JESUS IS ALL THAT YOU NEED

              His presence is always with you!

Keeping your hope alive in the midst of your struggles and fears can be difficult.  Although Christ has promised us that he would never leave us but would always take us through our problems, the strength to stay in faith when the storms of life come upon us can seem impossible.

The truth is that Jesus did not die just to give you eternal life in heaven.  He died so that you might have an abundant, joy-filled life right here on earth.  He who knew your name before the foundation of the earth is able to heal your pain and ease the heartache that you may be going through.  There is nothing that comes upon you that that can destroy your life if you have put your trust in the risen Savior.  Jesus is not just waiting for us in heaven.  He is here with us now in all that we do.  His power and strength is the force sufficient enough to demolish any stronghold that seeks to defeat you. 

Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”.   Those are life changing words!  He is speaking with all the power of God when he tells us that we do not have to fear any problem or impossible situation.  Jesus will not only take us through our problems, he will give us the peace that we need to stay trusting while we are in the battle.  The peace Jesus speaks of is the truth that sets you free.  It is the irrevocable promise of God that you can still have hope despite your trial because nothing can destroy his purpose and plan for you.  He is ready to shine a light to guide you on the path he has set for you.  Jesus is your friend, your counselor and an ever-present help in all things.  There is nothing too strong or too impossible for him to do for you because he alone is the source of all power. 

Throughout the scriptures, we read of how God would make a way in impossible situations to help his people.  There is nothing that can change the course of victory for those whom he has redeemed.   In Exodus, we learn that God did not lead the Israelites around the Red Sea but rather he brought them to the Red Sea that they might understand his power as he parted the waters for them to cross safely to the other side. 

The victories written in scripture are here for us today.  God is willing to part the deep waters of trouble and pain that is in your life and bring you through safely to the other side.  Impossible situations are no match for the power of the risen Christ who defeated darkness and death and bought for you eternal life.

Whatever painful situation you may be experiencing at this time, take heart and remember that Jesus is with you.  The hope that he gives you is not just a desire, it is a promise.  It is my prayer that God will help you to understand this truth.

Dear Lord,  there are so many believers that are struggling in the storms of life.  Please help them to know that you are with them and that you will not fail them.  I pray for your peace to fill them.  I pray that you will give them the hope that they need to continue on in the battle.  Lord, help them to rise above their pain and to be victorious in all that is bringing them pain.  We always have hope because Jesus will never fail.   To him be the glory.  Amen

 

Ladies, will you pray?

Hello all.

 

Sebastian Ombima, founder and pastor of WOREM in Kenya, Africa, is asking for prayer for  9 of their kids that are at the orphanage that have Cholera and are in the hospital.  They are also in urgent need of prayer for their food supply for the orphans as well.   What can we do to help them out?  On top of that, I know that they need more bibles for their pastors.  How many bibles do we own?  Also pray that the Lord supplies the resources for Sebastians trip to the US early next year.  Would you have him come to your church?  Would you at least, in all seriousness, petition the Lord for them and be open to what the Lord would have you to do?  Below is a small video clip I put together.   Sebastian is looking to go to different churches in the US, would you be one of them?  Feel free to contact me or Sebastian directly at: rev_ombima@yahoo.co.uk

 

http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=5508750e1b41660c9d60

 

 

WOREM website: http://www.freewebs.com/worem/ or click the site to the right of this blog page.

 

God bless and thank you for your prayers and Lord willing your support!

 

Jeremy

PS.  Know that with the purchase of every book, Christian – A Dangerous Title to Claim, you will help WOREM!  What a great time for Christmas and for helping the indigenous missionaries and persecuted Christians around the world.

 

DOES EVIL HAVE RIGHTS?

                         Making a lie out to be truth!

I recently visited the blog of a man I respect, Rev. Bill York, at http://hiddenmanna.wordpress.com.  He draws from the word of God and addresses these perilous, dark days that we live in to show how they align with Scripture.  His messages always get me thinking.   We know that Christ is coming soon as we watch the increase of evil and the blatant disregard for the things of God.  To be honest, I never thought I would be around to see some of the atrocities that are going on in this world.  It is unfathomable to me that people live with such a sense of entitlement that there  is now a new definition on what is now considered  a person’s “rights”.   The lost and  perishing have clamored and demanded their right to kill an unborn child; their right to same-sex marriage and their right to disrespect and abuse the constitution of this great United States.  In sheer frustration I left this comment on Rev. York’s site knowing, without a doubt, that there is going to be a price to pay for our rebellion against the ways of God!

It’s apparent that I get discouraged with these days of evil but perhaps that is to make me focus my eyes on what is to come. Christ has glorious things waiting for those who hold to his teaching to the end. Sadly, I cannot see anything that can help this world now for it has gone too far in welcoming and accepting aberrant behavior against a holy God! Truth is thrown to the ground as the name of Jesus is blasphemed everywhere. It is now time for the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ! I await that final battle standing in the army of the true and living God! It will happen soon so we must not grow weary despite darkness and persecution.

I pray that God will bring together those whom he trusts to pray for strength and guidance in these last days. We need wisdom from above to discern the work that we were called to do. We now must make the most of every moment for God has put us here at this time for his holy purpose and the days are growing short.

This country must repent or face the consequence.  As I write this, an article in our newspaper tells of a 15-year-old girl in our Ohio area who refused to stand for the pledge of allegiance in school. She said it was her “right” to refuse since she is an atheist.  The ACLU rushed to this area to defend her! She also added that she also didn’t believe in the pledge because “Gays and Lesbians don’t have justice”. What?!  What does that mean? How and why are we allowing this blatant disrespect from our youth? I am sure her family must have helped inspire these ”swell”  values in her that she feels she can simply do whatever she pleases.  If she chose not to recite the pledge of allegiance, that would be one thing.  But to refuse to stand in respect for the flag is quite another.  We live in a country where our men and women paid with their blood so that our flag still stands. When did we just start accepting outright insolence in our children?  We are just handing over our children to Satan! And we wonder why we need more prisons to house offenders. Does anyone think that a teen like this will grow up and miraculously respect authority of any kind?! 

Similarly, a 10-year-old boy in Arkansas refused to say the pledge because as he said, the line “liberty and justice for all” does not pertain to gays and lesbians! Lord, help us all! The enemy does not have to go far to push his agenda when he gets all the help he needs from our kids!

Once again, I must not grow discouraged. The plan of Christ is going to happen just as he said. The evil of this world cannot stop the will of a powerful God.  I just will continue to lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help and know that my God will not fail.

 

Ladies, Time2Stand has a free give-way-contest for you!

On Friday Dec 11th, 2009, Time2Stand will be giving away a Christmas package consisting of:

 

A new copy of, Spiritual Man, by Watchman Nee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A new signed copy of,

Christian-A Dangerous Title to Claim,

by Jeremy B. Strang

 

 

 

 

 

Plus, audio CDs of Paul Washer, David Wilkerson, Carter Conlon and a DVD copy from HeartCry Missionary Society.

Plus, free stuff from Voice of the Martyrs.

 

To enter:

 Click Here

Enter Today!

 

Christian-A Dangerous Title to Claim

Hello there ladies.  My name is Jeremy Strang and I am a silent partner for Time2StandLadies.  Marianne does most of the writing and does a wonderful job, so praise Jesus.  I just wanted to let you know about a small project that Marianne was a huge part of.  Marianne was on a team of proof readers for my new book.  Right now Pre-Ordering has begun at a reduced price.  Just click on the cover to go directly to the link.  If you are wanting a bit more information, click here and you will be directed to my blog page.  If you are a person who just loves to download on the computer and read that way, click here and you can down load using reader.  Please note that all proceeds and royalties will benefit persecuted Christians and indigenous missionaries around the world.  By the way, if you are not aware, this Sunday is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.  Click on the prayer icon for more info and to see if there is a Voice of the Martyrs speaker in your area.  Click here if you will be in the Carlsbad, NM area this weekend.

