Raising our Eyes to See the Horizon

Do we raise our eyes to see the horizon and look with "supernatural" eyes to see?
Or are we consumed with all that is going on around us and keep our focus on "me, myself and I"?
Seriously, do we just keep our eyes on the little around us to keep us occupied, you know, like buying groceries, paying the bills, keeping the kids in school and healthy, and making it to church this weekend? Or do we seriously look with a focus toward life that is in God and what He planned for us?  Is the everyday, filled to the brim and running over with agendas, the mundane, the things void of life and bring no meaning to our lives or anyone else's?

David said of the Lord; “My times are in Your hand;” (Psalm 31: 15). “Times” here means in the Hebrew; event, experiences, fortunes, occurrences, occasions, permanency, a continuing future, ancient (used in reference and in regard to the past time), forever (for future time; used of continuous existence)..forever (in reference to and of God's existence)

Are our times in His hand? Are our adventures, the events of life, that is nothing more than vapor.........for awhile we are here and then are gone truly in the Master's Hand?

James 4:14-17
14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. NIV

I tried my way for many years and it did not work. Besides, it is hard to live one's life continually as a control tower of an airport for other's lives. It is like being a dictator without having a country. And who would really wants to be around a "dictator" all the time? Right?

Are we caught up in other people's lives and not our own? Yeah, Shelley, but we are to love our neighbor as ourselves! Yes, but we are not to be the busy body who lives next door! You know, the lady who knows more about other people's lives than she does her own, her husband's or even her children's lives. As the wife and mother, we are to be the " prayer warrior" who seeks God's plan for our family members and even our neighbors. ( loving others as ourselves) As the father figure, he too must also look over the welfare of his family and pray!

What has God placed before you ( man or woman) to keep reaching for Him and His plan? What will you see? And when you do see it, keep it in your heart, like Mary, the mother of Jesus kept all the sayings ever spoken about her son. She pondered truth spoken by two different people in the first few days He was born.

Luke 2:25-40

25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 

29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,

According to Your word; 

30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation 

31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 

32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,

And the glory of Your people Israel."  

33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." 

36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. 

39 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. NKJV

Two different people, yet similar in their walks of life, and both were seekers of God and "sensitive" His plan, not only for themselves, but for a Nation!

Ask the Lord to show you the horizon and what lies ahead. Believe Him to show it to you and when you see it, keep it, and hold it in your heart. Keep the dream (the future) in your heart. Do not try to take someone else's dream or future. YOU have a place to STAND in history and eternity! Choose God and His plan. Raise your eyes from the everyday and even the mundane. Yes, by all means, pay those bills, and buy those groceries. Feed your family, pray over them and send them out. Help each of them to become what God planned for them. 

Pray: your husband will stand at the gate of the city with business men........Proverbs 31:11

11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;

So he will have no lack of gain. NKJV

Proverbs 31:23

23 Her husband is known in the gates,

When he sits among the elders of the land. 

NKJV

Pray: your children will..Prov 31:28

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;

Her husband also, and he praises her: NKJV

Psalm  127:3-5

3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD,

children a reward from him. 

4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior 

are sons born in one's youth. 

5 Blessed is the man 

whose quiver is full of them.

They will not be put to shame 

when they contend with their enemies in the gate. NIV

BE THE EXPOSER to anything that is of the negative and darkness..........for God's word is LIGHT and will expose that which not exist in your husband or children's lives.

That is expose it, and address it in God's love and wisdom. As the Lord directs, bring it into the open or the wrong way of doing something...........you are not the "judge". YOU are the "prayer warrior" and the Holy Spirit will show you things coming to you and your family.

DEMONSTRATE A REVERENCE FOR GOD. Always speak of the goodness of God around your family, friends, and even in church. As you speak, you will give revelation to your family as well.

EXPECT A GREAT CHANGE. You will be the world changer and history maker to you your own family.

Now, I speak to men and women alike. When we read of "sons", this means daughters as well. It just applies the word to that written "the sons of God". We truly are "sons of God" when we follow Him and His plan, being obedient and seeking to please the Father!

Do not be "crippled" by former successes! God can and will always go "beyond " the last thing we saw HIM do in and for us!

Don't set your sights just on reality shows. Don't look for another soap opera.  If we watch the negative type of show that which depicts fighting, words that defame a person's character will bring the same into your home and family. It is sowing into that environment. What you focus  on, is what you will become! You have reality going on all around you. Life is HAPPENING RIGHT NOW! Engage in life today and not another agenda! Engage in life, participate and expect a glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Expect to fulfill all He has planned for you and hear HIM say, "well done thou good and faithful servant"!

Be expectant that He will be a part of seeing you experience being a parent, a grand-parent, and even a success where He has planted you. He will be on 'Hand' to see all that He planned is coming to pass, being demonstrated for your good and my good!

