God’s Love, Acceptance and Favor is Yours

As a father loves and pities his children, so the Lord loves and pities those who fear Him [with reverence, worship, and awe].

Psalm 103:13 [MESSAGE]

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Start Your Day With This... (You Are Special)
by Judy Ann

Father, I come before You rejoicing, for this is the day that You have made and I will rejoice and be glad in it.

To obey is better than sacrifice, so I am making a decision to submit to Your will today, that my plans and purposes may be conducted in a manner that will bring honor and glory to You.

Cause me to be spiritually and mentally alert in this time of meditation and prayer, in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

^21-25 Thank you for responding to me;
      you've truly become my salvation!
   The stone the masons discarded as flawed
      is now the capstone!
   This is God's work.
      We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!
   This is the very day God acted—
      let's celebrate and be festive!
   Salvation now, God. Salvation now!
      Oh yes, God—a free and full life!

Psalm 118:24 [MESSAGE]

Samuel said, Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

1 Samuel 15:22 [AMP]

Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving.

Colossians 4:2 [AMP]

Good morning, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thank you for this day -- the day You have made. I love You with my entire being -- spirit, soul and body. You knew me before I was formed within my mother’s womb; before I was born You sanctified me and appointed me as Your witness to the world. I was created for a specific and very special purpose. Thank You Holy Spirit for revealing the things of Jesus unto me, for showing me things to come, and helping me fulfill my destiny to the glory of the Father. Amen.

This is the day which the Lord has brought about; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24 [AMP]

Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

Jeremiah 1:5 [AMP]

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Approved by God
by Judy Ann

Heavenly Father, You knit me together in my mother’s womb, knew me, and approved of me even before I was born. Wonderful are Your works, and I hold fast to this knowledge. I will not keep silent, but bring the Good News of relief and deliverance to others who do not know You. I was born for such a time as this to fulfill my destiny in the Kingdom of God. I take my place a member of the Body of Christ. Thank You for loving me, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

Jeremiah 1:5 [AMP]

¹³For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother's womb.
¹⁴I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well.
¹⁵My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery].
¹⁶Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.

Psalm 139:13-16 [AMP]

For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?

Esther 4:14 [AMP]

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Accepted by God
by Judy Ann

Heavenly Father, thank You for blessing the work of my hands. I can walk confidently fulfilling my destiny because You love, accept and approve of me. I am strong even though I feel weak, and my works shall be rewarded. I am steadfast, never giving up in the face of adversity. Because I am Your child and a partaker of Your divine nature, I will stand firm until Your will prevails and satan’s plans have been demolished. In the name of Jesus, I affirm Your love for me. Amen

The Lord shall open to you His good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

Deuteronomy 28:12 [AMP]

Be strong, therefore, and let not your hands be weak and slack, for your work shall be rewarded.

2 Chronicles 15:7 [AMP]

¹³Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
¹⁴Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God

Ephesians 6:13-14 [AMP]

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Favor
by Judy Ann

Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray that I will have favor with You and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense.

In everything I do, I put You first, and You will direct me and crown my efforts with success.

I trust and reverence You LORD, and turn my back on evil.

When I do this, You give renewed health and vitality to me.

I honor You Lord by giving You the first part of all my income, in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

⁴So shall you find favor, good understanding, and high esteem in the sight [or judgment] of God and man.
⁵Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
⁶In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.
⁷Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil.
⁸It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones.
^9Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income;
¹⁰So shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine.

Proverbs 3:4-10 [AMP]

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Prayer of Jabez
by Judy Ann

God of Israel, I pray that You would bless me and 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!

In the name of Jesus, I ask and I shall receive, I seek and I shall find, I knock and the door shall be opened. In my life be glorified.

Amen.

Jabez cried to the God of Israel, saying, Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and You would keep me from evil so it might not hurt me! And God granted his request.

1 Chronicles 4:10 [AMP]

⁷Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.
⁸For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8 [AMP]

Living Like a Christian

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8 [AMP]

I first heard the above scripture as a youngster in church.  Of all the theology spoken with much gravitas by our pastor, that one verse had a profound impact upon me.  Here, God is giving us a blueprint for doing what He considers to be good.  We are to practice justice... to love kindness and mercy... and to be humble and not proud and haughty.

Pastor Lon Solomon made note of the attitude of a tax collector in the Bible.  This man, unlike the self-righteous Pharisees, humbled himself before God and prayed, “Be merciful to me, a sinner.”  This man did not approach God in a proud or haughty manner... and as a result, his prayer was honored by God.  As we take on the right attitude, we can be vessels that God can use.

And how can we expect God to use us... even if we are average every day Christians?  We address this question in this week’s blog featuring articles by Pastor Francis Ng, Melody Green and Brotha DC.

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Do What is Good
by Pastor Francis Ng

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.

Proverbs 3:27 [NKJV]

Dan Clark recalls when he was a teenager, he and his father once stood in line to buy tickets for the circus.  They noticed a poor family immediately in front of them.  The parents were holding hands.  They had eight children, all probably under the age of twelve.

He could tell that the circus was going to be a new adventure for them.  The attendant asked how many tickets they wanted.  The man proudly responded, “I’d like to buy eight children’s tickets and two adult tickets.”

When the attendant quoted the price, the man’s wife let go of his hand and her head drooped.
The man leaned a little closer and asked, “How much did you say?”

The attendant quoted the price again.

The man obviously didn't have the money.  He looked crushed.  Clark says his father watched all this, put his hand in his pocket, pulled out a twenty dollar bill and dropped it on the ground.  His father then reached down, picked up the note, tapped the man on the shoulder and said, “Excuse me, I think this must be yours.”

The man knew exactly what was going on.  He looked straight into Clark’s father's eyes, took his hand, shook it, and with a tear streaming down his cheek, replied, “Thank you, thank you, sir.”

“This really means a lot to me and my family.”  Clark and his father went back to their car and drove home.  They didn't have enough money to go to the circus that night, but it didn’t matter. They’d blessed a whole family, and it was something neither family would ever forget.  That is called “doing good.”

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The Blizzard of 1985
by Brotha DC

Let us not forget to do good where we have the ability to do so.  Specifically, in reaching out and touching the lives of others. This is not specifically referring to the giving of financial blessings... although that is often needed.  Sometimes it can be as simple as taking a few moments out of our schedules to touch someone’s life in ways that may seem trival... but that often have eternal reverberations.

I was recollecting the Blizzard of 1985 with a friend who was with me in San Antonio Texas during that event.  My friend was amazed at how a normally toasty town in South Texas could be inundated with a historic amount of snow.  But I also remember what appeared to be a homeless bum sitting on the sidewalk near my new apartment, begging for cash.  He had a bottle of booze in his hands and I figured there would be no way I would give my money to support some drunk’s alcohol habit.

Imagine my surprise when the Holy Spirit spoke and directed me to give $50 (a tithe I had set aside for the following Sunday) to the guy.  I figured it had to be a mistake.  I had to be imagining things.  After all, that was God’s money.  But after much prayer, I obeyed God and went back to give the $50 bill to the guy.  Long story short... he was near the end of years of running from God.  He had in his pocket a bottle of pills and was planning on washing down the pills with the vodka and ending his life.  We prayed on that sidewalk and he recommitted his life to Christ.  He took the money to a cheap motel nearby and called his family.  That night was the blizzard that hit San Antonio.  I imagine that, under other circumstances, he would be a frozen corpse.  But thanks be to God who knows each of us and puts His blessings in our path.

One thing that I recall was that this young man had made an earlier attempt at cleaning up... and went to a church requesting help.  He was turned away.  Man, how often do we as Christians wind up dropping the ball and, worse, feeding the atheists (see our book Please Don’t Feed the Atheists (you can click the publications menu at the top of the page).