God bless and thank you for your time with this email!

Your brother in Christ Jesus,

Jeremy B. Strang

www.time2stand.net

www.urgencytorise.com

 

PROMISE OF GLORY

                Given from Christ who gave his life for you! 

All things in this earth will pass away and only the kingdom of God will endure forever.  Each day of your life you have to decide if you will serve the temporary pleasures of this fallen world or store up riches in the never ending kingdom of heaven that is to come.

 Those who endure until the end will receive the unspeakable reward which Christ has prepared for those who love him.  We are given only a glimpse in Scripture of what it will be like to be in the presence of God in heaven forever because our finite minds could not possibly comprehend the magnificent beauty that awaits believers.

 For now on this earth, we must face the battles that each day holds as we continue to trust in the unfailing strength of our God who provides all that we need.  We serve a God who alone has the power to turn a curse in our life into a blessing (Deuteronomy 23:5).  No stronghold has power over your life as a believer but what you give it. You only grow weary in the battle when you empower your situation instead of magnifying your God who has the power to crush all of your enemies. You can believe the lie that says your situation is hopeless, or you can walk in the truth that says by faith you can literally move mountains.

 No struggle or trial is beyond the strength of the Creator who spoke all things into existence.  He who breathed life into your body can assuredly breathe new life into your broken dreams and restore what the enemy took from you. Your situation can never separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  Have no fear when it seems like the ground all around you is crumbling.  You are not standing on the sinking sand of this earth but on the promises of Christ who will hold you and keep you standing while those around you are perishing. 

 Every believer is given a future with promise and a plan to succeed in all that God has called you to do.  You cannot be robbed of your inheritance as a child of the King of Kings.  Jesus came to this earth to die for us so that we might have eternal life with him in heaven.  Your weaknesses and failures cannot stop the promise of God who reconciled us to himself in Christ not counting men’s sins against them   Through Christ, we have become the righteousness of God.  God’s word tells us in 1 Corinthians. 6: 11,”But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God”.  We were made clean and right standing not by anything that we could do, but only by what Jesus did for us on the cross.  He paid the price that gave us victory over death and set us free from the bondages of this world. We only need to believe that Jesus alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life. 

If you are unsure of your future and want assurance of eternity with God in heaven, now is the time to call upon the name of Jesus and ask him to reveal himself to you in a personal way.  It is by his power that you are saved.  He has come to bring you life that will never end!  That’s a promise!

Dear Lord Jesus,

There are so many people who are facing hardship and struggles of every kind in this world.  The enemy has them believing that there is no way out of all of their problems.  The struggle of trying to carry their burden alone is making them weary and tired.  I pray that you will open their eyes to the truth that you have died to give us.  The truth that said that you are with us in all of our problems and you will take on our problems and carry us safely through them.  I pray that they will know you as Savior in a very real way.  I pray that they will be filled with strength as they put their trust in you.  Help them to know that you will not fail.  Let them understand that you always can make a way no matter how impossible their painful situation is.  I pray that they are filled with peace and joy that can only come from you.  Amen

 

TROUBLE CANNOT DEFEAT YOU

                              Jesus has the power to win this battle for you!

 

The promises of God are real and his faithfulness will never fail us.  We have nothing to fear as believers because the power of God is always with us.  Yet those words may ring hollow when you are in a crisis situation.  You may be dealing with a serious illness for which there is no cure. You may be struggling with financial difficulties and don’t know where to turn. You may be suffering the pain of a broken marriage or relationship and have lost all hope for the future.  You are feeling overwhelmed and weary in a battle that never seems to end.  Whatever the struggle, it can be hard to stand in your faith when your circumstance seems hopeless. 

We read in Proverbs 24:10, “If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!”.  The truth is that those who believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ have limitless power to defeat anything that comes against them.  In 1 John 5:4, we are told that everyone born of God overcomes the world.  The forces of evil cannot conquer a child of God. The devil himself knows that he is unable to harm a hair on your head but only what God permits.  And God will only allow that struggle or pain for which he has prepared in advance to bring you through to victory. Each trial we endure is permitted to help us to develop the perseverance that we need to stay strong in this life so that our faith may be proved genuine.  Christ did not suffer and die to lose the battle.  His death paid the price for our victory and it cannot be taken from us.  It does not matter what trouble you may be experiencing, God is willing and able to bring you through it. He alone can turn a painful situation into something that will be used for good with a reward that will last forever.  God’s promise in Isaiah 61:3 is to give you beauty for ashes and gladness instead of mourning.  

Those who have Jesus as their Savior have a living hope.  It does not matter how weary you may feel for it is Christ who will fight your battle and he knows how to rescue the godly from trials.  He has made us more than conquerors which means we cannot fail despite our weaknesses.  The Apostle Paul understood that all he had to suffer was permitted for a purpose.  He believed that God’s grace was able to meet all of his needs despite the pain he had to endure.  For that reason, Paul was able to be content in any and every situation, good or bad.  He said in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”.  That is the kind of faith that honors God and defeats the enemy. 

You can have the peace that surpasses understanding if you will keep your eyes on Christ instead of your problems.  There is nothing that is impossible for him.  He cannot fail you because it was by his great love that he created you.  He defeated death and left us a promise that he would always be with us.  Jesus will make a way through the mountain of your problems because his perfect plan for your life cannot be stopped. 

 It is my prayer that you understand that it doesn’t matter where you are or what you are going through for Jesus will be there to help you.  You are never alone.  Never let the enemy of your soul convince you otherwise!

 

PLENTY OF TIME, OR IS THERE?

I was very saddened today as I read in the obituary of our newspaper about the death of a man named Allan with whom I was acquainted.  I was introduced to him years ago shortly after his 20-year-old son committed suicide.  I didn’t know him well but I decided to go and talk to him and see if I could help during this painful time.  I made dinner for him and his then 17-year-old son and brought it over.  I just felt led to go there.

When I entered his apartment, I was shocked at the  complete clutter and mess that left no room on the table to eat.  This man was a very articulate, intelligent man and it was hard for me to believe that he lived in such disarray.  His mind just was not functioning clearly.   But I was there to encourage him so I did not let my feelings show. 

After talking to him for a while, I had compassion for him because he was so incredibly lost to salvation.  He spoke of intellectual things but did not want to dwell on the subject of Jesus Christ.  There was nothing I could do for him and his son but pray, and that is what I did.

I continued to drop dinner off to him over the next several weeks but I could not get through to him about his need for a Savior.  I tried.  About a year later, Allan and his son came down to our business to borrow some money.  I got a chance again to talk to them about Jesus.  They listened politely but they did not want to talk about what would happen to them after they died.  I asked the young man to tell me why he had no interest in hearing about salvation through Jesus Christ.  He said that he may change his mind later, but  he felt that he was young and did not have to make that decision now. 

I sadly watched them both leave our shop with the money they needed without even a backward glance.  They were blinded by the lie of the enemy of this world who wanted to destroy them.  They lived for the here and now and never gave a thought to the only thing that mattered – where they would spend eternity. They were like so many other people who live like they will never die.

Over time, I would read about Allan’s son being in and out of jail for different crimes.  I tried to go visit them again but when I got to their apartment, I found out they had moved and left no forwarding address.

So when I read Allan’s obituary today, my heart just dropped. He certainly was not old.   I can only hope that somehow God got his attention and he repented before he died. I can also continue to pray for his son who is still lost and blinded to the truth.

I believe this message is important because Jesus said that wide is the road that leads to destruction and many are on it.  How many of those people think they will have time to learn about the truth of salvation at another time?   Too many!

I am reminded of  a story that I heard many years ago and the message of  it has never left me.  It begins with three demons who come together to decide how to get more people into hell.

The first demon said, ” I will tell them that there is no hell.  Then they will continue in their evil and not worry about the consequence for their sin.  That will surely work!”

The second demon said, ” I will tell them that there is no heaven.  Then there will be no reason for them to lead a good life.  That will work even better!”

