As God's Partners

"As God's partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God's kindness and then ignore it." 2 Cor. 6:1
I cannot just accept God's wonderful marvelous gift and then just ignore it and go on with life as if nothing happened.  Nope, I am compelled to act, to be an ambassador of reconciliation(2Cor.5:20), to be a minister of the new covenant(2Cor.3:6), to see and reflect the glory of the Lord and be changed more and more into his likeness(2Cor.3:18). This may all seem impossible, and if it was just us it would be, but now we are new creations, we are the temple of God, we are in Christ and He is in us!  With God nothing is impossible.  We are to live as Jesus, do the same things he did.  That is impossible for those who haven't accepted God's marvelous gift, but expected and possible for those who have.  I can't ignore this and go back to a way of Christianity that denies God's power, that looks just like the world's self-help where the only difference is that you acknowledge God and they don't.  Why would they want God if they can have the same thing without him?

There has got to be something more, something we've missed, something we've passed off as "that can't be true or possible".  I can't go back to that way anymore, of having a form of godliness but denying it's power.  I can't go back to reading the word and not believing it!  I have to walk as Jesus did, doing the same things he did.  If you research you will see that this is how it's supposed to be, the norm!  Why is the norm powerless today?  I want what Jesus paid for and nothing less.  This is why I will not give up! "Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up." 2Cor.4:1  This is the treasure that is in us shining in jars of clay, so that it's obvious that it's God's power at work, because just a human can't possibly do it!  This is the proof that we have something real(2Cor.4:7)!  If we aren't doing impossible things that are only possible for God then what makes us think we have the Gospel?  What makes us think that the world would see and want it?

These are the things that I have awakened to.  I can no longer ignore it.  I can't go back to when I didn't understand and was asleep to it.  I have to move forward.  I have a responsibility to live as Jesus did.  Step one, believe it.

Once you awaken to this, start to understand the ramifications of the new covenant and the new creation...it's amazing!  It's too good to be true, yet it is 100% true!  People in history have awakened to it before and that's when you see all these revivals and amazing things taking place and we see that stuff and long for it not realizing that we have the same thing and just aren't living in the fullness of it.  That is supposed to be what's normal.

Ever since realizing this my question has been "If that's supposed to be normal, then WHY don't we see it like that now?"  I'm not content hearing about other people living it, I want to live it.  I want us ALL to live it!  Imagine what could happen if every Christian woke up and starting living this!

I know this sounds like "crazy" talk, but just like Paul wrote if I seem crazy it's to bring glory to God, and if I'm actually in my right mind then it's for your benefit(2Cor.5:13)!

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Eph.2:10

"I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night comes, when no man can work." John 9:4

"Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did." 1John 2:6

"I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father." John 14:12

Dazzling "Yes" that's Guarenteed

^"18 But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. ¹⁹ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. ²⁰ For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. ²¹ Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, ²² who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee." 2 Cor. 1:18-22 (NKJV)

^"18 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” ¹⁹ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas^[c] and Timothy —was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” ²⁰ For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. ²¹ Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, ²² set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." 2 Cor. 1:18-22 (NIV)

  As I read this it really jumped out at me that Jesus IS God's "Yes" to us!  How amazing is that?  Just think about that for a minute, we tend to think that God is saying "No" about certain things but this passage says that EVERY promise is YES in Christ!  I just think about the magnitude of what this means.  I don't want to lessen it in my mind but really grasp how huge this is and what it fully means.
  Not only is every promise YES in Christ, but we just have to agree and add our "yes" our "Amen" to it.  Then to top it all off God put a seal on us and put the Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, a GUARANTEE!  So he not only said YES but he guaranteed it too!!!  That's pretty amazing!!!  You know it reminds me of when God made a covenant with Abraham and how he guaranteed it by his own self and not on Abraham.  We get the same deal, it's guaranteed by himself and he cannot lie, can't go back on his word, can't take it back, can't change it, can't NOT follow through!!!  It is the ultimate guarantee!
  WOW every promise is "Yes" in Christ and guaranteed by the Spirit!  Doesn't that make you want to dig through and find out what those promises are?  Like a treasure hunt!  It is the endless treasures available to us in Christ!  Everything that we have in the New Covenant made in Christ's blood!  Everything we HAVE in Christ!  It would seem too good to be true, which is probably why most people miss it altogether.  It may be too good to be true, BUT it is true!!!  That's when we stop and just worship God standing in wonder of his love for us, at how big and wide and long it is, that we can't even fathom it all, yet it is true!
I stand dazzled.

I am the Temple of God! He lives in me!

"And what union can there be between God's temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God.  As God said: "I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people." 2Cor. 6:16

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" 1Cor. 3:16

"Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself," 1Cor. 6:19

"You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." Romans 8:9

"And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you." Romans 8:11

"We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit." 1John 4:13

"Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." John 14:23

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15

“Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."” Galatians 4:6

There is so much "proof" in the Word that we are God's Temple, we are His dwelling place. Why is it so hard for us to believe it? It seems too good to be true. But it is true! He is not outside of you, He lives in you! You don't have to go to a place to find Him, He lives in you! And if you have Him at all, then you have all of Him. He doesn't come in amounts, just a little here and there, He is a person, all there or not at all. If you are His, then HE lives in YOU!
Lift up your head! HE LIVES IN YOU! Be bold, He lives in YOU! He never leaves or forsakes you, He lives in you! Believe the Word! Now act like it's true. What do your actions say you believe? Do you really believe you are His temple and He LIVES in you?

