365 Days With God ....."Revealing Simple Truth"

Your Heart

2012-03-09T05:52:00.000-05:00

Jesus teaches that sometimes man has issues with his heart, his motivation, and his thought processes. The Word is clear that we should take the time to always examine our heart. By doing so, we will find where we have truly and honestly placed our treasure.

Matthew 6:19-21, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Doing good for the right reasons is more important to God than just our works alone. God is concerned with why we do what we do. If we carry 10 pots of soup to the sick this week only to write in a journal and keep track of our good works, then we have done good for the wrong reason.

Matthew 6 is asking each of us to examine our heart and our priorities. Where do you spend your time? Do you proceed to do the things you know God's Word instructs you to do like give, tithe, treat others with honor and respect? Do you place others before yourself and care about the needs of the hurting and the poor? Or are you selfish and absorbed with only you?

Examine your checkbook and see where your heart is? Do you spend your finances on big screen televisions and manicures, pedicures, and hair salons without any assistance going to those who have no food? Do you dine out and waste money on entertainment and vacations, but fail to give to the house of God that the Word of God may be preached and continue to reach the lost?

When it comes to matters of the heart it is imperative that we ask ourselves, Where is our heart? "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

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The Voice of God

2012-03-08T05:24:00.000-05:00

"The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of Majesty, " is proclaimed by the Psalmist in Psalm 29:4. There is nothing quite like hearing the voice of God. It is vital in the christian walk to take time, not only to talk to God, but to listen.

There is no voice like the voice of God, no words as comforting and confirming as hearing the very voice of God. It is necessary that we remove the clutter and busyness in our lives and listen for the voice of God. Seek Him for direction. Call out to Him for confirmation of purpose and calling. And allow His powerful mighty voice to reaffirm YOU through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The voice of the Lord is full of Majesty and there is nothing like hearing the voice of God.

God Still Heals Disease

2012-03-07T06:37:00.000-05:00

Often, there are many who question the healing power of Almighty God. But I believe He is still healing today. In fact, I have proof. Because I am a living testimony that God is able to heal your body of disease.

When I was 29, my family physician sent me to an Internist after examining me. I was totally jaundice. My skin had turned golden and even the whites of my eyes and palms of my hands were yellow. They knew there was an urgent problem with my liver, sent me for a series of scans and bloodwork, and told me to prepare for emergency surgery due to my symptoms alone.

The surgeon showed me several scans and xrays and a huge mass that covered my right side. He told me that in thirty years of surgery he had never seen such a young person have such a huge mass and that the report was bleak. The next day I was to report for exploratory surgery.

They operated, sutured back together my twelve inch incision, and told my husband that if he knew God that he had better start talking to Him. The surgeon said the mass was too large & infused around my liver and pancreas to attempt to remove. They sent my lymph nodes to the lab for testing, but said the cancer was too far gone for treatments like chemo and radiation. My husband was at his wit's end and fell on his knees in the waiting room and called out to the Only One who was able to fix it, God.

We waited three long days as I lay injecting morphine for the severe pain. And my husband and the church continued to pray. When the results came back they refused to share them, but continued with even more testing. Finally after five days, an internist came to see me and these specialists and professionals had absolutely no explanation for the fact that my lab results were showing no signs of cancer. These surgeons had seen the mass with their own eyes, they knew what cancer looked like after years of practice, yet God amazingly healed my body. Some scoffers may say, well the doctors just made a mistake. I believe God still heals disease, "with His stripes we were healed."

Peace in our Mind

2012-03-06T05:33:00.001-05:00

In our chaotic world, everyone desires peace. Scripture teaches that God keeps us in perfect peace when our mind is 'stayed on Him' because he trusteth in thee. In other words, when we keep our mind on Christ and completely trust Him, we dwell in peace (Isaiah 26:3).

Scripture teaches us also to strive to think on things that are "lovely, pure, and of good report". Sometimes, our thinking is detoured from the positive by the negative. When this happens, our thinking becomes downcast, creating chaos and a lack of faith. This is not an atmosphere that invites the peace of God. Colossians 3:15 declares, "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which you are called in one body, and be ye thankful".

Therefore, if you and I will think on the good, the positive, the lovely. And if you and I will keep our minds on God and what He alone is able to do - we will maintain peace in our lives (Philippians 4:6-7).

Your Time to Reap

2012-03-05T06:12:00.000-05:00

In Galatians 6:9-10, Scripture records, "And let us not grow weary while doing good for in due season, we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Those who seize the opportunities that come their way will see seasons of blessing and waves of favor on their lives. The bible also reconfirms, "Be not deceived, God is not mocked, whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap." (Gal. 6:7)

The Church at large stands in an empty field, dry and void of any seed-sowing and expects God to pour out His divine blessings on everything they do. This is a misconception of the way God works. Often, we pray for blessings and prosperity when we have not yet stood in the field and sown seed. When you plant a garden you must till it, plant seed, pull weeds, and water that seed before the harvest comes.

God always holds true to the principles of His Word and there is a law of sowing and reaping. He teaches if we do good and do not lose heart that we shall reap blessing. His law reaffirms that we will see the divine favor of God when we sow good seed and do good to others. So do not grow weary, rather keep sowing, and keep doing good. Your wave of blessing is on its' way.

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Protect Your Senses

2012-03-04T05:28:00.000-05:00

The Bible is clear that whatever our senses experience will affect our whole body and spirit. So what we experience with our senses actually affect our spirituality, our relation to God. What we see, read, and listen to can either negatively or positively affect how spiritual we are.

Knowing that light and darkness have no common denominator, no reason to share experiences,
Matthew 6:22-24 teaches, "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore, the light that is in you is in darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

Many today try to serve God and still walk in darkness. God said these two have no fellowship with each other, it cannot be done. You have to make a decision to follow hard after God and be careful what your senses see, hear, and experience. Because the "lamp of the body is the eye", therefore what you see lights your path, and leads you in that path. If you choose to look at perversion in movies and internet entertainment then that is what will drive you and the path will not lead to God. If you choose to soak up music that is not uplifting to God, then your spirit will be driven by the world's view. If you read books and magazines that are not godly then those values will push you to darkness, not light.

We must beware and heed the warning of Scripture that says we choose the path we take by what we decide to "see". We direct our own lives, with our choices. Joshua declared, "Choose you this day who you will serve."

A Heart of Generosity

2012-03-03T05:43:00.000-05:00

You have heard it has been said, "Give & It Shall Be Given", but do you really believe it?

15 years ago, I had the opportunity to purchase 3 (5 gallon) buckets of laundry detergent at wholesale for only a couple of dollars. I had a family of 6 and it seemed all I ever did was more laundry, so I was thankful with my laundry blessing for a small amount of cash. I had never even seen a 5 gallon bucket of detergent before! But on the way home to Georgia the Lord dealt with me to give away two of my newly attained buckets. I was to give one to our youth pastor who had a small income and I was to give another to a large family in the church that was in financial need. But that only left one bucket for me.

My heart was selfish and I rationalized why I should keep all the buckets for myself and my large family, "I mean I am the one who found the bargain!" But the more I argued with God, the more I knew that I had to do the right thing and obey God. So I got a grip on my heart and I decided I would give two of my buckets away cheerfully and do it as unto the Lord. When I dropped off the buckets to these two families in need, my heart rejoiced in their blessing. I went home and began using my bucket without anymore thought. Months passed and my bucket seemed to get low, but never run dry.

An older couple in the church invited the whole family over for dinner one night and just as we were leaving, the gentleman said, "pull your van over to the shed, I've got something I want to give you." I figured he had some tomatoes from the garden, but my jaw dropped when he pulled out a 5 gallon bucket of laundry detergent and loaded it in the back of our van. The blessing did not stop there, he gave us a case of paper towels and toilet paper, too.

We moved to Maryland and a couple of months went by when the UPS man showed up at my door with a delivery. You will never guess what it was this time. It was a case of liquid laundry detergent, fabric softner, juice boxes, and fruit snacks. A few months later I was working at the church office. When I came downstairs to leave, there was a 5 gallon bucket of laundry detergent in the doorway with a note for Gail. Everytime I turned around, someone was giving me laundry detergent. I started getting so much, that every once in awhile I gave some away to those in need. I never bought anymore detergent, and my bucket never ran dry.

Years passed and we moved again to Tennessee. I still washed clothes for a family of six and never bought detergent. One day, I was in the office at church taking care of some data entry when one of our members stopped by. She grabbed my car keys off the desk and said, "I just need to put something in your car". I said, okay - Thanks. She popped back in with my keys a few minutes later and said goodbye. I really did not give the incident any thought until I was driving home and I heard a big "thud" in my trunk. When I got home and opened the trunk, I was amazed one more time with another 5 gallon bucket of detergent. I mean nobody would ever believe my story.

Well, we moved again to Virginia where noone knew about the detergent. And in our first month one member approached me and said, "you may think this is kinda strange, but I have my own business and I wanted to give you something. And the Lord told me to give you laundry detergent, so I am promising to provide you with detergent the rest of your life". No, I really did not think it was strange, but it has brought tears to my eyes on so many occasions. Because one scoop of detergent reminds me of the Faithfulness of God. It has been 15 years since I purchased detergent and yes, I still believe- "Give and it shall be given unto you!"

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Intercession

2012-03-02T06:17:00.000-05:00

We like praying quiet. Get us in a group and we become mousy and meek, with our whispering prayers. However, intercession is loud. Intercession is prayers prayed with great passion and agony. It is to become broken by the need and present it to God as if it were our own.

Hebrews 5:7 declares, "Jesus offered up prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears". The critical function of an intercessor is to agonize for the souls of man and the needs of those around him. This intercession grabs God's attention.

The blind man that sat by the roadside shouted and screamed aloud in his affliction, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me...Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me". He was loud. He cried out to the Master, the Only One able to make a difference in his life. You and I need to practice true intercession in behalf of the needs of the hour. For our Sovereign God truly desires that we cry out passionately to Him for answers.

Being Close to God

2012-03-01T06:21:00.000-05:00

James 4:8 instructs, "Draw nigh to God and God will draw nigh to you." This means that you and I can choose to either come close to God to remain in the state we are in. We must make a daily effort to be close to God. When your feet hit the floor in the morning, you make consciencious choices who you will be close to today. Let God be your first choice.

Remaining close to God requires effort and a commitment of your time. Just as friendships and marriages require discipline and work, so does your relationship with God. Today, let us make a viable choice to Be close to God today. Let it be the beginning of a fresh new walk with Him.

