Seasons

Eccl 3:1 To every thing there is a season [appointed time], and a time to every purpose under the heaven:




Ga 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season [an occasion of opportunity; a set or proper time] we shall reap, if we faint not.



Seasons [appointed, set, proper occasions of opportunity] in our lives that are sure. You will hear people say things like:

• windows of opportunity
• seasons of ministry
• winter years
• rainy seasons

But no matter how we express it, seasons are sure.


According to Eccl. 3:1 To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose.
To read this text in its original form, it would read similar to this:

• To everything in the recesses of your mind (will) that are within the reach of God's Word there is a season, and a time [tide] for all those acceptable desires, and valuable pleasing things.

Then in Gal. 6:9 find that, "if we do not weary in well doing; we will reap [harvest / draw unto ourselves for proper usage] if we refuse to grow lax with the vision [desires] of the heart."


Dreams, Visions, Purposes are for seasons. Some seasons are longer than others. Just like some tides are higher than others. But if you wait ... that huge tide is sure to come!

In Joseph's case his dream after many years of refusing to faint and grow lax in well came. But for many years he had to serve and often slave beneath other men's hands and plans. I am sure there were many times when he felt the bondage unbearable, but he kept his integrity. And the day came when Joseph gave birth to the very thing that had incubated in his heart for years.


The endurance of Joseph was greatness of integrity. A cross reference to Gal. 6:9 is actually Mt. 24:13 which reads: "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." And directly following verse 14: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations ..."


To grow weary and faint in your heart with the seed plan of God within you is to leave a world without witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is to leave nations in bondage to sickness, disease, hopelessness, poverty, death and hell.


What dream have you that the enemy has nearly squished from weariness? What vision has the enemy tried to darken?


To faint in the mind ... would be to grow illusive, [distraught with the intent to deceive and rob you of the final harvest], or to cause you to act in a way that would be out of character [integrity], causing you to have to go back and redo God's original plan.

• For example, we could say that when Moses, came down from his forty days of Glory [forty days in the presence of God], after allowing God to write with his very own finger his plan for the people, he [Moses] became distraught by outward circumstances and allowed the plan to be crushed.

• However ... Thank God, the gifts and callings of God are without repentance. The plan remains and lies (often dormant) waiting to be fulfilled. And Moses was allowed to regain the very plan that had been crushed.

A well know minister of integrity once said, "Most ministers will live and die and never enter into their first phase of ministry." He did not expand on all the whys that I know of, but I can tell you one reason would be allowing the enemy or fits of carnality (loss of integrity) to cause you to faint in your heart.


I can tell you from personal experience ... waiting is never easy, and usually not very comfortable. But those who wait [on the Lord] shall renew their strength, that shall run and not grow weary, walk and NOT FAINT.


I have experienced times when I nearly fainted, but in the presence of the Lord's waiting room, I chose to draw strength, and because of it, I am still standing, allowing God's to order my seasons.


According to Heb. 6:12 we are not to be slothful but rather followers of those who through faith and patience inherited the promises. The word slothful in Heb. 6:12 relates to giving birth to something that is spurious or illegitimate. The word spurious meaning: not genuine, and illegitimate meaning: born out of covenant or we could say, "out of season."


Psalms 37:1-9
1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.


Hab 2:1-4
1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Amazing Love

"I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought." --Hosea 13:5

The book of Hosea was written during a very dark and melancholic time of Israel's history. People had turned to idol worship. During this season, God instructed the prophet Hosea to marry a harlot. This was to be symbolic of God and Israel. A covenant between a Holy and pure God, to a wife loose and unfaithful. It is always amazing to me the love that God has and does bestow upon us. A covenant God that is totally faithful ... even when we are faithless.

"I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him." Hosea 14:4

Isn't that a wonderful text, I will heal, love freely, and turn my anger away!

In the midst of unfaithfulness God so loved the World that he gave ... gave love personified, healing without any trace of anger.

He gave us Jesus! While we were still in our sinful state, God gave so that we could walk together, with no walls of partition (no separation).

If you will note in this text it says, I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from Him ... [not them, but HIM].

Jesus our atonement ... HIM ... Jesus bearing all our sins and pains ... God turning away from Him for a moment in order to be able to receive us unto Himself cleansed by the blood.

I remember a time in my life when I was heavy with sin. I knew I was not right with God, or others. I knew I was hurting and angry. I knew I was a mess. I knew I had need of love. But I did not know HIM!

I would often go to a church service and get emotional, (it didn't take much). I would then walk down the Aisle and shake hands with the messenger, utter words of which I had no personal knowledge and leave thinking I would be different. The only thing was, I would soon find myself in the same situations, circumstances and emptiness as before. Because I did not know HIM!

After many emotional encounters with messengers, who told me about him, but never introduced me to him ... I was ready to either find HIM or toss in the towel.

I wanted to be Happy. I wanted to be Healed. I wanted to be loved. I wanted to enjoy life. I wanted purpose. I wanted fulfillment, and I had not found it. I had not found it in the World, or in religious services, and believe me I had searched to the best of my ability.

