My photo
1295 PARADISE HILL ROAD, CLARKSVILLE, TN 931.645.8785, United States
"WHERE PRAYER AND PRAISE TAKE YOU INTO HIS PRESENCE"

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT

2 Corinthians 12:8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.


Whether you realize it or not, America is gradually coming out of one of the most difficult times (economically) since The Great Depression. Many believers have been affected by this season of economic decline and have lost their jobs and some even their homes. On top of that, we have witnessed some of the most horrific natural disasters of our age. Forest fires, floods, tropical storms and hurricanes have impacted the lives of the citizens of our country. But despite all the things many of us have gone through, we’ve made it and survived.



How do you explain overcoming such difficult times? Where did believers find the strength to worship and believe God for better? Here’s the answer—God’s Amazing Grace. While no one volunteers to go through hard times, all of us know that they are a part of life. Someone once said “without the bad times we couldn’t appreciate the good times and we couldn’t enjoy the sunshine without the rain.” But the good news about being saved is that we realize that God never puts more on us than we can bear (I Corinthians 10:13). And even when we’re faced with the dark seasons in life, God gives us His Grace (His Supernatural, Enabling Ability) to make it through. Paul prayed to the Lord three times to be delivered from his thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:8). But the Lord said to Paul, “… ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness…’” (2 Corinthians 12:9) If you’re reading this, my prayer for you is that, “The worst is over and the best is yet to come.” But if The Will of the Father is to allow you to be perfected through tests, trials and tribulations, you’ll make it because of His Amazing Grace.



Let’s Pray: “Father, thank You for Your Amazing Grace. We confess that because of Your Grace, we can make it through anything You allow to happen in our lives, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”



Daily Prayer: “Oh, that You would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my territory,

that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!”

The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Don't Take Today For Granted

Psalm 118:24- "This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it."



Like me, I'm sure that you've never seen the unfavorable effects of storms like we've seen this year. The media reports that this has been the deadliest storm season since the 1950s and one of the most devastating in the history of our nation. Unfortunately, communities and even cities have been destroyed within minutes by deadly tornadoes. Countless individuals have either lost their lives or they're grieving the loss of neighbors, friends and even family members.


Like many other cities, the storms have visited Clarksville as well. Just yesterday, i received an e-mail from one of my spiritual daughters from the National Weather Center predicting a strong possibility that a tornado would hit our city last night. When we gathered around the altar last evening, we agreed by faith that the tornado would bypass Clarksville without effecting the residents of our city. As I was watching the weather report late last night, the meteorologist tracking the storm didn't report any tornadoes in or around our city last evening. Glory to The Name of God!



While our hearts go out to those who have been effected by this year's storm season, I am so grateful that Clarksville hasn't experienced the widespread effects of it. If there's one lesson that we've learned, it is that tomorrow isn't promised to us. Hopefully, we've learned to be thankful for and to appreciate each and every day The Lord allows us to see. Let's begin by confessing, "This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it." Today's exhortation is to be thankful for today and every day that The Lord allows us to see.



Let's Pray:
"Father, thank You for allowing us to see another day. We pray that we won't take this day or any day that You allow us to see for granted, in Jesus' Name, amen."



Daily Confession:
Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail Above only and not beneath The lender and not the borrower The conqueror and not the conquered


I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness And for delivering my life from death and destruction So that I shall live and not die to declare your works


I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body today For by Your Stripes I'm healed I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee


I confess that there shall not be any lack in my life today For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus Thank You that all things are working together for my good And that You always cause me to triumph


This is the day that you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

In Jesus, Name, amen.


Daily Prayer:
“Oh, that You would bless me indeed,



and enlarge my territory,



that Your hand would be with me



and that You would keep me from evil,



that I may not cause pain!”



The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Think Great Thoughts

(NASB77) Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things


Author Chip Ingram gives a prescription for believers to think great thoughts by explaining the New American Standard Bible’s rendering of Philippians 4:8:

True- think about things that are objectively true things that conform to reality. Before you put something in your mind, ask yourself: Is this true?

Honorable- this word also means “grave” or “worthy of respect.” It refers to those things that reflect the serious purposes of a believer’s life. Before that movie, commercial, or conversation goes into your mind, ask yourself: Does this honor God and reflect His Purposes for me?

Right- the word implies justice and righteousness. In the New Testament, it’s used to refer to the character and actions of the Father and of Jesus. It is a picture of duty. Before you spend time thinking about something, ask yourself: Is this right or wrong?

Pure- it comes from the same root word as holy and means to be pure from defilement of immorality. It carries the idea of internal integrity. Ask yourself: Am I thinking on things that are pure and holy?

