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Yearly Archives: 2011

You Have To Acknowledge Them Sometime!

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Whether it be sometime today or some “when” down the road, there comes a time for everyone when the feelings that we are carrying become too much for us to bear. It could be a compilation of events that have overwhelmed you or might even be one small issue. Acknowledging our feelings that we have inside of us at any rate has to be done. The only way that we can truly live in peace is when we give release to the things that are holding us captive. You can generally tell when something has you captive when it continually cycles through your mind or when it is sensitive to you as it comes up. Trust me, this is something we all have to handle and keep in check! It directly affects not only your walk with God in general but the obedience to God as well!

So what do we do? Well, there are many avenues to this solution! You could choose to stand during your next worship service and praise your way out of it. You could get down at the altar at church or at your home and begin to cry out for peace and dominion over the things that try to rule your mind. You can begin reading the word of God and searching it for the countless pieces of wisdom and leadership that is available to you. The point of all of this is two simple things: we have to acknowledge the issues and then bring them to God and allow a change to occur. With this you are able to move on with the next chapter of your life instead of still being stuck in chapter 2 when someone hurt you. With the peace and joy of the Lord you are writing your future instead of living in your past!

The love of God we are talking about today (perfect love) casts out all fear! Acknowledge your feelings and fears and allow the love of God to dominate and be greater!

The First Book Has Begun!

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I write today with some very exciting news. After much reading, writing and research….the pursuit of the first Heart of Grace book has begun! So far we are now laying out pages and content and trying to make it as useful as possible! The only hints we’ll share today is that we will begin releasing a series of books based on topics that we feel are very “right now” for people that are in need of a simple yet fulfilling word of the Lord!

On a related note to this (just to testify a little), I remember growing up in school and going through it always thinking “I’m not good at writing”. The truth is, when it came to writing about things I wasn’t fully knowledgeable on, I was probably right. When we first started out the web site, I remember thinking about “how are we going to offer something to people that they can use?”, and no sooner than that God began to help me and lead me into things to begin to write and speak on. There has not been a day that when I have sat down to dedicate time to work for this dream that God has not helped me with it every step of the way.

We will be making this available in paperback and on the iTunes book store (and maybe amazon) when the first volume is finished. I’ll try to keep the rest a surprise until we get it complete! Pray that we have the time and resources to pull it together by the end of this calendar year! My goal (and prayers to God) is to have our first release of a book by Christmas!

A Reminder About Continual Access

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Genesis 28: 14-22

[10] And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran.
[11] And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.
[12] And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
[13] And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
[14] And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
[15] And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
[16] And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.
[17] And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
[18] And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
[19] And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.
[20] And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
[21] So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
[22] And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

We might feel like a pilgrim and a stranger, but as we read about the vision of the ladder in the vision that Jacob received it was a clear demonstration of the limitless borders and access that we have with God! The ladder that was in the vision demonstrated that we can always call out on God in our time of trouble; for when we need God, there is no place (north, south, east or west) that we could be that we could not call out (go up)!

I am also encouraged to know that Jacob recognized that He didn’t know that God was there, and then made a vow and dedicated that place to God. When we remind ourselves of whom God is and what He can do, we should dedicate our mind and resources to trusting Him with all of our might and power, for there is nothing that cannot conquer when we have God on our side!

Here are some other verses that are reminders of just how close God is to us and how easy it is for us to always stir this up within us:

Psalm 121:1-8

[1] I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
[2] My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
[3] He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
[4] Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
[5] The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
[6] The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
[7] The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
[8] The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

God is definitely as representative to a sleepless watchman, always ready and available regardless of the time or venue! Sometimes we easily forget this because we roam the earth often in our own trials, but be reminded today! Let’s get out of the way that we feel and begin to step into the presence of God. Let’s put off ourselves and put on more of God!

Deuteronomy 33:26-27

[26] There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.
[27] The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

If you are looking for the ultimate support system, look no further than Jesus Christ! When people are looking for others to do it, it will more often than not be a failure for the lack of availability. Fear not friends, for God is there when you begin to speak the first words from your heart that believes!

2 Timothy 4:17-18

[17] Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
[18] And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

If you ever feel alone, do not be deceived! God is SO there and ready to help you with each and every care and heartache you are dealing with. There is nothing too big for God!

Some other verses for note and encouragement:

Psalm 57:1

[1] Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

We can take refuge in a time of trouble!

Isaiah 25:4

[4] For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

We can take refuge in the middle of life’s storms!