I had searched in the bars, the bottles, the drugs, the concerts, the jobs, the men and religions. I searched every denomination, every kind of service that mentioned the name of one that my soul (mind, will and emotion) was drawn to "Jesus" ... but I had not met HIM. I had simply been indoctrinated with traditions and ideas. The Word that I had been given was tainted with adultery and corruptions.

In the Psalms it says that when they came to their wit's end, they cried out to God in their troubles and he brought them out of their distresses. ~ Psalms 107

Oh that men would cry out to God instead of looking everywhere else. That is what I finally did ..."cried out to God," and there he heard me, and answered me. That is when I begin to get to Know HIM. And I have not stopped spending time in His presence since.

You see ... it was His loving kindness that drew me and brought me to repentance. It was HIM! It was not tradition, culture or rules. It was not empty doctrines of men. It was not forms of godliness that had no power of transformation (changed), but it was HIM ... LIFE, LIGHT, TRUTH, HEALER, CAREGIVER AND LOVER OF MY SOUL!

How did I meet HIM ... when I got to the end of myself and all my attempts at fulfillment. I cried out to Jesus! I ask Him to reveal Himself to me, to show Himself to me, so that I could get to know HIM, and He did.

His love is amazing; He is amazing!

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. ~ I John 3:1

I could not know the love of the Father in others until I knew HIM.

After getting to know HIM, it would never be enough for me to simply lay out a message and shake a hand saying, Go and sin no more ... Sin is ever present and to sin no more without a personal relationship with HIM ... is just impossible.

It would never be enough for me to just tell people about Jesus ... No ... I had to offer more. I had to offer them Spirit and Truth. I had to learn to be a conductor that would be able to be so transparent they could see Christ in me. But first, I must introduce them to Jesus Himself. The Jesus that they could know personally ... not just through me!

How would I do this?

Simple ...

"Have you ever met Jesus?
Let me introduce you to HIM.
He is wonderful, He is not anger with you, He loves you and will heal you.
He wants you to know HIM, and all you have to do is ask HIM to reveal Himself to you.

Let me share a story with you about how God begin to reveal himself to a young man using me as only a conductor. I was ministering on the streets of New Orleans during Mardi Gras when a young man came over mocking me. I ask Him if He had even been introduced to Jesus. He continued to mock, and after a period of time I ask if he would allow me to pray with Him ... to ask Jesus to reveal Himself to Him. Again He mocked.

I then ask, Son what would it take for you to believe that Jesus is real and wants a relationship with you personally?

His response was, "Oh, I don't know, I suppose that man that is way over there across the street would have to come over here right now, get in my face and start talking to me for me to believe that."

At this point, I replied, "Okay, so if that man comes over her and gets right in your face and begins to talk to you, then you will trust him enough to get to know Him?"

"Yes, but that will never happen," he says.

At this point, I toke the young mans hands, and simply prayed, Jesus you heard him, you know what it will take to reveal yourself to this young man, so I trust you.

At this point, the young man still in mocking mode ... looks up ... the guys across the street presses through the throng of people ... comes straight up to us, gets in this young mans face and begins to talk to say to him, "hey, whats up, what's happening?" and then walks away.

The young man was amazed and at this point was ready to begin to cry out and get to know HIM (Jesus). I told this young man that just as this fellow across the street came over and spoke to him, that Jesus wanted the opportunity to talk to him and build a relationship with Him through both the written Word of God and by His wonderful supernatural Spirit.

Would you ask Him to reveal Himself to You?

You will be glad you did!
Life with Christ Jesus as Lord of your Life is a marvelous adventure.

If you ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you and you begin this wonderful journey of getting to know him, would you leave me a comment ... I would love to hear your new life experience.

Perception Alerations

What is perception Alteration? And why am I talking about it today.

The reason is that I just heard a practicing Muslim saying we must begin to alter perceptions.

Perception is the process of attaining awareness or understanding of sensory information.
The word comes from the Latin words perceptio, percipio, and means "receiving, collecting, action of taking possession, apprehension with the mind or senses."

Alter ... to make different without really changing.

God ... The true God and his true followers are not just altered. They are transformed. Totally changed from the inside out.

So when I talk to you today about perception alteration I want you to be aware of the process. I want you to be wise to the wiles of the enemy. The enemy stared in the garden deceiving. He came to show something that looked great (the eye gate) to the senses, something that they had already been told to stay away from. Then he begin to talk ... (the ear gate), and tell Eve that God said ... but what he said, that God said was not what God said ... it was an altered dialogue because he desired to change a person perception. And that is what he did ... but that altered perception ended in a life of loss and death.

As Christians and non Christians alike we must be aware of these tactics. Islam has moved into the USA, and they are doing what they can to alter peoples perception of the religion that takes lives instead of give it. Religion that puts women and children in danger and also at risk.

I know that some say otherwise, but that is what deception does ... it appears to be good only to find it is not as it seems. It is time to truly get to know the only one true God, through the person of Jesus Christ.

I am not a hater. I love people. I love men, women, children. I love every race and creed. But I detest false religions that deceive. My battle ground is never with people, my fight is a fight of faith. And my battle platform is a spiritual wickedness arena.

