LIVING LOUD FOR GOD

Living loud for God looks like David facing the Philistine giant Goliath!
Living loud for God brings us out of mediocrity and the position of the back row to the front and center to speak and proclaim the goodness of God!
This living loud for God cost some time with Him. It is more than attending a conference which connects us with others. This adventure looks like having some alone time with God. There is a price to pray to have that intimate time with God and hear Him speak.

Living loud for God means that we do not dismiss God when we leave a worship service on Saturday evening or Sunday morning.


Romans 5:5-11.......................5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.   6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. NKJV

Even the scripture above declares to us that God demonstrated His own love toward us allowing Christ to die for us. Being justified by His blood, we were saved from wrath.

To me that sounds like rejoicing time. We being saved by His grace in His Son Jesus, are now reconciled to God and are joint-heirs with Jesus!

God demonstrated: He established it in Jesus.

He manifested it through the Cross and testified of it through His apostles.

He did not conceal it, hide it, or misrepresent it.

Romans  3:24-26.................24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. NKJV

Ephesians  2:19-22...........19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. NKJV

John 1:14-18..........14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' " 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. NKJV

Romans 1:16-17...........16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."  

NKJV

It was recorded for our benefit. It was the God of glory who demonstrated His righteousness through His acts of love in the gift of His Son Jesus! Jesus established the Cornerstone becoming the Chief in whom joins us together in Him for this dwelling place of God. In truth and grace, we have been added to the family of God. If we know that we are in Him, do we dismiss Him when through with a worship service or prayer meeting? Do we act like the world as soon as we leave a service, where we knew without a doubt God Himself showed up to be with us and to show He cares? Do we make for the door in a full run out of a service or building and act like we do not know Him?  Much like Peter, when Jesus asked them to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, do we fall asleep during what is important time for prayer and word for us, and then find ourselves like "Peter" running from something that made us frightful, yes afraid?

 Are we trying to gather around others we do not know and warm ourselves with that which the world can relate to, but is far from us?  Peter was taken by John into the house area and when challenged by the maid,Peter showed his lack of compassion for Jesus. Even though Jesus was somewhere upstairs in front of  the High Priest, Peter did not want those who wanted to put Jesus to death to know that he, Peter, was counted as one of the Lord's disciples.  He now was with those who wanted to put Jesus on the Cross. Yes, there was a fire to warm them, but those who gathered around forgot the fire and just gathered to speak blasphemies against the Lord. ( you know birds of a feather will flock together) It was Peter who stood with those who denied the Christ. He stood with those servants who wanted to crucify Jesus!

 Are we found denying Jesus, just when we probably need Him the most in our lives?

The scriptures above are to show how Jesus was the Word manifested. It was His glory that they beheld. He was the only begotten of the Father who was full of grace and truth. Jesus came to establish Heaven on Earth...........Our Father, who in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven!

Righteousness came in the son of love! His name is:Isaiah 9:6-7.......................6 For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called 

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

7 Of the increase of His government and peace 

There will be no end,

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice 

From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. NKJV

He came with judgment and justice! Matthew 6:33-34......................33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. NKJV

Seek first the kingdom of God that Jesus came to establish. Seek His ways and thoughts and seek His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. God knows what we need and it is His desire for us to put Him first before all things! 

Living loud for God is a step of faith. It says, "my trust  is in the Lord". We can be like David and run to face those giants and speak out loud, " I come to you in the name of the Lord."

God spoke loud and clear about His son and left many details for us to see in His word. Today, I have come to you in the name of the Lord to declare He is for you. When we show the enemy we do not fear, but trust the Lord to keep our backs, He is faithful to lead us through any trial or tribulation. God is faithful to His Word. Remember Peter got back on the right path and was found with the 120 praying in the upper room waiting for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

I pray for each and every one who reads this that they will be the bold.

Father, today I pray in Jesus' name for those who read this will be as bold as lions to declare truth that Jesus has come. His name is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, the Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace. Today Lord God, I pray for any man, woman or child who reads this to stay faithful to the Lord, for You are the Faithful One. We understand that we are to be righteous as You are righteous. Jesus thank You for the public demonstration of God's righteousness. As we are those who put our trust in You, we are not the righteous because of our inherent goodness, BUT we are righteous because of our identification by faith with You Jesus! Lord helps us to recognize and know that Your righteousness was imputed into us when we received You, Jesus as Lord of our lives. But we also must know that we are to be obedient just as Christ was to the Cross! Lord help us to be faithful to Your Word. Help us to be those who proclaim Your goodness to others. 