Make the choice to believe it, it's simple, just decide it's true and act like it.

Say this out loud about yourself, as you do agree with God’s Word:

• I am the Temple of God
• God’s Spirit lives in me
• We are God’s Temple
• My body is God’s Temple
• The same Spirit who rose Christ from the dead lives in me
• I live in Him and He lives in me
• He has given me His Spirit
• Jesus made His home in me
• The Father made His home in me
• I received the Spirit
• I am adopted as a son, I cry Abba Father
• I have the Spirit of the Son in my heart, who calls out “Abba Father”

To Live Is Christ

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

“The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:10-11

“For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Col. 3:3

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 1Cor. 5:17

“until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Eph. 4:13

“And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2

• I have died
• I have died to sin
• My old self is dead
• My life is hidden with Christ in God
• I am in Christ
• I am a new creation
• I am alive to God in Christ
• My life is not me anymore but Jesus living in me
• I live now by faith in the Son of God
• To live is Christ
• I am in Him and He is in me
• Everyday I act more like Jesus
• Everyday I talk more like Jesus
• I do what Jesus did
• I renew my mind to be like Jesus
• I am transformed to be like Jesus
• Jesus lives in me
• Jesus lives through me

What My Life Looks Like

What My Life Looks Like

I read it in God’s Word, I believe it is true, I say it with my mouth, I live it

As it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations." Abraham acted in faith when he stood in the presence of God, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that don't yet exist. (ISV) Romans 4:17

As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed--the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. (NIV) Romans 4:17

• I speak things that be not as though they were.  God is my example. 

Luke 10:27 He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

• I love God with all my heart
• I love God with all my soul
• I love God with all my strength
• I love God with all my mind
• I love everyone just like I love myself. Everyone includes; friends, family, and people I don’t know, people I like or don’t like, everyone and anyone, if they are a person this includes them, just like I love myself.

Luke 6:31 “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

• I treat everyone just like I would want to be treated.

1Cor. 13:4-8 ~ ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸ Love never fails. (has no end)

• I am love because God is love (Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. – 1 John 4:8)
• I am patient
• I am kind
• I do not envy, I am not jealous, instead I am happy for others
• I do not boast about myself, I only boast about God telling about what God has done or is doing
• I am not proud, I don’t think of myself as better than anyone else, everyone is equal with me
• I do not dishonor others; I don’t talk bad about them or put them down
• I am not self-seeking, I don’t just think about myself and what I want
• I am not easily angered, I don’t get mad easy
• I don’t keep a record of wrongs; I forgive everyone just like God forgives me all the time with no exceptions
• I do not delight in evil; I am not happy when bad things happen to anyone no matter what
• I rejoice with the truth, I celebrate and am happy with the truth
• I always protect, I don’t point out all the bad things in people and expose them
• I always trust, how can I not trust God because he has never lied to me, he always keeps his promises
• I always hope, I hope for the best for everyone, I don’t think the wrong thing right away but choose to think the best and not the worst.  This means I choose to be optimistic about everything and everyone.
• I always persevere.  I do not give up, I do not quit, I keep going, I finish.
• I never fail, this doesn’t end or stop but continues all the time all of my life. There will never come a point that I quit on someone or give up.

²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! ~ Gal. 5:22-23

• I have the Holy Spirit in me and because of that the fruit of the Spirit flows out of my life.
• I am loving, I make the choice to act and speak with love. I have God’s love in me. I let God’s love come out of me, it doesn’t have conditions or require anything back. Others could hate me but that changes nothing.
• I have joy, I am joyful, I am full of joy
• I have peace, I am peaceful, I live out peace, I make the choice to make peace and keep peace instead of fighting or stirring up trouble in my actions and what I say
• I have patience, I am patient with everyone, I make the choice to deal with people patiently
• I am kind, I make the choice to act with kindness in everything I do and say
• I am good, I have goodness, because God did this in me and now I live it out in my life in everything I do and say, I choose to be good
• I am faithful, I have faithfulness, I choose to be faithful, I never stop doing what is right, I don’t sometimes live all this out and at other times not, I am consistent in living this way all the time
• I am gentle, I have gentleness, I am never harsh or mean in my actions or words, I make the choice to be gentle to everyone
• I am self-controlled, I have self-control, I can and make the choice to control my actions and what words come out of my mouth