We recently heard about a divine appointment that Melody Green experienced... she was famished and ready to grab food at a deli when a young woman interrupted her train of thought.  She quickly realized that this woman had a spiritual need and chose to pray with and minister to her rather than give precedence to her growling stomach.  Sound familiar? 

Then the woman left her water jar and went away to the town. And she began telling the people, Come, see a Man Who has told me everything that I ever did! Can this be [is not this] the Christ? [Must not this be the Messiah, the Anointed One?] So the people left the town and set out to go to Him. Meanwhile, the disciples urged Him saying, Rabbi, eat something. But He assured them, I have food (nourishment) to eat of which you know nothing and have no idea. So the disciples said one to another, Has someone brought Him something to eat? Jesus said to them, My food (nourishment) is to do the will (pleasure) of Him Who sent Me and to accomplish and completely finish His work.

John 4:28-34 [AMP]

As you spend time in prayer this week, ask the Lord to show you ways that you might touch someone’s life.  Whether it is a financial blessing... a prayer... or whatever, be a vessel of the love of God manifest in this world.

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My Most Recent Divine Appointment
by Melody Green

Last week my friend Paulette and I were running late and had not eaten anything before we left her house.  So we stopped en route to grab something quick at a small deli she liked. Just as we were about to walk in, an upbeat voice called out to us from the open window of a parked car.

“Hey, that’s a great place you’re gonna love it!” 

We nodded and gave a faint (hungry) wave back.

“I just had the little dumplings on the left side of the counter, but the salad with the nuts is great too,” the voice continued.  We paused at the deli door. “Everything is so good there… sorry for rambling, my mom just died, but you can’t go wrong at this place.  It’s the best.”

We started towards the curb as she continued recommending menu items.

“I’m in culinary school here, and this place is so…”

Stepping towards her, I interrupted, “Excuse me, did you just say your mom died?”

“Yes mam, this morning,” she said, as we inched our way to her car door and listened as her story unfolded.

Her name was Keisha and her mom, who’d recently been diagnosed with cancer, had been rushed to the hospital that morning.  They talked and prayed on the phone together and Keisha told her mom she’d be on a plane that afternoon to come see her. But another call came just a few hours later.  Her mom had slipped into a coma and died.

The sun was beating down hard on Paulette and me as we told Keisha how sorry we were for her loss.  She slipped out of her car and continued with her tragic story.  Her fiancé was just back from Iraq, mending from a gunshot wound, and they’d planned to travel to her mom’s for Thanksgiving so her mom and family could meet him.

Understanding how loss felt, I put my arm around her, and the next second she fell sobbing into both of our arms. “I believe in Jesus and go to church but the devil is trying to destroy me.  But he’s not gonna get the victory,” she declared. “I’m not going to let him win!”

Now that we were holding her, I could smell something stale, like old whisky on her t-shirt, and she was out of it with grief and whatever she’d used to numb the pain in her life.  But the Lord had us there to stand with her in her grief and comfort her breaking heart.  It seemed surreal.

We asked if we could pray for her and she said, “Yes. Yes, please.”

So there we stood, in a parking lot praying for Keisha her and her whole family.  We thanked God for sparing her fiancé’s life and identified with her great loss. We shared our faith and assured her that God totally loved her – and wanted all of her heart to be His.  It was somehow clear she’d been dabbling on the dark side and that a battle was going on for her soul, perhaps for a very long time.

It was a sensitive moment.  Not a time to preach or correct.  But her heart was soft and God gave us the words to gently remind her that Jesus wanted to be her only one – and to let everything else, not of Him, go. And she agreed and fought for herself with us in prayer.

“Something told me you ladies were safe,” she said, lifting her head. “That’s why I kept calling out to you, trying to get your attention.”  She started thanking the Lord for sending us to her.  “It’s exactly what I needed,” she said.  “Thank you Jesus!”

About 40 minutes later we said goodbye. I thought about how easy it would have been to totally ignore Keisha and plow forward into the deli.  To hear the growl of our stomachs instead of hearing those few sad words, tucked inside the cheerful-sounding voice of a stranger.  Instead of the hearing the Holy Spirit.

It’s so easy to miss the moment. To miss God.  I’ve missed Him before, more than I could ever possibly know.  But not last week.  God wanted to touch Keisha last week and we didn’t let Him down. It felt really good to know we played a small, but strategic part, in a painful part of someone else's journey.

Internationally known author, minister and songwriter Melody Green has traveled to over 30 nations to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Her best selling book, “No Compromise. The Life Story of Keith Green” has been translated into numerous languages.  This article was reprinted by permission from Last Days Ministries’ November e-letter. For more information on Melody and her prolific ministry materials, visit http://www.MelodyGreen.com

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Spiritual Meanies
by Brotha DC

I was reading a political blog and the topic of evangelical Christians came up. The writer, who presumably was not a believer, wailed about how so many people who call themselves Christians do lots of things... but the one thing that they don’t do is follow the teachings of Jesus.

I stopped and thought about that. We do so many things in His name except the one thing that He said would be a sign of our being connected to Him.

I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].

John 13:34-25 [AMP]

That made me think both of my lack of love... and of experiences from spiritual meanies that I have encountered over the years...

You know the type. They look as if they have been baptized in pickle juice. They frown and scowl. They never offer positive encouragement but, rather, are quick with the put-downs and condemnation.

Look at that whore on the street corner...

Why, that ugly old drunk needs to go somewhere and sober up...

Those kids with the tattoos and the BB’s through their noses oughta be ashamed, walking around looking like that.

I have experienced people wagging their finger at me to point out some (real or percieved) sin in my life. Hey pal, how about praying that we all are stronger in our walk?

Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy purpose].

Proverbs 27:17 [AMP]

I remember as an undergrad in Washington DC, I got through college by the skin of my financial teeth. But I trusted God and He provided. Granted, I never received enough salary or stipend to maintain a bank account, so I cashed each check I received. In DC at that time, liquor stores were authorized by the District to cash checks. Granted, a lot of poor people would go in with some sort of subsistence check and come out with an arm full of booze... but some people were mostly honest in that regard.

Well, a sister in Christ confronted me after church with her finger pointed in my face.

“A-ha!” she exclaimed. “You’re supposed to be a CHRISTIAN! But I saw you go into the liquor store!”

I asked, “Did you also see me exit the store?”

“Yes,” she replied.

“Was I carrying any liquor?” I asked.

She realized that I was not. I explained that I simply cashed my ROTC stipend. And she went away sorrowful... because she didn’t have occasion to accuse her brother.

Whoa! Don’t you think maybe she might have gone to her prayer closet and said, “Father, I don’t know if my brother has sin in his life... or if there is some problem that has taken his eyes off of You and made him seek the bottle. In any instance, I just pray his strength in the name of Jesus.”

But, in reality, how often do we ever do that? Most of the time, we are quick to judge, and then thank God that we are not as bad a sinner as the other guy. Whoa! Are we so self-righteous that we don’t realize that we are all saved by grace... and were it not for God’s grace we would all be a disgrace?

Let’s not be Christian meanies. Let’s not act like self-righteous weenies. But let us be quick to intercede for each other and (most importantly) love one another with humble spirits and godly fear.