These false religious organizations are building mosques, schools and freely soliciting. While Christians are to be silenced? I don't think so. Not here, not now, not ever!

For us to sit back and allow something that we know destroys lives everyday to have place is wrong. It is time to pray ... it is time to get to the streets... it is time to let the truth speak! Truth that will cut between soul and spirit.

Truth ... truth of God ... never operates in the arena of senses. It operates in the deeper realm, in spirit realms. God does not have to depend upon natural sensory to alter people's perceptions.
He moves much more supernaturally than this. He through love offers life and abundance. A life of liberty, peace and rest.


Eph. 6:10-20
10 ¶ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 ¶ And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

From Coward to Courageous King!

Courage!

• What makes a king out of a slave?

Courage!

• What makes the flag on the mast to wave?

Courage!

• What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk?
• What makes the muskrat guard his musk?
• What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder?

Courage!

• What makes the dawn come up like thunder?

Courage!

• What makes the Hottentot so hot?
• What puts the "ape" in apricot?
• What have they got that I ain't got?

Courage!

I do believe in spooks. I do believe in spooks. I do, I do, I do, I do, I *do* believe in spooks,

~ two quotes from the Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz


Dorothy: Your majesty, if you were king, you wouldn't be afraid of anything?
Cowardly Lion: Not nobody! Not nohow!
Tin Woodsman: Not even a rhinoceros?
Cowardly Lion: Imposerous!
Dorothy: How about a hippopotamus?
Cowardly Lion: Why, I'd thrash him from top to bottomus!
Dorothy: Supposing you met an elephant?
Cowardly Lion: I'd wrap him up in cellophane!
Scarecrow: What if it were a brontosaurus?
Cowardly Lion: I'd show him who was king of the forest!

Amazing ... the thoughts of being a king (or in other words, knowing who you are) sure makes a change in the mentality doesn't it?

The Lion had not idea who he was, if he did he would have already known that he was the King of the Jungle! However, since he didn't know who he was, he was just a scaredy cat. But courage was locked up inside of him just waiting to be released.

Gideon was a man much like the old cowardly lion from the Wizard of Oz. He was just a scaredy cat too. He was hiding from the Midinates, just trying to thresh out a living without anyone taking wrong advantage of him. But then one day the angel of the Lord showed up and said, "The Lord is with thee, thou might man of valor."

Yet Gideon had a hard time believing that the Lord was with him, since there was soooooo many bad things going on around him. He wanted to know where are all the miracles that he had heard about were?

That sounds like many people today. If God is with us, then why ......?

• Why all the wars?
• Why the starving children?
• Why the broken homes?
• Why all the evil?
• Why do bad things keep happening?

And the answer is within the grasp of Gideon 6:14 when the Lord spoke back to Gideons questions and said, "Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?"

Everyone is waiting for the Lord to do some great spectacular feat when the truth is God in and through You will do great exploits. When you begin to know "who you are in Christ" and "who Christ is in you" ... that is when cowardice will be put out doors, and great things will begin to be done here on planet earth.

• When you are willing to take food to the hungry.
• When you are willing to get wells dug for fresh water.
• When you clothe the naked.
• When you go to the prisoners.
• When you watch out for the widows and care for the fatherless.
• When you first and foremost carry such acts of kindnesses, with the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that has enabled you to do these things ... this is when the miracles will show up, and things will change ... When you awake to the truth of Christ in You ... Christ with You!
  

When you decided to be a true follower of Jesus, and obey the Word of God. That is when you will again see the miracles. That is when things here on planet earth will begin to turn around.

I understand that you and you alone can not totally change the World, but you can have an impact! If enough people would be willing to hear God saying ... "Go in thy might, Have I not sent you?" And then would respond to those words change would come.

If the drug addicted, out of control parents would turn to God and exchange their cowardice lifestyle for a life in Christ ... the children's world would be impacted!

If the scared loose daughter who is living a life of danger and harlotry would shed cowardice and turn to God ... the parents who are crying out for her life nightly would be changed.

If the lazy man who refuses to work would turn to God and rise up from his slumber, his life would be changed.

If the worried woman who can't leave the house for fear, would look to God and give him all of her cares, allow him to clothe her with power, her life would be changed.

If the millionaire who has money to burn, but has no peace of mind, would shed his cowardice, open his ear to God concerning stewardship and give to the poor, both his and their lives would change.

If government officials would shed cowardice and humble themselves before the Lord, our country would change.

People claim strength ... they often look the part.
The cowardly lion looked the part. He was big, had a mane and claws.
He claimed strength with a "Ruff" ... only to hid behind a bush or tree when the rubber met the road. To claim strength and look the part without confidence and empowerment is still cowardly.

Yet, if people would spend enough time in the presence of God to get to know him, and through him get to know themselves, they would go from scaredy cats to mighty men and women of valor! Men and women who are carrying miracles down someones dry and dusty road.

If people would turn to God and allow him to clothe them with power confidence would arise within them, and lives would be changed. When lives are changed, families are changed, communities are changed, states and countries are changed .... the world turns upside down ... And for a messed up World ... it would make it right side up!