God is Faithful and He cares about everything that concerns you. But He desires that you and I maintain a close relation with Him. If you truly want God to come closer to you, you must come closer to God.

Light

2012-02-29T06:06:00.000-05:00

In John 8:12, Jesus declares: "I am the light of the world, he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." Here we see a strict declaration of how those who follow Christ should walk. There is no room for gray areas here.

Jesus said that His followers do not walk in darkness (sin) but have made a life-change. They have or possess within them the light of life. Because they have experienced an encounter with Jesus, they no longer are in bondage to the sin of this world but walk in freedom and liberty and light and life.

This is another "no excuses" Scripture for a mediocre lifestyle, tainted with this world's sin and bondage. By only your asking, God will free you and strengthen you to walk in the light. He will give you self-control and empowerment that you never dreamed possible. And your success will be rooted in Him.

Full of the Spirit

2012-02-28T06:35:00.000-05:00

In the book of Acts, the Church met daily for prayer and the Word of God. And consequently, in Acts 2:46, "the Lord added to the Church daily". There is an outpouring of God's Spirit that awaits the cup of the Church, yet the Church today does not make itself available to the moving of the Spirit. Things have taken precedence over being full of the Spirit of God.

The early Church gathered together with "purpose". They often had prayer meetings and believed God for mighty miracles. When they faced persecution, affliction, bondage, and imprisonment, the Church got themselves together with one heart and prayed for deliverance.
The early Church was a radical Church that trusted God for everything.

When the early Christians gathered they did not complain about how long the preaching was or about the rainy weather, but they were hungry for a move of the fullness of the Spirit of God. Scripture promises, "they who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled". God stands ready to pour His Spirit on your life, your spouse, your children, your grandchildren and to a thousand generations--but you and I have to be hungry.

God is Good

2012-02-27T06:11:00.000-05:00

The Psalmist shouts in Psalm 34:8, "O' taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him." God is inherently good with a Capital G. Nothing can change that. He loves you and watches over you throughout your daily comings and goings. He is a good God who daily loadeth you with benefits. He desires to pour out the rain of abundance upon your life.

Here we are taught that we are called "blessed"(favored) if we place our trust in God. Sometimes we find it easy to trust in ourselves, our talent and ability, our intellect. We place our trust in the brakes on our automobile and do not think twice when we apply the brakes during travel that they will in fact stop the car. However, it should be so much easier for us to place our total trust in an Almighty and Sovereign God who watches over the universe, who spoke this world into existence with His very words, and who dearly love those who follow hard after Him.

God's Great Love

2012-02-26T06:23:00.000-05:00

"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.....For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His Son in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:3, 12-14)

One of the very best ways God provided for you is through the gift of Jesus Christ. He gave His only Son as a sacrifice for your sins and wrongdoing. And because of Christ you now have the opportunity to walk in redemption and freedom.

God loves us unconditionally and offers us forgiveness from sin. He accepts us just as we are and allows His Holy Spirit to begin transforming our life at the very moment we are willing to make a commitment to Him.

We should take time to focus on all the incredible ways that God has shown His love and forgiveness to us.

A Song at Midnight

2012-02-25T06:29:00.000-05:00

Often, you and I belly-ache about what we are going through, how hard life is, and the circumstances that weigh so heavily on our shoulders. But truly we should take lessons from the early disciples from Acts chapter 16.

"And when they had laid many stripes on them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them securely: who having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, fastens their feet in the stocks, and kept watch by night. But around midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises to God, and the prisoners heard them. When suddenly the earth began to quake and the foundations of the prison were shaken, and suddenly the prison doors flew open and the chains fell off." (Acts 16:23-26)

If you and I would learn the secret to prayer and praise, what could happen in our lives? If we would just for a moment get our focus off of "us" and place our focus on "Christ" and put a song back in our step....there is no limit to what God will do in our present circumstances. What we need is a song at midnight! An outrageous, radical praise in the middle of where we are right now. Look what God did for Paul and Silas. He will do the same for you.

Following

2012-02-24T06:42:00.000-05:00

If you are going to put something together, you need to follow the instruction manual to make sure the construction of it comes together properly. Sometimes, we get turned around in life and find ourselves going the wrong direction because we fail to follow the instructions. God gives us an instruction manual (Holy Bible) for all decisions we must make and for wisdom in all circumstances. Scripture records in Deuteronomy 6:1-3, "Now, this is the instruction of the Lord...Fear God and follow his instructions and keep his precepts...so that your life may be long and that you may increase exceedingly."

God teaches, if you want blessing and favor then follow the instructions I have given you. If you want your life to be prolonged and a Sovereign God to provide protection for you, then follow the instructions. Because when you follow the instructions, the construction of your life will come together properly.

Therefore, let Jesus be the Lord of your life, your decisions, your future. Ask God to help you follow the instructions and give you guidance through each day. You will be blessed with a rich reward!

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God is My Righteousness

2012-02-23T05:44:00.003-05:00

Psalm 97 declares the righteousness of God. Verse 2 resounds, "Righteousness and judgement are the foundation of His Throne." Jesus is Jehovah-Tskidkenu, our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6).

My righteousness is as filthy rags, but He hath made us the "righteousness of God in Him". Second Timothy teaches us to pursue righteousness in chapter 2:22. And the writer of Proverbs speaks wisdom into our lives with His words in 14:34, "Righteousness exalts a nation".

Now, you and I must press hard after the righteousness of God to be evident in our everyday life. I have no righteousness of my own, but because of the righteousness of God and what Christ did on Calvarys tree, God promises to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Do Not Be Afraid

2012-02-22T05:51:00.001-05:00

It is impossible for you & I to understand the depth of God's words when He said in Isaiah 43, "Fear not, I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name, you are mine." God addresses two obstacles of fear in man in verse 2 that follows: water and fire. Many men are extremely fearful of deep water because they realize the force of power that water holds. Fire is another fear of man because it can cause such great damage in a matter of seconds.

But after verse 2 when God addresses both water and fire, He makes a profound statement. He said, "When you walk through the water" it will have no power over you. And "When you walk through the fire" its' flame will not even sit upon you. There is no reason for your fear because "I am God."

Scripture always reminds us of the awesomeness of God. He is Sovereign and in total control of your life, if you have surrendered it to Him. So, "Fear Not".

The Blessing

2012-02-21T06:38:00.000-05:00

The Hebrew word baruch means to bless, to empower, to prosper. It is interesting to note that the blessing of the Father is so important that Jesus, the Messiah did not perform one miracle or preach one sermon until after the blessing of God, His Father was pronounced upon Him. "And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him and a voice came from Heaven which said, "You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Therefore, I feel it is just as important that earthly Fathers pronounce blessings over their sons and daughters. The Jews still practice this today. The Father pronounces a blessing over their children at the time of puberty. Children search a lifetime for the acceptance and blessing of their Fathers. Perhaps, we have failed to give them the love and acceptance they long for so desperately. When a Father sets their early teen in a chair, looks them in the eye and tells them clearly how proud he is of them, he shows them his approval. This gives the young person security and affirmation that many search a lifetime to receive.

According to Deut 30:19, God has set before us blessing and cursing, then asks us to choose life that our descendents may live. Give your children a chance....with blessing, love and affirmation.

26 yrs ago my husband & I were blessed with our firstborn son - August 5. He is a direct blessing from God. The Hand of God was upon Him from the onset and it is God who birthed him in anointing and calling. Happy Birthday David, we are blessed by you!

Angels in Your Life

2012-02-20T08:31:00.001-05:00

Did you know you have ministering angels placed in charge over you to watch over you and your family and keep you from harm? Luke 4:10-11, "It is written: And He shall give his angels charge over thee to keep you; and in their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone."

Angels are not dispatched by our complaining, murmuring, or lack of faith. They are dispatched to all who inherit salvation and are released by the Son of God to guard and keep us. They desire to work on our behalf, that is their assignment from God. Hebrews 1:14, "Are not the angels all ministering spirits sent out in the service of those who inherit salvation?"

So when it seems you are favored, you are. When it feels like it should have been you in the middle of the trouble, it should have been, but an angel guarded you. When you know you would have collided with the vehicle in front of you, but you were miraculously saved, you were. God has given His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.

Manager

2012-02-19T06:20:00.000-05:00

I am convinced that most people today are unaware of their identity. They do not understand who they are, but are enslaved by temporal goods. In Matthew 6:19-24, we are taught that where we place our treasure/material resources definitely reflects the deep matters of our heart. And the way we think of our material possessions shows how we feel about our identity and who is in control of our life (priorities).

Our culture is extremely self-absorbed & says that "we own" everything we have, "our" material resources are owned exclusively by us. And we're "the man"(so to speak), we have the right to do whatever we choose with our belongings, no one can tell us what to do. While the Word teaches that everything we have is not really ours at all, but really belongs to God. And God has made you a steward over everything He has given you. A steward is someone who manages the property of another. He is a caretaker who guards and watches over material things with which he has been entrusted.

The owner identity says, I can do whatever I desire, while the steward identity says I should use the resources God has given me to advance the kingdom. The owner identity says I will not be accountable to anyone how I spend my resources, and the steward identity says I will be held accountable to Almighty God for how I use His resources. Because the steward mentality says, everything I have is given to me by God. He is the Divine Owner of everything He has blessed me with.

When you realize who you are in Christ, your focus will no longer be material gain. You will understand that it takes money to live, but you will not be driven to live for money. Your identity will be balanced and you will know that God is in control and has promised that if you do your part, He will meet your every need.

www.gailprice.ning.com

Ask God

2012-02-18T06:01:00.000-05:00

How often do we really ask God in our time of crisis or decision? First, we are so smart that we try to figure it out. Then, we proceed to ask all of our friends and collegues, "What would you do? What do you think?" And when we have exhausted our resources, we call on God.

Scripture teaches, "Keep asking and it will be given you, keep searching and you will find. Keep knocking and the door will be opened." (Luke 11:9) We are taught to be persistent in asking God. Ask Him today, ask Him again later, ask Him before you lay your head down for a night's rest. Ask and keep on asking....and it will be given to you.

When my girls were very young they learned quickly the technique of asking in this manner. They would ask. And if they did not get the answer they wanted, they would wait a little while and ask again. Later, they returned to gently ask again. Before bedtime, they would ask again and again and again, until I usually "caved" and gave them what they persistently asked me for in the right spirit.

Sometimes we think God doesn't hear us or is not concerned about what we have prayed. This is absolutely incorrect. Luke 11 teaches us not to be quick to give up. Not to walk away and become frustrated, but to faithfully and persistently keep on asking. Because when we keep on asking, the Word declares that, "it will be given you". This is a promise from the Word and we must ask in faith, believing that God will answer.

