Your vision... your faith
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Posted:Jun 2, 2008 12:02 am
Last Updated:Aug 11, 2008 2:40 pm 5660 Views
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Step 1:
The dream... the vision
This comes from God. God had dreams for Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Jesus... Some of them took years to come to pass.
If your dream is bigger than what you can imagine you can fulfill... it is probably from God. This way we HAVE to rely upon Him.
Ephes. 3:20
Mark 9:23 All things are possible to those who believe.
Step 2:
Make a decision... take action...
"Do You Want It?"
James 1:6-8 Let him ask in faith...
Hab 2:2 Write it down... make it plain
Step 3:
Delays...
Hab 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time. Wait for it.
There is a time of preparation... we look to the destination but God is very interested in the journey... Many are called... few are chosen... because few pass the test.
Step 4:
Difficulties
A time when we go through difficult circumstances, criticism, will be mocked, discredited and even slandered. We may make poor decisions and things will happen that seem to "delay" us, even throwing us completely off course... but God will use these things to prepare us/teach us.
1 Peter: 6-7
Step 5:
Dead end
Come to the point where we have done all we know to do and it's time to stand. It's time to get out of the way and let God be God. Stop trying to figure it out, worrying about this or that...
Psalms 27 He hides us in the secret place... seek His face.
Keep your focus - keeping your eye on the prize, not getting distracted/discouraged/or off on fleshly bunny trails.
Deliver me... from myself... less of me... more of YOU!
Step 6
Deliverance
The time will come when He will fulfill what He has promised... so EXPECT IT!
Psalms 27: 13-14 Be strong and of good courage. Wait and hope in the Lord.
Phil 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Lord prepare me...use me, get me out of the way.
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Michael and Beth...you asked for pictures....
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Posted:Jun 1, 2008 2:21 pm
Last Updated:Aug 11, 2008 2:40 pm 5972 Views
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Michael is a little sunburn as you can see (and he had me Photoshop some of the red out!)... Yes, Michael did go through ALOT to get here (and home again)... He is my Ephesians 3:20 man.
Proverbs 30:18-19
There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
If someone can tell me how to post more pictures other than one blog at a time, PLEASE let me know!!!!
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The waiting....
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Posted:May 22, 2008 9:34 am
Last Updated:May 30, 2008 4:43 am 5466 Views
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I think some of us were just simply born with no patience.
Patience is a fruit of the spirit. If we are filled with the spirit, we should have patience, right?
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the spirit is love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control
So often it seems God's timing and our timing does not line up. Abraham was given a promise... he waited 12 years and then took matters into his own hands... Yikes, creating an Ishmael. He had to wait another 12 years before the true promise came to pass with his Isaac.
Isn't it amazing how God is so faithful and always keeps his promises in spite of our weaknesses (our screw-ups, the Ishmael's we created).
One of the first books I really studied after I got saved... about 12 years ago, was the book of James. Little did I understand then, how important those basic principals would be needed for my walk. I find it interesting now that in my church today we are going through the book of James.
Jam 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
That hurts, doesn't it? In order to develop patience, we need to go through trials.
Rom 5:3-4 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
I remember one time I prayed for more patience and within days, I got locked out of my house (in the winter) and had to wait in my car for an hour or so before someone could come help. Back then, I really had a hard time sitting still doing nothing. Now, I look forward to those times where I can just sit, talk and listen to God.
Most of us are probably waiting for something....
I pray you won't have to wait 12 or 24 years like Abraham. I waited over 8 years for one prayer... almost 10 for another. God is so faithful!!
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Nothing is too hard for God!!!
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Posted:May 13, 2008 6:32 pm
Last Updated:Jun 1, 2008 3:23 pm 6067 Views
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Jer 32:27
Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee!!!
Isn't HE awesome?!!!
Anyone want to share a testimony???
Let's have our own revival!!!!
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I wanna know what love is!!!! I want you to show me.
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Posted:May 10, 2008 10:34 am
Last Updated:May 16, 2008 6:59 am 6327 Views
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Any one out there as old as I am? Who sang that song anyways?
Why is it that so many "Christians" are not obedient to His Word and His Commandments? The 10 Commandments are not multiple choice. We do not pick and chose the scriptures we like (to follow) that will fit into our lifestyle... The scriptures are to show us how to live and to treat others.
Love is to obey His commandments out of that love not duty or religion. We should desire/long to be with Him passionately, to sit at His feet while He tells us the secrets of His heart, His desires for us. If we love Him, why would we do anything to cause Him to separate ourselves from Him. Sin separate us from God. If we are living in sin, He will remove His presence from us... How horrible and painful it is to be separated from the one you love.
He has called us to be holy. (1 Peter 1:16) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Holiness is to love what God loves; Hate what God hates. God hates sin.
