DREAM Acrostic Poem, It’s Possible 2019!

Dare to believe that your God-given dreams, destiny, and purpose will come alive as you live like Christ, ever reaching, progressing and becoming what I intend you to be. Each day saying, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening (1 Samuel 3:9), putting your faith into action. It’s remembrance of the words found in Jeremiah 32:27, “There’s nothing too hard for Me.” Dare to believe, that all you dreamed and will ever dream was birthed by Me. If you dare to believe and act on what I have revealed to you, there will be a supernatural acceleration that will happen out of your obedience to Me. Will you die to self, past, fears, insecurities, naysayers, and dream crushers; and embrace and act on all of my instructions. I tell you to fear not, for I am with you as long as you follow My voice. Remember, it’s Me who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not” (Romans 4:17).

You can never stop dreaming, even after one dream has been fulfilled. Always ask Me to give you another and another there after. However, don’t ask Me if you have not run with the first dream, I gave you. Do not despise your small beginnings, my daughter or son. If you desire the fulfillment of your dream(s), it will mean you will have to align yourself to My promises, conditions, in order for your dream(s) to come to past. Once you meet the scriptural conditions and/or followed other necessary instructions I give, I promise to bless you and fulfill the dream(s) I have given you. Will you, Dare to Believe, Dare to Dream, and Dare to Become all I ordained for you to be when I said, “For I know the plans I have for you,”…, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”(Jeremiah 29:11)? Do you Dare to Believe, it’s Possible, with Me!

Redeem the time, this means being productive with all the moments, seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years you are granted. You can no longer afford to squander any of your valuable time. You must make the most of all your time and every opportunity (Ephesians 5:16). Engage in what matters the most. This means being strategic and intentional daily in what you do so you are productive with your every day goals, plans, and keep your priorities straight. You must make sure to have the proper balance in every area, this will not happen, if you don’t daily plan for success. Your everyday prayer needs to be Psalms 90:12, “Teach me to number my days that I may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Aim high! Reach for the stars. Only add, what’s necessary to accomplish your divine assignment and leave behind what fails to add to it. Break free from anything that is holding you back from doing My will. This means that you will need to prune off activities and people that meaninglessly fill your day but don’t add to your life. You must take to heart the advice in Philippians 3:13-14 (Message), “I’m reaching for Christ. I have my eyes on the right goal(s) I’m off and running. I’m not going to turn back. Your dream(s) is not meant to just to bless you but others. Don’t allow your dream(s) to cause you to mistreat others even if your tempted to retaliate based upon their jealousy of your present position and/or their actions against you. There will be times that you must look beyond others wrongful actions, wrong attitudes, and treat them still with forgiveness, grace, mercy, and love like Me.

Move forward, for your God-given mission is not impossible with Me. Remember I have already spoken about how anything is possible with Me. I urge you to check out it for yourself in the Bible in Matthews 19:26, if you need a refresher course. Don’t let fear, override your faith. Each strategic action step forward towards your short and long term goals brings you that much closer to the fulfillment of your dream(s). Your mission is not impossible, if you choose to accept it from Me. Don’t you think, it’s beyond time for you to live your best life now. Move forward, “make room for new life to flourish through the works of your hands.” Joyce Meyer. Step into your dream! Step into your purpose! Become all God wants and needs you to be today! Dream Big!

Transformed Relationships

Have you ever felt like you are an actor in a play, you did not voluntarily sign up for? Well, our Heavenly Father doesn’t want or need any pretense. He desires us to first and foremost have a transformed relationship with Him that gives us the freedom to truly be who we are meant to be in Him. This also will grant us the opportunity to have transformed relationships with others. If you still feel like there are still times, your trying to fake it till you make it, I have some good news for you. Your Daddy in heaven wants you to know it’s time to truly be transformed in Him and genuine. There are too many counterfeits already, in Christ we need to be and live transformed.

In today’s lesson from Romans 12:9-21 Passion Bible, you will learn about how to have transformed relationships.

1. Love and be genuine.

“Let the inner movement of your heart always be to love one another, and never play the role of an actor wearing a mask. Despise evil and embrace everything that is good and virtuous” (Verse 9).

If the inner movement of your heart is that of love for others, you can’t go wrong. Sometimes we can find ourselves doing good or even great things, but with the wrong motives. In are walk with the Lord, He doesn’t want us playing the role of a masquerader. It’s imperative that we as Christians be the picture of love and be genuine because what kind of example will we be if we fail to do so. Also, we see that this scripture tells us we need to “despise evil and embrace everything that is good and virtuous.” If we follow this wonderful advice, it can keep us from representing an example in opposition with who and what we are suppose to represent.

2. Be devoted and tenderly loving.

“Be devoted to tenderly loving your fellow believers as members of one family. Try to outdo yourselves in respect and honor of one another” (Verse 10).

I’m sure we all have found it hard to be devoted and tenderly loving towards some fellow believers. It’s always easy to be devoted and loving, when there’s no opposition, however, it’s in those moments when it’s the most challenging that prove to be the most telling about our love challenge. Bob Goff the founder of the Love Does nonprofit organization wrote a book called “Everybody Always” about becoming love in a world full of setbacks and difficult people.

Bob says, “People will figure out what we really believe by seeing what we actually do. Everybody has a plan, but God is looking for people who know their purpose…He said he would turn us into love if we were willing to leave behind who we use to be.” Are you willing to leave behind who you use to be to “love” in action for “Everybody Always.”