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Walking the Path of God

2012-02-17T07:46:00.001-05:00

In the beginning, God established an order of authority. Rebellion to God's pre-established order of authority is sin and defiance. In Genesis 1 & 2, we see how God established order for Adam, so he might learn obedience. On one hand, God placed all created things under Adam's authority and told him that he would have dominion over them.

However, God placed Adam under His authority when he sat him in the garden and said (Gen 2:15-17), Look Around. Do you see all these fruit trees and everything at your disposal in the garden? Well, it's all yours. Eat whatever you want, eat as much as you want. But look over there in the midst of the garden. Do you see that one tree? Do you see that tree of knowledge of good and evil? Well, don't touch it, stay away from that tree, but everything else is yours! And it was here in the beginning that God established authority and wanted to teach Adam that when man follows God's order of authority there are blessings, protection, and provision.

Now, obviously Eve started the rebellion, because when she disobeyed she was first rebellious to God's ultimate authority. But what we sometimes overlook is the fact that she was also rebellious to the authority of Adam that God had previously established. Eve was to be subject to the authority of her husband. But Adam was just as rebellious when he followed Eve's lead and also disobeyed God's authority.

Here is God's established order of authority: employees should be subject to employers, children should be subject to parents, wives should be subject to their husbands, husbands should be subject to their pastors, pastors should be subject to Christ, Christ is to be subject to God the Father. And when you and I submit and subject ourselves to the divine order of authority that God has established and preordained from the beginning of time, we walk in blessing, protection, provision, and peace.

www.gailprice.ning.com

Silence in Prayer

2012-02-16T07:43:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it is necessary when we pray to become silent. However, we love to do all the talking when we pray. James 1:16 declares, "The fervent prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." Therefore, we enjoy asking God to grant our petitions, heal and deliver, and pour out favor. But how often do you stop for a moment, just to be silent?

We are seldom silent. Yet God desires to speak to us. He often speaks, but we are too busy working, living, running, and talking to hear Him. He crys out to you and I to go into a quiet place and pause and be silent. Jesus said, "When you pray, go into your secret place and close the door and pray." Sometimes, God seeks to share with us in a quiet place, away from the bustle of the day. Take time today for silence with God. It just may change your life.

The Only Book

2012-02-15T07:04:00.000-05:00

There is a book of faith which serves as our roadmap for all of life; Romans 10:17, "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Obtaining faith to see God 'do' what seems impossible in our lives is ignited by a proclaimation of the Word. The great D.L. Moody once said, "I use to close my bible and pray for faith, thinking it would strike me like lightning, but faith didn't seem to come. Then one day I read Romans 10:17. I opened my bible and began to study, read, and hear, and my faith has been growing ever since."

Preaching, teaching, and speaking the Word creates supernatural effects and miracles in our lives. Prayers begin to be answered when our faith increases and we pray with great faith. How do we obtain greater faith? Faith increases in our lives as we get into the Word of God and think about what is written on its' pages. Faith expands as we study Scripture and ask for guidance from God above. It is a fact, the more time we spend reading the Word, the more faith grows and blossoms.

Just as seeds will germinate with soil, water, and light, answers to your specific prayers will germinate in the Word of God that is spoken in faith. Read the Word today and watch your faith grow. The results will be miraculous.

www.gailprice.ning.com

Love Is

2012-02-14T05:01:00.007-05:00

Genuine love is most clearly defined in Scripture. In John chapter 3, we find that God sent His only Son to die for our sins. This was a true expression of unconditional love. We were undeserving of His great love, yet He loved us and sacrificed for us.

Again, in 1 Corinthians 13, Scripture outlines a clear definition of real love. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love does not behave itself unseemly. It think no evil, keeps no record of wrong, is not easily provoked. Love bears all things, believes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

Wow. That is an incredible mouthful of God's unfailing love toward us and the pure way we are to treat one another in love.

Fearing God

2012-02-13T08:26:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 9:10 declares, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom". This kind of fear means that we revere God, and that we esteem and regard Him highly, as the Only True and Sovereign God. We realize that He knows what is best.

God works in His own time and we must respect and fear His plans and ways. For they are higher than our ways. God is a holy God who always has our best interests at heart. Our fear and honor of God must not only be verbal, but from our hearts. For it is easy to say with our mouth that we love and fear God, but are we willing to act when He calls upon us to do something substantial for Him?

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 states, "...what does the Lord your God ask of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good."

Three Most Important Factors in Life

2012-02-12T07:01:00.000-05:00

The deepest devotion I can possibly share with you today is this. It's quite simple and easy to remember. Here it is.

The 3 Most Important Factors in Your Life are:
1. What You Believe
2. What You Pray
3. What You Say

Favor

2012-02-11T06:26:00.000-05:00

"May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us ---YES, establish the work of our hands." (Psalm 90:17) This is a prayer cry of the Psalmist to God. Hear his words as he prays to the Father: O' God, let your favor rest on us, hover over us and dwell with us. And give us a firm foundation, root, ground, secure and establish the work of our hands. O' God, we declare: Yes, please establish our work that it not be in vain.

Our trust should be completely in our Heavenly Father to secure and establish our work and make it worthwhile. We should ask God to send us forth that we may accomplish great and mighty things through His Hand. We must cry out to God daily for His smile of favor and blessing upon everything we set our hand to do. The steps of the righteous are ordered by the Lord, therefore, we should pray for the righteousness of God and that our feet be directed by God's will and purpose.

Seek Almighty God daily and allow His Holy Spirit to change your life and establish your work.

Parameters

2012-02-10T07:32:00.000-05:00

The invisible fence is an incredible invention for the homeowner with a dog. No ugly fences to corrupt the beauty of their property, no fences to paint each year or maintain repairs on. It is also great because it allows your pet to see clearly in full view, without obstruction. The invisible fence is frequently used to keep dogs within restricted boundaries, safe and protected.

Typically, the dog wears a collar that sets off an electric charge if the dog crosses the boundary. The collar also sounds warning alarms when the dog gets too close to the perimeter of his restricted area. If the dog should decide to ignore the alarm, then "Sport" gets zapped and runs off yelping, hopefully to learn his lesson.

Well, God has given us boundaries in the Word of God, rules to live by and make our lives better. Boundaries that will keep us safe and provide protection from impending danger. He also gives us the voice of the Holy Spirit as an alarm that sounds off when we get too close to the perimeter of the boundaries set forth in His Word. But sometimes, like "Sport" we ignore the alarms going off and bust through the restricted perimeter only to get zapped for our disobedience. "God chastens those whom He loves." And His Law was invented like the invisible fence to keep us safe and protected.
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Compassion

2012-02-09T05:58:00.001-05:00

In Bible times, Jesus walked among the suffering. He walked among those who needed Him the most: the broken, the wounded, the diseased, the hard-hearted, the sinner, the depressed, the lonely. Christ was all about reaching out in love and showing compassion to a hurting world.

Maybe you are the one who is hurting. Perhaps, it's you. You've landed in a bad relationship or cannot seem to shake the depression that has plaqued your mind. Christ is here for you, as well. He reaches out for you and says, "Come unto me, all ye who are heavy laden....And I will give you rest."

In Matthew 5:44-45, Jesus declared: "But I say unto you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. If you do this, you will be true children of God in heaven."

Choose to walk with Christ today. Let Him heal your brokenness and make you whole.

Heart for Prayer

2012-02-08T06:20:00.000-05:00

The prayers of Christ were passionate prayers. He expressed His concerns, desires and petitions to the Heavenly Father with vehement cries and tears, according to Hebrews 5:7. Scripture reveals that Christ and His Father were in constant and loving fellowship. They maintained a unified bond. And Christ reminded His followers, "I am in the Father, and the Father in me." (John 14:10-11)

When Christ walked here in the flesh, there were constant distractions. People and things tried desperately to detour Christ from His purpose and destiny. Often, he was tugged on in ten different directions, but He allowed nothing to interfere with His intimate relationship with the Father. And often Christ found a solitary place to pray alone.

You and I desperately need intimate time with the Father, alone. We need to aggressively attack all hinderances to keep our time with God sacred. For it is in this time that you and I are refreshed in mind and Spirit, and are refueled with a fresh anointing from the Father.

Your Weapon

2012-02-07T05:16:00.000-05:00

Your enemy is driven back by the Word of God spoken from your mouth. This is your weapon- a powerful, 2 edged sword able to pierce dividing asunder of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Speak God's Word and hide it in your heart daily. It will serve to combat the enemy.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 declares, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled."

The Word will drive back the sinful nature. The Word will purify your thoughts and keep your actions holy. The Word is your greatest weapon against the enemy. So drive back your enemy with the Word of God read and spoken daily over your life!

A Sure Foundation

2012-02-06T05:08:00.000-05:00

"Therefore, thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion...a sure foundation." (Isaiah 28:16) Jesus Christ became our sure foundation the very moment we surrendered to Him and accepted Him as Lord. So at times when our walk seems unstable and unsecure, and in times when we are uncertain of tomorrow...we can be certain that God divinely and Sovereignly guides, provides and protects the steps we take in life. "The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord." Therefore, even when we feel our vision is blurred and our decision-making is unclear - God is our sure Foundation.

Daily believers surrender their day to God in humble adoration. And daily they walk making decisions that govern their future. But they are able to walk in the wisdom of God because they have committed all things to His Trust. So no matter how life seems around you with earthquakes, tornados and hailstones...for the simple reason that you have made Christ the Lord of all, the foundation of your life will remain steadfast and sure.

Your Confession

2012-02-05T05:18:00.000-05:00

Hebrews 4:14 teach us to hold fast the confession of our faith. "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess." And this teaching is repeated in Hebrews 10:23, "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."

Now, the only reason you and I would need to hold tightly onto something is that if someone were trying to take something away from us. Satan is your enemy and will try to steal your confession of faith by putting wrong thoughts in your mind. Your enemy's hope is that these wrong thoughts will eventually produce wrong words, words of doubt and discouragement that will sabotage your confession of faith.

So when you feel discouraged, ask yourself if you are only being discouraged by evil thoughts the enemy is taunting your mind in an ugly attempt to destroy your confession that is spoken in great faith. Remember the power of life and death is in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21).

Baggage

2012-02-04T05:52:00.000-05:00

Every healthy marriage has taken the time to deal with the issues that create havok between two people who join their lives together. First of all, you must face the music and deal with your baggage. Every relationship is entered into with baggage that we drag along behind us, refusing to part with.