Lovely- this word means attractive, winsome, or beautiful. It pictures things that call forth a response of love and warmth from within us. As yourself: Is my mind filled with beauty?

Of good repute- the general sense of the word is “admirable,” but its literal meaning is “fair speaking.” In other words, are those thoughts fit for God’s hearing?

Anything of excellence and worthy of praise— these last two thoughts are a summary category for anything that has moral excellence, motivates us to godly behavior, or encourages others to walk with God.

What is Paul saying? Get your thoughts right and the emotions, behaviors, and consequences of peace will follow. A spiritually trained mind will align everything else to such a degree that emotional issues will begin to be resolved and behavior will begin to fall into place. The exhortation today is for us to practice, “Thinking Great Thoughts!”

Let’s Pray:
“Father, help us to practice and execute thinking great thoughts, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Daily Confession:

Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conqueror and not the conquered



I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I shall live and not die to declare your works



I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body today

For by Your Stripes I'm healed

I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed

Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



I confess that there shall not be any lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus

Thank You that all things are working together for my good

And that You always cause me to triumph



This is the day that you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

In Jesus, Name, amen.



Daily Prayer:
“Oh, that You would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my territory,

that Your hand would be with me

and that You would keep me from evil,

that I may not cause pain!”

The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10

Monday, May 23, 2011

EXPECT GOD

Romans 4:19 “Abraham's faith never became weak, not even when he was nearly a hundred years old. He knew that he was almost dead and that his wife Sarah could not have children. 20 But Abraham never doubted or questioned God's promise…” (Contemporary English Version)


The Bible is clear that faith is an absolute necessity in our walk with the Lord. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Five verses later, the Word declares that faithlessness displeases God. (Hebrews 11:6) God’s Word says in 2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” I’d venture to agree with the saints of old that “Prayer is the key to the kingdom, but faith unlocks the door.” Although faith is the foundation to our spiritual victory, there are multiplied masses who don’t exercise it. Why do we find it so difficult to operate in faith?



Many of us have been inadvertently crippled by fear. The longer we wait on God to manifest what He’s promised, the more difficult it becomes to “hold onto our faith.” There are those who have resolved to throw up their hands and say things like, “What’s the use? Maybe it wasn’t for me after all.” I want to remind you that God keeps His Promises! The Contemporary English Version of Numbers 23:19 says, “God is no mere human! He doesn't tell lies or change his mind. God always keeps his promises.” Like Abraham, we must not doubt God or question His Promises. Although he and his wife (Sarah) were well past child bearing age, the miracle child (Isaac) manifested because He refused to doubt what God had promised.


The exhortation today is simply to encourage you to hold onto the Promises of God—“it shall come to pass!”


Let’s Pray:
Father, we ask that You’ll help us to hold onto our faith. Lord, we know that all things are possible to those that believe (Mark 9:23), but we pray today that You’ll ‘help our unbelief’ (Mark 9:24). We pray that we’ll “trust You and give you time, no matter how long it takes,” in Jesus’ Name, Amen.”


Daily Prayer:
“Oh, that You would bless me indeed,
and enlarge my territory,
that Your hand would be with me,
and that You would keep me from evil,
that I may not cause pain!”
The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10





Daily Confession:
Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conqueror and not the conquered



I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I shall live and not die to declare your works



I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body today

For by Your Stripes I'm healed

I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed

Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



I confess that there shall not be any lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus

Thank You that all things are working together for my good

And that You always cause me to triumph



This is the day that you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

In Jesus, Name, amen.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Today’s Devotional came directly from ABC News. Read and enjoy!

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

The Bible couldn't be clearer, right there in the Book of Matthew: chapter 24, verse 36.


But doomsayers have sworn since at least Roman times that they're better sourced than the angels themselves, boldly trotting out predictions down to the day for the Final Judgment, when, Christians believe, Jesus will descend to earth and set off a chain of events resulting in the end of the world and a new heaven.



Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images

The Rev. Richard Lunsford looks at the front... View Full Size



Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images

The Rev. Richard Lunsford looks at the front page of a local newspaper that reads "Judgment Day" outside the Oklahoma City National Memorial in Oklahoma City, June 11, 2001.





May 21, 2011, is the latest attempt to get a jump on Judgment Day, courtesy of Oakland, Calif.-based Family Radio, a nonprofit evangelical Christian group. And, assuming we're all here to follow up, it will make a nice addition on May 22 to this random list of predicted Second Comings we've survived so far.

1. Let's start with Family Radio, whose president, Harold Camping, predicted the End of Days before: Sept. 6, 1994. Camping had been "thrown off a correct calculation because of some verses in Matthew 24," a company spokesman told ABC News this month.

