Rejoice all ye saints, the Lord Jesus has risen. He is alive, and this is the bedrock of Christianity.
1 Corinthians 15:17 says, "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Sure, our faith is not worthless because Jesus has risen.
Yes, there is no other person who had been able to resurrect like he did. They tried to put soldiers around his grave to stop him from resurrecting, but even the soldiers could not prevent him because he is unstoppable. Therefore, we his children are unstoppable.
Now, if you know that you are unstoppable, rejoice as you worship him today, and type a confirmatory Amen because you are victorious.
May the resurrection power that got him up, uproot every root of bitterness in your life, as you celebrate his resurrection in Jesus name.
Happy Easter.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Saturday, March 30, 2013
THE SATURDAY IN-BETWEEN EASTER DAYS
We know that Good Friday was the day that Jesus suffered many things. He was beaten, scourged, given a crown of thorn, and you know what a thorn can do to somebody, it will give you pain as it is penetrating into the body. He was nailed to the cross on which he died, and finally, he was buried, and everybody left, thinking all was over. Thus, it seems whenever we think of Easter, we think only of Easter Sunday -- the celebration of resurrected life -- or Good Friday -- the death Christ suffered on the cross.
"Saturday... It seems like a day when nothing is happening.
It's a day of questioning, doubting, wondering and definitely waiting...helplessness or hopelessness.
It's a day of questioning, doubting, wondering and definitely waiting...helplessness or hopelessness.
Is it possible that Saturday is actually a day of preparation?
... Saturday was the day God was engineering a resurrection."
Yes, there were mixed feeling and thoughts in the hearts of people. But after Saturday, there was Resurrection on the Easter Sunday, he who was dead, is alive again.
So, as believers, understand that when you are suffering many things, even when you have prayed and it seems nothing is happening, know that even in silence, God is working. And after those sufferings and a period of silence, your Resurrection will surely come. Psalm 46:10 says, "“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Sure, the Lord will be exalted in your life. Also. 1 Peter 5:10 says, And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. Hallelujah!!! Glory to God.
Now, if you know very well that Jesus is on the throne of your life, begin to rejoice as you wait patiently for him, and type a confirmatory big Amen
Jesus loves you and I do too.
Now, if you know very well that Jesus is on the throne of your life, begin to rejoice as you wait patiently for him, and type a confirmatory big Amen
Jesus loves you and I do too.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Easter: Sometimes It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better
When Easter Feels Overwhelming: Sometimes It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better
Bonnie Gray
Bonnie Gray
"You see, there are two very different types of hope in this world. One is hoping for something, and the other is hoping in Someone." ~ Pete Wilson
I didn't see it coming.
I went to bed like I always had, ate dinner with my chopsticks and brushed my teeth just fine.
The next morning, I got dressed and drove into work as usual. Logged into my account and started checking my emails.
I started typing.
Needles of pain shot through my wrists. My fingers felt numb and tingly, like they'd fallen asleep. Confused, I tried to mouse and click around. My forearm started hurting even more. My fingers refused to hit another keystroke.
Two hours later, I found myself sitting in front of a doctor who specialized in treating work related injuries.
"You won't be going back to work for a while. You have RSI (Repetitive Stress Injury). Might be carpel tunnel syndrome. We won't know yet, until you get some therapy."
How long will I be out? I asked, thinking a day or two.
When it all was said and done, combining full and partial disability, my road to recovery took nearly three years.
Getting Better Or Getting Worse?
When I first started physical therapy, I was very optimistic.
I was determined to heal fast. Take my meds, get my therapy, do my exercises and wear my wrist braces.
The problem was healing isn't a linear process.
I was progressively hurting more week after week. My pain extended to my upper arms, my shoulders, neck and even my back.
Was I just falling apart?
My physical therapist Tom educated me. You're actually getting better, even if it feels like you're getting worse.