Two men went up into the temple [enclosure] to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee took his stand ostentatiously and began to pray thus before and with himself: God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men--extortioners (robbers), swindlers [unrighteous in heart and life], adulterers--or even like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I gain. But the tax collector, [merely] standing at a distance, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but kept striking his breast, saying, O God, be favorable (be gracious, be merciful) to me, the especially wicked sinner that I am! I tell you, this man went down to his home justified (forgiven and made upright and in right standing with God), rather than the other man; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Luke 18:10-14 [AMP]

God Bless the Child

If you were to turn to the Book of Billie Holiday, you would read the following passage:

Them that’s got shall get
Them that’s not shall lose
So the Bible said and it still is news

Mama may have,
Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his own

Yes, the strong gets more
While the weak ones fade
Empty pockets don’t ever make the grade

Mama may have,
Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his own

Now I imagine that some of you are jumping out of your chairs and yelling “Hey, wait a minute! There is no such book in the Bible!”

OK, you caught us operating in a little jocularity - just a wee bit of humor. But, in all seriousness, the concept behind that classic blues song is taken from a scriptural context. Specifically: those who have will be given more, and those who have not shall lose what little they may have.

Let’s pause to read a passage from the Bible in which Jesus is giving some rather stern teaching about the kingdom of heaven. He earlier talks about the foolish virgins who were shut out of the wedding celebration. Later, Jesus will teach about the sheep and the goats. The overall theme seems to be those who do those works that are an acceptable to God, and those who are rejected.

¹³Watch therefore [give strict attention and be cautious and active], for you know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of Man will come.
¹⁴For it is like a man who was about to take a long journey, and he called his servants together and entrusted them with his property.
¹⁵To one he gave five talents [probably about $5,000], to another two, to another one--to each in proportion to his own personal ability. Then he departed and left the country.
¹⁶He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he gained five talents more.
¹⁷And likewise he who had received the two talents--he also gained two talents more.
¹⁸But he who had received the one talent went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
¹⁹Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
²⁰And he who had received the five talents came and brought him five more, saying, Master, you entrusted to me five talents; see, here I have gained five talents more.
²¹His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys.
²²And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, Master, you entrusted two talents to me; here I have gained two talents more.
²³His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys.
²⁴He who had received one talent also came forward, saying, Master, I knew you to be a harsh and hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you had not winnowed [the grain].
²⁵So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is your own.
²⁶But his master answered him, You wicked and lazy and idle servant! Did you indeed know that I reap where I have not sowed and gather [grain] where I have not winnowed?
²⁷Then you should have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received what was my own with interest.
²⁸So take the talent away from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.
²⁹For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will be furnished richly so that he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away.
³⁰And throw the good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.

Matthew 25:13-30 [AMP]

In the above passage, a man gives three of his servants finances to manage.  The most industrious servant received the most... and adeptly traded these funds, doubling the amount for his master.  The second did the same.  The third guy was lazy and fearful.  He hid the money in the ground where it could not earn any interest or grow in value.  The top performer was rewarded... but the lazy bum was punished.

When we become Christians, we are given gifts from God.  We are to use these gifts to glorify God, and to help our fellow man.  If you never share... never help the needy... never use your nice car to give someone a ride... never take time to listen to someone suffering from emotional pain... never share the good news of God’s love gift of salvation through Jesus Christ... if you never do anything with the gifts that God has given you, then you are like the lazy bum in Matthew 25.

The idea of acceptable works being rewarded and bad works being rejected is not a New Testament concept. In the Book of Genesis, we see two brothers: Cain and Abel. One brother brings a sacrifice to God that is accepted. The other brings a sacrifice that is rejected.

³And in the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground.
⁴And Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat portions. And the Lord had respect and regard for Abel and for his offering,
⁵But for Cain and his offering He had no respect or regard. So Cain was exceedingly angry and indignant, and he looked sad and depressed.
⁶And the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why do you look sad and depressed and dejected?
⁷If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.

Genesis 4:3-7 [AMP]

Cain and Abel are examples of two types of sacrifice: one that is accepted by God and one that is rejected by Him.  So let’s focus on what God is looking for in our lives.  Returning to our concept of the Billie Holiday song, if you gots... you shall get.  If you not... you shall lose. Abel did that which God respected and received the blessing of God’s respect.  Cain got the opposite... and had a bad attitude.

We all know what happened next:  Cain killed his brother.  Sadly, this behavior still occurs.  We have people who get jealous of those who are blessed and want to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10).  I have experienced it in my life... perhaps you have as well.  Rather than celebrate your success, they plot to bring you down... all because they see you receiving what they did not achieve.

But that is a bit of a tangent from our original scripture... that those who manage what God has given them shall receive more... and those who mismanage shall have what little they have taken away.

Interestingly, this seems to be the opposite from one of the world would view as the norm. Not to make this a political statement, but our President seems to think those who have should lose and those who have not should gain. Banks that were in trouble because of bad business practices should be bailed out, and those who managed their finances properly are dealing with higher taxes. But, of course, this is not about politics.

In the economy of heaven, your works that are reflective of a faithful spirit will bring you great reward.  Likewise, the lazy and carnal Christian will have nothing in regard to rewards. That person may even be facing punishment, and according to these scriptures -- most likely so.  YIKES!  What we are reading suggests that our Heavenly Father does not give cash for clunkers!

It is important at this point to emphasize that no one can buy their way into heaven by doing good works. However, good works are an indication of the level of our faith. Yes, we understand that salvation is a gift from God through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord, we also understand that faith without works is dead.

¹⁴What is the use (profit), my brethren, for anyone to profess to have faith if he has no [good] works [to show for it]? Can [such] faith save [his soul]?
¹⁵If a brother or sister is poorly clad and lacks food for each day,
¹⁶And one of you says to him, Good-bye! Keep [yourself] warm and well fed, without giving him the necessities for the body, what good does that do?
¹⁷So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).
¹⁸But someone will say [to you then], You [say you] have faith, and I have [good] works. Now you show me your [alleged] faith apart from any [good] works [if you can], and I by [good] works [of obedience] will show you my faith.
¹⁹You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the demons believe and shudder [in terror and horror such as make a man's hair stand on end and contract the surface of his skin]!
²⁰Are you willing to be shown [proof], you foolish (unproductive, spiritually deficient) fellow, that faith apart from [good] works is inactive and ineffective and worthless?
²¹Was not our forefather Abraham [shown to be] justified (made acceptable to God) by [his] works when he brought to the altar as an offering his [own] son Isaac?
²²You see that [his] faith was cooperating with his works, and [his] faith was completed and reached its supreme expression [when he implemented it] by [good] works.
²³And [so] the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed in (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on) God, and this was accounted to him as righteousness (as conformity to God's will in thought and deed), and he was called God's friend.
²⁴You see that a man is justified (pronounced righteous before God) through what he does and not alone through faith [through works of obedience as well as by what he believes].
²⁵So also with Rahab the harlot--was she not shown to be justified (pronounced righteous before God) by [good] deeds when she took in the scouts (spies) and sent them away by a different route?
²⁶For as the human body apart from the spirit is lifeless, so faith apart from [its] works of obedience is also dead.

James 2:14-26 [AMP]]

I like what Joyce Meyer often says: when she asks someone “Are you a Christian?” one of the more common responses is, “I go to church.” Joyce follows that with, “You can sit in the church... that doesn’t make you a Christian. I could sit in my garage, that doesn’t make me an automobile.”  A lot of people go to church... but are they sheep or goats?  Again, the scriptures define the acceptable one(s) as those whose faith is evidenced by their good works!

One thing I have often related is that I have had more problems in life from people who call themselves Christians than from people who seem to worship the devil or claim to be atheists.  It is not only frustrating to have someone claiming to be a fellow believer in Christ telling lies about you and sowing all sorts of discord (Proverbs 6:16-19)... but it makes it very difficult to convince the lost of their need for salvation through Christ when they witness that sort of behavior.  Such occurrences were part of the inspiration behind our book, “Please Don’t Feed the Atheists” and our Powerhouse audio teaching Things That God Hates.