The Christian radio broadcaster is apparently more confident this time around, spending big bucks on 5,000 billboards, posters, fliers and digital bus displays across the country.

2. Edgar Whisenant didn't get it right the first time, either, when he predicted a mid-September 1988 Rapture, even publishing the books "88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988" and "On Borrowed Time." No Apocalypse, no problem. The former NASA engineer simply pushed his predictions off to three subsequent years and wrote books along the way, none of which reportedly sold as well as the first two.

He died in 2001. We're unable to confirm where he's awaiting the big day.

3. Jehovah's Witnesses first anticipated the end of times in 1914, now noting on their official website that "not all that was expected to happen in 1914 did happen, but it did mark the end of the Gentile Times and was a year of special significance."

4. In the century before, renowned New England Baptist minister William Miller triggered what ultimately became known as the "great disappointment" after his failed prophesies that Christ would return sometime between March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844, and then on Oct. 22, 1844.

5. More recently, Pastor John Hinkle of Christ Church Los Angeles told a Trinity Broadcasting Network audience that the "most cataclysmic experience that the world has ever known since the Resurrection ... is going to happen," according to the Christian Research Institute, which is home to "Bible Answer Man."

Hinkle said God, "in the most awesome voice," told him that "on Thursday, June the ninth [1994], I will rip the evil out of this world."



You might have missed it, however, because the prophesy came to pass invisibly, he said, according to the Christian Research Institute.

6. Chuck Smith, the prolific author and senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa in California, turned to scripture and simple math to prepare his flock for the Tribulation. "If I understand Scripture correctly, Jesus taught us that the generation which sees he 'budding of the fig tree,' the birth of the nation Israel, will be the generation that see the Lords return," he wrote in his book "End Times" (1978). "I believe that the generation 1948 is the last generation. Since a generation of judgment is forty years and the Tribulation period lasts seven years, I believe the Lord could come back for His Church any time before the Tribulation starts, which would mean any time before 1981. (1948+40-7=1981)."

"I could be wrong," he wrote in "Future Survival" (1978), "but it's a deep conviction in my heart, and all my plans are predicated upon that belief."

Smith was wrong and has not only abandoned his prophesying ways but since has looked askance at others who have gone down that road.

"The Jehovah's Witnesses, for example, thought the world was sure to end in 1914," Smith wrote in his book "Dateline Earth: Countdown to Eternity" (1989). "When it didn't happen, they merely moved the date up a few years."

7. The prophetic-sounding year 2000 inspired too many doomsday predictions to list here. Suffice it to say that, in hindsight, there was really no need to party like it was 1999.

Let’s Pray: “Father, thank You that Your Word is true and we can depend upon Your Word at all times and for all things, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Daily Confession:

Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conqueror and not the conquered



I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I shall live and not die to declare your works



I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body today

For by Your Stripes I'm healed

I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed

Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



I confess that there shall not be any lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus

Thank You that all things are working together for my good

And that You always cause me to triumph



This is the day that you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

In Jesus, Name, amen.



Daily Prayer: “Oh, that You would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my territory,

that Your hand would be with me

and that You would keep me from evil,

that I may not cause pain!”

The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10

Overflow Living

I Timothy 6:6-8: 6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

The proverbial saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” is a truth that’s applicable in most of our lives. A great deal of our complaints would be received as blessings by others in many parts of the world. How many times have you complained about your spouse in a society where others are believing God for a mate? Are you ungrateful for your living accommodations when homelessness is a part of your community? Do you gripe and grumble because you’re unsatisfied with the job that you asked God for? Have you allowed not being able to afford the upgrade to depress you or steal your joy?



The paradigm of faith, thanksgiving, and covetousness is one that we must balance and monitor concerning material things. While it’s alright to believe God for more, we must examine our motives to ensure that we’re not coveting others or trying to “keep up with the Jones.” Believers must ensure that we’re not so focused on getting more that we’re ungrateful for what we have. How do we keep the correct mindset concerning materialistic possessions? What should regulate our attitude regarding worldly assets?



The answer to these questions can be found in God’s Word. The Living Bible suggests that Paul’s exhortation to his son Timothy to be godly and content is “to be rich.” He reminds Timothy of the way he entered and will exit the world by saying: “..we brought nothing into the world…and …we can carry nothing out.” Paul gives him the foundation for contentment when he says: “And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” The King James Version of the Bible translates the word clothing as “raiment” and it means, “covering in general.” In other words, if we have food, clothing, and shelter, we are to be content. How many of us have much more than the bare necessities of life!



