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The Everyday Word

Motivation? More Like Procrastination!

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Who is ready for a top ten? Well, actually we only need one today.

One of the worst things we can possibly do as children of God is actually know what God has spoken in our hearts and not do it.

I can relate this point to an easy illustration: Just imagine someone that just fell into a pool on accident and did not have the ability to swim. And as you stand there someone yells out to you “you know how to swim, jump in there and save them!”. As soon as you hear this, immediately you think to yourself, “I know that I should, but I have so much going on in my life right now…I’m so busy at work…and I have a lot that I never get done at home…and besides…there is at least 3 other people here that could save this person other than me…so I will just chill out and know that I could but don’t really have to”, all the while the person that was drowning lost their life struggling to swim.

For some that might be a little much, but I hope it got you to this very sentence. When God speaks to us to help the lost and dying world and we present every excuse in the world, there are people that we are losing each and every day to things that are destroying them. God wants to work miracles in their life; there is no doubt about it. Sometimes, however, there is an appointed time for you to be that lifeguard and to launch out there and be obedient to the voice of God that speaks to you to say “God loves you” or “you’re not alone”. If there was ever a time that people needed the Savior, it is today! Don’t stand back and act like you have little reason to obey the Lord, for the lives of those that need God should be MORE than enough for us to remember to stay constant and always pressing forward to all!

Don’t put off your obedience anymore, step out and be a willing vessel today!

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!

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!

Do What You Do For God And Love Doing It!

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Let me share something personal with you. When I am at home, I love to stand in front of my piano and play songs of worship. It brings a sense of peace and joy about me and begins to calm everything that is going on in my life. Doing this every now and again is so refreshing because it is something that God has anointed me to be able to do; it is a true God-given gift for me to not only do but to enjoy doing as well! I realized a long while back that it was not only for going out and using in the ministry, but for the personal trials in my own life. I cannot tell you how many times that it has helped me along the way to be able to sing songs like “Thank You Lord For Your Blessings On Me” and “Above All” to begin to allow God’s spirit to be with me in the very room I stand!

Now then, I want to express how much further that goes than just singing! We are called to do something spectacular. As God created each and every one of us He purposed us with something unique and for His glory. When we begin to not only use it for the strength of others but for our encouragement it begins to be something that we can really enjoy. I say this in humor but I have seen way too often people singing about the Lord giving strength not being able to believe the words they sing and it simply being words on the page. When it begins to pour out from your heart and come alive inside of you (from the part of you that God begins to move in) it can start making a difference out in this world!

Let’s learn to do what God has called us to do and to actually enjoy it! Don’t be ashamed or afraid, but simply do it in love and let people see the witness of God in your life! It can then truly be a blessing, whether it be out of key or not how you rehearsed it! It can reach out to those in need even if that part of the message wasn’t in your notes that you are teaching or preaching! Be a witness of God through the active demonstration of the joy of the Lord, for He is good and what He has placed in you is more than enough to conquer each and every battle you come to!

Once An Overcomer, Always An Overcomer, So Come On!

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Let’s take a moment and ponder about how terrible life is….WAIT…that’s what we’ll do if we are not too careful. When we read in the word of God, each and every indicator that you study on about where people found the willpower to go on was from the strength of God and their foundation of belief. When I consider my own foundation, I find that it is solid based on the many (countless!) times that God has came through. There were times where it was in my prayers or through the prayers of others. There were times where it came after a period of time or when it came suddenly in a second. There were even times when God moved when I wasn’t even aware of things to come ahead in my future! So when I think upon these things, it helps me to stay grounded and not easily moved when events try to occur to shake it up.

We are “made” over-comers, right? I have to put myself in a position where I “make” my mind up to overcome things. I have to be strong in times where weakness wants to prevail; faith must dominate doubt each and every time. I know that there might be some critics out there that are saying “you are a bunch of talk, just wait til you walk it”. Trust me, I might not have been alive 50-75 years yet, but it doesn’t take me a thousand loops through life to realize where my help and strength comes from! So come on! Get yourself out of the “doubtin” and “poutin” and “doin withoutin” and think yourself happy. Continually stir the part of you that God needs to be strong in.

Make yourself an over-comer today by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony!

Who Are We Serving? Wait, Why Do You Ask?

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I love going to church. I love it for the fellowship, the unity that it brings through God, and the multiplied powers and abilities of your reaching out that can happen when done. The church to me has always been such a great place of refuge; in other words a place where I associate “a place where God dwells” With that said, I want to bring out a point that has been on my heart lately. Since we have started singing and working in the ministry (even before Heart of Grace years ago), we have been in a multitude of churches with many wonderful bodies of people. Sadly, I would be lying if I said that every place that we went had that “right at home” feeling, but it reminds me of a very important thing that we must remember to apply in our lives.

When we are at church, we are there to help each other and to serve God. One of the biggest mistakes that you see is when people begin to serve people rather than God. We’ll worry about each and every thing that we do with the fear of upsetting someone or ruffling their feathers. I know that when we preach or sing oftentimes that I know for a fact that people probably don’t like half or more of what I’m saying, but I know when I am doing it that I’m doing it to help them and to serve God. When we serve God in love, God fights the battles and goes before you with people by the spiritual warfare. That way, when you obey God in confidence, you will leave the work sowed in confidence. Don’t doubt the work that you do for God!

Most importantly, don’t get caught up in the opinions of people. It’s perfectly okay to seek Godly advice from someone you have confidence in, but remember to not be in bondage to one another by what you would think they think (and what the other person’s friend thinks lol). As we become more dependent on people, we forget all the others around us that God is showing us that need help! Get out from under the veil of fear and step out and perform the will of God FOR God! He is more than able to equip you with the ability to endure all persecution that you will face! So I ask you today, who is it that we serve? Do we need to adjust how we take our approach to how we are a spiritual Godly help in and out of service?

Trust me, the more you commit to God, the more that you will find the desire to keep serving Him with joy!