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Monthly Archives: May 2011

New And Upcoming Web Content!

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As of today, we have added 3 new features that you may or may not have noticed in the past few days:

1) Verse of the day – This will simply be a random daily verse for you to enjoy! It has the ability to be played back for you (if you have your sound on), or you can click on the verses to go and read more!

2) Where are we next? – This shows any places that we will be within the current week! If you are interested in seeing where we will be beyond the current week, just go to our events page!

3) Where to study today – This is adapted from the “read the bible in a year” plan, and shows the daily chapters to pace yourself reading if you would like to continually refresh yourself in the word of God each year! It’s worth it if you try it!

More features coming soon! God Bless You!

Why Trading In Is Such A Good Thing

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I love the art of trading. People will exchange something that they used to place so much of value on at one point for something else that they value more. People will even take a loss at money if it means that much to them sentimentally. We all know the classic adage “one persons junk is another persons treasure”.

You can think of many goods that we trade in and especially why we do it: cars because of mileage, clothes because they are defective, food because of bad packaging, electronics because they don’t turn on, etc.

I’m glad that when I came to God with all my sin that my exchange was for eternal life! What I traded in that day was for a glorious ticket that one day I shall be a part of! That stirs me to my core!

Even since getting saved, I have had many trials and many emotional journeys; and yet, in the midst of those, I have brought all my “bads” and exchanged them for God’s “goods”.

Remember through prayer, fasting, and the reading of God’s word to exchange all the things that are trying to burden you for something far more powerful, endued from on high to help you to bind every hindrance that stands in your way!

What Being A Light Brings For You

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This post might not be for everyone, but that’s okay. I feel led to write this one today, and I hope that to whomever this is for, that it speaks to your life.

I remember so many times in the earlier years in my life how easy that it was to get in a place where I felt like I was far away from anyone that could try and help me. What I didn’t realize at the time was that when I would begin to isolate myself and allow myself to be further and further from God and closer and closer to sin, I was essentially walking further and further into darkness.

More often than not I didn’t want people to see me in that condition or try and help me because I felt so unworthy for people to even look upon me. When people become so possessed with sin, it becomes as a terrible disease and corrupts the very will of a person.

I praise God for being delivered from all of that depression and desire to want to leave the world and wanting to lead such a miserable life! God truly changed me! I’m so happy about that, if you only knew!

Now that I am of a better understanding of the word of God and am willing to listen, I have learned some valuable lessons. I have learned that if I focus continually on God that my carnal mind is NOT allowed to bend the will of God in me. The light of God in my mind that stays focused each day is able to see the tricks and plans of the enemy WAY ahead of time (because your watching AND praying!) and I actually retain joy and peace that it build within me.

A light in my life most importantly lets my character be a witness to others! That’s what we are! Witnesses of Christ to a forsaken world! Remember that!

The Evidence Of Things Not Seen

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Hebrews 11:1  – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

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I would like to talk about the other half of the phrase of faith, which is said in the bible to be “the evidence of things not seen”. Carrying from the same theme from the last page, I would like to define evidence: The available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid; Information given personally, drawn from a document, or in the form of material objects, tending or used to establish facts in a legal investigation or admissible as testimony in court; Signs; indications

Most of what persuades about evidence is usually defined by things that we can be persuaded with by sight. And yet, when we read the word of God, we base our faith upon evidence of things we cannot see. For those who do not believe God, this is ludicrous. It is often referred to as being “absurd” at the ideal of people believing in faith to a higher power. When you think about it, it would be easy to understand this point of view if you did not know the experience of having an everyday relationship with God. That is why it is so important to have one! I am proud to say that in big and small ways that I practice faith every day! I pray, believe and trust God for things that I could only reach by hope in God and not my own power. That is how that we can do all things through Christ which strengthens us! By faith! Remember that we cannot always base our hopes on what we can see, but we build our faith in the hope through Christ the way will be made for you!

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Put Into Practice:

At some point in each of our lives we have had to either experience or know someone who has went through a time where they were losing a loved one. When someone is slowly dying and deteriorating, there are two different ways that people can really handle speaking over it: with or without hope. I know in my own personal experiences that throughout some of my loved ones that I saw slowly leaving this life that in my heart I was hoping continually. My mind was not going to be persuaded that they were getting worse, even when I began to hear reports that tried to persuade me otherwise.