Several years ago, I heard Pastor William Murphy put a twist on Fred Hammond’s song, “Blessed.” During the offertory period, Pastor Murphy led the assembly into singing the lyrics, “I’m living in the overflow, I’m living in the overflow…” Instead of complaining, let’s realize and be thankful because of the fact that God has blessed us with “overflow living.”



Let’s Pray: “Father, thank You for the things that You’ve blessed us with. Help us to realize how blessed we already are, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”



Daily Confession:

Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conqueror and not the conquered



I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I shall live and not die to declare your works



I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body today

For by Your Stripes I'm healed

I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed

Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



I confess that there shall not be any lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus

Thank You that all things are working together for my good

And that You always cause me to triumph



This is the day that you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

In Jesus, Name, amen.



Daily Prayer: “Oh, that You would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my territory,

that Your hand would be with me

and that You would keep me from evil,

that I may not cause pain!”

The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

What are YOUR giants?

Numbers 13: 1-3, 17-20, 26-33 and 14 as reference.

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.” 3 So at the LORD’s command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites. 17 When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. 18 See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. 19 What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? 20 How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.) 26 They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.” 30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. 33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”


The Lord promised his people a bountiful land that was flowing with milk and honey. When the Israelites went to spy out the land, they found that not only was the land promised to them BETTER than they could have imagined, but it was occupied by large people as well. The occupants of the land frightened the Israelites so much that they saw themselves as grasshoppers in comparison. We all have promises that God has made to us or dreams that we desire to fulfill. But with every promise, success, or dream also come challenges that we are required to overcome. Many people never fulfill their dreams or receive their promises because they simply can’t or don’t face the giants that are a part of the promise.

In verses 28 and 29 the Israelites name the giants that they believe are keeping them from the land. But my question is WHO are YOUR giants?

Do you dream of buying a house, but your credit score or your savings are your giants?

Do you dream of writing a book, but your fear and uncertainty are your giants?

Do you want to lose weight, but discipline is your giant?

Do you want to start a business, but ignorance and lack of funds are your giants?

Do you dream of a college education, but your grades, time, or self-doubt are your giants?

Is your giant Forgiveness on the road to healing?

Is your giant repentance on the road to break through?

Is your giant patience on the road to wholeness?—let him finish you!!!!

Is your giant silence on the road to victory?

In the end, the Israelites let the fear of the giants keep them from receiving what was theirs all along. They refused to accept the responsibility of any work that they might have to do and they blamed their leaders for the stagnant state in which they found themselves. Because they relied on what they saw and did not trust in the promise of the Lord, they never made it to the Promised Land.

Let’s not be like the Israelites! Let’s use their example to further propel us to trust our God to overcome our giants.

Let’s Pray:

Father, help us to face and overcome our giants, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Daily Confession:

Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conqueror and not the conquered

I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I shall live and not die to declare your works

I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body today

For by Your Stripes I'm healed

I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed

Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee

I confess that there shall not be any lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus

Thank You that all things are working together for my good

And that You always cause me to triumph

This is the day that you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

In Jesus, Name, amen.



Daily Prayer: “Oh, that You would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my territory,

that Your hand would be with me

and that You would keep me from evil,

that I may not cause pain!”

The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

The Power of Praise Thanksgiving

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Crime in the city of Clarksville has increased significantly—particularly in the area of theft. The police stated that the declining economy coupled with the loss of property due to natural disasters have coerced many to steal the belongings of others. I received a call yesterday that the home of two of the leaders in our church (Elder Michael and Sis. Alicia Edwards) had been broken into. Ironically, the crime happened in broad daylight, around 10 a.m.! Thankfully, no one was home when the deviance occurred.

When I arrived at their home, my soul was made glad because of the attitudes of the Edwards family. The first thing that I noticed was Sis. Edwards’ textbook smile as she interacted with the police. When I went inside, Elder Mike was assessing the situation calmly without any obvious signs of stress or worry. After all other parties departed, they let me know how thankful they were that things weren’t any worse. Although the thief damaged the back door, stole a flat-screen television and Elder Mike’s brand-new laptop, they rejoiced over the fact that they weren’t home and that more of their property wasn’t stolen. Their attitude of gratitude created an optimistic environment that stirred our faith to believe that God would allow them to recover all that the thief had stolen.

The power of praise and thanksgiving can never be underestimated. While praising God after our victories is expected, praising Him during our valley experiences is encouraged. When we magnify The Name of The Lord, we usher God’s Presence into our situations and give us His Perspective concerning the matter. The psalmist said, “I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1) Paul gave the church at Thessalonica the following words of wisdom: “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NLT) Always remember this powerful truth: “Regardless of what you’re going through, you can always tap into the power of praise and thanksgiving.”

