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perspective

How Deep Is The Sea Out There?

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In the spirit of comparison I would like to share with you a thought about the perspective of “going deeper” in the Lord. This phrase carries multiple meanings across many different people. Some people consider going deeper to be related to your commitment to work in the church, while others see this more in a spiritual context and encourage submitting to the anointing of God. You could also consider the fact that some would be this to be well-versed in the word of God or to even love people in a greater way. What I write today is not to address what I feel like the depth means literally but more about the philosophy of understanding depth in God.

Ezekiel’s vision of the waters opens up the ideal of seeing different depths in the same body of water according to where you are standing. If you had to evaluate for yourself just where you feel like you are standing in the waters, where would that be? The one concept that I want to open up for all of us is that we always need to remember that there is always more to be had of God. How does one know this, you ask? First of all, I do not express enough about how that everyone with the ability to has the capacity to do more when it comes to volunteering and charitable works for your community. I could also say that when it comes to praise and worship that everyone has some room to take that risk in embracing what we feel that stirs our hearts. It would also be easy to say that we could all read the bible and pray more. If I continued this list it would continue on forever!

The point that I want to make to you today is to not be deceived into thinking that there is only so far that you CAN go. If you want more of God in a spiritual way I am happy to say that it is there for the taking! If you have the desire to do a great work in your community then there are projects you can jump in and be a part of. If you are ready to start singing and using your voice for God there is a choir/group waiting for you somewhere! Do not be satisfied with staying on the bank! As it reads in Ezekiel, “that every thing that liveth which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live…for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh” (Ezekiel 47:8).

Anywhere the rivers of the spirit of God are working is where healing can take place! Anyone that is willing to submit to a deeper work and anointing will reach out and heal this land and nation! Do you now see that potential area you can acknowledge you could be deeper in? As for me I say take the plunge!

Learning To Let Go And Let God

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One part of life that everyone must face that may be considered the worst is when we go through times of transition. This could be when you are changing jobs, moving between homes, losing and gaining friends, or the many cases of the unknown. However unfamiliar the case may be, change is always hard to face when the time comes for it. It seems like that no matter how much a person can prepare for something that there is always going to be room for some kind of emotional baggage or breakdown. I’ve heard all the classic wisdom that people have tried to tell me on how you can be “almost” prepared. I’ve also read just about every single thing you can that would try to lead you in the right direction for having the right perspective. The fact of the matter is that when it comes to change, there is never enough preparation on ones’ own.

I am so thankful today, and will forever continue to be for the great comforter of the spirit of God. I have found that in the best and worst of times that the spirit is my all in all. My prayers have sometimes been in desperation or in faith, but the spirit of God comes to lift up the weariness that I am in. It’s as if God comes to fill the void of uncertainty. It makes me understand in tough times that wholeheartedly God is truly the strength in my weakness. We need to always be bold enough to acknowledge that we cannot take life on alone.  As we continue through the obstacles of life, let us learn to let go in times of weakness and let God take control!

I encourage you today to allow the presence of God take your tears and worry and lead you by comfort into joy and peace in Him.

The Power Of Self And Self-Sufficiency

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When it comes right down to it at the end of the day, the ultimate controller of how much that you allow yourself to step out and enjoy life is YOU. No one can walk up and steal your joy outright; it is something that is cultivated and maintained by what you produce and nurture. Your peace isn’t something you just lose all of a sudden; it is something that you can continually keep if you choose to work towards staying on top of the perspective faithfully. Emotions are something as we all know are often attempted to be altered by others, but in the end you possess the final say.

With that said, I want to remind you of the power that you have to stay in the presence of God. I remind myself each and every day of all of the blessings, big and small, that God has performed before me and that will happen ahead of me. When we learn to practice being faithful to God and being continual in our worship and praises to Him, we cannot help but feel the love of God in our lives. The love of God serves so many purposes but ultimately to cast out fear. Fear drives so many other emotions highly and often prompts actions to discourage us or even no action at all in some cases. The presence of God has such a powerful impact in our lives that without it we do not have the ability to stay self-sufficient on our own.

As the advocate was made with God through Jesus Christ, we have the ability each day to get up and brush off the dust that is trying to damper every part of our lives that we should be thriving in. If you have a ministry and are not enjoying it, be more self-sufficient in seeking God and getting a love and passion to go forward. If you need more love for others, seek God in a greater way so that compassion pours out of you to bless your enemies and to help the broken. Remember that through Christ that you can do all things and that no weapon formed against you shall prosper!

Keeping Forward Motion In Your Ministry

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When you are attempting to maintain a full-time ministry, one of the most difficult tasks to complete is how to keep moving forward and not simply go through the motions. Just because we are called out to do a special work does not mean that you cannot make the experience exciting! As part of our ministry is singing, it is easy for me to see this when we never move forward on working on new songs to sing. Eventually all the songs we did move forward on before will grow old and as we all know the phrase all too well “there you are.” The only way for us to continually keep the singing aspect of the ministry fresh is to not only work on current songs but to dive into new creative avenues like learning new songs (or even writing one).