We carry old, dusty bags filled with hurts and wounds from past relationships that can hinder and squelch a new, healthy marriage. So deal with the past and get over it. Do not hold your marriage partner responsible for someone else's mistakes. Remember it is bitter roots that defile. Hebrews 12:14-15 speaks of bitter roots that can spring up in our relationships if we refuse to deal with the hurts of our past.

Learn to forgive and forget. You have failed many times and so has your mate. They are not perfect. They often say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing, and respond the wrong way. And sometimes, we just botch things up in our selfishness and pride, we react in the wrong manner and fail to say the right thing. Maintain the love of Christ with the spirit of forgiveness. When we hold grudges, everyone gets hurt and no one benefits. Therefore, we must strive to forgive and forget the bad, ugly, the wrong and think on the good report, the positive, the lovely, the best of times. Let us learn to cherish and respect our marriage with honor and trustworthiness.

What Hinders Your Prayers

2012-02-03T05:31:00.000-05:00

James 1:22-23 states, "Get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the Word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves; Do what it says." We must acknowledge the impact of sin on our lives. When willful sin exists in your life, therefore you are not obeying the Word, then God will not hear your prayers. And you will not be a recipient of God's favor and blessing.

Isaiah 59:2 proclaims, "Your inquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hid his face from you, so he will not hear." God is not obligated to hear your prayers when sin is prevalent in your life. The Psalmist shouted, "If I regard inquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." (Psalm 66:18) If we truly desire to remove the obstacles that hinder our prayers, we must repent and become obedient to the Word of God. Then, God's ears will be open to our prayers and the flow of blessings on our life and answers to life's difficulties will be released.

A Polished Shaft

2012-02-02T06:16:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 49:2, "And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft." It is God alone that forms us by the washing of His holy Word and the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. The more we commit ourselves in total surrender, the more He polishes us. And the more we become like Him. O' to have a heart like Jesus!

Let our prayer today be, "Lord make me like a polished shaft" where others can see their true reflection and understand how desperately they need You to lead their lives." Without Him, you are empty and only full of yourself. But in Him and through Him, you possess of all of Life.

Your Connection

2012-02-01T06:59:00.000-05:00

I have a lamp in the front room of my house that shines brightly when turned on. It puts off a warm glow and illuminates the room and hallway. One evening, as I passed by I noticed my lamp was not shining. The warm glow was not present in the house. So I investigated further. When I examined the lamp I noticed that the lamp had been unplugged from the electric outlet. It was not receiving the source of electric necessary to cause the light to shine.

Matthew 5:16 records, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven." Sometimes our lamps are not shining because we have become disconnected from our power source. Spiritually, we are not plugged in. We have not maintained our relationship with Christ and allowed our spiritual lamps to shine brightly. We have become disconnected from his power by our neglect to read His Word and pray daily.

Do you remember the children's song: This little light of mine? Well, I clearly remember singing that song with all the hand motions, holding my finger up high with a smile on my face and with determination that I was going to let my little light shine. If you have lost your determination somewhere to hold your light high or stand strong in God with determination that the world will not push you back where you were, then maybe you are not plugged in. Investigate the situation and get plugged back into the power source that makes you strong enough to hold your light high and illuminate your sphere of influence.

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Purchased

2012-01-31T08:03:00.000-05:00

It is imperative that every Christian realize that you have been redeemed. God bought you back, purchased your salvation. Your enemy no longer has control and dominion over your life.
The debt you once owed has been paid in full and you are redeemed. Your freedom has been purchased by the blood of the spotless Lamb of God.

1 Corinthians 6:20 declares, "For you have been bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." It's time that we walk in a new way, different then before. We must choose daily to bring God glory with the way we conduct ourselves through all of life. We must pay attention to the details of what our senses soak up and make wise choices that lead to holiness and purity of heart. "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so" by how they walk through life.

Renew

2012-01-30T07:22:00.000-05:00

We all have numerous reasons for the need of a fresh start or a renewed focus. Some are in relationships that are suffering and need a new beginning. Others are financially depleted and would like another chance. Perhaps you are washed out spiritually, busted by failure, disappointment, and sin. You have realized your life is missing joy and vibrancy that is only found in a personal relationship with Christ.

Whatever your reason for a change, Christ is your answer. He is the only one who truly understands your pain and frustration. He is the only one who is able to repair your current situation. The bible states that God knows your heart, thoughts, motives, and even knows what you have need of before you ask. You will only find true peace in a right relationship with God.

Matthew 6:33 states, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Today, I encourage you to purpose to reach for a renewed focus and change. Maybe you have made some big mistakes in the past. And perhaps your priorities and management of things have fallen short. But today is a new day and God has given you a new opportunity to grasp change for the better.

Hope

2012-01-29T06:11:00.000-05:00

The biggest tool of the enemy is discouragement. Your enemy knows if he can rob you of your hope, he has you down and ready to be pinned. You may wonder what your answer is. It is simple: When discouraged, get yourself into the Word. Read more. Romans 15:4, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope."

There is pain in our personal lives. Physical problems affect our bodies, emotional turmoil comes out of no where without alert. We live in a day and in a time where discouragement is everywhere. We face spiritual struggles when we do not spend enough time with God in His Word.

Bible reading increases hope. When you open the Scripture daily to receive the blessings of the Word, you become strengthened in the inner man. The more you feed your spiritual man the Word, the more discouragement flees. If you are discouraged today, step into the Book of Psalms and be encouraged with the praise from the Word.

Understanding Your Assignment

2012-01-28T06:26:00.000-05:00

It is important to understand your God-given assignment and purpose. You have nothing to do with the choosing of the gifts God has graciously placed in you. Neither do you choose what destiny God designed for you. However, sometimes the choices you make in life can change or determine your path. Knowing what God desires of your future enables and empowers you to walk in fulfillment of His assignment.

According to 1 Corinthians 12:11, God bestows gifts according to His will, and it is our choice to receive those gifts and allow God to use us by adding more gifts, as He wills. "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him." (1 Corinthians 12:18)

Every believer should pray and ask God for clarity of vision and purpose. Speak to God often and allow God to speak to you. Cultivate a heart for hearing the voice of God in your daily life and understanding His purpose with your giftings. Each believer is important to the body of Christ; everyone is signifigant. And God uses each one of us in our own calling to bring unity, encouragement and edification to the body of Christ - so that when He comes, His church (Bride) will be spotless and ready.

Extremely Alive

2012-01-27T06:12:00.000-05:00

In Ephesians 2:1-10, Paul takes us on a fabulous journey from extreme death to extreme life. Paul also uses extreme language to describe what happens to us in salvation. The unsaved are dead, radically dead in their trespasses and sins. The saved are resurrected, extremely made alive with Christ according to verse 5.

Those without Christ are so extremely dead, they usually do not respond to the promptings of God. They zone out like a corpse, lifeless and dead to action around them. But those who are alive in Christ now walk in the newness of life according to Romans 6:4.

When you are dead spiritually, Christ extends his arm of longsuffering and compassion to you offering you free grace. You have given Him absolutely no reason to extend His grace to you. Grace is undeserved and unmerited favor. It is freely given by a gracious and merciful God. He wants you to be alive again and He offers you the gift of eternal life. Be extremely alive in Christ. Invite Him into your heart today.

Marriage

2012-01-26T06:26:00.000-05:00

Use Ephesians 5:33 as your guide for the way you begin to speak toward your husband. Practice kind and uplifting words to the man you chose to spend your life with and give him honor. Scripture teaches, respect and honor your husband. Notice him, regard him, honor him, prefer him, venerate him, and esteem him. Prefer him over yourself, praise him, love him, and admire him exceedingly.

With practices like this, your marriage will blossom and you will soon have a husband that stands tall and walks in reciprocal ways toward you, his loving wife. As you strive to treat him as God desires that you treat him, and bathe him in prayer to the Heavenly Father, the cycle of old will change and he will begin to treat you with the honor and respect you also deserve.

Through these kind practices of words and attitudes your relationship will flourish and become what brings you great fulfillment and peace.

Genuine Change

2012-01-25T05:54:00.000-05:00

In Mark 7:1-8, we see a group of people that Jesus spends a great deal of time talking about-the Pharisees. But who are they and what were they like? The Pharisees modeled the righteous lifestyle. They held fast to traditional values. They focused on the letter of the law, but missed the whole idea of the spirit of the law. They were decked in external religiosity, but were judgemental in their attitudes toward others.

Jesus called them whitewashed tombs in Matthew 23:27. He told them that they appear beautiful on the outside, but inside were full of uncleanness and decomposition. If you are familiar with whitewash it is a temporary wash that gives concrete or rock a bright, white glaze. But the brightness is only temporary like watered down paint. Oh, it makes the exterior look good for awhile and it can cover up alot of blemishes. But after a few rainstorms, the whitewash begins to fade, it loses it luster, and will need a new fix.

Perhaps, you and I have been more like the Pharisees than we care to admit. Maybe, we have sought for quick fixes and temporary solutions, instead of allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. I want permanent change. And the blood of Jesus is able to give you and I the change that is the real thing, permanent, and better than Sharpie! It is a real cleansing and it will not wear away.

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Reflection of Your Heart

2012-01-24T06:06:00.000-05:00

In the New Testament, Paul refers to a continual change being wrought in us with ever-increasing glory. 2 Corinthians 3:18 shouts, "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." As the Spirit of God works within us, we progress from one stage of glory to the next.

I want God to move me from glory to glory. I want His change in me to be constant and continual. I want progress to take place in my heart as God moves me into deeper understanding and an awe of the realm of His Divine Spirit.

God desires that we press toward change of heart into the image of Christ reflected in our attitudes, mannerisms, reactions, responses, conversation, and activities of daily life. We are the hand of God extended to the world. So our question is: Does the world see Jesus in us?

A Shift in Thought

2012-01-23T06:38:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, our thought must shift from conjuring up excuses to avoid our calling to thinking of creative and impacting ways to fulfill our calling in Christ Jesus. When Jeremiah was young, he tried making some excuses to God. He told God that he was too young to be a prophet, but Scripture shows us that God rejected Jeremiahs' excuses.

Recording in the 1st chapter the Lord replied, "Don't say that, for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don't be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and take care of you." (Jeremiah 1:7-8 NLT)

Accept the commission to DO what God has called you to do. The only way to find true purpose and significance is to live according to the purpose and will of God for your life. "Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live!" (Mark 8:35 LB)

Etched on the Heart

2012-01-22T06:01:00.000-05:00

Scripture teaches that we should be careful to write the Word, God's love and faithfulness on the tablets of our heart. His instructions are that we pay attention to and not forget God's Law. Proverbs 3:1-3 declares, "My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart." The result of holding the Word tightly will be long life and prosperity. That is what the world is in search of.