Tom drew a swirl of concentric circles on his note pad. He said that healing is like peeling an onion. He said that I had ignored the fatigue initially in my muscles so well, that it caused my body to compensate in other areas.
Pain, Tom explained, was a healthy indicator that my body was finally speaking to me.
My path to recovery was to swirl out first -- to understand exactly how far my injury went.
Tom gently pointed out that as one muscle group got better, I would start feeling the pain in other areas that had been masked on top of the other.
I have found myself in the same condition for many Easters.
I wanted so badly to celebrate the joy of Easter Sunday resurrection, I ignored the layers of stress and unanswered questions from my everyday life.
The Saturday In-Between
Don't get me wrong, I've been filled with joy for Jesus on Easter Sunday, in praise and thankfulness for the sacrifice and love He poured out for me on Good Friday 2000 years ago.
I am always brought to tears meditating on the suffering our Lord endured emotionally, physically and spiritually by taking up the cross. But, I was often heart heavy waiting to taste the power of resurrection in some difficult circumstances.
It seemed whenever I thought of Easter, I thought only of Easter Sunday -- the celebration of resurrected life -- or Good Friday -- the death Christ suffered on the cross.
I never thought as pastor and author Pete Wilson points out in Plan B, of the Saturday In-Between:
"Saturday... It seems like a day when nothing is happening.
It's a day of questioning, doubting, wondering and definitely waiting...helplessness or hopelessness.
It's a day of questioning, doubting, wondering and definitely waiting...helplessness or hopelessness.
Is it possible that Saturday is actually a day of preparation?
... Saturday was the day God was engineering a resurrection."
My One Thing
This year, I'm celebrating Easter Sunday with a lot of my story resurrected from my "Saturday" life. Not in a way where everything has worked out. A lot of the questions I've been asking for a very long time haven't been answered.
In fact, some of the problems I've asked God to solve haven't gotten better.
But, I have learned one thing through my time in this extended season of waiting.
That one thing is this: Jesus' love continues to be one thing I can always say yes to.
In lieu of answers and resolution, I had to continually make a choice. Do I let my pain and hurt shape my faith -- or do I take my faith and run into the arms of Jesus?
This has been my greatest joy: Not that my life is perfect, but that I can choose love -- because Love chose me.
I've been able to find when I couldn't possibly wait any longer in dissonance and lack of closure -- the love of Jesus continues to heal me, carry me and attract me to Him. I can continue choosing to love God, love others, and pour myself out -- even in weakness and imperfection.
All because Jesus loves me.
Because of the cross.
~~~~~
I had given up hope of ever getting better. Then I got up one day, not feeling any pain.
But, it took me many years to get to that one morning.
I will always remember who got me through it.
It wasn't hope in recovery. It was hope in Jesus.
I don't know how long our Saturdays will last, friend.
But one thing I do know, Jesus has walked that Saturday into eternity for us.
His love will never leave us and His love will get us through to our Easter Sundays.
He knows all about the Saturday-in-between. And He won't leave us all alone in that time of waiting.
He loves us all the way.
"The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ,
after you have suffered a little while,
will himself restore you
and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
~ 1 Peter 5:10
after you have suffered a little while,
will himself restore you
and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
~ 1 Peter 5:10
~~~~~
How is Jesus speaking to you this Easter?
Pull up a chair. Click to comment. Give voice to your thoughts on the journey of faith with me today.
~~~~~
Bonnie Gray is an inspiring Christian writer and blogger, offering encouragement to keep faith fresh in the daily grind. Her writing springs from the belief that the beauty of faith often takes place when life goes off script. Bonnie is the Founder ofFaithBarista.com and featured writer for Hallmark subsidiary DaySpring's (in)Courage. Bonnie is currently working on her debut book, to be published by Revell Books. Bonnie is a native Californian living in the heart of Silicon Valley with her best friend Hubby, wrangling their two heaven-sent boys on the homestead.
WHAT MAKES IT A GOOD FRIDAY?