What about preaching and teaching? How well would Sunday school and worship service turn out if we only pursued the same 4-5 messages and teachings over and over? Not only you would be burnt out but the people receiving it also! I say these examples in humor but without proper care to what you do for the Lord in obedience we can get to this place all too quick.

If applied to every aspect of a ministry, I would advise you to not get bored but urge you to move forward. Keep up with what you have and be efficient at it. To get yourself motivated? Well, that’s where God comes in. Seek God each and every day for the strength to take a step towards adding something new or giving something a fresh perspective. People are not drawn by how flashy things are, but by the passion driven behind an effort! And when God drives our passion, we are reminded in His word that we can do all things through Christ which strengthens us!

Get out there and surprise some people with something brand new today! Show them the passion that God has placed inside of your life that they be drawn by the witness and power of what He has done for you!

A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23

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A relative of mine passed this book on to me, and so I thought I would give it a shot. As most of us have I’m sure, I thought to myself “there’s not too much more a person could learn about Psalm 23” After reading it though, I can definitely say I was wrong!

Phillip Keller gives a perspective of Psalm 23 from the perspective of a real life shepherd. When you begin to read it, he explains traits and characteristics of a shepherd into detail and shares many of his own life experiences that begins to make it powerful. It makes you really consider how the Lord is our shepherd and is always watching over us and performs things for our good; even though as a flock we might not necessarily agree with the ways it’s done or how because we only see as the sheep.

It’s a very quick read, and you can find editions (like the one I received) that was in large print which made it easy on the eyes as well. If you are a fan of hearing great testimonies and experiences and reading about how amazing God is, read it!

And always remember when you are done with one, pass it on or recommend! That helps the ones who work so hard to write them!

Check out: A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23 – ISBN 978-0-3102-6797-3

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Forgotton God – Reversing Our Tragic Neglect Of The Holy Spirit

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If you need a book to completely refresh your frame of mind and get you out of your selfishness with God, you have to read this book! I had never read anything by Francis Chan before, but it gives a very clear perspective and real approach to how the spirit of God should be an everyday integral part of our life.

It’s a powerful read, and I will not spoil much, but there are some powerful pieces that talk about why we need the spirit, the spirit as the comforter, putting our attitudes and reputations in their place, and learning to follow the leadership of the spirit.

This was great for me, and was definitely worth it. I’m gonna look up the first book now, Crazy Love! It has a tidbit of it in there as well!

And always remember when you are done with one, pass it on or recommend! That helps the ones who work so hard to write them!

Check out: Forgotton God – ISBN 978-1-4347-6795-0

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Is It Really Worth It?

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THE WORD

Ephesians 4:26 – Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath

Proverbs 18:19 – A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

We as Christians are the light of the world for Jesus Christ. We are the example and outreach that people come into contact with each and every day. Without the witness and light of God in our lives, people cannot be drawn. Knowing this duty and responsibility we all share, I ask this question: Is it really worth it when we overreact and destroy our witness?

More often than not, we let our emotions and pride steer the outcome in the direction we so choose. Is it really worth it to be irrational over silly things? There are many arguments and battles that we are not in control over that are going to come up, and whether you choose to handle it correctly or not, the decision is going to be before you. Is the love of Christ being shown in what we say and do? If it is then we will not say things that we do not mean that hurt others (even when we are justified). Is it really worth that extra pat on the back? You see it in the workplace every day, while the consensus that justifies the behavior is that it is “just business”. Even though we may gain a little bit of popularity by using or taking advantage of others, I honestly do not feel that it is okay for the children of God to be on anyone’s business but God’s. We must learn to demonstrate love by being team players and not doing anything unethical or with reason to gain an advantage. If you are serving God with all of your heart, God will teach you! You can ask of him your desires and not have to pick and prod the business life!

PUT INTO PRACTICE

The next time you find yourself in a situation where you behave negatively out of your emotions take a moment and examine the choices made. Ask yourself if what you got out of your actions was really worth the expense that was invoked when the other person was hurt. You will be surprised to what you find if you approach with an honest mind and heart. And as you pray the Holy Ghost will help you learn what to do next time.

Are You On The Outside Looking In?

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Hebrews 10:15 – Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before

1 John 5:10 – He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

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When I am going through the problems in my life, it is always the most difficult plunge of faith to be able to trust God completely. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that in our own perspective versus God’s that we are on the outside looking in. There will be many occasions when we do not understand the feelings or pains that a circumstance brings to an individual or family. The perfect example I could give you is when you see someone go to pray. When they are on their way to the altar, others go to pray for them and are done praying quicker simply because their heart is not invested like the individual that came. It simply was not enough. In times like that we may just say what we think is best or just hug a person and say “You are going to be okay”, but what are we really doing? Are we not staying long enough? Are we not caring deeply enough to feel the load that they carry? Tough questions, right?

