Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Let it Go!

I feel like I'm singing the award winning song from the movie, Frozen. Let it go, Let it go... (Sorry, if you don't have kids and don't know what I'm talking about). Actually the let it go I'm referring to is much bigger and more costly than a catchy song from an animated movie. Everyone has been hurt, offended, betrayed and mistreated at some point. Sometimes those wounds are small and easy to move past, but other times, they are deep and take time to heal.
The important thing is that we choose to forgive so that we can open the door to God's forgiveness and healing in our own lives. Mark 11:25 (the Message) says, "And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it's not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive - only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins."
Forgiveness is such a powerful tool. Forgiveness sets us free and draws us closer to our heavenly Father. Whenever we pray, remember to invite the Lord to search your heart. Choose to forgive anyone that has hurt you. As you walk in forgiveness, you'll experience His hand of blessing in ways you never thought possible, and you will move forward in the abundant life He has in store for you. That's Good News!



Here is another sample of our current Wednesday night series called:
 "PEOPLE GOD LIKES TO BLESS"

Matthew 5:6 (NIV)- "God blesses those who hunger and thirst (CRAVE OR DESIRE) for righteousness, for they will be filled."
JOB'S STORY:
JOB 1- HIS LOSS
JOB 2:11-12:25 - HIS FRIENDS TRY TO CONVINCE HIM HE'S OK BUT JOB KNOWS HE HAS NO PERSONAL RIGHTEOUSNESS
JOB 13:3- HIS DESIRE (HUNGAR/THIRST) TO SPEAK TO GOD
JOB 42- JOB'S RESTORATION

 RIGHTEOUSNESS IS . . .
* A Relationship: BEING RIGHT WITH GOD- Romans 1:17 (NCV)

THE FACTS OF GOD'S PLAN TO MAKE ME RIGHT WITH HIMSELF
WE CANT MAKE OURSELVES RIGHTEOUS- Ecclesiastes 7:20 (NIV); Romans 3:20 (NLT)
GOD SENT JESUS TO PAY FOR OUR SINS-Romans 3:23-25 (NLT); 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT); TITUS 3:5-
ACCEPT BY FAITH WHAT GOD DID FOR ME; Romans 3:22 (NLT); Romans 10:9-10
* A Lifestyle: LIVING IN FAITH AS GOD INTENDED- 1 John 2:29 (Message); Proverbs 12:28

 HOW DO I STAY SPIRITUALLY HUNGRY?

1.       ASK TO HOLY SPIRIT TO REMIND YOU DAILY OF GOD'S GREAT LOVE- Ephesians 3:18-19 (NLT)
2.       DON'T FILL YOUR LIFE WITH JUNK FOOD- Isaiah 55:1-2
3.       MAKE INTIMACY WITH GOD THE NUMBER 1 PRIORITY- Matthew 6:33 (NCV)
4.       FILL YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WORD DAILY- 1 Peter 2:2 (NLT)
5.       ASSOCIATE WITH OTHER HUNGRY PEOPLE- Proverbs 2:20 (Mes/NLT)

Blessings,

PK

Monday, June 23, 2014

Making Crooked Places Straight

Recently, I drove by the Six Flags theme park outside of Atlanta and visible from the interstate was the Super Mindbender roller coaster. As an elementary school student, just the thought of this ride made me sick to my stomach. As an adult riding by in the car I thought to myself, "Didn't that use to be much bigger?" I guess that's what 30 or 40 years of distance will do for you! I guess the truth is I saw it for what it really was! Not a kid terrifying nightmare but just another fun them park ride. The word acknowledge means just that, "to see things for what they really are." God has much to say about acknowledgement in His Word. He says in Proverbs 3:6, If we'll acknowledge Him in all we do, He promises to go before us and make the crooked places straight. (I encourage you to take a few minutes and look in your concordance at some other things God has to say about acknowledgment.)


   Isaiah 26:3-4 (NLT) says,  "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock." That means He will cause the right people to show up. He will open doors that we could not open. He will crown our efforts with success. Acknowledging God isn't something we should just do every once in a while. He should always be on our minds. Think about two people when they are first dating. They are so enthralled with one another that no matter what they are doing, they are thinking about the other person. Well, that's how Isaiah says we should be with God. First thing in the morning when we wake up, we should acknowledge Him, while we're getting ready, while we're driving, and all throughout the day. Let's not allow the distractions of this temporary world to take our focus. Let's be determined to make our relationship with the Father our highest priority. Keep your mind stayed on Him, and He will direct your steps! Good news!

