Have a Soul Prosperous Christmas

We are only a few days from celebrating the Birth of Christ.  So in the midst of the last days of press and spending  I want to share with you a message entitled:   When it seems there is just not enough ... 

God is a faithful and loving Heavenly Father.  He guides our lives in higher ways than the natural.

Often  we think that we should have it all, and had it yesterday. 

But God is more concerned for our souls than the temporal things of this life.   

I think that was pretty evident from a donkey ride ... to a virgin birth, to a stable in Bethlehem.  

Yet, Mary was rich.  

One might say then, "Why the donkey ride; Why the swaddling clothes; hy the inn?  

And my answer is:  Because she was Rich!

Mary had something that other women in that day didn't,  

She had a flourishing soul.

As a young virgin she was espoused to marry a godly man named Joesph ...

but she was  about to be faced with a blessing that came up the winds of a huge trail of faith.

Would she turn away from God for a man?  For her reputation?  

Would she believe the peoples opinions of God, those who pranced in religious cloaks (you know those who are all up in themselves, never entering in, and keeping those out who want to enter) or would she believe a loving God of relationship who wanted all to enter in?

Mary chose relationship.  She listened to the voice of God.  

And then she willingly accepted His Word concerning His only begotten Son.

Yes, Mary had a flourishing soul.  

And with that flourishing soul came favor.  

Not just any favor ... "High favor" ... and ... blessing.  

From that flourishing state of being  ... God placed himself within her.    

The all  in one...  The all in all was going to reside within her.  

She was to birth life's everything ... God's only!  

God knew he could trust Mary ... He had weighed her. 

He knew her.  

Therefore, he entrusted her with not only the kingdom life, 

but with the "King" of the Kingdom.  

The great "I AM" placed within Mary, on our behalf. 

Just as The Holy Spirit is gifted to us today; entrusted to us, on behalf of others.

In Mary's soul prosperity she received God's word, unto her own hurt ...

hurt that didn't move her.
It was simply the  temporary pain of persecutions, trails and test.

But all seemed light for the coming joy that she would behold. and embrace.

In the persecutions of her virgin pregnancy,  she was faced with the possibility of losing her love, Joseph ... But God!

God was pouring out dreams within Joseph who was pretty soul prosperous himself.  

Joesph was known for living right ... and in his distress He called on God about what to do.  God told him His role in this wonderful event called Christmas.
He was to take Mary and protect both her and the baby.  He was to be a natural Father to Our Lord.

So, Joseph took Mary to be his wife in spite of all the earthly pressures of the event.

And  together they moved forward, allowing the Spirit of God to lead them.

Near birthing time.  Mary saddled a donkey ... and headed down a rough and tiring road.  No complaints ... it was well with her soul.

When our soul is prosperous we are not moved by temporal pains and disappoints that life offers.  We just release the past, embrace the present and expect better days for the future (no matter how good or bad today might have been).

Coming into the City ... it certainly looked like Christmas!  

... the streets were filled with people; the houses were full of and lighted and there was no place for Mary and Joesph.  

It mattered little to the people of the day who she was or that she was pregnant.

They didn't even see this 'soul' carrying a child.  

They just complained about the crowds and the taxes...the cost of living, as the paraded around in their religious attitudes.

*Wow ... sounds like today.  

Joseph continues to seek out a place for he and Mary.  He knew if he would seek he would surly find.  He knocked and kept knocking, for he believed that if he knocked and kept knocking a door would be open to him.   He ask and kept asking, He knew if he ask it would be given him.  And finally someone offered the two of them a barn stable.  He had found, the door had opened and the place to lay day was given.

Sometimes, the God place, doesn't look as natural man would expect or comprehend.

Mary and Joseph were thankful ... soul prosperous people are thankful for the lest of things while carrying within them the greatest of things. They understand that God's ways are not always their ways.

When they settle in for the night ... there was no ice buckets ... no valet parking.  But they were thankful for shelter, a place to lay down together.  

Then came the pangs of birth.  

Jesus born and laid ... not in a clean warm incubator ... but rather a cold, dirty manger.  He was not wrapped in fresh hot blankets, but instead in swaddling clothing.  Probably Joseph's sash or Mary's  head dress she had removed for the night.

But they were rich!  

They were not complaining about the taxes, the traffic or their lodging.  

And what does God do when it seems like there is just not enough for the soul prosperous people ...    ???   

He sends other soul prosperous people with blessings ... the shepherds came with a message that comforted their hearts that had been so persecuted, and the wise men 

came.  They brought gifts of  Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.

These gifts of the first Christmas were much more meaningful than gifts given today. 

They were not cheap trinkets that break and collect dust;
and they were not given out of selfish desire, or handed out without much thought.

No each was valuable ... each selfless and with  purpose.  

Gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

All three gifts were gifts for a King!  

Myrrh being commonly used as an anointing oil  for healing (the medicinal strength of a king), Frankincense as a perfume for burial ( the honor of life), and Gold as a monetary valuable for a wealthy King.

The two "soul prosperous" carriers of Jesus had just became naturally rich when Jesus entered their lives ... From soul prosperous, to natural increase. 

Soul prosperous people receive the richest of blessings while setting in the lowermost places.  

We must recall Mephibosheth. 

Laying poverty stricken in Low-debar ... the Kingdom called for him; The King sent for him, and seated him in a rich inheritance. 

When it seems there is just not enough ... we must allow the light of the Word and the aide of the Holy Spirit to search our souls.  We must allow God to show us our rich inheritance. 

Searching the later life of Jesus ...

We find Him in the house, where He had gone to to preach.  

The people of this day were of two sorts.  

One religious / or two... Hungry, therefore, the house was filled.  

But there was a sick man who couldn't get in. 

He had palsy, but he also had friends who were determine to get him help. 

So they climbed onto the roof;  tore it open, and let the man down in front of Jesus. 

Jesus seeing "their faith"  ... He says to the sick man "your sins are forgiven".

Why did he not immediately say rise and walk ?  After all He was sick and had came to be healed.