Isaiah 51:16

[16] And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.

We can take refuge in the shadow of his hand when we need to take cover and hide from the afflictions that try and destroy us!

Exodus 33:22

[22] And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:

We can take refuge in the Rock of Ages, for it is a foundation that has lasted and always will!

When I Think About Trouble…Ummm…Yeah Don’t

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When our minds are not able to be in focus to our walk with God, it is truly hard to utilize and understand the true power and fulfillment of the promises and blessings that God has given and will give in the future.

That’s a big statement, but when applied each and every day can be SO true. If our mind gets continually stressed with a thought that is always on our mind, that is very easily representative to a wound that we refuse to bandage; for not allowing God to begin to lift the care from your mind and replace it with peace defeats the purpose of know about the peace that surpasses all understanding. If we do not allow God to lift us up when we are down by accepting the joy of the Lord, it does us little good to know about it!

So when trouble decides to pay you a visit through any medium of communication or situation, begin to focus upon God and not the trouble! Refuse to let something so small compared to God win the battle of your heart and mind. When we are not able to attain to higher faith we are not able to lead others to it. If I cannot believe God for the small things in life I would definitely have no business even writing this today. We must trust God! We must believe! We must have faith that if God has done it for you or for others through given testimony or experience than it can happen for you through prayer, faith, belief and obedience!

So when we think about trouble, think about God and how that this so-called “trouble” has to begin to flee at the very mention of God’s power. And always remember, the only time we never win with God is when we don’t choose to believe we’re winners!

You Have To Start Somewhere

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I love the ministry we are in. I cannot express that enough! It is so fulfilling to do and to see the fruit thereof! It’s not always easy to complete every task or to carry through everything that needs to be done when it comes to making life take 2nd place, but I can testify to that it can.

The thought I had on my heart today as I meditated upon the Lord was that “I had to start somewhere”. There had to be a willingness in my heart before the first efforts were ever made to do anything with anyone else. If you have a calling on your life and you know that you do, the first step is to simply make a decision in your mind and set it to doing what is on your heart. Sometimes where we start isn’t where we see ourselves finishing, but that does not mean that you are not capable of getting there.

After beginning to realize that the ministry was not only to reach out to those within the churches we attend but to those we could not even see, there was so much more to be done. I didn’t know where to start, and in fact when thinking about that I saw a huge pile of things before me as if it was almost impossible. The good thing about all of this was the first step to the growth of it (again) was to simply be willing in my heart and to take the next small step forward.

Now that we have began working not only in our local circuit churches and radio, but we are now reaching online through our own web site and through a variety of media to send the message of the gospel to whomsoever needs to hear! And as we stand at the next venture, seeing all the new places to expand to and the new things to come, I simply remind myself (and everyone reading this) to purpose in your heart and believe that through Christ that all things are possible!

Use that gift and take your first step! You have to start somewhere, but you cannot start until you take initiative! Make an effort for God, for you will surely be met as you step out on faith through obedience!

Don’t Be Afraid Of Stepping Out On Faith

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I literally had a conversation today with Rebekah about sometimes looking back on our obedience and sometimes feeling silly in the moment while it’s going on. Now I know that we are not the only two people out there in the world working in a ministry that have reservations when it comes to stepping out of the comfort zone of doing something that seems out of the ordinary! When I consider the word of God on this topic, it talks about using the foolish things to confound the wise. In trying to piece some meaning to it all, I realize that a person might be stepping out more and more in the ministry and looking silly to some (and even crazy and out of line to others), but the part that matters is that we are making a difference and reaching out and touching lives with the work and ministry of God that we have inside!

With that said, I encourage you to get more comfortable about being uncomfortable. Be able to reach out to those (friend and stranger) and don’t let your obedience waiver in either case. Let your heart and soul pour out into your ministry and let God shine and be glorified! In doing so, people will walk away having an experience that will either draw them to God or will have them thinking about God! For when God is magnified in our lives through service, it is definitely the subject matter and not what you were doing to amplify God! And always remember when you run into situations where you have some who criticize what you do, don’t run from confrontation. It doesn’t matter where you attend to go to a service; there are always going to be people that will be afraid of stepping out of their comfort zone. You have to be an example by leading them into it! Simply encourage them to obey God and to help reach out. The more, the merrier!

Don’t be afraid of stepping out on faith! That’s how you build your ministry, your church, your family, and your life!

 

God Can Be Everywhere, Right?