God sent his son,
that we might obtain the kind of life he desires for us
that we might turn from our wicked ways and our land be healed!

I Peter 2:9-10
... ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Why not turn today ... and go turn the World!

What's On The Menu For Today?

When we go into a restaurant we often ask, what's on the menu today. We do this because we want the opportunity to choose what we are going to put in our physically bodies.

What is bad about this, is we often choose the wrong entrees. We eat to many starches and not enough vegetables and fruits. We eat exceptional sizes of deserts, as well as drinking sweet drinks.

When we do this it is harmful to our bodies. It makes us feel bad and often depressed. It slows us down and puts to much weight on our skeletal frames.It also cause many different kinds of illnesses.

But to eat properly, is beneficial to us. Choosing the right items from the menu ... offers us life and longevity.

The physically body needs to be cared for and maintained, after all our bodies are the temple of God. Some people care more for their natural houses, than they do for their bodies. Other people care more for their automobiles, than for their natural bodies that keep them running.

When was the last time you cleaned out your rusty pipes or changed your oil physically by considering the way you were eating and exercising? We need to be aware of how we are treating our bodies ... they are fearfully and wonderfully created by God; His very handiwork.

Now if you think this blog is about dieting and exercise you are right, it would not take a rocket scientist to have already figured that out, but it is not just about physical diet and exercise. It is also about your spiritual diet and exercise. What is on your spiritual menu today?

Just as we can take in the wrong things or leave out the wrong things from our natural diet and exercise plans, we can do the same spiritually. Just as we need to eat and exercise physically, we need to be sure that we are taking in the right spiritual foods and exercise our soul (mind, will, emotions) into submission.

What is on your Spiritual menu today?
What are you putting into your spirit.

Are you over loading it with weights and sins? Are you carrying around worry and anxiety? Are you taking in excessive amounts of junk and sweet lies? Are you depressed from your daily habits, and lack of spiritual exercise?

The Word of God is a life Manual. It will order our steps and direct our paths if we allow it. Within the pages of God's written Word we will find all kinds of spiritual foods on the menu, and our daily in take of the bread of life.

It also offers us plenty of exercises to participate in. Exercises that will cause us to grow faith muscle and become strong in the Lord and the power of His might. But often people never order God's daily portions of life.

There is a TV commercial where a lady is going through the grocery store and a small child is in the cart. When the lady puts good foods into the cart, the child says over and over ... "I don't think I like that ..."

The truth is people who turn their noses up to God's menu (Word) are like untaught children.

• They are immature and undisciplined.
• They have never learned what it is like to live godly mature lives that are good for them.
• They don't realize what it takes to be healthy, happy and complete.

The Word of God is complete, and makes us complete. The Word is sweet and wholesome.
The Word and Spirit of God, quenches our thirst and fills our hungers. When put into action it is the best exercise plan of all.

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. ~ I Tim. 4:8

When we take care of our lives naturally it is helpful, but to take care of our spiritual lives it is greatly profitable ... profitable unto all things. I say this, because I know that as we take care of our spiritual lives, and stay connect to God through the written Word and His living Spirit. We will then be temperate in all things. We will have the wisdom and understanding of how to deal right in all ares of life, including our physical bodies.

So today "What will be on your menu?"

Will you take in life portions of the Word?
Wash it down with a cold drink of spiritual waters?
Then follow the exercise plan of the master?

Will you allow that first godly portion to attribute to the way you deal with the natural portion of your day, causing you to be temperate in every ares of your life.

If you will ... your life will soon have a healthy balance.

There is a wonderful rhythm to life.
One that causes us to be rested and peaceful; healthy and happy; safe and sound.
But this kind of life requires right actions ... acting according to God's Word!

LET GO!

"When you get into a tight place and it seems that you can't go on, hold on — that's just the place and the time that the tide will turn." ~ Harriet Beecher Stowe

Let me share a story with you about a young man who's parachute got tangled in a tree as he was landing. As he was hanging in the tree he begin to feel the parachute tear and give, so he hinged onto a nearby limb. He yelled out and no one was around. He yelled out again, and no one heard. Then he looked up to God and prayed, "God, please tell me what to do?"

On the inside of him came a still small voice. The voice said, "Let go."

The man thought that could not be God, if I let go I will plummet to my death. So once again, the man prayed the same prayer, "God, please tell me what to do?" And once again the man heard the voice, this time a little clearer than before, "Let go."

Wow, what am I suppose to do thought the man. God if that is you, I don't understand, please forgive me as I ask you one more time, "What should I do?"

This time the voice came not only clear, but loud and filled with authority ... "LET GO!"
Startled from the strength of the voice and tired from hanging onto the limb. The man took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and let go, and to his surprise his feet were planted upon solid ground.

Since the forest was filled with many trees, close together and filled with leaves, the man could not know how tall the tree or the depth of his fall, thus he was hanging onto to the tree for dear life, afraid of the unknown, only to find out that his feet were only a few feet from the ground.

God knows what we don't know, thus he speaks things like, Eccl. 11:3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall be.