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.  ~ Phil. 4:4-9

• I rejoice in the Lord always, everything about God makes me rejoice, celebrate, happy, joyful
• I will let my gentleness be evident, obvious, to everyone
• I will not be anxious about anything, I do not worry about anything
• In every situation I thank God and present my requests and needs to him. I thank him because he takes care of me, he has provided everything I need for every situation I will ever be in.
• Because God takes care of me and already knows every need I will ever have and has already took care of it, I can rest and have perfect peace. This peace and trust in him goes so deep, is so strong, that it makes other people wonder at it because they don’t understand how it can be possible.
• This peace will guard my heart and my mind always. I choose to rest because I know this.
• I am in Christ Jesus. I live in him and he lives in me.
• I think about what is true
• I think about what is noble, things that are good and right, things that are godly
• I think about what is right, not on what is wrong
• I think about what is pure, never about anything dirty, I think about pure things
• I think about what is lovely, not about what is nasty or harsh or mean or critical
• I think about what is admirable, I think about doing things that others can see as a good example and I think about what I see in others that is a good example
• I think about what is excellent and praiseworthy.  I see everything that people are doing right, I think about telling them that they are doing a great job. I think about this and see it so much that I can’t help but let them know.  I think about what I can do that is excellent or praiseworthy, not because I want praise but because I love doing these things.
• Whatever I learn I put into practice, I do them. I never just listen and hear but I take action about what I hear.
• Whatever I hear about that is good, I go and do it too.
• Whatever I see people doing that is a good example, I do it too.
• God is with me! I have peace!

Devil's Advocate

"Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Matt. 16:22-23

We can actually be a literal devil's advocate! As Christians we need to be careful not to do this to others! The power of life and death is in the tongue! (Prov.18:21) We are called to be life and light to those around us!

We may need to watch out for and not allow even another believers words into our life, rejecting them as Jesus did...that doesn't mean we have to say that out loud to them, but in our hearts and minds we reject and resist the devil's words. No matter where they are spoken from. Remember we don't fight against flesh and blood, they may or may not realize what they are saying. Peter didn't.

The only time we should play "devil's advocate" is when teaching another believer how to stand against the devil's lies, methods, and tactics! And as such sharpening them for their own battle! The devil shouldn't have any help from us to destroy anyone! Our #1 mission is LOVE!

"Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Matt. 22:37-39

"Love is..." 1 Corinthians 13

Who I Am (Faith Confessions)

I read a little book by Kenneth Hagin called "In Him" one of the things he recommends is to read through the epistles and find, write and confess what is mine, who I am, and what I have in Christ. So I am starting in 1 Corinthians since we are already going through it for S.O.A.P.  Here is my beginnings!!! Already exciting!!! The gospel is truly good news of great joy!!!

(NLT)1 Corinthians 1:2, 4-5, 7, 9, 30:

I am writing to God's church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. [4] I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. [5] Through him, God has enriched your church in every way-with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. [7] Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. [30] God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.

• I am made holy by Christ
• I belong to Christ Jesus
• Through Christ, God has enriched my church in every way
• I have every spiritual gift I need, as I wait for his return
• I was invited into partnership with Jesus, I am His partner
• I am united with Christ Jesus 
• I have wisdom, because he was made to be wisdom itself for my benefit
• I am right with God, pure and holy, freed from sin, because of Christ

(NLT)1 Corinthians 2:10-14, 16:

But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets. [11] No one can know a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit, and no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit. [12] And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. [13] When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths. [14] But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. [16] For, "Who can know the Lord's thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?" But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

• I have received God's Spirit so I can know God's thoughts, the wonderful things God has given me, and the deep secrets of God.
• I speak words given to me by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths.
• Because I am spiritual(have the Spirit in me), I can understand what the Spirit means
• I understand God's thoughts because I have the mind of Christ

(NLT)1 Corinthians 3:11, 16, 21-23:

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have-Jesus Christ. [16] Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? [21] So don't boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you- [22] whether Paul or Apollos or Peter, or the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you, [23] and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

• I have Jesus Christ as my foundation
• I am the temple of God, his Spirit lives in me
• Everything belongs to me, I belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God

(NLT)1 Corinthians 6:15-17, 19-20:

Don't you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never! [16] And don't you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, "The two are united into one." [17] But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. [19] Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, [20] for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

• My body is part of Christ
• I am joined to the Lord and am one spirit with him
• My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in me and was given to me
• I do not belong to myself, God bought me with a high price

(to be continued)

Soldiers With Nothing To Lose

Now that I realize God is good all the time, he is not the author of hardship. I see so many of us acting like God has a little darkness in him, or that his arm is just a little too short, or he isn't really faithful, etc. The list goes on. Jesus said the thief comes to steal kill and destroy but he came to give life and life abundantly. Why then do we attribute the devil's work to God? It seems to expose lies we believe about God. The devil is a criminal, he's not allowed to do any of this junk anymore, but he does. Grasp the good news! Jesus won victory, let's us use his authority, he sent the Holy Spirit for power. We have the badge and the gun!!! Don't let the criminal get away with junk because you think God allows it!!! God in his sovereignty provided us with a badge and a gun!!! USE THEM! Also God says he works everything for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purposes! Use that badge and gun, and see how God will flip things around and use the very things meant for harm and turn it into something good just because he loves you and you love him!


"Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." 2Tim.2:3 God may not be the author of hardship, but he does say to endure it like a good soldier. Soldiers FIGHT we know what we are fighting for. Thank God he fully equips us for it all!!! We have Jesus strength, we have the badge and gun, we have the Word, we have the Helper, Teacher, and Comforter! We have ALL THAT WE NEED IN CHRIST. We are in a War, but one that has already been won, we fight from VICTORY!

May I be such a Soldier that the enemy raises the white flag and flees before I even get there because I am SO HARD CORE FOR GOD and I WILL use the badge and gun! HA!