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One of the toughest things that we have to be continually reminded of is that God is “always with us”. I preach it and write it so often that it makes me begin to wonder if that part of the mind refuses to believe it. I then begin to realize that it’s not the believing part that is hard, but the hanging on to the belief once it is there that is.

You see, a person can believe that God is everything and ever present in a time of trouble all day long. I know that with all that is in my mind, heart and soul! The part that begins to increase the difficulty is when things begin to happen to loosen the grip you have on that belief. When and if something comes up to discourage or remove your focus from about God, we lose it little by little. Before you know it we eventually go from feeling completely secure to feeling completely lost sometimes in as little as months, days, hours, or even minutes.

To me, the grip is as strong as your faith is. The more I am able to have faith in a time of trouble, the easier it is to hang on to God and to see a trial through to victory. I encourage you today to hang on to your faith. I am here to remind you that no matter how bad things look right now, that God has not left! God does has no intentions on going anywhere! The only thing that does is our faith! Keep the faith today in God! Remind yourself today by keeping the blessings of yesterday in your heart! Keep what you have today in your mind and know that there is more in your future!

The children of God are not a defeated people! We live in victory, and we should learn to live it! Get your minds and hearts in the mindset of Christ! Continually remind yourself daily that things WILL not be perfect around us, but as we strive for perfection God will prevail!

I hope that as we all continue to serve God together that we all play a role in being the “reminder” for someone, or in other words, that witness!

It’s Not About Looks, It’s About Heart

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Some of the hardest struggles of a ministry is not acquiring the resources that you need to do what you need to, but actually doing it. There can be a vast abundance of things available to a person to perform what you need to be done. I have learned in recent months that without the willingness to step out and do it regardless you will find yourself in just as tough of a spot as you would be without the things you think you need.

You could have one, ten, or a hundred people supporting you and that is wonderful as long as you are following the will of God. I say that because there will be times when you follow the will of God that all the support grows silent. I have been there before and stood wondering “what’s going on” and “what did I do wrong”, leaving me at a crossroads. Luckily I came to a great realization through prayer and the word of God! What finally came to me (as led by God’s encouragement) is that it is not about the looks on their faces (their countenance) that we should base the progress or fruition of our ministry, but the condition of the heart that you aim for.

I am reminded today but have forgot so often that I have ministered to smiling faces but inside were broken. I have seen people that looked completely unhappy but needed a word of confirmation or direction from God. Sometimes it’s not easy to deliver to tougher things, ESPECIALLY things that involve the direct changing of our lifestyle! Trust me, it’s hard but when you obey God you will not be forsaken! There has not been a time in the silence that God has not fought the battle (of the condition of the hearts and souls) with me! It’s not yours to fight! If we are trying to fight for approval, we missed it already. It’s not about approval, but faith and belief. It’s about agreement in Him (God)!

So always remember, obedience is greater than sacrifice (both are needed)! You’ve got to sacrifice facing some persecution putting yourself out there to obey God, but people need you to do it! People need need a strong witness of God today. Are we that people? Let’s strive to be! Let’s strive to make a difference!

Singing and Speaking At Heaven’s View Worship Center

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First of all, I want to thank each and every one that came out to help support us at Heaven’s view. It was a true blessing to us (and to me personally). I have to give a shout out to Jamie and J.R. (they attend our home church and we work in the praise band together) for coming and blessing us in song! They did such a wonderful job and it is exciting to see what God is doing in their lives!

Rebekah wasn’t able to be there, but her girls came up and sang and picked up the slack in her honor. They are so sweet and such a blessing. It does make me feel old though to already see them singing and growing up so fast! Mona, Kay and Regina sang for us (and didn’t sing enough) but did a great job too! We’re gonna keep getting onto them until they start doing at least 2-3 songs!

With that said, I was amazed with how God adjusted the direction of the message that we preached. I’m sorry to say that we were not able to catch any audio, but I will be sure to post the notes in the Small Thoughts category and put as much as I can remember! As someone said after the service, it felt like such a strong power was there at first but then a sweet presence was there for anyone that was in need of coming up for prayer. Those are my favorite kind of church services: seeing a group of people willing to get in when God bids to tear down the strongholds of our flesh so that God can work through us to reach those who need a move in a great way!

We hope to be back soon, and we will work on figuring out a way to capture audio for now on! We have been getting so much lately that it’s been hard to get all of it posted the past couple weeks! We hope to have something new on by Sunday! If you would like to be notified, be sure to get on our sermons list by clicking the Email Subscription link in the top right hand corner!