The third demon listened to them and  then said, “ We aren’t going to tell them that there is no hell or that there is no heaven.  To get more people into hell, we will simply convince them that there is NO HURRY!”

Sadly, this is one of the enemy’s greatest tools.  People plan all the time for tomorrow, next week and next year as if it were a certainty.  Yet God alone knows the number of our days.  Tomorrow is not known and it is not a promise for anyone.   Most people won’t have a deathbed experience.  There is no time to wait.  The day of salvation is now.  One day we will either be in eternity with God in heaven or in the torment of hell!  What could be more important in your life then to know the Savior who died so that you might have life everlasting? 

This world is perishing as the days grow short and darkness fills the earth.  Jesus is the only name by which we can be saved.  He alone paid the price for our sins.   He has prepared a place for us in heaven that will never end.  Those who trust in the work of Christ at the cross have passed from death into life.  Seek him now while there still is time!  You may never have another chance.

 

THE NARROW ROAD

                                                    The path to eternal life begins with Christ

Where do you stand in your relationship with Christ?  For that matter, do you have a relationship with him?  My friends, the time is here and the time is now for the days are growing shorter and if there is one certainty in your life, I pray it is a knowledge that you belong to the Savior of this world.  Everything else is temporary and will pass away.  The only reward that lives on is for those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Jesus taught on this subject in Matthew 7:12-14. There we read where a crowd had followed Jesus  as he went up on a mountainside and began to teach his disciples. He spoke of different topics but then he focused in on what it took to be saved as he said:

“Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.”  

I am sure that it got their attention when he said only a FEW find it!  Jesus continued to speak  saying that a good tree will bear good fruit but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  It is a warning to  those who think they are saved but who are living  no differently than the world.  He said:

“Not everyone who says to me  ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you.  Away from me you evil doers’.”  Matthew 7:21-23

 The fact is that if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, your life should give evidence to a change.  You should not be able to sin as easily as before and your desire should be to follow in the leading of the Holy Spirit.  It does not mean that you won’t fall or that you will never sin, but it does mean that your heart has been changed and you have turned from the old ways of sin.  If you continue to hang out with the same lost people that you know are trouble than you will have a problem.  Without a doubt, you will be led back into the life that will be your downfall!  You will be on the wide road that leads to destruction.  You will lose everything! 

When you seek instead to follow Christ and to live in his light, you will receive the promise of a new life and blessings to make it through this world.  You will get the peace to know that all things will be filtered through the hands of Christ before it touches you.  You will understand that all of your problems will be used by God for your good and will make you stronger in your faith.  You will find that Christ will be with you in all of your battles.  And most important, you will know that when you die, Jesus will meet you and say, “Well done my good and faithful servant”.  You will then be a joint heir with him in heaven for eternity.  

There is always forgiveness at the cross of Jesus.  It does not matter how far you have fallen or how badly you have messed up in your life for he can and will restore you to wholeness.  Your weakness and failures can’t stop him from giving you a future with hope and a life that is worth living.  The Lord knows what you need and he knows how to give you what is good if you will trust him.  But you must want to follow him.  Let go of your past mistakes and take hold of the blessed life that will give you peace and joy.  Let your families and your children know that you now belong to Jesus.  Never again do you have to sell yourself short to the enemy.  You have been redeemed!  You matter to God and he cares for you with a love that will never end.  Start over today.  Give your life to Christ and watch and see what happens.   

Remember that you can never be so lost that Jesus cannot find you.  He knows where you are right now and he wants to give you his strength.    You are loved!

 

SET FREE BY THE POWER OF JESUS

       He has broken the shackles which have kept you a prisoner

 

All that we do in this life is a result of who we believe.  Every decision we make either gives glory to God or it is sin.  There is no middle ground in our relationship with God.  Jesus said in John 8:34-36, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed“.    Only he is able to break the chains that restrain you and keep you from living a life that is abundantly blessed.   It is by surrendering all that you have to Christ that you become a conqueror.  Until you have made a commitment to have Jesus as your Savior, you are in bondage to the devil! You are his slave! You have no power to live a righteous life because you cannot do it by yourself.  It takes the power of the Holy Spirit to help you to win over the spiritual forces of evil that are present in this world. 

Never underestimate the enemy!  Your strength alone cannot defeat him.  It is only the atoning death of Jesus on the cross that can crush the force of Satan in your life.  Because of his great sacrifice, there is now no struggle, no addictions and no pain that can withstand the redeeming power of Christ!  He alone can take you through your trials and calm every storm.   But you must choose to follow him on the narrow path.  All of the failures in your life have come about because you believed an evil, deceitful enemy! He was able to convince you that you really weren’t so bad and that the sin in your life wasn’t that big.  But that is a lie from the pit of hell!  Every sin has a consequence and unless you stand under the blood of Jesus, you will suffer for your rebellion. We serve a holy God and every offense merits eternal death. Only by repenting and believing on Christ who paid the price for your life can you ever enter heaven.  You must turn away from your old ways and keep your eyes on the One who has the power to save you.  You cannot continue to live in your same life of sin and have a relationship with Christ.  Jesus must be Lord over your life in order for you to stand righteous before God. 

 My friends, if you want a new life that will give you hope and joy, there is only one Way and his name is Jesus.  There is no other name under heaven by which you can be saved.  The good news is that he wants a relationship with you.  Your Creator knows you by name and he understands all that you are going through.  He knows your weaknesses and struggles.  He wants to give you a life with purpose and a future that will endure into eternity.  You no longer are without hope  despite your circumstance because Jesus has the power to set you free.

 

Dear Lord, I pray that all those who read this message will understand that your sacrifice paid the price for us to be free.  Help those who put their faith in you to know that there is nothing that can defeat them or destroy the plan that you have purposed for their life.  Give them wisdom to know that you have overcome the world and we have nothing  to fear.  Death no longer has a hold on us for you have given us eternal life.  Make this truth real to all those who are struggling in their pain right now.  May they know that you will be with them in every storm that they face.  For our strength and hope is in the unfailing name of Jesus.  Amen

 

THE PROMISE THAT GIVES HOPE

God always has a way to help!

Christ came to give us joy in the midst of our pain. He knew that we would have to endure hardship in this fallen world, but he had a plan that would carry us through and give us peace despite our struggles. There is absolutely nothing that you will lack if your faith is in Christ Jesus. It doesn’t matter difficult your circumstance in life may be, Jesus has a way to bring you his perfect peace as he works out the purpose and plan that he has for you.

We are told in John 10:10 that the thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy but that Jesus came to give us life that is abundant and overflowing. That means that believers do not have to live an unfulfilled, mundane life. Those who put their trust in Jesus are now a new creation with the ability to live in complete victory despite the circumstances that they face. The shadow of death will bring no fear to those who know that their debt was paid for on the cross at Calvary. The hand of God will supply you with the strength and power that you need to stand against the forces of evil that try to destroy your family, your health and your finances. You cannot be defeated because God has a perfect plan for your life to give you a future with hope. The destructive lies of a defeated enemy cannot harm you because the hand of God is mightier than any weapon that is formed against you. In Isaiah 40, we are told that God gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Those who put their trust in the enduring love of the Savior, Jesus Christ, will never be disappointed.

Jesus tells us in John 8:32, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”. Jesus came to bring light to a dark world. He came to bring life to a world that was perishing. He came to show us the way to eternal life. Jesus is all these things. He is the way, the truth and the life. He is the only way to the Father. He has given us life by his death and resurrection. And by his power, we are now set free from the bondages of sin and destruction. There is not a force in the heavens or earth that is more powerful than the power of Christ who dwells in a believer. There is now no sin, no pain and no addiction that can hold you in chains when the truth has set you free. The knowledge that God is your protector and your vindicator should fill you with the peace that Jesus won at the cross. His sacrifice not only bought us eternal life but also the right to reign with him in heaven. That is a promise that is worth the momentary trials and pain of this world. You should live your life with the knowledge that the love of God will see you through the battles of this world and bring you safely to the glory that awaits you in heaven.