If we read the entire text we find our answer through the dialogue that was on going among the religious men of the day.

Mark 2:1-12

1 ¶ And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

Jesus was more concerned about the soul of man than anything else. 

Once sins are forgiven ... it is simple to say rise up and walk.

Health follows the healed soul.

Jesus, was not only forgiving sin and healing the people ... He was snuffing out false doctrines!  Wrong ideas about His Heavenly Father.

This is not to say that God does not want us to be healed physically or to prosper monetarily. 

He takes great pleasure in the prosperity of his servants.

He bore stripes on his back for our healing. 

And He doesn't withhold good from us ... 

the problem is, sometimes we just don't know what the greater goods concerning our lives.

If our soul is unkempt ... then our health and prosperity will dilapidated as well. Thus, soul prosperity is the greater good. 

The more our soul prospers, the stronger and more prosperous our lives. 

God doesn't measure us with unjust measures, but He always measures us by the weight of our souls.  The height, the depth and the breadth of love.

Love for God ... Love for others. 

Babies are measured and weighed from birth until school age by physicians to make sure they are developing properly.

Parents measure their children as they grow ... they want to see how much they have increased in height each year. 

School systems measure children each with test that evaluate how much they have increased in knowledge.

And God measures us too.

Job said in his state of being ... "Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God might know mine integrity." ~ Job 31:6

He goes on to speak of all the good things he had done.

Job was trying to establish his means of prosperity.  The good and/or evil done toward him from the things he had done in life himself.  Not a just measure.  We can never do good enough outside of God.

He should have checked the scale according to love ... Then all fear would have been cast out and priorities would have been in place within his home. 

Then we have Isa 55:2 which says:

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

It seems in this text Isaiah is talking to a people who thought their satisfaction in life would come from money and monetary gain.

Yet, he calls out to them to eat that which is "good".

This is not to excuse us from living in the realm of natural successes.

Ye God wants us to live in the higher realm ... total prosperity. And total prosperity begins and ends with the soul of man. 

Once we attain true soul prosperity ... then we supernaturally obtain physical vitality, soundness of mind and monetary gain follows. 

Just as the man let down through the roof found out.  When his sin was forgiven (a clean slate offered), health followed, and false doctrines were confronted and halted.

We could add here the women caught in an act of adultery ... 

there she was thrown down in the dirt. 

Guilty as charged, a rotting sensual soul of lust looking for fulfillment ... believing it would come with the next man, the next fling.

Jesus, the one who weighs us, who measures us. 

He knew her stature,  and her weight of integrity. Lose and lusting. Empty and lost, was her measure.  But he was about to change that.  

But first he deals with her accusers. After all ... He knew them too! 

After all she was at least looking for love ... they were just using her for their flesh needs to be met.   (Just as God had first death with Jobs poor religious comforters, he now deals with her accusers).

Jesus looks over at the men and says ... ?If you don't have any sin ... You can cast the first stone". 

All stones went down!

Then he looks to the women. 

"Where now are your accusers?"

"Who is it that condemns you or holds sin against you?"

Her reply, "None Lord".

Then neither do I, your sin is forgiven, go and sin no more!

A clean slate!   How free and alive she must have felt as she walked away that day!

Jesus was interested in the soul of the accused, and of the soul of the accusers.

For the women ... she had to understand that there was no condemnation pouring out on her in judgement. 

For the accusers they had to learn to release judgement concerning others. 

These soul matters led to a better life for all. 

The bible is full of times when people and nations were cast down and broken. Times when it seemed there was just not enough. 

• Not enough power to heal.
  Not enough food to deal out. 
  No water ... No wine ... No rain ... No place!

Let me just share a few of these quickly for Good Measure.  

When the World was only Chaos and void ... it was not enough, but  God spoke and created.  Placing a prosperous soul within it to guard and keep it.

When there was no food in the wilderness ... God sent Manna.

When they were parched with thirst and there was no water in river beds ... God opened up the rocks with water from a prosperous soul of obedience.

When Elisha the prophet had no place to stay, God moved upon a family with a prosperous soul to build him a room and furnish it.

When Eljah fled the hands of Jezebel ... the rivers refreshed and a scavenger bird carried bread.

When the widow and her son was about to starve ... a prospered soul met her where she was and God provided.

When the women with 2 mites gave all she had in an offering and Jesus saw it ... she became an eternal icon for prosperity.

When there was not enough wine ... a prosperous soul put a demand on Jesus and other prosperous souls obeyed ... thus a miracle. 

When masses needed to be fed ... the prosperous soul of one little boy rose up to the miraculous occasion.

When Daniel was in the lions den ... Peter in Prison ... the prosperity of  the soul of pray-ers released Angles to their sides. 

The prosperous souls of Paul and Silas praying and singing praises caused the earth to open up and help them in their time of great need. 

When a women with an issue of blood seemed she just did not have enough ... not enough doctors ... not enough money ... she rose up in her soul to faith living and pressed through to her healing. 

When there was no doctors, psychiatrist or disciples that could help the child vexed with a spirit.  The child often throwing himself into waters and fires ... the prosperous soul of a loving Father took him to Jesus and obtained liberty  for him from a tormenting spirit.

Ten lepers with no cures ... cast out from society ... they offered soul prosperous worship which ended in their healing, and the deeper soul of thankfulness regained limbs.

The soul of a blind man strong enough in faith to cry out when everyone said to be quiet ... brought him sight. 

When there was no silver and gold for the man who simply sit around the church begging all day, the prosperity of the souls of the disciples set him on his feet that he might go into the house of God and offer praises and then be self sufficient outside the house, able to take care of himself. 

What does it mean to be soul prosperous?

The soul is constructed of the mind, will and emotions of man.    

When we are set on understanding and obeying the Word of God: when we become teachable; then we are headed toward soul prosperity.

For those unsaved the Word soon turns to their salvation and soul prosperity.
For those who are saved.  The Word daily renews the mind and prospers the soul, when we allow the Wonderful Holy Spirit to teach us.