1 John 4:7-8 has this to say about love, “Those who are loved by God, let his love continually pour from you to one another, because God is love. Everyone who loves is gathered by God and experiences an intimate knowledge of him. The one who doesn’t love has yet to know God, for God is love.” How are you really doing with loving others? Do you know God based upon this scripture passage? These verses tell us not only

that God continually exists as being the picture of love (being love). I can’t speak for you, however, I know I especially need God’s help in being tenderly loving with difficult people to love. Aren’t you glad that our Daddy in heaven is willing to help us to be like him in all situations?

God extravagantly loves His children. This same love needs to be a way of life for us in are being devoted and tenderly loving one another. God desires to bring his love in us to its full measures. He’s challenging us to daily love even more.

3. Be enthusiastic.

“Be enthusiastic to serve the Lord, keeping your passion toward him boiling hot! Radiate with the glow of the Holy Spirit and let him fill you with excitement as you serve him” (Verse 11).

Enthusiasm and passion for the Lord can take you along way. We are to not just serve the Lord, but strive to keep our passion towards Him boiling hot. This can occur if we let the glow of the Holy Spirit radiate and allow him to fill us with excitement.

4. Let hope burst forth and don’t give up.

“Let this Hope burst forth within you, releasing a continual joy. Don’t give up in a time of trouble, but commune with God at all times (Verse 12).

We are urged to bear afflictions bravely. How are you bearing up with this instruction? Don’t give up! Remember, don’t go weary in well doing. Remain in communion with a God at all times and He will continue to sustain and keep you. He’ll never lead you were he won’t keep or provide for you.

5. Take interest, help, and welcome people.

“Take a constant interest in the needs of God’s beloved people and respond by helping them. And eagerly welcome people as guests into your home” (Verse 13).

Each and everyday we encounter people from various walks of life that need help in some kind of way. While some may sense they are in need of help. There are others who are either in denial or lack this knowledge. It’s up to each and every believer like this verse says, “to take a constant interest in the needs of God’s beloved people and respond by helping them. It’s time to take interest, help, and welcome people like never before. We can’t afford to be in our own personal bubble. God wants us to help our fellow man. Here we are encouraged to “eagerly welcome people as guest into our homes. When it comes to the area of hospitality, I need God’s help. How about you? When was the last time you personally invited people as guest to your home? I don’t mean, if you’re married your wife invited them. Or if you have a roommate like in my situation, they invited. Or if your single, when was the last time If ever, you issued an invitation to your house. We are truly blessed that we know and have experienced our Daddy in heaven’s open invitation. It’s time we open are doors wider to the guest we need to invite. If you’re not sure about those you can invite, pray about it. I don’t doubt that many of us know of some people who may not come to church but they will come for fellowship. It may be a colleague, relative, or neighbor you feel led to invite. Go ahead, issue your invitation!

6. Speak blessing.

“Speak blessing, not cursing, over those who reject and persecute you” (Verse 14).

We need to be careful to speak blessing over those who reject and persecute us. I believe it’s important they we speak the right thing to not just people but our situations. What we say to individuals that have rejected or persecuted us or in terms of our various situations has the potential to improve things or make them worst.

Bob says, “People who are becoming love celebrate how far the people around them come. There constantly asking the question, “Where do you want to go?” Then they help the people around them get there. Go do that with the people you love, including your enemies. Don’t talk to them about their failures and the dark places they’ve been. Talk to them about who they’re becoming and the bright hope that is their future. Speak truthful and wise words over them.” I encourage us all to speak words of blessing over all, including your enemies.

7. Celebrate and weep.

“Celebrate with those celebrate, and weep with those who grieve” (Verse 15).

Let’s truly celebrate with those we know that are celebrating. Let’s rise above being jealous of others in and out of the kingdom of God. When others weep, we need to weep with them.

8. Live happily, in harmony, and be mindful.

“Live happily together in a spirit of harmony, and be as mindful of another’s worth as you are your own. Don’t live with a lofty mind-set, thinking you are too important to serve others, but willing to do menial tasks and identify with those who are humble-minded.” Don’t be smug or even think for a moment that you know it all” (Verse 16).

We need to have a servant heart and mind-set, otherwise, pride will eventually be are downfall. Let’s be about living happily, in harmony and bring mindful of others. If we live in this way, we will never think too much of ourselves. Then we will not have to worry about being lofty minded and thinking we are too important to humbly do what is required of us. Are you willing to humble you self? Or are you one to make everything about you? This verse is basically saying, “Be willing to do menial tasks which are associated lowly, or “Adjust yourselves to humble situations.” In other words, are you willing to do things that don’t draw attention to you.

Many want the title, position, prestige, power, whether to stand behind the pulpit, but they don’t realize the price paid (sacrifice) to stand behind it. However, are you willing to do the menial tasks like washing toilets, cleaning the church, the jobs that oftentimes don’t bring spotlight attention, are dirty, not coveted. Can you humbly do it? Or do you perform those type of tasks with the wrong motive?

9. Live to benefit others

Never hold a grudge or try to get even, live to benefit others.

“Never hold a grudge or try to get even, but plan your life around the noblest way to benefit others. Do your best to live as everybody’s friend. (Or “to live at peace with all people. Beloved, don’t be obsessed with taking revenge, but leave that to God’s righteous justice” (Or “wrath). For the Scriptures says: “if you don’t take justice in your own hands, I will release justice for you” (Verses 17-19)

Have you ever done a self-inventory of the type of person you are? If so, have you found yourself to be more of a self-serving/self-gratifying or self-less/people-serving type of person?

