Friends

I woke up this morning thinking about friends.. It is important to have friends and acquaintances. Friends can lift you up, and at times they can let you down, and a good friend is hard to find..

Jesus had 12 friends who sacrificed all they had to follow Him. They walked with Him, ate with Him, traveled with Him, were taught by Him, prayed with Him and they went through storms together. BUT one of the twelve betrayed Him, one denied even knowing Him, John stood at a distance,  and the others scattered..  Where were His friends when He really needed them?

When Jesus was resurrected and met again with the disciples, he forgave them. Their friendship was even stronger than before.. THEN when He ascended into heaven, His followers had grown.. He told them to wait for another just like Him.. The 120 in the upper room, were obedient and were blessed with a FRIEND a COMFORTER, that would never leave them or forsake them.

The Holy Spirit wants to be a Good Friend to everyone. He will be by your side wherever you go. He promised to be with you through the storms, the trials, the tests and to be with you throughout eternity. He promised you a life of abundance here on earth as it is in heaven.

How do we become a friend of His? Just ask, believe with your heart and confess with your mouth that you believe, and follow Him.. He will direct your path.. The Holy Spirit is waiting to become a friend.. He is waiting to be asked, invited, and welcomed into our hearts.  Sooooooooo if we are looking for friends on Facebook, why not look for a Friend in JESUS.

Do you know the Holy Spirit?    CONFIRM– or –DELETE..

Ouch and Amen

Revival

I was reading this morning about revival and was blessed.. So I am going to share some of it with you.

What is Revival? Revival is a blessed event, a season of spiritual refreshing. The Holy Spirit’s presence falls like rain form heaven to awaken, convict, convince, revive, renew and rekindle man’s soul with fire from above.

A genuine revival is a phenomenal event sent from heaven to induce conviction and true repentance: It produces positive change. Jesus Christ called it, “born again,” making mankind a new creature in Christ Jesus.

All revivals begin as a sovereign work of the Holy Spirit. Revivals come in answer to zealous prayer. The determined, effectual, fervent prayers of the righteous induce revival. When the spiritually hungry, and thirsty cry to God with all their heart, He will open the heavens and send rain down upon us.

Isal 44:3 I will pour water on him, who is thirsty, And floods upon the dry ground.

2 Chron 7:14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and PRAY and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and heal their land.

The note in my bible:  A twofold condition, with a threefold result, is extended to God’s chosen people (those called by His name). If they will humble themselves (turn from their sin) and seek His face in prayer then God will hear, forgive and heal.

What an AWESOME GOD.. NOW IS the time for the church (those called by His name) to PRAY fervently, for our nation and the nations around the world. Our GOD is able to bring CHANGE, to cause RAIN to fall from heaven.

Words of Another

The Lighted Path

One morning I woke up thinking about a flashlight, and couldn’t stop thinking about a flashlight. After a while, I said “O.K. God, what are you trying to tell me about a flashlight?” And God answered me with this simple word: “You are the flashlight, the Holy Spirit is the power, the rechargeable battery within you, and the battery is charged up for the job that needs to be done. My light will shine through you, your path will be lit and the darkness of the world will be broken because of you..

WOW, what a powerful battery, the more it’s used the brighter the light becomes. And as long as the flashlight is in God’s hand, the light will never go out. A flashlight; A yielded vessel ready to be used by God, full of the awesome, energized-power packed Holy Spirit. Imagine God’s power working though you to light up areas in the dark world. Lighting the path of Victory for others to follow.

This message is for anyone, who is willing to be that yielded vessel, allowing the Holy Spirit to live within them, and who will trust God to control your switch. You rest in the palm of God’s hand, believing God to turn you On, and to shut you Up, or Off, when necessary. May the Light of God direct your path and shine through you into the dark areas of this world. May God Bless You and may His Light shine through you.

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Ouch and Amen

Abide in Me

Where do you live? What is your address? These are questions we have heard more than once. Can you give me directions how to get there, from here? Another familiar question! We all have a place of residence, a place where we live.

God also has a place where He lives, and He have given us directions, how to get there from here. God has given us directions to follow and if we look at the map (the Word) and listen to the instruction the Holy Spirit gives, we well get there from here. And then we can direct others. The Bible explains in detail, about the narrow road, that leads to heaven, and the wide road that leads to destruction. What road are you going to take? If you are on the wrong path, going the wrong way, remember, God allows YOU turns.