LOL A soldier with nothing to lose is dangerous! Superheros tend to have this kind of mindset, they know the power they have and are fearless and because of that destructive to the enemy they fight. They are even willing to die, nothing will stop them! Yet this is who we are in Christ and we cower? NO WAY!!! We have nothing to lose, in fact we fight FROM VICTORY that means we CAN'T lose!!! If God is for us, who can be against us!!! Yup! I know the TRUTH now. I am In Christ and as such; UNSTOPPABLE!

To live is Christ and to die is gain...LOL!  Lets BE good soldiers!  AMEN!

Galatians 2:20 "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Philippians 1:21 "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

Living by God's Power

S: (NLT)1 Corinthians 4:20
For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God's power.

O: It's easy to get caught up in talk, teaching, or just knowledge about the Kingdom of God. But it's not just about that, it's about living by God's power. At any time we should be able to demonstrate. Our life should be the proof of our talk.

A: There is no excuse for powerlessness, either you are living by God's power or not. It's good to teach and have knowledge but if that is where you stop then you have nothing. We need to be doers of the word and not just hearers. We have the badge (Jesus' authority) and the gun (power of God, Holy Spirit). We are fully equipped to be valiant warriors, soldiers. What are we doing with it? It is meant to be used!

P: Thank you Lord that you have fully equipped me! Thank you that I get to live by Your power and demonstrate the Kingdom of God! Help me to live this out, to be a valiant warrior wherever I am! I am always on duty. Help me to grow in maturity and be all that you have called me to be in Christ! I never want to only be talk, but to LIVE by Your power! Let my life be living proof!

The Body and The Work

S: (NLT)1 Corinthians 3:7-8
It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow. [8] The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.

O: Our job is to go about planting and watering wherever possible so that God can then cause growth. We are all to work together planting and watering. No "these are mine, and those are yours" or "I am with this one and you are with them". We are all together the body of Christ. There should be no separation of what God hasn't separated. Sure someone may water certain ones more than others or plant more than others in specific people. But as a whole our attitude should never be "yours and mine" and not work with certain ones on purpose.

A: I can't stand it when I see this happen! There is such an ugliness when I go to plant or water and you run into the attitude that you are not "theirs". The parts of the body may have a left and a right side but they are still in the same body, both left and right sides are needed and help each other. There are even times that it is needed for the other "side" to do something that one side couldn't do for itself. I will never treat one "side" as not part of my own body, because it IS part of my own body as I am part of theirs! Why should there be separation of what God never seperated. Yes He made a left and a right but they are not separate entities, but joined together to form a whole body.

P: Thank you Lord that you made us The Body, that it doesn't matter what part you are if you are left or right. We are to plant and water as much as possible no matter what that looks like. There are no boundaries to the work. It is all work. And it is YOU who causes all the growth. Help me to never ever treat anyone as not a part of my body but all as the body unseparated. We are a whole, working together.

God's Own Spirit

S: (NLT)1 Corinthians 2:10-12
But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets. [11] No one can know a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit, and no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit. [12] And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

O: How wonderful that we can know and understand the things of God, all the wonderful things He has freely given us because we have His Spirit. We become united with Christ, His Spirit dwells in us, giving us the mind of Christ! (1Cor. 1:30, 2:12,16)

A: I love how God did things through Christ! It's so special! No one before Christ had the Spirit dwelling in them, they could not understand the things of God like we can! They only hoped for this, we get to live in it! It brings me so much joy to understand the things of God, it's a wonderful gift! Moses spent time talking with God like friends do, we have the privilege of being even closer through the Spirit who knows God's thoughts, and we have received Him! We get to know Him as more than a friend but as our bridegroom. We are united like in marriage! (Eph. 22-32) Wow! Talk about mind blowing!

P: Lord God this is so special! Thank you for your wonderful plan of salvation! Thank you for all I have in Christ! We tend to take all of this for granted, especially when we don't yet grasp the full meaning of it all! Thank you for teaching me, for helping me get it! It is because of your Spirit that I can understand! I am having a hard time expressing how all this makes me feel, but your Spirit in me knows everything! I can only imagine that it is only a scratch on the surface of your own heart, your own joy too! This is what you wanted from the beginning! Now I understand Ephesians 1:3-6 "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. [4] Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. [5] God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. [6] So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son."

United With Christ

S: (NLT)1 Corinthians 1:30
"God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself.
Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin."

O: We have been united with Christ! We are made right with God, are pure and holy, free from sin!!!!! This is what life in Christ looks like! And the mind blowing thing about it all, is this is just the beginning of all there is and all that is available in Christ! It's amazing!

A: All we do to have this life is accept it as a gift, let our old life be crucified with Christ. Our old self and sinful nature is dead, we gain a new life become a new creation! Now it is no longer I who live but Christ in me! (Gal. 2:20) It's the simple good news! To live united with Christ is the best possible life you could ever have, we receive it by simple faith! It is a beautiful thing, it's a beautiful exchange!

P: Thank you Lord for your life! Thank you for giving it to us so freely! All are welcome! NONE are denied! So how could I not live in all the fullness of this truth? How could I not give up my life in exchange for yours? It's a priceless gift! Holy Spirit help me to continue to learn and grow in all that it means to be in Christ! God I give everything to you, I am yours and you are mine!!! I love you Lord!!! Thank you for first loving me, for making it all possible! It all started with your desire for me! Your love is amazing!