Let’s Pray: “Father, we pray that You’ll always remind us to invite You into every situation in our lives by being thankful and praising You, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Daily Confession:

Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conqueror and not the conquered



I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I shall live and not die to declare your works

I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body today

For by Your Stripes I'm healed

I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed

Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



I confess that there shall not be any lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus

Thank You that all things are working together for my good

And that You always cause me to triumph



This is the day that you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

In Jesus, Name, amen.



Daily Prayer: “Oh, that You would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my territory,

that Your hand would be with me

and that You would keep me from evil,

that I may not cause pain!”

The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

TRUST GOD

Psalm 118:8: “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”



Wars and rumors of wars; natural disasters; increase in home foreclosures; rising gas prices; a declining job market; dissolving Social Security benefits…Every day, our minds process an abundance of information that could potentially bring worry and fear into our lives. Several years ago, USA Weekend ran a cover story that reported the things that Americans fear most:



-54% are afraid or very afraid of being in a car crash.

-53% are afraid or very afraid of having cancer.

-50% are afraid or very afraid of inadequate Social Security.

-49% are afraid or very afraid of not having enough money for retirement.

-35% are afraid or very afraid of getting Alzheimer’s.

-33% are afraid or very afraid of being a victim of individual violence.

-32% are afraid or very afraid of being unable to pay current debts.

-30% are afraid or very afraid of exposure to foreign viruses.

-28% are afraid or very afraid of getting AIDS.

-25% are afraid or very afraid of getting natural disasters.



In addition to this:



-4 in 10 people feel unsafe taking a walk alone at night within ½ mile of home.

-1 in 4 women thinks she has been followed by a stranger in the past year.

-1 in 5 fears being caught in a bombing in a public place.



Perhaps these or some other circumstance(s) are causing you to be overly concerned. While we appreciate the media reporting the events that are transpiring in our world, the believer’s faith is not in what is being reported to us—our hope is in a God Whose Power supersedes all situations. The psalmist pinned, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.”



Wherever you are or whatever you’re going through, I encourage you to take the advice of the writer of Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”



Let’s Pray: “Father, we pray that regardless to what transpires in our lives, You’ll help us not to fear but trust You, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”



Daily Confession:

Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conqueror and not the conquered



I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I shall live and not die to declare your works



I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body today

For by Your Stripes I'm healed

I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed

Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



I confess that there shall not be any lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus

Thank You that all things are working together for my good

And that You always cause me to triumph



This is the day that you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

In Jesus, Name, amen.



Daily Prayer: “Oh, that You would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my territory,

that Your hand would be with me,

and that You would keep me from evil,

that I may not cause pain!”

The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10

Friday, May 6, 2011

Keep on Praying

Luke 18:1-8 (NKJV):1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' " 6 Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"
J. Vernon McGee gives a picturesque rendering of what could have happened in Luke 18:2-5. He wrote:

“Now in this city there was a judge who was a godless fellow. He was an unscrupulous politician, scheming, cold, and calculating. Everything he did was for himself…Everything he did had to minister to his own advancement and satisfy his own ambition. He did not fear God. God had no place in this man's thinking. And since he did not fear God, he had no regard for man. He had no respect for this widow at all.

The widow likely was being beaten out of her little home. The mortgage was being foreclosed, and she was being treated unjustly. She went to this prominent judge, took her place in his office, and asked the secretary if she might talk to the judge. The secretary told her, "He's very busy. If you will just tell me the nature of your complaint...." So the widow told her, "I'm just a poor widow. I live out here at the edge of town, and I'm about to lose my place. It is unfair and unjust, and I want to appeal to the judge."

The secretary went into the judge's office and said, "There is a widow out there...." "Well, I can get rid of her in three minutes. I'm a politician, I know how to handle her. Let her come in." She came in. He listened to her for three minutes. Then he said, "I'm sorry, but that's out of my realm. I'd love to do something for you, but I am unable to do anything. Good day."

The next day when he came into the office, there was the widow. He hurried into his office, called his secretary in, and asked, "What's that widow doing back?" "She says she wants to see you." "You go back and tell her I am busy until lunch time." "I've already told her that. But she brought her lunch. She says she will stay here as long as necessary." She stayed all that day and didn't get to see him. He thought he had gotten rid of her. But the next morning when he came in, there she was! She did that for several days, and finally he said, "I'll have to do something about this. I can't go on like this."