The point that I am trying to get across is that we have to begin to face some of our worst situations with speaking hope and things that are not as though they are. Give this a shot: find one thing that you know that you have been working on to a change for a while and truly speak (or write down) a sincere statement of faith. If you are bold enough, speak it faithfully to someone else. If you are even bolder, speak it to someone else and ask them to help you pray. Seek God and begin to allow your faith to build. That is how it begins! It builds by the great things that God has done in the experiences of your past and the hope that you build for the future victories that are ahead of you! And as you make it through another mountain, it is yet another step up closer to a faith that you will not leave!

The Substance Of Things Hoped For

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Deuteronomy 7:9 – Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

Psalm 143:1 – Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.

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When I begin trying to understand important phrases in the word of God, I try and comprehend the roots of the important pieces that apply in my life. When we think of faith, we think of “the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen”, right?

In considering the meaning of substance, one would know several relevant definitions: The quality of having a solid basis in reality or fact; The quality of being dependable or stable; The quality of being important, valid, or significant; The most important or essential part of something; the real or essential meaning.

The basis of the beginnings for what I hope for (in faith to God) has to be the most important thing to me. The “substance” or “essence” of what exists to what I believe God for must exist and has to be active within me! A substance is something that exists! This could be: your thoughts in prayer standing in the gap for others, believing God for deliverance for those that are bound, or trusting God for your own trials! All of these different types of things to believe God for begin to be unlocked upon the basis of your faith!

So I ask today, what is the substance that you have in your mind? What are you hoping for in your heart? Are you hoping? Change your frame of mind and set in your mind the hope for what you want to believe God can do, for God has no limits! Do not allow your heart to be broken simply on what you have seen or heard. Set your sights beyond that by seeing through what the word of God has provided you with. Faith!

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Put Into Practice:

One of the hardest things that I ever had to overcome was trusting God to move for my job. I was not happy where I was, and was definitely in a state where I had little faith. For a while there I truly thought I was going to be stuck! However, as we (being me and my wife and other family members) began to bind together for what seemed like months upon months, God moved and opened another opportunity for me!

It could have been easy to have stopped praying and to have stopped being faithful. And if it were easy to be faithful and endure to the end of each trial, everyone would be doing it! So I ask you to find the hard things in your life and begin to dedicate time in prayer and dedicate faith to believing the better outcome and to release yourself from feeling stuck forever!

Somebody Is Praying

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Psalm 6:9 – The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.

Jonah 2:7 – When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

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I am sure that we all have read in various places the bible about how God never leaves us nor forsakes us and that He will be there always even until the end, right? That encourages me when I begin to think about that! It reminds me that there are angels encamped all about me, always watching over me and taking care of me each and every day. I have a word just for you: God has a special plan for you, no matter how you see the outcome of your life each day. The plan never changes, yet our perspective often does.

Whether we ever come to discover it or not, be reminded today that there is someone praying for you! Someone may have given you this to read. There may be a possibility that you may never grace church doors but that does not stop people from calling out your name in prayer! It might not be anyone that you even know; for it could be a friend or a complete stranger! Nonetheless, God calls people each and every day in the gift of prayer, and it is becoming a growing calling in the day that we are living. The question you may be asking is, how do you know? I would have to say because the needs of those around us are growing greater each day and the concern of Gods people is growing more and more.

Know that we love you and are praying for everyone out there! More than that know that God loves you unconditionally and whosoever will come can come to the Father for salvation and eternal life!

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Put Into Practice:

Take a moment today to pray for everyone but yourself. I know you may be thinking, “but what about all the things that I may need?!?” I realize that it takes a lot for us to put ourselves out of the way on the behalf of others, but God is really trying to get us to get to that place. Let me explain:

You see, the revelation that God gave me a long time ago was when I began to obey Him and to help others that not only their lives would be blessed but mine would be for the efforts also. I could very well only pray and praise for me at church, but there is so much more to give and use of the love of God that lives inside of you! Now? I may be in the altar working for an hour before I give my aching head any thought and by the time I am done my headache has passed with the virtue of healing. I may also be preaching or singing to encourage others and all of my fears and worries of trials in my mind just melt away. That is the beauty of when obedience meets the power of life and faith that is living inside of you! Let it come alive!