Are you wondering why it's called GOOD FRIDAY? A man asked, "Did you say they killed the Lord on this Friday? The reply was, yes. What makes it a good Friday then? Sure, what makes it a good Friday is that he took our place, and that by his death, a full payment for our sins was made. Hallelujah!
Now, if you know that Jesus had already paid your debt, and that your sins had been washed away by his precious blood, rejoice with me today, and let me see you honour this our King of kings with an overcoming Amen here.
Yes, Jesus paid the debt he did not owe, because you owe the debt you cannot pay. Praise the living Jesus for you are greatly blessed. Jesus loves you and I do too.
WHAT I'VE LEARNT IN LIFE
I’ve learned-
that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.
I’ve learned-
that no matter how much I care, some people just don’t care back.
I’ve learned-
that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.
I’ve learned-
that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
I’ve learned-
that it’s not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.
I’ve learned-
that you should never ruin an apology with an excuse.
I’ve learned-
that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you’d better know something.
I’ve learned-
that you shouldn’t compare yourself to the best others can do.
I’ve learned-
that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.
I’ve learned-
that it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.
I’ve learned-
that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
I’ve learned-
that you can keep going long after you can’t.
I’ve learned-
that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
I’ve learned-
that either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I’ve learned-
that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.
I’ve learned-
that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
I’ve learned-
that money is a lousy way of keeping score.
I’ve learned-
that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.
I’ve learned-
that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up.
I’ve learned-
that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.
I’ve learned-
that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.
I’ve learned-
that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.
I’ve learned-
that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.
I’ve learned-
that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.
I’ve learned-
that your family won’t always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren’t related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren’t biological.
I’ve learned-
that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you are to learn to forgive yourself.
I’ve learned-
that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.
I’ve learned-
that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
I’ve learned-
that a rich person is not the one who has the most, but is one who needs the least.
I’ve learned-
that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other. And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.
I’ve learned-
that we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change.
I’ve learned-
that you shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.
I’ve learned-
that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
I’ve learned-
that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.
I’ve learned-
that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.
I’ve learned-
that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
I’ve learned-
that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.
I’ve learned-
that it’s hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people’s feelings, and standing up for what you believe.
I’ve learned-
that people will forget what you said, and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
----WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ALONG THE WAY ?----- —
that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.
I’ve learned-
that no matter how much I care, some people just don’t care back.
I’ve learned-
that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.
I’ve learned-
that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
I’ve learned-
that it’s not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.
I’ve learned-
that you should never ruin an apology with an excuse.
I’ve learned-
that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you’d better know something.
I’ve learned-
that you shouldn’t compare yourself to the best others can do.
I’ve learned-
that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.
I’ve learned-
that it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.
I’ve learned-
that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
I’ve learned-
that you can keep going long after you can’t.
I’ve learned-
that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
I’ve learned-
that either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I’ve learned-
that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.
I’ve learned-
that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
I’ve learned-
that money is a lousy way of keeping score.
I’ve learned-
that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.
I’ve learned-
that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up.
I’ve learned-
that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.
I’ve learned-
that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.
I’ve learned-
that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.
I’ve learned-
that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.
I’ve learned-
that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.
I’ve learned-
that your family won’t always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren’t related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren’t biological.
I’ve learned-
that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you are to learn to forgive yourself.
I’ve learned-
that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.
I’ve learned-
that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
I’ve learned-
that a rich person is not the one who has the most, but is one who needs the least.
I’ve learned-
that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other. And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.
I’ve learned-
that we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change.
I’ve learned-
that you shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.
I’ve learned-
that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
I’ve learned-
that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.
I’ve learned-
that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.
I’ve learned-
that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
I’ve learned-
that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.
I’ve learned-
that it’s hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people’s feelings, and standing up for what you believe.
I’ve learned-
that people will forget what you said, and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
----WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ALONG THE WAY ?----- —
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
One With God is a Majority!