Lord, I also pray for those who have been silenced by the enemy either in their work place, home, or school. May they Lord know they hear YOU speak and tell them things that are to come by the Holy Spirit. Help those YOU love know that You are with them to declare God's peace, God's justice in a bad situation. And I ask that dreams be given to those who have been assailed by the enemy. When they dream Lord, show them that it is truth and "it will be fulfilled in their lifetime." Lord, You are are for us and YOU never let go! Help us that are in unbelief, and show us the path that grows brighter into the full light of day. Today I pray that each here will rejoice in hope, patient in tribulation and that they continue to be steadfast in prayer. You are the "Great I am" in our midst. Thank YOU Lord for the Word of God that prevails in our lives today in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at (http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV) 

We Must Always Know our Position

Have you ever heard those say, " the baby turned one year old today and everyone is ecstatic about her birthday and everyone is coming to see her take those steps around the room?"
I had heard that recently, and wondered if we ever give thought to those around us, and if they are still growing and changing. You know the adults we have known for years, are they still growing?
My thoughts of course are on those who have the Lord as Savior.
We are to be committed to life long change and that is by seeing we grow in the Word of God and in prayer.

Change will always come, and are we equipped to take the next step into tomorrow?

Back to the baby issue now. People are excited to see the baby's first step and to hear their first verbal sound. Although both parents would quip that the baby just said "mommy" or "daddy"and they speak at the same time. A laughable moment maybe, but do we as the disciples of Jesus continue to grow up.

1 Samuel 2:18-21………..18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. 19 Moreover his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, "The LORD give you descendants from this woman for the loan that was lent to the LORD." Then they would go to their own home. 21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the LORD. NKJV

You remember Hannah, right? She was the woman who shared her husband with another woman. Elkanah had two wives. But he was very loving and caring toward Hannah. In all this tribulation that only a man could invite into his home, surely Hannah stood by the grace of God to see the victory.

She was the woman who had no children as her womb was closed. Now for whatever reason, certainly Hannah did not linger on the abusive words that Peninnah had probably spoken to her about her inability to have children. Yet, Hannah kept her focus on the Lord in prayer. It was in 1 Samuel 1:10 that Hannah prayed to the Lord.

Moving on in the scripture we find that Samuel ministered before the LORD. Even as a child, he came to learn the life of a priest before the Lord.  His mother Hannah continued to make robes for him to wear. Year after year, she would make a new robe for him to wear. She gave her first child to the Lord, and she continued to show her love and compassion as the caring mother.

Each time Hannah made the trip to Shiloh, Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife Hannah. "The LORD give you descendants from this woman for the loan that was lent to the LORD." That loan was of course Samuel. And the scripture tells us he grew before the LORD.

Are we like Hannah and ready to keep "our cool" when abusive words come to us? What if someone does not like you at school or work?  In studying this scripture, I always wonder how Hannah kept "her cool" when knowing her husband invited another woman into their home. I wonder how she slept at night and worked throughout the day to see this "other woman and her children thriving" and Hannah had only her husband. Did Hannah have a "dream" for the future? Did she see her life different and a life filled with children and laughter? Yet, Hannah kept her focus on the Lord! Do we do as much in situations that arise? Do we keep our eyes on the Lord of glory and expect a victory when all hell seems to break loose against us?

Do we continue to make a commitment to the Lord for His goodness and His word of power for our lives or do we retreat to compete for that recliner in the family room that we regard as "our comfort zone"?

Do we seek out our own plan, and keep the T.V. in eye view so we do not make any decisions for change that we must make?

I write to say, you are not the only one who must make changes. We all have to keep to the right course to end up where we are going on this journey.

I think of those who fly planes. They must make a flight plan and set the right course. While in the air they must be periodically keeping eye on the planes course and continually adjust the course to keep going in the same direction. We too must keep our course set. We must keep the course the Lord has set before us. We just need to ask Him about keeping us on the course of life and not that of destruction.

It will always come back to our abiding to His will for us. WE MUST ALWAYS KNOW OUR POSITION!

GOD, WHAT IS THE RIGHT COURSE ADJUSTMENT FOR US TODAY? WE DESIRE TO BE POSITIONED IN YOU!

SET YOUR COURSE WITH THOSE WHO WILL SEE THE POTENTIAL IN YOU.

PURSUE PEOPLE WHO SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING AND NOT FROM WHERE YOU CAME FROM.

WHAT ASSOCIATIONS DO WE NEED TO CHANGE?

