It doesn't take very long to discover that God's timing is not always our timing. It's easy to question and wonder why you've been waiting for your breakthrough for 15 years and your neighbor got their breakthrough in 15 minutes! In the Bible, Abraham waited 20 years for his promise, and in the upper room they waited about ten days. I don't know how long you'll have to wait, but you've got to understand that God has your best interest at heart. This is really is the question of faith. Do I believe that God is who he says he is and do I believe that God will do ALL he has promised. Is God working for me? I know today that one of the motivations for me to work so hard is to provide for my wife and children what they need at the time that they need it. If that is my motivation and I am a man and God’s ways are higher than mine, then how much more God is working in my behalf!
I have always loved this scripture that I am about to share with you but I really love this translation. Maybe it helps explain the waiting deal a little better. “The Lord isn't really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake…"(2 Peter 3:9, NLT) He is being patient for our sake. He's aligning things and waiting for the exact right moment! If we'll just continue waiting with the right attitude, then at the right time, God will bring it to pass.
Remember, God is always working behind the scenes for our good. Just because we don't see any changes taking place doesn't mean they aren't happening. Stay in Faith, keep standing, keep believing, keep hoping because the breakthrough is coming for our sakes!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
How to handle temptation
When it comes to temptation, remember these seven things:
(1)God is Faithful and we never become so spiritual that we're immune.
1Corinthians 10:13-"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it"
(2)Keep Watch!
Because you haven't blown it yet, doesn't mean you can't. Satan is a master of timing, and he's in no hurry.
Mark 14:38- Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
(3)God’s Bread is all we need to live!
Your flesh is powerful; once indulged it will always want more. Feed Your Spirit More!
(4)Understand that we are responsible.
Sin is a choice. When you choose to abuse God's grace you pay the price, either now or later.
Galatians 6:7- "Do not be deceived...whatever a man sows, that he will also reap"
(5)We're not helpless pawns.
We can’t change what happened yesterday, but your choice, empowered by God's grace, will determine what happens today and tomorrow.
2 Peter 1:3
(6)If you've sinned, there's hope. God will forgive you and use you again.
Jesus told Peter, "I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren" (Luke 22:32 NKJV).
Romans 7:1-6
(7)Stay close to God.
James 4:7- "Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
(1)God is Faithful and we never become so spiritual that we're immune.
1Corinthians 10:13-"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it"
(2)Keep Watch!
Because you haven't blown it yet, doesn't mean you can't. Satan is a master of timing, and he's in no hurry.
Mark 14:38- Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
(3)God’s Bread is all we need to live!
Your flesh is powerful; once indulged it will always want more. Feed Your Spirit More!
(4)Understand that we are responsible.
Sin is a choice. When you choose to abuse God's grace you pay the price, either now or later.
Galatians 6:7- "Do not be deceived...whatever a man sows, that he will also reap"
(5)We're not helpless pawns.
We can’t change what happened yesterday, but your choice, empowered by God's grace, will determine what happens today and tomorrow.
2 Peter 1:3
(6)If you've sinned, there's hope. God will forgive you and use you again.
Jesus told Peter, "I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren" (Luke 22:32 NKJV).
Romans 7:1-6
(7)Stay close to God.
James 4:7- "Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Perilous Times!
A little boy was asked by his geography teacher about the shape of the world. He responded, “My daddy says it is in awful shape.” In 2 Timothy 3:1, Paul stated, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.” “Perilous” means “difficult, painful, hard times, times of stress.”
The Bible gives us guidelines in times like these. Here are a few:
1. REMEMBER THAT GOD IS WITH US. God has declared in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you.” A television announcer was interviewing a six-year-old girl and queried, “Do you know where God is?” The youngster’s omniscient answer was prompt: “Do you know where He isn’t?” Psalm 94:14, “The Lord will not abandon His people.”
2. MAKE PRAYER AND GOD’S WORD A REGULAR ACTIVITY. In Luke 18:1, we learn that if we do not pray, we will “lose heart.” Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is “powerful.” “Powerful” means “energizing.” D. L. Moody testified, “I know the Bible is inspired because it inspires me.”
3. VALUE FRIENDS. At least 26 times in the New Testament, we find the expression “one another.” A London newspaper offered a substantial cash prize to the one who gave the best answer to the question, “Which is the shortest way to London?” The answer that won the prize was, “The shortest way to London is ‘good company’.”
4. DECIDE TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. Studies suggest that only about 25 percent of the tendency toward optimism is carried in the genes, the rest is developed by the individual. Paul exhorted, “Whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report…meditate on these things,” Philippians 4:8.
5. LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME. Three times in Matthew 6:24 – 34, Christ, when addressing our material needs, stated, “Therefore, do not worry.” Then, He promised that if we will seek first His kingdom, “all these things will be added to you,” so, “do not worry about tomorrow.”
