Guidance

5/26/15

- I need to admit I need a guide! 

- depend on Him. 

- Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (NIV) We've all made decisions that at the time seemed right but later on turned out to be wrong. Some paths lead to dead ends and we end up off track. That's why we need to admit, "God, I need help."

(Rick Warren Daily Devotion)

- He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. (Psalms 25:9 NLT)

- All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all. (Isaiah 53:6 NLT)

S: Be courageous! Let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. May the LORD’s will be done.” (2 Samuel 10:12 NLT)

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. (John 15:9-10 NLT)

You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:16-17 NLT)

O: I have been overweight my entire life. I'm so accustomed to being big that I lack true desire to get healthy. I just kinda want it. I need God to help me. I need God to guide me through this journey of healthy living. I think eating small unhealthy meals is okay, yet it is slowly leading me to death. My daughter is also being effected by decision making as well. It may seem right because she's eating and gaining weight but it'll turn out to be unhealthy weight gain. I'm off track in living a healthy lifestyle and need Gods help.

A: I humbly come to the throne of grace to be guided in the right way in my mind, body, soul and spirit. I have strayed away on my own path yet you sent your son so I could be free from everything in every area of my life. I must be courageous and fight for healthy living for the will of God to be done. Whatever emotional attachment I have to food, Jesus has declared he loves me! He loves me as God loves him. I must remain in his love by obeying all his commandments not only the convenient ones. Jesus choose me to use my story through motivational speaking to produce lasting fruit. 

P: Your word says, that you will give me whatever I ask for in Jesus name. I love the inward part of my being but I would want to love the exterior as well. Lord I need your guidance. I long to be healthy by being timely, following through and not interrupting  the process. I want to respect who you are in every area of my life, not just the obvious areas. I take responsibility for my lack of desire to truly be healthy. I'm entitled to a healthy lifestyle I'm not entitled to just sit here watching my life go by through every unhealthy decision. Show me your way, whatever it takes to change. Here is my life, every area. I can't afford to stay the same. I pray this all in wonderful name of Jesus, amen.

He guides me

5/25/15

- We handle the stress of decision-making by letting God guide us.

- God wants us to know His will more than we want to know it. Our problem is we often look for the wrong thing when we're trying to find God's will. 

- God does not want you confused and he does not want you stressed over making any decision. He is there, guiding you every step of the way. 

(Rick Warren Daily Devotion)

- This is his promise, so you can believe this to be true: "He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." (Psalm 23:3 NIV)

S: “Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth!

starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. “‘Furthermore, the LORD declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. (2 Samuel 7:8-9, 11-14 NLT)

“And now, O LORD God, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. Confirm it as a promise that will last forever. And may your name be honored forever so that everyone will say, ‘The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is God over Israel!’ And may the house of your servant David continue before you forever. (2 Samuel 7:25-26 NLT)

In fact, the LORD made David victorious wherever he went. (2 Samuel 8:14 NLT)

O: From the time God told Samuel David will become King until many generations after God guided David’s steps. Even in David’s affair with Bathsheba, God guides him through his sons death and the birth of King Solomon who as the wisest King. Even as Saul for years chases David to kill him, there was no confusion of who God called David to be. To know you're King and people not acknowledge it could have caused doubt in David, instead he stood stronger in Gods promise, he will guide my path for his name sake. There is no other way for us to clearly know it was God if David simply became King when he was first appointed. God is a god of order and will not allow his name to be mistreated by confusion. Gods call upon our lives are irrevocable. 

A: God has taken me from an abusive home and called me to speak out about my story. He has been with me wherever I have gone and destroyed anything that has tried to prevent me from following his path. Now, if I commit myself to building my name, he will build me up in his name. For he has always guided me on the path of righteousness for his name sake. As Gods instrument, i will speak to restore dreams to kingdoms of people. I will change lives of the forgotten and bring hope to this desert land. If I build my body as the Lords temple for his name I will reign in his glory forever. He will be my father, and I his daughter. He will use the rod of discipline just as any father would do.

P: Heavenly Father! I worship your holy name. You are wonderful!!!! Worthy to be praised! I will serve you all my days by following your commands, living a healthy life in finances and in body. Do what you said you will do. Confirm to me your promise eternal God. May your name and your kingdom be honored. May my house never cease to worship you forever, for you will make me victorious wherever I may go. I delight in you! I cherish our times together. May I leave from this time of devotion, but never from your presence. In Jesus name, amen. 

Convictions = Growth

5/22/15

- If you don't determine what's important and how you'll live, other people will determine it for you. 

- Romans 12:2, "Don't let the world squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remold your mind from within ." (Phillips) 

- Growth requires time and effort.

- No one stays with a difficult task unless he is convinced that there is a good reason for doing it.

- Knowing what to do (knowledge), why to do it (perspective) and how to do it (skill) is worthless if you don't have the conviction that will motivate you to actually do it! 