FIND THOSE WHO WILL ENCOURAGE YOU ALONG THE WAY! THEY WILL BE THOSE WHO ALWAYS SEND YOU ON YOUR WAY WITH WORDS THAT PRODUCE LIFE IN YOU. 

LEAVE THE DEAD BEHIND, SEEK THE LAND OF THE LIVING AND RUN WITH THE "DREAM" THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU!

Father, today I pray for those who read this to have the purpose right before their eyes. I pray that they will see and know without a doubt YOU are in their midst. I pray these will have the right people surround them and speak encouragement and life. I pray that YOU our Father God will send intercessors into their lives. I ask for helpers for each of these people, those who will willingly come alongside them and walk this life journey with them.

Father, You are the strategic God and I ask YOU to strategically align each one praying this with the right people so they might move fully into the right thing YOU have planned for them from the foundation of the world.

Today, Lord, I believe each of these are those willing to continue to grow and become those world changers and history makers. I come against any plan of the enemy to distract and deter them from YOUR plan for them. I plead the Blood of Jesus over the portals of their minds, their wills and their emotions. I plead the Blood of Jesus over their walk with YOU and that they hear YOU guide them by the still small voice. Lord show them the great books, the great songs, the great sermons that are in them even now. And we give YOU glory and praise on this journey of life as we grow beginning those who YOU meant us to be in Jesus' name. Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at (http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV) 

I'm Always Going to Love You Like the First Time I Thought of You

God says, " I'm always going to love you like the first time I thought of you."
Never going to change, I am always the same. Still going to look over you, cherish you, spend every moment thinking of MY Plans for you. No, I'm never going to stop My loving you, never stop My caring for you till I come, you are always on My mind.


Hebrews 13:6-8........
"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?"

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. NIV

The Son of God, who came with a mission to set captives free, to bring healing to the brokenhearted, to open the prison doors of those who are bound, to comfort, to console, to give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. (Isaiah 62:1-3)

He loves us with an everlasting love.....

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5......  13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. 

2 Thessalonians 3:1....3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. 5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. NKJV

Whatever the trial or tribulation, He is always loving, always caring, and always remembering His thoughts towards us. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Hold fast to that which is taught you and give you the hope by His Word. May the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our Father God, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace comfort your heart and establish you in every good word and work. May His word run swiftly and be glorified with you and in you. Today, you are delivered from the unreasonable and wicked man. You have faithful by your side. Yes, the Lord Who is Faithful, will establish you and guard you from the evil one. May the Lord direct your heart today into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

For it was in the  intricate delicacy that our God created us to be, it is He who did it in secret. According to Psalm 139:13-16....it is the Lord our God who knitted us together in our mother's wombs. Our frame was not hidden from God when He made us in that secret place. God was the great weaver who weaved a delicate design together so we would look like He desired for each of us to look. In His image we were made to live in this day and time!  In all of this wonderful secret time of creating each of us, it was then that God ordained all the days for you, for me, for everyone ever born....yes, ...........it was written in His book before one of them came to be about you or me.

As He looks over His plan for you or me, ................famous, maybe only to God our Father. Known by many, maybe not, but it is He Who planned for you and for me.

Vital to His plan for this day and hour, yes!

Take your stand, put on the full armor of God! In the evil day, stand your ground. Stand firm with the belt of His truth buckled around your waist and with the breastplate of righteousness in place, have your feet shod with the Gospel of peace. You take your shield of faith and extinguish those flaming arrows of the evil one. Put on that helmet and pray! (Eph 6:13-20)

You are mighty, and you stand with Faithful by your side. Run the course set for you and know He spoke these words this day October 26, 2014.............I'm always going to love you like the first time I thought of you!

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at (http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV) 

Unbuckled?

On a trip recently to the East Coast, I saw this sign in one state that stated, "Unbuckled? Seriously?
All I could think was the importance of being buckled up, not only in your vehicle but also in the Word of God!
I love belts, and keep a few on hand to wear. Of late though, I wear maybe one a year. I like having those to match my shoes. But I dress up a lot and have no need for a belt.
But on that trip, it was important that even our grand-daughter be buckled in her car seat.

In scripture we find it talks of putting on or girding ourselves with the belt of truth.
Ephesians 6:14-18
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
NIV

It was prophesied in Isaiah 11:5, of Christ, that righteousness should be the girdle of His loins and faithfulness would be the girdle of His reins. It is God our Father who requires and desires us to have truth in the inward parts. 

Psalm 51:5-6

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

And in sin my mother conceived me. 

6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,

And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. 