6. HAVE FAITH IN GOD. The Jews used the phrase “I AM,” “Yahweh,” as their way of identifying God throughout the Scriptures. “Yahweh” appears more than six thousand times in the Old Testament. It is the expression of the One who lives eternally, from everlasting to everlasting, without beginning or end.
Remember, “We may face situations beyond our reserves, but never beyond God’s resources!”
The Bible gives us guidelines in times like these. Here are a few:
1. REMEMBER THAT GOD IS WITH US. God has declared in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you.” A television announcer was interviewing a six-year-old girl and queried, “Do you know where God is?” The youngster’s omniscient answer was prompt: “Do you know where He isn’t?” Psalm 94:14, “The Lord will not abandon His people.”
2. MAKE PRAYER AND GOD’S WORD A REGULAR ACTIVITY. In Luke 18:1, we learn that if we do not pray, we will “lose heart.” Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is “powerful.” “Powerful” means “energizing.” D. L. Moody testified, “I know the Bible is inspired because it inspires me.”
3. VALUE FRIENDS. At least 26 times in the New Testament, we find the expression “one another.” A London newspaper offered a substantial cash prize to the one who gave the best answer to the question, “Which is the shortest way to London?” The answer that won the prize was, “The shortest way to London is ‘good company’.”
4. DECIDE TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. Studies suggest that only about 25 percent of the tendency toward optimism is carried in the genes, the rest is developed by the individual. Paul exhorted, “Whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report…meditate on these things,” Philippians 4:8.
5. LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME. Three times in Matthew 6:24 – 34, Christ, when addressing our material needs, stated, “Therefore, do not worry.” Then, He promised that if we will seek first His kingdom, “all these things will be added to you,” so, “do not worry about tomorrow.”
6. HAVE FAITH IN GOD. The Jews used the phrase “I AM,” “Yahweh,” as their way of identifying God throughout the Scriptures. “Yahweh” appears more than six thousand times in the Old Testament. It is the expression of the One who lives eternally, from everlasting to everlasting, without beginning or end.
Remember, “We may face situations beyond our reserves, but never beyond God’s resources!”
Saturday, August 15, 2009
"Live a life of love
When we take stock of our day-to-day actions there's often a big gap between what we say we value, and how we spend our time, money and energy. Couples spend four times as much time watching television as they do talking to each other. Parents spend an average of four hours a day watching TV, one hour shopping, and six minutes playing with their children. And with each day lost, the gap widens.
In the movie City Slickers, actor and comedian Billy Crystal stands before the children in his son's school class and decides to teach them a lesson they are perhaps not ready to learn: "Value this time in your life, kids, because this is the time in your life when you still have choices, and it goes by so quickly. When you're a teenager you think you can do everything, and you do. Your twenties are a blur, your thirties - you raise your family, you make a little money, you think to yourself, 'What happened to my twenties?' Your forties - you grow a little potbelly, you grow another chin, the music starts to get too loud, and one of your old girlfriends from high school becomes a grandmother. In your seventies you spend most of your time wandering around malls looking for the ultimate in soft yogurt and muttering, 'How come the kids don't call?'... Any questions?"
If we sense a growing gap between what we say matters most to us and what we are actually doing with our life, take action. Get radical if we have to, but seize this moment while we still have it. The call to love rarely comes with urgency.
So lets do as Paul says, "Live a life of love." Ephesians 5:2 (NIV)
In the movie City Slickers, actor and comedian Billy Crystal stands before the children in his son's school class and decides to teach them a lesson they are perhaps not ready to learn: "Value this time in your life, kids, because this is the time in your life when you still have choices, and it goes by so quickly. When you're a teenager you think you can do everything, and you do. Your twenties are a blur, your thirties - you raise your family, you make a little money, you think to yourself, 'What happened to my twenties?' Your forties - you grow a little potbelly, you grow another chin, the music starts to get too loud, and one of your old girlfriends from high school becomes a grandmother. In your seventies you spend most of your time wandering around malls looking for the ultimate in soft yogurt and muttering, 'How come the kids don't call?'... Any questions?"
If we sense a growing gap between what we say matters most to us and what we are actually doing with our life, take action. Get radical if we have to, but seize this moment while we still have it. The call to love rarely comes with urgency.
So lets do as Paul says, "Live a life of love." Ephesians 5:2 (NIV)
Thursday, August 13, 2009
When it comes to giant-problems
A champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath." 1 Samuel 17:4 (NKJV) When it comes to giant-problems there are solutions if we look closely!!!!
Problem number (1): Their size can intimidate you. And it doesn't help when everybody around you, including your leader, is running for cover.
Solution 1: This is when you need to recall the victories of your past: Red Sea-sized ones, Jericho Wall-sized ones. How big is your God?
Problem Number (2) Their words can cause you to doubt. "When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were...greatly afraid" (1Sa 17:11 NKJV). Words like, "The tumor's malignant, the company's down-sizing, I don't love you any more, our child is hooked on drugs, the bank is foreclosing."