- The people who have made the greatest impact on this world, for good or evil, were the people with the strongest, deepest convictions. They weren't necessarily the smartest, wealthiest, or best educated people, but their convictions moved them to move the world.

(Rick Warren Daily Devotion)

- Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love. (1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NLT)

- Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2 NLT)

S: Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me. (John 12:25-26 NLT)

This is the LORD’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.

Bless the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD. (Psalms 118:23, 26 NLT)

O: I want to move the world!!!! My convictions/principles will help me grow and provide a foundation for me to move on. I must show people who I am and what's important to me by the way I live. This world does not mold me, therefore God will remold me from within. En shared the three p's of success, that includes patience. Growth is not an overnight process. It takes time and a whole lot of effort. It's time to do what my current situation needs me to do. Work! Get this house in order and get a job! My principle/conviction my daughter will not be without the necessities of life. This statement has to convict me to move in the job front to make sure my princess never goes hungry. In order to own a half a million dollar house I need to work now. Woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself. -Susan B. Anthony I need to protect us against the confusion and distruction of what John is going through. 

A. I will make a great impact in this world by first making an impact with my family. My life I know live, I live in Chrsit, in his character. I no longer care about what he world says,(anyone who is not for Gods calling). I will follow Jesus commands which are my convictions and the principles I stand on. I am doing the will of God and it is wonderful to see!!!! 

P: Bless it be your name oh God and bless those who live in your name. You are mighty! Be with your servant as I strive to live in Christ's character. Reveal to me through your word my convictions. May I live in then accordingly. In you great name I pray, amen.

Build His Church

5/19/15

- Jesus has not promised to build your ministry; he has promised to build his church. 

- We are not just to model God's love by loving each other; we are to carry it together to the rest of the world.

- When Jesus walked the earth, God worked through the physical body of Christ; today he uses his spiritual body. The church is God's instrument on earth.

- As members of Christ's body, we are his hands, his feet, his eyes, and his heart....We each have a contribution to make. 

- "He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing." (Ephesians 2:10 MSG)

- For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)

- A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. (1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT)

S: O LORD, I am your servant; yes, I am your servant, born into your household; you have freed me from my chains. I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD. I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people— (Psalms 116:16-18 NLT)

O: I was created for a unique and specific purpose that only I can do. That individual calling is just a part of Building God's church. He has called me specifically to spread his word as an exhorter to the world. Since God uses his spiritual body to work through my spiritual gift is a huge part of who I am and how I will accomplish my dreams. Fulfilling my dreams is my part of the body of Christ and the church. Focusing on personal development with the emphasis on building character and executing my dreams is my contribution as a member of Christ's body. 

A: I better be doing his work. I am Gods work of art. I am Gods masterpiece. My identity is made new in Christ so I am no longer known by the name my mother gave me but I have been given a new name so I can do the good things God has planned for me before I was formed in my mothers womb. Who I am in God, my spiritual gift is to help others. 

P: Oh God my God!!!! I praise you!!!! My magnificent Heavenly Father!!!!! I praise you!!!! I am your servant dear Lord! I was born into a household of stronghold but you alone rescued me and freed me from those chains. You have broken the chains of bondage and I see the chains falling!!!! My sacrifice of thanksgiving is in my praise, in my exhortation and in my soul. I will never cease to call in the name of the Lord!!!! You are sovereign!!!!! You have raised me up for your glory!!!!  My life is a part of your body. Every dream fulfilled is a win for the body of Christ!!!! What is in a name, your unique plan. I commit to building my name, focusing on my spiritual gift. Raise me in your name oh God, for there are no limits to your name. I will fulfill the vow I have made to you in the presence of your people. Thank you for your grace, deliverance and restoration. You are wonderful!!!! In Jesus name!

Sacrificial Love

- The local church is a lab for practicing unselfish love.

- As a participating member you learn to care about others and share the experiences of others: "If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it. Or if one part of our body is honored, all the other parts share its honor." 1 Corinthians 12:26

- 1 John 3:16: "Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (NIV)

- This is the kind of sacrificial love God expects you to show other believers - a willingness to love them in the way Jesus loves you.

(Rick Warren - Daily Devotion)

S: A lazy person’s way is blocked with briers, but the path of the upright is an open highway. (Proverbs 15:19 NLT)

O: Lately I've been feeling lazy. Not pushing myself to get things done. I don't have a sense of urgency in anything. I wasted precious time last week simply by being lazy. I need to be an active participant in sacrificial love toward God, myself and others. I don't want to block my calling with briers. I want the path to success be an open highway. 

A: It is time to be willing as Christ was willing to love me, to love others. It starts by being upright, honest and humble in integrity. I'm not building character just to show face, I am building a legacy, a ministry, a kingdom. If I am willing to commit myself to love by building my name, God will build me up in his name. For he is love. There is no limits to his love and to his call on my life. 