So speak the Word to those around you who are lost and need direction. The void they feel can only be found in a true relationship with God. His Word is the map to give them the direction they seek.

God's Word is forever settled in heaven according to Psalm 119:89 and we establish it each time we speak it. Therefore, speaking God's Word holds great power in the life of the christian. It is also extremely powerful to those who are lost. "It is the power of God unto salvation".

In Psalm 45:1, David said that his tongue was as the pen of a ready writer. Speaking the Word establishes the Word

in the inner man and carves it on our hearts.

Give Your Family to God

2012-01-21T06:38:00.000-05:00

In Joshua 24:15, this man of God declared that his house would serve the Lord. Proverbs 24:3-4 shouts, "Tho skillful and godly wisdom is my house built, and by understanding it is established, and by knowledge shall its chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches."

We must daily commit our families to the Lord. We must pray and intercede for our families. We must commit our families to God's charge, entrusting them to His protection and provision. We must trust God to set-apart our families in complete consecration and make them part of His Divine inheritance.

This trust can be maintained as we discipline ourselves daily to pray and read the Word. As we walk holy before God, we can trust that God will give us our families. Scripture teaches, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he shall not depart from it." That is a promise we can hold onto.

Compromise

2012-01-20T06:28:00.000-05:00

Exodus 34:12, "I am very, very careful never to compromise with the people around me and I do not follow their evil ways." The true definition of the word compromise is two strictly opposing views blending together. To me, this sounds like if one view is black and the other view is white, the result of compromise would be gray.

When compromise requires bending the teachings of God's Word, then we are actually opposing, twisting and rejecting the plan and purpose of God. When man decides that he alone is big enough to compromise on principles established by God's Word, he takes matters into his own hands as he turns from what he know to be true and right. Psalm 1:1 and Psalm 119:2-3 are clear that if we desire the prosperity and righteousness of God, we walk in the precepts of His Law and do not sit where the scornful gather, nor stand in the same path that sinners walk.

Let us consider the detriment of any gray areas we may entertain. Let us understand that compromise is not a good practice when concerning the precepts of God's Law.

Thankful for Family and Friends

2012-01-19T05:58:00.000-05:00

"And do not forget to do good and to share with others for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." (Hebrews 13:16)

God has Sovereignly watched over you and guarded your life. He has given you favor and He has protected you from harm and danger. He knows your downsitting and your uprising. We should therefore, be thankful for the goodness of God. And because of that gratitude of heart, we should in turn do good and generously bless others that are strategically placed in our lives. On every turn and every crossroad, God has a plan for you. He has opened doors for you and He has situated people in your life 'on purpose'. Jeremiah 29:11 - His plan is not to harm you, but to give you hope and a future.

God has generously given you wonderful friends and a family that loves you. But even if you never had a father or a mother, were orphaned, or homeless, you certainly have a heavenly Father to which you can cry out in times of need and comfort. God said He would be your parent. He promises He will be there for you (Jehovah-shammah) and He desires that you communicate with Him everyday in prayer.

Often, we take our blessings for granted and complain about our present circumstances. If things do not go our way we talk way too much about how they should be different. But if we look around we will always find someone that is hurting and less fortunate. We must strive to have a willingness to share our blessings and our benefits with others, reflecting a daily thankfulness in our heart toward God for all He has given.

Fighting Your Enemy

2012-01-18T06:24:00.000-05:00

When David was just a young boy he taught us how to handle our enemy. Scripture records in 1Samuel 17:45, the bold words of David and how he spoke to his enemy. "You come to me with a sword and a spear and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Whom you have defied." Here we find that David reminds his enemy Who God is.

Then, in vs. 46, we find strong words from David to his enemy, "This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand...and I will give the corpses to the birds..." David although young in maturity, frail in physical frame, stood tall against his enemy and spoke firmly and directly to his enemy. In a nutshell, David told his enemy who would win the fight before it ever began.

You and I, although sometimes immature and frail in emotional and physical frame, should stand firm in Spirit against the schemes of our enemy and tell him directly who is going to win the fight.

The Will of God

2012-01-17T06:35:00.000-05:00

1 Thessalonians 5:18, "In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Think on this Scripture and ponder it, It is God's will that you give thanks. God has given us good health and provision in difficult times. God has given us answers to prayer. God has given us daily needs, a job, a car, a home, a family. He has given us so very much to be thankful for and He instructs us in His Word that we are to "give thanks in everything for this is the will of God.". And when we act in obedience to Scripture, the result is blessing upon blessing, more blessing, abundant blessing.

God is so good and has blessed us beyond measure. And when we give thanks we operate in the very will of God. As a result of that obedience, God pulls back the windows of heaven and pours out more blessings. So the fact is when we are thankful we act in obedience and we are doubly blessed; Blessed, and then, blessed again.

We can place our trust in the Lord. He is a God of great benefits toward His people. "For the Lord God is a sun and shield, the Lord bestows favor and honor, no good thing does he withhold, from those whose walk is blameless. O' Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you." (Psalm 84:11-12).

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Build Your Faith

2012-01-16T06:23:00.000-05:00

Romans 10:17 declares, "So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Everyone has faith, but how do you build more faith? By hearing the Word. How do we hear the Word? By reading it, listening to pastoral messages, and pondering the pages of Holy Scripture.
When you begin to read the Word, you will begin to hear God's voice and see His work in the circumstances of your life. You will also begin to pray according to the will of God because your spirit will be "in tune" with the will of God for your life.

As you read and hear the Word, you will begin to build victorious faith in Gods' ability to do. Then, in your life's troubles - you will have the faith to believe God for the impossible, the miraculous. You will also remain strong in trials and testings when you remain in the Word because the Word will give you power to be an overcomer.

Obeying God

2012-01-15T06:03:00.000-05:00

In the beginning, in Genesis 8:22, Scripture discusses the principle of sowing and reaping. The Word teaches that if you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land. Therefore, you and I need to develop a lifestyle of hearing and obeying the voice of God.

If we truly want to see prosperity in our lives, we must understand the principle of sowing and reaping, hearing and obeying.

Abraham was a great example of a godly man who heard the voice of God and obeyed. He believed God, listened to God, and followed God's instructions. As we listen and hear God speak to us, we are led by God in all of our daily decisions. And our way will be prosperous and successful, if our hearts are turned toward God.

This is God's Promise. You can count on biblical principles because they work. If you honor God with your tithe, your finances will be blessed and stretched. If you sow good seed, you will reap a blessed harvest. God's principles hold true and never fail.

Excellent is the Name of the Lord

2012-01-14T06:30:00.000-05:00

The Psalmist uses numerous descriptive terms in the course of his writings to depict the glory of God. In Psalm 8:1, Scripture declares: "O Lord, our Lord, How Excellent is Your Name in all the earth; You who set Your Glory Above the Heavens!"

When you realize in your life Who God is then you will understand His Excellence. No one can explain His Glory to you, but you must experience His Glory and His Excellence for yourself. Once you see His splendor then you are able to comprehend how incredible and excellent God truly is.

If you pray and ask God to place you in a right relationship with Him, then you can ask God about things that trouble you and situations you would like to see change. Once you walk in that covenant relationship with Him, you can see His Excellence at work in your personal life because no problem is too large for Him to solve. His Glory is Far Above the Heavens and is so vast, no one can grasp its depth, its height, its length and its width. But to know the love of God personally is to experience the excellence of God.

Show Me Your Glory

2012-01-13T06:47:00.000-05:00

We are living in a time of Divine Acceleration and Christ is almost ready to pull back the eastern sky and return for a people who have seen the Glory of God. America is in crisis and we need a fresh move of the power and glory of God.

The prophet said, "In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, your sons and your daughters shall prophesy..." This Scripture also talks about the Glory and the Presence of God being revealed. I want to stand in the Glory of God, therefore I pray as Moses, "O' Lord, Show me your Glory."

And when the Glory of God is revealed people are changed, people are healed, people are delivered from bondages and addictions that have held them in captivity, but it is only through the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is through the blood of Jesus and the power of our testimony that victory is won in our lives. The bible records, "there is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved." It is God and God alone. It all goes back to what Christ accomplished on the cross for us. And I want to see His Glory.

Abiding in the Shadow of the Almighty

2012-01-12T06:48:00.000-05:00

Psalm 91:1 records, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Here Scripture speaks of each of us having a secret place to dwell within. To dwell means to reside, to wait, to sustain. Matthew 6:6 continues to confirm the power of the secret place of prayer in our lives, "when you pray, go into your room and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly."

Do you realize that your prayer encounters with God can change circumstances and impact nations? Do you understand that your prayers can pivot history, pour out healing, rain down revival, and change hearts?

The life of Jesus was a life of prayer. We should follow His example and hear the Scripture of Matt 6:6. So do not fail to go into your secret place and pray with childlike faith and simplicity because God still answers prayers.

Your Thought Grip

2012-01-11T07:52:00.000-05:00

Scripture suggests that mans rebellion originates basically in his thoughts. Before rebellion and sin ever takes place it is usually conjured or schemed up in a man's thought process. No one backslides or falls away from God's grace overnight. No one who walks in close fellowship with Christ and understands the mighty and powerful works of the Spirit in ones' life steps out of bounds in the flash of a moment. Sin and rebellious thoughts that are against God's plan, purpose, and precepts are pondered long before the act of sin begins.

In 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, the Word teaches that christians possess the power to live overcoming lives. Here, we are taught that we must refuse to live according to the carnal nature of man (the flesh) and that we must pull down the strongholds of the enemy. We are also taught that if we want to live holy and pure before God, we must, "cast down imaginations" or evil thoughts. And cast down, "every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God" or tends to push strongly against us and what we have learned to be true (according to God's Word).

The ultimate authority for the christian is the Word of God. We must strive to live by its' precepts. And through the power of God's spirit which lives within us, we can overcome.

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Serving God

2012-01-10T06:45:00.000-05:00

Many today struggle with how to live for God in this generation. And often people question how to go about pleasing God and living an upright life. I have heard people say that it is just hard to live right. But actually when we completely surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, He equips us to serve Him and frees us from the bondages and captivities that once held us in prison.

