No Fear!

Deut. 33:27 states, "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."

One day as one of my sons, Leon, was about 5, he was climbing up to his bunkbed, and he got his arm caught and began to call out for help. When he climbed the ladder in the past he usually went up the correct way easily to the next level.  However, on this particular day, he decided to try to climb and come down the wrong way where there was no ladder!  As I ran to him, I caught him right as he fell  into my arms.

It was apparent that my son had no fear of falling, because even as he began to fall- the look on his face was one of unchanging peace. Thankfully, however, I quickly caught him. I think we can learn a lesson from this situation.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could have that kind of total trust and faith in our Heavenly Father? Instead of being apprehensive and fearful, or dwelling too much on the past, we could just exercise courage and trust about taking the next step into something incredible, maybe something higher than we've ever known before.  Remember, we have a God with whom nothing is impossible!

However, many times it is all too common that we seldom achieve total fulfillment in our lives simply because every time we try to go forward, the devil will use fear to stop us. Is he using fear to stop you? Satan uses fear to keep you from enjoying life. Fear brings torment, according to 1 John 4:18, and you surely can't enjoy life and be tormented at the same time.

I challenge you to take an inventory in the fear department. What are you afraid of? Are there any areas in your life that are being stifled because of fear? Satan is always going to bring fear against us at various times. It's one of his greatest threats—though he is unable to back up his threats, though it is not a minor threat, it is still a major one!

Be careful, therefore not to move in the flesh or out of God's timing.  But when God is moving, you can't be afraid to move with Him. You can choose to be led by your head or follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. However, God simply asks us to obey, while the results of what our obedience produces are up to Him.

I dare you to choose to climb new heights today, and don't worry about falling, for truly His Everlasting arms are opened wide ready to catch you should you slip! With so much that God has for us, do not allow the fear of failure in Him to hold you back! Instead choose to fall forward as you step out into the deeper things of Him. #fallingforwardandlovingit!

A Fresh 15 in God!

As we close out the first month of 2013, January, and our intentional pursuit of keeping first things first, I want to encourage you to stay the course- seeking God first in all that you do throughout the remainder of the year- not just January.  Being that in life, it is so easy to get and stay so busy keeping the hustle and bustle, running the rat race.  Trying to keep up with the ‘To Do’ lists. While all the while our precious quiet times with the Lord are stolen.

Therefore, I wanted to encourage you this week and beyond to spend time with the Lord- even if it is just 15 minutes.  What can you do in those 15 minutes? I will call it fresh 15 because in 15 you can be 're'-freshed in the Lord as you follow these simple steps with a genuine heart.

First come with an attitude of gratitude even if it is just thanking the Lord for what He is done in your life thus far.

Second thing that can be done, ask God to give you the strength to make it through your day.  When you feel weak, or just want to be reminded that it is Him that is keeping you, not, yourself. In a society where we have been made to feel that it is weak to admit weakness, and we are taught to be strong, it is very important that we take the time out of our busy schedule as Men and Women of God to ask God for strength!

In summation a Prayer Action Plan can be implemented, as simple as the following:

For the 1st 5 minutes- Thank God for what done. Have a 'Attitude Of Gratitude'.

2nd 5 minutes - Ask God for strength to make it through day. And finally, the

3rd 5 minutes- Thank God for what He is going to do and how you will be victorious!

Visualize and see yourself winning- A winner never quits and a quitter never wins! Victories are not in your own strength but thru power and grace of God ruling and reigning in your life.

And finally, know that it is God who is able to keep you from falling and present you back before Him with exceeding joy. (Jude 1:24) And no matter what you are going through, your best is yet to COME!

Praying for those in Authority!

Congratulations to President Obama for a second term in office.

