Time Magazine in 1969 said,"God is Dead!" Many also want to say the church is down and out too! Well, no offense, but Time Magazine was wrong. They are still wrong!
God is still alive and I want to scream it loud that the church is still alive too! Jesus said, I will build my church... and the gates of hell would NOT stop it! Many want to declare the church is dead. Again, they are wrong! Do not give up on the church.
The Church IS the answer!
Read with caution from this point forward...
The church is the answer for our city. The church is still the answer for our families. The church is still the answer for our healing. The church is still the answer for our finances. The church is still the answer for our marriage. The church is still the answer for our children. The church is still the answer for our economy. The church is still the answer for our mind. The church is still the answer for our nation. The church is STILL the answer for the earth!!!
Do not give up on the church! God has not changed His mind and neither should you.
Why am I so certain? Each week in our church, lives are changed, people are healed, families are restored and hearts are renewed. The church is alive, the church is the answer and revival is still sure!
Read the end of Revelation and you will see a glorious, triumphant, overcoming and happy church! Our future is certain, as our past is erased and the church will not only survive and thrive, it will walk in Kingdom dominion.
Do not give up on the church! The church IS STILL the answer!!!
Stay in church, stay in prayer, stay in worship, stay in the word, keep telling the story and wait and see that the church will endure every attack of hell! Jesus said it and the earth will watch and see again that the church is the answer!!!
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Finders Weepers Losers... KEEPERS!
If you find your life you lose it, if you lose your life you find it!
Man, the bible is the master of understatement! Our culture is so consumed in finding their own way in life. The bible also says that in the last days, things will be as they were in the days of Noah. Men will eat, drink and be given in marriage.
In essence, all people will think about in the last days is "eating, drinking and sex!" Man, have we arrived! Life is all about self indulgence; me, myself and me! "Let me stop talking about me. Let me hear what you think about me?" That sums up the time in which we live.
The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon (the wisest man who ever lived), said that life is meaningless.(Ecclesiastes 1:1-14) He even says it is a "chasing after the wind." He ends his dialogue with a sharp decision about the meaning of life. In Chapter 12:13-14, Solomon says, here is the meaning of life! "Fear God and Keep His commandments...for judgment is coming!
WOW! Our culture is so out of step with this discussion about the end of time or the end of the world. It is all about the moment. Make me happy NOW! I do not want to wait. My iPad, my iPhone or my internet connection is too slow. My Facebook update is "so 23 seconds ago!"
We are a culture in touch, on the move and oblivious to what is about to happen. It is all going to end and most people won't know it until it is too late. We spend our whole lives focused on self with no preparation for the next life. If we would spend equal time on future preparation, fire insurance, our ticket to ride, we could be prepared for the next life. But how?
Jesus said in Matthew 10:39 that if you find your life...you will lose it. BUT, if your lose your life....you will find it!
What does He mean? We must delay gratification for the moment for future preparations NOW so that we are ready for THEN! Jesus lived this in Luke 22:42 when he said, "Father, let this cup pass from me...but nevertheless, not my will but your will be done."
Life is meaningless Solomon says...apart from God. But, here is the meaning of life...Fear God AND keep His commandments. Lose your life and find it and see if it is worth the journey.
I have been on this roller coaster for 31 years now and man, is it worth it! I have more fun and I laugh more in life than anyone I know. Why? I have lost my life and gained the true meaning! It is really not a mystery but requires a great cost...everything! Lose to win? It's your invitation. Want to jump on the train? God is asking for you...to lose!
I would love to hear from you to know what you think!
Are you a loser? Then, with God, you are the winner!
Man, the bible is the master of understatement! Our culture is so consumed in finding their own way in life. The bible also says that in the last days, things will be as they were in the days of Noah. Men will eat, drink and be given in marriage.
In essence, all people will think about in the last days is "eating, drinking and sex!" Man, have we arrived! Life is all about self indulgence; me, myself and me! "Let me stop talking about me. Let me hear what you think about me?" That sums up the time in which we live.