Serving God and following his ways begins with a decision. Scripture concisely records, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, For this is man's all. For God will bring every good work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil." (Eccles. 12:13-14)

Simply spoken the Word says- here is your answer, this sums it all up. Here is the whole duty of man: 1) Fear God and 2) Keep His commandments. If we pursue God and press with all our hearts to please God with the way we handle our decisions and actions in life, then we will maintain a godly fear of Almighty God which will kindle a burning and compelling desire to obey the commands of God laid out in Scripture.

One day our works will be judged, including every secret thing, both good and evil. And one day God will step out on a cloud and call His remnant of people home. The remnant will be a people who fear God and keep His commands.

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It's All About ME!!

2012-01-09T06:10:00.000-05:00

We often think we are so great. We are Mr. Wonderful. We are Ms. Dynamic. No one compares to us. We have our heads stuck in the clouds in a dreamworld like Neverland that really does not even exist. Scripture warns us of thinking too highly of ourselves, bragging, and boasting.

In Proverbs 27:1-2, the wisdom of Solomon declares, "Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth. Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger and not your own lips."

Although it is important that we make plans and project goals for our future, we must be careful not to brag and boast about what we are doing tomorrow. Because Scripture teaches we do not know what changes a day may bring forth. We do not know if we will live tomorrow, we do not really know what our future holds.

However, if we know the God of our future and if we keep our hand tightly in His hand, we can be assured of a blessed and favorable future with the smile of God on our lives. So as we live to please God and strive to be humble and not carry attitudes of self-exaltation, God Himself will exalt us in due time. If there is any bragging to be done, let someone else brag on you. If there is a compliment left to be spoken, let someone else speak it. Then, we will find favor in the sight of the Lord and resemble His attributes.

Raising Your Children for Blessings

2012-01-08T07:12:00.000-05:00

Deut 6:1-2 declares, "These are the commands the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children, and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping the commands that I give you, so that you may enjoy long life." Parents need to verbally teach their children about God and spend time with their family speaking of spiritual matters.

Time is required for a group of people to actually become a family. Today, many are families in name only and spend absolutely no time together. They think that they are family because they bore children and they share the same bloodline, when becoming a family is so much more. Healthy families make a point to spend time together. And strong families consistently reflect three basic traits: trust in God, teaching/training, and togetherness.

Raise your children in the commands of the Lord that you may enjoy long life and happiness.

GPS - Get Direction

2012-01-07T07:03:00.000-05:00

There are gates and doors that God himself pushes open for you attempting to lead you in the right direction. Revelation 3:6-8, "He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches...these things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth and no man openeth; I know thy works; I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it..." There is nothing more rewarding, more beautiful, more awakening, then a gate or a door that God opens for you!

Scripture teaches there are evil gates and there are heavenly gates. There are spiritual gates and there are unspiritual gates. The Word speaks of shutting the gate, standing at the gate, and entering the gate. It is imperative that you have a clear understanding if your opportunity is a gate that has been opened by God.

Read the Word often and grow in faith and knowledge. Pray much and ask God to give you direction for your life. Then, boldly walk through the gates God opens for you!
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This is the Day

2012-01-06T08:23:00.000-05:00

The Psalmist in Psalm 118:24 declares: "This is the day that the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it". Often, it has been said that happiness is a choice. We actually choose the path of our day every morning when our feet hit the floor. The Psalmist exhorts: "Let us." In other words, choose to rejoice today and be happy.

We can dwell on the negatives of our daily life and live in gloom and despair. We can harbor thoughts of how bad life has treated us and all the wrongs that have been done to us, OR we can let life take a different turn by our mindset. The mind is a powerful tool God created for you to use in your favor. He created you amazing and incredible to choose happiness and peace in your daily walk. So...."let us" rejoice today and be glad.

"Whatsoever things are pure, lovely and of good report....think on these things," Scripture encourages. Choose a happy life.

Honoring Father & Mother

2012-01-05T05:21:00.000-05:00

Scripture is clear that blessings and love life are presented to those who obey and honor their parents. We should walk in obedience to those placed in authority over us whether it be parents, headship at home, leadership at church, or governmental authorities.

Mom and Dad hold a position of authority that is God-given. And God promises to bless those abundantly who walk in submission to that authority. But a warning also resounds to those who choose to disobey, "whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in deep darkness" (Proverbs 20:20).

Allow Gods' Blessings to flow on your life as you walk a life of obedience.

Wanna Be a New Person?

2012-01-04T06:36:00.000-05:00

God invites you and I to be a new person. Scripture records, "...Seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds, And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created Him."

God offers us a change from the old and mundane way of life. He extends fresh life to us and invites us to walk a new way. He teaches in His Word that when we approach God and ask for forgiveness and our walk is now "in Christ". And Scripture declares, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, and behold all things are become new."

When we humbly come to God He gives us a new heart. He makes us into a new person. The old person dies spiritually and the new person unfolds in Christ. What Christ offers us is abundant life. A new life that is free from old habits and bondages that once held us in captivity. He makes us into a new person with new desires and aspirations for good things.

The Cross

2012-01-03T05:37:00.000-05:00

It was the cross that made the difference. And the ground is level there inviting all mankind to kneel and accept Christ.

Galatians 6:14, "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." Everything in your life hinges on your personal relationship with the Christ of the Cross. It is but the Cross that makes the difference between light and darkness, good and evil, success and failure. And it is Christ through the power of the Cross that has changed my position.

I was an enemy, but He made me a friend (Ephes 2:14-16). I was in debt, but Christ settled my account (Ephes 1:7). I was a slave & in bondage to the world of sin, but He made me free (John 8:34-36). I was an outsider, foreigner, and stranger, but he made me a fellowcitizen (Ephes 2:19).

Because of the Cross, you were redeemed and bought with a price- the precious blood of Jesus (1Peter 1:18-20). Now, you only have to confess and repent of your sins and accept Christ as your Savior. He takes you as you are and makes all things new.

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Change

2012-01-02T08:21:00.000-05:00

In Ephesians 4:22-24, "Put off your former language from the old man which is corrupt and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." When you make a commitment to Christ everything should change: your language, your desires, your attitudes, where you go and what you do. You should no longer walk in the corruption of the world, but you should now walk in the newness of God.

God is able to empower you in a "life change". Once a sinner, but you are now saved by grace. Once filthy and corrupt in your language, but now redeemed and sanctified in your speech by the power of the Spirit. Because we now walk with Christ, we have a new desire to obey the Word and please God. All of our actions are now different because we have "put off" the old man with his corrupt deeds, and we have "put on" the new man who follows and presses hard after God. Paul said, I must spiritually die to myself daily, crucifying the old sin nature that seeks to control me. I must daily pray and pursue godliness in my life and walk in newness.

God said He would set you free from the bondage of sin and bring about positive change in your life. But there is a "putting off" and there is a "putting on". The choice is your choice.

Healing

2012-01-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

The name of God is Jehovah Raphe, the Lord who heals. God still desires to bring healing and deliverance to all who will but ask Him for this blessing. 1 Peter declares, He bore our sins in his own body on a tree, that we being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

The pain and agony that Christ suffered on the cross for you and me, and the stripes that he bore on his own body were for our healing. So if you are sick, ask God who is Jehovah Raphe to show you His Glory but miraculously healing your sick body. Then, go and testify of the greatness of God and how He has blessed you with good health.

What is Growing in Your Life?

2011-12-31T06:01:00.002-05:00

Isaiah 61:11 - "For as the earth brings forth its bud,
As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth,
So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations."

God desires for you and I to grow righteousness and praise in the fields of our lives. These characteristics are cultivated by an intense passion to be more like Jesus. Face it. We do what we want to do. We pray and read as often as we want to do it. We seem to go where we want to go and accomplish what we want to accomplish.

Perhaps, we should carefully maintain our fields as passionately as we plow, plant and harvest on our farmville farms!? Maybe we should be mindful of watering our spiritual crops that we might sprout righteousness and praise before the nations.

If only we will pursue God, He has promised to cause a great harvest to spring forth before all nations. So the question is, "What seeds are you watering in your life?"

Indecisive

2011-12-30T07:15:00.000-05:00

In Christianity, often people decide to be Fence Straddlers, wavering between serving God or not. They do not simply jump the fence of God's boundaries and run off, but they sit on God's fence of protection and provision with their feet dangling in the world. And they try to serve 2 masters.

In 1Kings 18:21, Elijah approached the people and said, "How long will you hesitate between 2 opinions? If Yahweh is God then follow him, and if Baal is god then follow him." The people of this day were worshipping everything other than the true and living God. Well our priorities are also misplaced. And God calls you and I to a decision today. He desires that we listen to His voice and that we follow Him with all our heart, not just a part of it.

When we place other people, activities, and material things in front of our passion for God then we have actually made them our god. Remember the commandment of the Lord, "You Shall Have No Other gods Before Me." God wants us to be 'all in', totally sold-out to His plan for our lives. http://www.gailprice.ning.com/

The Rain of the Spirit

2011-12-29T07:14:00.000-05:00

(Joel 2:23-25) God promises you the former and the latter rain. Rain so abundant that all life flourishes. Blessing, favor, and nourishment; as well as the promise of restoration for what the enemy has stolen. Rain refreshes dry grass, parched land, and drying crop. Rain hydrates a land effected by famine and drought. Rain renews and replenishes all nutrients that have already been lost. It brings about a revitalization to cracked and hardened soil.

Christ the Water of Life offers Himself to you today. He promises you the rain of the Holy Spirit to bring rekindling of a dried heart or an undernourished spirit. God speaks to you today that He will take you in "as is" condition from where you are in a desert to a spring of living water that revitalizes your entire being.

God knocks. He offers you this rain. Will you open the door?

Success

2011-12-28T06:33:00.001-05:00

Philippians 3:14 declares, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Everyone likes winning and nobody enjoys losing. When working in competitive games, you see the gutwrenching distress of losing and the hyper-extremism of winning. Spiritually, we are all in a race with one goal in mind....to win.

No one enjoys playing games that are just impossible to win. But the fact is it is not that hard to win in the spiritual race. Jesus has given us everything we need in order to win. He has provided the training and the equipment. He has empowered us with the Holy Spirit (like the extra life given to Nintendo's Mario, yet better). He has promised to undergird us and strengthen us. He has declared blessing and provision upon us with His Sovereignty.

He has agreed to give us wisdom and answers to lifes' problems only if we will ask. He has empowered us to win!

Choose today to serve God and follow after Him. Make a decision to lead your family in the right direction and stop making bad choices. "BE" the superhero God has called you to be and pursue the "win" of this spiritual race. It is within your reach if you desire it!