If you are feeling weary and troubled at this moment, please understand that you may be trying to carry your own burdens. Scripture says to cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you (Psalm 55:22). In order to do that, you must trust that Jesus has the power to lift the pain that you have and to give you the peace that he will work all things out for your good. It is my prayer that all who read this will be set free by a revelation of the truth of God’s unfailing love.

Dear Lord, I pray that you will be the strength for those who have become weary in the battles of this fallen world. Bring them your peace and help them know that the truth that sets them free is that your plan for their lives cannot and will not fail. Problems and pain will be used to give them a greater understanding of your love. Help those who feel that they have no hope. Give them the assurance that you are the LIVING HOPE and that you will make a way to help where there is none. You are all that we need. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen

 

OVERCOMING DOUBT

                                    

You have a living Hope in Jesus Christ!

In Mark Chapter 5, we read at Jairus, the synogogue ruler had just asked Jesus to come and heal his very sick daughter.  Before they got to his house, Jairus was told that it was too late for anything to be done now.  They had no idea that the Creator of this world was there walking in the sandals of  a carpenter!

 ³⁵While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher any more?”

 ³⁶Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”  ³⁷He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. ³⁸When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. ³⁹He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” ⁴⁰But they laughed at him.
      After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. ⁴¹He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” ). ⁴²Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished

Comment:

The truth that is shown in this passage is that Jesus has the power to overcome all things in our lives including death!  Nothing is impossible with Jesus who can bring to life any situation that is hopeless.   No trial or painful situation is beyond his reach.  He knows how to rescue you from where you are and take you to where he wants you to be.  The only thing you have to do is to trust him as you wait on his timing.  If your trust is in Christ as Lord and Savior, you must believe that he is able to do over and above all that you ask him to do.  You have to know in your heart that He is bigger than your problem.  You cannot let the impossibility of your situation limit your prayers for God is able do all things.  When you doubt, you are saying that Christ is not enough.  You are giving  more power to the lie of the enemy than to God himself.  Never surrender your hopes and dreams to a defeated enemy whose power was destroyed at the cross.  Jesus paid a heavy price to purchase your freedom and to give you his power to do all things!  Nothing can destroy a true child of God so you must not give up hope.  No dream of yours is dead no matter how  it seems for Jesus is able to resurrect your shattered life and restore you to wholeness.  It is never over while the hope of Christ lives in you!  The enemy will always try to get you to forget that the promise of a new life can never be stopped by your failures and weaknesses.  God can always find a way to heal you and bring about his plan for your life.  You must believe.  In this bible verse, we see that Jesus put all of the unbelievers out of the room before he brought the little girl back to life.  Jairus had to look away from his daughter lying dead on her bed and put his eyes on the one who created all life.  His faith in Christ gave him back his daughter.   Your faith can open the way for Jesus to do miracles in your own situation.  If Jesus were going  to do a great and miraculous work right now, would you be one of the unbelievers who had to be put out of the room?  Your faith stands on the Promise that Jesus came to earth to give.  He knew what you would face long before you were ever created.  He had a purpose in all that you had to endure and he has a way for your struggles to be used to give you strength and hope.  The God who loved you so much that he sacrificed his only Son knows your pain and your weakness.  He will not fail you.  He is with you right now!

Dear Lord, I pray for all those who need your strength in their life right now.  The struggles and pain of this world is overwhelming them and it is hard for them to believe that you are in complete control.  I pray that you will lift them where they are and give them a peace that will carry them through this struggle.  Help them in their struggle to believe.  Be with them in power and let them feel a very real sense of your Presence as you work all things out for your perfect purpose and plan in their lives.  I pray that you will comfort them now and open their eyes to the truth that you will fight this battle.  You have made us more than conquerors.  May we walk in that victory in Christ precious name.  Amen

 

 

HOPE OF VICTORY THROUGH CHRIST

                                       Jesus paid the price for your victory

The lies of a defeated enemy should never fill you with hopelessness.  Christ came to earth to give us a new future that can never be destroyed.  It is always so sad to see believers walking as though the weight of the world was upon them when Jesus  told us to give him our heavy burdens.  Why would we continue to carry the chains of  bondage when the cross has set us free?   The truth is that the troubles of this world are never bigger than the power of a limitless God to whom nothing is impossible.

Our debt has been paid in full by Jesus and he has proclaimed that , “It is finished“.   No struggle has power over a child of God.  Our failures and weaknesses are now made strong as Jesus works through them to  use them for our good.  There is a purpose and a divine plan in every one of the storms that come against you.  Keep in mind that the promises of God can stand the test of every trial that this world brings.  We are conquerors in the army of a living God!  We serve a risen Lord who is able to keep us in perfect peace if we just keep our eyes on him.   That is the truth that brings you freedom  from the bondage of fear.

We are told in John 10:10 that the thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy but that Jesus came to give us life that is abundant and overflowing.  That means that believers do not have to live an unfulfilled, mundane life.  Those who put their trust in Jesus are now a new creation with the ability to live in complete victory despite the circumstances that they face.  The shadow of death will bring no fear to those who know that their debt was paid for on the cross at Calvary.  The hand of God will supply you with the power that you need to stand against the forces of evil that try to destroy your family, your health and your finances.

You cannot be defeated because God has a perfect plan for your life to give you a future with hope.  The destructive lies of the enemy cannot harm you because the hand of God is mightier than any weapon that is formed against you.  In Isaiah 40 we are told that God gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Those who trust in the enduring love of the Savior, Jesus Christ, will never be disappointed.  

If you are feeling weary and troubled at this moment, please understand that you may be trying to carry your own burdens.  Scripture says to cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you (Psalm 55:22).  In order to do that, you must trust that Jesus has the power to lift the pain that you have and to give you the peace that he will work all things out for your good.  It is my prayer that all who read this will be set free by a revelation of the truth of God’s enduring love. 

 Dear Lord, I lift up all those who are broken by their struggles and pain.  Somehow along the way, they have lost sight of the fact that you are their strength and they have nothing to fear.  I pray that you will give them a very real sense of your Presence.  Let them know that you are with them in the storm and that you have a way out of every difficulty.  You will never fail those who put their trust in you.  May they know your peace as you turn their problem into a blessing to give them hope and  an unfailing future.  Amen

 

HELP IS ALWAYS ON THE WAY

                                      

                       Jesus will never fail those who love him

 

So many times as we falter in our faith as we go through painful trials.  Struggles and difficulties can overwhelm us and it is easy to think that we are all alone and that God is not going to help us.  That way of thinking is a lie perpetrated by the father of lies! Jesus died to give us victory despite our problems and joy in the midst of them.  How can that be? Is it possible to trust completely even when your situation seems hopeless?  If your faith is in Christ Jesus, nothing is impossible.

 

The Apostle Peter had a time when his faith was gravely tested, yet he stood trusting.  In the book of Acts, Chapter 12:1-10, we read how Herod imprisoned Peter after having James, the brother of John, put to death.  He saw that this pleased the Jews so he seized Peter also.  After arresting him and putting him in prison, Herod handed Peter over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each.  He intended to bring him to trial after the Passover.

 

 

⁵While Peter was being kept in jail, the church never stopped praying to God for him.

 

⁶The night before Peter was to be put on trial, he was asleep and bound by two chains. A soldier was guarding him on each side, and two other soldiers were guarding the entrance to the jail. ⁷Suddenly an angel from the Lord appeared, and light flashed around in the cell. The angel poked Peter in the side and woke him up. Then he said, “Quick! Get up!”    The chains fell off his hands, ⁸and the angel said, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” Peter did what he was told. Then the angel said, “Now put on your coat and follow me.” ⁹Peter left with the angel, but he thought everything was only a dream. ¹⁰They went past the two groups of soldiers, and when they came to the iron gate to the city, it opened by itself. They went out and were going along the street, when all at once the angel disappeared.   