How about making a commitment this week to live a true Christian life -- by committing works that please God, rather than those that anger Him?

How do I do that?

The same way that you received salvation (or, if you have never received salvation... this is how we do it:

For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.

Romans 10:10 [AMP]

Put your complete trust in Christ... yielding to the Holy Spirit (because He has the right of way) and allowing Him to walk out those good works through you. Make a commitment to do this daily and it will go from an action to a habit to a lifestyle.

Love and Compassion

Compassion (Brotha DC)

³²Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, I have pity and sympathy and am deeply moved for the crowd, because they have been with Me now three days and they have nothing [at all left] to eat; and I am not willing to send them away hungry, lest they faint or become exhausted on the way.
³³And the disciples said to Him, Where are we to get bread sufficient to feed so great a crowd in this isolated and desert place?
³⁴And Jesus asked them, How many loaves of bread do you have? They replied, Seven, and a few small fish.
³⁵And ordering the crowd to recline on the ground,
³⁶He took the seven loaves and the fish, and when He had given thanks, He broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.
³⁷And they all ate and were satisfied. And they gathered up seven [large provision] baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over.
³⁸Those who ate were 4,000 men, not including the women and the children.

Matthew 15:32-38 [AMP]

Jesus was often moved with compassion. Even when His own needs were waiting to be met, His compassion caused Him to first minister to others and ignore His own need for rest... for food... even for water (see John 4:4-42 where He ministered to the woman at the well).

To quote Keith Green... “I want to... I need to... be more like Jesus.”

I remember a pastor who would conduct a three-hour church service... criticize the parishioners for wanting to leave... and not even consider their physical needs by providing a meal or even refreshments.  Yet Jesus had pity and sympathy and deep compassion for the crowd.  The Lord has pity and compassion upon His children (see Psalm 103:13).

The crowd in Matthew 15 had followed Jesus for three days.  They had reached the point where their supply of food had been completely exhausted.  If they had left Jesus in that state, they could conceivably had passed out on the road from hunger.  Jesus took some fish and loaves and miraculously provided a feast for those people who clung to His word.  That is not just a cool Bible story... that is our example to follow!

Jesus not only focuses on the spiritual needs of His people... He is keenly aware of meeting our physical needs as well.  May we have His compassion active in our lives as we practice the love walk towards others.  May we have agape love that shows favor towards the unlovable.  Towards those who may not even return our love.  They may even return it with hate!

May we look for opportunities to bless others... and not selfishly look to have our own needs met.

But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

Matthew 6:33 [AMP]

When we do this, seeking first His kingdom and righteousness... then all other things will be freely added to us.  Why?  Because we will not simply consume those things for our selfish satisfaction.  Rather, we will use those things to be a blessing to others.  In this way, we will be fulfilling the covenant given to Abraham in Genesis 12:2 -- to be blessed and to be a blessing.

But if we do not have compassion, we will not be a blessing to anyone. We will be selfish and self-seeking... and will find that those things we do acquire will simply decay and be brought to naught:

You have sown much, but you have reaped little; you eat, but you do not have enough; you drink, but you do not have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages has earned them to put them in a bag with holes in it.

Haggai 1:6 [AMP]

Those who are selfish -- who even go so far as to rob, cheat and steal -- find that they never have enough. They can never be satisfied. Yet... when Jesus had compassion on the crowd and miraculously fed them... not only were all fed, but there were twelve baskets of leftovers that fed who knows how many people.

Set your calendars...

Keep your eyes out for a series of four podcasts at the Powerhouse Podcast Web Site (also available on iTunes) starting on August 1^st that focus on seeking first God’s kingdom and His way of doing and being right. This is the key to receiving from God... not by idolatrous focus on our wants and needs, but by compassionate focus on the needs of others -- trusting by faith that God (our faithful and just Father) will supply our needs.

Walking in Love (Judypie)

New Testament believers have received a new commandment: love one another, for love springs from God, and he who loves his fellowman (this includes family members) is begotten of God and is coming progressively to know and understand Him (1 John 4:7). Walking in love is part of the transformation process; putting off the old nature (selfishness and self-centeredness) and putting on the new. You do not have the ability to force others to love you, but you have the ability to love others even as the Father loves you.

Father, the love you define in 1 Corinthians 13 is my greatest aim, and I ask also for the special abilities the Holy Spirit gives. I believe on the name of your Son Jesus Christ, and I am able to love others just as I love myself because you first loved me. God, you are love, and when I live in love, I am living in you and you live in me. As I walk in Your love, my love grows more perfect and complete. Thank you for loving me, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

EAGERLY PURSUE and seek to acquire [this] love [make it your aim, your great quest]; and earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual endowments (gifts), especially that you may prophesy (interpret the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching).

1 Corinthians 14:1 [AMP]

And this is His order (His command, His injunction): that we should believe in (put our faith and trust in and adhere to and rely on) the name of His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and that we should love one another, just as He has commanded us.

1 John 3:23 [AMP]

¹⁶And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.
¹⁷In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world.
¹⁸There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].
¹⁹We love Him, because He first loved us.

1 John 4:16-19 [AMP]

It is God’s intention that His people manifest love to one another, exhorting and encouraging each other. Let us hold fast to our confession of faith, and set aside the doctrines and traditions of men that divide and separate us. Determine to have the same love, and look out for not only our own interests, but also for the interests of others. Denominational walls are coming down, and we are reaching across the great divide to shake hands and learn from one another; we are not an island unto ourselves. By this shall all men know that we are His disciples, if we have love for one another.

In the name of Jesus, I pray for the Body of Christ. May our love flourish and I pray that we will love others appropriately. Help us to love one another sincerely and intelligently. May we live the life of a lover, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of; bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God. Amen.

Click to read this scripture: Philippians 1

Father, I eagerly pursue and seek to acquire love [make it my aim, my great quest]. Also, I earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual endowments (gifts). When I was a child, I talked like a child and I thought like a child. Now that I have become a grownup, I am done with childish ways and put them aside. My desire is to walk in love—true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for me, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Click to read these scriptures: 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13; 14:1

Wisdom from Judypie

Where Can You Go?

When Adam sinned he moved from Eden, the garden of light, into spiritual darkness. He was estranged from his Maker. There was no way for him to find his way back. Fear controlled him as he tried to make it on his own. He had no hope, and was in the world without God. BUT GOD! God had a plan to bring his children back to Himself; He sent Jesus to take away the sins of the world. Jesus is the Way to the Father, and you can be reconciled to God. You can choose salvation and become the righteousness of God in Christ. In Him you become a brand new creation; old things pass away and behold all things become new! Where there was fear, now there is faith – faith in an awesome God whose plan for man’s salvation is available to all who will call upon the name of the Lord. Where can you go but to the Lord!

Lord, you are my shield, my glory, and my only hope. You alone can lift my head, now bowed in shame. I cried out to the Lord, and He heard me from His Holy Temple. Then I lay down and slept in peace and woke up safely, for the Lord was watching over me. And now, although ten thousand enemies surround me on every side, I am not afraid. Salvation comes from God. Jesus is my Lord! What joys He gives to all his people. Amen

 ³ But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
      you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
 ⁴ I cried out to the Lord,
      and he answered me from his holy mountain.
                         Interlude
 ⁵ I lay down and slept,
      yet I woke up in safety,
      for the Lord was watching over me.
 ⁶ I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies
      who surround me on every side.
 ⁷ Arise, O Lord!
      Rescue me, my God!
   Slap all my enemies in the face!
      Shatter the teeth of the wicked!
 ⁸ Victory comes from you, O Lord.
      May you bless your people.
                         Interlude

Psalm 3:3-8 [NLT]

Affirmation of Confidence

Lord, You are my confidence and will keep my foot from being caught in a trap or hidden danger. I have returned to you and waited for you and I am saved; in quietness and confidence is my strength. In Christ and through faith in him I approach God with freedom and confidence, and I will not throw away my confidence; it will be richly rewarded in the name of Jesus. Amen

 ²⁶ for the LORD will be your confidence
       and will keep your foot from being snared.

