an understanding of the love of God in their life, (sweet) and also an understanding of His boundaries and revelation (salty). These two words can also parallel spending time with God, as Mary did, (sweet) and also doing the work of God (salty) - as Martha did. Both are essential components of the Christian life. 

However, sometimes when situations get us down, they can allow us to get bitter or sour, instead of salty or sweet. There are many people in the world who are still dealing with past hurts or wounds unable to get past them. (Unfortunately, many of these people are Christians!) When our circumstances are continuously negative, it is easy to question the good nature of God, and allow our hearts to get bitter or sour. But the truth of the matter is, we must learn to forgive and let go. We mustn't let outside circumstances, people, or things dictate our faith or keep us from experiencing God's love in our lives. If we allow Him to, Jesus can heal those things that can turn us bitter or sour so that we will be cleansed and become salty and sweet instead. We don't need to leave people with a bad "taste" in their mouth! 

Are you salty and sweet, or are there any areas in your life where you are sour or bitter? Pray and ask God to cleanse your heart from any form of sourness or bitterness. He desires that we be continuously filled with His overflowing love and light.



You can check out my friend Toya's website at http://31flavours.weebly.com/what-flavour-are-you.html!

Free Will

"The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, 'You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden - except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.'" -Genesis 2:15-17
 
Did you know that, in the beginning of time, God gave us a very important gift? The gift He gave us wasn't life, or work, or authority, or companionship - although those are very important things that did He give to us. But God gave us something very powerful that most of us don't even realize: He gave each of us the ability to choose. He gave us the gift of free will. 

We may think that we know what free will is, and yes, it is a choice. God could have created us as drones in the garden - robots to do His bidding - (which would have been far easier), but He didn't. "Then God said, 'Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.' So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." -Genesis 1:26 & 27
 
However, we as believers do much of the world a disservice when we expect them to abide by the same rules and belief systems that we do. I'm sure you've heard the phrase, "To love is to let go." If a choice is forced upon someone, then it really isn't their choice. But God is a good, loving God, drawing each of us to repentance by His goodness. "Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?" -Romans 2:4 
 
We shouldn't be people who expect the world to live by our standards. Instead, we should be the ones to love and serve the world, creating an example that your best life is lived with God, surrounded by a community of people who love others and want to serve them too. And, most of all, who have really understood what it means to accept Jesus' free unmerited gift of precious eternal life and live in His abundant love, grace, and joy. 

Do you know how powerful this precious gift of free will is? Pray today that you would use your free will to bless and benefit others, so that more and more people could come into relationship with a loving God who cares about them so so deeply.

Clear Eyes, Pure Hearts, Can't Lose

"But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." -Matthew 6:15
 
Sometimes life can make us upset. Sometimes people do things that just aren't right - even people who should know better! Or people may unknowingly do things that frustrate or hurt us, without even realizing it. Still, we have to "guard our hearts" in order not to let these "bitter roots" or feelings resulting from these things contaminate our faith and keep us from God's grace. 

"Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many." -Hebrews 12:15
 
It's difficult to let things go when we feel we have a right to be upset. Betrayal by someone close to us is especially hard to overcome. But, anything that anyone does to us doesn't give us the right to any offense, or give us an excuse to lash out - pushing us into our sinful nature. 

"When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God." -Galatians 5:19-21 
 
Are you keeping your heart pure and protected? When people do bad things, are you able to respond with grace and forgiveness? Don't let your soul be pushed into spiritual danger due to someone else's wrongdoing or sin.

Don't Touch Dead Things

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." -1 Peter 2:9

In the Old Testament, it was unlawful for priests to do or wear certain things - it would make them unfit for priestly service.  Priests could not touch the dead body of a relative outside of their immediate family, shave or trim their beards, or marry a prostitute or divorced woman.  These rules were even more strict for a high priest, who could not do any of the above, but who also could not leave the sanctuary, tear his clothes, go near the dead body of ANY person, or marry even a widow. (Leviticus 21) The reason for this was that they needed to be sanctified (set apart) for their duties to interceed for the people and offer sacrifices to God in the temple.  This was serious work!

Today, this Old Testament covenant no longer applies, because of the power of Jesus’ precious blood atoning for our sin.  He is our High Priest, and we are the royal priesthood.  However, this does not mean we do not need to also set ourselves apart in sanctification for our own calling. 

This sanctification may mean "not touching dead things" - that is, not bringing up old things from the past that we have already forgiven.  Not holding on to old, "dead" mindsets or behaviors that keep us stuck and in bondage.  It may mean letting go of things that continue to bother us, that bring death to us; it may mean catching ourselves to stop speaking "death" over our lives, situations, or other people around us. "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." -Proverbs 18:21

Are there any dead things in your life that you to stop touching? Pray for God's grace and power to let go of anything dead in your life.