                        

 

One of the most remarkable messages in this verse is that Peter, who was probably going to be executed the next day, amazingly was sleeping soundly chained between two guards, with two other guards watching over him!  He was able to rest despite this death sentence because  of his  unrelenting faith in the power of Christ.  The peace of God which surpasses our understanding filled Peter that night and he had a trust that Jesus was able to work things out no matter how bad the situation.

 

Peter was guarded on all sides by squads of soldiers and was bound in chains.  Yet God was still able to dispatch an angel to go to Peter, loose his chains and release him from that dungeon without the guards knowing!  The truth is that God is never limited by our troubles or circumstances.  Nothing is impossible for him.  He heard the prayers of the Church for Peter and he answered them!  He was able to rescue Peter and he is able to rescue you from any storm.  You always have hope when your faith is in Christ because he has a perfect plan for your life that cannot and will not be stopped.  He has given us power to speak to the mountain and it shall be moved.  The power that raised Christ from the dead resides in the heart of every believer so that nothing can destroy us.  Our time is in his hands.  He knows the hardship and the struggles we must endure.  The biggest thing to remember as you go through your trial is that Jesus has a way to not only take us through our pain but to help us to rise above and to be stronger for having gone through it.  That is peace beyond description.  That is a Hope that is living and alive.  That is a promise from Christ that we can believe in.  That is all the strength that we need to overcome every obstacle in our lives.

 

Dear Lord,  I pray that you make yourself real to all those who read this message.  Help them to know that there is no problem, no chains, no bondage and nothing in all of creation that will stop your love for them. You have a plan to work all things out for their good.  May you give them the peace that only comes from knowing you in a very personal way.  I pray that you will comfort them in their sorrow, heal their pain and give them a new future with promise that will never end.   Amen

 

Never give up because Jesus will never give up on you!  You are loved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEVER SURRENDER TO THE ENEMY

God’s word says that no weapon formed against you shall prosper . There is nothing that can destroy a child of God yet so many believers live defeated lives at the foot of the cross of victory! How can that be?

Fear and discouragement are two of the most powerful weapons that the enemy uses to bring believers down. Although the power of Christ lives in us, the storms of life can fill us with hopelessness and anxiety as the lies of darkness attack our soul. These fiery darts of evil attack our mind to magnify our problems and diminish the power of our God. It is a lie from the depth of hell!

As difficult as it is to stand your ground in times of trouble, the fact is that Jesus is a powerful stronghold and a strong tower to run to for protection from the battle. You absolutely cannot be defeated from an enemy that has been rendered powerless through the cross of Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection finished the work of redemption and bought for us a promise of eternal life with him.

In Psalm 107:28-28 we read, “Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper, the waves of the sea were hushed”. Jesus alone has the power to still the storms in your life and quiet the waves of your troubles. The darkness of your situation cannot diminish the light of Christ whose power has no limits. The world around you may be crumbling but God will lift you out of your difficulties and set your feet upon a rock. As you trust in him, your cries will be changed to songs of praise as you watch the right hand of God bring victory in your life and give you strength to stand in faith.

As the days grow short and evil increases, the destroyer will try to rob you of your hope. He will attempt to fill your mind with anxiousness and fear as you endure the struggles of this life. If he can discourage you with his lies, he can make you ineffective for the kingdom of God. Satan wants to make you feel defeated when Christ has made you more than a conqueror. That which comes against you is filtered through the Savior’s hand and he knows the good that he can accomplish through it. He can do what he says he can do.

There is nothing in this life that can stand against the purpose and plan God has for you. It does not matter what the doctor’s report says for God alone has determined the number of your days. He does not care about what stage your cancer is in, his power will always be greater. Your financial struggle is no match for our God who owns the world and everything in it. The pain and heartache you suffer will bring you nearer to God for he is close to the brokenhearted. He will dry your tears and give you his perfect peace if you will keep your eyes on him. God is the restorer of homes and families and he can heal your brokenness. Christ who died to give us the victory is a mighty force to be reckoned with. Years of addiction and bondage can be healed as you surrender your struggles to the nail pierced hands of Jesus. He won’t fail so you can’t fail!

Never surrender to the enemy. Christ paid a heavy cost for your victory and it can’t be taken from you. Don’t give up! He has dispatched legions of angels to help you in this battle. You aren’t alone.

If you belong to Christ, you can’t lose!

Dear Lord, Please help those who are struggling in their faith to understand that you are with them in the battle and that the enemy has no power over those who belong to you. Please give them a peace and an understanding to know that you will take them through this trial and provide for them the strength they need to have a life that is filled with your blessings. Amen

 

TOO BUSY NOT TO PRAY

                       Making time for what is important!

Where does all of our time go?  There just  seems to be  so much going on in the lives of today’s women that  finding time to meet with God in quiet prayer can sometimes be put on the back burner.  With work, families and the usual daily struggles, it is easy to reason to ourselves that God knows our heart and understands that we just don’t have enough hours in the day to get things done.  That sounds good, but sadly this manner of thinking comes with a cost.

All through the gospels, we are told of how Jesus would go off  to a place of solitude to pray.  In Mark 1:35, we read that Jesus got up very early in the morning while it was still dark to pray.  Jesus didn’t stand around waiting for the devil to come and tempt him.  He received the  strength he would need from first meeting in prayer with his Father in heaven.  Jesus told his disciples that he could do nothing by himself but only what he saw the Father doing.  He  came as the Savior of this world and yet he began each day in quiet repose before God.  This is the example he left for us. There should be nothing more important in our own lives than to do the same. 

One of Satan’s powerful weapons is to tempt us as women to stay busy.  By distracting our minds with the endless tasks that have to get done, the enemy can persuade us to take our eyes off God and his strength. Now there is nothing wrong with working, raising a family and meeting the challenges of each day. That is to be expected.  You run into trouble when you make what you do a greater priority than your fellowship with God.  Neglecting your time in prayer leaves you vulnerable to attack.  As the enemy seeks to rob you of your joy, you will begin seeing your problems as being bigger than your God .  The peace that you once had in your walk with God will become ensnared with the struggles that each day brings. 

In Mark 6: 30-31, the apostles gathered around Jesus to report all they had done on the journey they were sent on.  But they were surrounded by so many people coming and going that they didn’t get a chance to eat.  Jesus told them something that I believe is  important for us today.  He said, ” Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest”.  

That is a powerful message.   Meeting with Jesus in a quiet place is where you will are filled with his peace to get through the day.   You bring glory to God as you seek his counsel and direction for all that you face.   The Creator of this earth desires to have fellowship with you.  He wants to give you all that is good and to lead you in the paths that he has set for you before you were born.  But you must be willing to listen for his still, quiet voice as you spend time in his presence.  He is willing to take you through all of your struggles.  Even a loveless, broken marriage can be mended and restored by the right hand of God who hears the prayers of a woman who believes.  The greatest gift you can give your children is to teach them this truth.  You can touch eternity with the life of one child that was taught early to seek the will of God in all things.

What the enemy does not want you to know is that you will get more done in your day if you begin it on your knees before God.  Who had a bigger agenda of things to be done than Jesus?  And yet not one of them was begun until AFTER he met with the Father!  And yet he finished each task completely. That message of truth  needs to be understood  by everyone,  especially  busy women.

If you are feeling overwhelmed in your life and you are stressed by all that has to be done each day, it may be that you are trying to carry your own burdens.  That was never God’s way.  His purpose in coming to this earth was to leave you his peace as he works his perfect plan out in your life despite what comes against you.  He has promised to be with you to the end.  Instead of trying to fit Christ into your life,  ask him to help you put your life into his!