Proverbs 3:26 [NIV]

 ¹⁵ This is what the Sovereign Lord,
      the Holy One of Israel, says:
   “Only in returning to me
      and resting in me will you be saved.
   In quietness and confidence is your strength.
      But you would have none of it.

Isaiah 30:15 [NLT]

¹²In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Ephesians 3:12 [NIV]

 ³⁵So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

Hebrews 10:35 [NIV]

Power of Words

O LORD, set a guard over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth. Your words are spirit and life, and I pray that the Word of God may dwell richly in me with all wisdom. Then my words will be seasoned with grace, and my tongue will keep me from calamity, in the name of Jesus. Amen

Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.

Psalm 141:3 [AMP]

It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that makes him unclean and defiled, but what comes out of the mouth; this makes a man unclean and defiles [him].

Matthew 15:11 [AMP]

Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it.

Ephesians 4:29 [AMP]

He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from troubles.

Proverbs 21:23 [AMP]

God Directs Your Steps

O Lord, I know it is not within my power to map my life and plan my course. I commit my future plans to you – my education, whether I marry or remain single, my career, and my ministry. When I make a decision contrary to your will, correct me with justice, and lead me in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake. Thank you, Lord for directing my steps. Just as a mother and father are thrilled when their children take their first steps, You delight in each step I take. When I walk, my steps will not be hampered; when I run, I will not stumble in the name of Jesus. Amen

 ⁹ In his heart a man plans his course,
       but the LORD determines his steps.

Proverbs 16:9 [NIV]

Jeremiah’s Prayer

 ²³ I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own.
      We are not able to plan our own course.

Jeremiah 10:23 [NLT]

 ²³ The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
      He delights in every detail of their lives.

Psalm 37:23 [NLT]

 ¹² When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
       when you run, you will not stumble.

Proverbs 4:12 [NIV]

The Abundant Life

Heavenly Father, I pray that the joy of Jesus may be made full and complete and perfect in me, and that I may experience His delight and gladness fulfilled in me; His enjoyment perfected in my own soul. Jesus, you are my source of eternal salvation. Thank You for coming that I might have life, and have it more abundantly – have it to the full until it overflows. I receive the power of God that works through me. I rid myself of negative thoughts, and in simple humility, let my Gardener landscape me with the Word, making a salvation-garden of my life. I am united with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant to the glory of the Father. Amen

⁹and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him

Hebrews 5:9 [NIV]

 ¹⁰The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

John 10:10 [KJV]

Act on What You Hear

 ^19-21Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God's righteousness doesn't grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.

James 1:19-21 [Message]

 ^5-8"I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

John 15:5-8 [Message]

Jesus Says to YOU...

“Let your heart notice the one who has no Shepherd. The one who has not felt My touch.”

Prosperity of the Soul (by Judypie)

Unless your soul prospers, you will not enjoy physical, mental and spiritual health, the soul must prosper. This is the seat of the mind, will and emotions. If you grew up in a religious setting you will probably have to change your view of prosperity. Religion says poverty is holy, but the Bible teaches otherwise. While it is true that the love of money is the root of all evil, it is not evil to have money. The Lord gives the power to get wealth, and he desires that you experience financial success. The soul has to be prepared for financial success; your character must be shaped by godly principles. Greed must be overturned by generosity; you are blessed to bless others. With wealth comes responsibility; wealth gives you the ability to help those who are in need. For God so loved the world that he gave. Let’s imitate our Father-God; He loves a prompt-to-do-it joyous giver!

Father, it is your desire that I prosper and be in health, even as my soul prospers. In the name of Jesus, I put off the old man with its wrong attitudes and behaviors, and put on the new man created in righteousness. I receive and welcome the Word that contains the power to save my soul— to root out strongholds that are contrary to the Truth. I will diligently obey the message; being a doer of the Word and not merely a listener. Thank You for helping me overcome wrong ideas about financial freedom. I will ever be humbly grateful and one with you as I experience financial success in the name of Jesus. Amen

Hold your mouse over these scriptures:

• 3 John 2
• James 1:21-22

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
Joshua 24:15

Meditations from Judypie

Abundant Life

Do you know the character of God? Do you know that He is a good God, and that good and perfect things come from Him? I have heard people blame Him for everything good, bad and indifferent. He sent Jesus to give you Life--Life more Abundant till it overflows. God isn't in the business of killing, stealing and destroying, He is in the business of blessing His children with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus!
Father God, thank You for sending Your son Jesus Christ that I might have life and have it to the full till it overflows. I receive Your abundant life this day, accepting it in overflowing proportions. Freely I have received; freely I give, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

John 10:10 [AMP]

A Teachable Spirit

Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared. Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good. How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness. Amen.

³³ Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep it to the end [steadfastly].
³⁴ Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law; yes, I will observe it with my whole heart.
³⁵ Make me go in the path of Your commandments, for in them do I delight.
³⁶ Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetousness (robbery, sensuality, unworthy riches).
³⁷ Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity (idols and idolatry); and restore me to vigorous life and health in Your ways.
³⁸ Establish Your word and confirm Your promise to Your servant, which is for those who reverently fear and devotedly worship You.
³⁹ Turn away my reproach which I fear and dread, for Your ordinances are good.
⁴⁰ Behold, I long for Your precepts; in Your righteousness give me renewed life.

Psalm 119:33-40 [AMP]

Approved by God

Heavenly Father, You knit me together in my mother’s womb, knew me, and approved of me even before I was born. Wonderful are Your works, and I hold fast to this knowledge. I will not keep silent, but bring the Good News of relief and deliverance to others who do not know You. I was born for such a time as this to fulfill my destiny in the Kingdom of God. I take my place, a member of the Body of Christ. Thank You for loving me, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

Jeremiah 1:5 [AMP]

¹³ For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother's womb.
¹⁴ I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery].
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.

Psalm 139:13-16 [AMP]

For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?

Esther 4:14 [AMP]

Praise The Lord!!!

I heard about a man who got a little excited in church and kept shouting, “Praise the Lord!” One day, some of the brethren called on him while he was plowing his fields. When they were finished talking, he hung his head and said, “I know it’s the truth. I have disturbed the services, but you know, I sit there and think what the Lord has done for me, how He died in agony and blood for me upon the cross, how He’s forgiven all of my sins, how He’s filled me with the Spirit, and – here, hold this mule while I shout!” If being a Christian and going to heaven doesn't excite you, then you have calluses on your soul. It’s exciting to know the Lord Jesus Christ!

When was the last time you raised your hands and shouted “Praise the Lord!” Maybe right now is a good time!

Revelation 7:12 - “Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever.”

Adrian Rogers

Do What Is Good

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8 [AMP]

I first heard the above scripture as a youngster in church.  Of all the theology spoken with much gravitas by our pastor, that one verse had a profound impact upon me.  Here, God is giving us a blueprint for doing what He considers to be good.  We are to practice justice... to love kindness and mercy... and to be humble and not proud and haughty.

Pastor Lon Solomon made note of the attitude of a tax collector in the Bible.  This man, unlike the self-righteous Pharisees, humbled himself before God and prayed, “Be merciful to me, a sinner.”  This man did not approach God in a proud or haughty manner... and as a result, his prayer was honored by God.  As we take on the right attitude, we can be vessels that God can use.