What about here on earth? God has sent the Holy Spirit to abide or live in us. He has chosen us, He knocks on our heart, but we have to open the door and invite Him in. When we allow the Holy Spirit to move into our heart, we can be assured He will never want to leave. He loves to abide, in His sancturary, in His temple, in OUR heart.

God wants us to abide in, to live in Him, and for Him. To remain with Him now, and throughout eternity. God has given us a key to move into His Kingdom. Jesus is the Key, He said that without knowing and believing in Jesus we will not be able to enter into the Kingdom of God. We are allowed to come into His Kingdom and to approach His throne, because of JESUS. He wants His will to be done here on earth, as it is in Heaven. So when we approach Him with praise and thanksgiving, we can believe He will meet our needs and give us abundant life here on earth

John 3:16 (Amp) For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He (even) gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

To Be Where YOU Are

One Sunday as the worship service started at our church. I noticed there were empty spots in the worship team. I started to wonder where the others were and when we started to sing, I realized that my Pastor was no where to be seen. He is usually on the platform, with the worship team. BUT he was not there. I experienced an empty feeling when I didn’t see my pastor. Then I believe the Lord asked me: ‘do you know when I AM missing?’

I thought about how we wander away so many times, and how easy is is to end up away from God.  I realized how we should be seeking our Lord and come into His presence. To be where HE is.

Pastor was in his office, the Lord had given him a different message than he had planned. and he was searching scriptures and praying, before he came before the sheep. He was being obedient, and it took him away from the usual, the normal. The Lord used the pastor’s absence to remind me to follow after the GREAT SHEPHERD, to seek HIS face. To be where HE is.

Ouch and Amen!

Empty Vessel

This morning I woke up with a vision of someone clinging tightly to a water bottle. They wouldn’t let go. I noticed the bottle was empty, it was dry.

I  believe the Lord gave me this as an example of someone clinging to a church, a dry church. No matter how many times they tried to get nourishment or be refreshed with the WATER of the Word, it was useless. No matter how many times they went to church, they came out parched and barren. They were unable to produce fruit because the church was empty and dry.

Sometimes we need to let go of the things that stop us from producing for God. We need to step into the river, into a church that is flowing with the Spirit of God.

Ouch and Amen

A Time Set

As the earth revolves around the sun, time revolves around Jesus. Time before Christ was BC and after AD. Each day we live is a reminder of the Reason for the Seasons. Jesus was born again (resurrected) and time began, and sort of ended. No, I guess it started to go backward and forward. I wonder if the numbered the hours, days, months, and years as we do? They definitely knew when the harvest and planting times were.

I believe that God has set an alarm clock. He alone knows the set time, but when that alarm clock rings, that trumpet sounds, I don’t think he is going to wait for us to get up, get a shower and get dressed. If we are not ready, the Hallelujah bus is going to leave without us. Are you ready? I believe we should always be ready and dressed in the Armor of God. Ready to run. Ready to leap on the Hallelujah bus. I am reminded of pictures of soldiers sleeping in their clothes, with their weapons in their hands. Always Ready to respond to the call.

While we are preparing for the trip we need not worry about packing extra clothes or having enough money for gas or food. But, we should invite as many friends and relatives as possible. Tell them the trip is Free, that gets their attention. Then you can share the trip itinerary with them. First of all you must introduce them to the tour guide JESUS. Tell about the streets of gold, the banquet table and the beautiful voices of the ones worshiping God. Tell them about the promises of God that we will have here on earth, if we believe Him.  And the far better life walking on the streets of gold throughout eternity.

Ouch and Amen

Junk Mail

I thank God for showing me things in simple ways, so I can understand.

God showed me a mail box. A mail box; a vessel, a yielded vessel, an open receptacle, unaware of what goes into it, who puts it in, or who takes it out. At times it is jammed full of junk mail. Sometimes it may hold a surprise or blessing and sometimes, it is full of bills. When we pick up our mail, we sort through it, we examine it and get rid of the stuff we aren’t going to use. We handle the important things with a different attitude. If it is a bill we should make sure that the payment is sent on time, so we don’t get charged extra, or have what we are paying for, taken from us. If it is a blessing, a card, letter or present, we get excited. And we should receive it with joy and thanksgiving.