 I have always taught our children to be supportive and pray for whomever is in authority over us (whether it would have been Romney or Obama) as the scripture teaches. Whether we agree with all the policy details of one candidate or not, we have to remember that the heart of a king (whether the President of the U.S. or a King in a remote country) is in the hand of the Lord, and God has the power to turn his heart whichever way He wants. (Proverbs 21)      

 

I am also reminded of the scripture Romans 13:1-8 which sums up how we should view our leaders overall in Government. 

 

Romans 13

Submit to Government

 1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. 

 

Therefore, Love Your Neighbor

8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

 

One can not deny that it has been expressed the need to bring our country together and to bridge the gap between what divides.  God is sovereign; and His word is true in Psalms 75:6-7 as it states promotion comes not from the east or west, it comes from the Lord.  

 

We are hopeful, and prayerful for what our next years will hold in store, and we must continue to be prayerful for God's divine protection over all of our leaders for all eyes are on America right now.  May God richly bless you on this day as our President is sworn for another term in office while yet many others commemorate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Take a 'Time Out' For God!

When you think about the topic of "Time Out", you can find examples of how it happened with those God used mightily in the Bible. In the book of Exodus 2: –4:, Moses went through a miraculous deliverance in the Nile river, and then there were the forty years in which he grew up in Pharaoh’s palace. Also, the next forty years spoke of his experience with the burning bush on. However, we often forget that there’s a slice of time there – another forty years – where Moses was on the backside of the desert, in obscurity, and often termed by many in a time of ‘Time Out’.

And when life may have us this similar place, we too may find ourselves in a place of obscurity. We may feel alone, or that we are behind the scenes, and may not be acknowledged for all that we do. Or opposition may be facing us, where we have to fight to not wallow in our situations or failures.  For even when a player of a team sport is taken out of the game for a wrong play. It is not necessarily final. It is a time to regroup and get prepared for a time to get up again.

However, God has a greater purpose for His time outs for us. God uses ‘Time Outs’ to teach us, I believe, several lessons:

(1) How to serve. When Moses was used to help serve the priest of Midian’s daughter’s by serving them water, and then he goes on to serve by looking after his sheep incidentally amongst the Egyptians to be the lowest form of occupation (sheepherders often known to be despised by the Egyptians.

(2) God uses ‘Time Outs’ to teach us how to trust. One of the reasons that we can let go of bitterness from bad experiences is that we don’t have to harbor or remember these experiences because God remembers for us. They are just as fresh in God’s memory as if they just happened. God not only sees. But He also regards, as He remembered the children of Israel in the Wilderness.

And finally (3), God teaches us how to obey. God came to Moses in a burning bush and says, "Moses, I want you to go and deliver my people." And what did Moses say? Did he say, "I’m called. Let’s go."  No. The Moses who had run ahead of God, now had to be dragged out of that corner or place of ‘Time Out’, being that his spirit was broken and he was crushed. And when the Lord says, "Let’s go." Moses responds, but "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh? Who am I?"

The forty years had done its work. You see 40 years ago, Moses thought that he could pull off the exodus in his power. However 40 years later, Moses cleaved to the fact that except it be God’s power, the children of Israel would not be delivered. As Moses relied and depended on God, God provided Moses what was needed in Moses' hands.  If there is ever a place in this New Year that it is safe to be is in a Time Out to realize even the more, God's unchanging power over our lives. In Him we LIVE, we MOVE, and we have our everyday BEING whether small moments or miraculous life-changing moments.

Where are you in your walk on today? What is in your hands as you look to God in 2013? Maybe you have some love you can give to someone. Do you have the ability to smile or do you bless others when you pray?  Find out first in prayer and seeking Him. Let God be your source and resource for all that you say and do on today. God bless you!

Is There Not A Cause?

As our church, Become Church, dedicates the first 21 days of consecration to the Lord in 2013, I would like to share a thought from the Word about Joshua.  And as we look also into the life of David, we read in I Samuel 17:9 where we observed how David’s brothers in their jealousy refused David’s aid to fight the giant Goliath, and in David’s defense David stated, “What have I now done? Is there not a cause?”