And how can we expect God to use us... even if we are average every day Christians?  We found the answer to that question in the following message from Pastor Francis Ng.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.

Proverbs 3:27 [NKJV]

Dan Clark recalls when he was a teenager, he and his father once stood in line to buy tickets for the circus.  They noticed a poor family immediately in front of them.  The parents were holding hands.  They had eight children, all probably under the age of twelve.

He could tell that the circus was going to be a new adventure for them.  The attendant asked how many tickets they wanted.  The man proudly responded, “I’d like to buy eight children’s tickets and two adult tickets.”

When the attendant quoted the price, the man’s wife let go of his hand and her head drooped.
The man leaned a little closer and asked, “How much did you say?”

The attendant quoted the price again.

The man obviously didn't have the money.  He looked crushed.  Clark says his father watched all this, put his hand in his pocket, pulled out a twenty dollar bill and dropped it on the ground.  His father then reached down, picked up the note, tapped the man on the shoulder and said, “Excuse me, I think this must be yours.”

The man knew exactly what was going on.  He looked straight into Clark’s father's eyes, took his hand, shook it, and with a tear streaming down his cheek, replied, “Thank you, thank you, sir.”

“This really means a lot to me and my family.”  Clark and his father went back to their car and drove home.  They didn't have enough money to go to the circus that night, but it didn’t matter. They’d blessed a whole family, and it was something neither family would ever forget.  That's called “doing good.”

As we approach the holiday season -- where thoughts often turn towards buying gifts, having meals, and traveling to be with friends and family -- let us not forget to do good where we have the ability to do so.  Specifically, in reaching out and touching the lives of others.

This is not specifically referring to the giving of financial blessings... although that is often needed.  Sometimes it can be as simple as taking a few moments out of our schedules to touch someone’s life in ways that may seem trival... but that often have eternal reverberations.

I was recollecting the Blizzard of ‘85 with a friend who was in San Antonio Texas (as I was) during that event.  My friend was amazed at how a normally toasty town in South Texas could be inundated with a historic amount of snow.  But I also remember what appeared to be a homeless bum sitting on the sidewalk near my new apartment, begging for cash.  He had a bottle of booze in his hands and I figured there would be no way I would give my money to support some drunk’s alcohol habit.

Imagine my surprise when the Holy Spirit spoke and directed me to give $50 (a tithe I had set aside for the following Sunday) to the guy.  I figured it had to be a mistake.  I had to be imagining things.  After all, that was God’s money.  But after much prayer, I obeyed God and went back to give the $50 bill to the guy.  Long story short... he was near the end of years of running from God.  He had in his pocket a bottle of pills and was planning on washing down the pills with the vodka and ending his life.  We prayed on that sidewalk and he recommitted his life to Christ.  He took the money to a cheap motel nearby and called his family.  That night was the blizzard that hit San Antonio.  I imagine that, under other circumstances, he would be a frozen corpse.  But thanks be to God who knows each of us and puts His blessings in our path.

One thing that I recall was that this young man had made an earlier attempt at cleaning up... and went to a church requesting help.  He was turned away.  Man, how often do we as Christians wind up dropping the ball and, worse, feeding the atheists (see our book Please Don’t Feed the Atheists at http://link2power.org).

We recently heard about a divine appointment that Melody Green experienced... she was famished and ready to grab food at a deli when a young woman interrupted her train of thought.  She quickly realized that this woman had a spiritual need and chose to pray with and minister to her rather than give precedence to her growling stomach.  Sound familiar? 

Then the woman left her water jar and went away to the town. And she began telling the people, Come, see a Man Who has told me everything that I ever did! Can this be [is not this] the Christ? [Must not this be the Messiah, the Anointed One?] So the people left the town and set out to go to Him. Meanwhile, the disciples urged Him saying, Rabbi, eat something. But He assured them, I have food (nourishment) to eat of which you know nothing and have no idea. So the disciples said one to another, Has someone brought Him something to eat? Jesus said to them, My food (nourishment) is to do the will (pleasure) of Him Who sent Me and to accomplish and completely finish His work.

John 4:28-34 [AMP]

As you spend time in prayer this week, ask the Lord to show you ways that you might touch someone’s life.  Whether it is a financial blessing... a prayer... or whatever, be a vessel of the love of God manifest in this world.

Selah.

Do Good... Blessings Always Follow...

“Let us not become weary in doing good...we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:9 [NIV]

The name Corrie ten Boom is widely recognized in Christian circles, but few people know about her nephew Peter who was also instrumental in saving Jews from Nazi persecution. When Dutch patriots heard that SS troops were sending Jewish orphans to concentration camps, they smuggled children out of orphanages and brought them to the ten Boom house until they could be placed for adoption.

At sixteen, Peter, a committed Christian, defied the Germans by pulling out all the stops on the church organ and playing the Dutch national anthem while the congregation stood up and sang. After World War II, he travelled the world with the same message as his aunt - that forgiveness is the only answer to hatred.

On tour in Israel, Peter had a heart attack and needed surgery. Talking with him the night before his operation the cardiologist asked, “Are you by any chance related to the ten Booms of Holland?”

Peter replied, “Yes, that’s my family.”

The doctor responded, “I’m one of the babies your family saved!”

The next day, the man whose life had been saved forty years earlier repaid the debt by saving Peter van Woerden’s life.

The Bible says when you, “Cast your bread upon the waters... after many days you will find it again” (Ecclesiastes 11:1 NIV). What you sow - good or bad - comes back to you. So, “Let us not become weary in doing good... at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Remember, God is no man’s debtor, and no matter how long it takes, He will honour His Word.

Pastor Ng Francis
www.fnministries.com

Judypie on Receiving God’s Blessings

If your prayers aren’t being answered, check out your love walk. Are you walking in love toward your family and your fellow man? Jesus said in John 13:34-35: Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other. One may lament, how can I love like Jesus loves? How can I love with the God kind of love? When you were born again the love of God was shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Spirit. At first this love is streaked with selfishness and self-centeredness, but if you will read the Word, pray and meditate on God’s love for you, His love will drive fear out of doors. Fear is an entity that keeps you from loving one another, but you can risk loving others because you learn to trust in God’s love for you.

Father, I pray that I may be filled with the love of God. You are able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to Your power that is at work within me. To You goes all the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!

Ephesians 3:19-21 [AMP]

Favor

LORD, I give thanks to You for You are good! Your mercy endures forever. Who can express Your mighty acts? Who can declare all Your praise? Remember me, O LORD, with the favor You have toward Your people. Visit me with Your salvation in the name of Your Son, Jesus. I love You, my Lord, my Redeemer. Amen.

PRAISE THE Lord! (Hallelujah!) O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! Who can put into words and tell the mighty deeds of the Lord? Or who can show forth all the praise [that is due Him]? Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who observe justice [treating others fairly] and who do right and are in right standing with God at all times. [Earnestly] remember me, O Lord, when You favor Your people! O visit me also when You deliver them, and grant me Your salvation!--

Psalm 106:1-4 [AMP]

Prosperity

Father, it is your desire that I prosper and be in health, even as my soul prospers. In the name of Jesus, I put off the old man with its wrong attitudes and behaviors, and put on the new man created in righteousness. I receive and welcome the Word that contains the power to save my soul— to root out strongholds that are contrary to the Truth. I will diligently obey the message; being a doer of the Word and not merely a listener. Thank You for helping me overcome wrong ideas about financial freedom. I will ever be humbly grateful and one with you as I experience financial success in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.

3^rd John 2 [AMP]

So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls. But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].

