Life's Hills and Valleys

Happy New Year! I pray you are thankful for all God seen you through in 2011 and that you are excited about what He is going to do in 2012.

"...but the land which you pass over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the Lord your God cares, the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year" (Deuteronomy 11:11-12).

We stand upon the verge of the unknown. There lies before us the new year and we are going forth to possess it.

Who can tell what we will find? What new experiences, what changes shall come, what new needs shall arise? But here is the cheering, comforting, gladdening message from our Heavenly PaPa God, "The Lord thy God cares for it. His eyes are upon it away to the ending of the year."

The land is a land of hills and valleys. It's not all smooth nor all downhill. If life were all one dead level, the dull sameness would oppress us. We want the hills and the valleys. The hill collects the rain for a hundred fruitful valleys.

So it is with us...it's the hill difficulty that drives us to the throne of grace and brings down the shower of blessing.

We cannot tell what loss, sorrow and trial are doing. Only trust. PaPa God comes near to take our hand and lead us on our way "today."

God promises...

Because of your unbelief, for assuredly I say to you, if you have faith of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "Move from here to there," and it will move and nothing will be impossible for you (Matthew 17:20).

You have to think BIG! Don't let ego, fears or failures stop you from thinking big.

Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20).

Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do, because I go My Father (John 14:12).

We have to start small (as a mustard seed). So often we focus on the size of our mountain, not the size of our God.

Unlock the promises of God in your life this New Year, He has so many for you. Go possess the land. It shall be a good and blessed year. God will bless you as you seek to know Him more fully this year.

"And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, Lord God, have not forsaken those who seek You (Psalm 9:10)."

How Jesus Handled Stress

When He called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" (Mark 8:34-37)

This doesn't say anything about following after man or man's ways. It says; Follow Me (Jesus).

Jesus came to give us a life of wholeness and fullness. He never run around in a panic. He was able to live at peace. He is our example, so how do we handle stress?

1. Identification: Know who you are. Children of God, His creation.

Jesus knew who He was. He spoke to the people and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won't have to walk in darkness because you will have the light that leads to life" (John 8:12).
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6).
Jesus replied, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall never hunger again (John 6:35).

Don't let others tell you who you are!

2. Motivation: Know who your living for. Most people like "stuff." Are you living for self, others, or God?

I of Myself can do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me (John 5:30).
And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him (John 8:29).

We can't be all things to all people. We all have expectations of who or what we are suppose to be. No one can pressure us without our permission. We don't have to live according to pressures and expectations of others.

There are amazing things God wants us to do. He is shaping us to do them.

He has given each of us SHAPE:

S-spiritual gifts
H-heart
A-abilities to perform
P-personalities
E-experiences

We all live for someone or something. Live for the right One.

3. Vocation: Know your calling. We are all called out to live different roles (we can't do it all). We are all unique and special.

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love...(Ephesians 4:1).

What is contributing to your calling? Do that. Use the gifts He has given you. Your personality and your experiences.

4. Concentration: Focus on what matters most. If satan can't get you to be bad, he will keep you busy, blurry, and distracted.

Jesus was focused, knew what He was called to do and did it confidently.

Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem...(Luke 9:51).

What we consider important usually doesn't matter for eternal purposes.

5. Meditation: Listen to God. Take the time to be alone with Father God, communicate (talk to) and listen. Give Him quality time.

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place, and there he prayed (Mark 1:35).

So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed (Luke 5:16).

Ask Him if He has anything to say to you, then LISTEN to Him. Don't let worldly things distract you.

6. Collaboration: Join a small group. Life is made for us to be together. We serve a relational God. Jesus modeled it.

Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons (Mark 3:14-15).

Believing you don't need anyone and thinking you can do it alone is selfish human pride.

7. Recreation: Take time to recharge, to rest your body.

And Jesus said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while" (Mark 6:31).

He makes me lie dow in green pastures, He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul...(Psalm 23: 2-3).

We need to make time to rest and relax. If we don't, God will make us one way or another.

8. Salvation: Give your life to Jesus Christ.

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

What drives your life? What causes you to do what you do? Are you driven by pressures of this world or by purpose, God's purpose? Do you realize your spiritual potential that lies within you?