Sick And Tired Of Being Sick And Tired

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THE WORD

Psalms 103:8 – The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

Proverbs 19:11 – The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

There are so many things that come up every day that make it hard sometimes to emotionally hold it together. I know what it feels like to be on the mountain in my life and still feel unsatisfied. I also know what it feels like to be in the valley and feel forgotten. No matter the current status of happiness that we possess, there is something to help us find the calm in the midst of unexpected storms. What I have found to be true is God and God alone. For most of us our daily routines to make ends meet leave us so numb that we get in a ‘sick and tired’ state. If our focus is to be on the ministry of God then it is my every belief that God will take care of the other issues in my life. What we place so high of an emotional value on should not be more than what God means to us. If we invest fully into God and surrender all, then everything else will be added (and we will not be as sick and tired of things as often!).

Do not let the game of life win and defeat the best part of you. Remember to suffer not in the things that are trying to come against you! Use the tools you have that God has provided for you to have and use for a successful outcome!

PUT INTO PRACTICE

Walk over to your medicine cabinet and open the door. When you see (for example) a bottle of medicine that treats headaches you have a confidence in your mind that as you take the medicine that you will find relief from the problem. God’s peace can move in through your worship and prayers to provide relief from anything.

Search within your mind the good times that God has blessed you. Like a medicine, God provided relief and help for you in that time of crisis. And if God did it for you then, God can certainly do it again! All God needs is that trust in the wonderful anointing and his word to bring out the best treatment you could ever find for when you are sick of life!

Finding Clarity Through The Fog

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Proverbs 29:18 – Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

2 Corinthians 12:1 – It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

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One of the easiest things for people to do in the midst of a confusing situation is to simply give up. Giving up is usually followed a by decreased obedience, which in turn leads to a prolonged spiritual death. A spiritual death means that there is no life to you to draw strength from God. In essence, it is like walking through the fog with no vision. We are going only on our sense of what we think is right to do. When you consider that and our rate of failure, it scares me.

It scares me to think that people are going through the motions of life and being a part of it but doing it blindly without any purpose or knowingly what they want from it. You see, the entire basis of belief to God and Jesus Christ is through faith. In the midst of the fog of confusion, my faith is unlocked when I hope upon the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. I may not know where I am at in a trial because it is new or I may be too emotionally connected. What do I know? I do know of what God has already done for me! I have the roads of hope in my life that I have traveled and made it through before!

The only clarity that I can find in the midst of chaos is trusting God and to know that if He has done it before, that He will do it again. God will never leave or forsake His children! You should know that you are not alone and should not be wandering around in life without God. Recognize your guide, and let him lead you! We should not try to take the “grab life by the horns” approach because the latter outcome of this is usually a guaranteed failure. We cannot realize the outcome of any future for any trial. God sees into our tomorrows! Allow God to be the light in the midst of your darkness! Turn the lights on! Find some clarity through the word of God and all the spiritual things that will lift you above the hard times and let you see things for what they truly are!

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Put Into Practice:

When I first began to drive, I always wondered why it was so hard to drive through fog with the lights on the brightest setting. I thought, “You would think the most amount of light would get you through the fog, right?” In all reality, the best solution was to use a dimmer light and to hear the wisdom of others. That is the advice I give you today. When you hear a great God-given word to you, try not to resist it to bad and think your brighter ideas will solve it all. Trust your brothers and sisters in Christ that bring the word of God at your churches to give you the right now word to lead you through tough times! And if you are not getting it there, pray for it!

Prayer And Its Many Factors

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1 Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray without ceasing.

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Where can I even begin to start? Prayer is one of the most favorite things to do in my life. I can honestly say that without the ability to pray I do not know how I would have made it thus far. Prayer has saved me from my every addiction, brought me out of every oppression, and has lifted me out of all depression. It saved me when I was lost, and helped me find my way when I needed direction. It sent down the healing virtues when I was sick in body, and helped me to believe during the most difficult trials in my life.