James 1:21-22 [AMP]

Promotion

Heavenly Father, according to your Word promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. God, you are the judge: you put down one person, and set up another. I’m content to be myself so that I will become more than myself. I choose being humble and reverent toward you, Lord, and you will make me both wise and honored in the name of Jesus. I write mercy and truth upon the tablets of my heart, and you cause me to find favor with God and with man. Thank you for my promotion that comes from the north at your bidding that I might fulfill my destiny. Amen.

For not from the east nor from the west nor from the south come promotion and lifting up. But God is the Judge! He puts down one and lifts up another.

Psalm 75:6-7 [AMP]

“When you’re invited to dinner, go and sit at the last place. Then when the host comes he may very well say, ‘Friend, come up to the front.’ That will give the dinner guests something to talk about! What I’m saying is, If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face. But if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.”

Luke 14:11 [Message]

Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.

Proverbs 15:33 [New Living Translation]

Affirmation of My Desire

My desire is to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before others or have their good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Amen

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death

Philippians 3:10 [NIV]

What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.

Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.

Galatians 2:20 [Message]

God effectually works in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. Choose to affirm God’s Word every day—be filled with the Holy Spirit.

God Answers Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, I come into Your presence with thanksgiving. You are the God of my salvation. You are my confidence and hope. I know that in the morning You hear my voice, O Lord; in the morning I prepare [a prayer, a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart]. Thank You for answering me from Your holy heaven with the saving strength of Your right hand. For in You, O Lord, do I hope; You will answer, O Lord my God. I love You with all that is within me, and I praise Your holy name.

May He grant you according to your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans. We will [shout in] triumph at your salvation and victory, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the Lord fulfill all your petitions. Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.

Psalm 20:4-6 [AMP]

Joyful Praise

Holy Spirit, I ask you to perfect the fruit of my lips giving praise. Thank you for this mighty weapon of praise, which stops and stills the enemy. I am joyful in the Salvation of my Lord. I greatly rejoice in your strength, O LORD; and in your salvation! You have given me my heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of my lips. You meet me with the blessings of goodness… You give me life and length of days. You have made me exceedingly glad with your presence. Be exalted, O LORD, in Your own strength! Amen

O LORD, our Lord, how excellent (majestic and glorious) is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory on [or above] the heavens. Out of the mouths of babes and unweaned infants You have established strength because of Your foes, that You might silence the enemy and the avenger. When I view and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained and established, What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him? Yet You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly beings], and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how excellent (majestic and glorious) is Your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8 [AMP]

THE KING [David] shall joy in Your strength, O Lord; and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah [pause, and think of that]! For You send blessings of good things to meet him; You set a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked life of You, and You gave it to him--long life forever and evermore. His glory is great because of Your aid; splendor and majesty You bestow upon him. For You make him to be blessed and a blessing forever; You make him exceedingly glad with the joy of Your presence. For the king trusts, relies on, and is confident in the Lord, and through the mercy and steadfast love of the Most High he will never be moved. Your hand shall find all Your enemies; Your right hand shall find all those who hate You. You will make them as if in a blazing oven in the time of Your anger; the Lord will swallow them up in His wrath, and the fire will utterly consume them. Their offspring You will destroy from the earth, and their sons from among the children of men. For they planned evil against You; they conceived a mischievous plot which they are not able to perform. For You will make them turn their backs; You will aim Your bow [of divine justice] at their faces. Be exalted, Lord, in Your strength; we will sing and praise Your power.

Psalm 21 [AMP]

The Ultimate Blessing

And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Revelation 21:2-4 [New Living Translation]

Keys to Success

Years ago, I started carrying a little black book around. And no, it was not filled with phone numbers or any such thing... it was a collection of scriptures that I had studied to help myself during times of spiritual warfare. Over the years, it covered everything from my health to my relationships to my employment. Referring to those scriptures has been a great blessing, since the tests of life are open-book tests. We can always open the word of God for protection against whatever may be facing us in life.

Our Powerhouse Publication, Weapons of Mass Destruction, was written as an expository on those scriptures... and is something that we made available to people who may be facing struggles in their lives. Still, it is important to study God’s word for yourself so that you may find answers that are specific to the issues that you may be facing... and that the Holy Spirit may bring these scriptures to your remembrance when you are facing times of test and trial.

Recently, we added a few scriptures to the start-up routine of our computer so that we might remind ourselves of the blessings and protection promised in God’s word. As time progressed, we have added to those scriptures as God has brought new revelation through those who teach and (spiritually) feed us. Let’s take a look at them right now... maybe you might add them to your daily prayer and/or study time?

The first of these scriptures is from the book of Isaiah and was brought to our attention by Joyce Meyer. This scripture admonishes us about the following...

Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old.

Isaiah 43:18 [AMP]

This particular scripture helps me immensely, as I am one of those people who does mental replays of situations in my life... particularly, those which were defeats or failures. I grew up in a household where I heard daily recitations of things that happened to my parents. I recall my mother and aunt getting into a vicious fight over some boy they both liked when they were teenagers... and they were in their late 60’s and early 70’s at the time. Can you imagine something from so many years ago getting you so agitated that you want to fight somebody?

Well, the Lord says to Isaiah that we should not dwell on old things... especially when God has given us new things. If you are happily married, why think about past relationships? If you are in a job you love, why worry about a job you lost? Keep your thoughts facing forward... in anticipation of the blessings of God. Don‘t spend hours... days... weeks... years... even decades mentally mired in the past when God has such a brilliant future for you. In fact, Luke 12:32 says?

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom.

Luke 12:32

Another interesting part of my childhood is hearing about how it probably isn’t God’s will for anything good to happen to you. When I was passed over for promotion, I was chastised for even wanting to get promoted. Well, I can understand how my parents grew up with such attitudes... but it was contrary to God’s plan for my life. Even when people got into my way, trying to hold me back... I knew that God had great things in store... because my life would give Him glory.

Our Father in heaven is pleased to give us the Kingdom. So then... as Jesus says... why should we fear? We should not be afraid. God takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servants (Psalm 35:27). That is the opposite of what I was taught as a youngster... that the Lord takes pleasure in seeing you wallow in the mud with somebody’s boot on the back of your neck. No, God wants you to overcome all of the works of satan. In fact, Luke 10:19 tells us that He gives us power to overcome all of satan’s works... which are to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10).

Instead of your [former] shame you shall have a twofold recompense; instead of dishonor and reproach [your people] shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double [what they had forfeited]; everlasting joy shall be theirs.

Isaiah 61:7 [AMP]

Yes, satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy. But Jesus came that we may have and enjoy life in abundance... to the full... until it overflows. So then, instead of the shame that you experienced in the past... you will receive double for your trouble just like Job received double for his trouble. If you were dishonored in the past, just keep doing the honorable thing before God. This may include forgiving those who caused you problems. I have found that the Holy Spirit has urged me to minister forgiveness, as Jesus told us to do.

I recall a situation where somebody did something mean and hurtful... and I knew there was nothing that I had done to deserve this treatment. And so, the Spirit of God urged me not only to firgive, but also to bless that person. Well... that was a very difficult thing to do... but I prayed the blessings of Deuteronomy 28 upon that person and while I have no idea of what happened to that individual, I do realize that it set me free. In fact, I had a spring in my step... forgetting that past hurt and moving on into God’s excellence!

You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.

Psalm 128:2

When people steal from you, revenge should be the last thing on your mind. The reason we often seek revenge in those situations is because we want to get back what was stolen... either in kind or in the satisfaction in knowing that we hurt that person who hurt us. However, be aware of this one thing... that God has given us the promise that He will provide our needs, according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. What a great promise, huh?

So then, let go of what somebody stole from you... God has something even better. If you work hard, the Bible promises that you will enjoy the fruits of your hard and honest labor. The Bible promises that you will receive and possess blessings. The Bible promises that you will enjoy prosperity. Why? Because your Father in heaven loves you. He is your Defender! He is Jehovah-Jireh, your provider. His grace is sufficient for you!