NKJV

In God's word is wisdom, that keeps us safe and guards our bodies. It is His truth that causes us to deal in the sincerity of truth. On one occasion of the trip out to the East Coast, I told our grand-daughter the importance of telling the truth and that the Lord desires us to be truthful in all things, and all matters concerning others.
At one point, she had spoken something, and I asked her if she spoke the truth. I told her to remember  that Jesus is always watching us. She changed her statement and revealed her intent. No matter the age, we all know the "lie".

Paul describes to us in Ephesians 6:14 of the belt. And why does he start with "a belt"? From the the early days of the Roman rule, we were taught of their preparedness in having on the right armor. Paul depicts the importance of the effectiveness of the Roman soldiers armor. The soldier's belt held a place for the trusted sword. The scabbard would hold the sword in place till needed in battle. In earlier reading of the armor of the Roman soldier, we were told of the leather strips that would cover the lower body.
That truth of God should cover us much like a belt. It is to hold everything in place.

Like the seat-belt for our grand-daughter's car seat, it has to be one continuous length of belt.

God's truth we are told is His word. In John 17:17, it states, "sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."
That word should cleave to our bodies like a belt does. And as Christians we are to test all things. We are to discard the false and keep the true.

In this day and age, if prayer does not bring an immediate answer to a problem or situation, people are ready to call the 1. 800. psychic or seek out the horoscope or some good-luck charm.

If we truly desire the supernatural, then it should be in the Word of God. The word is spirit and truth. It has everything to do with God WHO is high above anything this earth or world could throw at us.
Our daughter was born in the month of October. And whatever may appall us as we watch a little T.V. together, she always announces, "It's October!" For each commercial or advertisement that flashes upon the big screen T.V. has to do with witches, the walking dead, the "horror' if you will, on the most simple of things like chocolate candy. WOW!

The dangers of not wearing a "seat-belt" are well documented. Even on this trip, we heard on the news of those who had died at the scene of an accident as they did not wear a "seat-belt". If I cut myself, I will definitely bleed. If I do not wear a seat-belt, then I am in danger of dying a terrible death.
In living with faith in God and His Word, my trust comes, by believing what He has written to me and bring to me life abundantly. If I keep to the Word of truth, and that truth girds me, it is like the belt that keeps me in place to keep to or adhere to that truth, and I tell the world system to  take a hike. God's speaks to us of peace, restoration, healing, life in abundance of what we need and having a relationship with Him through His Holy Spirit.  My trust in keeping truth, is binding that word continually around my neck and to see that word is written on my heart so that I find favor with God and man. (Proverbs 3:3-4)

It is to practice the word, speak the word, and declare every good thing God has planned for us through His word in the Bible!

You and I can stand firm, with belt of truth buckled around our waist. When we do, then with  the breastplate of righteousness in place, our feet shod with the gospel of peace. and we raise the shield of faith to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 

This may not be the look on the pre-fall runway shows, or be the "look" that makes the season's top designer's list, but this will certainly make your walk with God absolute. You will know truth and gird your belt around to keep the sword handy in the event of the devil throwing flaming arrows at you.

This is your front row seat to the latest move of God on your behalf! Dressed with the armor and making certain the belt is girded, fastened and positioned to hold you in place when temptations, sickness or bad reports of any kind come, you will see the supernatural occur in your life!


Father, we thank You that we have been empowered from on high. You have given us the Word of truth, the Gospel to proclaim freedom to the captives. Lord help us to see that we are no longer captives. We have a front row seat to see YOU prevail in our lives. You have robed us in clothes of the kingdom of Light. We do NOT need the tarot cards, or the psychic, Today, Lord, we ask that as we seek to put on this belt, we want to have the longing desire to keep looking into the perfect law of liberty. Lord, we are those who desire to be girded with truth, and to be able to charge the enemy when he rears his ugly head on our land. We pray to rise above frustrations and to be patient that Your word will prevail in our lives. Lord, we pray to turn away from the superstitious and pagan. That we will be those to turn away from tricks, routines, or even bad habits. Help us to see that it is YOU who formed us with a plan for our lives and that we should be seeking YOU whole-heartedly. You are the only supernatural we desire. Lord, have YOUR way in our lives today. Thank You for hearing us pray. We expect we will have Your power from on high to move through any stinking situations and frustrations that are just distractions to us. We want to be on the "walk" with You and know You more intimately. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen!