Dear Lord Jesus,  I pray that any woman who is struggling with demands on her time, or who is just overwhelmed with life itself, will feel your presence as you draw her into a deeper fellowship with you.  May your peace and rest fill her and may she know that nothing can stop the purpose and plan that you died to give her.  Amen

 

BY GOD’S STRENGTH ALONE

                                                           

                           His power is sufficient for all your needs

 

God’s power to work all things out for your good is a promise that will never fail for those who have put their trust in Christ and his finished work of the cross {Romans 8:28}  but watching and waiting for him to turn around a bad situation in your life can be a time of great pain.  It is hard to understand the wait when your marriage is failing or after you have received a bad report from the doctor.  How are you expected to hold on when your financial problems overwhelm you and you soon may lose your home?  Rebellious children can break your heart as you helplessly watch your son or daughter choose a path of destruction.  Even your own life can be changed in an instant by the death of someone close to you.  Is God really able to turn these and other impossible situations into a blessing in your life?

 

The truth of this matter is that God can use all things to work for our good because he foreknew the storms of our lives and had a plan to take us through every one of them.  No disaster in your path takes him by surprise.  Our God can see the past and the future and his power is sufficient to fulfill the purpose he has for your life.  By his strength alone, you can forge the rivers of your pain and climb the mountains of your problems until you get the victory that God has promised.  He knows your ways and he can help you in your weaknesses. Even the timing of every one of your trials has a purpose that holds eternal ramifications. 

 

In Genesis, we read how Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. He became a servant in Potiphar’s household where he ultimately was falsely accused and put in prison.  He languished there for years but God was with him the whole time. . While this young shepherd boy was suffering in prison, God was working out his perfect will to give Joseph a royal position.  He was eventually released from prison and appointed second highest in all of Egypt.  That was something that even Joseph could not have imagined as being possible in his dire circumstances.  But God had the power to turn the injustice done to Joseph into his training ground that would make him a mighty leader who would save his people.

 

This message is for believing women who are struggling right now in a painful situation that seems to have no end. God is willing and able to work out all of your problems in a mighty way that you may grow stronger and bolder in your faith.  The father of lies wants to defeat you by tempting you to believe that there is no solution for your problem.   The truth is that Christ died so that you would have victory in ALL things.  

 

Jesus is the master of the wind and with a single word he can calm the storm you are in.  He is sovereign over all of creation and he knows how to resurrect the dreams you thought were dead.  He can find purpose in everything that touches your life if you put your faith in him. He is never further than you next prayer.

 

Dear Lord, I lift up the women who are reading this article and who need a touch from you.  May your presence be felt in their life as you give them the peace to know that they have nothing to fear for you are in control of all that comes against them or their families. Most importantly, may they have your assurance to believe that no matter what they are going through, your perfect plan will never fail.  Amen

 

THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUTH

My dear Sisters in Christ,

I want to share with you an important message that I feel compelled to put on this site.  This world is in a crisis situation spiritually as the sacrifice of the cross is compromised to make room for the feel good religions.

We are in the closing days on this earth and Christ is getting ready to receive her bride. But there are people everywhere that do not understand the significance of the time and events that are unfolding. We need to get ourselves ready to meet our Savior. His kingdom is upon us and the message of truth must be reached to the ends of the earth. As time grows short, the darkness will increase in an attempt to take down the church. For that reason, there is an URGENCY TO RISE and take our stand. We were placed by God right here and now for such a time as this!

I implore you to view this link and take to heart the important message that it gives. If you have unsaved family and friends, you need to pray as you bring them the message of salvation though a relationship with Jesus Christ. You must love them enough to risk offending them. Their eternity depends on it!

God is with you as you seek him with all your heart. Jesus paid the ultimate price to give all to you. Are you willing to give all to him?

Please view this message with your heart because now is the time to stand!

 

(click on highlighted words to view powerful video and messages)

 

STOP WORKING FOR THE ENEMY!

                               For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works 

                                                                                     (Ephesians 2:10)

 

 

God’s word tells us that the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy.  He is on a path of evil seeking to bring pain and misery to everyone.  The devil knows his time is short so he is in a rage to do as much harm as he can until the fulfillment of God’s plan.   To help in his path of destruction, Satan entices anyone he can to join him in his vile work.  He isn’t seeking the help of the enemies of the cross for he already has them.  He wants to enlist believers in his battle against God.  And the sad part of this is…he is succeeding!   

 

When Lucifer and his angels were cast down from heaven, they began their work to try and destroy all of us as an affront to the glory of God.  To do this, the enemy of our soul masquerades as an angel of light in order to deceive the masses. He can make evil appear good as he injects a lie into the heart of truth making it the biggest deception of all.  He has a way to even use good deeds as a tool to deceive people into believing that works alone can save them. He is cunning and manipulative as he shows up in church every Sunday looking to tempt that person who feels offended by someone in the congregation.  As the accuser of the brethren, Satan will use some believers to gossip, betray and slander others they feel are not godly enough.   The enemy has perfected his plan to destroy families as Christian marriages fail at the same rate as secular ones.  All he has to do is add a little bit of discontent and disappointment and he can get a man or woman to leave their marriage to seek something better. After all, as the destroyer points out, doesn’t God want you to be happy? And the biggest weapon in Satan’s arsenal is the discouragement and doubt that he weaves in your mind as you battle the storms of life. 

 

The fact is that the enemy uses every vicious attack against you to get you to believe that your problems can overcome you. He wants you to speak out with lies of defeat as if they were truth.  If he can get you to take your eyes from the victory of the cross of Christ, he can sway you to believe that power of God can’t keep your from drowning in the river of your tears and pain.  His evil purpose is to have you forget that Jesus has a reward prepared for those who endure to the end.  His goal is to make you think that you are hopeless and alone and your cries just an echo in a valley of despair. 

 

My dear sisters, Christ did not leave us alone to fight the battles of this world.  Our Savior planned a way for us through every single one of them.  His purpose is to use the trials you face as the weapons for your victory.  He knows how to rectify your financial problems in his timing and his way if you trust him.  He can heal your disease and mend your broken heart as your faith leads you to the reality that God can do what he promises.  You must never be so quick to believe the lies of the enemy instead of the truth of our God!  By his blood, Jesus paid too dearly a price to secure your peace and victory despite your circumstances. You are that valuable to him.  Never forget that he died to give you a life that is full and beyond measure.   

 

Dear Lord, I pray that this message of truth will light the way for women who are troubled and in pain because of circumstances that they can’t control.  Please help them to know that you are with them right now and that your power is greater than their problems.  I pray that you make yourself real to them.  Help them to know that your grace is sufficient for all that they need and that your love will never fail.  Amen

 

LEARNING OBEDIENCE THROUGH SUFFERING

                                                                    Our struggles have a purpose

The storms of this life sometimes make it difficult to understand that God is with us in all things.  The truth is that is that he never leaves us no matter how painful the trials are in our life.  God has a purpose to use the struggles we experience to bring us to a deeper understanding of him and his great love. Anyone who has been used for greatness has had to suffer that their faith might be proved genuine. In Hebrews 5:8, we read that there was purpose in what Jesus had to endure:

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.

 If Jesus learned obedience from what he suffered, why do I despair over the struggles in my life that God is using to mold me into the image of his Son? The cries   of Jesus were heard because of his reverent submission!   Jesus, the Son of the true God humbly submitted to what he was given no matter how difficult or painful it might be.  He knew that there was a reason and an eternal consequence for all he had to go through. God was working all things out in his perfect plan to save us who were lost.

 Each day brings trouble and strife to all especially in a world that is perishing. We, who belong to Jesus Christ and are his church, will eventually suffer for our   beliefs as darkness hates the light and seeks to destroy it.  But, as Christ learned obedience through suffering, we too will be strengthened and equipped as we     persevere in hardships to fight the good fight, to finish the race and to keep the faith.  God never forgets the work we do for him and his kingdom. And our reward  will be complete joy in the presence of God for eternity.  What could ever be better than that?

 

TRUSTING GOD THROUGH HARDSHIP

How to trust Christ through your pain

Almost everyone wants the reward of heaven when we die. But there is a cost involved in living the crucified of Jesus Christ.

Jesus said that we will have to endure many trials in our lives. In Acts 15:22 the disciples said: “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God”.