Many times, the point of a parable is difficult to find. But the point of this parable is given in verse one of Luke 18, “…men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” Jesus taught that we should keep praying, keep trusting, and keep believing until God answers our prayers. There are those who believe that to pray about a matter more than once illustrates a lack of faith. Consequently, to pray continuously is to say, “I’m still believing God!” The New Living Translation of Matthew 7:7 says, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”

Today’s exhortation is crayola simple: “Keep on Praying!”

Let’s Pray: “Father, help us to keep on praying.”

Daily Prayer: “Oh, that You would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my territory,

that Your hand would be with me,

and that You would keep me from evil,

that I may not cause pain!”

The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10



Daily Confession:

Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conqueror and not the conquered



I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I shall live and not die to declare your works



I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body

For by Your Stripes I'm healed

I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed

Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



I confess that I will not be distracted, disorganized, or in disarray,

but I will be diligent to what God has called me to do



I confess that there shall not be any lack in my life

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus

Thank You that all things are working together for my good

And that You always cause me to triumph



This is the day that you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

In Jesus, Name, amen.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Look Inside The Word

Matthew 4:4: “… ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

A MAN was in prison and was in need of some money. He wrote his mother and asked her to send five hundred dollars immediately. Soon after, he got a package in the mail. It was a Bible. On the top of the Bible, there was a letter that said, "Son, I love you. Pray and read your Bible." The man was ticked off. He got on the phone and called his mother. "Mama, I appreciate the Bible, but what I need right now is five hundred dollars." She told him over the phone, "Son, pray and read your Bible." He got more ticked off and hung up on his mother.

He then wrote a letter. "Mother, I know you believe in God, but that's the problem with you Christians. You are so heavenly minded that you don't know how to function in the real world. When I need five hundred dollars, I don't need a Bible. I need a check or five greenbacks! If I need money, don't send me a Bible and tell me to pray!"He got a letter back that said, "Son, pray and read your Bible."He was so irritated at his mother, that for the six months he was in jail that Bible stayed in the corner.

After a long while, he finally got out. His mother was there to meet him. He could hardly speak to her. "Mama, you let me down. I needed you as my mother and you let me down." She said, "What do you mean, son?" "I wrote you. I called you. I begged you for five hundred dollars and every time you gave me this same old line to pray and read my Bible." "Well, son, did you pray and read your Bible?" "Yeah, I prayed and read my Bible, and I'm still as broke now as I was when you told me the first time to pray and read my Bible."

"Son, do you have your Bible?" He reached in his bag and he handed her the book. "Son, let me ask you one more time. Did you pray and read your Bible?" "Yes, Mama. I told you I prayed and read my Bible." "Son, you neither prayed nor read your Bible." She opened up the Bible and at every major divisional section within the text, there was a hundred-dollar bill taped inside of it. If the boy would have just read his Bible he would have understood that the thing he was looking for was in the text. Because he didn't take seriously the Word of God, what the Word of God had to offer he never received.

The aforementioned story is emblematical of the lives of many a believer. Although the Bible is packed with promises, there are Christians who will never enjoy those benefits—simply because of their unwillingness to “crack open their Bibles.” As believers, our success or failure depends upon our application (or the lack thereof) of God’s Word. Jesus taught that The Word of God is our “lifeline.” During His Temptation, He proved His Dependence on the Written Word when He quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 during His Trial: “… ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4, NKJV)

Let’s believe The Lord that we’ll have faith in The Word of God like we never have.

Let’s Pray: “Father, give us an unwavering faith in Your Word, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Daily Prayer: “Oh, that You would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my territory,

that Your hand would be with me,

and that You would keep me from evil,

that I may not cause pain!”

The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10



Daily Confession:

Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conqueror and not the conquered



I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I shall live and not die to declare your works



I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body

For by Your Stripes I'm healed

I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed

Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



I confess that I will not be distracted, disorganized, or in disarray,

but I will be diligent to what God has called me to do



I confess that there shall not be any lack in my life

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus

Thank You that all things are working together for my good

And that You always cause me to triumph



This is the day that you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

In Jesus, Name, amen.

GOD'S GOT YOUR BACK

Numbers 22

While God does occasionally give us a glimpse of things that are in our future, our ability to fully see inside the realm of the spirit is limited. There is an invisible world around us where spiritual warfare takes place unbeknownst to us. Satan, the prince of darkness, leads his army of evil (in a losing expedition) against our Great King, and the Kingdom of God. Because of the believer’s allegiance with God, we’ve become targets of Satan and his plan is to destroy anybody and anything associated with the Kingdom of Light. Believers can be assured that The God we serve is protecting us from the attacks of the enemy—even when we don’t see them coming.