By the Power Vested in Me

The other day I woke up with those words from the Holy Spirit impressed on my heart "by the power vested in me" and then the reminder of a wedding when the pastor makes this declaration and then pronounces them husband and wife. (Typically stated "By the power vested in me by the state of ______, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride")  If he had no power vested in him then it wouldn't be so, but since he has the authority then it is done!

I have been given Power from on High!  I have been vested with power in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!  And by the power vested in me I have the authority to pronounce and declare!  How amazing is that?  Not only for me but to everyone who receives this same power!

So since I've never really heard of the word 'vested' I looked up the definition to learn more.  Here are some things I found:

• Secured in the possession of or assigned to a person
• Protected or established by law or contract
• Law Settled, fixed, or absolute; being without contingency: a vested right
• Dressed or clothed, especially in ecclesiastical vestments
• Fixed and absolute and without contingency; "a vested right" not conditional, unconditional
• Nonforfeitable ownership (or partial ownership) by an employee of the retirement account balances or benefits contributed on the employees behalf by an employer. (vesting)
• 'Fully Vested' A person's right to the full amount of some type of benefit
• Fully and unconditionally guaranteed as a legal right, benefit or privilege
• having a vest (a vested suit) (as in clothing)

Vestment:

• A garment, especially a robe or gown worn as an indication of office or state
• [Middle English vestement, from Anglo-French, from Latin vestimentum, from vestire to clothe]
• A garment worn by clergy

* I took all the definitions from google sources just look up vested definition on google to find them

I really thought all this was neat and so much made me think of scripture and promises!  Here are a few!

Luke 24:49 "I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high"

Acts 1:4-5 "On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”"

 Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Acts 2  "The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost"

Acts 2:39 "The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

Isn't this amazing?!  So encouraging to know that I have been clothed, vested, with power from on High!  I am a royal daughter of The King, I am a co-heir with Christ!  I'm still letting all this sink in, I'm sure there is so much more I am still unaware of, but I wanted to share this good news because I know it is not just for me or for "special people" but for you and everyone who the Lord will call!  This is a promise for sons and daughters!  It is our vesting, our vested right, our vestment!  All we do is receive the Father's promise poured out to us by Jesus!  We are fully and unconditionally guaranteed as a legal right, benefit or privilege!  And we are clothed!!!  Just amazing!!!  So what are we doing with this?  Are we actively using this right, benefit, privilege?  Is it sitting in the closet getting dusty?  We receive this gift to USE IT!  We are to allow The River to flow through us, it is inexhaustible, ever-flowing, and will never run dry!  There is more than enough, we never run out because it is a constant flow!
Amen Hallelujah
2Cor. 1:20 "For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for his glory."

It is one of the most deeply rooted beliefs (actually, "unbeliefs"), that God is more with some people than with others. We even make all kinds of conditions by which we explain why He is; some are more holy, or more prayerful or something. As if the presence of God depended upon us! The promise of His presence is unconditional. From the beginning God said "I will never leave you nor forsake you". He said it to Joshua and it is repeated 1300 years later in Hebrews (13:5). God is with us not because we are good or when we have great faith He is there. No such terms are laid down. He is with us because He has committed Himself to it, irrevocably, as it were "for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health" "I your maker am your husband" (Isaiah 54:5) Blessed New Year 2012. REINHARD BONNKE

LIFE!!!

This is a message that I feel God is giving me for a family friend, Pastor Gordon, who currently is in the hospital, in a coma but he can still hear.  We visited him last night and prayed for him.  He seemed to respond to us, though he cannot talk or open his eyes.  We want to visit him again today, and last night when we made the decision to see him again I felt God is laying this message for him on my heart!

BUT as I wrote this up this morning I feel like it shouldn't just be for him, but shared for anyone who will accept it.  So here it is!  May the Holy Spirit bring fullness of LIFE into your heart as you read!

Last night as we were driving home I continued to worship and pray.  When I prayed I saw the words DEATH over this room so I broke it in Jesus Name and declared LIFE in it’s place and I saw the word DEATH break in half and LIFE come up in between the two pieces.  Here is the biblical back-up to what I saw!

Jesus conquered death:

“He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken.” – Isaiah 25:8

“And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.” – 2Tim. 1:10

“Because God's children are human beings--made of flesh and blood--the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.” – Heb.2:14

“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” - Eph. 6:12

“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else--not only in this world but also in the world to come.” – Eph. 1:19-21

“Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” – Matt. 28:18

“Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.” – 1Peter 3:22

I could go on and on and on with verses that back all this up as you know but that would end up being entirely too long! LOL

After I saw LIFE I continued to pray for you, for your healing and God showed me a picture of blue electricity running over and over your body.  I believe that you are on the way to getting better now.  Don’t give up Pastor Gordon, keep trying, keep believing.  God is faithful, Jesus conquered death, to prove it even further he raised the dead.  If God wanted death to have the highest rule he would not have allowed the dead to be raised!  Yes we must all die one day and to be absent from the body is to be present with Christ (2Cor.5:8), but that doesn’t mean that death makes the decisions, NO, Jesus paid the price with his blood, and by HIS stripes we are healed (Isa.53:5).  Jesus calls the shoots now, and he speaks LIFE!