Here is a sample of our current Wednesday night series called, "PEOPLE GOD LIKES TO BLESS"

Luke 10:25-37
MERCY: give to others what is needed not what is deserved
"God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy." -Matthew 5:7

WHY BE MERCIFUL TO OTHERS?
1. BECAUSE GOD HAS SHOWN ME MERCY- Eph. 2:4-5; Matthew 18:33 (NLT)
2. IT'S REQUIRED AND COMMANDED BY GOD- Micah 6:8;Hosea 6:6
3. I'LL NEED MORE MERCY IN THE FUTURE- James 2:13 (NCV)
4. IT CAUSES HAPPINESS- Proverbs 14:21 (TEV)
5. I HELP MYSELF- Proverbs 11:17 (GW)

HOW CAN I BE MERCIFUL?
1.BE PATIENT WITH OTHERS WIERD BEHAVIOR- Ephesians 4:2 (LB); James 3:17 (NLT)
2. HELP HURTING PEOPLE IN YOUR PATH Proverbs 3:27 (TEV); Romans 12:8
3. FORGIVE THE FALLEN- Ephesians 4:31-32 (CEV)
4. DO GOOD TO OFFENDERS-Luke 6:35-36 (NIV)
5. GIVE UNLIMITED KINDNESS- 1 Timothy 1:13,16; Jude 1:22-23 (GW/NLT)
6. BUILD BRIDGES TO THE REJECTED AND OUTSIDERS- Matthew 9:10-13 (NLT)
7. VALUE RELATIONSHIPS OVER RULES-Matthew 12:1-8 (NLT)

Blessings,
PK

Thursday, May 8, 2014

He's Mad About You Not Mad At You!

Our Heavenly Father really wants to do great things our lives! So many of us struggle with believing that God desires good things for us. Maybe we grew up being taught that God was mad at us, or maybe we had some bad experiences that shaped our perspective. But the truth is God’s not mad at us today; He’s madly in love with us! That is great news today!!!

In the natural, the more you know someone, the easier it is to believe what they have to say. The same is true with God. The more we know Him, the more we will know His unconditional love. When we open the eyes of our hearts by reading and meditating on His Word, we will clearly see His goodness and the wonderful plan He has for our future. “Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; lighten the eyes [of my faith to behold Your face in the pitch like darkness]...”(Psalm 13:3, AMP)

I encourage us as a church to seek Him so we can see Him, know Him and trust Him. Let His Word illuminate our hearts so we can see clearly with our eyes of faith. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you so you can find confidence in His love and experience the blessing He has in store for your future! we Started a new series last Wednesday night called, “People God likes to Bless”. Here are some of the notes!

PEOPLE GOD LIKES TO BLESS-
MATTHEW 5:3- “BLESSED are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  (NIV)
“God blesses those who realize their need for him . . .” (NLT)
“. . . who recognize they are spiritually helpless . . .” (GW)
 “. . . who depend only on HIM . . .” (CEV)
 “. . . who know they have great spiritual needs . . .” (NCV)
“The Lord God blesses everyone who trusts him and depends on him.” Psalm 146:5 (CEV)

TO BE “POOR IN SPIRIT” MEANS: TO HUMBLY DEPEND ON GOD INSTEAD OF MYSELF
HOW DO I DEPEND ON GOD INSTEAD OF MYSELF?

1.DEPEND ON GOD’S WISDOM NOT MINE
2.DEPEND ON GOD’S STRENGTH, POWER AND ENERGY NOT MINE
3.DEPEND ON GOD’S TIMING NOT MINE
4.DEPEND ON GOD’S DEFENSE NOT MINE
5.DEPEND ON GOD’S WEALTH NOT MINE

How is your dependence level? Come join us on Wednesdays for encouragement, prayer and worship. Great ministries are happening for kids and youth every Wednesday night. See You on Sunday!

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Ever Feel Shortchanged?

Paul's writing to the Roman believers is powerful though not easy to digest. Romans 5:3-5 (message) says,  "There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, 4 and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. 5 In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary - we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!" I love this, We are NEVER, EVER, EVER left shortchanged with our Heavenly Father.
It's the end part, "keeping us alert for whatever God will do next" and "we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!", that makes the hard first part, "because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us...", bearable. Along with this great scripture is a great prophetic word I received this week from some ministry colleagues, hope they bless you.

Bill Burns Prophetic Word:
I see where you have camped out.  But, the cloud is moving.  The cloud is going before you, so get up and go with Me, and you will have no regrets.   For, I am leading you to a higher place than you have ever been.  Your discernment in this season will grow greatly, and your ability to seek and find Me will rise to a place that you have never understood.  You will know in your heart, without any doubt, that I am for you and with you.  I am leading you, guiding you, protecting you, and I will provide for you.  Healing will come.  The healing waters will flow.  The flow of the Spirit is increasing in these days.  So, come into agreement with My purposes and come with Me on this journey, says the Lord.
Ask for wisdom in your current dilemma, and I will show you how to proceed.  I will reveal pieces of the puzzle that you have not yet considered, says the Lord.  Trust Me to take you in a proper progression so that nothing is lost, stolen or destroyed that is still of value.  My ways always bring life and liberty to all concerned.  Be strong and persevere.  

Blessings,

PK

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Finding the Happiest place on Earth


Today I declare that a shift is coming. Whatever you need — a shift in your health, a shift in your finances, or a shift in a relationship. It may not look like anything is happening in the natural, but we serve a supernatural God. He’s about to breathe in your direction in a new way! The enemies you have seen in the past, you will see no more. The addictions or bad habits that have held you back are being broken in Jesus’ name. God’s favor is being released in a new way that will propel you forward. What should have taken you 40 years to accomplish, God is going to do in a split second!

The shift is acceleration. The shift means going beyond where you could go on your own. The shift is seeing Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our Provider, do exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond. Now our attitude should be, “God, I’m ready. I’m taking the limits off of You. I’m enlarging my vision. I may not see a way, but I know You have a way. I declare I’m coming into a shift!”

Job 22:28 says it this way, “You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways.”

Blessings, PK