How many times in your life have you been bull of junk? Not really knowing who put it in, or what it really is. Junk that leaves no room for the blessings. We can ask God to help us sort through our mail, examine it and throw away the stuff that just gets in the way and takes up space.

As for making payments for what you have acquired. We must be faithful to pay for the things we have.

And receive the blessings with a thankful heart, whether we expect them or not. Jesus has already purchased everything we need, but He wants us to be blessed abundantly. He likes to hear from each and every one of us everyday. Thank You Jesus for meeting my needs and for Your abundant blessings. The words Thank You are important to God and to others.  Remember those who God has used to bless you.

Thank God we are more than a mailbox. We are a yielded vessel, but we can be aware of Who is putting stuff into us. And we can also be aware of What is being put into us. We can sort through the stuff in our life before we get too full of junk. We can keep our life open, for the good things, for the blessings.

Phil. 4:12 I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me.

2 Cor. 4:7 (Message) If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone form confusing God’s incomparable power with us.

Earthen vessels are weak and fragile. BUT, weak human beings are the instruments of the power of God. Praise God!

Ouch and Amen

Call J-E-S-U-S

J-E-S-U-S needs to be # 1 on our speed dial.

He will always be there, to receive our call. Sometimes His answer seems delayed, but He never puts us on hold. We might think He is taking a long time, but His answer is always on time.

We may call out and say:

“Help me Jesus!”

“What should I do?”

“I need help NOW!”

“I am afraid. “

These are all calls that I am sure Jesus hears on a daily basis. And if we listen, we will hear Jesus say:

“Calm down–Don’t be afraid–Trust Me–Do as I tell you–I will guide you.”

“But God, you just don’t understand.”

“No, it is you that don’t understand! Trust in Me, do as I say, and everything will be OK.”

Pro. 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding: In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.

God is not ‘I was’, or ‘I used to be’, but ‘I AM’. He is always there on the other end of the line, with the right words of direction, encouragement, and comfort in our time of need. He waits for our call.

There is always room at the top of His list for everyone, and His line is Toll Free and it is never Busy. We never need a quarter, a charged battery, or a quiet place. Just call J-E-S-U-S. He will never cut out on us. But he expects our receiver to be strong, He is the God of the impossible.

Reach out and pick up the right line–the private line to God. the Hot Line. Call Him when there seems to be trouble brewing, but don’t wait too long. Get His expert advice, and treatment immediately.

God also just likes to visit with us, to hear how much we care for Him and others.

We must remember to Call J-E-S-U-S. If we should happen to get connected to the wrong number, hang up immediately, and call J-E-S-U-S again.

Ouch and Amen!

Going Overboard

Has God asked you or called you to do something out of the ordinary? Does it seem impossible? Are all the people around you telling you that you’re crazy? Are others asking, ‘Aren’t you going a little too far with this Jesus thing? When are you going to get back to the real world? I think you’re going a little overboard with this church stuff. How can you say you are at Peace, and are full of Joy, when the world and things around you are a mess?’

Phil. 4:6-7  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the peace of God, witch surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

God has given us a promise, His Word. He will be with us through, any trail or test.

I’m sure Noah heard a lot of ‘Sure, it’s going to rain? What is rain anyway?’ God saved Noah and his family because Noah’s obedience to do what God commanded him to do. Shadrach, Meshak and Abendigo were crazy for their God; they came out of the fire, and they didn’t  even smell like smoke. David was OK with the stone, but no one else trusted the attempt that killed the giant. The disciples probably told Peter that he was going a little overboard and he walked on water. Paul and Silas went to jail, and because they decided to sing and praise the Lord at midnight, prisoners were set free. And Enoch was completely carried away with the God thing.

Is God calling you to step out–go overboard–launch out–go where you have never been before–cast out–conquer a giant–or step into a fire? Is He asking you to sing at midnight? Do you hear ‘Fear not’ while your knees are shaking?

God says that we can do all things through Christ,who strengthens us.

Phil 4:13 (Amp) I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me (I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency).

Because of our trust in God and His anointing, we can expect blessings, freedom, and victory in ALL battles. We can come out of the fire not even smelling of smoke. We can walk on water in the midst of a storm. We can kill giants with a single stone. We can be a witness to those, who are bound and living in darkness. Only God knows where we will end up when we believe in, and obey his commands.

Ouch and Amen