David, another example of a yielded life to God, was also one who realized that other people’s lives were affected by his obedience. That opportunity when coupled with preparation equaled blessing in the sight of God and man.

Isn’t that so true in life? That not only opportunity coupled with work equals blessing, but opportunity coupled with preparation equals blessing?

While David’s brethren looked on day in and day out, in fear of their ‘obstacle’ (Goliath, who had an undefeated record amongst the Philistines), unassuming David while bringing lunch to his brothers, whose main concern even in obscurity was trusting and serving God on the backside of the mountain -tending sheep and warding off bears, and lions, obtained the preparation from his ‘secret times’ with God to show forth God’s faithfulness before his brethren who were lacking in their hearts to make a difference.

Unlike his brothers, David did not see an ‘obstacle’, David saw an ‘opportunity’.  And the reason his seeing was different from the others was because preparation bred faith in knowing that God would back him, as he put his continual trust, above all else, in God.  Do you trust God?  Let’s not allow God to have to look for another because we are not prepared to stand in the gap to make a difference.  Ezekiel 22:30 states, “And I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.”

Let us be a people who will prepare in prayer, prepare in seeking, and prepare through stepping out, trusting God and showing up when needed; not found hiding from the obstacles that will present themselves in our lives.

Take The Limits Off God!

Have you every considered why God stated that the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven would be that person that took on the nature of a child?  In Matthew 18 1-4 it states, "At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? ²And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, ....... ^4"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Have you ever considered that many great achievers of our time obtained success due to their attitude in life more than their aptitude. God does not just call the qualified, He qualifies the called! Many qualify-able people do not achieve simply because if they are not careful of keeping the right attitude, they disqualify themselves before ever reaching their full potential in God?

Did you know that once you start believing on God beyond your natural capabilities or circumstances, there’s nothing you can’t do? God gives us scripture of how to hold to His promises in Matthew 18:18 which states, "Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

   

What are you allowing God to loose and do through your life today? Is your attitude that of a little child with limitless hope and faith in doing His will? Do you bind God from doing great things in your life through fear, doubt, or unbelief? Or are you a person that takes the limits off of God?

Take time to meditate on this....and as you do embrace all God has for you by keeping the right attitude in life no matter what it throws your way!

Hebrews 11:6 "Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."  SELAH!

Fulfilling God's Dream in 2013!

2013 IS HERE!!!  I must say that as each day presents new challenges!  It is so easy to fall into the temptation of going, going, and going, and never pausing to reflect on what brought us to this point in our lives.  Resisting the "rat race" of life long enough to be refreshed and renewed in His presence...is a discipline of time and focus.  However, as I woke up this morning in the quietness of the house, I felt the nudging of the Holy Spirit to simply pull away and reflect on all God has done over the past year- personally and over the past year with my husband and the church that God graced my husband and I to be instrumental part of.
 
Yes, it is already another new year to accomplish many new goals, update and expand our personal mission statements, and even meet new people.  Another year of seasons, anniversaries and birthdays await us.  I am sure that there will be greater memories, successes, and even some failures along the way in 2013.  But before I look forward, I purpose in my heart to learn from 2012.  For God has seen us through many 1^st time experiences and even the some of the same but greater; yet, for me, 2013 is the year to fulfill His Dream!

Take a look:

    January held a ‘first’ for me initiating a Girl Scouts Troop that more than tripled in size since a year ago in January exposing girls to positive mentoring opportunities such as the Daddy Daughter Dance, World Thinking Day, Overnight Camp with Horseback Riding, Letter-boxing, Canoeing and fire building skills, while earning numerous merit and fun patches.

    February was a month that provided for (14) close couples in our church Become who co-labor with us to attend a Marriage Getaway to grow healthier marriages through our partnership with Family Life,.