In Numbers 22, Balak, king of the Moabites, sent for the Mesopotamian soothsayer, Balaam, to come and put a curse on the Israelites. Balak hoped that Balaam's curse would ensure Israel's defeat (Numbers 22:1-6). As Balaam was headed to see Balak, the Angel of the Lord blocked the path of the travelers. Amazingly, the donkey saw The Angel’s Drawn Sword in His Hand and diverted off the path (Numbers 22:23). Each time Balaam tried directing the donkey’s direction, The Angel would hinder their progress (22:23-27). After Balaam struck the donkey a third time, God opened the mouth of the animal and the donkey initiated a conversation with Balaam! (Numbers 22:28-30). When the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, he was able to see what the donkey had seen and was given instructions not to obey Balak’s request (22:31-35). Balaam, a Mesopotamian soothsayer, informed Balak, king of the Moabites, that he’d only say what God had commanded him! (Numbers 22:38). Although Israel had no idea of the enemy’s plot, our Great God intercepted the plans of the enemy and they didn’t manifest.


One of God’s Promises to us is that, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper…” (Isaiah 54:17). Although the enemy plots and schemes against us, we can be confident in the fact that, “God has our back!”


Let’s Pray: “Father, we thank You that You’re always working in our behalf, even when we don’t see You working. Help us to be confident in the fact that You’re working every situation for our good, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”


Daily Prayer:Oh, that You would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my territory,

that Your hand would be with me,

and that You would keep me from evil,

that I may not cause pain!”

The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10


Daily Confession:

Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conqueror and not the conquered


I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I shall live and not die to declare your works


I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body

For by Your Stripes I'm healed

I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed

Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee


I confess that I will not be distracted, disorganized, or in disarray,

but I will be diligent to what God has called me to do


I confess that there shall not be any lack in my life

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus

Thank You that all things are working together for my good

And that You always cause me to triumph


This is the day that you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

In Jesus, Name, amen.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Let God Breathe Into Your Life!

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,




Would you be interested in getting plugged into a power source that will permeate you with extraordinary energy, vitality, strength, and wisdom to assist you in overcoming any challenge that comes against you? Of course you would like to have that kind of help! The amazing thing is that you already have it at your disposal! However, you may not have learned yet how to tap into this power source to receive its full benefits.


Right there in your home or apartment is a source of power beyond your wildest imagination. It's probably sitting on a shelf, situated nicely on a table, or perhaps even kept in the magazine rack in the bathroom. Or maybe you keep this source of power in the drawer of your desk at work or on the back seat of your car.


You may have guessed by now that I'm talking about your Bible, which is one of the greatest sources of power on earth! If you learn how to tap into God's Word and let its power flow into you, it will equip you with wisdom, answers, and the power to overcome in every single situation in life.


When Timothy felt attacked on every side by difficult situations he was facing in the city of Ephesus, he wrote to Paul, seeking answers and help to his various dilemmas. Expecting counsel and advice from Paul, he received a letter from Paul that contained these precious words: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God..." (2 Timothy 3:16).


Especially notice the word "inspiration" in this verse, for this word is a powerhouse when you really understand what it means! It comes from the Greek word theopneustos, a compound of the words theos and pneuma. The Greek word theos is the word for God, however, the real secret to this powerhouse is the second half of the word, pneuma, which comes from the Greek root pneu.


The rood pneu communicates the idea of the dynamic movement of air. For instance, it can mean to blow, as to blow air or to blow air through an instrument to produce a distinct musical sound. There are also places where it is translated to breathe or to emit a fragrance. Finally, this root word can be used to denote the projection of emotions, such as anger, courage, or goodwill.


But when the root pneu becomes pneuma, as in this verse, it carries a more profound range of meanings, including life, force, life force, energy, dynamism, and power. The Jews considered the pneuma to be the powerful force of God that created the universe and all living things, and the force that continues to sustain creation. In the Old Testament, the pneuma of God would sometimes move mightily upon a person, enabling him to do supernatural feats.


When this word pneuma is compounded together with the word theos, it forms the word theopneustos, which is where we get the word inspiration. Together, these words literally mean God-breathed. The word theopneustos—or "inspiration"—is the picture of God breathing or emitting His own substance into something. Just as a musician would blow on an instrument to produce a distinct sound, God mightily moved on those who wrote the Scriptures, and they temporarily became the instrument through whom God expressed His heart and will. They were the writers, but God was the Great Musician who breathed upon them, His instruments. Thus, the Bible is God's message delivered through human writers to you and me.