III John 2

Beloved I wish above all things that you prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers.

In context:

• health means:  to have sound health, a well  body; to be uncorrupted in doctrine (rightly dividing truth): to be sound in mind and whole in every way.  
• prosper means: to do well and succeed in the affairs of life; to do will in business affairs.

With this in mind.  

We know that God wants each of us to prosper and do well ... yet the soul is His highest priority, and like Mary from within the prosperous soul comes Jesus bearing all things. 

Let us remember to keep Christ in Christmas this year.  And when desiring gifts,  let's desire the best ... A prosperous soul!

Merry Christmas

Standing together during times of Adversity

Today I reflected up recent days of adversity for those who have suffered loses.  Loses are never joyous or easy, yet there is a strength that can, and will carry us through.  That strength is the Love we have one for another.

Religious people who have forms without power, would just argue ...  about God carrying us.  God does carry us, but today it is "Christ in us the hope of Glory."  Today God makes his abode within men.  And this same Jesus whom we serve, and fellowship with, also lives through us in the sense of helping others.  We have been left with one command ... that is like unto loving God ... Loving one another.

Proverbs 24:10 tells us that if we faint in the day of adversity our strength is small. 

The word faint in this text means to quit, to stand idle, to leave the task, to slack off, or to be slothful.

So when adversity comes we do not want to quit believing for better days.  We are not to stand idled doing nothing toward overcoming.  It is not time to slack off or be slothful.  It is time to stand up and fight the good fight of faith.  Yet remembering we are not alone.

We have the one just like Jesus given us, "the person of the Holy Spirit" who is here to Help us.  We also have Christ in others that will reach out to us and aid us in our stand when trouble comes.  Together we become stronger ... as the scripture has assured us, one can put a thousand to flight and two ten thousand.  Also, we are led to understand that there is strength in numbers. Together we are strong in the day of adversity.

Today a friend of ours posted a facebook status concerning how each snow flake is unique, just like each of us.  He continued to impress me with this knowledge: "The number of possible snowflakes is 10 x 70th power times the number of atoms in the universe."  Amazing!  Yet, being the opinionated person I am (as most of us are, if we are honest) I had to add this: "Yes, everyone different ... All unique ... All individually beautiful and amazing. Yet, it is only when they all move together that they make an impact in planet earth."
Together we are strong ... together we make noticeable difference.

These present days have a darkness about them. But we can make a difference ... There is a light that shines if we allow it.  Let us be lighted candles set on hills, without the overshadowing of bushels.

In the midst of sorting through all of the shock and pain of the Sandy Hook shooting, a poem was released, out of consideration for the author I have copied and pasted it below.

Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
they were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"this is heaven." declared a small boy. "we're spending Christmas at God's house."
when what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
and as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"come now my children, let me show you around."
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."


At the end of this poem reads, and I will repeat:
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"come now my children, let me show you around."
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

This is the hope we have as Christian believers in planet earth.  This is the outstretched arm of a loving savior who is for us and not against us.  It is love extended in darkness.  Light that will dis-spell evils, as it comforts those who are hurting. 

When the text in Proverbs speaks to us about adversity ... the word adversity suggest to us:
 times of anguish, distress, hurts and/or trouble.  We could easily say frustrations and disappointments.

When our hearts are angered, stressed, hurt and our minds troubled.  Our flesh grows frustrated and often disappointment by things we can't fix and that our minds can't comprehend.  Thus, we have faith. A supernatural invisible substance given each of us by God.  And it is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things we can't see.

We can't see our lost ones that have passed over, yet there is a hope of rejoining them.  We can't blink back homes lost to devastation like tsunamis and tornadoes, but we can re build as we fight back in faith.

Life here in planet earth comes with persecutions, troubles and tribulations.  But there is a strength that can endure to the end.  It is called Faith!

There is a God who lives within, who will hear us when we call, respond to us when we inquire and comfort us when it seems we can't stand.

When it seems your strength is small... run to a quite place and  look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of the God kind of faith.  He is available.  He will be there to receive you, to listen to you and to answer.   And I, as Jesus did for Peter,  will be praying that your faith does not fail you and that you might come out with the ability to strengthen others.

Maybe you have felt or are feeling faint.  Maybe it seems today your strength is small.  If so ... hold on, help is on the way.  You are not alone. Prayer is being made for you, even as you pray.

In closing this blog ... let me leave you with a truth.  God will make a way where there seems to be no way.  He will up hold you with his righteous right arm and and brace you with His love.  Don't run from God, don't hide out from others.  Run to them for strength!  Today ... You are loved, so tomorrow you can feel again ... you can love again!

Go to the Other Side

As I was relaxing yesterday afternoon a word seemed to call me to attention.  The word was "Traverse".  Having several meanings, my focus rested upon the idea of:  moving across, over, or through an area.
In this defining moment ... the word opened with the meaning of:   moving back and forth through a place; to reach across an area as to bridge; to move at an angle while descending and ascending, as to zig zag through rough terrain.  

I often feel that people get quickly stuck in places (good or bad). Thus we have so many discontent people stuck in ruts with little or no progress in planet earth.

Jesus said, that the Spirit was as the wind blowing; we hear the sound but cannot tell from where it comes or where it may be going.  ~ John 3:8   And it is not hard to find this pattern with Jesus. In His early life ... suddenly He was nowhere in the sight of His earth given parents. Searching they found Him in the temple, teaching and being taught.

You find Him disappearing in the crowds, and leaving one place to go to another spontaneously.  He knew how to follow the wind of the Spirit. He was our example.  Our lovely Host to planet earth.

While traveling through Samaria ... He reminds us that it was necessary that He go this way. Going this way He proclaims the truth to a woman at the well of water.  Sharing her life story with her, (her past and her present).  It is one thing for someone to tell you their life story, but quite another for them to tell you, your own story.  The one you would rather have kept hidden.  The one you were not so proud of ... the one of which you would like to be relieved.  