    April was a month of successful 3^rd and 4^th time accomplishments –hosting a Community wide Easter celebration that touched many people in the community and in the fall hosting a Harvest Festival that fed and provided fun centers for yet even more – each reaching approximately 200 people in the community.

    In June, our 4th Annual Summer Leadership Enrichment Program continued to reach youth over an intense 2 week period to build them in Christ-like character, while sharpening them in disciplines of Math, Reading, Sciences and Technology.

    In July, a charter troop was birthed for both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts that enlisted the likes of about 20 young boys and teens that participated in community service events such as a back-pack drive to needy families in the community, along with marching in a local parade, a Braves Game, and an adventurous outing to White Water.

    In August, yet another ‘first’, a joint effort with other churches in the area that produced a Back-to-School Event that served over 350 children and families.

    In October and November, were great outreach months that served many homeless families in partnership with Must Ministries of which we fed over several hundred meals and clothed countless others in the community.

   Also in November another ‘first’ for me along with several other women who serve and lead alongside me so faithfully in Girl Scouts, was hosting a community-wide Mother/Daughter Tea that reached over 80 ladies and girls from grandmothers to daughters while also collecting canned good donations for the homeless.

   

    My husband having the opportunity to sow back into a partner church, Westridge Church in Dallas, Georgia where he spoke on the power of discipleship at a church-planting school where he previously graduated. I had fun helping him prepare as we both reflected on the bumps, lessons, joys, and hard knocks experienced while church planting and being able to be on the giving end of helping other church-planters. It also was eye-opening to reflect on the sacrifice of raising up other believers to be fully committed in serving the vision of a ministries that God has birthed through them.

    And just this week, December 31^st, I was fortunate enough with about 30-40 other families to pray in the New Year-  praying ‘there’ before we go ‘there’!

    Yes, December even held another ‘first’ - a 5-part Christmas Play where 30 plus kids participated, and even inspired other youth and adults to also get baptized.  All in all, God is and has been GOOD! And is deserving of ALL the praise beyond any personal stake....

Just personally speaking, I am amazed at how God has provoked me to return to a love of writing even blogging to have another ‘stage’ on which God’s personal truths can be shared. 

Another personal testimony is how I recently overcame surgery after two years of prayerfully consideration, to recovering and healing in record time - often feeling like I didn’t miss a beat in the ministry. God is truly GOOD!

I would go amiss if I did not mention how I am witnessing each of my children, grow, and blossom not just into manhood or womanhood, but become young men and women of God.  Each are learning what it means to see, hear, and understand how God is answering their prayers at another level, whether through something as simple as seeing God meet them in their academics; or realizing that God is just as concerned about their physical well being providing them provision to participate in extracurricular activities such as soccer, basketball or tennis.

In all these things, I am so grateful. I purpose in my heart that 2013 will be even greater. This year I will take more time to be a reflection of God’s purposes, and to be a reflection of his compassion to others as He has extended toward me. 

Yes, I desire that I represent the fulfillment of His dream in 2013.  It is critical that I do this. It is critical that you do this. It is critical that we BECOME! In so many ways, God has been, and will always be faithful to see us through His will when we obey His Word in the following areas. One, we must move beyond wanting to be seen. John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Two, we must stay close and clean. Psalms 34:18 states, “The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.”  

Three, we must always on His word lean!  Proverbs 3:3-6, states, “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

So my question to you is: What has He (God) done for you or better yet through you this past year? Whether you recognize it or not, just the fact that YOU ARE STILL HERE is a major testimony in the wake of so many others who are not fortunate to welcome in the New Year. Let’s count our blessings on today. Let’s name them one by one, and through this move forward on what Jesus has done!

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV) states, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassion never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."   

Philippians 3:14-15 (KJV) also states, “ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”

 
(P)raising, pressing, pursuing, praying (U)ntil (S)omething, (H)appens!

PUSH toward the purposes and destiny God has for you no matter what you may feel. PUSH in faith for He is yet faithful!

Fulfilling God’s Dream in 2013!