Death is at no great distance; thou hast but a short time to do good. Acquire a heavenly disposition while here; for there will be no change after this life.

When God is speaking to us to let go, we need let go. When we feel we can no longer hold on ... we must know that God will be our safe landing. Perhaps you fell as if you can not go on in life. Like everything is hinged upon your own shoulders. If so LET GO! God never intended to keep you hanging in life. He never intended that you be stuck. It is time to let go of your own agendas and ideas and let God direct your next move. When you do ... you will find that the tide turns on your behalf!

When Less is More

The late Billy Sunday tells of a time when a lady came up to him and said:
"Mr. Sunday, I know I have a bad temper, but I am over with it in a minute."
His reply was:
"So is the shotgun, but it blows everything to pieces."

Here this lady was telling Mr. Sunday that she had a bad temper that she would yield to just long enough to say what she wanted to say concerning the matter, then she was over it. How self centered can anyone get?

This lady didn't care about what she had said to others, or what effect it had on their life. All that mattered to her was saying what she wanted to say about the situation, and then she could be over it.

Just as Mr. Sunday said, all she wanted to do was go off like a shotgun. And shotguns can do everything from scare someone, to hurt someone, to murder someone.

Let's look at what James says concerning the tongue.

James 3:3-10
^3-5A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!

^5-6It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

^7-10This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!

Amazing a tiger can be tamed by man, but not the tongue. It takes a right Spirit to control a persons tongue. This tiny little member, is so strong like a rudder that steers a ships course, so the tongue guides mans course. And yet we have not grasp this truth.

If we truly had revelation on this text, we would be more mindful of what we say to others.
We would be more careful concerning what we said period.

When it comes to conversation ... sometimes ... Less is more!


Proverbs 10:19
The more talk, the less truth;
the wise measure their words. ~ Message

When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise. ~NIV

Dead flies in the ointment

Eccl. 10:1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary (perfume) to send forth a stinking savor: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.

When people do not pray our lives go from reputation of wisdom and honor to that of mockery and destruction. Like dead flies spoil perfume, thus folly causes people, (countries) to turn their noses up.

I am asking every Christian that reads this blog today to pray; pray for our country, pray for our leaders ... JUST PRAY!

• Pray that compassion will arise in the hearts of the people
• for life.

• Pray that passion will burn again toward our one God of heaven and earth.

• That wars will cease.

• That Jesus will be put into remembrance.

• That the labors of his love spilled out on us will spring forth in our lives.

• Pray that every pregnant mother contemplating abortion will have a visitation from on high concerning the truth about the life within her. A life that was known by God before the womb.

• Pray that every eye darkened by religious error be enlightened. That Jesus will make himself clear to them.

• Pray that every person that has been mislead concerning spiritual cleanings will be filled with revelation; that genocides would come to an end.

• Pray for peace that will keep evil under.

• Pray for every orphan, elder person, tribe, tongue and nation to know the love of God through Christ Jesus.

• Pray for our President to have wisdom from God that is pure, peaceable and easily entreated by and toward the truth.
  

• Pray that he will make right decisions concerning our country, decision that including God through pray and not of the judgment of his own eyes or the by his own opinions.

• Pray for a spiritual refreshing to sweep through our country, that will awake a people to life that is precious and a God that has been good enough to us to offer it.

• Pray for the church to rise up ... not as hoodlums, not in violence, but powerful in Christs love and understanding!

TODAY JUST PRAY!

Mr. President, "Why do people hate you?"

Recently on live television, I witnessed a small dark skinned boy, about 8 or 9 years of age lift his small hand to ask the President a question. To every one's surprise his question was, "Why does everyone hate you?" Wow, what a question!


I sat up on my seat to see and hear the response to a question that I am unsure if anyone has ever had the boldness to ask a president. I waited as the man of highest country stature searched for his answer as to, "Why does everyone hate you?"


Then the president begin to stumble over a few words with nervous half laughs. I was not envious of the highest seat in the country at this time. I was not laughing nor jeering, I was interested.


So often people get into high positions and lose sight of those below them in rank. Even those who have promised those in lower ranks support and help only days before. Words mean little without corresponding actions, even (or perhaps especially) in high places.


Deceitful words and empty promises wins no friendships, promise no votes for tomorrow and leaves a people with bitterness to deal with, instead of being bettered. It leaves people hating, instead of cooperating.


People want those over them to be genuinely interested in them. They don't care if you win the noble peace prize. They don't care if your photo is on the most popular magazines. They don't care about your last vacation. They want you to be authentically interested in them.


Jesus was authentic. He was genuinely interested in people and he still is. Jesus was not self serving, selfish, or self promoting. He was for the people. He was not the peoples yes man. He did not agree with injustice. He spoke the truth. He spoke and promoted life, and in doing so he was and still is the most remembered and recognized man in history. He is international, heard of and worshiped all over the world, even though it has been over 2000 years that he walked as a flesh man in the earth.


Jesus kept his promises, not one of them has failed for those who remain in faith. Jesus was committed to and faithful to His heavenly father and to the people. His life was not his own, it belonged to us.


