2-22-08
The power of God is resident within the believer. However it’s obstructed or released by what we believe to be true concerning it’s availability. Paul prayed for the Ephesians that they would have a breakthrough in their understanding in relation to God’s power and the believer. In his epistle to the Romans he stated; that the power of God for salvation was readily available for those who believe. Not just a random believing but what was believed in relation to the gospel of Christ. Our believing must be rooted in this good news message of what Jesus did for man. He has redeemed us from sin and made the power of God available. Without power we are obviously powerless, unable to overcome the issues that we encounter in life. The power of God is available to make man free from the things that bind and imprison. Although this is true, without faith to access and release it in our lives and that of others we will remain victims of our ignorance. We must not forget that faith comes by hearing and understanding the word of God. God Bless You in your endeavors of spiritual growth.

1-08-08

The new year will stir the hearts of many to make life changing resolutions, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Some stay away from making resolutions because of not keeping the previous commitments, while others think it’s just a waste of time. Regardless of what people think or do there’s a powerful truth connected to making a resolved heart decision.
   Without making a decision to change or deal with a particular issue in our life, more than likely we will continue to live on and do the same things. The book of James says a double minded man is unstable in all his ways and is unable to receive anything from the Lord. This describes someone who is indecisive and unable or unwilling to make a decision. This person is inhibiting God from getting involved with him. He cannot receive anything from the Lord because there’s no decision made. God needs us to make a decision of faith to attack or subdue areas of our life that has been out of control. He will help and assist us with the proper wisdom, grace and people to get us through the time of change. Go ahead and make some new year resolutions and watch God help you improve your life as you continue to walk with Him.

12-11-07
What a wonderful time of the year! The Christmas season brings families together in giving, fellowshipping and the sharing of love. This is an event that reminds us of the greatest expression of love, which we find in John 3:16. God’s love for man goes beyond human limitations and expectation toppling any religious attempt to contact God and gives Himself for us. Jesus said there’s no greater love than that expressed by the laying down of ones life for his friends. Jesus laid down His own life that we may experience the love of God that passes mere knowledge, perceivable by personal experience. A season of love that’s to be valued and cherished by all. Merry Christmas!!!!!!

11-30-07
Jesus said let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid. This for many may seem to be an impossible task with all the things they have to deal with on a daily basis. Well life does have a way of challenging the tranquil condition we strive to maintain in our heart. As Jesus said “let not” leaves us with how are we to do this? In short it’s what we believe to be true in our hearts and what we entertain in our thoughts that bring peace or turmoil. You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. {Isaiah 26:3} A peaceful heart is priceless but it comes with the price of a diligent effort. May Gods richest blessings be yours through the Lord Jesus Christ.

11-19-07
Being thankful is an attitude of the heart, which the bible teaches is an important part of a believers life. We are to give thanks in all things, not for all things, because God is not responsible for everything we experience in life. Giving thanks to God in all things will help us keep a right attitude while we go through life challenges. Lets cultivate an attitude of thanksgiving, by being mindful of God’s presence and realizing He’s for us and not out to destroy us. He’s not taunting playing games or treating us like puppets. He’s interested in our well being.

11-06-07
Prosperity is designed to cover the whole of mans life, spiritual, physical, financial, social and mental. Physical prosperity is the well being and health of the body, God is interested in our bodies being healthy. Physical sickness and diseases are the result of the fall of man as sin and the curse entered into the earth realm. Through mans fall the human race has been plagued with dreadful and fatal diseases. Although we are faced with such heath issues, help is available beyond the medical field. Thank God for the advancement of medical technology but it’s not supposed to replace God. Healing was a normal part of Jesus earthly ministry, He never turned anyone away that came to be healed. The same is true today, Jesus the same yesterday today and forever. I’m very much aware of this being somewhat of a touchy and controversial subject but the bible is still clear concerning this issue. I determined a long time ago not to blame God or develop my own doctrinal belief because of my experiences. I decided a long time ago that He’s not the problem, if I don’t receive manifestation of healing it’s me that’s missing it not Him. One of the trouble spots I encountered was the perception I had developed concerning sickness. As a child I had discovered that when I was sick I got special attention, which I used to my own advantage. I did not know how that strategy would work against me in the future. As I developed this way of thinking my heart was being conditioned to accommodate sickness. When symptoms appeared I yielded instead of resisting them and fell victim to a variety of sicknesses. This type of mentality also spilled over into the area of accidents, I was somewhat accident prone. Because I was expecting the worst and became vulnerable to circumstances that produced trouble. After I gave my life to Jesus I had to do something with my thought life. I’ve had to recondition my heart with the word of God and become resistant to the onset of sickness. I believe that by the stripes of Jesus we were healed and if we were then I am. I have not arrived but I am pressing toward a more prosperous life.