I know naturally or humanly speaking we all find ourselves in the first category. However, in Christ we are to live to benefit others. What we are urged to do here is not an easy thing, living a self-less life, one that doesn’t hold grudges, try to get even, life of peace with everyone. I don’t know about you, but when I think of the most challenging individuals I’ve meet this is no small order. Even with people you get along with, living to benefit other is not an easy thing. Nonetheless, don’t let this stop you from living to benefit others.

10. Feed you enemy (and quench their thirst).

“And: If your enemy is hungry, buy him lunch! Win him over with kindness. (Or “If He thirsts, Give Him a drink.”) For your surprising generously will awaken his conscience, and God will reward you with favor. Never let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good” (Verse 21).(Verses 20-21).

When was the last time, if ever, you feed your enemy or gave them something to drink? These verses really challenge us to do the opposite of what are natural tendency dictates when we’re confronted with a so called “enemy.” Do your actions towards your enemies reap coals of fire over their head? In other words, you and I are suppose to demonstrate acts of kindness that cause our enemies hearts to be moved and their shame to be exposed. Help me! Help us, Jesus! We must at all cost, fight to defeat evil with good. If we as Christians fall into the trap of the enemy to repay evil with evil, we miss out on the perfect opportunity for God to awaken are enemies conscience. We are told the reward of this surprising generosity is God’s favor. We can’t afford to be conquered by the evil one. We must conquer evil through our union with the good One.

Bob Goff’ book, “Everybody Always,” has this to say about loving difficult people, even our enemies, “People who are becoming love

don’t just hear tough talk; they do difficult things…Here’s the thing: loving people the way Jesus did either changes everything in us or it changes nothing. It can’t just change a couple of things at a time. If you want to become love, what will it change for you? I’m moving beyond just agreeing with Jesus to actually doing what He said to do. I don’t think we have any business telling people what to change in their lives unless we’re willing to change a couple of things in ours. For me, this means taking a step back from my pride, washing feet, and treating my enemies with the kind of selfless love Jesus didn’t just talk about but demonstrated.

The central key to having Transformed Relationships is remembering two titles of Bob Goff’s books, “Love Does” and “Everybody Always.” Are you ready to be love more like Jesus? Well, whether you are it not He’s ready for you and I to step up our love and experience transformed relationships. Right now, ask God to show you what does this picture of love look like in my life, with those in my sphere of influence. I challenge you and I both to get outside of our usual love demonstration.

Faith in the Word

The KJV of Hebrews 11:1 says, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. This Bible translation is one the most famous versions for the biblical definition of faith. However, I would like to also share with you the Passion Bible Translation of this same verse, “Now Faith brings hope into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is unseen.”

There are 8 lessons we can learn from Psalms 119:89-96 about having faith in the Word of God. I included below the Passion Bible Translation of this particular passage for you to read.

89 Standing firm in the heavens and fastened to eternity is the word of God. 90 Your faithfulness flows from one generation to the next; all that you created sits firmly in place to testify of you. 91 By your decree everything stands at attention, for all you made serves you. 92 Because your words are my deepest delight, I didn’t give up when all was lost. 93

I can never forget the profound revelations you’ve taught me, for they have kept me alive more than once. 94 Lord, I’m all yours, and you are my Savior; I have sought to live my life pleasing to you. 95 Even though evil men wait in ambush to kill me, I will set my heart before you to understand more of your ways. 96 I’ve learned that there is nothing perfect in this imperfect word except your words, for they bring such fantastic freedom into my life. Passion Bible Psalm 119:89-96

1. We must stand firm on the eternal

Word of God.

“Standing firm in the heavens and fastened to eternity is the word of God” Verse 89).

It’s important that we stand firm on the eternal Word of God for it will keep us stable especially in times when people or circumstances could easily shake us.

2. We must be faithful.

“Your faithfulness flows from one generation to the next; all that you created sits firmly in place to testify of you” (Verse 90).

At a time when many don’t seem to know the meaning of faithfulness, the Body of Christ can’t afford to be faithless.

3. We must at stand at attention and serve God.

By your decree everything stands at attention, for all you made serves you” (Verse 91).

Whatever has your attention has the power to make or break you? If your standing at attention in God’s presence and you have chosen to serve Him, you will be the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath. You will be able to stand against the enemy.

4. We must not give up.

“Because your words are my deepest delight, I didn’t give up when all was lost” (Verse 92).

The natural response to adversity, challenges, tests, and storms of life can be a desire to retreat, isolate yourself, shut down or give up. However, if we have learned to put our faith in God and His word, we should know that we can’t afford to give up. Too much is riding on our living out are faith in the right way. It’s not just so we can work out are soul-salvation. There are others that will be blessed by your testimony of God’s saving grace in your life. Your family, friends, colleagues, strangers, and those in your sphere of influence need to witness you not giving up.

Each time you or I don’t give up is a step in the right direction towards breakthrough, victory, demonstrating to the devil you are truly an overcomer. Also, others need to hear your testimony of your not giving up but trusting in God’s eternal word that never changes.

5. You must not forget the profound revelations you have be taught by

God.

“I can never forget the profound revelations you’ve taught me, for they have kept me alive more than once” (Verse 93)

We all can attest to the fact that we have been taught some profound revelations from God. My question to you is , “are you hiding the Word of God in your heart that you might not sin” (Psalm 119:11). These revelations have the power to spiritual and/or physically keep you alive. It’s imperative that we make a point to “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” 2 Timothy 2:15).

6. You must live a life pleasing to the

Lord.

“Lord, I’m all yours, and you are my Savior; I have sought to live my life pleasing to you” (Verse 94).

