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December 27, 2006

Word for Today......What Is Your Testimony?

Scripture:   By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.  Hebrews 11: 5

Enoch had this testimony... 

Are you a comfortable saint who says, “I hear God and believe,” but walk in unbelief? You are not alone, but answer this question: after going through everything you had to go through to get where you are, do you really want to watch your children to go through the messes, mistakes, and painful recovery you have endured? 

The reason you have had to fight through so much hell in your life is because you had to start all over. In fact, you had to start out from a pit because you were forced to fight through some things in your bloodline that you had nothing to do with. You sweated and cried and crawled your way through a painful divorce, financial ruin, and crushing loneliness in the process, but God was faithful. How dare you stop short of the goal!

What is your testimony?  Is it the fact that you had doubt in the sovereign ability of God or that you endured through what most people would have walked away from.  The bible says that Enoch PLEASED God; that was his testimony.  The scripture says in the same chapter that without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God.  Our faith in God is what gives and highlights our testimony.  There was a time in my life that I had to stand on faith and believe God even when the situation was seemingly hopeless.  I had been diagnosed with cancer and the doctor's wanted to operate.  But I had the testimony that God was a healer and refused to give in to the sickness or the death sentence that accompanied the sickness.  Long story, short; God healed me and I have been free of cancer for 5 years now.  So whenever someone tells me that they are sick or that their loved one has been given a death sentence by the doctor, I have the testimony that God WILL heal you.  I won't tell you it was easy, but I will say it is POSSIBLE!  It may not be easy for you to stand in faith, but it is possible.  For with God ALL things are possible. 

Our faith in God should transcend generations.  As did Enoch, Abraham, David, the list goes on.  Think about it.  Do you have a grandfather or grandmother whom no one in the family can forget? Do family members say, “If it were not for Granddaddy So-and-so, we would not be where we are today!  He was a man of such great faith that he moved mountains.”  When you open up your mouth, people can hear his kingdom wisdom and wealth in your words, covering three generations and working on a fourth.

Are you building an easy chair or a generational seat of authority? Are you impacting three generations, or will you take your seat in premature comfort and make the next generation start in a hole all over again?  The bible says that they (the saints) overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the WORD of their testimony.  It is time to TESTIFY! 

 

Be Blessed!


 

 

 

Posted by donna at 11:19 AM | | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

December 13, 2006

Word for Today......ENOUGH!!!!!!!

Scripture:   But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.  1 Kings 19:4
 


ENOUGH?!?!?!?!?!?
 


Have you ever been there?  Just felt like screaming, "ENOUGH!"  We all have, at one point or another, felt like we can't take it anymore and we have had ENOUGH!  Elijah was at that point in his life and ministry.  The ironic part of this is that he had just defeated 450 prophets of Baal through the power of God.   However, there was one woman, Jezebel, who was wicked and determined to have Elijah killed just as the power of God had been manifested to slay those evil prophets.  He ran and hid!  That doesn't sound like the powerful Elijah we know.  But the bible says that he ran from Jezebel and hid himself.  On the journey into the wilderness he came to a juniper tree.   He didn't want to commit suicide, but he felt like we often times feel, that he would rather die than suffer death at the hands of his enemy.  Many times while on the journey of life we encounter enemies that have threaten our very livelihood, our finances, our family, our jobs, our emotional well being, our spiritual well-being, our happiness....the list goes on.  But what Elijah felt was valid.  We can assume that he didn't want to die to avoid doing the will of God, but that he was spiritually and emotionally at a dark place.  Does that sound familiar?  We have all been in that situation and have felt like we were at our wits end.  Many times even after a great victory we feel like we are spiritual empty.  It is one thing to fight for someone else, but it is another to fight for YOU.  Many times we encourage others, but when we are at our lowest points we feel like we are out in the wilderness with no one but the coyotes.  But the story doesn’t end with Elijah wanting to die and neither will it end with us in spiritual despair.


Elijah sat under the juniper tree and later verses indicate that he fell asleep.  While under the juniper tree a refreshing took place.  While under the juniper tree a renewal and strengthening took place.  Research tells me that the juniper tree has an aroma that soothes and calms the muscles.  Almost like aromatherapy!  The juniper tree, when in full bloom gives an aroma that has been used to help with kidney problems, digestive problems, arthritis and chronic joint pain.  Don’t you see how God sent Elijah to the juniper tree?  Not only to the juniper tree but He sent his angels under the juniper tree to give Elijah nourishment.  The bible says that the angels prepared a cake (which represents strength) and had water (which represents refreshing) waiting for him.  He ate the cake and the water and went to sleep again.  When he awoke the second time the same meal was there waiting on him.  The angel told him to eat again for his journey ahead was too great.  What does this say to us today?  We have a place in God where he will send his angels to minister to us and to refresh us so that we may be able to endure and to make it. 