The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon (the wisest man who ever lived), said that life is meaningless.(Ecclesiastes 1:1-14) He even says it is a "chasing after the wind." He ends his dialogue with a sharp decision about the meaning of life. In Chapter 12:13-14, Solomon says, here is the meaning of life! "Fear God and Keep His commandments...for judgment is coming!
WOW! Our culture is so out of step with this discussion about the end of time or the end of the world. It is all about the moment. Make me happy NOW! I do not want to wait. My iPad, my iPhone or my internet connection is too slow. My Facebook update is "so 23 seconds ago!"
We are a culture in touch, on the move and oblivious to what is about to happen. It is all going to end and most people won't know it until it is too late. We spend our whole lives focused on self with no preparation for the next life. If we would spend equal time on future preparation, fire insurance, our ticket to ride, we could be prepared for the next life. But how?
Jesus said in Matthew 10:39 that if you find your life...you will lose it. BUT, if your lose your life....you will find it!
What does He mean? We must delay gratification for the moment for future preparations NOW so that we are ready for THEN! Jesus lived this in Luke 22:42 when he said, "Father, let this cup pass from me...but nevertheless, not my will but your will be done."
Life is meaningless Solomon says...apart from God. But, here is the meaning of life...Fear God AND keep His commandments. Lose your life and find it and see if it is worth the journey.
I have been on this roller coaster for 31 years now and man, is it worth it! I have more fun and I laugh more in life than anyone I know. Why? I have lost my life and gained the true meaning! It is really not a mystery but requires a great cost...everything! Lose to win? It's your invitation. Want to jump on the train? God is asking for you...to lose!
I would love to hear from you to know what you think!
Are you a loser? Then, with God, you are the winner!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
It Is FINISHED!
There is more you need to know!
As we approach the passion week for Christians all over the world, I have a new insight in the last words of Jesus on the cross. Oh dear friend, we can go to the tomb of Mohammad and he is still there. We can go to the tomb of Buddah and he is still there. However, we can go to the tomb of Jesus and He is not there!
This is the defining difference between Christianity and every other religion in the world. Jesus came establish His Kingdom in us. That is why there is so much more to the words,"It is finished."
When Jesus said on the cross, "It is finished," He not only bought salvation and paid the penalty for sin. When Jesus uttered those wonderful words, He was going all the way back to the garden to finish something for us as Christ followers. "It is finished" also means that what the law, the prophets, the Old Testament sacrificial system, the angels, Moses, Aaron or Melchizedek could not do, Jesus has now done.
Gods first plan for man was dominion in the earth over "every living thing." Man fell and what no other could do, Jesus did with His death when he said, "It Is FINISHED!"
Jesus faced every sin common to man and was without sin. Therefore friend, no matter what you or I face, Jesus has already faced it and conquered it! Therefore if we are in Jesus, we too can face any thing in life and, through Jesus, we too can conquer and have dominion over every living thing!
Dear friend, Easter is more than bunnies. It Is FINISHED for you and me! We can rule over every temptation and win in life! The winning believer and the winning church is what He bought and who He is returning for to gather with Him forever!
Start winning right now! It is finished and you can win through Jesus!
Happy resurrection! It is FINISHED!!! I hope to hear from you!
As we approach the passion week for Christians all over the world, I have a new insight in the last words of Jesus on the cross. Oh dear friend, we can go to the tomb of Mohammad and he is still there. We can go to the tomb of Buddah and he is still there. However, we can go to the tomb of Jesus and He is not there!
This is the defining difference between Christianity and every other religion in the world. Jesus came establish His Kingdom in us. That is why there is so much more to the words,"It is finished."
When Jesus said on the cross, "It is finished," He not only bought salvation and paid the penalty for sin. When Jesus uttered those wonderful words, He was going all the way back to the garden to finish something for us as Christ followers. "It is finished" also means that what the law, the prophets, the Old Testament sacrificial system, the angels, Moses, Aaron or Melchizedek could not do, Jesus has now done.
