Friday, January 30, 2009

Bringing Success Part 5

John 15:5
“I am the vine; you are the branches, if a man remains in me and I in him. He will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

We close out the week with the most important thing to bring us success in our lives. We must abide in Christ in order to bear fruit. What is fruit? According to Galatians 5:22-23 the fruits are, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control, and these are the fruits we must show in our daily lives. And wow, only with God can we posses these. In order to grow and bring success in your life remember to abide in him and produce these fruits and then you will bring success. You see too many times we define success as worldly possessions and according to kingdom success we must abide in Him and produce fruit.

How is you fruit orchard doing?

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Bringing Success Part 4

1 Chronicles 12:18
“Success, success to you and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.”

We have to remember that it is God who can bring us success. We must depend on him to guide us and direct us and be our light unto our path. My story is, I was brought from a place where I was born and raised and went to the same school my entire life. I knew a lot of people and at any time I could call upon a few close friends or even family members and knew that they would be there in an instant to help me. Then God brought me a promotion and moved me and my family half way across the United States to where I only knew a few people. That is when I knew that I had to call upon God for help because I could no longer lean on those close friends and family members in my time of need. Some time after that I moved again to a place where I knew no one and had to lean on God to direct me to the right church to develop new relationships and grow in Him. Well three years later I am on staff of the church and truly doing something I love to do. You see the entire time I had plans to be the next president of a large company but Gods plans are bigger than mine.

I took a risk in moving, but I am more convinced that it is worth it. I do still miss my friends and family and talk to them often, but I had to make sure I am in the will of God.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Bringing Success Part 3

Ecclesiastes 10:10
“If the ax is dull, and on does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength. But wisdom brings success.”

A wise person will sharpen the ax, right? A person with limited training will have to work harder, as though with a dull ax, than someone whose whose tools are in order. Today let’s ask ourselves are our tools in order. Do we have things in order in our lives or do we try to fit everything but God into our lives? We must realize that order proceeds increase. When Jesus fed the 5,000 he directed the people to sit down in groups of fifties and then he blessed the fish and loaves and THEN they multiplied (Mark 6). You see in order to see the increase in our lives we must first have order or a sharp ax. I like a Tony Robbins quote that says, “CANI or constant and neverending improvement.” This changed my life, from this quote I went from coasting to wanting more in my life. We must be constantly be growing in order to keep up with the environment around us. You know that we are training children now for jobs that will not even exist by the time they get into the workforce.

Today let’s think about what are we doing in our lives to be growing. Are you reading the Bible, reading books, listening to sermons, reading awesome blogs like this one..Haha. But seriously make sure you are growing to keep up with the environment around us so then we can see the increase and then we can see the success.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Bringing Success Part 2

Matt 25:23
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.”

In order to bring success we must make sure we are faithful with the small things. Please don’t get me wrong today because God is definitely talking to me in this verse. You know the small things, a clean car or house, or it could even be things you do at work or at church. You see some times we can often hear, “that’s not my job” or “someone else will do it” and we need to know that is not the right attitude to have. Just think if I told my wife, “What, that’s not my job” I would probably be sleeping in my car and right now it might not be clean (you know those 3 kids messed it up). But seriously we must make sure we are taking care of the small things in our daily lives in order to be given more things. Sometimes in the workforce we are gauged on performance but it is not for just a short time, we are gauged on our consistency to continually perform in order to look for a promotion.

Today let’s take everything seriously and be faithful with the small things so we can hear our Master Jesus Christ say, well done good and faithful servant!

Monday, January 26, 2009

Bringing Success Part 1

Bringing Success Part 1

Joshua 1:8
“This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your ways prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

Successful living is a life style that is based solidly upon the word of God. It involves getting up every time we have been knocked down. It is better to fail trying then to never try at all. One quote I heard was, “the high road to success begins at your feet.”

You see we have to be ready to move when God tells us to move and we can’t move too soon without confirmation. Because some times we step out of Gods plan for us and it takes him longer to get us back on track. At the same time we can’t be scared to move and we have to be ready when He wants us to.

Today let’s pray about making sure we are ready to move when God tells us too and also to be content when God needs us to stay.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Overcoming the Battles of Depression Part 5

2 Corinthians 7:6
God encourages those who are discouraged.

Remember that it is God who comforts those who are cast down. A lot of the time when I feel discouraged, I try to encourage someone myself and it helps a lot. Too many times we forget the power of our words and remember to encourage others because you will up their spirits and in turn lift up your own. Try to also be constantly feeding yourself positive things and try not to be watching the news, reading the newspaper or watching any negative information. Now I am not saying to not keep up with the events in the world because they can help be a witnessing tool but try not to fill your soul with the negative news especially if you are cast down. Lean on God and He will encourage you.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Overcoming the Battles of Depression Part 4

Psalm 60:1
I arise (from the depression in which circumstances have kept me—I arise to a new life)! I shine (am radiant with the glory of the Lord), for my light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon me.”