Preparing for Eternity

"Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”  -Ecc 3:11

Have you ever noticed how much time we spend planning for our education, planning for weddings, or planning for retirement?  And yet, we rarely think about planning or preparing for our eternal lives - and those will last forever! 

We have such a small amount of time on this earth compared with eternity.  We will spend eternity somewhere, but the question is, where, and also, how? 

If we’ve accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior the first question has been answered. However, there is a difference in how each of us will spend our lives in heaven.

The Bible says we will receive rewards in heaven based upon our works and faith during our time here on earth.  (1 Peter 1:17, Matt 24:46 ) This has a lot to do with fulfilling the calling God gave to us, (Luke 12:43, Luke 19:17) taking care of the people around us, taking care of the poor and orphans, (Mark 9:41) (and whether we do this for the applause of men, Matt 6:1), loving our enemies, (Luke 6:35) the persecution we have undergone because of our faith, (Matt 5:12) and living out His word.  (2 John 1:8)

“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.” -Matthew 5:11-13

Some people think we are physical beings headed for a spiritual place.  But, the reality is, we are spiritual beings living temporarily in a physical place. Are you busy preparing for your reward in heaven? 

A God-Sized Assignment

"When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, 'The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.'" -Judges 6:12

Has God given you a dream or vision that is bigger than you?  All of the major characters in the Bible had a vision that was bigger than them;  such is the case with God-sized assignments, and such was the case with the story of Gideon.

Gideon was far from being a mighty warrior when the angel of the Lord appeared to him, even though the angel said, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior".  According to Gideon, he was from the weakest in Manasseh, and the least in his family.  When the angel of the Lord approaching Gideon, he was threshing wheat!

But still, God spoke to Gideon and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?"  (v. 14)

God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.  As such, He requires of us more than we could possibly accomplish in our own strength, putting us in a position that requires our complete faith and trust in Him.  Many times we may fill unqualified, weak, and completely unprepared.  But, the good thing is, God always sees our future potential, not the failures of our past.  He desires to work through us to accomplish His dreams on the earth.

Is God birthing a dream within you that is bigger than you?  Pray for His grace to accomplish that dream, and be open to the steps He might led you to to let that vision or dream come to pass.

Pulling Away from the Crowd

"After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone..."  Matthew 14:23
 
Life really does get crazy sometimes.  TV, radio, text messaging, phone calls, Twitter, Facebook, the Internet - there is so much to keep up with in our post-modern society!

But, every now and again, we need to have time to be "away from the crowd."

Jesus had just finished feeding the crowd of five thousand with just five loaves and two fish. After everybody was fed, Jesus insisted that His disciples get into the boat they were using for travel and head home as He sent away the multitude of five thousand.  It was then that He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray.

It is interesting to note, that, after Jesus' solitary time on the mountain praying, He performed a miracle in which the disciples really recognized that He was the Son of God.  Then the disciples worshiped him. "You really are the Son of God!" they exclaimed. (v. 33)

It is so essential that we take time aside to spend quiet time to pray and be with our God.   This "inner court" time fuels us for the "outer court" ministry where people can discover that Jesus really is the author of our faith, and He can be the Lord and Savior of their lives.

Have you pulled away from the crowd lately? Set some time aside to be with Him.  Our time with God is the biggest weapon we have against the kingdom of darkness in this day and age.

A Lesson in Chores

Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. -2 Corinthians 12:9

"I'd like for you to load the dishes in this way. This is how the instruction manual says to do it!"

"Oh my gosh, do I seriously have to put the dishes in the dishwasher that way?" I thought. My 19 year old self was fighting what appeared to be pointless detail for something that really was not all that important, in my opinion: dishwasher loading. 

"If you put them in this way, you can fit more in!" said my stepmom. "Ok," I said, keeping a cheerful attitude. After all, they were letting me stay with them until I got back on my feet: I needed to be agreeable! 

A few weeks later I was asked if I could clean the house. "Ok," I said. However, upon careful inspection of my work, it was revealed that I missed a few spots. "Could you go back over this and this?" said my stepmom "Argh," I thought. "This is ridiculous. This attention to detail is really starting to get under my skin!"
 
Looking back I realize that God had a lesson for me in "the details." I am naturally not a very detailed person. But, during that time, God was putting a finger on my lack of detailedness, something He wanted to strengthen in me. I cannot tell you how much this has helped me in life! 