God saved us individually and He wants to bring us into our purpose individually. This is a season where the people that God wants to use are going through their birth canal into purpose. The pressure may seem strong against you but He that began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil 1 v. 6). He that brought you into this birth canal will bring you out into your destiny! Don’t look for any help during this season. It is just you and God until you come out of the pressure of the birth canal! Then He will bring people to help you in your purpose. He wants to show you what He can do with one person! One person with God can defeat the devil and all his demons!
Let’s look at 2 Kings Chapter 4 for clarity in what I am talking about. A widow lady was facing a situation where her children were going to be taken away because of her debts. In v. 2 Elisha, the Prophet asked her "what shall I do for thee? What he was really saying is that this is between you and God. Just give Him something to work with. She had one pot of oil and the man of God told her to borrow many pots of her neighbors and take a step of faith with her God. She did what he said and God came through for her and filled up all the pots with oil. She had enough to pay off her debts and retire! Wow! Do you see what God can do for you with no outside help? He wants to show you what your Father can do for you, as His child. She probably wanted Elisha to do something, but this whole situation came about because God wanted to build up her faith in Him, as her Father, rather than any man.
Religion and religious people want you to believe that you need them to get anywhere with God. They directly or indirectly want to come between you and your Father. Satan wants you to look to a man for help and miss your special relationship with God. Any minister that tries to control and manipulate you for monetary or any other reason is in the pulpit onborrowed time. It is just a matter of time before God removes them and replaces them with somebody after His own heart! Don’t look right away to a man to help you, go first to God. He can give you your miracle right in your own prayer closet. He may lead you to some one else for help but again, go to Him first.
It is simply amazing what God can do with one person. Look what God did with Gideon. In Judges 6 v. 16 God told him that He would destroy the enemy through him, as one man. All God needed was Gideon. Gideon had an army of 32,000 men but God whittled the size of the army down to 300 with the help of some tests. Gideon needed the 300 men, but God didn’t. When Gideon overheard the enemies dream (7 v. 13) about a cake of barley coming down and destroying their tents and army and how they said "It was nothing but the Sword of the Lord and of Gideon, he knew that all he needed was God. When Gideon surrounded the army, he and his men broke the pitchers and lamps in their hand and blew the trumpets (v. 20), the enemy was so afraid that they started killing each other.
So what are you facing today? Your God is big enough to handle it! All he needs is for you to take a step of faith and defy the natural and draw close to Him! Walk towards the enemy holding your Father’s hand and watch Him win the victory for you.
Look at 1 Samuel Chapter 14 with me: Jonathan knew that his God was bigger than the enemy, even though they had surrounded his troops and had all their swords, except two. He went towards the enemy and his armor bearer followed him, with the two swords (v.7). They went towards the enemy with their God and initially destroyed 20 of them (v.14) and the rest of the army started killing each other (v. 20). God wrought a great victory because He found a man who would step out by faith and walk towards the enemy holding his Father’s hand!
Look at Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles Chapter 20: Even though he was surrounded by the enemy he said that their eyes are upon their Father (v.12). God just told them to show up for the battle, but that the battle was really His (v. 15). All they had to do was send their praise and worship leaders out first, singing praises to their God (v. 21). As they began to sing and praise, God set an ambush against the enemy and they destroyed each other. All Jehoshaphat had to do was pick up the spoils! Just show up for battle with your Father and watch how the enemy disperses. The battle is over when you just show up.
Samson killed 1,000 of the enemy with the jawbone of an ass. You have to know that God had a hand in it! All He needed was Samson to wield the jawbone! Realize today that whatever is coming against you was permitted by God and as you draw closer to Him, you will realize how really powerful your God truly is! Religion wants weak people whom they can control but you be strong in the Lord and the power of His might! (Eph. 6 v. 10). Scare the religious crowd by telling them that all you need is your Father!