He is never surprised by what we say or do, but He is aware when we refuse to obey and hear His plan. Raise YOUR EYES TODAY, AND LOOK.....WITH SUPERNATURAL EYES........ and expect to see what "EXPERIENCES" HE HAS PLANNED FOR YOU TO ENJOY AND BE A PART OF IN HIS PLAN FOR LIFE!

Father, today I pray for all who read this, that everything that has been, everything that is and all that will be is in YOUR hands. I know nothings escapes YOUR watchful eye. (Hebrews 4:13). Father, YOU are familiar with everyone who reads this blog. Before a word is on our tongue You know it. (Psalm 139:4) Our past, our current and future are in Your capable hands. Yes, all is in YOUR eternal hands. As we bow our hearts before You today, we believe for a harvest in righteousness and it to be demonstrated in our families and communities. Father, it is YOU who takes the tattered and the torn to bring glory for all to see that YOU have us safe in YOUR bosom. Even as I pray for each today, I know You are already aware of what will be done to bring it to pass for each..........so right now I give thanks for each man, woman or youth who may read this. It is the Mighty Potter who mends the broken and brings out of that brokenness a changed and charged life for the Lord's glory. I pray that as we wait on YOU and confess Your word over our families that we will gain new strength. We will certainly be those to mount up with wings like eagles to run and not tire...........that when we walk. we will not become the weary. Today YOU are our strength, and the glory of our heads. Thank YOU for Your goodness to us. I pray for those eyes to see and ears to Hear YOU SPEAK and declare the horizon is filled with YOUR glory for their lives. Be unto Your name all honor, glory and praise. Today we move forward and it is BECAUSE OF YOU THE LORD OF GLORY. I have prayed and believed in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen

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

Humility and Honor Equals Courage in Your Heart

The Bible tells us much about honor. It tells us that those who have ears that hear the rebukes of life, will abide among the wise. But we also understand, in the same scripture, we find that he who disdains instruction, despises his own soul.( Proverbs 15:31-33 NKJV ) It is understanding then Who created who......and that the fear we should have, has the example of a reverence and an awe toward He WHO spoke light be and it is still expanding today! It is knowing who is Alpha and Omega.

There are many scriptures on honor and humility, but my favorite are found in Proverbs 22:4 and Proverbs 31:25-26. It is that humility that prepares us for honor. When we give honor to the Lord, it is to highly esteem Him, and that we give Him the distinction of the Holy One, who conquered death, hell and the grave. When we truly seek to praise Him in all His glory, and follow closely to being obedient to that written Word, we discover life, righteousness and honor.

THE God of Love, who gave His only Son, gifted us to become the sons of God. It was by grace that we are saved. That has given us opportunity to express gratitude, to spend time with Him and to know the Creator of all things. He who gives such a life should be feared.

When we view the Cross and the humility of Jesus, He became strong in His humility. He bore our weakness, pain, sickness & disease, but courage was in His heart. His heart was one with God His Father. Oh, to know that kind of humility, that strengthens our hearts in the most painful of times and troubles that darken our pathways, but Jesus was surely strengthened to make that walk to the Cross!

Jesus was ruled not by His flesh but by His spirit man. He gained strength in staying connected to His Father through the Word that brings truth and life to our mortal bodies. Jesus retained riches and honor and life by giving up His life to live for the Father. Jesus was obedient!

I love the scriptures of the virtuous wife. It tells she girds herself with strength and strengthens her arms. She looks to keep fit and looks out for her household, but she also extends her hands to the poor. She is not afraid of any kind of weather, she is on the go and so is her family. They keep their pace for the kingdom of God. Her husband is known in the city gates. He works with his hands and is known as the business leader. As he sits among the doers in the community, it tells that she gains strength and honor. For as she honors her husband and takes care of her family, people will know who she is as she speaks with wisdom, and her tongue with kindness. She is never idle for she keeps watch over the food supplies, the clothes that need to be washed, the dry cleaning taken to the cleaners, and the job that has to be done. It says her lamp does not go out, and I think of how busy she is, but also think she is aware of the IMPORTANCE OF Prayer and word that must be spoken over her husband, her family and the new day coming! But in all this, we are told as she watches over her household, her children and her husband bless her, they praise her for what she does for them. In the end, she has done well, a woman who fears the LORD, is praised!  And it is God who will give her the fruit of hands and her own works will praise her in the gates. This is honor!

Honor: a courage and a strength that is seen and causes praise to come to you when you follow hard seeing after the needs of others. Love that never murmurs but does something. Love that speaks and fulfills a job to be done. Love that does something without being told, and does it quickly and even in secret most of the time when no one is looking. It is this kind of serving others in the excellence as Jesus did and that which is given in an amount  that is noticeable, it is by words of kindness and sometimes by correction and always by action!

We live in a day and time when people want respect. But do they give respect? People want the glory, but what price did Jesus pay for the glory of God?

People want the name, but do they want to put effort into what it takes to become the name!