It amazes me of how many people (religiously) want to talk about a third eye (spirit eye), but fail to understand that the all seeing eye is offered us in the person of Jesus Christ.  Even so the Word tells us that He will guide us with His eye and lead us with His spirit within us.

So many have yet to understand the flow of the Spirit of God.  To know the truth that makes them free.  Jesus had understanding of this ... thus He like the wind moved about, driving out chaff and offering refreshing.  Yes, as was stated previously, "people seem to easily get stuck" ...  from their own flesh weaknesses (handicaps).  But ruts can be mastered, as can the sin in our lives.  If we will learn to traverse with the Spirit.

Recently I was out walking at a family owned recreational business.  It was outdoors and there were patches of pavement, concrete, grassland and gravel.  A precious lady with a physical handicap was there in her wheel chair.  As she was moving along steadily, she settled into a patch of loose gravel.  Trying to continue she only dug herself, and her chair in deeper (causing them to be stuck in a rut).

This dear lady had fire ... she was determine to get out of the rut and traverse to her destination.  I turned and saw that she was stuck and that she was rocking that chair to and fro, back and forth, using every muscle in her natural body to get moving again. Of course I went over to see if I could help her.  She was gracious and thankful, but a little skeptical that I would be able to move such a heavy piece of machinery with her in it as she was a very large woman.  Being okay with her skepticism and my weakness I offered myself.  Just as I got behind the chair to push ... along comes another and another.  Together we got her out of the rut safely, but it all begin with her moving to and fro with a determination to get out of the rut herself.

There came a day when Jesus spoke to his disciples and said to them, "let us go over to the other side".
When the Spirit gives a command it is wise to follow ... the wind blows where ever it wills. The question is, "will we be move with the wind?"  "Will we go with the flow of the Spirit?"   "Will we willingly obey?"

A key reason people refuse to let go, leave a place or make relational changes ... is fear of loss.  They are afraid of leaving their comfort zone.  They are afraid of what they can or cannot see.  They are afraid of what might happen if they let go.  They are afraid of embarrassing failure.   THEY ARE AFRAID!

In this fear they create ruts and it is not easy to get out of a rut ... sometimes you even need some help.

In the case of the disciples, they heard the voice of the Spirit tell them to traverse.  When they began to travel across, they encountered a storm of great magnitude. To turn back would be to miss their destination.  As the storm began to peak thoughts of loss surely flooded their minds and hearts.  Winds of adversity blowing, water crashing in crushing swells. Fear!

Lord, don't you care that we perish?  This word 'perish' holds the idea of being marred down (in a rut).  It also denotes separation, then onward to destruction and death.  In other words, one could be crying:

"Lord, don't you care that we are separated from the comforts of the familiar, and are concerned for our lives?"
(or)
"Lord, don't you care that our lives are in a rut?"
(or)
'Lord, don't you care about what is happening to us; our physical bodies are being crushed by the weights of the storm and we may die?"


Of course Jesus cared, and the truth is He was not afar off.  He was very near to them.  Storms do not mean that one is separated from God, nor necessarily that they are either in the right or the wrong place.  Its simply means we have adversity with purpose.  In this position faith is tried.  Our faith will surly be tried as we travel through this land.  However, it is up to us whether we move on with the Spirit or retreat to our old ruts.

To move with the Spirit does not mean that storms and fears will not arise.  To move with the Spirit is to stand through adversity.  Eph. 6:10-18 details our victory stance.  The word stand in this sense is to hold fast to our covenant promises, to remain established in truth, to be committed.

There are times in life when ruts and fears and storms seem to challenge us even unto the point of death. But don't fight the storms.  Don't fight the winds.  Simply do as Jesus would have done.  Rest in the midst ... rise and speak and watch the storms calm.  Then continue on your directed journey.

As long as one holds fear in their boat it is bound to sink or at best float aimlessly on the seas.  You must learn how to release fears and anxieties.  Both are useless to your success.  Both are dangerous to your well being.

Life is subject to test and trails. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord, He brings them through them all!  He will not leave nor forsake one who believes in Him.  He is faithful.

It is time to trust Him. To travel with Him. Traverse together. It is time to let go and flow. Time to move with the winds of the Spirit instead of fighting the winds of the Spirit ... or beating the air of adversity.

Let go and you will flow ... don't and you won't!

Jesus moving with the Spirit grew, and was used mightily, expressing to us that all the works that he did and more we would do.  How?  Being led by the Spirit. 

Jesus was led to the temple to teach and be taught.  He was led through Samaria where He operated by the Spirit to speak into another persons life.  Then the disciples being schooled in the Spirit were taught how to traverse with the Spirit.

It is time to let go ... time to flow.  Time to learn to traverse.  To go in and out, to and fro, across and onward to Spirit led places, to cultures and faces successfully!  It is not enough that only a few have the opportunity to know Jesus, to learn by the Spirit who they really are, and be free to live outside of religious rituals and restraints!

More

It is very obvious that people today want MORE.  More success, more beauty, more wealth, more networks and relationships.  Snail mail evolved to e mail, e mail to Instant messaging, then phone texting.  My space gave place to facebook and tweeting. 

We have gone from house phones to cell phones the size of backpacks to ones we can wear in our ear.  We no longer have to heat with wood, light with candles or ride horse and buggy.  We have life coaches, beauty consultants, plastic surgeons, and physical instructors to keep us in line, beautiful and stronger bodied. 

We are moving and expanding all the time. God intended for us to grow, to increase and to make progress! 

God spoke and framed the worlds, placing plant life, fish, fowls, animals, and all creeping things in the land.  He then placed mankind there.  In His own image he had made them, and within each plant, fish, fowl, animal, insect and man he put seed within itself that each might multiply.

God did not intend poverty.  He proclaimed multiplication and increase.

For people to assume God is pleased with poverty or that he expects his children to live within that realm is to err of the character and nature of God.