Let’s look at 2 Kings Chapter 4 for clarity in what I am talking about. A widow lady was facing a situation where her children were going to be taken away because of her debts. In v. 2 Elisha, the Prophet asked her "what shall I do for thee? What he was really saying is that this is between you and God. Just give Him something to work with. She had one pot of oil and the man of God told her to borrow many pots of her neighbors and take a step of faith with her God. She did what he said and God came through for her and filled up all the pots with oil. She had enough to pay off her debts and retire! Wow! Do you see what God can do for you with no outside help? He wants to show you what your Father can do for you, as His child. She probably wanted Elisha to do something, but this whole situation came about because God wanted to build up her faith in Him, as her Father, rather than any man.
Religion and religious people want you to believe that you need them to get anywhere with God. They directly or indirectly want to come between you and your Father. Satan wants you to look to a man for help and miss your special relationship with God. Any minister that tries to control and manipulate you for monetary or any other reason is in the pulpit onborrowed time. It is just a matter of time before God removes them and replaces them with somebody after His own heart! Don’t look right away to a man to help you, go first to God. He can give you your miracle right in your own prayer closet. He may lead you to some one else for help but again, go to Him first.
It is simply amazing what God can do with one person. Look what God did with Gideon. In Judges 6 v. 16 God told him that He would destroy the enemy through him, as one man. All God needed was Gideon. Gideon had an army of 32,000 men but God whittled the size of the army down to 300 with the help of some tests. Gideon needed the 300 men, but God didn’t. When Gideon overheard the enemies dream (7 v. 13) about a cake of barley coming down and destroying their tents and army and how they said "It was nothing but the Sword of the Lord and of Gideon, he knew that all he needed was God. When Gideon surrounded the army, he and his men broke the pitchers and lamps in their hand and blew the trumpets (v. 20), the enemy was so afraid that they started killing each other.
So what are you facing today? Your God is big enough to handle it! All he needs is for you to take a step of faith and defy the natural and draw close to Him! Walk towards the enemy holding your Father’s hand and watch Him win the victory for you.
Look at 1 Samuel Chapter 14 with me: Jonathan knew that his God was bigger than the enemy, even though they had surrounded his troops and had all their swords, except two. He went towards the enemy and his armor bearer followed him, with the two swords (v.7). They went towards the enemy with their God and initially destroyed 20 of them (v.14) and the rest of the army started killing each other (v. 20). God wrought a great victory because He found a man who would step out by faith and walk towards the enemy holding his Father’s hand!
Look at Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles Chapter 20: Even though he was surrounded by the enemy he said that their eyes are upon their Father (v.12). God just told them to show up for the battle, but that the battle was really His (v. 15). All they had to do was send their praise and worship leaders out first, singing praises to their God (v. 21). As they began to sing and praise, God set an ambush against the enemy and they destroyed each other. All Jehoshaphat had to do was pick up the spoils! Just show up for battle with your Father and watch how the enemy disperses. The battle is over when you just show up.
Samson killed 1,000 of the enemy with the jawbone of an ass. You have to know that God had a hand in it! All He needed was Samson to wield the jawbone! Realize today that whatever is coming against you was permitted by God and as you draw closer to Him, you will realize how really powerful your God truly is! Religion wants weak people whom they can control but you be strong in the Lord and the power of His might! (Eph. 6 v. 10). Scare the religious crowd by telling them that all you need is your Father!
By Henry Walker
www.henrywalker.org
www.henrywalker.org
Five Lies that Keep Us From Dreaming
Holley Gerth
Adapted from: You’re Made For a God-Sized Dream. Copyright© 2013 by Holley Gerth. Published by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, MI.www.RevellBooks.com Used with permission.
Ever since Eden, the enemy has come at us with a million different versions of the same question, “Did God really say...?” And many times those questions are aimed squarely at our dreams.
Did God really say you have what it takes?
Did God really say that’s what you’re supposed to do?
When you follow your God-sized dreams, you’ll face many external obstacles. But the biggest threats are from the inside.
Lie #1: “Dreaming Is Selfish”
“I want to follow this dream,” she says. “But it just feels so selfish.”