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Convicted

2011-12-27T06:15:00.000-05:00

The word "convicted" is one that makes you think of a man standing before a judge in the courtroom, the gavel goes down, and the judge sentences the man to the crime for which he has been accused. In John 16:8, Jesus said when the Holy Spirit comes..."He will convict the world of sin." When the judge makes his ruling and the sentence resounds through the courtroom, the verdict is final. Reality then sets in and the man understands the seriousness of his crime.

Jesus has charged us to live above sin. He paid the sentence for you through the blood of the cross, so you could walk away a free man, without penalty. John chapter 16 teaches that mankind is running around without rules and restrictions, racking up penalties for crimes with no sense of remorse for how we are living spiritually. But in the quiet hour, the Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin. When we lay our head down on our pillow at night, the Holy Spirit will whisper in our ear. When we step into the confines of the Church, the Holy Spirit will arrest our heart. When we pause at the red light, the Holy Spirit will convince us and reveal to us that there is sin in our lives. We will know that the gavel is going down and the sentence will resound if we do not pray and ask God for forgiveness.

Forgiveness is ours for the asking. The price has already been paid by the perfect Lamb, Jesus. We need only repent, turn from our current direction in life and follow hard after Christ, "Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by Him." Your freedom from the sentence cannot be settled any other way. And today is the day of salvation, now is the accepted time. You have no guarantees that you can settle your account tomorrow. Tomorrow may never arrive.

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How to Pray

2011-12-26T06:08:00.000-05:00

Sometimes we are beaten down by this present world and we have allowed circumstances to discourage us to where we do not know how to pray. Our humanity overtakes us and we feel overwhelmed by a series of events that have taken place in our lives. It is in these times that Jesus teaches, it is He and also the Holy Spirit who prays for us. Jesus takes our case directly before the throne of God. So when you feel like you do not have the words to say to God, remember Jesus is already interceding in your behalf. Jesus stands as our advocate with the Father.

Also, before Jesus left the earth He gave us a promise. He said I am going away, but I am sending you another Comforter, the Holy Ghost and He will guide you in all truth. John 14:16 declares, "I will pray the Father and He will give you another comforter, that He may abide with you forever." And Scripture teaches, when you do not know how to pray as you ought, the Holy Spirit makes intercession for you with groanings that cannot be uttered and He prays for you according to the will of God for your life (Romans 8:26-27).

There are times when our vision is cloudy concerning the will of God for our lives. But the Holy Spirit who abides in every Christian always prays for you according to the will of God the Father. And the more time we spend in the Word and the more time we spend in prayer cultivating our spiritual relationship, the more certain we will be that the things we ask God for are according to his Divine and perfect Will. The Bible says, we have not because we ask not. So start asking and watch God start interceding in even the small circumstances of your daily life. He desires to bless you and accomplish a mighty work in your family.

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Blessings

2011-12-25T05:54:00.000-05:00

Ephesians 1:3 declares, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing." When hard times come into your life, you lose your job, you get behind on your electric bill, and the pantry empties out, you must turn in faith to Christ as your Saviour. He is your provider. And although God wants to prosper your life in numerous ways and bless you abundantly where you cannot even fathom, He is more concerned with where you stand spiritually.

God desires that you prosper spiritually. He desires that you pull yourself up close to Him and be eager to learn His Divine principles. He wants our soul to prosper so we will be ready for eternity. Being a christian is full of benefits and beautiful blessings as we are able to stand on the promises God gives to the faithful.

I do not know what I would do without God, I am nothing apart from Him. But with Him and through Him, I know I can rejoice in specific blessings He has promised to pour out.

God is Incredible

2011-12-24T05:54:00.000-05:00

God is so amazing. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He is Alpha and Omega, beginning and ending, the A and the Z. He teaches that we are adopted as sons and heirs of God, joint heirs with Jesus and we have a heritage. So no matter how much money you have in your bank account, or what your circumstances are right now, you are rich because you have been adopted into the family of God.

He accepted you in "as is" condition and has claimed you as a first born son. The first born son was given an inheritance that no other child was eligible for. Although He accepted you in "as is" condition, He loves you too much to leave you that way and He has an awesome plan for your life. So He transforms you daily through the Word. And He makes you an overcomer by the power of your testimony and by the Blood of Jesus Christ. If you are lost and need direction, ask Christ to change your heart today. He came that you might have "life".

Perhaps you have been turned around and cannot seem to find your way. God loves you and reaches out to you with direction. "But He commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Your Access

2011-12-23T05:17:00.000-05:00

Many places of employment, hospitals, daycares, and special offices today are secured with a protection system that requires you to identify yourself with an access card or code before entering. This allows the management to know who comes and goes and prevents the intrusion of unwelcome guests.

God has given each of us direct access to the throne of God. We can talk with him whenever we choose. We can cry out to him in times of need, and we can praise him and always know we are heard. We have an open line of communication. There is no card or code to remember, He welcomes our access knowing our identity and recognizing who we are in Christ.

Hebrews 4:16, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." According to Hebrews 10:19, it is actually the blood of Jesus that gives us this free and direct access to the Holy of Holies. We now can bring our petitions, knowing that God hears and answers our prayers. We do not have to go to the priest or root through our wallet for our access card. We simply have to humble our hearts and cry out to God with our needs. Scripture teaches that, "we have not because we ask not."

Get answers to your delimmas. Get forgiveness for your sins. Get direction for your confused path. Get healing for your diseases. Get blessing for your financial distress. Get wisdom for your decisions....Start today..... Use Your Access.

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God's Got Your Back!

2011-12-22T17:39:00.000-05:00

Often, when trouble comes it is easy to grow weary and discouraged. We need to remind ourselves daily through prayer and the Word that God is a Sovereign God and our position in Christ is a high position of authority. With this position comes the incredible protection and provision of God.

Just when we think there is no hope in sight and there seems no way out, God comes through. He has always shown Himself as an ON-TIME God. So when the enemy stirs difficulty or life places hurdles on your path, remember God's definitely Got Your Back!

His eyes move to and fro throughout the whole earth in search of a people whose heart is totally His. Once you repent and accept Christ, you become the apple of God's eye and you are placed in His Faithful care.

Keep your eyes up and remember where your help comes from....it comes from the Lord. He is your strength and refuge (Psalm 46:1)

Practice

2011-12-21T06:46:00.001-05:00

"To everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock...But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand." (Matthew 7:24,26)

Sometimes we have a lot of knowledge, but that does not necessarily make us wise. Wisdom is when we take the knowledge we have learned and put it into practice in our daily lives. There is a big difference between knowledge and wisdom.

There are many people in the world who know about Jesus and his teachings. They have heard about the life of Christ and his ministry. They know the sacrifice He made to save their soul and make them apart of the Kingdom. But its' only head knowledge because they have failed to put their knowledge into practice. Jesus calls them foolish like the man who built his house on the sand and the storm came and destroyed their house.

However, the man who puts biblical knowledge into practice is considered wise. And when the storms of life come, the rains beat down, and the wind blows, that house stands because it is built upon the Rock, Christ Jesus. Put your knowledge into practice. Begin today and be a wise builder.

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God is My Refreshment

2011-12-20T06:32:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 25:4, "For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall." Recently, I visited Florida and continued my daily walk for exercise. Depending on what time of the day I chose to take my walk, I found myself searching for any portion of shade from the trees down the sidewalk. Even the slightest shadow would bring a coolnesss in the parched temperatures.

God has promised that when life gets heated and you become weary from the temperatures that seem to govern your life, you can call out to him for refreshment. He will become your hydration, your cool shade in the midst of the heat. He has promised to be your refuge from the storm and a strength in time of distress. Take time today to call on God, your Savior. He is My Shade from the Heat!

Love

2011-12-19T06:22:00.000-05:00

In 1 John 4:7-8, Paul teaches that we should love each other deeply because the love of the Father is in us. Scripture reminds us that love is an attribute of God and we being children of God should walk in love.

Here, we see an instruction, "let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God; He that loveth not, knoweth not God for God is love."

We can display great characteristics like diligence and faith, but if we do not display the love of God, then we are nothing (1 Corinth. 13).

Trees of Righteousness

2011-12-18T05:06:00.000-05:00

Scripture declares, You are Trees of Righteousness; You are the planting of the Lord!

Isaiah 61:3, "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified." In this passage, the prophet Isaiah calls the redeemed, "trees of righteousness" and teaches us how to achieve that stand, so God might be glorified in YOU.

He tells us that there will be days when you and I must "put on" a garment of praise when our life feels heavy. He continues that we must give beauty and delight in return for someone who is dishing out "ashes". And we must anoint our head with the oil of joy when it appears everyone is in mourning.

There will be times in our life when we must pull ourselves up by the bootstraps regardless of the "happenings" around us. We must know who we are in Christ Jesus, remain in the Word and in prayer, and trust God completely for a change of mindset when everyone else may be negative and down. Paul taught we live in perilous times and the faith of the righteous will be tried and tested. Therefore, consider your daily thoughts and mindset so you might be called "trees of righteousness!"

One Way Trip

2011-12-17T05:48:00.000-05:00

Whenever you log onto a travel website to book a plane ticket, the first question asked is
'round trip or one way'? Once you determine your destination and where you are headed you can clearly respond. In our spiritual life we must decide where we are going.

Colossians 1:14 teaches that there is only one way to redemption. Redemption actually means to be purchased back; this is what Christ did for us at Calvary. He paid the penalty for our sins and iniquities with his own blood. He alone made it possible for you and I to be forgiven.

We are therefore redeemed when we accept God's plan of forgiveness for us and we surrender our lives to Him. Although we are not worthy of this great love, His redemption makes us worthy to accept the righteousness of God and walk in it.

Jesus Teaches us to Pray

2011-12-16T05:38:00.000-05:00

Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1 (NLT) Sometimes when we come before God, we really do not know what to say. And often, we just do not know how to pray. But in Scripture, Jesus taught us the way to pray. In Luke 1 Jesus said to His disciples, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation."

First, we must acknowledge God for who He is. We must approach Him humbly with a heart that cries for forgiveness and help. Then, if we want to live successfully in this life, we must ask God for provision and guidance to help every step of the way. Life is hard and we need God. The more we realize how desperately we need the help of a loving Savior, the better we will see things work out for us.

Straight or Not

2011-12-15T05:44:00.001-05:00

There is alot of talk these days about being straight or not, but that is not really the kind of straight I want to discuss with you today. I am sharing my heart with you about being straight spiritually and being able to stand upright before God.

Psalm 11:7, "For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright."