People want to be looked up to as the head, as the leader, or as the CEO! But do they understand what it takes to fill that role?

As we see in the Olympics, men and women train year in and year out. They care not of the weather or where they train as long as the job is done. They work their bodies into submission to get the needed strength and endurance it takes to win that Gold Medal! They train while most of us sleep. They train winter, spring, summer, fall, dry or wet, cold or hot, but they continue no matter what the day or night may bring.

I think of the those fighting overseas and on distant lands. I think of those who fight for our country and in those most formidable times of violence, of war and tumult, and they come out victorious to save those they fight with over there against the common enemy. I think of the men who have come from war with no legs or an arm and one leg missing, and suffer with PTSD and still have a medal for valor, or a medal awarded for bravery!

In Proverbs 29 and verse 23b.........but the humble in spirit will retain honor (NKJV) and I think of Jesus, the humble, the wise, the one who took instruction and went to the Cross......and gained honor. He was humble in spirit and spoke no evil, but He did correct them when the correction was needed.

Dare we forget the time of Him driving out the money changers ( the persons who furnished the proselytes and the Jew who came from other countries, with the current coin of Judea, in exchange for their own.coinage ) and those that sold the doves or other. It was those who stood in the area of the priests. These men at the time gained salary by bringing the unmarked and favorable birds and such other animals for the altar. Those who came to offer their sacrifice, had to go through the front of the Temple that was to be for prayer, but those who built up this business, took note if those who might need a worthy sacrifice to offer.........and they told the people who came,  if the offering they brought was good enough and if it was not up to what they thought, those working in the temple would get the needed dove, or such bird or animal that was required for their particular sacrifice and sell it for a price! So there was " stinky things going on in the temple" and it was not for prayer. And Jesus came to drive them out! He told them, in Matthew 21:13............"It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"NKJV

Jesus was giving honor to His Father. He showed  not by words alone, but by actions of His faith that the temple was a place of prayer and these men had made it a business! Thus Jesus drove out both the buyers and the sellers. Jesus definitely purged the abuse that was being done in the temple and He, Jesus,  established that God's way was for prayer in that place. The action of selling of the bird and such for profit by the priests was a sin, it was ungodliness and was profane as it defiled the sanctuary.

Jesus was directing them back to the practices whose gain is godliness. Jesus uncovered that these priests were living for more support and squeezing the extra money out of the people for their own gain and use.  Jesus called them thieves, for they were taking what did not belong to them! When we truly seek to be humble ourselves before the Lord, and come into His sanctuary, we see the majesty of His glory. We bask in the beauty of Who He is in the Love He has for mankind.

It was after the driving out the money changers that the temple gained back the godliness it was meant to have. In Matthew 21:14, the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. Yes, it is in the church, the temple of the Living God, the place Believers go and see the manifested goodness and power of God. It is that power that gives sight to the spiritually blind and feet to the lame.

If you should be in church or body of people who worship or say they do and there is no healing going on in the place.........leave now, and go find where the manifested presence of the Lord of glory resides!

Truly, Jesus came as the Prophet to set in motion those things that had to be corrected. He spoke when He needed to speak and He spoke where people did not have to guess at what He was saying.

We are told in Mark 1:14-15.......... Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.'  (NKJV)

He was telling them that change had come, and He was the answer. He was the Savior to the world. It was, and will always be repentance that is God's will and pleasure. (2 Peter 3:9-13) As the prophet, Jesus, gave the matter or the desires of the heart of the Father. It was His Father's desire for man to repent from ungodly ways and turn to the Father.

 Today, it still means a cry for a repentance in today's society. Even with all its technology and worldly things, Jesus came to root out and to pull down, and to destroy and to throw down, and to build and to plant.(Jeremiah 1:10)  And today, we can see many folks who love the planting and building! They love the new building and doing the next new thing, but when it comes to getting that nasty root out, that which causes problems like any kind of deceit, choosing to keep the bad apple so it can destroy the whole barrel, so to speak, boy that is hard to do, right? The bad apple can spoil the whole barrel and keep the anointing from operating, But Jesus came to set captives free. He came to break the yokes and remove those things that bind us to the past. Are we setting people  free or we making them even more chained to the past problems, the past hurts, the past sins that brought them poor health and  maybe even a loss of income? It is time to grow up in the Lord! It is time for the body of Christ to gain courage in the heart and speak what is God's heart!  

Jesus lived an intense life, and he walked the narrower path!  

 Should it not be to us as well, that the sense of duty to honor the Father as Jesus. we too, should be crushed with a godly sorrow for ourselves, for our families, for our community and for our nation?

Jesus came and upset some folks.........he ruined the money changers plans and upset the priests in the temple at that time, but Jesus came and He obeyed. Are we ready to ruffle some feathers for the kingdom of God that has come?  It will take courage in the heart just like Jesus had............"do not fear little flock for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32) AMEN!

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