“But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1Cor. 15:57

We see Jesus’ heart in this story:

“In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. "Lord," he said, "if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean." Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," he said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared.” – Luke 5:12-13

Jesus is Willing! Be HEALED in HIS NAME!

God is not the Great I WAS who did miracles once upon a time!  Heb. 13:8 says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  He is the Great I AM!

We partner our YES with His YES! 

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” -2Cor.1:20-22

We stand here IN Christ as His representatives!  Jesus said “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10

This is the Good News of the Gospel of Salvation!  Not only are we free from sin, bought with a price, but our Sweet Jesus paid for our healing and our LIFE!  We stand on Jesus promise that you may have LIFE and have it to the FULL!  That means here and now AND in the life to come!

Hallelujah!  CHRIST IS LORD!  AMEN!

Relationship With God

S:  (NLT)2 Samuel 2:1
After this, David asked the Lord, "Should I move back to one of the towns of Judah?" "Yes," the Lord replied. Then David asked, "Which town should I go to?" "To Hebron," the Lord answered.

O:  We can clearly see David asking God about stuff, and God giving an answer!

A:  If God would do this for David in the old testament, then how much more will he do it for us who have a restored relationship with himself through Jesus! I will be one to ask him and listen for him to speak! He loves to be active and a part of my life, after all what is a relationship if you don't interact or talk with each other? I want all that Jesus paid for, I want full relationship with God!

P:  Lord I am thrilled to be able to have a relationship with You! Thank you Jesus for paying the price for restoration! How can I not be overjoyed because of this?! Lord help me to live in all the fullness of relationship with You! I am thrilled to call you friend! I am thrilled to co-labor with you! Thank you for wanting that SO much too! Thank you for pursuing relationship with me first! You are too wonderful for words, I love you!
In Jesus Name Amen

Different View

S:  (NLT)1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

O:  People tend to judge by outward appearance, but God doesn't, he looks at the heart. God sees the inside, and sees things differently than the way we see them.

A:  It is wise to remember that God sees things differently than we do. We may look at someone or a situation and draw a completely different conclusion. God sees more, he sees into the heart, we can't. We can only see the outside or the physical evidence, but God sees into the very deepest part of our heart. He can see things we don't. There may be times we don't understand God's reasons because they seem a mystery to us, but if we will trust that he sees things differently we would be wise. I want to be someone like Samuel who listened to God and trusted his view, even when it was different from what he had expected.

P:  Lord God, thank you that you see things differently, that you look at the heart. I love that about you. Help me to trust your view, even when it seems a mystery, or unexpected. I want to lean on your ways, your views, and not on just my own. I want to see with your eyes, not with just my natural eyes.
In Jesus Name Amen

Correct Priorities

S:  (NLT)1 Samuel 15:22
But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

O:  God is not pleased with token offerings and sacrifices. Complete obedience is better, submission is better. When obedience and submission are first then sacrifice and offerings are pleasing, but out of proper order they aren't.

A:  Correct priorities are important, because if out of wack they cause trouble. Saul tried to make up for his disobedience, but nothing can take the place of obedience. His priorities with God were not right. If he would have truly had a relationship with God, he would have understood that. If he would have been after God's heart he would have obeyed fully first then if he desired to do more to go above and beyond to touch God's heart, he could found a way that is pleasing to God also within correct priority. I want my life to be pleasing to God in everything, but I also want to be after his heart too. You can't have the icing without the cake, the cake is the foundation, but a whole cupcake all together including sprinkles is the best! That is how I want to be, to have the whole cupcake to give to God. Having correct priorities, obedience and submission first, then the rest!

P:  Lord God, thank you that I get to have a relationship with you! I love that Jesus made it possible! And so because of all this, I am after your heart! Help me to keep the right priorities straight and to go beyond obedience and submission but in everything be pleasing to you! Teach me how to bless your heart, and help me lead others to do this too. I love that I get to be your friend, you are amazing! I love you!
In Jesus Name Amen

Nothing Impossible for God

S:  (NLT)1 Samuel 14:6
"Let's go across to the outpost of those pagans," Jonathan said to his armor bearer. "Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!"

O:  Jonathan understood that with God it doesn't matter what the circumstances look like, he can give victory no matter how it seems. He knew that with God anything is possible and that him and his armor bearer were enough when God was with them.

A:  This is true for all of us! Even if it's just me, that is enough for God! I will step up and step out in faith with God, because with God, nothing is impossible! I will partner with him, and fight from victory to enforce what Jesus accomplished! I will partner with God to release his will on earth by agreeing with him in prayer!

P:  Lord God use me, I choose to partner with you! Thank you that you choose to partner with us, it is your desire to work with us and accomplish your will on earth! Thank you that nothing is impossible for you! I love to get to be a part of your plans! You don't have to partner with us for anything, yet it is your desire and choice just because you love us and want relationship! Your ways are so amazing! Thank you that you treasure your relationship with me and I treasure you too! Though only because you first loved me is it possible for me to love you, but I treasure that you would do that for me. Thank you! <3 I can't wait to see all that you have planned, and I am excited to get to be a part! The best part is that I get to be your friend! You are amazing!
In Jesus Name Amen

Trusting and Waiting on God

S:  (NLT)1 Samuel 13:13-14
"How foolish!" Samuel exclaimed. "You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. [14] But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord's command."