When men and woman take seats to promote themselves people get disgusted. They want their desires and needs met. Thus we hear these words from great leaders such as David and Paul uttered by the Holy Ghost, "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and shall give thee the desires of thine heart." ~ Psalms 37:4 / Daivd

"But, My God shall supply all of YOUR needs according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus."
~ Phil. 4:19 / Paul

Every great leader was those who sincerely cared about the people. Those deeply concerned about life and liberty. Those who wanted to see people living prosperous and healthy lives. Those who led from love and not manipulation or control.

Abraham Lincoln burned with a passion to free people from slavery, and the people were with him.

Theodore Roosevelt was loved from the least in the house kitchen to the highest of office. He once called a neighbor who was interested in Bob whites to let them know that one was outside their window, so they could get a good look at it. He was respected and loved by neighbors because of his genuine interest in them, and the people were with him.


Both Lincoln and Roosevelt were God fearing men, both Christians (the faith of our countries fathers). "Faith ... the substances of things hoped for ... the evidence of things unseen." ~Hebrews 11:1

To get back to the grassroots of our country will be to get our country back.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. ~ 2Ch 7:14

The rustle in the mulberry

When you hear the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall bestir yourself; for then shall the Lord go out before you, to smite the host of the Philistines. ~ II Samuel 5:24


David has just won a great victory and now has the opportunity again to score. But David being the man of wisdom that he was, would not go out until he knew that God said, Go.

When God gives the Green light our victory is sure, but to suppose that we can go out in our own time and strength, doing as we please is futile.

Faith does not act on its own.  Faith stands on a Word From God.  And goes out with joy and peace, knowing God is with you.

Before any great endeavor we should go to God for His counsel concerning the matter. We should find out what He is saying about the event at hand. Is it part of his best plan for our lives, or just part of a plan that we have drawn up and added "God said" ...  as a personal rider?

To remain in the center of God's perfect will is safe and productive. To step outside of it is dangerous, ineffective and usually with personal losses.  And to be in the center of God's will means allowing His Word and Spirit to lead.  The Psalmist said, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Pslams 119:105 And as we stay in the realm of light we have direction for our course.

For David staying in God's perfect plan casued the enemy to be routed out of the land, and false images being burned in the fire. This was a single victory for David and his men, but now David is asking, "Lord, shall I go up again to battle?"

This time God did not say, "Go up at once." He is a God that never changes, but battle plans and strategies are subject to change, thus we must learn to hear and obey the voice of the Spirit in every situation of our lives.

This time, God tells David ... "wait." That four letter word  "WAIT'  is usually not the Word people desire.  But it is a four letter word that holds blessings when we mix our faith with it and obey.  According to the Word of God, Faith and Patience inherit His promises.

Wait ... wait for what?  In David's case he was to wait until he heard a sound from heaven. A sound in the tops of the mulberry trees. A rustling, movement in the tops of the trees. 

This sound would be the sign from heaven that God was releasing him to move out. And David with a heart after God, says, "I will not lift my spear nor my hand until God has bidden me to do it, lest I should go to war at my own charges, and lose all that I have obtained." David knew that it paid to obey, and disobedience was costly.

The old Rabbis have said that the rustle at the tops of the mulberry trees were the angel armies, being led by God to battle before David; going ahead of him to secure the victory. Angels hastening God's Words to perform them.

When we obey God's Word there are always more for us than there are against us. We have an invisible host arrayed and set out ahead of us. 

Oh, how easy it is to stir ourselves to battle, when we know that God is fighting for us; that the angels are set in motion on our behalf. However, if David had not waited, the angels would not have been there doing their part, and the battle would have been lost.

I have heard many people say, "You pick your battles", but I will tell you right now the best thing to do is to let the Lord, pick our battles. When the Lord picks your battles you always come out a winner.

There will come a day, when the mulberry will rustle for one last time, and we will rise up and leave this earth. But until that day, we must listen closely to what the Lord is saying for each day's battles. When we do, the Lord will bring us both success and a good name throughout the Land.


And by the way, don't forget to pray for our countries leaders and for our military today! Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Pray that the leaders will inquire of the Lord about things that concern our country, and the well being of Israel.  
Pray that they will listen to the Spirit of the Lord and obey his commands. 
 Pray that they will not leave God (the winning factor) out of their decisions.

Blessed But Limping

In Gensis chapter 32 we find Jacob wrestling with an angel. Jacob was hungry for blessing.

Amazingly after receiving the blessing of his father through deception, he is still striving for blessing.

First he deceived and manipulated to get the blessing, and second he wrestled and fought for it.

The first blessing left him in fear of his brother and fleeing. The second left him limping.

Blessed, but full of fear. Blessed but hurting.

I wonder how many people in the body of Christ are still walking around in fear, and filled with hurts, yet claiming and professing all their blessings.

It is not enough to received God's blessing, we must also open ourselves up and allow God to heal what is hurting, and strengthen that which is weak. To heal is often with pain, thus we shrink back from the healing process. To strength comes with requirement, thus we ignore.