The only way we can truly live a life pleasing to the Lord is by saying like the Psalmist David, “Lord, I’m all your.” It’s when we come to this awareness that we demonstrate our desperation, true wholehearted surrender that takes us past ourselves and circumstances into His presence that makes us aware that we live to please Him and no one else. Thus we realize that we serve and worship an audience of one. Then we realize that our life and what happens in it is not about us but the One we are becoming more and more like. I love how King David says, “He sought to live a life pleasing to the Lord.” If our life fails to be one that pleasing to the Lord, then it fails to be the life of significance He desires it to be. Pleasing others or pleasing ourself/flesh is a sign of being undisciplined, immature, selfish, weak, and instability. These characteristics are all the opposite of what the Lord wants for us which are discipline in every area, maturity, selflessness, and strength, and stability.

7. We must set your heart before God.

“Even though evil men wait in ambush to kill

me, I will set my heart before you to

understand more of your ways” (Verse 95)

Do you desire to understand more of God’s ways? If so, we must set our heart before Him.

8. We must know that it’s only God’s

perfect word that brings fantastic

freedom.

I’ve learned that there is nothing perfect in this imperfect world except your words, for they bring such fantastic freedom into my life” (Verse 95).

Do you need to be a recipient of fantastic freedom? Are you free, the Bible says, “Where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty. (2 Corinthians 3:17).

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that man of God MSU be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works…” (2 Timothy 3:16).

God is willing to give you faith in Him and in His word if you lack it. He is just one prayer step away. Just tell Him, what you need, and He will supply exactly what you need.

What Do You Need to Get Rid Of?

Have you ever looked around your house or evaluated your life and wondered how it got so cluttered, so busy? As you reflect on all that lead to this moment, one thing you realize is that it didn’t happen overnight. Gradually, with time you acquired (accumulated) more and more stuff, you took on more and more responsibility. Maybe your the type of person that has a real problem with saying the word No.” This word for some reason makes you uncomfortable with using it. The word “Yes” is the one word you use more frequently. As a result, it has led you to be too busy, wasting unnecessary time.

If your the type of individual that always gravitates towards the accumulation of stuff. You may feel that I need to buy xyz just in case. It happens to be on sell for a good price. Although you may not need it now who knows you may find out that you need it tomorrow or next week, or real soon. Your thinking its better to be prepared than unprepared for the unknown.

Please read the following scripture below to find out what we need to do to de clutter.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trust in you “ (Isaiah 26:3),.

It’s human tendency to complicate our lives by

taking on responsibilities (things) that God has not told us to do. As a result of this extra luggage/weight we add stress, confusion, and clutter with unnecessary things we take on and hold on to. We must use our faith to let go of whatever clutters our mind (life) and keeps us from peace. (It’s imperative that we do not try to do too many things. We need to concentrate on pouring our lives into a narrow focus).

What should be a balanced life becomes one in which we falter up and down. God is not the author of confusion. He desires for his sons and daughters to experience rest this is why in Matthew 11:28 He says, come to Me…and I will give you rest.” It’s important that once anything tries to disintegrate our life with Jesus Christ we turn to Him immediately, and ask Him. how to reestablish our rest. Oswald Chambers says this about rest, “Never allow anything remain in your life that is causing the unrest. Think of every detail of your life that is causing the disintegration as something to fight against, not as something you should allow to remain. Ask the Lord to put awareness of a Himself in you, and self-awareness will disappear. Then He will be your all in all…Simply ask the Lord yo give you Christ-awareness, and He will stray you until your completeness in Him is absolute.”

I know from personal experience, how you can get burnt out if you’re too busy doing the work of the Lord that you fail fail to keep your mind stayed on God. Author and speaker Dr. Mike Murdock says, “People will pull you, trying to get you to follow their instructions. They will make demands on your time, your money, and your attention. The only way to hear God’s voice about your Assignment is to spend time alone with Him. Then empty yourself into what He told you to do with your life.”

For some or all of us, we need to reclaim our peace, rest, and contentment. May God help us not to place unrealistic demands on our lives or allow anyone else to do so. In Jesus’ name, you will be productive with all the moments, seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years You are given. You will make the most of every opportunity not squander any of it. May you daily walk-in truth so you daily walk in the freedom granted as a Child of God. It should be every Child of God’s desire to become more free, rested, content, and more like Jesus Christ.

If we find we need to get ride of clutter. The best person to consult is God. We need to ask Him to show us the best ways to simplify our life. My prayer is that we each take an inventory of our lives today and start throwing out whatever is filling our lives with unproductive distractions. It’s God’s desire for us to enjoy our day and live the best life possible in Him. In order to make this happen, we must get rid of whatever He shows us to give up. around your house or evaluated your life and wondered how it got so cluttered, so busy? As you reflect on all that lead to this moment, one thing you realize is that it didn’t happen overnight. Gradually, with time you acquired (accumulated) more and more stuff, you took on more and more responsibility. Maybe your the type of person that has a real problem with saying the word No.” This word for some reason makes you uncomfortable with using it. The word “Yes” is the one word you use more frequently. As a result, it has led you to be too busy, wasting unnecessary time.

If your the type of individual that always gravitates towards the accumulation of stuff. You may feel that I need to buy xyz just in case. It happens to be on sell for a good price. Although you may not need it now who knows you may find out that you need it tomorrow or next week, or real soon. Your thinking its better to be prepared than unprepared for the unknown.

Let’s turn to today’s text, Isaiah 26:3 to learn what we need to do to de clutter.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trust in you “ (Isaiah 26:3),.