This one verse contains a truth that most of us don’t really want to ponder.  No one wants to think about having to endure hardship and pain of any kind.   But the fact is that if we have put our trust in the finished work of the Christ and have made him our Lord and Savior, we will go through trials and testing as our faith is proved genuine.   Paul tells us in Romans 8:17 that we are co-heirs with Christ  “if indeed we share in his sufferings that we may also share in his glory”.

Our momentary struggles are working in us a reward that will be with us throughout eternity.  We are in a very real battle on this earth as the enemy of our soul seeks to rob us of our joy and darken the hope that we have in Christ.  He is unrelenting in his attack, but we also must be unrelenting  and unwavering in our faith as we stand on truth as conquerors in the army of the living God!  We cannot be defeated for our victory was paid by the royal blood of Christ on the cross. 

 The fragrance of a suffering believer who can praise God in the midst of a painful trial will fill all the rooms of heaven.  There is no greater way to honor  God than with the heartfelt words of trust, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him“.{Job 13:15}  The glory of God is manifested in a broken and surrendered servant who takes up her cross  and is willing to follow in the way of Christ despite the cost.

My dear friends in Christ, do not be afraid to suffer or to go through the battles of this world for you can’t  be destroyed.  God’s plan and purpose for you life will never fail despite the lies the enmy wants you to believe.  Most importantly,  God knows the way and he has the power to take you safely through every storm.  You can now be set free by the knowledge that God’s grace is all that you need.

 

May God fill you with his peace and the strength that you need to continue on despite your struggles and painful trials in this life.  Your problems will never be bigger than our God who spoke the world into existence.  Nothing is ever impossible for him.  Just believe!

 

WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?

                            Do you doubt in trouble?

In the gospel of Luke, chapter 8:22-25, we read where Jesus and his disciples set out across the sea heading for Gerasenes.  As they sailed, Jesus soon fell asleep.  Suddenly, a large storm came upon the lake and the boat was swamped as it was being battered by the wind and high waves.  The disciples cried out saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”  Jesus got up and with a word, he calmed the winds and the waves and then said to the disciples, “Where is your faith?”

These four words are a challenge for us even today.  In the course of all that we do, there is going to be struggles and strife as we face financial difficulties, marriage failures, health problems, family concerns and heartaches of every kind.  Can Jesus do anything about the pain we are experiencing as we cry out in despair, “Master, Master, I need you to help me now before I drown in my own tears!” 

The truth is that Jesus is close to the brokenhearted.  He is with you in every storm even though you can’t see him or feel his presence.  He gave us  his promise that he would never leave us.   He died to pay the price for us to live life abundantly despite what is overwhelming our day.  The wind and the waves of our problems are no match for the Master of the wind, and the ruler over the waves.  He knows the difficulty  you are in and he knows how to rescue you and bring you through it.   The fear that is gripping your heart is only a lie given by the enemy to hold you in bondage and keep you from experiencing the joy that God has set before you. 

So where is your faith?   Are you letting a trial or circumstance decide your day?  Have you turned your hope over to the enemy instead of trusting in your God?  Your faith in the bad times must be exactly where it is in the good times for Christ is in control of both!  If your strength wanes when difficulties arise, you need to learn of the love of the God you serve.   His power is like no other as he alone is sovereign.  Never allow your trials and pain to be your master.

In all things, you must always remember that Jesus left you his peace in this dark and perishing world.  He already knew what you would have to endure and by his blood shed on Calvary, you have been set free!  The Apostle Paul knew that in all his sufferings that God had a purpose to take him to it so that he could take him through it.  God’s glory was always revealed in every ounce of suffering that Paul endured.  It is true for us also.  God cares enough to hold all of our tears in a bottle {Psalm 56:8 } and he has a plan to one day wipe away every tear  {Rev.7:17}.

Though your may be going through rough waters at this time, Jesus still can quiet the wind with just a word.   He is accomplishing great things through you as you hold on in faith trusting that he will never fail.  Never let the enemy fill you with doubt.  He has no power to destroy you or the plan God has for your life.

Where is your faith?  If it is in Jesus Christ, take rest from all your fears for he has redeemed you!

 

Dear Lord,  I am praying for all who need to hear this message of truth.  May those who are in the midst of a painful storm be filled with your comfort and strength to help them through their trials.   Please assure them that your perfect peace will be with them as you work out all the details of their life.  I pray that they know that you have a way to take them through to victory if they will just believe.   And to those who are too weary to stand in faith right now, please bring your prayer warriors along side them that will help them to believe in your name. Amen

 

WHO ARE YOU SERVING?

                        You must live your life for Christ

 

 

The word of God is sufficient for all of your needs and it is a guide to help you live for Christ.  Today I want to ponder a Scripture in the gospel of Luke and see how it applies to our life.  It is a powerful verse and it holds a lot of truth.

  

In Luke, Chapter 16:10-13, Jesus was speaking to the people when he said:

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

 

So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?

And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

 

“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

Jesus was giving an important lesson in these verses.  The truth is that to belong to Christ, you must give up all that you have and be willing to serve him.   He is able to keep you and provide for all that you need, but you must put your trust solely in him.  Everything on this earth belongs to God and we are just caretakers of his property. The things of this world that you hold tightly to will one day fail you.  

 

Why would you ever want to have riches on this earth and gain nothing for eternity?  If your whole life is centered solely in obtaining the things of this world, you will not be deemed trustworthy in the kingdom of God. The true riches that this verse talks about are those treasures in heaven that will never perish.  When you line your ways up with God, you serve him and bring glory to him. You put him first and submit all that you have been given to him. For that, he will reward you in heaven as he gives you a new life and a future with hope. 

 

If you have made Jesus your Master, you cannot go on living in the old ways of sin.  If you have a personal relationship with him, you will be changed and your heart will seek after the things that are good as the love of Christ compels you. The Holy Spirit will work in you to walk in the ways of righteousness and he will begin a work of transforming you into the image of Christ.  But your greatest desire must be solely for the things of God and not for what this world offers.  You cannot have both. Whatever is more important in your life will become your god and you will be a slave to that which rules you.  If the things of this world consume most of your time and money, that is where you heart is.  You are serving a different master than the one true God.  The only things you keep in eternity is that which does not burn in the fire. 

 

Even your will must be surrendered to God so that he can do his perfect work in you. At times you may fall into temptation but your life should reflect a new relationship with sin as you seek to do what is good.   God’s power must be evident in your life as you grow in your walk with him.  There is a profound change when Christ is your Savior and lives in you.  There is a light in your life that others are drawn to as you desire to live your life as God has planned.  It is then that God can trust you with more and reveal more of his glory to you.

 

The most important thing to learn is that God’s ways are best.  You only have problems in your life when you try to live it apart from Christ and his truth.  Surrender to him all that you desire and  let him rule in your life.  Allow his Spirit be your guide so that you can travel the narrow road that leads to life and eternity with God in heaven.  Nothing else matters because nothing else will bring you eternal life!  The choice you make on who you serve will bring you life with God or eternity in hell.  Choose life!

 

 

Dear Lord, I pray that you give wisdom and understanding to all those reading this message.  May they have the knowledge to know in their hearts that the only thing they can keep is that which has been surrendered to you.    Amen

 

 

 

DO YOU REMEMBER?

                                              Or do you deny Christ in times of  fear?

 

 

It is easy to trust that God’s has a plan for your life when things are running smoothly.  But when the storms of life bring havoc and pain, do you still believe that Christ can rescue you in time?  For many, the trials of life can weaken their faith and cause doubts to creep in.  An uncertain outcome in a crisis can make you forget that God is in control of all that touches you.