To heal a festered lesion is to lance it, and allow it to empty out. To reset a broken bone which has healed improperly, is to re-break it, and set it correctly.

To strength a weakened character takes correction, instruction and discipline. It takes admitting and quitting old patterns; it takes receiving and obeying new directions.

Both healing, and being strengthening will require making ch,oices and then actively pursuing the new and better you. Ultimately, God is the healer, but you are the one who must consent and participate.

It seems these days like Jacob, there are many who desire the blessings of God at any cost. But are not striving as hard at being a better person. When the truth is, if people would seek the kingdom of God AND His righteousness (right way of being and doing), all else would be added. The wrestling would be over, and there would be no need for deception and manipulation in the matter.

I challenge you to go after peace with others.
I challenge you to allow God to heal any thing corrupt or broken in your life.
I challenge you to stop wrestling.
I challenge you to rest in Jesus; sit at his feet and learn of his kingdom truths.

Let the Word of God work mightily in you today.
Let the Spirit of truth speak to you.

Allow the two edged sword to open up anything corrupt and free you of any bands that are weakening you. Let him set in order all that has not healed properly.

Remember Jesus will not enter any place uninvited, you must open to Him.
You must be honest and ask him into your most personal pains, offenses, or messes.
But when you do the reward is great!

A compliment goes a long way

Jesus never praised himself, yet praise worthy He was and is. Why call me good, he voiced to his disciples, there is only one good, and that is God. [Luke 18:19]

He knew how to commend a people deserving and undeserving.

• He commended the woman who poured an alabaster jar of ointment over his feet.
• He commended the centurion for His Father in the authority of the God spoken Word.
• He commended the woman of Canaan's faith for her daughter's well being.
• He also commended Simon ... calling him Petra ... piece of the rock even though in the next breath he would have to correct Peter for yielding to a wrong Spirit.

Jesus knew how to get the best out of people, and he did it through goodness. Jesus raised up disciples ... disciplined ones. What made them desire to do what was right? It was love that compelled them, that motivated them. The love that Christ lived in, the love that Christ poured out over others.


It has been said, that there is only one way to get anyone to do anything, and that is to cause them to want to. Thus, the love and life that Jesus dripped with was enough to cause fishers, tax collectors, men, women and children to follow him. They saw something in Christ that they wanted bad enough that they were willing to let go of the past and the present to follow him into their future. His encouraging words drew them.


The disciples had a want to. They wanted what they saw in Jesus more than they wanted to be the captain of the fishing boat, or head of the IRS. The woman with the alabaster jar wanted it more than a years worth of wages stored up in the bank.


People do what they want to. What is Jesus' complimentary words over you, inspiring you to want to do?

A clean slate for the confession

I am a Word person!
I believe in the power of confession.
I hold fast to my profession of faith and I understand that death and life are in the power of the tongue!
I am a Word person!


However, I am also a person of integrity, knowing that our heart and words must be in unity if we are to walk as God desires. Our hearts and mouths must both be purged of deceit.


Let me share a story with you about a man known as Two-gun Crowley. Two-gun held a wonderful confession of himself, but his actions said something totally different. Two-gun spoke good of himself while acting criminal toward others. Let me tell you his story.


May 07, 1931 a man who neither smoked nor drank became the central target of a New York City, man hunt. Francis "Two-gun" Crowley was a cop killer, a cold blooded murderer.


While engaging in a necking part on a long island back road, a police office went up to Crowley's car to ask to see his license, Crowley drew his gun, showered the office with bullets and then jumped out of his car, grabbed the offices gun and fired one of his own bullets through his prostrate body.


This incident was the beginning of Crowley's indictment. He was know known as one of New York's most wanted. It was said, "He will kill, at the drop of a feather."


Upon locating Crowley in his sweethearts apartment on West End Avenue, one hundred-fifty police office and detectives were determine to take Two-gun in dead or alive, thus a shoot out begin. Crowley who was crouching behind an overstuffed chair for protection while firing incessantly at the police took a pen and wrote these words as blood spilled upon the paper, "To whom it may concern." "Under my coat is a weary heart, but a kind one ~ one that would do nobody any harm." In spite of his conceited confession, Crowley was sentenced to death.


Amazing he who just put one man to death, and threatened the lives of many others, pens ... "my heart is kind, and would do no man harm." A nice confession, but deceitful.


Words are powerful for sure, but out of the heart flows issues of life or (death), all depending upon the condition thereof. And from the abundance of a man's heart his mouth surly speaks. And old two-gun from a deceitful, cold, hard heart spoke deception.


Even Satan himself spoke self approving words without thought of his creator. Words that would soon lead him on a down hill spiral to a death sentence.


Isaiah 14:13-14
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.


Oh, that man might understand the need for heart change. The need to surrender to God and be filled with His Spirit. A spirit that is filled with love and understands protective coverage. And yet, often we are like Two-Gun ... we want to confession wonderful confessions over ourselves and still let the bullets fly toward others who are working hard to enforce a safe environment.


I am around church people nearly every day. And I have met plenty spiritual Two-Guns. Matter of fact I have met a few machine guns! Even been know to let a few bullets fly myself. But instead of cleaning our guns, we need to be cleaning our hearts.