Don't let the voices of this world drown out the "still small voice" of Jesus.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting ALL your care upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

Jesus doesn't want us living a life of pressure and stress. Find rest for your soul. Accept what He has done for you on the Cross.

Believe in Yourself

With the mundane routines of daily life, we sometimes forget how special we truly are. We don't remember our gifts and talents and we believe the lie that we are on this Earth merely existing. What we should do is bring into remembrance what God says about us. He calls us special, unique, original, blessed, inspired, lifted up and the apple of His eye. The Lord sees us much more highly than we sometimes see ourselves and we need to be reminded of how special we really are to Him. No matter the discouragements that come our way, we can learn the lesson, rise up from it and become better than we were before. (Zechariah 2:8) (Jeremiah 29:11)

By learning from the lessons of life, we can use what we've learned to better our life, to remain strong in the midst of other trials and to realize that God will not bring us to a situation unless He already knew that we were strong enough to overcome it. Be encouraged to see how loved you truly are. You are a strong individual who is well able to rise up again, be all that God made you to be and accomplish all that is within your heart. Believe in yourself as God believes in you and you will accomplish great things in this life. (Isaiah 54:17) (Ephesians 6:10)

Our purpose is to add the colors of Heaven to the sometimes grey world around us.

Whether you change sooner or later isn’t important, however. What is important is that you shine today. What matters is that you make this world a better and more loving place now. Let your true colors out. Share a smile. Give a hug. Say a kind word. Feed the hungry. Visit the lonely. Comfort the crying. Care for the hurting. Show others just how much God loves them from the life you lead. Then your soul will glow like the leaves of Heaven.

May this message encourage and challenge your heart to believe in yourself again. See how special you are. Revive the gifts within you to bless your life as well as the lives of those around you.

Psalm 103:1-5 “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.”

Making the Most of Your Mind

Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds (any false idea that controls your mind such as fear, guilt, envy, impatience). We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

• Don’t believe everything you think. “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) There are things that come to our mind that’s just not true. We have an amazing ability to lie to ourselves. Our brain tells our eyes what to see. It’s important what we put into our minds.

• Guard your mind against garbage. “A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash.” (Proverbs 15:14) Good food gives good results-bad foods give toxins with bad results. Whatever you resist persists. Focus on good. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil.) “I will not look at anything wicked. I hate those who turn against you, they will not be found near me.” (Psalm 101:3) (Philippians 4:6-8)

• Never let up on learning. “Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge.” (Proverbs 18:15) Become a questioner…ask questions! “Wise people treasure knowledge, but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.” (Proverbs 10:14) Even a broken clock is right twice a day… ”Those who get wisdom do themselves a favor, and those who love learning will succeed.” (Proverbs 19:8)

• Renew your mind daily with God’s Word. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, His good, pleasing, and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you.” (Isaiah 26:3) We need daily encouragement with the Word of God.

• Let God stretch your imagination. “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17) “Now glory be to God, who by His mighty power at work within us is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think (infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes). May He be given glory forever and ever through endless ages because of His master plan of salvation for the church through Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1Peter 1:13) You have to have a dream, a vision! God will always give us what we need to accomplish His purpose.

How can You Know Your Destiny?

How Can We Know Our Destiny?
The story of Esther

First we must recognize the gift that God has given us to use. “Hegai was very impressed with Esther and treated her kindly. He quickly ordered a special menu for her and provided her with beauty treatments. He also assigned her seven maids specially chosen from the king’s palace, and he moved her and her maids into the best place in the harem” (Esther 2:9) “And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her” (Esther 2:15b). “And the king loved Esther more than any of the other young women. He was so delighted with her that he set the royal crown on her head and declared her queen instead of Vashti” (Esther 2:17)

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

What has God given you to use for good?

We must identify the needs that stir our heart. “When Queen Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, she was deeply distressed” (Esther 4:4a).

What needs do you see around you that disturb you?

We must take the time to hear God’s call on our life. Mordecai sent this reply to Esther. Don’t think for a moment that because your in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14).

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same” (Esther 4:15-16a).

When will you take time to listen?

We must make a faith commitment. “And then, though it is against the law, I will go see the king. If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16b).

What faith commitments will you make?