Has God allowed situations in your life to help you with your weaknesses? Let Him work through your weaknesses, so that His purposes can be fulfilled in your life.

Crazy for God

"Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful." -1 Corinthians 1:27

Have you ever felt God tell you to do something unusual? Have you ever heard God speak on something that would happen, but what was spoken has not yet materialized? This somewhat uncomfortable situation happened to many leaders in the Bible; such as Joseph, Abraham, Noah, Joshua, Gideon, and Jesus.

Abraham and Sarah were promised a son- but were very old. Sarah was so old, she even laughed at the idea! (Genesis 18:12) Joseph was thrown into a pit after his dream, long before his dream would ever come to fruition. Joshua walked around Jerico 7 times...I'm sure the sixth time his men wondered what in the world was wrong with him, and Jesus couldn't do miracles in His hometown because there wasn't any faith. (Mark 6:1-6) Gideon had an identity crisis. "How can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest, and I am the least!" (Judges 6:15) And when Noah was instructed to build an ark because "a storm was coming that would wipe out the entire earth" (Gen 6:13) we can only imagine what his neighbors must've thought.

Often times there is a big chasm between our reality and the things we are believing God for, but it doesn't mean we should waiver in our belief that it can and will happen. The reality is, if we cling to God, the dreams and the purpose He's given us will materialize, just as they did for Abraham, Joseph, Joshua, Noah, Gideon and Jesus.

Is there a big chasm between your reality and what you're believing God for? Keep believing for His promises to come true. God can work when we work out of obedience and believe.

A Balance of Grace vs. Works

"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it." -Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT 

We live in a very performance-based world. Performance can equate to more success, which equates to more money. And although we should be diligent and hard working, is our success or lack thereof all because of us? 

Sometimes we think we can earn our salvation because of our efforts. But the reality is, we received grace - and that's it! We do things Christ would want us to do out of our love for Him - out of our revelation of Him - so that others might experience the same abundant life. We receive our inheritance in heaven this way. "The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." John 10:10 But we've already received His grace. 

It is so easy to come from a place of performance, instead of coming from a place of grace (what we have already received.) Did you know all you received when you chose to believe that Jesus died for your sins? We can so easily think that our success is our doing. Yes we did the "working hard" part - but without God, our efforts would have been fruitless! 

Do you have a good balance in your life between fruit and grace? If we don't, we can become religious or workaholics on the one hand, or if we lean upon grace, we can become lazy, lacking excellence. Do you carry a careful balance between effort and surrender?

The Gold Seam

But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. "Go, stand in the temple courts," He said, "and tell the people all about this new life." (Acts 5:19, 20 NIV)

There are places where we walk that we know are God-ordained. For me, whenever I see a rainbow I know God is highlighting my path, and I am walking in the right direction. You might call this "the gold seam."

Though life takes us on many journeys and along many different roads- there should be one commonality for the life of the Christian: the gold seam. Divine appointments, favor, whatever you want to call it, we need to be able to wake up and invite Gods purposes into our day. We need to ask Him, "God, where do you want me to go today?" or "God, who could I encourage today?" This simple act brings so much purpose into our lives.

We don't find the gold seam just by living our lives or by choosing Christ and then becoming dormant - we intentionally choose to be open to it every single day.

Are you looking for God's gold seam in your life today?

The Good Life

"Be vigilant, listen obediently to these words that I command you so that you'll have a good life, you and your children, for a long, long time, doing what is good and right in the eyes of God, your God."  -Deut 12:28

What is the good life? It seems in our culture that a good life is defined as being filled with money, fame, and unconditional recognition.  This seems as though it’s the good life...but, is it?

"The good life begins in the fear of God - Do that and you'll know the blessing of God. His Hallelujah lasts forever!" -Psalm 111:10

The Israelites spent years in the desert, 40 to be exact, learning how to trust in and be obedient to God.  They were lived day by day, with just that day’s bread for food.  But, after many years and many failed tests, a new generation of Israelites got to enter the Promised Land - and have the 'good life' they had wanted and waited for for so long.

How can we have this good life as Christians?

"Even though a person sins and gets by with it hundreds of times throughout a long life, I'm still convinced that the good life is reserved for the person who fears God, who lives reverently in his presence, and that the evil person will not experience a "good" life. No matter how many days he lives, they'll all be as flat and colorless as a shadow - because he doesn't fear God."  -Ecc 8:12

Being right with God brings the good life. Staying within the boundaries of His teachings & commands brings the good life. Doing right by others, and not believing Satan’s lies about us brings about God’s goodness in our lives.