As Word people, lets keep our confession. Let's say all the right things over ourselves, but let's remember to be honest with ourselves as well, and deal with deeper matters of the heart. Lets allow God to deal with our bleeding issues so that our words are not stained from deceit.

Who will you follow?

Luke 11:1-13
1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?



The disciples who knew John, also knew that he taught his disciples how to pray. Now they are asking Jesus to teach them how to pray also. The difference between John's prayer and Jesus prayer had to do with the era of the prayer. John was the forerunner. He was under the law, teaching prayer according to the Law.



Now Jesus was going to teach his disciples how to pray according to this new law of love. Praying like he prayed, from a Father and Son relationship. Later he would tell them that he was going away and when he did, they would have to go to the Father in his name. He also said, I will also send you another comforter, one just like myself, the Holy Ghost. [John 14 -16]



The Holy Ghost being just like Jesus would always lead in love, and in accordance to God's will. Thus, just like Jesus the Holy Ghost would be a wonderful prayer helper. [Romans 8]



We have so many people that pray from seats of anger and/or of unworthiness. They pray fire down from heaven, and belt out angry request and suggestions in prayer, or from seats of unworthiness beg for crumbs.



We are not to lift up angry hands or folded begging hands to heaven. No, we are to lift up holy hands, without wrath or doubting according to I Timothy 2:8.



When we pray should we model after the altar mourners, the so called prayer gurus, those teaching and living under the law, or JESUS through the leading up the Holy Spirit?

I will leave the choice up to you. However, I know who I will follow.


I will follow Jesus every step of the way. The very door that leads me into heavenly realms to access all that I have need of here on planet earth and into a blissful life eternal.

Epaphroditus

Epaphroditus was the delegate of the Christian community at Philippi, sent with their gift to Paul during his first Roman imprisonment. Paul calls him "my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier." The three words are arranged in an ascending scale: common sympathy, common work, and common danger.

Epaphroditus devoted himself to "the work of Christ," both as Paul's attendant and as his assistant in missionary work. So assiduously did he labor that he lost his health, and in the words of Paul:"he was ill, and almost died." He recovered, however, and Paul sent him back to Philippi with this letter to quiet the alarm of his friends, who had heard of his serious illness. Paul besought for him that the church should receive him with joy and 'honour men like him'.

Epaphroditus is one of God's models for helps ministry. One worthy of being sent into the mission field, or any other area of service.

He was brave, courageous, and selfless. His love for God's five fold minsters as well as the local body of believers was praise worthy.

He never felt his work, nor his anointing meager in any area of service, and his service was commendable. Epaphroditus was so full of God's Nature that he literally laid down his own well being for the needs of the church.

Now I am not advocating that we go out and try to get attention by getting sick serving. But I am relaying the Word of God concerning Epaphroditus. One must realize that Epaphroditus was not pushing himself in service for attention of the body of Christ, nor to impress Paul. He was a heartfelt servant who considered not himself or his own needs above others. He was obeying God's Word to the hardest core parts, putting the needs of others over his own.

In doing this he became very ill, so ill in fact that they thought he might die. To have died would have bee gain for Epaprohoditus, entering his eternal rest would have been a great thing for his weary physical body. However, mercy was extended to Paul and the local body of believers as Epaprohoditus remained earth bound to continue in service and example.

It is truly a great blessing to have men and women like Epaprohoditus within the local body of Christ. But had there been more with his heart, perhaps he would have gotten sufficient rest, and his physically body not broken down. Oh, that more men and women of God would rise up to such standards in this day, laying aside their own personal desires and agendas, willing to submit and serve selflessly for longer than a day, week, month or year.

I am sorry to say, that people who think serving is service that fits their personal agendas is excellency in Christ are not Epaprohoditus quality. They are not the type of minster that God will call out or send. People like this often go out (doing a mission, little preaching job, try to start church works, and so forth), but they are not God's sent Epaprohoditus. They are just those who went out.

John Mark, who also served Paul, decided to go out before his time. Unlike Epaprohoditus, who was sent, John Mark just went, and soon was sent back home. He was not able to bear up under the the field ministry. Later he was called for, and sent back to Paul. But he had to first return, and grow in character and strength before he was acceptable to Paul on the field.

Let me encourage you to grow in character in your local church. Become a strong Epaproditus type, and then when God sees your faithfulness, and knows that you are ready, He will send you, through the hands of your local Pastor!

Now I know that some may be saying, but you don't understand, My Pastor doesn't listen to God like that, and I know it is my time. No, dearly beloved, hear your error. You see the gifts and callings of God make room for themselves. God will in his timing, move on your local pastor to release you to those services, but your Pastor is first and foremost responsible for your well being, and must wait upon the Lord for His directions.

If by any raw chance you are sitting under error, immaturity or false Pastoral office, God will soon remove you and put you in a place where your office is received and recognized, but even upon leaving and going to another church, you would need to leaver properly and then show yourself faithfully approved where ever you go.

So add patience to your faith and your reward will be great!