It is especially easy for people to get on the defensive when you are passing on worldly advice, yes. Obviously it is the easiest choice for you to just tell them what you might think is best for them at the present time. Sometimes personal advice will prove to work, while when times are harder it can be less effective. Trials will be trials and burdens will be hard felt, regardless of what we can offer. There is nothing that I could say or any shield that I could put around anyone that would keep them from being able to escape from all the things that life will bring. So what am I getting at today?

I have to remember to not be a judge on people and instead help to be a burden bearer spiritually! When my words will fail them and there is nothing else that I can do, sometimes you have to begin to pray for the situation to improve. Sometimes going and trying to intervene is not necessarily the best plan of attack. You see, God’s ways are far above our ways, and He is above looking over each and every one of us! His perspectives go far beyond yesterday and today, but even into tomorrow to see what is in store. Always remember that God is your judge, and that you can always lean on God for comfort, rest, and an escape from the trials of life each day!

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Put Into Practice:

The first exercise is short and sweet. Go an entire day without saying a judging comment about another person. You would be surprised how hard it can be when you consciously try.

Time To Lose Some Weight

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Hebrews 12:1-3 – Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

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I know that you are thinking that this is going to be the top 10 tips to weight loss, but that is not what we will be discussing today. I will say that I thought that this title might grab some attention though!

I would like for us to keep that perspective of weight loss to spiritual burdens. When it comes to losing weight, sometimes we see that we need to and sometimes we deny it. Other times we see that we need to but refuse to see why we ever got in the shape to start with.

When it comes to our walk with God and the burdens we carry, we often treat it with the same perspectives; we do not know exactly how we got in the shape we did, but we arrived there nonetheless. There are scriptures in the bible that indeed point us to cast off the weights that easily beset us. When I put that into perspective, all the things that easily bother me should be immediately put off as needs to God in prayer. God understands every need, no matter how great or small it is to our perspective. There is another scripture that says that nothing is impossible to God, and is indeed but a small thing.

So when we think about it like that, repenting and relinquishing ourselves of tough burdens should not be like the pains of dieting and exercise that we make it out to be! We can simply pray to God and ease the weight that we carry! Simple as that!

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Put Into Practice:

This will be an interesting task. I ask you to give it a try! Take a couple plastic bags and put one within the other to give it a little more strength (add 1-2 more if you want to). Begin to fill the bag up with objects until you begin to think that the weight would exceed the bag. At this point, pick up the back and try to simply hold it for a minute. After that, perhaps you can try (without actually hurting yourself) to walk around while carrying the bags around.

When doing this in practice it is easy to see how easy it would be to begin to feel weighted down without continual prayer and communication to God each day. Without the casting off of the weights that would beset us, I am bold enough to say that eventually we will begin to beset others; especially those that need to be led to a relationship to Christ! Get rid of anything weighing you down and draw closer to God! Let the lightness by the strength of His spirit encourage you!

Learning To Be Satisfied

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Philippians 1:3-7

[3] I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
[4] Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
[5] For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
[6] Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
[7] Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

I am satisfied with the good works that Christ has perfected in all of us!

Consider the phrase “so many works, from the first day until now” – Think about it! We should have all the reason in the world to be thankful and to praise God with no matter what we are dealing with at the time in our lives.

God knew us before we ever came to know him! He had already taken care of us before we were ever formed in this world! From this day until now! That should let me know with certainty that I am definitely not alone for sure!

Philippians 3:8

[8] Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

I am satisfied with Christ’s compensation!

I would lose it all to gain him! Nothing else is of worth to keep that even compares to what you can feel through God!

When I really put into perspective what everything is really worth to me in comparison to what God means to me in my heart, all of this stuff in this world does not mean a thing!

Philippians 3:9-10

[9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
[10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

I am satisfied with Christ’s fellowship!

I want to know him, I want to know more of Him and I want to feel more of the spirit! To actually be in fellowship with the spirit is to be in a place of growth in my life!

I want to make it a goal in my life to be in continual fellowship with God and the spirit of God. That’s the only way my life can be in a ready state to grow!

Philippians 4:6-7

[6] Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
[7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I am satisfied with Christ’s perfect peace!

It shall keep your minds and hearts if you will allow it to! In all reality, there is nothing out there that will ever keep me per say; it will only ever be the peace of God, because I will never be content with the way things are. God teaches us by the spirit to be content to a circumstance or situation.

Philippians 4:11-14

[11] Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
[12] I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
[13] I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
[14] Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

I am satisfied with Christ’s perfect strength!

God will speak to your situations and circumstances, no matter how grim that they seem to be! He will give you strength to be able to endure them!

Always remember the joy of the Lord is our strength, and without that joy, there is no strength. So I need to remember to surround myself or get myself to a place where joy is abundant.

Philippians 4:18-19

[18] But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
[19] But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

More than anything, I am satisfied know that I will receive from Christ’s supply for my every need!

These things we get from God are according to his riches in glory, and are not limited to what we are in this world. That should say so much to us when we feel like we have so many reasons why we cannot make it or cannot move forward in life.