THE (SCIENTIFIC) DEATH OF JESUS

May His love embrace your heart. May His eternal light guide your path. May his sacrifice strengthen your soul.

At the age of 33, Jesus was condemned to the death...

At the time crucifixion was the "worst" death. Only the worst criminals were condemned to be crucified. Yet it was even more dreadful for Jesus, unlike other criminals condemned to death by crucifixion Jesus was to be nailed to the cross by His hands and feet.

Each nail was 6 to 8 inches long. The nails were driven into His wrist. Not into His palms as is commonly portrayed. There's a tendon in the wrist that extends to the shoulder. The Roman guards knew that when the nails were being hammered into the wrist that tendon would tear and break, forcing Jesus to use His back muscles to support himself so that He could breathe.

Both of His feet were nailed together. Thus He was forced to support Himself on the single nail that impaled His feet to the cross. Jesus could not support himself with His legs because of the pain so He was forced to alternate between arching His back then using his legs just to continue to breathe. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the
suffering, the courage. Jesus endured this reality for over 3 hours. Yes, over 3 hours!

Can you imagine this kind of suffering? A few minutes before He died, Jesus stopped bleeding. He was simply pouring water from his wounds. From common images we see wounds to His hands and feet and even the spear wound to His side...But do we realize His wounds were actually made in his body. A hammer driving large nails through the wrist, the feet overlapped and an even large nail hammered through the arches, then a Roman guard piercing His side with a spear. But before the nails and the spear Jesus was whipped and beaten. The whipping was so severe that it tore the
flesh from His body. The beating so horrific that His face was torn and his beard ripped from His face. The crown of thorns cut deeply into His scalp. Most men
would not have survived this torture.

He had no more blood to bleed out, only water poured from His wounds.

The human adult body contains about 3.5 liters (just less than a gallon) of blood.
Jesus poured all 3.5 liters of his blood; He had three nails hammered into His members; a crown of thorns on His head and, beyond that, a Roman soldier who stabbed a spear into His chest...

All these without mentioning the humiliation He suffered after carrying His own
cross for almost 2 kilometers, while the crowd spat in his face and threw stones (the cross was almost 30 kg of weight, only for its higher part, where His hands were
nailed).

Jesus had to endure this experience, to open the Gates of Heaven, so that you can have free access to God. So that your sins could be "washed" away. All of them, with no exception!

Don't ignore this situation. JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU!

Accept the reality, the truth that JESUS IS THE ONLY SALVATION FOR THE WORLD.

God has plans for you, show all your friends what He experienced to save you. Now think on this! May God bless your life!

"Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before My Father in heaven; but whosoever denies Me before others, I also will deny before My Father in heaven" (Matthew 10:32-33).

I love God. He is my source of life and my Savior. He keeps me alive day and night.
Without Him, I am nothing, but with Him "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).

Have a Happy easter and may God richly bless you!

Blessed or Stressed - Your Choice

Blessed is the man who listens to Me, watching DAILY at My gates, waiting at the posts of My doors (Proverbs 8:34).

God promises to bless our life if we "meet with Him DAILY." A necessary component to having an intimate relationship with Him.

God promises to bless our life if we study and obey His Word. We will be like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers (Psalm 1:1-3).

"But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it" (James 1:25).

God promises to bless our life if we tithe our income. Ouch!
He wants what our money represents - our heart. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21).

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it" (Malachi 3:10)

Tithe if you love Jesus, any one can honk a horn...

God promises to bless our life if we help others with their needs.
"He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor" (Proverbs 22:9).
Good people bless and build up their city, but the wicked can destroy it with their words" (Proverbs 11:11).

God promises to bless our life if we share the Good News!
"I pray you be active in sharing your faith, so that you will fully understand every blessing we have in Christ" (Philemon 1:6)
"The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work" (1 Corinthians 3:8).

God promises to bless our life if we participate in fellowship. God uses His people. Don't do life alone!
"I'm eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other" (Romans 1:12).

"Now that you know these things, God will bess you for doing them" (John 13:7).

We all need room for growth. At first it feels funny, but it is worth it! Walk in His ways, experience God's fulfillment of His promises in your life. All His promises are YES and AMEN.