I have grown to love the Message bible translation which shows this same verse in Psalm 11:7 like this, "God's business is putting things right, he loves getting the lines straight; Setting us straight. Once we are standing tall, we can look Him straight in the eye."

There is no shame in our conversations with God when our lives are straight. When we have taken proper action to put things in order in our lives, we can look God straight in the eye and we can see Him smile back at us.

The world is fighting for your attention, putting up a fight in an attempt to distract you from everything spiritually that God wants you to pursue. You have an enemy who would like for you to never get things straight and never prioritize your life and align it spiritually. Today, I ask you to join me in firmly assuring the right order of things, so we can stand tall and look God straight in the eye.

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Purity of Heart

2011-12-14T07:54:00.000-05:00

Matthew 5 shouts, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God". We must realize in the christian walk that it is the Word of God that purifies our heart. Paul said, "I die daily". He said, "I have hidden the word in my heart, that I might not sin against God." In his teachings he continues to prompt us to pour the Word of God "IN" and that it is the very "life" of the christian.

When a silversmith heats up the silver in a pot over an open flame to a boil, the dross begins to float to the top. He then is able to skim off the bad particles of the silver and make it pure. And so it is with you and I. The flame is the God breathed Word that purges the impurities in our lives. Without it, we cannot walk holy and pure. But if we stay on the flame, the dross will continue to surface that God the Holy Spirit might change us daily and make us more Christlike.

Humility of Heart

2011-12-13T05:05:00.001-05:00

Humility is a difficult subject for most of us. Our egos are so enlarged that humility cuts against the grain. It is a part of the old nature to want our own way. And it is evident of the old man inside us to respond to criticism or unfair treatment with our fists up and our mouths in motion.

It is natural for us to gratify ourselves at another person's expense, but it is not spiritual. Sometimes, God must bring us to a place of brokenness before we can be molded and shaped like clay in the Hand of the Potter. We must crucify that "old sin nature" daily that strives to exalt himself and choose to BE more like Christ, with a heart of humility and love.

God is Merciful

2011-12-12T05:50:00.000-05:00

Psalm 116:5, "The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion." Here we find the Psalmist sharing the grace of God. This grace is undeserved and unmerited favor. When you and I were in our sins, God gave His only Son to sacrifice His life that you and I might be redeemed. This was compassion in its strongest form, love that is incomprehensible. The love of God.

Christ bought me back and redeemed me. I was headed for destruction. The adversary had swayed me to believe I was right and everyone else was wrong. But God in His great mercy, unveiled my eyes so I was able to see the truth of where I stood in relation to Him. At that moment, I realized how much I needed God and I was desperate for His mercy. I prayed and asked God for deliverance and peace in my life. And I have found God to be merciful, the Only One able to fill the void in your life. Psalm 145:18,"The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth."

God is Constant

2011-12-11T06:16:00.000-05:00

Malachi 3:3, “I the LORD do not change..." Throughout our lives, everything around us is constantly changing. The leaves on the trees change in color and texture. Highways progress and steadily change. People develop, mature, age and change. But God remains constant and changeless. The God who was faithful to you in times past is the same God (unchanged) today.

He never gets tired or impatient with you. He is longsuffering. He never forgets (except on purpose) to put your sins into a sea of forgetfulness, no longer to be remembered. He never grows weary of helping you in times of need. He never forgets to provide constant care and protection for you. He is definite, constant, changeless. Hebrews 13:7, "... Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

God offers you the same forgiveness, the same compassion, the same everlasting love today that He offered you some time back when you refused to accept Him. Jesus stands at the door of your heart, knocking. Won't you let Him in? His love is changeless.

No matter where you have been or what you have done, God & His love for you is changeless. "Again I will build you and thou shalt be built O' virgin of Israel..." God desires to rebuild you and make you over, if you will but give Him an opportunity.

God is I AM

2011-12-10T06:08:00.000-05:00

Revelation 1:8, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." God is the first and the last. He was before everything. He is Jehovah God, who is Sovereign. God is Almighty.

Our puny minds can in no way comprehend God. He formed the universe in 6 days. He made man in the likeness of His image from dust. He can take a withered hand, blind eyes or a broken heart and instantly restore them. He is God Almighty.

We cannot fathom the awesomeness and greatness of God. He can take a life that is black with sin and wash it white as snow. He can take a marriage or a relationship that has completely crumbled and put it back together again. He can take a body diseased beyond hope and heal it. Nothing is too hard for Him. He is God Almighty.

God is Holy

2011-12-09T05:31:00.000-05:00

The Leviticus 20:7-8 declares, "Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy." Scripture teaches about the holiness of God, yet it's instruction here is focused on our initiative, "Consecrate yourselves and be holy!" There is something that you and I must do. We must daily make a declaration to serve God fully with our whole heart. God asks that we dedicate ourselves to living right and walking daily in His holiness.

Yes, we are carnal and have a sinful nature that tends to want to follow its' own way. But like Paul, we must crucify that old, sinful nature daily and pursue with great diligence a life that pleases God. Over and over again in Scripture, God declares that if we love Him, we will keep His precepts and the teachings of God's Word.

Today, let's make a new commitment. I will strive to be holy because God is holy and I walk in a right relationship with Him. I will keep the commandments of God and follow the decrees of Scripture because I follow God, who is able to make and keep me holy.

God is Mighty to Save

2011-12-08T05:27:00.000-05:00

"The LORD your God is with you; He is mighty to save," Zephaniah 3:17. When we commit our lives to Christ at an altar of prayer, we surrender ourselves totally to Him. Our past is wiped clean and He gives us a new start with new opportunities. Sometimes, we still have consequences to live through because of our sin, but our heart and desires are transformed. We no longer desire to walk in the old way of life, but everything becomes new.

God is mighty to save you, to change you, to make your heart new. You should choose to never go back to the way you lived before. You should realize the power of God's change in you and walk in His power. This does not mean you will now be perfect and do & say everything right. But this means God has empowered you to walk in right standing and make right decisions. Choose today along with me, to choose right.

God is My Wisdom

2011-12-07T05:20:00.000-05:00

In James 1:4-5, Paul gives instruction, "Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."

God will give you adequate wisdom to make decisions regarding all things in your life and future. Sometimes, we worry and fret when Paul instructs to persevere in Christ and let Christ do an astounding work in your life. Now, this does not mean we sit on our hands and do nothing. If you need a job, you must leave home and search for one. But it means that God will give you direction and wisdom to answer and respond in a successful way.

Ask God daily for His wisdom. Scripture prompts that God willfully and without measure gives wisdom to those who trust and ask. Be mature in Christ and he will make you fulfilled in your daily walk. He will give you the wisdom you long for.

God is My Healer

2011-12-06T05:25:00.000-05:00

Psalm 103:2-4, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies." God is My Healer.

When you are sick you can cry out to God for healing and deliverance. When there is sin in your life, you can be forgiven. You can be headed in the wrong direction with only destruction ahead, but God is able to redeem your life and crown you with the kind of change you have been waiting on.

Ask God today for the miraculous in your life! Then, email me and let me know the wonderful blessings God has poured on you.

God is My Counselor

2011-12-05T06:10:00.001-05:00

The Psalmist declares in Psalm 16:5-8, "LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken."

Sometimes, we go to all our friends for advice and counsel. We are curious what they would do, or say, or choose. But God is the only counsel you really need. Fine-tune your spirit to hear His voice and listen to His instruction. Seek out His counsel. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9) God is My Counselor.

Avoid disappointment with family and friends for bad advice, go directly to God who is your counselor and confidante'. You can trust His guidance. When the enemy lays a trap for your feet, He steers you around it. When you are tempted to choose ways against the Word of God, He grips your hand tightly in His. When you feel you have no one to talk to, no one who understands what you are going through - God is your Counselor.

God is the Author of My Faith

2011-12-04T05:59:00.000-05:00

Hebrews 12:1-3, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

First, Paul encourages: Keep Going! Run with perserverance! When the race gets tough, sometimes it's just hard to keep going, keep pacing, keep breathing, keep taking strides. But no matter what, we must keep on going.

Second, Paul shouts: Focus! Fix your eyes on Jesus! It's easy to lose our focus and be distracted with many frustrations in life. Paul instructs us to keep our focus on Jesus and our personal relationship with Him regardless of the circumstances.

In Summary, Paul gives us this wisdom: If we perservere and focus, on Jesus the result will be, "that you will not grow weary and lose heart!" I have never seen so many discouraged in the church as now. Apparently, we've had some priorities out of line. Let's take a check today and get re-focused on what's really important, insomuch that we will not be discouraged or be weary in well-doing, but will keep our faith strong in God. Remember: God is the pioneer, the author and the perfector of our faith.

Facing Fear

2011-12-03T05:36:00.000-05:00

We need to remember that God is not the author of fear! 2Timothy 1:7 recounts, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline”. As believers, we can totally trust in God and ask Him to remove all signs of fear and doubt. There are things in life that will be beyond our control. There are happenings that we cannot change that we must face. But God can give us courage to face the most difficult circumstances.

Walk in the love of God and develop & mature in your relation to Him. God is love and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God for God is love. God's love is a perfect love. And 1 John 4:18 proclaims this promise, "Perfect love drives out all fear."

We can face adversity with courage as we walk in the love of God.

God is My Peace

2011-12-02T05:58:00.000-05:00

Ephesians 2:14 resounds, "For He is our peace, who has made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us." And we are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.

When things in life do not happen the way I planned. And when trouble stops at the doorway to linger in my day, I know I have peace through my relation with the Father. God is Jehovah-Shalom, my peace.

Meaning, when I have no comfort of my own. When happenings seem out of control and topsy-tervy, God is my sustainer of peace. I know simply because I walk with God that all things will work together for good and God's got my back.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee." Isaiah 26:3

Straight Paths

2011-12-01T05:21:00.000-05:00

"Make for thyself straight paths for thy feet", is wise instruction found in the Word of God. And the writer of Proverbs continues this thought in Proverbs 4:25-27. He teaches us to,"Let your eyes look right on and let thy eyelids look right before thee." In other words, we should not venture off the straight path, but stay focused on God. We should also be careful to, "Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right or to the left: remove thy foot from evil."

We should carefully observe where our feet try to take us. Often, we can be misguided and tempted to veer off the straight path and follow those around us. Our peers must not persuade us where to walk. We must let all of our ways be established in righteousness (right-living), adhering to the precepts of God's Word.

The Holy Spirit who lives within every believer, will prompt you as to which way to go, what to say and what path to follow. We must learn to listen to that small still voice of wise guidance.