So many times we need to ARISE from our situations and give it to God. LET GO AND LET GOD do his work so you won’t waste any time concerned, depressed or angry about a situation. In John 16:23 it says, “Ask and you will receive so that your joy may be full. Your Joy will be a river overflowing its banks if you would just trust Him. Anything good that is going to happen in our life today, starts with getting our minds on what we already have, not what we don’t have.

Today make a list of the things you have that you are grateful for whether you write it, type it or just think it out in your mind.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Overcoming the Battles of Depression Part 3

Overcoming the Battles of Depression Part 3

Psalm 42:5
“Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.”

I often think that sometimes we forget to ask God to put a smile on our face. I have lately been asking God to renew my joy several times a day and he will. You see so many times we get down in the dumps, crying the blues, or singing a country song and we forget to fix our eyes on God. This is a short one today but all I want you to do today is when you start feeling down, feeling inadequate, feeling like you can’t do something or don’t want to, ask God to renew your joy today. Say God please renew my Joy!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Overcoming the Battles of Depression Part 2

Psalm 34:15, 17
“The eyes of the Lord are on me and His ears are open to my cry….When I cry out the Lord hears me, and delivers me out of all my troubles.”

I think sometimes we forget that when we cry out the Lord hears our cry and delivers us from our troubles. However, sometimes it is a process in order for us to get where He wants us to be. In Genesis chapter 39, Joseph who was sold into slavery and worked his way up to be Potiphar right hand man and then was betrayed by Potiphars’ wife and was placed into prison. In Genesis 39:21 it states, “But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him kindness and caused the prison warden to like Joseph.” Joseph eventually reached his destiny where he became the 2nd most powerful man in Egypt and more importantly was able to re-unite and forgive his family.

You see even though we might be in bad situations and be placed in things we might not agree with, the Lord is still with us and like Joseph we have to continue to allow God to work. We can’t grumble and complain like the Israelites did when Moses delivered them from Egypt because they were never able to get to their destiny. One thing we must remember to do is praise God in the good times and continue to praise Him in the bad times. We must also remember His word and remember Psalm 40 where we wait patiently for the Lord so He can lift us out of the miry clay (depression, storm, trials, tests, unfairness, etc.) so that he can place us on His solid Rock! Then in remember in Psalm 40:4 it says, “Happy is the person who trusts in the Lord.”

Monday, January 19, 2009

Overcoming the Battles of Depression Part 1

Deuteronomy 31:8
“The Lord goes before me; He will march with me; He will not fail me or let me go or forsake me; I will fear not, neither become broken [in spirit—depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm].

Through prayer I felt the Lord leading me to talk about and encourage you to overcome depression. I believe in many cases it is something we deal with where we can be encouraged by the Word. You see the Lord goes before us and will not fail us, he is striding ahead of us and we should not be intimidated, not be dismayed, not fear or become worried. In 1 Peter 5:7 it states, “we should cast all our cares upon Him for He cares for us”. You see to many times when we get depressed we do the wrong thing by overeating or drinking, watching negative television, listening to the wrong people, and leaning on the world to overcome things that are going on in our mind. We have to know that the Lord is with us and he will not fail us and neither will His word.

If you start to feel a depression coming on, try this prayer first thing in the morning.

“Lord, I praise You for who You are and I thank You for all You are doing in my life and I ask today that you restore my Joy and renew my strength so today I may soar on wings like eagles. I thank you for encouraging me today and when I start to feel sad, I will lean on You and you will restore my Joy and put a smile on my face. Thank you today! In Jesus Name, Amen.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Dealing with Insecurity Part 5

Heb 13:6
So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Other versions of this verse say, so that we can say with confidence. You see God wants us to be bold and confident for Him because what can man do to you? Yesterday we said if God is for us who can be against us. The Creator of the Universe is on our side once we make a decision to follow him. Now that does not say we won’t go through trials and tribulation but we can go through them without fear since He is on our side.

Now in writing this to you I am not saying I don’t deal with insecurity or fear ever because I do. The enemy likes to attack me just as much as anyone else and make me doubt myself. But that does not mean I can’t encourage myself by reading His word, praying to Him and being lifted up in many other ways.

So today if you get discouraged remember to say this verse and memorize it and when you feel insecure, worried, or fearful say this verse and see what happens.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Dealing with Insecurity Part 4

Romans 8:37
“In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

Today I want you to know that you have self worth and you are more than a conquerors. Earlier in this chapter in verse 31, Paul asks, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Come on guys we have God on our side and we should not let anything get in the way of that, not doubt, not worry, and not even insecurity. 1 John 4:4 says, “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” You see we can’t let the world define who we are and we can’t compare ourselves to others. I heard on the radio this morning that in other countries their people are so much more confident because they don’t have magazines, television and worldly advertising to compare themselves to others.

Today don’t compare yourself to anyone else and know that you are more than a conqueror!!