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at (http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV) 

Launching Pad

When our daughter was about five years of age, she had this favorite thing she liked to do. She would find something to represent a cape and then fasten it around her neck. Her next step was to make her way to the backyard to where our picnic table stood. She would proceed to climb on top of the table, back up to the edge and then run as fast as she could to the other end of table. She would then leap off with the cape flapping in the wind behind her.
It was her delight to do this hour after hour for about a year. It did not matter if snow covered the ground and there was a nice ice shine on the top surface of picnic table, again and again, she would continue to make her run to the edge and leap off the table.
She would remark out loud, "I am wonder-woman!"
She was a child, playing a child's game she had made up to do. But now she has grown up, and has put away her games!

As children, we have either had both parents or maybe only one parent. We may have had some church attendance or none. But as for me, I had a mother who made sure I was in church on Sunday, patent leather shoes or not, I was present and ready!

As that child that was raised in church, I learned that most never choose to take the Word of God with them. They choose to leave it behind in the building they attended to hear and I guess dismiss the Word of God!
As a rule my mother, nurtured us with good food, and warm clothes, but she also saw to our growing spiritually. Although they did not call it that when I was young, still, I grew some.

One scripture that has stayed with me has always been Psalm 23. Now I never could figure why people would use it at funerals........I mean even those westerns I watched as a child, like Maverick or Bonanza..........really.......Psalm 23 is for the living and not the dead!
I believe that because my mother invested in my life with the Word and prayer, my life was on a course that God Himself would see that I met head on and complete with His hand and faithful eye guiding me.
I can still remember us praying at night, kneeling by our bed and praying Psalm 23......that the Lord would be our Shepherd.

Today, my daughter and I are much older and would like to say much wiser. We have put away the childish things. It is our goal and one desire to seek the kingdom of God. In Matthew 6:10...Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, is a scripture we pray pertaining to the Lord's prayer. In it, we are asking for the establishment of God's rule in our lives. I have learned that prayer is my personal time with my Father God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. He spoke them into being and it was so.
As we receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, we used our faith to demonstrate that we are trusting in a child-like manner receiving the new birth creation.  When we confessed with our mouths that Jesus was Lord of our lives, we received our salvation. We spoke those words and were launched out of the sin, sickness and disease that once held us captive. We were set free by the blood of Jesus. It is Christ Jesus who has given us authority over the adversary in Luke 10:19...."Behold I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."
We are more than conquerors over the adversary. We became his masters when we believed God's Word and confessed Jesus as Lord.

Let's recognize that as children of God we can come before His throne knowing that we are no longer bound by sickness or dysfunctional relationships. We have the unfettered freedom Jesus gave us through His shed blood on the cross!
Let's continue to launch out into God's Word and experience the promises He gave us through His word of truth. May we with child-like faith continue to come to God so that we may see and hear more of what He wants to say to us.
Let's be willing to launch out in boldness reaching for that intimacy that comes of knowing Him in the Word.
May that Word live in and through us as we seek the faithful God, the everlasting-Father, the Great "I Am" in our midst. I challenge you to "Launch Out" , as that child of faith, every reaching, ever moving higher into the things of God our Father.

Father, in Jesus' name, Your word is profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience and for the training in righteousness.  We pray that we be those who take hold of instruction from Your Word and that we will not let go. We believe we be those who receive the necessary instruction for our walk with You and in the area of work that brings finances into our home. It is You who have equipped us to do a required work. Today we are thankful for teachers and mentors that You send our way to teach us Your ways and thoughts.
Today, we believe we stand rejoicing in Your Word as the one who finds a great treasure. As we meditate on Your word, we are thankful for the understanding You give us in wisdom, peace and joy and of course the ability to express Your love to others. It is You who has written us excellent things of council and knowledge. Our trust is in You our Lord. Today we receive that instruction and may that Word grow mightily and prevail in our lives. Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at (http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV) 

Who is Speaking into Your Life?

Wherever you go today, you can hear so much music and conversation that the mixture is nothing but noise to the ears! Some malls have the sound of music from the time you enter the front entrance and seems to carry from store to store. But at times, there is so much of it, the noise seems to wrap around you making a simple conversation with your husband or friend impossible. When you have to shout to get the person next to you to hear you speak, then it is not worth having the conversation.

Being bombarded with all that noise is not a welcomed thing. If I find I must go to a mall, I always find the shortest distance from an entrance to the store I desire to shop in when looking for a specific item. Today's society seems to shout to get our attention on anything from buying a new car or pickup to a new washer & dryer. But it does not stop there! It goes on in the drive-through window arena, where they shout at you of the new deals they are offering on the early breakfast deal with coffee added.

