All posts filed under: Faith

A Reason to Rejoice

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“Rejoice always.” ~I Thessalonians 5:16 I‘m sure that whether you are a Christian or not, you have heard that the shortest verse in the bible is John 11:35, “Jesus wept.” While this is true on one hand, there is a verse that rivals it for the two-word title and that is a passage found in I Thessalonians 5:16, “Rejoice always”. While the two verses seem to have a world between then in meaning, I want to encourage you of how they both give us a reason to rejoice and empower us to do so in the Lord God Christ Jesus. In John 11, we find Christ Jesus at the tomb of His beloved friend, Lazarus who has passed away, and Jesus, fully understanding the grief of those around Him wept along with them. He being, fully God, and fully Man took on the role of complete friend and shared in the sufferings of those around Him even though He knew what He was capable of doing as the God of all creation. Even with His …

Into Rich Fulfillment: The Journey of Change

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“…We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.” ~PSALM 66:12b Trials are something that the Lord in His grace and tender mercies toward us, His beloved children, assured us we would all endure. He tells us this truth many times over in His Word, not only to assure as that we will face the process, but to encourage us that we will make it through each and every one of them and that if we hold on to Him in faith, we will come out into richness. But why the trials? Let’s be honest, none of us looks forward to struggle or resistance. The very thought of doing so goes against our human nature. But there is beauty and benefit within the struggle. Just like when one decides to pursue a healthier lifestyle, that transition is often a struggle, to say the least. Changing one’s diet, making a point to walk more, to take the stairs instead of the elevator, to go to the gym and actually lift …

Upgrade: Taking on the Mantle of Next

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“And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”  Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. Then he …

Faith Postures: Position in Prayer

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Prayer. It is more than just a religious act of acknowledging a Power greater than yourself. For the Redeemed, prayer is, or rather should be, an authentic conversation with our Beloved Father, Friend, and Savior, Christ Jesus. The Word ensures us that “…The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (JAMES 5:16) We who have accepted the free gift of salvation through the finished work of Christ Jesus ARE now the righteousness of God the Father (II CORINTHIANS 5:21). This means that when we pray there is power. There is authority. Let that sink in. Thinking about prayer and its power and its importance in the life and relationship of a Believer, I want you to ask yourself this question about your own prayer life and prayer posture: When you approach Christ Jesus in prayer, are you being guided by “Fear” or “Faith,” “Worry” or “Wisdom”? Give yourself a bit of time to think about this. We are meant to pray with power authority, right? A prayer that is guided by Fear and Worry is a prayer that does not come from power …

The Change in the Waiting: The Purpose in the Process

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“God often requires us to change while we are waiting.” ~WENDY POPE, Wait and See, 2016, p.114  Wait. It is a word that makes the average person cringe especially in the face of something their soul longs for. And I don’t care how you spell it–weight or wait–the word just hurts. But more so than wait or its twin sister weight, change can be a doozy as well. Change is the process that takes place in the transitional cocoon of waiting. Change is what is required within the space between promise and manifestation. Some of us hear that we need to change and we think, ‘Hey, I’m a pretty good person. Why do I need to change?’ The reality is that our level of ‘goodness’ (which only comes from Christ living in us anyway) has nothing to do with why we must change. A little girl must become a woman before she can bear a child and properly raise it. A boy must become a man before he can become a strong and sound husband, …

He Remains Faithful: Trusting Christ Beyond the Winter

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“If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him. If we persevere, we will also rule with Him. If we disown Him, He will also disown us. IF WE ARE FAITHLESS HE REMAINS FAITHFUL, FOR HE CANNOT DISOWN HIMSELF.” ~II TIMOTHY 2:12-13 Today, I just want to encourage you all in the love of our Savior and Shepherd, Christ Jesus. Although we are just shy over a month and a half into the new year and decade, many of us are still in the winter of our lives and we see nothing but the frozen images of what life used to be and the scattered images of what we hope it to be. But we are unable to see with our natural eye what soon will be. And because of that truth, we need to remain in Trust, knowing that Christ Jesus is indeed working on our behalf, perfecting what He began in and for us (PHILIPPIANS 1:6) even though we may not see it, feel it, or hear it. For just …

The Joy of A Spiritual Love Affair: Faith for Creatives

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“For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” ~PSALM 84:10 To look upon the one you love and to say that one day with them, in their presence alone, is better than 1,000 days put together is a mighty statement. These words are the embodiment of an incredible love affair and devotion. Have you ever been in love? Have you ever felt so strongly for another soul? Whether you have or not the truth still remains that we all were created with the desire for such a great love. The beauty, being made as we are, is that we are blessed to experience this kind of love and its greatest fulfillment. This love that never ceases but ever makes us aware of its intense sweetness, is the spiritual love that we all can have with God through trusting faith in His Only Son, Christ Jesus. His righteous, unrelenting love will NEVER LEAVE US NOR …

Tell Them I Love Them: The Most Everlasting of Loves

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“The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” ~JEREMIAH 31:3 This message is simple. It is not full of scripture or analogy. It does not use metaphors are large words. However, it is the most Powerful message of all. Not only that, but as we embark on what is supposed to be the most romantic months of the year, and yet, one of the most lonely, I feel compelled to share this with you. Many years ago, as I meditated in prayer and waited for the LORD to send me a Word to share with the Body of Christ, I kept hearing Him say, “The Word will come.” Actually,  I had been waiting and praying for a word for quite some time and He continued to give me the same response. “The Word will come.” When the Word finally did come it was so compelling and again so simple that I had no choice but to open my …

How to Make Waves in Life: Stepping into New Seasons

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“If you don’t dive in, you’re not going to make any waves.” ~Somebody Awesome Let’s be honest, basking in the presence of something beautiful is a wonderful thing, but being fully submerged within it can be so much more fulfilling and exhilarating. It’s similar to being at the pool, or the ocean on a hot summer’s day. You’re never truly refreshed until you have taken the dive in! The same is true for us and any advancement that we would like to have in life. Talking about an idea or a plan is a wonderful thing, but until you take a dive and actually start implementing the things you are talking about, you are only basking in its beauty. “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” ~PSALM 34:8 Consider that this truth is relevant in every area of our lives, especially in our walks with Christ. The deeper we go in Him the sweeter we find Him to be, the more we realize how awesome and …

The Secret of the Stars: Reaching For Your Dream

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“No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new discovery for the human spirit.” ~HELEN KELLER The only ingredients that you need to fail in this life are Fear, Doubt, and Pessimism. All three of these are the poison that saps out our creative power and imagination. When Christ Jesus created the heavens and the earth, He did so by speaking. He spoke from His imagination. Proverbs 23:7 says as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs further goes on to warn us that we will live by the fruit of our lips and above all else, to guard our hearts for out of it flows the source of our lives. (PROVERBS 12:14, PROVERBS 18:21, PROVERBS 4:23) When our hearts are filled with pessimism and doubt, we speak with negativity and bring forth the fruits of failure. But when we speak with faith, when we allow ourselves to dream, imagine, and do by faith, we are giving life to victory. We are …