Gods first plan for man was dominion in the earth over "every living thing." Man fell and what no other could do, Jesus did with His death when he said, "It Is FINISHED!"
Jesus faced every sin common to man and was without sin. Therefore friend, no matter what you or I face, Jesus has already faced it and conquered it! Therefore if we are in Jesus, we too can face any thing in life and, through Jesus, we too can conquer and have dominion over every living thing!
Dear friend, Easter is more than bunnies. It Is FINISHED for you and me! We can rule over every temptation and win in life! The winning believer and the winning church is what He bought and who He is returning for to gather with Him forever!
Start winning right now! It is finished and you can win through Jesus!
Happy resurrection! It is FINISHED!!! I hope to hear from you!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
The Overcomer's Creed
Decrees and declarations define nations and people groups. Job 22:30 says you can decree a thing and it will be established. It is said that "we are what we say." Francis Frangipane, in his book, "The Three Battlegrounds," has said, "Whatever a person agrees upon and establishes through consent compromise and constant use will ultimately define reality to them." Well dear friend, I have the Believers Creed for you. This creed will define you, direct you and bring you to the place of freedom and victory.
Revelation 12:10-12 gives us this creed. It says,"They overcame him by the blood of the lamb, and the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death!" The blood of the lamb is the power of a clean conscience. The word of our testimony is the power of a faith confession. Not loving our lives is the power if a radical committment.
Dear friend, if we will take a bath in the blood, declare His word in our mouth in song or speech and make a commitment to His purposes we will overcome whatever the enemy sends our way. God wants you to win. However, winning is based in preparation and placement. He has won the victory for us. He has placed His enemies under His feet (Hebrews 1:.12-14) Therefore, if we are in Christ , we too have the victory.
But we must let preparation also have it's work. If we will take a daily bath in the blood, declare His word in song or speech and commit to His purposes, it will lead us to victory. When preparation meets opportunity, destiny is accomplished.
What are you speaking over your life? What are you preparing for in daily repetitions? Prepare and then declare and watch what God will do in your circumstances of life. This is your creed. Say it loud and say it proud:
I overcome by the blood of the lamb, I overcome by the word of my testimony and I do overcome by loving Him more than loving myself!
You are an overcomer when you stand on Gods word! If that is true, then no matter what I face, I CAN win! So, lets go out and start WINNING! It's your time to win. Start by using the Believers Creed!
Do you agree? Let me know your thoughts!
Shalom
The Overcomer's Creed
Revelation 12:10-12 gives us this creed. It says,"They overcame him by the blood of the lamb, and the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death!" The blood of the lamb is the power of a clean conscience. The word of our testimony is the power of a faith confession. Not loving our lives is the power if a radical committment.
Dear friend, if we will take a bath in the blood, declare His word in our mouth in song or speech and make a commitment to His purposes we will overcome whatever the enemy sends our way. God wants you to win. However, winning is based in preparation and placement. He has won the victory for us. He has placed His enemies under His feet (Hebrews 1:.12-14) Therefore, if we are in Christ , we too have the victory.
But we must let preparation also have it's work. If we will take a daily bath in the blood, declare His word in song or speech and commit to His purposes, it will lead us to victory. When preparation meets opportunity, destiny is accomplished.
What are you speaking over your life? What are you preparing for in daily repetitions? Prepare and then declare and watch what God will do in your circumstances of life. This is your creed. Say it loud and say it proud:
I overcome by the blood of the lamb, I overcome by the word of my testimony and I do overcome by loving Him more than loving myself!
You are an overcomer when you stand on Gods word! If that is true, then no matter what I face, I CAN win! So, lets go out and start WINNING! It's your time to win. Start by using the Believers Creed!
Do you agree? Let me know your thoughts!