Solution: How do you handle such words? By turning to the living, life-changing Word of God which transcends all circumstances and trumps all opinions. "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever" (Isa 40:8 NKJV).
Problem Number(3) A small opening and a well protected giant. It was said Goliath could throw his spear half the length of a football field, so that's probably how far David was from him. Furthermore, Goliath had body armor protecting him from head to toe, except for a small opening between his eyes and his forehead. That's what David aimed for.
Solution 3: When you ask God for a solution, it may come as a small opening rather than the size of half a football field! When He shows it to you, trust Him to get you through it. God's response to you is not designed to increase your sense of comfort, but to build your confidence in Him. That way you'll not only be able to handle this giant, but the ones waiting for you in the future.
You are a giant killer, Have faith in God!!!!
Problem number (1): Their size can intimidate you. And it doesn't help when everybody around you, including your leader, is running for cover.
Solution 1: This is when you need to recall the victories of your past: Red Sea-sized ones, Jericho Wall-sized ones. How big is your God?
Problem Number (2) Their words can cause you to doubt. "When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were...greatly afraid" (1Sa 17:11 NKJV). Words like, "The tumor's malignant, the company's down-sizing, I don't love you any more, our child is hooked on drugs, the bank is foreclosing."
Solution: How do you handle such words? By turning to the living, life-changing Word of God which transcends all circumstances and trumps all opinions. "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever" (Isa 40:8 NKJV).
Problem Number(3) A small opening and a well protected giant. It was said Goliath could throw his spear half the length of a football field, so that's probably how far David was from him. Furthermore, Goliath had body armor protecting him from head to toe, except for a small opening between his eyes and his forehead. That's what David aimed for.
Solution 3: When you ask God for a solution, it may come as a small opening rather than the size of half a football field! When He shows it to you, trust Him to get you through it. God's response to you is not designed to increase your sense of comfort, but to build your confidence in Him. That way you'll not only be able to handle this giant, but the ones waiting for you in the future.
You are a giant killer, Have faith in God!!!!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Quick to Listen
'Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak.' JAMES 1:19
Ever think about this, God gave us two ears and one mouth because we need to listen twice as much as we talk. Learning that means being 'quick to listen, slow to speak.' Good listening builds relationships. But good listeners aren't born, they're bred!
So here are a few suggestions to improve your listening:
1) Listen without interrupting. Resist the temptation to jump in and finish the sentence, or hijack the floor. Rein yourself in - just listen.
2) Listen to understand. Try to understand their point of view, feelings, thinking and needs. Good listening is hearing what they actually think, mean or feel, not what you imagine they do. Instead of guessing, ask, 'Am I understanding you correctly? Do you mean...? Are you feeling...?' In other words, don't assume - verify.
3) Listen without judging. Don't rush to conclusions. If what they say doesn't quite add up, keep listening. 'He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him' (Proverbs 18:13 NKJV). When you hear more, it may make sense.
4) Listen without correcting, countering or devaluing. Saying, 'That's not the way it was,' or, 'What did you expect? If you hadn't...' or, 'You're just being too sensitive,' puts people on guard and stops real communication.
5) Validate the speaker. Accept their perceptions and feelings as valid expressions of a valued person. 'If I understand you correctly, you're thinking...feeling...Am I right?' Ask them to help get you on the same page with them. 'Given what you've told me, I can see why you'd feel what you feel,' is very validating and will increase their confidence and willingness to consider the solutions you may offer.
Ever think about this, God gave us two ears and one mouth because we need to listen twice as much as we talk. Learning that means being 'quick to listen, slow to speak.' Good listening builds relationships. But good listeners aren't born, they're bred!
So here are a few suggestions to improve your listening:
1) Listen without interrupting. Resist the temptation to jump in and finish the sentence, or hijack the floor. Rein yourself in - just listen.
2) Listen to understand. Try to understand their point of view, feelings, thinking and needs. Good listening is hearing what they actually think, mean or feel, not what you imagine they do. Instead of guessing, ask, 'Am I understanding you correctly? Do you mean...? Are you feeling...?' In other words, don't assume - verify.
3) Listen without judging. Don't rush to conclusions. If what they say doesn't quite add up, keep listening. 'He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him' (Proverbs 18:13 NKJV). When you hear more, it may make sense.
4) Listen without correcting, countering or devaluing. Saying, 'That's not the way it was,' or, 'What did you expect? If you hadn't...' or, 'You're just being too sensitive,' puts people on guard and stops real communication.
5) Validate the speaker. Accept their perceptions and feelings as valid expressions of a valued person. 'If I understand you correctly, you're thinking...feeling...Am I right?' Ask them to help get you on the same page with them. 'Given what you've told me, I can see why you'd feel what you feel,' is very validating and will increase their confidence and willingness to consider the solutions you may offer.
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