But sincerely, who do we allow to speak into our lives?  What carries a weight into our listening when someone speaks? Do we have favor with them or do they really dislike us? What if that which they are speaking is not good, but evil and will hurt you or another person? Who is speaking to you?

In church recently, this young man we have known for a short time brought us this word the Lord had spoken for our pastors. That word was "inspire". I continue to hear that word and looked into its meanings in the Bible and in the dictionary.

to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence, 

to produce or arouse (a feeling, thought, etc.):

to inspire confidence in others

to inspire someone with hope; to breathe in (air); to inhale

I believe when we look into the Word of God that has been given to inspire us, to gather us and strengthen us into God's bosom and His plan, we allow Him to speak and show us the "destiny" if you will and the way to get there.
I emboldened the words above that so remind me of the inspiration of God and His word. That quickening to live again with the life of God will be air in my lungs. That God-breathed word when spoken is life I am inhaling to be renewed and invigorated for His plan. It is His Word that is always producing in us the power to move forward and declare His goodness to others. God gives us hope in our darkest hours. Scripture tells us in Romans 15:13..........13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. NIV
As God fills us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, we are those who overflow with hope by the power of His Holy Spirit. We have a joy unspeakable.
1 Peter 1:8............8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: KJV

Jeremiah 32:40-41...............40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. 41 I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.   NIV

What we allow our ears to hear, invades our hearts! Is what we are hearing, truthful, and helpful? Is it an "inspiring" word that will lift us out of the pit of miry clay or is it a vindictive word of harm and hate?

It was said that Augustine had a sign on his wall that read, " He who speaks evil of an absent man or woman is not welcome at this table."

Spending time with God allows us to hear truth and be moved by truth! If what we are hearing is that of violence, gossip and clamor, then our hearts are overtaken to those things.

I pray that we would be people who would continually seek out the Word that inspires us to "the greatness" God placed in us. I pray that we would become the man and woman who God planned to make a difference for the day and time we live it in. If not us, who, and if not now, when?

John 16:12-15................12 "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. NIV

If you so allow me to speak into your life today, I pray that the God of glory would dwell in your heart by faith. I pray in Jesus' name that you would be inspired by the written word of God that is God-breathed and brings life to your mortal soul. I pray that you would be strengthened to rise out of mediocrity and soar the heights like an eagle and view the world as God our Father does. I pray that your ears are open to hear Him speak and even more than that...........you would see HIM speak............and know that which is life to you. Lord, thank YOU for revelation knowledge that helps us to see HIM who speaks and declares those things to come. May we ever be moving forward in YOUR plan for our lives, consumed by YOUR love and beauty and compelled to tell others of Your truth! Thank You Lord for this word and for Your precious Holy Spirit who tells us the things we must know. We will know all that YOU speak and receive it deep into our hearts and move in power to see Your kingdom on this earth. Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at (http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV) 

       

BUT WHAT IF GOD IS CALLING?

Remember the days of the answering machine.........leave your name and number at the "beep"?

NOW AT THAT TIME IT WAS CALLED "SCREENING YOUR CALLS"!
Now it seems, IT IS EVEN HARDER TO REACH SOMEONE. It seems these days, you have many more steps to take in getting into contact with the person you are seeking.
Now, when I was a teenager, if you did not answer, that was it, I hung up the receiver. If I chose to call depending on the importance of information I wanted to deliver, would definitely determine if I would try dialing that number again.
But today, communication is difficult to say the least about it!  Sometimes it seems no one wants to answer, not by email, the text or the phone..........if you are "important" yes, count me in, I am there, but if not, "blah,blah is not available right now.Please leave your message after the tone.......". B*E*E*P!                That is screening the calls, right? I will talk with you, no I will not talk with you and so on..............

BUT WHAT IF GOD IS CALLING?

I refer to scripture found in ......2 Kings 5:1-14....
5:1 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper. 2 And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman's wife. 3 Then she said to her mistress, "If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy." 4 And Naaman went in and told his master, saying, "Thus and thus said the girl who is from the land of Israel."

5 Then the king of Syria said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 Then he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which said, Now be advised, when this letter comes to you, that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy. 7 And it happened, when the king of Israel read the letter, that he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy? Therefore please consider, and see how he seeks a quarrel with me."