Shalom
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
The God Who restores!
Everyday it seems that the stress of life, financial pressure and conflict in the family is causing an emotional avalanche that destroys everything in it's path.
Marriages are ending, families are torn, finances are challenged and picking up the pieces can be overwhelming. I have a word of encouragement! There is a God who CAN restore all that life has eaten and repair the damage that has been done to your dreams, your home and your emotions.
If I know anything about the heart of our Heavenly Father, I believe that it is His greatest desire to restore and bless his children. Over and over throughout the Old Testament, God restored His children to His promise. It is no different for you! The people of God would wander, get in sin, fail and fall. However, the God we serve ALWAYS gave them a pathway back to His heart and promise.
Job was one who found the pathway back to the restoration of God. In the book of Job, Chapter 22 and in verse 23 we read where God spoke to Job and answered his request for help. It says, " If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored: "IF" you remove wickedness far from your tent." If Job would meet the condition of the removal of all offenses toward God, his restoration was a given blessing!
God desires to bless. His word to Job was RETURN AND I WILL RESTORE! That is a great promise. However, the blessing was not a given just because he would ask. If Job would meet God's request to return and then also remove all wickedness from his tent, the promise would be secure.
People just want God to bless their request. That is His heart! However, He is still asking for the requirement of returning to His heart AND then removing all wickedness FAR from our tents. He is asking you right now. As you read this, just know that whatever life and circumstances have stolen from you, God is calling right now!
Return, and Remove! Run back to the Father right now, ask for His healing, and restoration. Then, look around you. Is there wickedness around you that you have the control of how and where it is allowed to be around you? Music, magazines, Internet, ungodly friendships, improper intimacies or just anything that God would not be pleased with in the life of His followers?
God CAN heal any word curse, break any soul tie and restore what the locust have eaten. I dare you to run back to the Father right now. Ask for His forgiveness, healing and restoration. Then remove anything that might be an offense to God and watch what God will release in your life. I believe you will see that He is a God who loves to RESTORE!
I want to hear the miracles from you as you run back to His arms. Meet the condition and the blessing is yours!
Pray this prayer... Jesus, I return to you. I ask you to restore me. I remove all wickedness far from me. I receive your miracles in my life again as I return to you! Amen!
Did you do this? Did you mean it? Then friend, look up! Restoration is about to begin! Do you agree? I'd like to hear from you! It is your turn for your Jubilee!
Shalom
Marriages are ending, families are torn, finances are challenged and picking up the pieces can be overwhelming. I have a word of encouragement! There is a God who CAN restore all that life has eaten and repair the damage that has been done to your dreams, your home and your emotions.
The God Who Restores!
If I know anything about the heart of our Heavenly Father, I believe that it is His greatest desire to restore and bless his children. Over and over throughout the Old Testament, God restored His children to His promise. It is no different for you! The people of God would wander, get in sin, fail and fall. However, the God we serve ALWAYS gave them a pathway back to His heart and promise.
Job was one who found the pathway back to the restoration of God. In the book of Job, Chapter 22 and in verse 23 we read where God spoke to Job and answered his request for help. It says, " If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored: "IF" you remove wickedness far from your tent." If Job would meet the condition of the removal of all offenses toward God, his restoration was a given blessing!
God desires to bless. His word to Job was RETURN AND I WILL RESTORE! That is a great promise. However, the blessing was not a given just because he would ask. If Job would meet God's request to return and then also remove all wickedness from his tent, the promise would be secure.
People just want God to bless their request. That is His heart! However, He is still asking for the requirement of returning to His heart AND then removing all wickedness FAR from our tents. He is asking you right now. As you read this, just know that whatever life and circumstances have stolen from you, God is calling right now!
Return, and Remove! Run back to the Father right now, ask for His healing, and restoration. Then, look around you. Is there wickedness around you that you have the control of how and where it is allowed to be around you? Music, magazines, Internet, ungodly friendships, improper intimacies or just anything that God would not be pleased with in the life of His followers?