It’s human tendency to complicate our lives by

taking on responsibilities (things) that God has not told us to do. As a result of this extra luggage/weight we add stress, confusion, and clutter with unnecessary things we take on and hold on to. We must use our faith to let go of whatever clutters our mind (life) and keeps us from peace. (It’s imperative that we do not try to do too many things. We need to concentrate on pouring our lives into a narrow focus).

What should be a balanced life becomes one in which we falter up and down. God is not the author of confusion. He desires for his sons and daughters to experience rest this is why in Matthew 11:28 He says, come to Me…and I will give you rest.” It’s important that once anything tries to disintegrate our life with Jesus Christ we turn to Him immediately, and ask Him. how to reestablish our rest. Oswald Chambers says this about rest, “Never allow anything remain in your life that is causing the unrest. Think of every detail of your life that is causing the disintegration as something to fight against, not as something you should allow to remain. Ask the Lord to put awareness of a Himself in you, and self-awareness will disappear. Then He will be your all in all…Simply ask the Lord to give you Christ-awareness, and He will until your completeness in Him is absolute.”

Shine Like Bright Lights in the World

Have you ever met a person that seemed to have a special sparkle? This sparkle was so dazzling that perhaps you were jealous or envious of them. When you encounter an individual like this they immediately attract your attention. Maybe the reason your attention is drawn to them is because you may feel like you are lacking in this regard. At one point you may have been like this individual, however, with time, problems, and life-happenings perhaps you lost that sparkle due to daily drainage. This drainage can be caused for many reason.

Well in are text today there are 5 lessons you can learn about being a shining light in our world. Please turn with me to today’s text found in Philippians 2:12-18 Passion Bible

1. The new life must be fully manifested.

“My beloved ones, just like you’ve always listened to everything I’ve taught you in the past, I’m asking you now to keep following my instructions as though I were right there with you. Now you must continue to make this new life fully manifested as you live in the holy awe of God-which brings you trembling into his presence” (Verse 12).

It’s the Apostle Paul’s desire that the Philippians people would continue to listen to his godly teaching as thou he were present. He encourages them to to make their new life fully manifested (evident) as they live in holy awe of God. This representation of living in the Aramaic can be translated as “to accomplish the good things you desire to do.” Do you want to truly accomplish everything God has placed within you to do? If you agree with this questioning statement then, you to must listen, keep, and live what you have been taught and learned so you can can fulfill God’s divine purpose for your own life. These lessons you learn, can be insights you glean from your own personal devotional time, a sermon, a video, a person, or from somewhere else. You must do everything you can to listen to the right instructions so your new life in Christ is fully manifested not dimmed. As long as you remain in holy-awe of God, the life lessons you gain from His tutelage will help teach you how to navigate your new life in your everyday life.

2. Be continually revitalized and implanted with passion from God.

“God will continually revitalize you, implanting with in you the passion to do what pleases him” (Verse 13).

In order for us as Christians to have our lights not grow dim we must allow ourselves to continually be revitalized and have implanted within us the passion to do what pleases God. This passion cannot be birthed in the natural but the supernatural. We can’t please God, unless we ongoingly remain revitalized and allow Him to place within us what’s lacking in the natural. We can’t afford to be spiritually malnourished. We must get all we can from God so we can shine like bright lights in the world. This will require us to stay connected, focused on the only One who can sustain us and is the true power source of our light. In staying connected to God we obtain all we need for any given moment and time in our lives.

Do you need God to revitalize and implant within you? Well, I know I need to daily be revitalized and have implanted within me what is absolutely necessary to please God, not man, or self. Join with me, in continually being filled up by God. All you need to do to make this happen is connect yourself to Him. He is the ultimate power outlet source. As long as you remain plugged into His limitless electrical power you will never have a power outage. Only He can keep your light and passion ablaze for Him.

3. Live a cheerful life, without complaining, and division.

“Live a cheerful life, without complaining or division among yourselves “ (Verse 14).

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to be around people that are constantly down,

complainers, or individuals that like to create drama wherever they go. You would like to think in church you would be less likely to run into characters like this, however, the church is like a hospital with many sick people in need of God’s intensive medical care. The questions concerning this predicament is are they willing to submit to it? Can they admit they are sick an in need of the Great Physician, Jesus Christ’s intensive loving medical care? We can’t live in denial and expect problems, sickness, and spiritually crippling diseases to disappear instantaneously.

Also, this scripture passage states that God wants us “live without division among yourselves.” In other words, we are urged to get along with each other. I believe this means getting along in and out of the church. It’s time we all learn to get along with each other.

4. Be pure children of God.

“For then you will be seen as innocent, faultless, and pure children of God, even though you live in the midst of a brutal and perverse culture. For you will appear among them as shining lights in the universe, offering them the words of eternal life. I haven’t labored among you for nothing, for your lives are the fruit of my ministry and will be my glorious boast at the unveiling of Christ” Verses 15-16)

Since we “live in the midst of brutal and perverse culture,” we as Christians are required to live as pure children of God. We can’t afford to be contaminated by anything for any reason. It’s important that we be found faultless (without fault) regardless of the challenge we face in our lives. This is easier said then done especially when you find yourself in a predicament where people are spreading lies, defaming your name, messing with your reputation, your family, etc. If your found faultless, you will appear to be the shining light examples in the world we’re needed to be. As a result, of our words and/or deeds will offer (provide) words of eternal life to those actively looking at what we will say or do next. Will you be a responder or a reactor? Only one of this responses will be effective in pointing people to Jesus Christ.