All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].

Proverbs 15:15 [AMP]

Now, what is a sure-fire way to extinguish the blessings from God? That is to lose faith... to buy into the devil’s lies. To mire yourself in negativity. What God promises belongs to you... but you must receive it. You could be hungry and starve to death even though there is a smorgasbord sitting right in front of you. Bread... meat... poultry... cakes... pies... everything you could possibly imagine. But guess what, if you don’t take from the table and eat, you will die of starvation... even though your supply is right in front of you.

God is known as El Shaddai. He is The All-Sufficient One. God has all that you need... and more than you can handle. However, are you willing to receive. Well, Proverbs 15:15 tells us that if we allow our minds to be captured by anxious thoughts and forebodings, we will live days that are made evil. What makes our days evil? We do! How? By thinking negative thoughts. We need to have glad hearts in order to enjoy the continual feast of God’s abundant blessings. Remember, the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

Show me a sign of [Your evident] goodwill and favor, that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, because You, Lord, [will show Your approval of me when You] help and comfort me.

Psalm 86:17 [AMP]

When a group of people conspired against me and caused me great loss... I was reminded that “the best revenge is to live well.” If that is true, then I would seek a sign from the Lord of His evident goodwill and favor. Such a sign will allow those who hate me to be put to shame. Why? Because they will see that the Lord loves me and that He approves of me. That also reminds me not to seek the approval of man, but rather the approval of God.

There is honor that comes from man, and then there is honor that comes from God. Man’s honor is fickle. Think of performers and entertainers who are celebrated one day and barely tolerated the next. Think of people who were put up on a pedestal in the golden days of Hollywood, only to die alone and wretched in the Motion Picture Nursing Home. Once, they walked the red carpet in tuxedoes and gowns. Later, they sat in wheelchairs in ratty pajamas. No... I would rather have the honor from God that promises a mansion on streets of gold!

Return to the stronghold [of security and prosperity], you prisoners of hope; even today do I declare that I will restore double your former prosperity to you.

Zechariah 9:12 [AMP]

Going back to the example of Job in the Old Testament, we are reminded that God can give you double for your trouble. Zechariah prophesizes this to Israel... and as the spiritual seed of Abraham through Christ Jesus, we can have that same blessed assurance. You can be confident that God has the power to return twice of what was stolen from you. Just fix your faith on God’s word and watch with expectancy. Don’t put limits on God... don’t let your religious traditions nullify what He wants to do in your life.

I remember that song they used to sing in church... and probably still sing it today :-)

There is no secret
What God can do
What He’s done for others
He will do for you...

If you can accept what God did for Job... and look at how He has taken care of you in the past... or even look at our testimony... then you see that there is absolutely positively no need for doubt or unbelief in your life. The word of God tells you plainly that He will restore double your former prosperity. So, whatever you may have lost... believe that God can restore it. And, He will if you will have faith... which Hebrews 11:6 tells us is what pleases God.

Earnestly and diligently seek God out. But it is more important (and more satisfying) to seek His face, rather than to seek His hand. In other words, strive for a close and personal relationship with your Father in heaven above seeking a blessing from Him. As we heard from a preacher in Asia years ago, Jesus is the greatest blessing. To know God as your Father (and not as some sentient but impersonal cosmic power some trillions of miles away) is the true blessing...

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26 [NIV]

This is an awesome blessing from the Bible... one that is often used as a benediction at the end of a worship service. Originally, it was how Aaron and his sons were instructed to bless the people of Israel. I like the part about the Lord making His face to shine upon you. Like the warmth and brightness of the sun... but, of course, much greater in magnitude and value, is the warmth and brightness of His love as He smiles upon you. Yes, God loves you. God is not looking for a lightning bolt to throw at you to annihilate you. No, He is looking for an opportunity to bless you.

Keep in mind that the Lord sent His only begotten Son to seek and save that which was lost. Even when we were lost in our sins... even when we were His enemies, Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6). The Lord looks upon you with His everlasting love, forgetting your sins and rejoicing over you (His child) with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). He will guide you with His eye upon you (Psalm 32:8).

Hmm... Psalm 32:8 brings back memories of this song that the deacons in the old Baptist church I grew up in used to sing...

If you cannot sing like angels,
If you cannot preach like Paul;
You can tell the love of Jesus;
You can say he died for all.

I will guide thee, I will guide thee,
I will guide thee with mine eye
All the way from earth to heaven,
I will guide thee with mine eye.

If you cannot give your thousands,
You can give the widow's mite
For the least you do for Jesus
Will be precious in his sight.

I will guide thee, I will guide thee,
I will guide thee with mine eye
All the way from earth to heaven,
I will guide thee with mine eye.

Hark! The voice of Jesus calling
“Who will go and work today?
Fields are wide and harvest is waiting,
Who will bear my shield away?”

I will guide thee, I will guide thee,
I will guide thee with mine eye
All the way from earth to heaven,
I will guide thee with mine eye.

Hark, the voice of Jesus calling,
To each one who passes by,
“All the way from earth to Heaven,
I will guide thee with mine eye.”

God will guide you and give you peace. The word translated “peace” in the original Hebrew language is Shalom -- nothing missing, nothing broken!

I shall not die but live, and shall declare the works and recount the illustrious acts of the Lord.

Psalm 118:17 [AMP]

Remember in John 10:10 we saw that satan comes to kill, steal and destroy. Yet, we have the promise from the Bible that satan can’t kill us. I will not die... I will live to declare the works and recount the illustrious acts of the Lord. Wow... this scripture brings to mind a song that my mother’s choir used to sing when I was in church as a child. It is Hall Johnson’s traditional spiritual Ain’t Got Time to Die:

Lord, I keep so busy praising my Jesus
Keep so busy praising my Jesus
Keep so busy praising my Jesus
Ain’t got time to die

‘Cause it takes all of my time
To praise my Jesus
All of my time
To praise my Lord
If I don’t praise Him the rocks gonna cry out
Glory and honor
Glory and honor

Ain’t got time to die

Don’t listen to news reports of swine flu and allow satan to take you on a mental tangent of evil forebodings that have you picturing your funeral... and what clothes they will bury you in... and how many of your relatives will snot and slobber over you... and which other relatives will be ransacking your house and stealing your things while the others are paying their last respects. Wait a minute! Why get mentally bound by that nonsense when you can better focus your mind on the promise that by Jesus stripes you were healed (see Isaiah 53:4-6).

Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.

Luke 10:19 [AMP]

We will close on this scripture which we referenced earlier in this teaching. Jesus gives us authority and power.

There are two words for power in this scripture... dunamis which is a Greek word that some people like to describe as dynamite dynamic power. Then there is exousia which is power and authority. Think of a police officer... that badge and uniform gives her power to pull you over. But... if you resist... that gun strapped to her side gives her miracle working power.

Or, like Marilyn Hickey said... parents can give the babysitter the authority to tell the children when to turn the television off and go to bed. But, if the children resist... the switch or belt or paddle for spanking the kids’ bottoms is miracle working power that will get them to obey.

Jesus has given us miracle working power over anything that satan can cook up. Nothing shall in any way harm you. Just be sure to avoid those evil forebodings... those negative thoughts that close your hands from receiving God’s blessings.

When watching baseball, notice that the catcher’s mit is turned upward to receive. Lift your hands in submission... lift your voice in confession... and lift your heart in reception... and then allow God to do the great things that He has chosen to do in your life. Don’t be the monkey in the wrench that stands in the way of your own blessing... God is able to give, but you must be willing to receive.