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Dealing with Insecurity Part 3

Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Too many times we let the enemy tell us that we can’t do something because of something we lack in or something that has happened to us in the past. We must be able to discern the voice of the enemy when he lies to us. The devil is the father of all lies and wants us to feel helpless and wants us to think we can’t accomplish anything. But as Paul writes in Philippians, “we can do all things through Christ and he gives us the strength.” When you hear a whisper in your mind of someone telling you, you can’t accomplish that, your not good enough, and it lines up with God’s will then you have to know that is from the devil. What we have to remember to do is take authority over these lies and know that “WE CAN” and then we will win. The devil is under our feet but he can still tell us lies. Today rebuke the lies of the enemy!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Dealing with Insecurity Part 2

2 Corinthians 12:9
“His grace is sufficient for you, for His power is made perfect in weakness.”

Be glad today to know that any weakness we have can be made powerful in Him who created us. We all know that we are attacked by the enemy who says, “You aren’t good enough, you can’t do that, you will never succeed if you do that.” But know today that anything that we can’t accomplish He can. You see we have to believe in ourselves to accomplish what we can because God is the one who gives us the strength to do it; he gives us our talents, abilities, and our strengths. He is also at work in placing people around who might be able to help you with your weakness, but the bottom line in our weakness His power is made known.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Dealing with Insecurity Part 1

Psalm 139:13-14
“For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (NIV)

Before you were born, God had a plan for you. He has plans for you and today you need to know that he created you fearfully and wonderfully by His works. You are a masterpiece and God needs you to do his work. God has called us to do His work, we can’t do His part and He won’t do our part. So today remember to do your part and know that before you were even conceived God created you in this exact time, in this exact place and in this day and age to do His work.

Glorify God today in the work that you do.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Finding Favor Part 5

Psalm 30:7
“By Your favor, O Lord, You have established me a strong mountain.”

Have you ever wondered what does God have in store for me? What is it that God has planned for me? What is God’s will for my life? You see the thing is, you have to be prepared to step in order to see God’s path light up for you. Once you step for God, he will either harden the water or let you sink just like Peter did when he stepped off the boat, but the moment he sank, Jesus was right there to lift him back up.

I like how Gregory Dickow put this, “Expect to walk on water! Set your hope and expectation on GREAT things happening in your life. Peter walked on water with Jesus showing us that faith can overcome anything. However, remember why Peter began to sink. Matthew 14:30—he SAW the wind, he BECAME afraid, he BEGAN to sink. What we focus on produces fear or faith. FOCUS on the circumstances around you and fear will sink you. FOCUS on the promises of God, and faith will raise you up! Trust HE will catch you when you fall. Even when Peter began to sink, Jesus reached out and grabbed His hand to save him. (Matthew 14:31) You always have a safety net, in Him! So, fear not!

You see in order to know what God has in store for you, what He has planned for you and what His will is for your life you have to step closer to Him. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” You can draw closer to Him by reading His word, attending a local Bible based church, serving in the church, giving to the church, watching Christian television, reading Christian books and just simply praying to Him. He wants a relationship with you and He has already established you a strong mountain to stand on.

So join me today in drawing closer to God.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Finding Favor Part 4

Psalm 30:5
“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

Praise God today to know His favor lasts for a lifetime. We need to know today that we have been positioned to win and through Christ we have already won! If we have weeping in the night, we can rejoice in Him this morning. Let’s walk in His abundant favor today and know that He has our backs. In any battle we may be going through, Christ is with us and through the power of the Holy Spirit we can make it through any storm in our lives. Some of you might be going through a storm today but be encouraged to know that you are coming out of that storm by the blood of Jesus who has already taken the punishment for us so we could have a relationship with the Father.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Finding Favor Part 3

Ephesians 3:20
“God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all things we could ask or think according to the power that is at work within us.”

When we are expecting to have favor in our lives we must remember that our God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all things we can ask or think. You see we have a goal for us in our lives and sometimes God is probably thinking is that it? Is that all you think you can do? So we need to be reminded of when we are doing things within the power at work within us, it is also God’s power that is working within us. I really think God says sometimes, but I can do so much more if you just depend on me rather than yourself.

Today depend on God to do exceedingly and abundantly above all things we can ask in 2009!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Finding Favor Part 2

Finding Favor Part 2

Job 10:12
“You have granted me life and favor, and Your providence has preserved my spirit.”

Job was a man who had everything taken from him and still praised god. Sometimes in our hard times we think why God? Why are you doing this to me? But we must be able to praise God in the good times and in the bad times because sometimes God is working something out in your life through a trial. Joseph in the Old Testament was sold into slavery by his brothers and was also imprisoned for something he did not do. In turn he continued to do Gods work, and was lifted up to become the second most powerful man in Egypt. We must remember that our mess can be turned into our message and our test’s can be turned into our testimonies. Make sure to give God the praise in all times and you will be granted His favor.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Finding Favor

Finding Favor

Proverbs 3:4
“I shall find favor, good understanding, and high esteem in the sight of God and man.”

One thing about finding favor is that you already have it, you just have to expect it in your life and be claiming the word of God in your life. You are so blessed to be a co-heir with Christ as it says in Romans 8:17. Just know that in order to walk in favor you have to expect it. In order to expect the favor you have to stay positive and declare the blessings in your life because sometimes and possibly all the time the enemy is going to try to make you think that you don’t deserve God’s favor.

This week we will be meditating and looking more into what we can do to expect God’s favor.