God CAN heal any word curse, break any soul tie and restore what the locust have eaten. I dare you to run back to the Father right now. Ask for His forgiveness, healing and restoration. Then remove anything that might be an offense to God and watch what God will release in your life. I believe you will see that He is a God who loves to RESTORE!
I want to hear the miracles from you as you run back to His arms. Meet the condition and the blessing is yours!
Pray this prayer... Jesus, I return to you. I ask you to restore me. I remove all wickedness far from me. I receive your miracles in my life again as I return to you! Amen!
Did you do this? Did you mean it? Then friend, look up! Restoration is about to begin! Do you agree? I'd like to hear from you! It is your turn for your Jubilee!
Shalom
Friday, February 10, 2012
It's 2012 - Are you AWAKE yet?
When you see life exploding for others have you ever asked, "When will it be my turn? When will things work out for me?" As we look at the uncertainty around us, I have a word for you...
At the end of 2011, the Lord began to speak to me about 2012 and all that it would bring for you and for me. The following word came to me..."2012 will be a season where closed things will become opened, hidden things will be revealed and impossible things will become possible."
It is so easy to believe with someone else for their miracle. But, it is often hard to believe for ourselves and our own dreams. That is why you are reading this. I have faith for you, and the Father has a plan to reveal to you. So here it is again, "2012 WILL be your time!"
"Closed things will become opened, hidden things will be revealed and impossible things will become possible."
This past week the Lord spoke to me that 2012 will be a season for things to be AWAKENED in you and in me. We will be awakened to radical trust in God and His servants. We will become awakened to radical commitment to the task of the Kingdom. And we will become awakened to a radical spirit of cooperation in the body of Christ. I call you AWAKE!
I also call you to awaken in your Trust, Commitment and Cooperation. Say "yes" to God right now and look for the open doors and the open opportunities that are coming your way! Yes, uncertainty is all around. I see it as you see it. But do not just see it as it is. See it as it can be: awake, revealed, possible and opened! I dare you to dream again!
2012 will be YOUR year! Are you awake yet? I'd like to know so please let me hear from you!
2012 IS YOUR TIME!
It is so easy to believe with someone else for their miracle. But, it is often hard to believe for ourselves and our own dreams. That is why you are reading this. I have faith for you, and the Father has a plan to reveal to you. So here it is again, "2012 WILL be your time!"
"Closed things will become opened, hidden things will be revealed and impossible things will become possible."
This past week the Lord spoke to me that 2012 will be a season for things to be AWAKENED in you and in me. We will be awakened to radical trust in God and His servants. We will become awakened to radical commitment to the task of the Kingdom. And we will become awakened to a radical spirit of cooperation in the body of Christ. I call you AWAKE!
I also call you to awaken in your Trust, Commitment and Cooperation. Say "yes" to God right now and look for the open doors and the open opportunities that are coming your way! Yes, uncertainty is all around. I see it as you see it. But do not just see it as it is. See it as it can be: awake, revealed, possible and opened! I dare you to dream again!
2012 will be YOUR year! Are you awake yet? I'd like to know so please let me hear from you!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Hook, Line and Stinker!
It is unbelievable how many Christians hear the lies of the enemy and believe them hook, line and stinker! It is hard to live at a high level for God that is inconsistent with the way you see yourself. If you tell a lie long enough you will believe it! However, if you tell the truth long enough, you will also believe that. We are what we think and we are what we say. We are the sum total of the influences of our life. We simply must change the input to see results in the output of our life. The enemy of our souls is shrewd and cunning. Our emotions can get the best of us and before we know it, we have taken a long journey in wrong confession and declarations. The bible says that the power of life and death is in the tongue. So, what I say and what I think is what I become. There are many lies that the enemy espouses to Christians but none bigger than the following list. Here are some of the top lies that Christians believe:
1. Church is not necessary
The enemy of your soul wants you to be alone so that you are vulnerable and isolated. Many well meaning Christians believe that church is not necessary. It pushes them further away more than it draws them closer to their Heavenly father. The Family of God is just that - a family. We need strong family members to help us when we are weak and laugh with us when we are on top of life!