God himself takes pleasure in the prosperity of his children.  Faith pleases God.   Romans 10:17 lets us know that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word and Heb. 11:1 tell us that faith is the substances of things hoped for and the evidence of things we cannot see.

As we read the Word from which faith comes, we find God bringing His enslaved children out of Egypt and into the promised land.  A land flowing with abundance.  His desire was to bring them out of lack into more. 

You find him instructing military leaders in how to win wars that gave them more land and ownership.  And lepers entering a land to gather up three days worth of spoil.

Deuteronomy 28 speaks to us about blessings over taking us.  Malachi talks to us about the blessings being poured out on us in measures that could not be contained. The gospels speaks of multiplication of food insomuch that all were fed and baskets were left over,   and this is just to jot down a few examples of God's glorious idea of provisions for his children.

False religions will again enslave people to the bondage of lack and defeat.   True religion will enable people  to walk blessed and be a blessing.  Truth empowers people to care for widows, fatherless (orphans); the hungry, naked and imprisoned, caring for the destitute and prostitute.

Some live with the idea that we are to do all these great works, but have nothing ourselves.  Poooh!  How can that even be possible from a biblical stand point?

According to the gospel of  Jesus Christ, when we give it comes back to us pressed down, shaken together and overflowing.  When we sow seed it multiplies 30, 60, 100 fold.  When we put our hands to things ... any thing, God causes us to have good success.

Many people have a very wrong mindset of the character and nature of God. God is a good God.  He is creator!  He is provider!  He is physician! He is protector!  He is Bread to the hungry!  He is drink to the Thirsty!  He is all in all!  What ever you need ... He is!   However, to access Him and His goodness ... it takes faith!

People must believe that He (God) is ... and that He is a re-warder of those who diligently seek Him.  They must believe that He hears them when they pray and that He answers.

It would do people well, to get to know God.  To seek Him.  To call upon Him.  To study the Word.  To ask the Holy Spirit to teach them. 

They would soon find God is love.  And love is faith's activator. They would soon find that if they did not love their fellow man the love of God was not in them.  And that with God nothing is impossible, nothing to hard. 

They would find that Jesus healed all the sick and diseased expect for those who would not put their faith in him as healer. They would find that He feed the hungry and ministered the good news of the gospel to the poor.  That good news to the poor is this ... you don't have to be poor.

Certainly the poor will always be among us.  This is because people will refuse to open themselves up and receive the truth that will set them free from poverty and lack.

Many will refuse the Lord Jesus Christ and His goodness.  Others will receive Him as far as to open their hearts up to the idea of His life, resurrection, accession and return.  But they will never operate from the means of prayer that Jesus taught His disciples years ago, when He told them:  "pray in this manner ... ~thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven".  Oh, these people would tell you, there is no lack or sick and diseased in heaven, but yet they refuse to believe that they could walk in that heavenly life here in planet  earth.  But Jesus made it clear to pray and reach toward that reality. 

As for the Blind man and his son who received their sight, they would tell you that heaven can come to earth.  The widow who received her dead son to life would tell you that she experienced some heaven on earth, as would Jairus and his family. 

If Martha were here today she would not just talk to us about the resurrection, but she would speak to us about how her brother came forth from the grave in his present life with a promise of a future resurrection.
And who could deny that God sent heaven to earth when when gave us Jesus?  

Oh, how  people need to seek God, read the Word, find out the character of God.  How they need to allow the Holy Spirit to teach them truth.  Jesus came to earth to show us the way of LIFE 'and' of  life eternal.  As well as to atone for our sins.

He came proclaiming the kingdom of God is among you; [has came to you; is present with you; is in you].  He came to give us truth that would set us free!  He came to give Life and that MORE abundant!  

Oh, that people would open their heart to truth.  That they would open the Word of God [Bible] and let the Holy Spirit teach and renew the mind.  They would be glad they did, as they would  find that God is a good and that He is not withholding any good thing.  Matter of fact He wants to be more than enough for you in every area of life.

God wants to Help

God desires good lives for each of us, it is His will for us to live prosperous and productive lives. 

Jeremiah reveals to us in chapter 29 verse 11 that God has good plans for our lives. They are plans of hope and future!  Jesus assured us in John 10:10 that he came to give us life and that more abundantly.

To walk in these good plans we must learn to accept that they have been offered to us. That they are God's will for our lives.  

We are made creatures of free will. We have the ability to choose life or death, blessing or cursing. We can accept or decline according to our will. That is a God given privilege. God does not control us as some assume. 

In a sense people do what they want to do, and when their want to is large enough they move into their desires. God cannot and will not help us until we call upon him and accept His response to our cry. 

According to Biblical Truth,  God is a present help in time of trouble, but we must call upon him. He is willing to aide us and relieve us from the effects of noonday sun, physical ills, spiritual dullness, poverty, ignorance, pestilence, fears and all evils you can imagine (not that you should try to imagine evils, please don't). 

However, if you find yourself embarking evil it is a great time to call upon the Lord for His help. Even for temptations He provides way of escape. 

God is a every present.  He is just waiting for you and I to call upon Him. Once we call, He makes help available. 

Therefore, if you are embarking evil today ... Call out. If you have physical ills, allow him to offer his healing balm. If you heart has been broken, He waits to mend it.  Needing Wisdom?  He has it in generous supply and He is willing to offer it to you. 

Maybe you are tired and weary, if so go to him for rest and recovery. Perhaps, you need help monetarily, allow him to lead you to your supply. It may be a job, a raise or perhaps favor. Whatever the problem, God has your solution.

If you are WILLING to call upon him;  if you are WILLING to obey His ways and work with Him, you will soon find yourself free of the problem and walking in the victorious life and abundance that He sent Jesus to provide for you! 

Why not let go and let God help? He is waiting for you to will Him into your life!  He has already willed you into His!  

Words have Power

The entire Bible is a textbook that comes alive by Spirit.  It reveals to us who God is, who we are and offers us the means of power through Jesus Christ unto a godly and successful life.