May what we do be a glorious boast of an unveiling of Jesus Christ to the world. If we are truly living a life in which we are shining lights in the world, the fruit will be evident in our lives. This fruit I’m talking about is fruit that will remain for eternity. The Aramaic translation basically says, you (we) stand in the place of life to them. The Greek text means, “holding out to them the word of life. Are we willing to stand as a representation of life to the world and be the example they can look to? I know I am ready to be living example of the eternal Word of God to the world.

5. Be willing to be a (poured) love offering to God.

“But I will rejoice even if my life is poured out like a liquid offering to God over your sacrificial and surrendered lives of faith. And is no matter what happens to me, you should rejoice in ecstatic celebration with me” (Verses 17-18).

This verse discusses The Apostle Paul’s willingness to be a love offering for the Philippians if that’s what God requires of him. Verse 17 is a metaphor of Paul shedding his blood one day because of his love for the Philippians. Indeed, Paul was later martyred for his faith. Here Paul urges the Philippians to rejoice in ecstatic celebration, no matter what happens to him.

Are you willing to be a (poured) love offering to God? This sacrificial requirement from God will not be an easy thing. It’s going to require they we push through beyond our feelings, emotions, what we want, how wrong we are being treated, justifiable reasoning, doubts, unknown, and service of our lives to answer call to be shining lights in the world. Will you answer the call to be a bright shining light in our world? If so, your prayer must be that you remain connected to the only One true power source, Jesus Christ. May we not go dim for any reason and shine like a bright lights in the world.

Only One Is Worthy

If you look around our world today. It’s full of all kinds of gods. Some of the “gods” of today are social media, television, sports, money, self (“me-I-us”), sex, drugs, lust (self-indulgence), giving in to sinful (evil) desires, religion, power, prestige, beauty, sexual experimentation, political correctness, extracurricular (leisure) activities, etc.

Let’s turn to our today’s text, 2 Kings 17:36 to discover what God’s Word says about this topic.

This scripture passage reads as followed: “Worship only the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt with such mighty miracles and power. You must worship him and bow before him: offer sacrifice to him alone” (2 Kings 17:36)

Some people may think when it comes to deities you can never have too many. Do you think this is how the Children of Israel thought of worship? I would dare say, it’s most definitely how they acted. What was the result? This answer can be found in 2 Kings 17:15b, “They… became worthless themselves.” The reason they became worthless was because what we worship shapes are character into the likeness of the object of our worship. As a result, of their choice to worship something worthless and unworthy they set themselves up for failure, disgrace, confusion, and wandering aimlessly. Although they are created in the image of the one true God, when they bowed down to worship false gods their souls became like their substitute deities. Ensnared in this confusion, their worship practices became more and more ludicrous. Thus, throughout this passage and in history the Israelites had to be continually reminded to worship God only. Just like us, the Israelites time and time again saw the results of their disobedience, rebellion, and hardheadedness and yet they still chose to worship something that could not offer them exactly what they need. We too are guilty of becoming worthless to the cause of Christ when we step out of sync with the only One worthy of all are love, worship, and everything.

Earlier on in scriptures we witness Moses sharing with the Children of Israel, God’s commandments which seem to be clear enough. Were the commandments really not clear enough? Did they question the meaning behind God’s words? No, the words were crystal clear, the meaning transparent: “I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in Egypt. Do not worship any other gods besides me. Do not make idols of any kind…You must never worship or bow down to them” (Exodus 20:2-5). In this passage we heard the words “Do not” repeated two times and the word “never” repeated once. Even many generations later the Israelites are still in the same “not listening” predicament. They were as stubborn as their ancestors and refused to believe in the LORD their God (2 Kings 17:14). Also, we witness that God really meant what He said.

Long ago there was a hymn written named, “Holy, Holy, Holy” which calls us to worship with these words: “Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee, Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.” God alone is the only One worthy of our worship. It’s him alone, each day we need to offer up our sacrifice of praise.

Each of us have things that try to pull us away from worshipping God alone. Right now, I want you to identify what things try to pull you away from worshipping God alone. Let’s think about our words, choices, and actions. In what ways do you “bow down,” “serve,” or “offer sacrifice” to these gods? The time is now for us to repent for any ways we have bowed downed, served, or offered sacrifice to these gods. God is saying to us all, I’m the only one worthy of all the praise, worship, and adoration.

The Daily Worship Devotional Bible says this about worship, “ The biblical words for worship means to bow down before the Lord, and biblical expression of worship focus on God’s sovereignty and greatness. The heart of worship is the expression of humility and the recognition that God alone is our authority and Source. But far from demeaning us, worship lifts us to what we can be: servant and partners with God, patterned after his own image (Genesis 1:27) and sharing in his divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).

God has imparted to us His magnificent promises that we can claim as our own. It’s faith that always releases the power of the Word of God. As Christians we can participate as a partner, to partake of, and have fellowship with God’s “divine nature.” This spiritual experience is an example of one of the great mysteries of our faith, that our God shares his nature with us. Through birth by the Holy Spirit we can be God’s true sons and daughters. As a result, we have our Abba Father’s DNA, since every father imparts his DNA and his “nature” to their children. The Greek word physic (nature) is taken from the word phyo, which means “to give birth, to produce, bring forth, or to grow up.” Christ lives in us and transforms us into his own likeness. In Christ we share with him the divine nature. Our Daddy wants to birth, to produce, and bring forth in all His children, His holiness, His character, the fruits of the spirit, and all that will reproduce in the spiritual an abundant harvest that will last throughout eternity.