 

In Luke 22:60-61, we read that Peter denied Christ three times just as it was predicted by Jesus on the night he was arrested. As Peter sat in the middle of the courtyard of the high priest where Jesus was taken after his arrest, someone accused him of being a follower of Christ.  Twice Peter denied the accusations.    Finally after again being pointed out, Peter gave a vehement tirade as he again denied Jesus shouting,” I don’t know what you’re talking about!”.  Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.  The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.  Then Peter remembered…”

 

Then Peter remembered!   Peter had been with Christ for three years and Jesus told him and all the disciples what was going to happen to him as the Savior of the world.  Numerous times he told them that he was going to be offered up and killed, but that was something that Peter did not want to dwell on.  He wanted Christ to be the King and Ruler over everything now on this earth. He did not understand that Jesus had to suffer to fulfill the prophecy.  When Jesus was arrested and beaten, Peter felt afraid and probably started to have doubts about Jesus.  After all, why was Jesus letting this happen if he was the Son of God?  Jesus knew that Peter was going to forget and that he was going to betray him.  Satan himself asked Jesus to let him sift Peter like wheat, but Jesus told him that he prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail.  Jesus had a plan to restore Peter despite his denial. 

 

In the midst of all that goes on in our lives, it is so easy to forget that God has a plan for us that will never fail especially when it seems like our world is falling apart.  The truth is that we must stand in our faith and remember that Jesus has promised that he will take us through every difficult situation and that he has a future for us that cannot be destroyed.  It does not matter how dark the storm is that we are in, the power of the Jesus is enough to work all things out for our good and to give us the peace and strength that we need in the battle.  We can never be defeated if we keep our hope in the finished work of the cross.  Christ has made us more than conquerors and nothing and no one can steal the promise that his death and resurrection won for us.  The enemy will always try to fill you with fear and tempt you to betray your trust in the power of Christ.  Never give in to the one who wants to destroy your life. 

 

 

When you problems seems bigger than God, you need to stop and remember who he is.  The doubts that fill you are just lies from pit of hell to pull you down.  Christ is and will always be more than you need.   You just need to remember!

 

 

 

 

DESECRATING THE TEMPLE

 As the ending days grow darker, the enemy of  this world is increasing his attacks against us in an effort to blind people to the truth.   We live in a time when people want to hear only that which tickles their ears.  Everyone wants to know about what Jesus can do for them.  Few want to hear how we must pick up our cross and suffer for Christ in order to be his disciple.  But if the message you are listening to is just half the truth, it is the biggest lie of all.  Satan loves to keep the blinders on those who call themselves “Christian” yet continue to follow in the ways of  sin.  You can’t hold on to the truth of God and the lie of the enemy! One will save you and the other will destroy you!

The verse in 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 gives a powerful message: 

 15 Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never! 16 And don’t you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, “The two are united into one.” 17 But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.  

18 Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. 19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. 

When you are born again in the power of Jesus Christ, all that you do in your body has eternal ramifications.  If you can continue to sin as you did before, and walk in the same paths of destruction, are you truly saved?  For when you have Christ’ power in you, you are radically changed!  You are now joined within the body of Jesus and what you do is a reflection of this new life in him.  The believer becomes one with Christ. 

That is a powerful thought and something you need to seriously consider.  The above Scripture talks about sexual sin.  The Spirit of God resides in the heart of every believer. When you have sex outside of the confines of marriage as Christ intended, you are desecrating the temple of God which is in you.  You are bringing your sin to be displayed before a holy God!  You are his temple and have been made holy BECAUSE Christ lives in you.  Therefore, when you commit sexual sin, you are selling out the temple of God to the enemy.  You are defiling his holy dwelling place. 

There is a serious consequence for sexual sin for it not only defiles the body, but it mocks the living demonstration of marriage which portrays Christ love for his church. Why would you want to prostitute yourself to sin when Jesus died to set you free?  He broke the chains that bind you to evil and gave you his power to conquer all that comes against you in this world.  You once were lost and destined to destruction but he loved you enough to die to give you a future.  The evil one wants you to sell yourself short but you must remember that your worth is measured in Christ.  There is nothing greater.

The enemy will try to convince you that your sin is not so bad.  That is a lie. Your sin, big or small, is an affront against a holy God.  You deserve hell.  But Christ paid the penalty which saved you from eternity in hell.  His sacrifice should be worth more to you than for you to defile his temple and make excuses for your sin. He left the splendor of heaven just to bring hope to a perishing world!

Whatever you weakness, ask Jesus for his strength to keep you from falling into the same sins.  Tell him that you want to walk in his ways and in his truth.  The enemy wants to destroy you but  Jesus wants to give you eternal life.  

 May you understand the truth that the only way to save your life is to surrender it to Christ!

 

GOD CAN WORK IT OUT

We all go through struggles in this life and sometimes it seems like it will never end.  It is difficult to keep holding onto our faith when we have to climb one mountain after the next.   Is God really in the middle of your impossible situation?  Does he have the power to cause all of your pain to be used for your good? The answer is revealed throughout Scripture.                                    

In the book of Genesis , we read where Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers.  There were envious of him because his father favored him and in fact gave him a coat of many colors.  They conspired and sold him to the Midianites who then sold him to Potiphar, an official of Pharaoh.

Joseph learned many things while being held by Potiphar.  While his life was in bondage as a slave, he was actually being taught the royal life. But one day he was unjustly accused by Potiphar’s wife and he was imprisoned.  Although he was innocent of the charges against him, he spent over 8 years in prison. Virtually, the only light he had was that God was with him the whole time.  

Chapter 39: 20-23 reads: 

  But while Joseph was there in the prison, ²¹ the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. ²² So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. ²³ The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. 

The truth that breaks the chains which bind you is that it doesn’t matter where you are in life because God will work all things for your good if you keep your trust in him. Your past does not matter to God.  He is always the God of the second chance. There is no bondage, no failure and no weakness of yours that can stop God from giving you blessings despite your circumstances.  His strength can keep you safe no matter what storm is happening in your life.  There is absolutely nothing that can defeat a child of God if you just will believe.  

Joseph found favor in a dark, damp prison.  He was put in charge of the things in the prison all because God caused Joseph to do all things by his power.  God was able to do this because Joseph kept his hope in  him despite the unjust sentence he was serving in prison.  The guards were in wonder of Joseph and trusted him completely.  Even in prison, Joseph did what is right. He never let his circumstance sway him in his faith.  He believed that his God was with him always.  God gave Joseph a dream and he had a plan to make that dream a reality. 

There is nothing that can hinder God from granting you favor despite the painful situation you may be in.  His power overcomes all the obstacles that try to defeat you.  He alone decides what is good for you and he has the power to give you victory despite your troubles.  All that you need to do is to put your trust in Jesus and keep it there.  He is sufficient to meet all of your needs and he will never fail you.  Though the enemy will try to fill your mind with doubt, the truth is that Christ died to give you life that is abundant.  He can see your whole life and he knows what you need to live in victory.  He numbered your days before one of them came to be.  And within those days he had a purpose and a plan that would take you through to the end.  Those who belong to Christ have been given a future with promise and a peace that surpasses understanding.   There is no bondage that can hold you as the sacrifice of Christ has put all of your enemies under your feet.  You are more more than a conqueror in the army of Jesus Christ and you will never be defeated. 

Even while he was languishing in prison, Joseph trusted that God could fulfill the dream he gave to him.  He refused to let his painful situation decide his future.  He believed that his God could work it out.  Joseph was rewarded for his faith and God did great and mighty things through him.

The only thing that stands between you and the miracle that you need in your life is the lie of the enemy.  He seeks to kill, steal and destroy the hope that you have in God’s power.  But you must never let your situation be your downfall.  No matter how long you have been waiting for the victory, keep standing in your belief. God’s timing always has a purpose.  Faith is the key to defeating the enemy.  As the years went by, Joseph stood by the promise and for that God gave him a position of royalty. 

You will never know what God has planned to give you unless you stand in your belief that he will never fail you.

 Dear Lord, I lift all those who are going through painful trials and who are feeling weary in the wait.  Give them the strength that they need to continue to stand in faith and to keep their eyes on you.  Comfort them at this time and give them your peace as you help them to understand that your perfect plan for their lives can not be stopped.  You will work it all out for their good.  For that we give thanks.  Amen