There is a juniper tree experience coming to each of us.  2006 has been a trying year for many of us, but look and wait for your juniper tree experience.  God has a place of rest, renewal and refreshing for His people.  Our prayer now is Lord we have had enough; send us to the juniper tree and send your angels to nourish us!
 

Be Blessed!

 

Posted by donna at 12:39 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

December 12, 2006

Word for Today.......That We May Be One

Scripture:   And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.  John 17:22

 

I have given them; that they may be one..... 

 

The verses of scripture that precede this verse looks at the intercession that Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane for the disciples and for us.  Jesus begins his prayer with the statement of   suffering, which was to say if it be the will of God let the cup of suffering pass. (Paraphrased)  However, when he begins to pray for the disciple he doesn't pray that their suffering wouldn't come, but that they be able to endure the hardness of being in the world but not of the world.  Then Jesus begins to pray for those of us who will come after his disciples.  Those would believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ and be persecuted because of that believe.  One of the main ideas of the bible is fellowship with God and love for the brethren.  One scripture says that the GREATEST commandment is that we love the Lord God with all of our heart, mind and soul.  It also goes on to say that the second commandment is that we love our neighbor as ourselves.  How can we love our neighbors unless we are one with them?  The biggest device that Satan is using against the church is not financial problem, or family difficulties; but DIVISION.  The bible says that without A vision the people perish.  So when there is Di-Vision or more than one vision then there is serious problem.  Jesus prayed for us to be one in the glory of God, just as God had been glorified in Jesus because of his oneness with the Father.  We have to realize that the glory has been given, not for us to be the spiritual "Lone Ranger", but that we are one in the spirit with our sisters and brother in Christ.  The BODY of Christ is made up of MANY members and the scripture says all are of ONE spirit. So if we are to be glorified in God through Christ Jesus we must fall in line and become one with our brethren.  The bible says we are helpers one to the other and if we have been called to help, that means I need you and you need me.  

 

Be Blessed!

 

 

Posted by donna at 12:02 PM | | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

December 04, 2006

Word for Today.....Apprehended of Christ Jesus

Scripture:   Not as though I have already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.  Phil 3:12
 
 

Apprehended!!!!!!!


The word apprehended means that which is taken or seized, or something or someone that is taken or seized by legal process. 

Paul began to talk with the Philippians church about his church resume, but it meant nothing.  While he was obtaining all those credentials of man, his soul was still lost.  He stated that he counted all his accomplishments as dung.  Paul begins to look at himself at a stage of imperfection.  Although he was considered the "Chief Apostle" he still needed more.  He was perfect as a new creature with respect to his former life, but he still needs more of Jesus.  No matter our level of anointing, our years of fellowship with Christ we should continue to pursue more of Christ.  We NEVER out grow prayer, fasting, study and daily worship with God.  No matter how long you have been in fellowship with God, we are always learning new things about His character and nature.  He gives of Himself in parts so that we can remain AS children, reliant and humbly submitted to the will of the Father. 


God's desire for man to be in fellowship with him was so strong that he sent his son, Jesus so that we can have the opportunity to commune with him.  After Jesus' crucifixion, the veil of the temple was rent and it gave us the access to God through Jesus Christ.  As we seek the face of God and seek to know him more; He will in turn start to seek after us.  The bible says that God is SEEKING (or APPREHENDING) such to worship Him.  Those who are seeking him, He seeks after them to bestow his blessings upon them. 


It is something about the desire to please God: you began to understand that your righteousness is as filthy rags.  It doesn't matter the level of righteousness, it still is no good.  But the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ offers the access to God and HIS righteousness.  It is HIS righteousness that is the mark that Paul presses for in the verse 14 of the same chapter.  We can NEVER apprehend Christ in our own righteousness, but when we seek God's righteousness; he then takes hold of us to give us more of Himself which includes His righteous, grace, mercy and love.
 
Be Blessed!

 

Posted by donna at 01:32 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)


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