8 So it was, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel." 9 Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha's house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean." 11 But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, "Indeed, I said to myself, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.' 12 "Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?" 14 So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.  NKJV


Some of our greatest steps forward in God's plan is for us to obey the instructions.
I love the servant girl in this scripture. She is from the land of Israel. She was taken from her homeland to be a servant to serve Naaman's wife.  She evidently  knew about the prophet Elisha and how he followed closely to God's commands.
We must remember Naaman to be the commander of the army of the king of Syria. From the mentioned above, he was great and honorable in the eyes of his master. In Naaman's leadership, the Lord had given victory over to Syria.
My thought, was Naaman becoming prideful? Was he thoroughly upset to receive a word from the servant girl. It is interesting that she has no name that we can call attention to it.
For whatever moved him to it, to go, he still had some stinky thinking going on. We see when he arrives at the prophet's door, he is expecting, by what scripture states, that " he (the prophet) is to come out, call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the place and heal leprosy."

Elisha's  Instruction: "Go wash in the Jordan seven times and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean."

But Naaman became furious! He probably had some words he had to speak to protest, and he probably said some things that were not nice, BUT he finally got the instruction! How sad that he fell to recognize it was God sending and speaking through the prophet that he,Naaman would be healed. Naaman, had his own thoughts and ideas how it was to be handled in regard to the prophet's instruction of washing in a dirty river! Again, was it pride? Did this mighty commander feel he had been slighted by the young girl or the prophet?

Naaman mentions the rivers of Damascus cleaner, yes better than all the waters of Israel. But God demanded the Jordan. He wanted it done on His terms and in His way and the Jordan was part of God's plan!
Finally persuaded to go to the river, Naaman dips the seven times and he is cleansed of leprosy.

NAAMAN WAS HEALED AND NOT NAAMAN'S WAY, BUT GOD'S WAY!

Now, I love modern technology. I love the internet and all the things the computer can bring into our home. But even BETTER THAN ALL OF these new things that are made available to communicate with others, why is there still the sense of the 16th century castles, with all the draw bridges and moats? Why does it appear harder to communicate with others today?

I think of when I lived in Texas as a young child. I would go out to visit great aunts and uncles who had farms. The only phone service available of the early 60's was with the use of "the Operator"! She was the voice on the line when you picked up the phone receiver. She would say, "Number, P*l*e*a*s*e!" And that was ALL THAT WAS available at that time. As of that time, there were no dial telephones. (dial phones did not appear in our area of Texas till 1961.)

In regard to those who lived in the country, their telephone was on the "party line" and it would be designated as something like............."one long ring and two short rings". Or if you lived at the end of this line of multiple users, you could have the "two long rings". So for about 15 neighbors on the "party line",  you had to contend for the opportunity to use the phone. It also became known to us each time we were out, THAT no one could use THE LINE, when " Gladys the Gossip" was on the line!  It was only in an "emergency" and the dire need to mention blood,  could one gain access to a line to the "outside world".

I would see an aunt or uncle pick up the receiver to call out, but alas Gladys was on "the line" again.

I have asked how to communicate better, and have had many responses to that one question. I have asked other pastors, other leaders, and those who lead in the business arena like management! But one real cut rule is "someone has to answer, either when someone texts, emails, or calls!

Some have mentioned ways like if you send email, follow up with a text! That is a great idea and I love it, but usually do not hear back from the text that was sent. Sometimes it takes days to hear back. Then I wonder, has "the Rapture happened"? and I am still here. Yikes!

I like what the pastor said at church in a Saturday night service about unmasking and not doing the religious thing. He had on his notes for us, that you cannot keep your true self hidden forever according to Luke 12:1-3.......he went on to take from scripture,  that you cannot hide behind the religious mask forever, sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face is known.

Interestingly enough, the Lord had given me some two months before for the Prayer Meeting set for September 25, 2014, my daughter and I lead, that we are to walk in the Spirit. The teaching is called "the Practice of Prayer" and is according to 1 Peter 4:1-10...amplified. Verse 6 of that passage refers that......."we might live in the spirit as God does". Then the Lord took us to John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. (nkjv)

Then we went to Galatians 5:16...I say then: walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

When we stay on the Word of God, and feed our spirit man, we allow God to speak to our spirit man. The greatest thing about that is, we can be led by God when our spirit man IS  ascending to the highest place to hear God, see God and see the unseen! It helps us to HEAR WHEN GOD IS SPEAKING AND MOVING!

Wow!

And the next verses of 7-11 are the example of the crucified love.........it is intense and divine LOVE for others, it is, we ourselves being watchful for time in prayer FOR OURSELVES AND FOR OTHERS!.