If we truly want to be a real servant to the Most High God and partner in agreement to his divine will, we just can’t partake of, be a companion with, or fellowship with just anything. We can’t afford to offer contaminated worship. This means we must come to the full awareness that only One is worthy of all our worship and our everything.

May our prayer be, “God, You alone are holy. You are the only one that is worthy of all of my worship, for you alone are worthy of worship as God. There is none beside Thee. I bow down before You. You alone are holy. I love you and adore You.

Effective & Productive

Do you want to be effective and productive? If so, please read 2 Peter 1:5-8 to find out two ways to be effective and productive in your everyday life. In this lesson, I use the NIV and The Message translation so I have provided both of them for you to read.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:58 NIV)

5-9 So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books. Message

(2 Peter 1:5-8 Message)

1. Add to your faith (Verses 5-7)

It’s imperative that we as Christians do all we humanly can (make every effort) to add to our faith. For without adding to our faith we are in reality diminishing it. For this reason, the things we are urged to add are goodness (good character), knowledge (spiritual understanding), self-control (alert discipline), perseverance (passionate patience), godliness (reverent wonder), mutual affection (warm friendliness), and love (generous love) Each one of these quality traits are building blocks and links to the other.

2. Possess these qualities traits. (Verse 8)

The result of acquiring all these traits is effectiveness and productivity. In this last days , Christians can’t afford to be any longer in effective and unproductive. If believers are like the people of the world how will the unsaved see a difference in us. When we ineffective and unproductive we have lost are spiritual vitality. This means we have become just like everybody else in the world. It’s time to bust out of any snares of the enemy to get us to replace these spiritual quality traits with bad character, ignorance, unrestraint (self-indulgence), laziness (apathy), ungodly behavior, meanness, and hatred.

In order to be effective and productive, we constantly must add to our faith and possess these godly traits discussed in this passage. These characteristics are like seeds that need to be planted, watered, and cultivated through continual care. Each trait is necessary to provide active growth. So let’s make sure we’re growing up (maturing) in Jesus, by producing what’s birthed from the spirit, not what’s suppose to be our past sinful life.

Self-Less, Life of Worth

There are several lessons we can learn about having a self-less, life of worth from Matthew 10:29-42.

1. Know your worth (to God).

 “What’s the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God cares what happens to it even more than you do. He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk. You’re worth more than a million canaries. (Matthew 10:29-31)

Do you really know your worth in God? Or have you struggled with allowing yourself and others to mark your value down? You were not meant to be on clearance. We are told that God cares about the canaries in the world,however, he “pays even greater attention to us down to the last detail of the number of hairs on our head. You and I are “worth more than a million canaries” to God. If you struggle with knowing your worth I dare you to ask God to show you your worth to Him.

2. Stand up for him against the world’s opinion. “Stand up for me against world opinion and I’ll stand up for you before my Father in heaven. If you turn tail and run, do you think I’ll cover for you (Matthew 10:32-34)

Would a detective or jury find enough evidence to convict you of being a Christian? Do you daily stand up against the World’s opinion of God? Or are you more concerned with being politically correct and having a separation between church and state? If we refuse to stand for God we will not only fall for anything, we will not have God’s covering protection in our lives. Can we truly afford to be without divine protection in these last days?

3. Put God first. “Don’t think I’ve come to make life cozy. I’ve come to cut—make a sharp knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law—cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God. Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies. If you prefer father or mother over me, you don’t deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don’t deserve me (Matthew 35-37). We must be willing to forsake all to follow God. This means we must put God first above family and everything, We must be free to love and serve Him alone. Oftentimes family and other people and/or things get in the way of our doing this. We are to have no other Zaire before Him.

This depiction of the life a believer makes me think of the passage in the Bible that says,

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 KJV).

When I think of the use of the word “cut” I know it’s not going to be an easy life. Cutting away to remove unnecessary stuff/people, complacency, and hinderances to living a self-less, life of worth.

4. Forget about you and look to God. “If you don’t go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don’t deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me” (Matthew 10:38-39).

It’s so easy to puff up our own status and importance instead of acknowledging the Lord’s awesomeness. Let’s look inward to view ourselves honestly as being dependent for everything from You. We are insignificant in light of the glory of the Lord. He desires to show us who we are in light of His magnificent presence. We need God’s greatness to resonate within our spirit and change our posture. The Lord desires to greatly impact and work in the lives of those who humble themselves before him. We cannot magnify ourselves and expect to find our God-given Destiny and who He really is and wants to be in our lives.

5. Practice the act of giving. “We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who accepts what you do, accepts me, the One who sent you. Anyone who accepts what I do accepts my Father, who sent me. Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God’s messenger. Accepting someone’s help is as good as giving someone help. This is a large work I’ve called you into, but don’t be overwhelmed by it. It’s best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won’t lose out on a thing” (Matthew 10:40-42).

We are all intimately linked in this harvest work. Accepting someone’s help is as good as giving someone help. We are called to a large work. We must first begin by taking small steps. Are you a true apprentice of God, a messenger of God? We need to make sure we’re being a help not s hinderance to God’s harvest work.

May God help us with living a“Self-less, life of worth by Knowing Our Worth, Standing up against the world’s opinion, Putting You first, Forgetting about us, poking to God, and Practicing the art of giving.

Welcome to 2018!

Were you one of many that made resolutions for 2017? If so, how did you do with keeping your resolutions? They say, “Procrastination is the thief of time.” Every year we make promises to do better than the preceding years. However, until we make up our minds to implement action steps that equal results, we will remain in the same place we began at in the days to come. God is saying to you and I, “Forget those things which are behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead” (Philippians 3:13 NKJV). In order for any of us to move forward we must stop looking back. There’s much ahead if we chose to reach forward and stop allowing the past to hinder our progress. Are you willing to leave behind everything that is standing in your way of success? You can set all the resolutions, goals, or action steps you want, however, without confronting the real issues of why your where you are today, you’ll remain on your stagnant path to no where.