Jesus himself came to us as "God from God".   God who was and is and is to come.  Jesus the Word made flesh.  That human flesh then sacrificed to atone for our sin, that we might live free through our belief (faith) and confession.  In a sense we are a whole sum of Words ~ God himself creator who according to the Bible and our Faith was and is Word, operative by Himself (the Spirit of Love).

We came into existence by Word.  When we are born again it is through the life and blood of Jesus and Faiths confession.  Today we live by our Faith ... through heart belief and Words!
Pro. 18:21
Mt. 12:37
Lu. 19:22
Job 22:28

Realizing it or not  we daily live and receive good and evil according to words.  We have the power of choice, the power of decree.

Truth be told:
Fear, sickness, diseases, poverty, evil manifestations is all set in motion through the power of decree and or by a decree received.  The good news is ... so does all good such as happiness, success, healthy, joy, peace, prosperity, and all manner of good.   Our amazing God first decreed it to be this way, so it is today!

Word is like seed ~ it has power within itself to create.  Thus by our Words we create weedy dry, fruitless lives that cause problems for ourselves and others or,  clean, well watered, fruitful lives that we enjoy and bless others by and  glorify God.

As said, the fruitful live glorifies God.  The weedy, dry, fruitless life becomes a land for all evils.  You can see this from Jesus own words in Matthew 12:43 and Luke 11:34 as well as John 15:8.
In Matthew and Luke we find the enemy seeks rest, and of course he never finds rest (evil doesn't rest),  yet he walks through dry places seeking (they hate watered lands ... speaking of the watering of the word God.  They know they have no place in these kind of areas.

The word says that our of our bellies shall flow rivers of living waters.  What are rivers?  The rivers of God are streams of faith filled God Word.

Everyone has something flowing out of them all the time ... the words spoken are either sweet unto life or bitter and poison unto death.

Our minds are breeding grounds for good or evil and as we think we become.  We will think on a thing and then speak of it and become it.  The tongue is what takes us down rivers for good or evil.  It is like a rudder on a boat steering our course. 

The Kingdom of God is a kingdom ruled by the law of love.  All good dwells within the kingdom.  There is no darkness there.  The Son is the light.  We are to live by those laws here in planet earth as Christ like.
We are here as ambassadors to reconcile people back unto God. We are to witness life, truth, the way ... the Christ.  And our prayers should be in 'kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven form'.

We are according to truth Kings and priest ... we are chose to be in royal position here and now.  We as those Kings and priest must learn to live clean lives of decree.  Understanding the royal position of King one, must know that when the King decrees a thing ... it is so.  It is like saying ... "let it be" ... and then it is so!

Decree defines as:

• an official order from a delegate (one who has had power delegated to them)
• a court ruling that holds
• a divine will that is processed

God decreed (spoke with and by) his own authority (power of his word) and the worlds were framed.  He said, "let there be ... and it was so".  He willed it, he ordered it and he ruled it!

It is in Hebrew chapter eleven that we read:
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed "by" the word of God so the things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Hebrews chapter eleven is commonly called the Hall of Faith which precedes to share with us that it was through (by) faith those who have gone before us obtained a good report ... a better life.  God word (will) spoken in faith is always equivalent to life and good.

We cannot be reminded often enough of the power that dwells within us for good or evil.  Our thoughts and words actively producing.  We must come to the knowledge of the truth concerning these matters.  Our thoughts, imaginations and words are loaded with power.

Think of it in the terms of a loaded weapon.  Weapons can be used for good in the sense of survival, but also for evil in the sense of murder.  We would never in our right might play around with a loaded weapons.  Yet, unconsciously we play with loaded words, thoughts and imagines every day to the point of causing hardships and even death.  It is time to wake up unto the power of our Words!

Attached Only to The Spirit

This morning I was reminded of something a friend had said recently about how challenging it was to detach from things and even people. This being on my morning plate, I decided to chew on it a bit, as I have learned to flow with the Spirit.

This does not mean that I let random thoughts control me. I listen to see if thoughts such as these are are productive God thoughts or random thoughts of the soul. If they are thoughts that can and will be productive for good, I then continue in the through process. If not, I simply discard them for a higher thought life.

The Word attachment defines as, the act of being attached which means:

• to fasten to
• to connect with as to adjoin or associate with as a part of
• to covenant with
• to be assigned to or with
• to bind emotional with great affection and loyalty, or by Law to seize upon

I think the most sever case of attachment disorder that I have ever witnessed is when people are labeled "hoarders." When a person is a hoarder they have ties to things in weird and unusual ways. I recently watched a person cry over a small kitchen appliance that might have to be released to someone else.

I watched as a lady could not depart with a broke down, gutted out, molded computer casing (hers was a need to control, than of a breaking down emotionally), but what ever the reason for such hoarding, it is unhealthy. It is a robber of life.

Jesus came to give us life and that more abundantly. A life that we must guard and refuse to allow anything or anyone to take from us.

As Christians we need to arise to spiritual truth that liberates and keep ourselves from unhealthy attachments. This means living our lives awake and aware of God, and of self.

It means connecting with the Spirit, and disconnecting with all that would hinder us from walking in love, liberty and success.

I have been around people who I believe have attachment disorders other than hoarding. These are people who don't know how to say goodbye and be done when a relationship is over. They can't release and let go when it comes to people.

There are times when people will engage with one another and then never see each other again. It is a mere one time acquaintance and then it is over.

There are times when people will be in our lives for a season with a God ordained purpose and then that season passes. Others will be long term relationships. But people like things must be received and released in accordance to the plan of God for our lives.

Attachment disorders like these often come from a lack of proper care and nurture during childhood. Because of being mishandled, these people may find it difficult to separate from things or people, even when the things and people are unhealthy for them.

These disorders usual have fears and the nature of men pleasing attached to them. These people will have low self-esteem and insecurities from hurts and/or rejection.

To live our lives to the fullness of God intentions, we must press in to the truth for healing and recovery. To live well rounded lives people must learn to detach when it is necessary, as well as attach.