O:  How sad that Saul took matters into his own hands, he failed his test. Would he hold on and wait on God and trust him even when it looks like things are going downhill fast, or do something even though it meant disobedience? He chose to disobey to try and salvage what he thought he needed to do instead of trusting God no matter how it looked. Because of that God couldn't establish him and had to choose another, someone who would obey and seek after his heart, not their own ways.

A:  God wants someone who will seek after his heart, who will trust him fully, who will obey his commands. I want to be such a person. I will choose to believe and wait on God, even if it seems to be taking longer than I thought it should. God's timing is perfect and I will trust him.

P:  Lord God, I trust you. I wait on you. Thank you that you are trustworthy and faithful, I can count on you because of who you are and you cannot go against your very nature! Because I know you, I can trust you and wait on you! Help me to walk in this always even when circumstances try to test it. I want to be after your heart, and I want to help others to be after your heart too.
In Jesus Name Amen

Leading Others To God

S:  (NLT)1 Samuel 12:20
"Don't be afraid," Samuel reassured them. "You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the Lord with all your heart, and don't turn your back on him.

O:  Samuel pointed out and made them aware of their sin, but not to condemn them. The purpose was to encourage them to turn back to God and live completely for him, and not to turn away again.

A:  This is our job too, we are to lead others to God or back to God. Never is the purpose condemnation, but with love to see them living fully for God. To see them turn away from sin. To see them living for God with their whole heart. I cannot make the choice for them, but I can point out what the truth is. I can lovingly point out the right path.

P:  Thank you Lord for Samuel's example of leading people back to you. Help me to lovingly lead others back to you too. I know I can't do it for them, but let me be compelling when I speak the truth. Let your Spirit draw them back to you and help them commit to you. Help me to have your heart for them.
In Jesus Name Amen

False Humility Exposed

S:  (NLT)1 Samuel 9:21
Saul replied, "But I'm only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?"

O:  Samuel was talking and treating Saul from what God said about him. (vs. 15-20) Saul didn't know what to think about all that, because he saw himself differently than the way God saw him.

A:  So often we are like Saul not seeing ourselves through God's eyes. And until we find out what God really thinks we believe the view we have from our experiences in life, good or bad. I hope that I will see myself with God's eyes, it's hard to do when everything you have experienced tells you otherwise. The devil tries anything he can to get you to not believe God. Even using false humility to get us to reject what God says, thinking that it is being humble to reject it and continue thinking as we did before. What a trap! What a lie! To say it is pride to agree with God's view! But so many of us fall for it, we know it is undeserved! Our understanding is twisted, of course we don't deserve it, but when we accepted Christ we accepted mercy and grace. Because we are in Christ, we accepted as a gift what we could never deserve, that includes God's view of us through Jesus. Why would we reject what he wants us to have! Expose the lie that it is humility to reject God's view! That is the very plan of the devil, to steal, kill, and destroy. I refuse to agree with the devil's lie any longer, I will agree with God. I will agree with HIM for my life, for those around me, for my city, state, country, and world.

P: Lord God, don't let me fall for the devil's lies! Help me to agree with you, with your view of myself, others, my city, etc. Expose the lie of false humility, how it is going against everything that you desire! Oh Lord forgive us for doing this and help us to stand in true humility, knowing who we are in Christ and yet not exulting ourselves but in true humility understanding it ALL comes from you! Let us bring you glory! My life lived in everything you gave me in Christ brings you glory, honor, and praise! Thank you for the freedom that comes with the truth! Help me to spread your truth, that others may live in it too!
In Jesus Name Amen

God As King?

S:  (NLT)1 Samuel 8:7
"Do everything they say to you," the Lord replied, "for it is me they are rejecting, not you. They don't want me to be their king any longer.

O:  The Isrealites rejected God as their king. If they would only serve God as their king with their whole heart they would be strong, only He is good and just, He is stronger than any enemy. Yet they refuse! They rejected Him, and asked to look like the nations around them. They cared more about looking like everyone else, than about having a relationship with God.

A:  We are also given the same choice, whether God will be our King or if we will reject Him too. I don't want to ever do that to Him. How it must have broke His heart! I accept Him as my King. Accepting Him as King is more than just words stating Him as such, it is a life lived out in surrender to His rule. Not only is He my King, He is my Father too. I am a co-heir with Christ, and that means that I am also a princess of the King! How awesome is that! Not only is He my King, my Father, but through Christ I am made His friend! That is what is so special about God, not only did He want to be our king, he made a way for us to be His friends!

P:  Thank you Lord God that you made a way for me to have you as my King, my Father, and my friend! I am so honored to be your daughter and friend! Thank you Jesus for paying the price, for considering it worth everything! I give you all I have to give, my heart, my life, everything. Even so, everything you give to me in return far outweighs it all! Thank you that you desire relationship so much. I hope I bring you honor and glory. Help me to bring others to this place of relationship with you too. It is priceless!
In Jesus Name Amen

Evidence

S:  (NLT)1 Samuel 5:3
But when the citizens of Ashdod went to see it the next morning, Dagon had fallen with his face to the ground in front of the Ark of the Lord! So they took Dagon and put him in his place again.

