I came across this statement that was an encouragement to me.
I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made - I am a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, worldly-talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean in His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and I labor with power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, me way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, hired away, turned back, dluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesistate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus, I must go until He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know and work till He stops me. And when He comes to claim His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me. My banner will be clear!
I encourage each of you to take some time and think about this powerful statement. We need to have some old fashioned resolve as we serve Jesus!!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Who am I?
One of our greatest tasks in life is to answer the question, Who Am I?
A person might respond to this question by describing their physical characteristics such as eye and hair color, height, build, etc. Others might be quick to add their temperment as well their personality.
Sometimes we act a bit cocky and self-confident which causes others around us to pose the question to us: WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? Other times, we are a bit hesistant to perform a task and are like Moses, doubting our own ability in a certain area. God appeared to Moses instructing him to stand before Pharoah, the king of Egypt - the most powerful man in the world. Moses was to bring him a message from God, Let my people go that they may serve me. Moses was smart enough to know that this would make Pharoah angry and would jeopardize his own life. Moses did not desire the task and thought himself inferior to perform the task that God had given him.
Do you find yourself struggling with who you really are? What has God asked you to so that you believe that you have the ability. I can't do that God - Don't you know who I am? How I have messed up in the past? You have the wrong person. Maybe you are struggling with areas that you know you need to change, but you are quick to use the excuse: That's not who I am; or, That's not me - You will have to accept me for who I am.
The fact of the matter is that we have a hard time knowing who we are apart from God's help. God knows us better than anyone else. Jeremiah tells us that The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Then he asks the question, Who can know it? We have a hard time knowing our own heart and discerning our motives.
As we spend time with Him, God reveals to us who we really are. In this case, the truth hurts. I am glad that God not only knows who we are, but He knows whom we will become. He desires to give us a new identity in Christ and to impart His divine nature into our lives:
2 Peter 1:4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
The next time you are battling with a task that God has called you to do or a change that God desires you to make in your life, remember: God knows who you are, what you are capable to do with his strength, and whom he desires you to become.
A person might respond to this question by describing their physical characteristics such as eye and hair color, height, build, etc. Others might be quick to add their temperment as well their personality.
Sometimes we act a bit cocky and self-confident which causes others around us to pose the question to us: WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? Other times, we are a bit hesistant to perform a task and are like Moses, doubting our own ability in a certain area. God appeared to Moses instructing him to stand before Pharoah, the king of Egypt - the most powerful man in the world. Moses was to bring him a message from God, Let my people go that they may serve me. Moses was smart enough to know that this would make Pharoah angry and would jeopardize his own life. Moses did not desire the task and thought himself inferior to perform the task that God had given him.
Do you find yourself struggling with who you really are? What has God asked you to so that you believe that you have the ability. I can't do that God - Don't you know who I am? How I have messed up in the past? You have the wrong person. Maybe you are struggling with areas that you know you need to change, but you are quick to use the excuse: That's not who I am; or, That's not me - You will have to accept me for who I am.
The fact of the matter is that we have a hard time knowing who we are apart from God's help. God knows us better than anyone else. Jeremiah tells us that The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Then he asks the question, Who can know it? We have a hard time knowing our own heart and discerning our motives.
As we spend time with Him, God reveals to us who we really are. In this case, the truth hurts. I am glad that God not only knows who we are, but He knows whom we will become. He desires to give us a new identity in Christ and to impart His divine nature into our lives:
2 Peter 1:4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
The next time you are battling with a task that God has called you to do or a change that God desires you to make in your life, remember: God knows who you are, what you are capable to do with his strength, and whom he desires you to become.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Whom do you fear?
As the disciples were sent out to minister to the communities around them, Jesus understood the weakness of man when it comes to others around.
Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
Jesus instructed his disciples that as they ministered that they would be hated, persecuted, run out of the very communities that they were trying to help. With this understanding, they were to focus on the task that God had given them to do. They were to speak the truth that God had given to them without the fear of man.
Matthew 10:26,28
Fear them not . . . And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
God would give them the words to speak . . . take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak . . . what I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in the light . . . Matthew 10:19, 27
God would take care of them . . . Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31
The next time that Satan tempts you to fear man, bury your thoughts in the goodness of God. He is the one that we need to please. As we seek to honor, glorify, and please our Heavenly Father, He will guide our words and will take care of us.
Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
Jesus instructed his disciples that as they ministered that they would be hated, persecuted, run out of the very communities that they were trying to help. With this understanding, they were to focus on the task that God had given them to do. They were to speak the truth that God had given to them without the fear of man.
Matthew 10:26,28
Fear them not . . . And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
God would give them the words to speak . . . take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak . . . what I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in the light . . . Matthew 10:19, 27
God would take care of them . . . Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31
The next time that Satan tempts you to fear man, bury your thoughts in the goodness of God. He is the one that we need to please. As we seek to honor, glorify, and please our Heavenly Father, He will guide our words and will take care of us.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Signs of Revival
Jonathan Edwards in a sermon entitled True Revival listed 5 signs that God is at work.
1. When esteem for the true Jesus is raised
2. When Satan's kingdom is attacked
3. When people come to love the Scripture more
4. When men are led away from falsehood into truth
5. When there is an increase of love to God and man
1. When esteem for the true Jesus is raised
2. When Satan's kingdom is attacked
3. When people come to love the Scripture more
4. When men are led away from falsehood into truth
5. When there is an increase of love to God and man
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Communication
I am grateful that we serve a God who desires to fellowship with us. The key to good fellowship is communication. Consider Hebrews 1:1-2, God who at sundry times and divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son . . .
In this new year, I have implemented two new tools to communicate more often with our friends, family, and church members. I will be weekly sharing articles of encouragement and learning through my blog. I will also be using twitter to encourage those whom I love as well as keep you up informed of prayer requests and my daily activities.
I am looking forward to what the Lord has in store in 2010.
In this new year, I have implemented two new tools to communicate more often with our friends, family, and church members. I will be weekly sharing articles of encouragement and learning through my blog. I will also be using twitter to encourage those whom I love as well as keep you up informed of prayer requests and my daily activities.
I am looking forward to what the Lord has in store in 2010.
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