I find it very interesting, as Christians we often sing "I surrender all" ... we do this with hands up and eyes closed, while inwardly we are hoarding all kinds of things.

Things like:

• jealousy
• envy
• fear strife
• worry
  
• doubt
• discrimination
• hate
• insecurities.

Behind closed spiritual doors are hidden:

• personal agendas and ideas
• vulgarity
• quiet criticism,
  
• evil thoughts
• scary images and all sorts of ungodliness
  

It is not until we really surrender that our lives will change, and we will be endued with all the good that we desire.

Full surrender to God is full surrender to love.

Jesus left us with one command, and that was to love God and one another ... thus He leaves us understanding the two are actually one. When we have love for one another, we have fulfilled our love for God. If we are Christ like we can not say I love God and hate our brother. If we do this the love of God is not in us.

Jesus also made it very known that God alone is good. The Word also respectfully reveals that all good and perfect gifts come to us from the Father of light.

God absolutely withholds no good thing from those who love him, and are called according to his purpose. He never has withheld good, and He never will. He gave us Jesus when we were yet sinners. When we deserved nothing good, He loved us and gave us Jesus, whereby we could enter into his rich heavenly kingdom.

He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is the unchanging! The good God that He was when He loved us and gave us Jesus, is the same Good and loving God he is today.

The problem we run into as Christians when it comes to the receiving doors of our life, is we tend to block our receiving doors with all of our attachments and disorders!

We leave little to no room for God to move in our lives, as we stand and sing, "I surrender." We actually are unconsciously singing ... I am storing up, I am holding back, all for me and me alone, I am keeping all!

We desperately need to surrender.

We need to learn how to release, to let go, to refuse to be attached to anything that is temporal. We also need to learn to release and let go of relationships that have ended and move on.

As long as we are attached to manifestations of temporary gifts, whether it be a relationship, finances or material substance, we are keeping ourselves from God's next opportunity, from God's best, from God's now assigned mandate and blessing!

Faith is NOW, and Faith pleases God. Here again, let me with great opportunity of word usage bring a reminder that, Faith is activated by Love!

Our lives are just not the lives they are meant to be until we learn to properly attach and detach. And the only way to do this is to be totally, inseparable when it comes to our relationship with the Holy Spirit. This is the thing that you can hold fast to and refuse to detach for God is eternal, he is your forever, your one unchanging element that will take you over in every situation.

In Romans Chapter 8 we find a great pictorial of our life in Christ. It begins like this:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

As we continue to read, we find that it is only as we live according to the Spirit that we walk free!

We cannot live our lives according to the flesh (the temporary) and walk free and blessed.

Romans 8:5 reminds us that those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

Thus, we must not hold to our own flesh ideas, ideals or lust. Instead it is vital to set our mind on Spirit. When we do this we are open to all that God may want to say to us, offer to us, or use us in here and now!

Every thing past this present moment is over. The future is ahead of us, therefore, to live in anything other than NOW is to miss God opportunity.

This does not elemental vision and plans for our tomorrows. It does not discard goals and guidelines, nor does it omit our ability to recall the greatness or failures of the past in order to move forward. But we can not attach to anything ... we must be willing to flow with the Spirit in all things. Recall and release. Look ahead and step back to the Now. Listen to what the Holy Spirit has to say in all things.

Let everything serve the purposes they are meant to serve, but live NOW in the Spirit.

• See Now, what the Spirit wants to show you
  
• Hear Now what the Spirit has to say
• Obey Now what the Spirit relays to you
• Receive Now what the Spirit has for you.
  

Remember if you are not willing to let go of the last thing God gave you or assigned you to, you can't receive the next thing He has for you.

Does this mean you can't have anything in your life. No, not at all.

God adds things, and people to our lives. He gives us richly all things to enjoy.

Increase the kingdom way, is about being faithful with what God has given you stewardship over. We are to do what ever God says to do, with that which he has given. We are to be willing to receive, and to let go that we might receive again.

There was a time when Joseph was given stewardship wisdom to store back supplies. He obeyed and it brought both recognition and opportunity. Because Joesph obeyed God there was a storehouse of blessing in a time of famine. Yet, a time came, when Joseph was required to release what was in his care. As he obeyed, that release brought forth blessing and the plan of God for his life and for others.

I have given clothes, cars, money, material things and time ... and it has always returned in multiplies. The is no lack in the kingdom, or for those who belong to God and operated according to His Spirit laws.

There was a time when a very rich man was asked to release ... but he could not. He had attachment disorder in his life.

Had this rich man understand the laws of the Spirit and the goodness of our God through Christ Jesus, he would have released (detached), and moved forward in the Spirit and multiplied besides. Instead lacking understanding he went home with his riches (which by the way are meager in comparison to that which he could have had, if he had obeyed and release); he also went away sorrowful.

God's provisions, make rich and add no sorrow. If this man had only known this truth. If he had only be aware of Jesus Words, and awake to the ways of kingdom laws. He would have walked away singing ... "I am glad I surrendered all. In all my surrender God has made me cheerfully rich in all things."

Life in the Spirit ... Oh, what a life it is! What a glorious life!

Romans 8:6-8 tells us that the mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

But as born again believers we are adjoined (grafted in to the family of God). We are of the Spirit, for we have been born of the Spirit.

We are to no longer live from the realm of the flesh, but the realm of the Spirit, and those who do; those who are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:14

The spirit you have received is a spirit whereby you can say, Abba Father God.

This Spirit is the same spirit that raise Christ Jesus from the dead, and now dwells within you. As a born again believer, you are one with Him. Thus you have become a joint heir of all things.

But you must learn to live in this realm, receive from this realm, and act in this realm, if you are to reap the benefits of the kingdom.

Romans 8:17 says ... if indeed we share in his sufferings...we may also share in his glory (wealth, greatness, all of his goodness).

In other words if you can't detach from flesh lust and desires then you can not share the wealth.

Jesus in his sufferings detached from everything that was in heaven ... laid aside all deity and left a heavenly rich kingdom to come to planet earth to show the ways of God to men.