"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode (home) with him." (John 14:23)
"He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him." (John 14:21)
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten , that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
"Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love." (John 15:9)
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand." (John 10:27)
In a romantic relationship, before marriage, true love is respecting another enough to be obedient to the laws God has set down. Lust (the demon) will try to convince you otherwise... "but we love each other."
Am I old fashioned? ... Not really, I am a follower of Christ
Am I religious? No, I am a follower of Christ.
I want to enter into my marriage (as I do believe that is what God has for me someday) with the FULL blessing of God, Don't you?
God is saying...
Do you love me? Who or what are you putting BEFORE me in your life?
This is idolatry and this is sin.
I am in love.... and I wanna know what love is!
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What kind of example are we showing others here?
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Posted:May 5, 2008 8:20 am
Last Updated:May 10, 2008 2:13 pm 5688 Views
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It grieves me so much to see all the strife and division among the so called "believers" here on BC.
This is NOT a place for arguments, backstabbing, disputes over doctrinal issues. If you have an issue with someone, take it to them personally AND do it IN LOVE. There is no reason to drag people through the mud.
At the top right corner of the website page it says "Bringing people together in love and faith" Is that what some of you are doing here?
I choose to avoid reading those blogs that I do not find uplifting and encouraging. I am not here to argue with anyone.
A couple of weeks ago, I posted a blog about Holiness and Haggai 2.
If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No. (holiness is NOT contagious)
Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean. (unholiness IS contagious)
Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.
Why do you allow yourself to even open and read these negative blogs and expose yourself to the slime. You will just pick up those spirits of negativity, contention, strife, fear, etc.
Hanging out in a pornographic book store can do you no good.... you just get slimed with the demons that abide there. What purpose would you have to go in? Curiosity is the WRONG answer. To save the lost is a possibility, but how will you show them the love of Christ by arguing with them, condemning them and pointing out all their faults.
Some of the blogs posted here are simply to stir up trouble...
Pro 10:23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
Pro 20:3 It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
The Word clearly tells us not even to bother trying to correct or argue with a fool.
Pro 23:9 Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
I pray for all those who have been hurt and offended by the negative activities here. I call for a spirit of peace to come and minister to your heart. I encourage you to forgive those who have offended you. Bless those who persecute you. I remind you to remain in the spirit and not fall into the flesh, as this is where we will fall into sin.
SHALOM
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God WANTS To Bless Us!!! Be ready, Be ready, Be ready!!!
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Posted:Apr 29, 2008 2:57 pm
Last Updated:May 16, 2008 1:20 pm 7568 Views
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God has had me study this piece of John the last several days...
John 15 -11
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
Blessings follow obedience. So often we forget this simple principal and wonder why we (so many of us) are in debt, and still in debt, have trouble keeping up with the bills and just can't seem to get ahead.
Psalms 50 tells us that our Father owns the cattle on a thousand hillsides. He is more than able to pay off that car or get us that new couch or pay our way through college or whatever it is that we desire. Ephesians 3:20 is STILL strong in my spirit...He is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we could ever ask or think!!!
Why? Because He loves us and because He actually wants us to be happy. As John puts it "that your joy might be full."
Living in the world messes us up and we stop relying upon God for our needs and turn to our self or others to meet them. We can do NOTHING without God. Sometimes it seems like those in the world are getting blessed, but ask them if they are happy. You will find their joy is NOT full and they are still searching.
I have been told for years that the blessings of God were coming to me... I have waited and waited... and nothing was happening... or so it seemed. I know and understand that we must go through a time of preparation... God must know that when He blesses us WHO will get the credit and WHAT we will do with those blessings! Will we use it to serve Him? To bless others?
God has shown me that I (and I believe MANY of us) who have been faithful, obedient and maintained a servants heart during this hard season that this is about to dramatically change very soon. PRAISE GOD!
Jer 32:41-42
Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.
I just wanted to encourage you today to know that GOD ALWAYS keeps his promises!!!!!
Are you ready???!!!  
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Will you let HIM use you?
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Posted:Apr 27, 2008 5:13 am
Last Updated:May 10, 2008 3:45 pm 5747 Views
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This story really touched me.. reminded me of some of the times God has used me... when I was willing. What a blessing it is to be used by God.
HAIRBRUSH EXPERIENCE OF BETH MOORE AT THE AIRPORT
For those of you who do not know Beth Moore, she is an outstanding Bible teacher, writer of Bible studies, and is a married mother of two daughters.
This is one of her experiences:
April 20, 2005, at the Airport in Knoxville , waiting to board the plane, I had the Bible on my lap and was very intent upon what I was doing. I'd
had a marvelous morning with the Lord. I say this because I want to tell you it is a scary thing to have the Spirit of God really working in you. You could end up doing some things you never would have done otherwise. Life in the Spirit can be dangerous for a thousand reasons not the least of which is your ego.