O:  They didn't understand that the Lord is the one true God, but this was the first sign showing who He was to them. Though they still didn't get it even after a few signs.

A:  God proves himself, no one will be able to say that God did not make himself known, even though no one explained it to them, God gave evidence. They didn't necessarily reach the right conclusions but it is not because of God's lack of evidence! Even so we need to explain who God is to those around us, that they may understand the evidence.

P:  Thank you Lord that you give evidence all around that points to you as the one and only God! No one will have an excuse. Help me to explain who you are to those around me who may not be translating the evidence right.
In Jesus Name Amen

God's Plan?

S:  (NLT)1 Samuel 4:3
After the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the Lord allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?" Then they said, "Let's bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it will save us from our enemies."

O:  Instead of seeking God and asking him themselves, they just decided that the Ark would save them. This was purely human reasoning. And because the plan was their own and not God's it didn't work. They placed their trust in the Ark instead of in God, in their plan instead of finding out God's plan.

A:  It is easy to use our own reasoning instead of seeking God for his help and plans, but it is important to seek God's plans. When he gives us plans he goes with it, and his power will be behind whatever action we take with his lead.

P:  Lord God, I never want to do this to you, to leave you out and use my own reasoning apart from you! Help me to always seek you, your plans, and follow your direction! I know that the plans you have are the best! I know that you send your power with your plans. I want your direction in everything I do.
In Jesus Name Amen

God is Speaking

S:  (NLT)1 Samuel 3:10
And the Lord came and called as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel replied, "Speak, your servant is listening."

O:  God is speaking, we need to listen.

A:  God is always speaking to us, but are we always listening? I want to be a listener and say like Samuel, speak Lord I am listening.

P:  Lord God help me to listen to you, to hear your voice speaking to me. I know you desire to speak to me more than I could desire to hear, so I pray that you would let my ears be tuned into you. Let my heart be sensitive to you.
In Jesus Name Amen

Honor The Lord

S:  (NLT)1 Samuel 2:30
"Therefore, the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi would always be my priests. But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me.

O:  God honors those who honor him.

A:  May my life be honoring to God every day. I never want to be one who takes for granted everything he has done, who he is, or all that he pours out! I want to honor him in everything! And what a blessing that he honors those who honor him. I want my life to reflect this truth, that all will join and honor him too!

P:  Lord God, you are so amazing! Thank you that you honor those who honor you! May my life and everything in it bring honor to you! Help me to lead others to honor you too.
In Jesus Name Amen

If He Says It, He Will Do It

S:  (NLT)1 Samuel 1:18
"Oh, thank you, sir!" she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.

O:  Once Hannah heard from God after pouring out her heart to him, she believed him and grabbed hold to what he said in faith having joy and peace.

A:  When God says something or promises, we can know for sure he will do it. We can believe and grab hold in faith having peace knowing this truth about God.

P:  Thank you Lord that you are faithful and will keep your word. You never let me down! If you say it, you will do it! Help me to rest in this, having peace and joy while I wait for the fulfillment. Thank you for who you are!
In Jesus Name Amen

Let Your Light Shine

(NLT)Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Honor

S:  (NLT)1 Timothy 5:1-2
Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers. Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.

O:  We are to treat those around us with honor, the same honor as if they were our very own family.

A:  As family we treat others with honor and respect, God is asking us to treat anyone as if they were family with honor for each one. We do this even if they don't "deserve" honor. We give out honor because we are honorable people, set apart for God.

P:  Lord God help me to treat everyone with honor, as if they were my own family. Help me to do this even with those who's behavior may not be deserving of honor in my own eyes, it doesn't matter because you have called me to honor because I am yours, not based on other people's actions or behavior. Thank you that you will help me to live this out!
In Jesus Name Amen

Freedom From Sin

S:  (NLT)Titus 2:14
He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

O:  Jesus gave his life to free us from all sin, to clean us, to make us his people! So that we can be totally committed to doing good deeds, all the things that he has for us!

A:  Did you catch that? We are FREE from sin! He paid the price for our freedom, to clean us so that we can be his people, so that we can be committed to doing all the things he has for us!!! No longer do we have to war with sin, we are made free from it in Jesus! We put to death our old nature, and are rised to our new life and recieve our new nature in Christ! We now can go forward focusing on living our new life! We can go forward freely doing all the things he has for us to do! I don't want to be someone living with fear of sin always before me but someone who is free from sin and has all the things that God wants me to do in front of me. If I mess up I will go to Jesus for forgiveness and newness and will put it behind me restored once again. I will walk in freedom from sin with the help of his Spirit, living by the Spirit and following the Spirit's lead in EVERY part of my life!

P:  Thank you Lord that you provided freedom from sin!!! I love that I don't have to walk with my eyes watching every step worried about stumbling, but I receive by faith the new life and new nature that is free from sin! I can run with my eyes focused on YOU, completely committed to you and doing all the things you have for me! I love your freedom so much! Your ways are so awesome! Keep my feet from stumbling, I trust you! And thank you that if I do, you are there to help me and restore me once again! Help me to do all the things you have for me, thank you that I am YOURS! Help me to spread this good news!
In Jesus Name Amen