P: Lord I know, how great and how gracious you are. That you would warn me in my laziness to become upright so others would be saved. I can't build a ministry without people. I can't join Janell and Delain in the center you have called us too without being in your character. Lazy habits must be conquered through being up right. Being upright is growing in wisdom, stature, and favor. I can't have wisdom without stature. I can't have stature without favor. All three work hand in hand in building Christ like character. I get what your throwing down God. To love sacrificially as Christ did I must live in his character. Being lazy won't get me there I must be upright. Thank you for this revelation oh God. In Jesus name, amen.

God Purposes

5/15/15

- none of us can fulfill God's purposes by ourselves. 

- your relationship to Christ is personal, God never intends it to be private. 

- being a "member' of the church meant being a vital organ of a living body, an indispensable, interconnected part of the Body of Christ.

- The church is a body, not a building; an organism, not an organization. (Romans 12:4-5) 

- so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. (Romans 12:5 NLT)

S: Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 7:26b)

The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” (1 Samuel 7:37a)

He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine. (1 Samuel 17:40 NLT)

Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!” (1 Samuel 17:46-47 NLT)

O: The purpose God has given us is to show others who he is through us. If David only followed the directions of his Father and not taking advantage of an opportunity to remind the Israelites of their God and to show the Philistines the power of God. David's faith in God and his character would have been private and the will of God through David would not have transpired. God is a God of order. After David defeats Goliath we see a ripple effect of how God was with David and David's character stays grounded through it all. 

I love the confidence David has! Who is this guy to defy God, not Saul, not the Israelites, but the living God! Oh man and his faith! The same Lord who has always been there will be here now! All David had to do was be himself. Saul gave David his armor and David says, I'm not use to this. I'm going to defeat this giant just the way I am with all the tools God has given me! The Lord will conquer, I will defeat you and your men! Then the whole world will know there is a God! The faith of those around here will be restored for the Lord rescued his people. Not with battle and sword, this battle is the Lord's he will give it to us!

A: My purposes on this earth at this specific time is not just about my personal relationship with God, but a public profession of his work through me. I am a vital piece of the living God, of a living body! I am instrumental, monumental, indispensable, and interconnected with the Body of Christ! I am a part of the body and a part of an organism. I belong together with the body of Christ, his people. Therefore, I will not allow anyone to defy the living God by denying and distracting me from his will. The Lord has rescued me from an abusive home, homosexuality, from an abusive foster home, from a group home, from a crisis center, from prostitution and from a sex addiction and he will rescue me from any thing I may face on this journey. I will pick up my word, and collection of books and knowledge armed with only the armor of God and fight against anyone and anything in the way of hindering me from connecting God to his people.

P: Today you conquer the enemy that's the inner me along with any other enemy coming against me. The whole world will know that you rescue without guns, violence and war. This is your battle. Give it me, give it us. In Jesus name, amen.

What's Your Why?

5/11/15

- why you do something is far more important than what you do. 

- PROPER QUITE TIME ATTITUDES:

   1 Expectancy - Come with anticipation and eagerness. Expect to have a good time and receive a blessing "O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you." (Psalm 63:1) 

   2 Reverence - Don't rush into God's presence. Prepare your heart, be still and let the quietness clear away the thoughts of the world: "The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him." (Habakkuk 2:20) 

   3 Alertness - Be thoroughly rested and alert. Get to bed early so you will be in good shape to meet God in the morning.

   4 Willingness to obey - Jesus said, "If anyone chooses to do God's will he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own." (John 7:17) Come to meet the Lord having already chosen to do his will no matter what.

- But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV)

S: At that time the Spirit of the LORD will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person. After these signs take place, do what must be done, for God is with you. (1 Samuel 10:6-7 NLT)

O: Why do I want to be a psychologist, professional speaker and director of a dream center? Paul asked me and I had no real explanation. Many churches and communities have a "mentoring" group. Let's call IUE to come and pour into our students. I don't want to battle against what others are already doing successfully. What does my community need that no one else is doing? And I am passionate about. Before I put all my attention into answering these question more definely, I need to be me. To live in Christ like favor by growing in wisdom, stature, favor with God and man. It starts here in my quiet time.

A: I am my Heavenly Fathers anointed. The spirit of God is powerfully upon me and I will exhort wise counsel in spirit and in truth. I am changed into a new person. After I know my name with character and integrity I will do what needs to be done, for God is with me!

P: I'm forever in your presence and forever in your will!!!! You are holy and magnified oh God! There is no one like you!!!! I will seek you daily for wisdom! I will live healthy to develop stature. I will live in favor of you and man by working on all of me, not just the good parts. I step aside right now and I work on these traits while also developing proper systems. You are great! There is a miracle in the house for you do miracles in this day in age. I will get there!!!! We will overcome with your guidance!!!! Wisdom, stature, favor!!!! In Jesus name, amen!