He came to redeem men and purchase them out of the hand of evil. To restore men again to that which was lost because of deception and flesh weakness.

I am sure that was a great surrender, to leave the glory and to come to our poverty stricken cause, but He did it. And in doing so he gained and so did we. This was his surrender to the perfect will of God.

Jesus then, was asked (as man) to detach again, to leave his all on the altar in the garden. His sufferings was now to be seen by men . He was to suffer great suffering in surrender ... Sufferings even unto sweat as it were great drops of blood, but he did it! He surrender his will once again to great gain.

The surrender of will is the first battle of detaching.

Jesus had to be willing to let go of family, friends, followers and all this world had to offer. The ultimate detachment, but He did it!

He had to be willing to suffer being mocked, criticized, judged, misjudged and mistreated, but He did it! He did it for love, in love and with love for his Father, and for us.

On the cross ... He had to attach to some things ... things I am sure that he would rather have left behind. He had to take on all of our sin, all of our infirmities, all of our weaknesses, all of our sicknesses and diseases, all of our poverty; He took upon himself all evil, that we might walk in all of God's goodness.

Defeating death, hell and the grave, Jesus regained the keys to the kingdom and left them in the hands of followers that we might continue to walk and free in the Spirit and partake of kingdom goodness, while living here in planet earth.

Any suffering we might be ask to undergo in 'attachments to or dis-attachment from' ... is nothing in comparison to the future glory set before us, nor in comparison to what has already been done for us.

Paul says it like this:

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Today we have not been left alone. We have a Spirit counselor, teacher, comforter, standby, intercessor. One just like Jesus himself living in us and with us. He is our helper ... this Spirit (Holy Spirit) helps us in our weakness.

We do not know what we ought to pray for on many occassions, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. ~ Romans 8:26-27

As we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit we know then, and only then does all things work toward our good. When God is for us ... there is none who is powerful to over take us.

When God is for us, who then can be against us?

God loved us with such a great love ... that he gave us his own son freely. In full release and surrender. Because we know and understand this we also understand that he is not going to hold back good from us.

We may be asked to release some things for good, but in the mind of God there is no with holdings of good. Anything we are asked by God to release, simply means blessings to others and multiplication back to us.

We must learn to attach and detach properly, to remove the barricades that hinder our receiving if we want to live in higher realms of glory.

Even when charges come against us, we are to simply release and rest. For justice will come and not be with held.

This justice is not going to come as long as we are on our knees crying and anger pleading with God to send angles to chase our enemies, or to knock their teeth out. God is love and there is no evil way in Him.

Men sentence themselves, not God. God is not judgmental nor should we judge. And to pray evil prayers is to keep yourself in the realm of evil.

When men operate outside the realm of the Holy Spirit, and walk outside the boundaries of truth (Gods written Word) sentence comes upon them. It is from our own personal actions that doors are open for good or for evil, for sentence or acquittal. God is the one waiting for repentance that He might deliver and acquit in his love.

God will however, justify his own when evil comes to try to bombard their lives with no cause.

Romans 8:33-34 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one.

No matter what people might say, condemnation comes from within ... it comes from a persons own thoughts and actions. No one can heap condemnation on the man or women in Christ, who lives by the Spirit. Condemnation will roll right off them, for there is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, for those who live by the Spirit.

Thus we must daily detach from anything that holds us back from walking in the Spirit. From anything that keeps us from the Faith Now life.

We must be only securely and inseparably attached to the Spirit of God. We must allow the Holy Spirit to lead us! We must learn to walk in Love, for our faith to be active and powerful.

Who then shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~Romans 8:35-38

Submit to God ... Resist the Devil ... Pray for People.

I recall a day when my husband and I was enjoying a peaceful afternoon together. Nothing unusual about that as we have a blessed life of which we are both thankful. However, there are times in the midst of the peace that a wind will arise from outside elements.

Sometimes these winds are winds of circumstance, other times they are windy people being embodied and used for evil. Either way, we have been given power over the power of the enemy. As believers we have the ability to keep our peace, and continue victoriously in life.

When people come into your life to try to control you, refuse the bait. Resist the controller, continue self-controlled and hold fast to your peace.

The Word of God speaks to us about the battles of life; battles that are never flesh and blood, rather they are principalities, powers and wickedness in high places. People can be used by the enemy, but they are not your battle. They have been taken captive by the enemy, who then operates through them to try to rob others of their peace and victory.

Sometimes you need to just allow the dogs to bark and know they have been de-toothed.
James 4:7 tells us that when we submit ourselves to God and resist the devil, he will flee. He never hangs around long when you walk in the way of the Spirit.

Kingdom truths teach us how to live our lives.
In these truths we find that a soft answer (response) turns away wrath.

So when the wolf comes huffing and puffing at your door, all you have to do is keep your heart guarded, put a watch over your lips, speak soft and stay submitted to the ways of the Lord. Simply resist the devil, and soon and very soon he will find himself in a very heated place.

Also, remember to pray for those whom the enemy has taken hostage. They are the ones who are troubled and hurting. They are the ones who need to be liberated.

When the old wolf showed up at our house, we refused to allow him to have any part of our peace, nor would we fight against him. Why would one fight a defeated foe?

So what did we do? We continued in the ways of the kingdom, and it wasn't five minutes until the old dog was done barking and fled away. Leaving us to continue with our peaceful afternoon.

I wish I could say the same for the hostage the enemy was using that day. But the reality is the people who the enemy has blinded; those he has taken hostage will continue to live troubled lives. Thus, we are responsible to pray for people while resisting the devil.

Things to Remember:

• The wolf may come huffing and puffing, but he cannot blow your house down when it is built upon the rock.
• Don't open the door to the enemy, don't give him a place. Instead continue to guard your heart and life.
  
• Pray for those who are blinded and held hostage by the enemy. (A precious price has been paid for whosoever will believe on Jesus the Christ and allow him to be Lord over their lives).