The next step to making progress is stop wasting time on things that don’t really matter. Oftentimes, we spend a great deal of time on irrelevant matters. It’s time to get your priorities in order. If you place God first in your life, He will help you to get everything else in alignment with His will, for instance, your family, health, finances, career, relationships, etc. This lifestyle change may mean you have to get up earlier to accomplish more in the long run.

Another step is learning to face your fears. You need to accept fear as a necessary part of life. Once you accomplish this, you will conquer your fears instead of allowing them to conquer you.

And finally, it’s time to step out of your comfort zone. There’s nothing you can possible accomplish in the position of comfortability. The Lord is saying to you, “Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid…the Lord your God will…go ahead of you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). These are same words the Israelites were told when they had a memory lapse in judgment and wanted to return back to slavery in Egypt. It’s would be so easy to criticize the Israelites for desiring to go back to their old life as slaves. However, we all have security blankets we easily pull out when we’re challenged to step out into the unfamiliar. Are you willing to “go out” without knowing where your headed? May 2018, be the year that you “go out” in every area of your life, trusting God along the way. Everyday your granted is another chance to “go out, experiencing the wonder of a new day in God. So why don’t you take a risk, one step of faith at a time?

As I’ve said before, you must stop looking back, stop wasting time on things that don’t really matter, learn to confront your fears, and step out of your comfort zone, in order to embrace a future of limitless possibilities with the Lord by our side. The Lord wants you and I to venture out of our comfort zones in boldness and total reliance on Him. Anything is possible in 2018, if you dare to do the impossible!

The Brightest Star

Most of us at some point in our lives have wanted to have the starring role, whether it was in our own family, our career, in a school production, or in a professional one. Some more than others actively pursue the role of a star while others are willing to remain backstage.

Well, our story today centers around someone who did not appear in dazzling fanfare. Over 2,000 years ago, a true star was born. He didn’t look for a place in a manmade palace or crave the common spotlight of a star. Although many assumed this individual would be born and raised in the splendor of wealth and live inside the walls of a traditional kingdom, they couldn’t be more wrong. Some even believed their throne or position was threatened by his appearance. However, this man’s agenda all stemmed from doing the will of his father who sent him. The One I want to highlight today is Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God who came to earth in the form of a baby.

Today’s reference comes from Matthew 2:1-12. There are several things we can learn from “The Brightest Star” in history in this particular passage.

Teachable Moment #1 Search for Him (with pure motives)

“Where is the child born to be king of the Jews? We saw his star in the East and have come to worship him (The Promise, Matthew 2:2).

Here we witness the magi, searching for the child born to be the king of the Jews to worship him. I’m sure these wisemen had heard of this baby’s foretold birth and they anxiously awaited an opportunity to see this babe and worship him. In this important moment in history they recognized the significance of this child’s birth. They must have realized that this was no ordinary baby. These wisemen were privileged to see this child’s star rise. It was no accident that it was wisemen who witnessed this particular star shining in the East.

On the other hand, we see someone else searching for the Messiah who had ulterior motives. King Herod upon hearing of the birth of another king by the magi felt disturbed and threatened. First he consults his chief priest and teachers of the law trying to discover the babe’s location. Immediately after his conversation with them, Herod secretly meets with the wisemen and urges them to conduct a thorough search for the baby Jesus saying he wants to worship him. Here we witness Herod’s attempts to disguise his fear of being replaced by trying to cloak it with a lie. Thankfully, his attempted plan to kill the Messiah was foiled. The Bible tells us that the magi were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so they returned to their country by another route.

Teachable Moment #2 Follow Him

“…they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was” (Verse 9).

The magi followed the star. It’s imperative that we also follow him not follow our own agenda. In the day and age we live in we can easily get caught up in following the wrong ones or wrongs things. Nevertheless, every time we follow the path where Jesus leads us we reach our destination. How many of us can attest to the fact that when we followed others and departed ways with Jesus we were lead further away from our course? These detours lead to putting not only our physical destination on the line but most definitely our final destination. Thus, we give the enemy of our souls opportunity to keep us from our God-given direction.

Teachable Moment #3 Worship Him

“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Verses 10-11).

We must not only worship Jesus but treasure him. Jesus, the brightest star in history willingly became a baby to save all nations.

That first Christmas, God did something extraordinary. Max Lucado puts it this way: “Stepping from the throne, He removed his robe of light and wrapped Himself in skin: pigmented human skin. The light of the universe entered a dark, wet womb. He whom angels worshiped nestle Himself in the placenta of a peasant, was birthed into the cold night, and then slept on cow’s hay. Mary didn’t know whether to give Him milk or give him praise, so she gave Him both-since He was, as near as she could figure, hungry and holy. Joesph didn’t know whether to call Him junior or father. But in the end he called Him Jesus, since that’s what the angel said, and since he didn’t have the faintest idea what to name a God He could cradle in his arm.”

Let us remember this Christmas and everyday these powerful words from Rachel Wojo, “The greatest gift wasn’t wrapped up in shiny silver paper but in swaddling clothes.” This true star of David wants to have a starring role in each an every one of our lives. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, whether or not you practice an organized religion or are an atheist. May it be our desire to always keep him first above manmade traditions we oftentimes practice throughout this season.