10-09-07
Our past experiences leave behind memories, images and learned behaviors. Some are good while others push us toward an impoverished way of living. Jesus came that we may have life or experience life at it’s fullest. It’s stated in John ten that the thief came to steal kill and destroy; but Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Money is a part of our everyday requirement, without it we are unable to function properly in this world. The simple pleasure of having a indoor bathroom requires money to maintain it’s use, money is a necessity. However not everyone has the sufficient funds to maintain what they have much less go beyond the present living conditions. It is not the will of God for man to go hungry or without daily provision. There are a variety of reasons why people go without proper financial stability but one of the major reasons for this is past images and experiences. A poverty mind can be developed by living from day to day in an environment of lack. Many have unchecked habits of saving all kind goods from condiments, plastic bags, bowls, and a whole menagerie of items. This type behavior is the result of a fear of not having enough that’s usually connected to past experiences. Proverbs says; To keep your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life. We could say it this way; that the boundaries of life are set or settled within the heart. What we see and believe inwardly will flow out into life and determine our limitations. If our perceptions are incorrect towards money, they can be altered and forever changed by the word of God. How? By meditating on the word concerning prosperity, thereby drawing a new picture to view. That the eyes of our heart will be permeated with thoughts of prosperity, directing our life into exceeding old boundaries previously imposed by the past. Don’t settle for surviving or allow thoughts of failure to live in the heart, root them out and go on to better things.

10-02-07  
Our past plays a major role in the way we respond to life’s circumstances. The bible teaches we are to prosper in this life, which includes spiritually, physically, financially, socially, and emotionally. The way we function in the various arenas of our life is affected by how we've processed life and the experiences we’ve had. Allow me to use the social realm for an example. If our home environment was abuse whether it’s physical, verbal or sexual we have the tendency to hide and cover up those things in our life. As we engage in life beyond these negative events we carry this learned behavior into the other areas of life. Such as being inhibited in our social skills, by shying away from relationships and staying somewhat shallow in the ones we may have. Some people perceive this type of behavior as being unfriendly, hard to communicate with or strike up any meaningful conversation. People will most generally misjudge this kind of person, only to leave them in the same condition with a strong possibility of growing worse. How does a person begin to recover from this paralyzing social behavior? First there be an identifying how we got to this place. Was there someone abusive in our past or did we live an isolated life with little social involvement or just lived among others as an introvert? These are some simple questions we must ask and answer for ourselves. If you were abused forgive them and let it go, make a heartfelt decision to no longer hold onto something you cant go back and change. They did what they did as bad as it may have been it’s in the past. Humble yourself by going to God and say you need His grace to help empower you to forgive and recover from the hurt. He is so willing and able to help us walk through the pains of the past. It’s not a overnight fix but well worth the time and effort we expend. We can either continue to harbor the hurt and work with all the negatives that accompany it or refocus our efforts on getting better. Forgiving is the first step toward recovery.

9-18-07
Looking for real stability in a unstable world? Even among people of faith this seems to be more difficult as time goes by. This does not have to be the case for anyone who will follow Jesus and make Him Lord of their life. One of the problems I’ve see with Christians is the lack of the word of God in their life. Our life cannot be adequately stabilized apart from the word of God. Trying to build it on something else leaves us vulnerable to the storms of life that come to everyone. Jesus said the wise man will build his house on the rock but the foolish man builds on the sand. When the storm comes the house built on the rock stood while the other was lost. The rock is hearing and doing the word of God instead of just hearing without action. Being stable in this unstable world is possible regardless of what comes our way. Have you been able to stand strong when trouble came because of the word of God?

9-4-07
Words have set in motion everything that happens in our life, nothing has been done apart from words. Our nation, laws and government have been established by the arranging of words determining what we agree or disagree with. Conduct, culture, success or failure are the result of words; spoken believed and acted upon. We could say our worlds have been framed by the words we have spoken. Hebrews 11:3 says through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Our lives function around the very same principles whether we believe it or not, words are constantly changing things in our lives. Not to see the importance of this truth will leave us vulnerable to unwanted events in our life. There are some things that are out of our control in relation to what goes on in the world around us. But what we are responsible for personally are under the influencing control of our words.

8-27-07
Words contain the ability to wreck someone’s life and future or produce great success. I remember the old saying we used in school; sticks and stones may brake my bones but words will never hurt me. We usually used this phrase in self defense, when someone said mean things to or about us. In essence we were saying the words spoken cannot hurt me. But the very fact we poised ourselves in self defense reveals what we believe about the power of words. For many of us the very words we attempted to resist and defend ourselves from became a defining part of our lives. Someone could say something negative about our appearance, like you have a huge nose, feet, ears, mouth or hugely fat lips. Their exaggerated opinion of our appearance could define the way we view ourselves and we start seeing through their words. Our perception can be reshaped by focusing our attention on the word of God. Allowing His word to permeate our heart and watch it do a work that no man can match. God told Joshua to meditate on His word day and night and his way shall be made prosperous. Victory and not defeat can be in our future if we follow Him.

8-21-07
Many stories surround the famous Hope Diamond, from it’s place of origin, past owners and even the tale of a dreaded curse. The diamond is presently owned by the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. At 45.52 carats it has been deemed the most valuable diamond in the world, valued at 200,000,000 - 250,000,000. What makes it so valuable is being one of kind there are no other gems that compare. I wonder how many people would base their value and worth being the sole owner of this rare gem? Would we consider ourselves more valuable by owning this gem? Sure we would be worth more financially, but we would still be the same person even though we owned something so valuable. Our worth and value is not determined by our assets. In the sight of God no one person is more valuable than the next. Think about this! The Hope Diamond is valuable because of it’s rarity, it’s a one of a kind there’s nothing else like it. The truth is so are you!! There will never be another you, you are invaluable and irreplaceable. Go ahead and allow God by His Spirit show you how He feels about you. Your not some second class citizen in the eyes of God or just another rock on the road of life to be kicked around, stepped on and discarded. No God loves you and is unwilling to see anyone be eternally separated from Himself. Jesus came and placed value in the life of man by giving His own on our behalf. You are that rare priceless gem He’s looking for.