Just as the word pneuma can carry the idea of a fragrance, the Word was breathed out from God and thus carries His very essence and fragrance within it. Since the word pneuma can also portray the projection of emotions, this tells us that God projected the totality of His emotion into the written Word when He inspired its writing. Therefore, the Word not only conveys an intellectual message, but it has God's heart in it as well.


It's important to understand that the pneuma of God didn't create the Scripture and then depart from it. This power—the same pneuma power that originally created and continues to sustain the universe—is still working inside the Word, upholding and empowering it to be just as strong as it was the day it was penned by "God-breathed" writers.


Let me give you this very simple example of the word theopneustos. If I hold a deflated balloon that is without form to my lips and breathe into it, the balloon will inflate. The blowing of my breath into that deflated little piece of rubber causes it to fill up so that its true form becomes visible. When the balloon is fully inflated, I tie a knot at the base to trap the air within. Now the air that filled up the balloon and caused it to take form is the same substance that empowers it to sustain its form. It was my breath that created its form, and it is my breath that now sustains it. And if the molecules inside the balloon were analyzed, it would be found that a part of me is held inside in the form of the air I breathed into it.


Now let's apply this to the Bible. When God was ready to speak to mankind, He held up human language to His mouth and breathed into it. After breathing His pneuma power into the language to produce life-giving words, God moved upon the hearts of those He had called to write His Book, and men began to write under divine inspiration. As God continued to breathe on words and phrases and sentences, His Word began to form and take shape until finally it had become the Bible as we know it today.


Today the same breath of God that caused the Word to materialize in written form is now held inside the Bible. It was God's own breath that caused this Word to manifest in the first place, and now His own Presence, His breath—His "molecules," if you will—are permanently held inside the Word of God itself. In other words, God didn't just inspire the writing of the Bible. God Himself—His life, His life-force, His essence, power, energy, dynamism, and power— is contained inside the Word.


Think about it—the Bible you own that is sitting on a shelf, stored away in your desk drawer, sitting on the back seat of your automobile, situated nicely on your coffee table, or placed on the nightstand next to your bed contains the very life, essence, energy, and dynamism of God Himself! If you'll get hungry for more of God and determine to meditate on this truth long enough to tap into it, God Himself will come pouring out of the Bible into your life and situation. The pneuma held inside the Word will blow mightily upon you and upon the situations that surround you—and when that happens, everything will change!




Because of the word theopneustos, Second Timothy 3:16 carries this idea:



"All scripture came into existence because God Himself breathed upon men, who then wrote as this divine breath moved upon them—and thus, the Word took shape and came into existence...."



The supernatural breath and life of God that is held within His written Word is the reason Paul went on to say that the Word is "profitable." The word "profitable" is the Greek word ophelimos, and it means helpful, profitable, useful, beneficial, or something that is to one's advantage. Paul goes on to list all the ways that God's Word brings benefit to the one who reads it, meditates on it, and taps into its pneuma.



So when Paul wrote to Timothy, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God...," he was reminding the younger man that because Timothy had the Word, he possessed the greatest source of power and energy that exists! If he would get into the Word—tapping deeply into its internal resource and allowing the life of God in that Word to flow up, out, and into his life—enough power would be released to change every difficult situation he was facing.



That is why Paul said the Word is "profitable." Wouldn't you agree that this kind of power operating in your life would be to your advantage as well?



Once you understand the meaning of this word "inspiration," you realize that the Bible is not just a Book about God; it is a Book that actually contains God. His own breath and Spirit are contained within it. That's a very good reason why you should spend time studying and meditating on God's Word. By studying and meditating on the Word, you will learn to unlock the power contained within it. And when you have unlocked that door, the power of God will come pouring into your life and into the situations you are facing. Believe me when I tell you that when this power begins to operate, it will definitely be to your advantage!



MY PRAYER FOR TODAY



Lord, I've been asking You for power and strength, not realizing that I have the source of Your power and strength sitting right in my house. Forgive me for not spending enough time in my Bible to tap into the power that is held within it. Starting today, I want to make Your Word a priority in my life. When I am tempted to be lazy and to put off reading my Bible, please help me say no to my flesh. Help me choose to pick up my Bible and read it whether I feel like it or not, taking it deep into my heart and letting the power inside the Word begin to work in me and in my situation.



I pray this in Jesus' name!



MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY



I confess that I have determined to read and meditate on the Word of God on a regular basis. The power of the Word works mightily inside me because I take it deeply into my heart. It transforms my thinking, renews my vision, forces darkness out of my mind, and blows like a mighty force into every part of my life. There is nothing stronger at my disposal than God's Word, so I make it a priority in my life!



I declare this by faith in Jesus' name!