From all the women I’ve talked to about God-sized dreams, this is the lie I hear most often. Women are a generous gender. We care deeply, passionately. We’d do anything for the ones we love. We serve selflessly. That is good, beautiful, and true.
But you matter too.
So do your dreams. The enemy knows that it’s often one little word that can stop our dreaming in its tracks: selfish. We come to a screeching halt and say, “I’m not going within ten feet of that possibility.” But if we tiptoe closer to that lie, we can see it for what it really is—a mirage.
“God is love” (1 John 4:16). Everything he does is loving. Everything he places within you is loving. That includes your dreams.
Now, if your dream is to run off to Tahiti with the pool boy and live on a two-hundred-foot yacht, then honey, that’s a whole different story. But if you have yielded to God and you have this nagging desire within you that just won’t go away, then most likely it’s from him. And if it is, then he has a way that you can live it out that isn’t about selfishness but instead is about service.
Lie #2: “I Don’t Have What It Takes”
It seems as soon as we give ourselves permission to dream, comparison is nipping at our heels. We look around and see others who are better, skinnier, more eloquent than us. Before we even get started, we disqualify ourselves. We vow to hold back until we’re “as good as they are.” Before we know it, time slips by and our dream still waits for its turn.
This lie is ultimately rooted in the belief that our God-sized dream is the same as someone else’s. When we decide that’s true, it means we’re competitors because there aren’t enough dreams to go around. But the reality is, even if someone else’s dream looks, sounds, or even feels like yours—it’s not the same.
It doesn’t matter if you think you’re not as good as someone else. You have what it takes to fulfill the dream God has for your life, and no one else does.
You are the only you we have. That means your God-sized dream either happens through you or not at all.
Lie #3: “It’s Too Late”
She stands with a baby on her hip, and three others are causing chaos in the background. Above the noise she declares, “Well, I once had dreams, but now all I’ve got is diapers. It’s too late for me.” I’ve heard retired people, those with chronic illness, and many facing difficult circumstances say the same thing—that it’s too late. Perhaps this is the hardest lie of all. It locks our dreams into a time bomb, and once we think it’s exploded, it seems there’s no picking up the pieces again.
I once knew a couple who longed to have children for years, but it never came to pass. The desire never went away, and in their sixties God called them to be “parents” to many children in a country far away. Now their family is bigger than they ever could have imagined. Like for Abraham and Sarah in the Old Testament, the answer to their prayers seemed a long time coming...but it did come. And that wouldn’t have been possible unless they kept their hearts open to dreaming.
It’s only too late for our dreams when we decide to write “The End” on our stories and close the book. As an anonymous quote my mom has on her refrigerator reads, “Never place a period where God has placed a comma.”
Lie #4: “I Don’t Deserve to Dream”
The tears trickle down her face, and she reaches for a tissue. “But you don’t understand,” she says with a sigh. “I’ve messed up so much. The life I have now is a consequence of the choices I’ve made. I don’t get to have the desires of my heart—I’m paying for what I’ve done.”
I reach out my arms to her and try to wrap her up in words of grace too. “Your dreams aren’t about you,” I say. “They’re about what God wants to do in his kingdom through you. And he’ll use anyone—just look at some of the characters in the Bible! If adultery, murder, and deception didn’t stop him, then what you’ve done isn’t going to either!”
Listen closely, my friend. You have not been disqualified from dreaming. No matter what you’ve done. No matter what choices you’ve made. No matter what’s in your past. Dreams are about the future. We can say these words with the apostle Paul, a man who had murder, persecuting Christians, and a long list of other sins in his past: “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13–14).
Lie #5: “I Don’t Have Time”
At some point we have to decide that the time for our dream is now—no matter what. Because in today’s world, normal never comes. There’s always more to do, another “when I...” to check off the list, another urgent demand to be met.