Are you experiencing the good life today? Ask God if there are any areas in your life where He is teaching you to bring you into the good life.  God desires that all of His children experience this good life through serving, worshipping, and loving Him.

The Kingdom of God

“Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." -Luke 17:20 & 21

Dr. Miles Munroe, senior pastor of Bahamas Faith Ministries International, wrote a book called “Kingdom Principles: Preparing for Kingdom Experience and Expansion.”  In the book he describes the difference between religion (do's and don'ts) and the Kingdom of God that Jesus taught in the Bible.  He calls the Kingdom of God “the foundation of God’s plan for mankind.” (p. 81) 

Jesus mentions the “kingdom of God” or “kingdom of heaven” about 85 times in the New Testament.  In fact, if we read the entirety of Jesus‘  teaching in the New Testament, we will find He spent nearly all of His time on earth talking about the Kingdom! 

Why then is the kingdom so misunderstood?  What is the kingdom exactly?

According to Merriam-Webster online dictionary, a kingdom is:  “a politically organized community or major territorial unit having a monarchical form of government headed by a king or queen.” In this case, the King is our Father God in heaven. From this we can gather that true Christianity has a lot more to do with a perfected and uncorrupted form of heavenly government then it does with religion.

Dr. Monroe goes on to say, “Life in the kingdom is really about returning to the governing authority of God in the earth and learning how to live and function in that authority.” (p. 158)  Because of Jesus, we are now in the process of gaining back what was lost in the Garden of Eden.  (Genesis 3)  

Repentance and our acceptance of grace through Jesus Christ unlocks the door for us to enter God’s kingdom.  But, it doesn’t stop there.  Jesus teaches about many keys that, when activated, unlock the power of heaven in our own lives.

There is so much we can learn about God’s kingdom.  Ask the Lord to show you His kingdom and the part He might have you play.  He desires that we pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10) and that we seek first his kingdom and his righteousness (Matt 6:33).  He promises that all these things will be added to us when we do.

Weapons of Warfare

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” -2 Corinthians 4:10

My dad turned to me one day and said something I had never really thought about before. “You know,” he said, “you have so much at your age that I never had.  It’s like you have a tool belt full of weapons against the enemy.”  He was referring to the preparation I had been undergoing through a series of trainings, and the healing work that God had been doing in my life.

“I guess you’re right!” I said. I knew he wasn’t necessarily saying it so I would feel proud of myself, (although I could tell he was proud.)  He was saying it so that I would recognize the responsibility I had to be able to help others.

The Bible talks about weapons of warfare. It makes a clear distinction between the weapons of this world and weapons in the spiritual realm. The Message version states:  “The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.”  

 

What are our weapons of warfare?  They include faith, prayer, grace, revelation, love, and God's truth.  Most of all, they are the things we have been through that God has healed and delivered us from.  Once we have overcome and are healed, we have the ability to speak truth to that obstacle in someone else’s life with authority.  (2 Cor 13:4)

When we align ourselves with God’s Word, we are taking a clear stand between us and the forces of darkness.  However, when we speak of weapons, it's not people we're looking to use them on.  It's the darkness.  So often we make the mistake of trying to shoot at the enemy, but we end up shooting the person he is holding hostage instead.

Do you know the weapons of warfare God has given to you? Let us use these weapons to remove obstacles to God, so that people can live free and unfettered in the saving grace and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

A Stellar Example

"The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom." -Daniel 1:20

I love the example of Daniel and his friends. Daniel was such an unwavering model of faith, excellence, and purity, in spite of the world in which he and his friends found themselves.

"But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way." -Daniel 1:8

Daniel and his friends were excellent in four areas:

• Physically: they were physically fit & disciplined
• Mentally: they were filled with wisdom and knowledge
• Relationally: they had one another for support, were respectful, and were highly favored among the king & his officials
• Spiritually: -they were filled with faith, they did not bow down to the world's system, and Daniel was excellent in his spiritual gifting (dream interpretation)

"To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds." -Daniel 1:17

The Bible says Daniel and his friends were 10 TIMES better than all the other magicians and enchanters in the land. To me, the example of Daniel and his friend speaks volumes. They lived in Babylon, in the world's system, which was contradictory to their faith. They lived as foreigners under the king's service. But they remained pure, disciplined, accountable to one another, and spiritually aligned with God. I believe it was because of these four things that God showed up in their midst. (Daniel 3:25)

Daniel challenges me in these four areas of my life, to be excellent and sharp in each one. Does Daniel's example inspire or challenge you? May we be the best examples of the God we serve, so that His light can be revealed in us for all the world to see.

"Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever." -Daniel 12:3

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

"How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume more than any spice!"  -Song of Solomon 4:10

"Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: 'This is what the LORD says: "'I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown."'" -Jeremiah 2:2

All throughout scripture a beautiful love story is interwoven between all of humanity and her bridegroom, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Every great love story has this plot of the handsome prince saving his princess, fighting off evil enemies in order to rescue her and gain the chance to win her hand.  In modern times, Beauty and the Beast, Allie and Noah, and Bella and Edward have been the forefront characters... but all great love stories involve a certain mystery, a certain magic, and a certain struggle that the man must endure and overcome to win the heart of his bride.  And continue to win it.

Jesus' death and resurrection on the cross was payment for every sin on this earth.  No one is without sin, and so we desperately needed a Savior who would be willing to lay down His life for us so we would not have to endure eternal death.

In this, as we realize just a piece of what kind of sacrifice was required, we learn to love a God who gave up His Son Jesus so that we wouldn't have to die.  Every great story has a derivative of this narrative; that's what makes it so great, and so compelling. 

As the story goes, Jesus is coming back for His bride one day, in a glorious wedding ceremony.  "I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband." -Revelation 21:2

But in order for Jesus to return for His bride, we have to be ready.  "Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready." -Revelation 19:7

Do you know your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?  Pray that He would reveal Himself to you, and that He would win over your heart. We need to be found ready, so that His glory can be revealed in all those who believe in Him - His bride, the Church. 

The Enemy's Schemes

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” -Ephesians 6:11

Have you ever noticed the verse above talks about the enemy’s “schemes”? I used to think the verse said, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil.”  But, it actually says, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”  “What is a scheme?” you might say.  Well, according to the Dictionary.com, a scheme is a “plan, design, or program of action to be followed”. 

Why it is important to make this distinction between the enemy and his “schemes”?  We know that the enemy can’t be everywhere all the time, (while God is everywhere all the time) so it makes sense that he would put a “plan, design, or a program” in place to act on his behalf. He works hard to put schemes in place during our childhood, because this is the time in our lives where we are being “programmed”, either for success or failure in every area of life.

What are the enemy’s schemes?  Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10), so anything to do with stealing, killing, and destroying our relationships, purpose, money, and even our lives would be the enemy’s main intent toward us. But, how he does it is quite smart - he uses people in our lives to carry out these schemes - often the people closest to us - without them even knowing.  Many relationships have been destroyed for lack of understanding of the enemy’s schemes.

So how do we outwit Satan?  We can outwit him through Jesus and through the power of forgiveness.

“Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive - I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,  in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”  -2 Cor 2:11

Are you aware of the enemy’s schemes?  Make sure you are aware, so that you can act in forgiveness.  We need to outwit the enemy’s schemes so that God can fulfill His purposes in our lives.

Unconditional Blessing, Unconditional Honor

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”  -Romans 12:14



If you’ve spent any time in Christian circles, you’ve likely heard a sermon preached on blessing our enemies and praying for those who curse us. (Luke 6:28) We talk about blessing as it relates to people who are different than us, aka, sinners, or the unrighteous.  But how often on a regular basis do we get to mingle with people who are COMPLETELY different than us, unless we started hanging out at bars, strip clubs, or mosques?  And, how often does someone who is more like us rub us the wrong way at church? How do we respond? Do we actually know how to bless someone we disagree with, like Jesus did?



Our culture is pretty different than Eastern Jewish culture was back then.  Our culture is very much based on a performance-mindset - that is, “If you do what I want, I’ll bless you.”  This idea comes through in our parenting styles, our management, and our pastoral care.  No doubt about it there is consequence for poor or bad behavior.  But, in the Jewish culture they understood that blessing was a given.  You bless the person because they are a human being, created by God.  You believe the best for them.  You pray for them.  As far as honor was concerned, they honored people because of the position they held, not because of good or bad behavior, (not to say they didn’t confront them.) (Matthew 18:15) But, in our culture, I think we have it backwards. We’re called to bless, not withhold blessing based on performance.  In reality, we should honor everyone, no matter who they are. 



True love isn’t love if it’s conditional - true love is very hard. When we are offended or hurt by something, we naturally shrink back in self-protection.  To be possible, unconditional blessing requires the cross - it requires Jesus.



Are you able to bless others unconditionally?  When someone hurts you, instead of putting walls up, try blessing them instead. This isn’t condoning out of order behavior - but a recognition of the person in spite of their behavior. Pray and ask God how He might have you bless someone today.