I tried to keep from staring, but he was such a strange sight. Humped over in a wheelchair, he was skin and bones, dressed in clothes that obviously
fit when he was at least twenty pounds heavier His knees protruded from his trousers, and his shoulders looked like the coat hanger was still in
his shirt. His hands looked like tangled masses of veins and bones. The strangest part of him was his hair and nails. Stringy, gray hair hung well over his shoulders and down part of his back. His fingernails were long, clean but strangely out of place on an old man.
I looked down at my Bible as fast as I could, discomfort burning my face. As I tried to imagine what his story might have been, I found myself
wondering if I'd just had a Howard Hughes sighting. Then, I remembered that he was dead. So this man in the airport... an impersonator maybe? Was a camera on us somewhere? There I sat; trying to concentrate on the Word to keep from being concerned about a thin slice of humanity served on a wheelchair only a few seats from me. All the while, my heart was growing more and more overwhelmed with a feeling for him.
Let's admit it. Curiosity is a heap more comfortable than true concern, and suddenly I was awash with aching emotion for this bizarre-looking old man.
I had walked with God long enough to see the handwriting on the wall. I've learned that when I begin to feel what God feels, something so contrary to my natural feelings, something dramatic is bound to happen. And it may be
embarrassing.
I immediately began to resist because I could feel God working on my spirit and I started arguing with God in my mind. "Oh, no, God, please,
no." I looked up at the ceiling as if I could stare straight through it into heaven and said, "Don't make me witness to this man. Not right here
and now. Please. I'll do anything. Put me on the same plane, but don't make me get up here and witness to this man in front of this gawking
audience. Please, Lord!"
There I sat in the blue vinyl chair begging His Highness, "Please don't make me witness to this man. Not now. I'll do it on the plane." Then I
heard it..."I don't want you to witness to him. I want you to brush his hair."
The words were so clear, my heart leap into my throat, and my thoughts spun like a top. Do I witness to the man or brush his hair? No-brainier. I looked straight back up at the ceiling and said, "God, as I live and breathe, I want you to know I am ready to witness to this man. I'm on this
Lord. I'm your girl! You've never seen a woman witness to a man faster in your life. What difference does it make if his hair is a mess if he is not redeemed? I am going to witness to this man" Again as clearly as I've ever heard an audible word, God seemed to write this statement across the wall of my mind. "That is not what I said, Beth. I don't want you to witness to him. I want you to go brush his hair."
I looked up at God and quipped, "I don't have a hairbrush. It's in my suitcase on the plane. How am I supposed to brush his hair without a
hairbrush?" God was so insistent that I almost involuntarily began to walk toward him as these thoughts came to me from God's word: "I will
thoroughly furnish you unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:17)
I stumbled over to the wheelchair thinking I could use one myself. Even as I retell this story, my pulse quickens and I feel those same butterflies.
I knelt down in front of the man and asked as demurely as possible, "Sir, May I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?"
He looked back at me and said, "What did you say?"
"May I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?"
To which he responded in volume ten, "Little lady, if you expect me to hear you, you're going to have to talk louder than that."
At this point, I took a deep breath and blurted out, "SIR, MAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BRUSHING YOUR HAIR?" At which point every eye in the place
darted right at me. I was the only thing in the room looking more peculiar than old Mr. Long Locks. Face crimson and forehead breaking out in a
sweat, I watch ed him look up at me with absolute shock on his face, and say, "If you really want to." Are you kidding? Of course I didn't want to.
But God didn't seem interested in my personal preference right about then.
He pressed on my heart until I could utter the words, "Yes, sir, I would be pleased. But I have one little problem. I don't have a hairbrush." "I
have one in my bag," he responded.
I went around to the back of that wheelchair, and I got on my hands and knees and unzipped the stranger's old carry-on, hardly believing what I
was doing. I stood up and started brushing the old man's hair. It was perfectly clean, but it was tangled and matted. I don't do many things
well, but must admit I've had notable experience untangling knotted hair mothering two little girls. Like I'd done with either Amanda or Melissa in such a condition, I began brushing at the very bottom of the strands, remembering to take my time not to pull.
A miraculous thing happened to me as I started brushing that old man's hair. Everybody else in the room disappeared. There was no one alive for
those moments except that old man and me. I brushed and I brushed and I brushed until every tangle was out of that hair. I know this sounds so
strange, but I've never felt that kind of love for another soul in my entire life. I believe with all my heart, I - for that few minutes - felt
a portion of the very love of God. That He had overtaken my heart for a little while like someone renting a room and making Himself at home for a
short while.
The emotions were so strong and so pure t hat I knew they had to be God's. His hair was finally as soft and smooth as an infant's.