If the enemy can’t make us deny our dreams, then it seems his next tactic is to make us delay them. Yes, there are seasons for waiting and being still because that’s what God has asked us to do. I’m not talking about those. I’m speaking of the seasons when we let procrastination get the best of us (and we all do sometimes). It’s a great way to hold back the fear that inevitably comes when we actually pursue our dreams rather than just talking about them.
You don’t have to pursue your dream perfectly. You only have to do what you can. Efforts that fall short of your expectations are still always better than none at all. God can fill in the gaps.
Only you know if this really is the season for your dream, and only you can decide to truly pursue it. I love the biblical phrase “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14 because it says so much about right here, right now. It’s not “for such a time as then” or “for such a time as that.” It speaks to today and the moments passing us by that will not come again.
You have time. I have time.
If it’s not the season for your dream, then embrace that and focus on what God has in front of you now. That’s honorable and faith-filled too.
But if it’s your moment to take that step, make that leap, birth that dream, then go for it with all your heart and don’t let anything or anyone block your way (or your schedule).
The Truth That Sets Us Free to Dream
The lies don’t ever go away. Every step of your dream, they will chase you. It doesn’t mean that you’re not spiritual enough or you’re on the wrong path. It just means that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12). You are in a battle—expect opposition.
But remember this too: You have already been promised victory. Nothing can separate you from God’s love. And when you’re following hard after his heart, nothing can separate you from his will either.
You, my friend, are on an adventure that’s going to take you to places beyond what you could have even imagined. Places with joy, tears, glory, grace, and most of all, more of Jesus with each step you take.
The “more” your heart has always hoped for is what God has wanted to give you all along.
So let’s get going.
Adapted from: You’re Made For a God-Sized Dream. Copyright© 2013 by Holley Gerth. Published by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, MI.www.RevellBooks.com Used with permission.
Holley Gerth is a bestselling writer, certified life coach, and speaker. She loves connecting with the hearts of women through her popular blog and books like You’re Already Amazing. She’s also the cofounder of (in)courage and a partner with DaySpring. Holley lives with her husband, Mark, in the South. Hang out with her at www.holleygerth.com.
Publication date: March 21, 2013
Sunday, March 10, 2013
YOU ARE VERY UNIQUE
There is only one you in the whole universe. No one is like you.
Even identical twins might look similar, but they are different entities altogether.
Why not worship God today with a fresh understanding of who you are, and glorify God in your own body for making you so wonderful, unique and special.
Psalm 139:14 says, "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." Yes, it is only when you know this very fact, that you can change your lifestyle. Those who does not know this, always feel bad everyday about one evil and ugly situation or the other, forgetting that those ugly situations wont last forever.
But we who have known this, always rejoice and continue to glorify God, because we know that evil situation that comes will not last long, and that God who carefully and wonderfully made us has a better plan for us. If you now know that you are unique, let me see a confirmatory Amen. Remain blessed.
Jesus loves you and I do too.
Follow Erebari Dan Naagbi on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/enaagbi
https://www.facebook.com/erebarin
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
GOD'S WAY OF FIGHTING FOR YOU
Beloved, when I first read about this, I thought within myself, why should God let this happen to his own children? But when I did meditate on it, I discovered that when it’s time for God to punish your enemies, He will allow them to steal or capture your belongings.
1 Samuel 4 10-11 says, "And the Philistines fought, and the ark of God was taken." And I Samuel 5:1-7 says, "And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod. When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.
But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof. And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, the ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.
Sure, this is a way of punishing the enemies. God allows them to capture his own property, and when the enemies thought they've won, then suddenly, destruction came upon them.
I declare that every hand holding your blessings begin to wither in Jesus name. Both you and your belongings are too hot for the enemies to handle. Your enemies will find no peace until they release whatever belongs to you in Jesus name. And even the hand that will humbly type Amen to this will surely experience God’s divine favor in Jesus name. Jesus loves you and I do too.
Follow Erebari Dan Naagbi on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/enaagbi
Visit my Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/erebarin
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)