Prayer stirs me in times when I would otherwise feel hopeless. It also lifts me up when there is an absence of people to fulfill the role to encourage me. It reminds me of the grace and provision of God when I have little or no way to make it through. Does that not stir you? Generally if the answer is anything other than yes than you can know beyond all doubt that prayer has not been something to really bail you out before! Trust me, when it has you will know in your heart about an experience that will have you standing up to tell others about the power of prayer!

Most importantly, it is the divine and open communication to God, and without it we will grow weak in a hurry. Always remember the importance of why it is you call out to God and do it with all of your heart! Do not just ask in words like you would ask someone for a ride somewhere without sincerity. Ask humbly and let a spiritual experience take place in your life! Let the death of your flesh (lowering of self) bring to life within you the increase of a stronger spiritual self. Prayer changes things, and should be done often and earnestly! Never forget it!

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Put Into Practice:

This is by far the turning point in the book and the most important activity that is recommended for you to do. I’m begging you to take the time for this.

Pray a prayer like you never have before. For maybe the first time in your life, just put out there openly and verbally to God all of the things you were always afraid to pray about. Be bold and confess to God about the parts of you that you feel vulnerable. Take some time to sincerely work on the issues within. I am asking you to not get up from the prayer until you feel the presence of God bring you comfort.

There was an experience where I got down and was there for a solid hour, simply crying out in pure humbleness. I cannot recall a single word that even came forth, but I do remember when I got up that the pain and suffering that had been on me was gone. It may take longer than that or only a few minutes, but I beg you begin to make it a habit to not only pray for the needs in your life, but allow God to have time to minister directly to YOU.

Daily Regeneration

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Regenrate – reform or reborn; to replace what is lost or injured; a spiritual or moral birth

Birth Of A New Spirit Within You

Ezekiel 36:25-27

[25] Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
[26] A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
[27] And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

God places something within me, and all of my cold and barren conditions are replaced. I am regenerated through the spirit of God! He gives us something to take the place of what needs to change; all the sin and the temptations that drive us from God especially!

The Spirit Is Of Divine Origin

John 1:1,4,13

[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

[4] In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

[13] Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

That which is placed in me is not of my own: not of blood, or in other words my life. It is neither the will of the flesh nor the will of man, but born of God! There is nothing that I could ever find or create in this world that could ever bring me true life and happiness! Try as you may, but it will only be when we finally come into surrender to God and recognize that it’s none of the wills of me but of Him!

Regeneration Is Essential To Spiritual Vision

John 3:3,5-8

[3] Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

[5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
[6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
[7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
[8] The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

We cannot see, be led, enter, or understand the will of God without the spirit! And without a vision, we would perish regardless! I must be born into! I must have that experience! I must come to God to be as new! The spirit performs a work in you to make you as not what you were. We could never imagine what the spirit could do in us, just as we read the reference to the wind. We simply know that when it comes to help us that we must submit, simple as that!

The Spirit Brings Forth A New Creature

2 Corinthians 5:17

[17] Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

By the spiritual transformation through coming to Jesus Christ, all ways and lifestyles and all that I ever knew was made new! The person that I once was has been forgiven and my sins have been cast from me. People might try to remember me as I was, but God sees me as the one who has been saved by the sacrifice at the cross.

You could say that I had a funeral for the death of the old man!

It Is Necessary To Salvation

Titus 3:4-7

[4] But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
[5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
[6] Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
[7] That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Not by our works, but the works of Christ! He made a way for you! By His grace through salvation we can be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life! That should stir your heart if you read it over and over each and every day!

We Are Regenerated By The Word Of God

1 Peter 1:23-25

[23] Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
[24] For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
[25] But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

We must be born into the understanding of the word of God and not our own. Our own understanding shall fade away! The word of God will keep you continually! Regenerate you! People could never say enough to help you in a bad situation. That’s why the comforter and teacher of the Holy Ghost is there to guide you and give you water when you thirst, or in other words knowledge in areas that no one could provide.

Obtained By Faith

1 John 5:1

[1] Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

Take that step out and believe! God is ready to receive you today! To repent means to turn! Turn to God and away from the life you once had known and renew yourself to be the person that through the spirit can be successful now and in the future!