I slipped the brush back in the bag and went around the chair to face him. I got back down on my knees, put my hands on his knees and said, "Sir, do you know my Jesus?"
He said, "Yes, I do." Well, that figures, I thought. He explained, "I've known Him since I married my bride. She wouldn't marry me until I got to know the Savior." He said, "You see, the problem is, I haven't seen my bride in months. I've had open-heart surgery, and she's been too ill to come see me. I was sitting here thinking to myself, what a mess I must be for my bride."
Only God knows how often He allows us to be part of a divine moment when we're completely unaware of the significance. This, on the other hand, was
one of t hose rare encounters when I knew God had intervened in details only He could have known. It was a God moment, and I'll never forget it.
Our time came to board, and we were not on the same plane. I was deeply ashamed of how I'd acted earlier and would have been so proud to have
accompanied him on that aircraft.
I still had a few minutes, and as I gathered my things to board, the
airline hostess returned from the corridor, tears streaming down her cheeks. She said, "That old man's sitting on the plane, sobbing. Why did
you do that? What made you do that?"
I said, "Do you know Jesus? He can be the bossiest thing!"
And we got to share.
I learned something about God that day. He knows if you're exhausted, you're hungry, you're serving in the wrong place or it is time to move on
but you feel too responsible to budge. He knows if you're hurting or feeling rejected. He knows if you're sick or drowning under a wave of temptation. Or He knows if you just need your hair brushed. He sees you as an individual. Tell Him your need!
I got on my own flight, sobs choking my throat, wondering how many opportunities just like that one had I missed along the way . . all because I didn't want people to think I was strange. God didn't send me to that old man. He sent that old man to me.
John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth"
Life shouldn't be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather, to skid in
broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly shouting, "Wow! What a ride! Thank You, Lord!"
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KNOCK, KNOCK...
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Posted:Apr 25, 2008 6:54 am
Last Updated:Jun 1, 2008 5:07 pm 5763 Views
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A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door.
Therefore, he took out his business card and wrote "Revelation 3:20" on the back of it and stuck it in the door.
When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, "Genesis
3:10."
Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter. Revelation 3:20 begins "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." Genesis 3:10 reads, "I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked."
"A cheerful heart is good medicine" (Prov. 17:22)
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Holiness... What are you allowing into your eye gate, ear gate, mouth gate?
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Posted:Apr 24, 2008 10:03 am
Last Updated:Apr 25, 2008 6:56 am 9154 Views
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I just love this segment of scripture in Haggai:
Hag 2-17
And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.
The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.
In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,
If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No. (holiness is NOT contagious)
Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean. (unholiness IS contagious)
Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.
God has been speaking to me about holiness for years. Years ago I devoured a book on the subject by Francis Frangipane and it really stuck in my spirit. God is calling for a bride that is pure and without spot or blemish.
We must get off the fence of lukewarm Christianity and choose the right path that leads towards God.
We can (are allowed or have the freedom to) do the things of the world, television, movies, video games, etc. but what God has impressed so strongly to my spirit, is do these things really lead me to and bless God. What kinds of things am I allowing in my eye gate, my ear gate? Unholiness IS contagious. If we allow ourselves to be exposed... it will eventually rub off on us.
Last week on a business trip to California I was surrounded by a number of unbelievers. I cringed every time they cussed or claimed that they didn't believe the Bible was true, or talked about the things of the world (name dropping), etc... I knew it was not my place to say anything (don't cast your pearls before swine), but by the end of my trip I knew I was using stronger language that I would normally use and it soon as the word left my lips I felt the holy spirit grieve. (And it wasn't even a swear word)
Unholiness is contagious.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10:31
My real passion is diet. God has called me to teach people how to eat in a way that it blesses God. It is very simple... eat the things that HE made... avoid the things that He did not (things that are man made). The things that God made are: fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, lentils, dairy, clean meats, etc.
God did not make:
aspartame, chemical preservatives (nitrates, etc,), food dyes, Olestra, high fructose corn syrup, antibiotics, rBGH, perchlorate, pesticides, partially hydrogenated oils, GMO foods and most anything that has a shelf life over a couple of weeks or months (unless properly prepared like dried beans or grains). He did not even make sugar (it is so highly processed)! He made sugar cane and sugar beets. He did make honey (and stevia) for us to enjoy (in moderation) according to Proverbs 25:16 and 27.
These things (man-made chemicals) that we are putting into our mouth gate do not bless God and therefore cannot bless our bodies and health.
Duet 28 tells us that health is a blessing. We also know that blessings follow obedience.
Genesis 1:29-30 tells us "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creeps upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
Be holy for I am holy.
Lev 20 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.
Lev 20:26 And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.
1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
If God didn't make it, don't eat it...
What are you putting in your mouth gate?
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