2. All I need to do is be good and act nice
The enemy wants us to believe that if we just act right or keep an appearance of a Christian, we will be just fine. Satan wants us to think that we can work things out in our own strength and many believers fall prey to this lie. God will never say that being nice is good enough to enter His kingdom. Being nice is good but being close and holy and pure and passionate are better!
3. God does not care about the small things
God is too busy dealing with big things to be concerned with our small things. It is the little fox that gets in and spoils the vines. Little things can cause a big problem if we do not take care of them quickly. God IS concerned about the small things! Small things grow to big problems if we do not confess them and remove them. Bugs can grow to become monsters.
4. Only Pastors or "Big Time" people can be leaders.
This is a big one for many. Past hurts and failures seem to derail many believers into thinking they are disqualified by God for any involvement in leadership. The fact is God wants to use your failures to be a triumph for others who struggle with the same issues. Stop talking about your past and speak about your future. You can be an over comer and yes, God can and will use you for His kingdom benefit. "Whosoever will," was the call of God. "Follow me," was His call. He qualifies the called, not just calls the qualified. You are good enough for Kingdom involvement.
5. God wants us happy.
Yes, God does want us happy but it is dependent on our relationship with Him. Happiness is a choice. It is based on the influences that I am allowing into my life. We are what we say and we are what we think. What you allow around you has a big affect on your emotional condition. It is hard to soar with Eagles if we are hanging out with turkeys! What we associate with is what we become because we are what we say and we are what we think. Happiness of life is related to intimacy with Jesus. Jesus is happiness.
These lies are derailing many believers. What about you? Do any of these affect you? Are there other lies you would add to this list! I'd like to know what you think.
1. Church is not necessary
The enemy of your soul wants you to be alone so that you are vulnerable and isolated. Many well meaning Christians believe that church is not necessary. It pushes them further away more than it draws them closer to their Heavenly father. The Family of God is just that - a family. We need strong family members to help us when we are weak and laugh with us when we are on top of life!
2. All I need to do is be good and act nice
The enemy wants us to believe that if we just act right or keep an appearance of a Christian, we will be just fine. Satan wants us to think that we can work things out in our own strength and many believers fall prey to this lie. God will never say that being nice is good enough to enter His kingdom. Being nice is good but being close and holy and pure and passionate are better!
3. God does not care about the small things
God is too busy dealing with big things to be concerned with our small things. It is the little fox that gets in and spoils the vines. Little things can cause a big problem if we do not take care of them quickly. God IS concerned about the small things! Small things grow to big problems if we do not confess them and remove them. Bugs can grow to become monsters.
4. Only Pastors or "Big Time" people can be leaders.
This is a big one for many. Past hurts and failures seem to derail many believers into thinking they are disqualified by God for any involvement in leadership. The fact is God wants to use your failures to be a triumph for others who struggle with the same issues. Stop talking about your past and speak about your future. You can be an over comer and yes, God can and will use you for His kingdom benefit. "Whosoever will," was the call of God. "Follow me," was His call. He qualifies the called, not just calls the qualified. You are good enough for Kingdom involvement.
5. God wants us happy.
Yes, God does want us happy but it is dependent on our relationship with Him. Happiness is a choice. It is based on the influences that I am allowing into my life. We are what we say and we are what we think. What you allow around you has a big affect on your emotional condition. It is hard to soar with Eagles if we are hanging out with turkeys! What we associate with is what we become because we are what we say and we are what we think. Happiness of life is related to intimacy with Jesus. Jesus is happiness.
These lies are derailing many believers. What about you? Do any of these affect you? Are there other lies you would add to this list! I'd like to know what you think.
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