In verse 11, the apostle addressed the two steps of service. In a commentary of this scripture it mentions those who utter the oracles of God. It does not say, the pastor, the prophet, who speak BUT ANYONE ADDRESSING WORDS TO OTHERS AS IN REGARD TO EVEN  the school teacher or the hospital worker . IT REFERS THAT those who render that service "uttering oracles" ........

is for and in the regard of the reverence and holiness of who God is, His Word, His Son Jesus Christ, to the Cross of Jesus, to the Blood of Jesus AND to the Holy Spirit Who was given for our benefit. He came to comfort us!

IF our name is left off a list, do we wrestle with others? Do we spend time with the Lord to know WHEN HE SPEAKS AND HOW HE SPEAKS? DO WE KNOW HOW HE LEADS AND WHO HE SENDS TO LEAD IN CERTAIN AREAS?

Has God given the servant girl a word for the Believer............? Has the commander of the army a listening ear in THE case of who God wants to deliver a special thing to do?
I believe God is calling. I believe the word given Saturday night the 27th and the one at the Prayer Meeting (of the 25th) were optimum words. I believe the Lord will cause those to lead who hear Him distinctly and not put be off because the "messenger" has no title, Granted correction is needed from time to time, but are we all willing to be corrected? Where do we see ourselves in this passage that so clearly teaches us that God will speak and answer His way and in His time? Are we receptive to that and active to pursuing those God has placed around us?

I find in my own walk with the Lord, that a child will lead them. In the case of our grand-daughter, I listen to hear of what she mentions WHEN she wants to pray for and who she will generally pray for during those times we are with her. I take note at times that those she names in prayer time. It usually turns out to be THE very people who come up needing our valuable time in prayer for them because of the un-forseen circumstances in their lives.

So what will stop us from moving forward? What if that next text, or email is important but seems "unimportant". Will we tarry from answering? What if there is something we need to move immediately ON for God to move immediately in our lives. For truly He knows what is on our pathways and He is not surprised by anything we can say or do. But I do think that He is not pleased when we choose to follow the culture and those we "pal" around with and disregard the "next thing He wants to accomplish in our lives"!

Will we be the "doorway to His presence"? Or will we choose the 16th century castle with the moats and draw bridges when communicating with others?

Are we loving others with the God-kind of love or are we motivated by those with a "title"? Naaman could have lost out, if he would not hear her advice of him to go to see the "prophet". But even more, he needed to heed the instructions given. Are we telling God what it should look like or we saying, "yes Lord, I will do it".

Father, You are the mysterious, the mighty, the Great "I am"! Lord God, it is in Jesus' name, I pray for us to have the ability to move in revelation and understanding of Your ways and purposes. I pray that none of us would be "satisfied with just our peeps, those things on T.V. or at the movies. I pray that we would be those who cry out for the Spirit of Truth.Lord, I pray that we be those who desire to communicate, who seek to touch hearts and lives with Your Word. May we be those who continually go to the Word and stir the fire in us, to pray for others, tells others of our Savior Jesus Christ and commit to make the difference. I not only pray for myself, but any who read this, that the spirit of blindness to be broken off our lives. That together we stand to break through those parental bloodline sides, and receive YOUR light and revelation. Help us to see what we need to see. Open YOUR Word to us continually Lord and may we experience that power everyday of our lives. Help us to see when YOU are moving through a new pathway and that we will be receptive and quick to move to do "that thing YOU ask us to do!"  Lord, today we repent of doing things our way. We seek the path unhindered and unencumbered. We seek to hear YOU as YOU direct through those You send on our pathway. We certainly do not want to be another "Naaman"!
Help us not to get in the pit of confusion, that according to Psalm 40:2 that is a place of "noise, uproar, tumult" as of waters, as of men and of war!
That Lord is the place of the dead who reside in graves and the place of destruction. No Lord, we pray to be out of pits and that of miry clay. We are those who have our feet upon the Rock of firm standing.

Lord, we believe us to be those who walk on solid ground and directed by YOU to the place YOU have prepared for us. As we walk with YOU, our steps are ordered. We stand firm in our trust regarding our safety. You our Redeemer have ended our sorrows and moved of us out of the "danger zone". We pass on today expecting to take firm hold of instruction and to not let go.

According to .....Proverbs 4:13-19.........that we will not choose the path of wicked and will not walk the way of evil.

We avoid it and will not travel on it. Our path is like the shining sun that shines ever brighter to full light of the perfect day. We move to Your light and expect Your peace as we move forward to be communicators for the Kingdom of God that has come. Amen.


You can also visit my Youtube Channel "The Voice of Prayer" for more teaching of God's Word at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV