Teaching the uncompromising Word of God from the Bible and Prophetic Messages
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A friend of mine sent this to me, feel free to pass it along. I found it to be a great word for thought and stress reduction ... Be blessed and be a blessing,
A lecturer when explaining stress management to an audience, Raised a glass of water and asked 'How heavy is this glass of water?'
Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.
The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it.
If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'
He continued, 'And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, As the burden becomes increasingly heavy, We won't be able to carry on. '
'As with the glass of water, You have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.'
'So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, Let them down for a moment if you can.'
Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life: * Accept that some days you're the pigeon, And some days you're the statue.
* Always keep your words soft and sweet, Just in case you have to eat them.
* Always wear stuff that will make you look good If you die in the middle of it.
* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be Recalled by their maker.
* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, It was probably worth it.
* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.
* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, Because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
* Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
* Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.
* The second mouse gets the cheese.
* When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have,the longer you live.
* You may be only one person in the world, But you may also be the world to one person.
* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
* We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you today... I did.
Much Needed Closure to the Bentley/Lakeland "Revival"
Even as I post this installment for all to read and give ourselves a "heart check", asking the Lord to check us as well and then quicken our spirits and souls if we need to repent, I am encouraged to see leaders who knew something was wrong, who didn't speak out doing so now. It is time for healing of a great wound. Bishop Susan
The Needed Closure on Todd Bentley (Note from Jan: Pastor Chris Elrod, Sr. Pastor, Compass Point Church, Lakeland, Florida, sums up the Todd Bentley scenario. None of us who were sounding warnings take delight in this closure. Yet we are relieved that fewer will now be harmed by another "counterfeit revival." - Jan Markell)
As I was on my way home from South Carolina last Thursday night, I got "the call." My friend and fellow Lakeland pastor let me know that the news about Todd Bentley -- the news that had circulated around Lakeland for weeks -- was finally about to break. For months it had been rumor with very little hard facts to back it up. Local church leaders had been hearing things about Todd and Ignited Church that caused us to question even more the validity of the "revival."
Then the truth began to come out bit by bit, first to Lakeland and then to the world, and now Todd's wife was in Canada getting help while he was "floating around" the United States trying to get his head together. Yes, Todd was legally separating from his wife. Yes, there was another woman involved. Yes, this was not the first time Todd had been involved with another woman.
Yes, Todd and Ignited Church had failed to address concerns -- many being voiced by their own denomination and people who support such outpourings -- about the heresy being preached and displayed at the "revival." Yes, there was not one single medical document to prove that any healing had actually taken place.
As the fallout continues and more facts are beginning to emerge about everyone involved with this mess, I have begun to ask myself some pretty hard questions. Did I handle this correctly?
When the first news began to break around here about Todd, healings, and the revival, I went to see it for myself. In all, I attended four separate "revival" meetings over a two-month period. I also watched countless hours of the events on the Internet. I witnessed Todd hollering "BAM" a lot. I witnessed "verification teams" in the parking lot carefully choosing people deemed candidates for "healing" while turning many others down. I watched ushers push ill children away from the stage area because they had not been preapproved for "healing."
I heard stories about pixie-dust-spreading angels and conversations with the Apostles in some abstract heavenly cabin. I saw leg drops, high kicks, head punches, and every other Wrestlemania cliche under the sun. I heard anonymous crazy stories about people being healed and others being raised from the dead. I heard and saw many strange things -- but nothing that even remotely kept with sound doctrine. Every biblical-discerning bone in my body showed me that there was nothing going on at the "revival" that was in keeping with God's Word.
I began to speak out against the revival, Todd, and Ignited Church, to our people. Mainly it was through our Journey Groups, one-on-one conversations, phone calls, and e-mails. However, I was advised by several other pastors not to speak out against it publicly because "I might be speaking against something that God is actually doing" (I wasn't questioning God -- I was questioning Todd). I never addressed it from the pulpit because our podcast is heard by hundreds of people all over the world. I never blogged about it because I get a 1,000+ hits on a normal day.
I dodged the questions about the revival in recent radio interviews I did in other parts of the United States. Finally, I refused to answer the hundreds of e-mails I got about the "revival" from other folks all over the world. In essence, I protected my flock from the three-ring circus and hoopla but did nothing to protect the Body of Christ as a whole.
Hindsight they say is 20/20. It now turns out that all of the rumors were true. It now turns out that the scriptural discernment was correct. It now turns out that this was the same craziness without accountability that the leadership of the sponsoring church is known for. The three-ring circus has been packed up, the tents have been taken down, and the moral failure has been announced. Everyone involved is pushing back, and thousands of hurting people are left questioning God and their salvation.
The question that I now have to ask myself and the question that will haunt me for quite a while is this. Did I sit on the sidelines while the playing field burned? Should have I blogged about it and spoken out about it publicly -- done more to get the word out to the rest of the world that this whole thing was about Todd and not God? I took care of my own house -- but should I have done more to take care of the entire neighborhood?
Charismatic leader Dutch Sheets also humbled himself stating, "My assignment from the Lord is to repent on behalf of the leadership of the Charismatic Body of Christ. We have failed the Lord and His people in many ways. We must repent if we are to be trusted in the future. We, the leaders of the Charismatic community, have operated in an extremely low level of discernment. Frankly, we often don't even try to discern. We assume a person's credibility based on gifts, charisma, whether they can prophesy, or work a miracle."
NOTE FROM JAN: I am glad that these two leaders have been brave enough to speak out. Let's hope that many other leaders will follow in their steps and lead their followers to test ALL things and not just follow every wind of doctrine.
Living in eastern Africa taught me to appreciate all of God's creation. What I would normally thought to be weeds became lunch and/or dinner. Plants growing on fences, which I looked very much like American house plants, were used as "greens" and excellent for fighting high sugar conditions. (Caution--do not try this on your own.) One day a house girl went out into the yard and began pulling up rows and rows of weeds. Instead of putting them on the garbage pile for burning, she placed them by the back door. She had my curiosity being newly African. Slowly and methodically she pulled leaves from the vines, discarding those she deemed to be too tough. It didn't matter if the bugs had eaten through some of the leaves or that the chickens had pecked away; they went into the pot to be washed, cooked, and eaten. The leaves now boiled down to a soft consistency, mixed with the every familiar cooked onions and tomatoes were served for dinner. Some were sweet, others were somewhat bitter, and some were absolutely excellent! Coming back to the States, it was important for me to continue in my weight loss and balance in life. I was able to loose almost 75-pounds in the year that I lived there. Fresh food, no preservatives, nor processed food.
Before Africa, salads were not on the top of my list of good foods. Coming back, there wasn't enough lettuce, greens, and tomatoes. Nothing would satisfy me except a plate of green something. I missed the fresh fruit. I missed that ability to purchase a whole pineapple for about 35 cents in the market or side of the road, instead of the $4.00 in the supermarket. Having the buying power of tomatoes five for 25 cents, huge avocados for about 8 cents a piece, and big yams four or five for 25 cents. And by the way, no butter on anything. I began to really get the concept of what God had put into the Garden of Eden for man to live on for a long and healthy life. My body never felt so good. Problems I had before I left like migraines and painful joints were not even thought of with a change of diet.
I began to look at other things that had changed as well. My focus on people became more intent, their needs and welfare, how to motivate them to become empowered instead of a begging mentality. Deuteronomy 28 became more than just important; it became a banner to those who really wanted change in their lives.
James 4:3 We have not because we ask not, or we ask amiss. What a great word for change. As a world society we have such stark differences and yet at the core, we are the same. We are the same in our need to be loved, to be acknowledged, and our desire for better.
I brought back the jean pants that I wore to Africa. People can't believe that I used to be "that big". Sometimes I can't either (smile). But the reality of it is this: I was that big. I did think differently. I did act differently, and I did want change. It wasn't because I didn't have resources in Africa. The change came because of environment and a closer walk with God. There my life literally depended upon my staying in the Father's lap in prayer and intercession. I will tell you some stories at a later time.
It didn't take staying in my house on my knees. It was my mind that stayed on the Lord continually. My focus wasn't on loosing weight; my focus was on serving God. Back in the States my weight went up a few pounds, but have maintained the same size dress size since. It is my mental and spiritual focus that I refuse to have altered back to a previous status.
We are what we eat is oh so true, physical, mental, and spiritual. Today, I encourage you to begin a new diet--Whole Heart Diet. make a list of what you put in your mouth, the intake of your eyes and ears, and prayer language. Make a detailed list, and just like some of the food diets, keep a list during the day of what you take in. You will be amazed at how fast you become attuned to song lyrics, music of all kinds, billboards, articles, any reading materials. And most importantly, stay focused on the Bible. Your whole being will be greatly affected. You will loose weight in the areas that have become too large and worldly, your spiritual weight will increase that will automatically decrease your mind and body. Today is the best day of your life--make the most of it--change comes one step at a time.
For other resources go to my website: www.mudministries.org for free downloads
Whole Heart Diet Workbook (Available as free download September)
Scriptures For Fitness (Available as free download September)
Keep checking back, more downloads are added regularly
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After you have been on the "diet" for a couple of weeks, please let me know how you're doing by sending me an email here
I am excited for today, MONDAY. No longer do I dread the beginning of the week, looking only to the weekend. Everyday is a bright and excellent day to be challenged, to receive favor and overcome challenges.
I choose to magnify--expand--put the spotlight on understanding.
You might think that is a strange thing but think about it. King Solomon was known as the wisest man in all the world, and in the Proverbs2:3-6 he says:
"Yea, if you cry after knowledge, and lift up you voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hid treasures; Then shall you understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God."
Let's look for understanding in our conversations, in our places of employment, in our ministries, and most importantly in our personal relationships so that we also find knowledge and have wisdom--because we seek understanding.
Be blessed and be a blessing through understanding.
A friend of mine sent this via email ... and I listened to the entire 35 minute video (the first video) ... well worth the time. I then went to YouTube and found the other two and many others.
In March 2008, many of you know I had received a prophetic message that within 7 months something so horrendous was going to hit the US that it would make 9/11 small. Well, after listening to this, with the other prophetic messages, the hair on my neck stood up.
Please listen to it and there are other videos out by George Green (just google) and you can get other information.
For instance, air line ticket offices will not issue you an immediate ticket as in the past, if you are flying out of the US. There is a waiting period to check your name against terrorists lists before they will confirm you a ticket. You must give your passport number at the time of booking for them to check you out. Bishop Susan **************
Chris North wrote:
I don't know whether you have heard of George Green, but he is a former investment banker (Registered Financial Principal with the N.A.S.D.) and a Broker/Dealer, Securities Underwriter, Real Estate Developer, Insurance Broker and Publisher, who was invited to become a member of the 'Power Elite'. However, faced with a moral and ethical dilemma, he turned his back on his former associates and chose to walk an entirely different path in which he has tried to warn the world of the Power Elite's plans for the future.
Anyway, my attention was drawn to a recorded telephone conversation, on July 16th 2008, between George Green and an as yet unidentified web interviewer from the 'Conscious News Network', at: <a href="http://www.consciousmedianetwork.com/news.htm">http://www.consciousmedianetwork.com/news.htm</a> . If you cannot access it there, it can also be found at: <a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7618947388652774139&q=George Green on the Economy&ei=jimJSIKTCIamrwLRqYW-Aw">http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7618947388652774139&q=George Green on the Economy&ei=jimJSIKTCIamrwLRqYW-Aw</a>
Although it is described as a 'video', as the content is audio only, the streaming is smooth and seam-free. However, knowing how busy you are (and just how little time there is left for the world), I have extracted the main points emphasized by George Green, which I have listed, without comment, as an Appendix to this email. In the event that you require clarification, having listened to this recording a half dozen times, I am familiar with all the 'nuances' and would be happy to oblige.
The bottom line is that Bush is now expected to introduce Martial Law on or before 30th September 2008
- since this date marks the end of the Fiscal Year, when revelations about the true state of the economy - and the questionable practices of the Federal Reserve - are likely to result in riots in the streets and stockbrokers, bankers and financiers throwing themselves off the roofs of their buildings! It is not certain what pretext Bush proposes to use to 'justify' the imposition of Martial Law, but keep an eye on any War Games scheduled to take place in September 2008. My own money is on a Fort Detrick created Flu Pand emic spread primarily by compulsory vaccination but, judging from the deliberate complexity and diversity of 9/11, we must be prepared for multiple false flag events to throw state government and the citizenry off balance.
1. At the beginning of July, the Bank of International Settlements in Switzerland, which is owned by the thirteen [Illuminati] Banking Families under Rothschild, stated that it wanted to audit the US Federal Reserve. Bush reluctantly had to agree to this, but with the proviso that the audit would not be conducted until he has left office. However, when the truth inevitably leaks out on 30th September 2008, clearly the Bank of International Settlements will no longer be prepared to accept the US Dollar.
2. With the realization that the Federal Reserve has been pumping two billion US Dollars a day into the economy in a forlorn effort to try to keep the US afloat, the US is now construed as 'the poor kid on the block', the 'bankrupt of the world' and nobody is prepared to lend them anything. Foreign governments have said 'We will no longer take your bonds'.
3. This situation has a worldwide repercussion: for example China, which is the biggest US creditor, has told US importers that they may not pay more then 20% of the total cost of their goods in US Dollars.
4. Also since t he beginning of July, Germany has announced that it will no longer accept Euros from eight of their fellow EU members, the two countries with which they are most concerned being Italy and Spain.
5. The Real Estate market is expected to go down by an additional 50% from its value on 16th August. Because of the collapse of the Real Estate market, which is expected to lead to at least a further two million foreclosures within the next 12 months, US Banks are no longer prepared to trust each other, so inter-bank lending has virtually ceased.
6. This has had a knock-on effect on would-be house purchasers. Like the old days, anyone who now wants to get a mortgage has to put 20% down and to satisfy the lender that their job is secure.
7. You may have seen Bush go on television to tell everyone not to worry asthe US Government-sponsored Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) will guarantee the safety of their bank deposits. However, the truth is that the FDIC can barely raise 30 cents on the dollar to cover its potential liabilities; and Bank of America and Wells Fargo are in a similar situation.
8. Banks have already started telling their depositors that they cannot withdraw their own cash.
9. It is universally accepted internationally that the US Dollar is going to collapse by the end of September 2008. Some foreign banks have already started to refuse to take US deposits and, since the Patriot Act, if you do manage to send money to a foreign bank, they are required to report the fact to the USG, who will make you prove how you obtained it and if you cannot do so, they will automatically label you a 'terrorist' or a 'drug dealer' and confiscate it.
10. The Bank of South America is trying to organize its own currency for use within the South American continent when the US Dollar finally crashes, based on an initial provision of eight billion dollars.
11. As at July 1st, the Japanese stock market was down 12%, the Australian stock market was down 18%, the German stock market was down 22%, the Indian stock market was down 36%; and China's Shanghai Exchange was down 50%.
12. Within the next year, the DOW is expected to fall to between 7500 and 8000.
13. Everyone is now desperately trying to get liquid; and Oil, Gold and Drugs have become the universally accepted world currencies.
14. The only sensible advice is either to change dollars into other currencies, or buy gold and silver (while you still can, because the US is likely to make it illegal to own gold); and stock up on canned food, the price of which is going to go through the roof. Alrea dy the major canners have reduced the size of cans by 20% to preserve stock whilst also maximizing their profits.
15. Already 80% of the cost of an apple in the rmarkets is energy costs; and this proportion is likely to rise. We have already started to see the situation where growers, producers and importers have stopped supplying many basic foodstuffs because the price of oil has meant that the cost of getting it to market is more than they can hope to sell it for. The food shortages that have resulted are likely to become even more acute because the USG is talking of introducing price controls. Who will be prepared to continue to supply the market when they are sustaining increasing losses?
16. The falling value of the dollar has created artificial shortages because other countries can now buy US goods cheaper than they can produce them themselves.
17. Inflation is expected to rise by 35 - 40% by the end of this year in real terms. Gasoline 5 Dollars a Gallon everywhere.
18. Following the collapse of the US Dollar, the Euro is also expected to collapse. In fact, Russia is already negotiating with Germany about a new currency.
19. The Iranian Oil Bourse was set up to trade oil internationally in Euros (see: <a href="http://www.energybulletin.net/node/12125">http://www.energybulletin.net/node/12125</a> ) but, just when the bourse was ready to go live, the submarine cables were conveniently cut.
20. You can forget about the NAU's Amero. The Amero is off the table - the Canadian Prime Minister said 'We're not going to support a bankrupt country'; and Mexico is so corrupt that nobody knows where they're coming from.
21. In the future, South America will be one of the safest areas on the planet. They have ample commodities and very little debt. Not everywhere is ideal (in some countries you would need to live in a defended compound). Ecuador is close to becoming self sufficient in food terms.
22. Kissinger and the population reduction crew are trying to get WW3 started before September 30th (end of the US Fiscal Year), then Bush can suspend everything. Israel and the US are working out the details to attack Iran to start WW3. The main reason for the use of Depleted Uranium munitions in Iraq is 'to cull the herd'.
23. Of the US population of 300 million, half are over 50 and most of the kids can't read or write. Sport and entertainment are what has been used to keep everyone going. When (rather than if) Bush calls a National Emergency, if you are over the age of 44 only if you have a use which 'they' want will 'they' be prepared to keep you alive. Moreover, what law will we have which says that we even own our own homes?
24. Everybody must downsize into small self-contained and (as far as possible) self-sufficient communities, People will have to forget their 'wants' and to concentrate solely on what they actually need to survive.
In short, we are marching towards our self- imprisonment. I'm ready to get out of harm's way. I know high ups who will tell me when it's time to leave.
Response to Email: Where Are The Christians Praying?
I received an email that asked some interesting questions, and also the sender requested that it be sent as a "Prayer Chain". Let me state for the record, I seldom if ever forward things to other people. Most of the time it is not researched and a lot of misinformation is sent along as factual. But this particular email caught my attention. It was sent to me by a friend, from a friend, from a friend … you get the drift. It deals with why Christians are allowing the Obama campaign to railroad Christians into dismay and giving up. I highly disagree. The following is a quote from the email:
"Why are we Christians settling and not issuing a battle cry and falling to our knees and taking our country back? We allow ourselves to be stripped of the right to pray at school functions and in school, we have the 10 commandments removed from government places and are told we cannot pray in school; all the while providing public prayer places for Muslims. What in the world is going on and why are we being apathetic? Why aren't we praying? Our God is a mighty God who is waiting patiently for us to raise our voices to heaven to stop the tide of the ant i-Christ actions in our world today. Now we find we have a charismatic candidate for president who does not respect our flag and refuses to wear one on his lapel except when it becomes politically expedient and whose own wife and pastor that he loves, profess to have strong anti-white feelings, and we sit back and say "it is a given, we can do nothing." There has never been a time in 2000 years that we can do nothing, never a time that we must sit back and allow the evil in men's and women's hearts to take over our world. We should be very afraid because our apathy is leading us to perdition."
Let's take this step-by-step for enlightenment and hopefully empowerment to the Christian community.
Where are the Christians falling on their knees… taking back our country?
Where have the Christians been who are complaining when the church held weekly prayer intercession for every issue on the planet?
Where were the moral majority when the pastor has said prayer this week, please come and join us for intercession
Where have the Christians been when the prophets have said, we need solemn assembly so that we can stave (keep off) the judgment of God before it is too late?
A person needs relationship in order to have a conversation of any length of meaning
Ten Commandments and School Prayer:
How many times have Christians said in church and out that we don't live under the "law"; consider the Ten Commandments to be Old Testament and therefore not part of today's New Testament
School Prayer was in another generation, so this generation of parents don't even know the value of it
After all they don't even come to church for weekly prayer
And if the prayer goes too long on Sunday feel that it is just another sermon
Our God is a mighty God who is waiting patiently for us to raise our voices to heaven to stop the tide of the anti-Christ actions in our world today
The spirit of anti-Christ has been in the world since the Garden of Eden, it is not new and different to this era
The truth of the matter is most Christians internationally and in the States do not believe that they have any power or authority over the enemy
Why? Because they don't know their Bible
Why? Because the churches are empty, opting for other types of entertainment
Entertainment? Yes, church has become watered down, feel good, jump up and down, Goosebumps experiences or it isn't a good service
Try teaching the consequences of sin and watch the next week when people stop coming to church—too much to handle, all that responsibility for self stuff
Obama does wear a flag pin; McCain wears a flag pin (I have proven it on social sites claiming Obama does not and McCain does—I have shown pictures of both with and without) That isn't even an issue!
Nor should it have been an issue over Obama taking the American flag off his plane except for the one that all American planes must have
Guess what, McCain has the same smaller flag and no tail flag
We are so into the small stuff that we miss the real points
Christians have a moral responsibility against abortion; both Obama and Clinton believe in abortion; McCain believes that life starts at conception
I have posted on my blog and elsewhere that fact that Obama's pastor is a friend and probably a closet Nation of Islam believer
Obama being in this Nation of Islam church with a mentor and friend for over 20 years says that he too is Nation of Islam
What is Nation of Islam? A black religion that says they can be Muslim or Christian, whichever is convenient at the moment. Even Islam proper disowns them as Muslim (do the research)
Unfortunately most of today's generation doesn't even know anything about this religious group. Think Malcolm X and Farrakhan
Do I believe we need to pray? Absolutely!
Do I believe that this nation (America) is going downhill in a hand basket? In many areas yes
Is it because we don't pray as a Body of Christ? Absolutely
Is it because we have watered down the cause of Christ to be of no meaning or little meaning in our lives and those of our family? Absolutely
Christianity is a lifestyle not a sermon
Christianity is living the life of a disciple, learning daily, putting off our former self for the mind of Christ
As to the original question where are the Christians falling on their knees? You determine where you are and do what you know to be truth and right. If you're not part of the solution, you don't get to ask the questions.
If you feel strongly about the power of prayer, get into small groups in your home, senior centers, playground, wherever you can meet. The Bible says that where 2-3 are gathered … well, God apparently knew that it was going to be difficult to get a whole bunch of people together. But he has said, come together even in small groups and pray, turn from our wicked and self-centered way and turn our faces (and hearts) towards Him and His word .. then he will heal our land—physically and spiritually
If you haven't been to an assembly of the faithful and righteous (that's called going to church) then please be encouraged to do so. If you don't know where to go, look for one that teaches the Bible. Don't go for entertainment and the thrill of singing—that is important but we must get the Word of God into our hearts so that we have a word in season.
When we're in that place and need to hear from God, we have the Word of God, the scriptures in us, so that we can bring them forth for our own encouragement.
Keep a prayer in your heart today. Pray for God to prune you first and get you into position for use by the Almighty. Stop looking at others until you are willing to get on the altar of sacrifice and submit all of you, totally everything about you before the Lord and allow him to prune you. Then you are in position to go into the Holy Place, and you will be led to pray for others instead of the bless me club of most prayer. You will become an intercessor for the world, and give praise and worship from your heart not the minister of worship on Sunday only.
Be much encouraged today, seek the Lord with all of your heart, mind, soul, and spirit. Be willing to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Be willing to offer all of you (body, mind, and spirit) unto the Lord for assessment. Ask Him to change you, to prune you, to make you a worthy vessel of honor in His service.
We can't "fall on our knees" if we are not willing to submit to the Almighty. Crisis praying is only for a season; intercession is a daily walk and talk.
I love the little choruses we learned as children about love, being happy, doing good, and especially appreciating all people. For the past few days I have been singing Jesus Loves the Little Children, All the children of the world. Yellow, Red, Black or White ... all are precious in His sight. Jesus loves all the children of the world.
My Monday Magnitude is to love the people of the world. I don't have to agree with everything they say or do, but I am commanded to "love my neighbor as myself." It is impossible to hate them and love me. It is impossible to have a Christ-like love for all of God's creation and has a dis-ease with others.
We don't have to agree on everything, and we have the right to peacefully disagree, but how can we, of any culture, hate another simply for being? The difference is Jesus and His love for me, is duplicated and multiplied in my affection for His creation ... My Monday Magnitude ... Jesus loves you and so do I.
Spread some Joyful Magnitude today on your blog. Get the code at here and join us around the met, be sure to link back here in the comments so more will see your joy
If I could make a movie out of this week, it would be called Opening Pandora's Box versus Godzilla meets Cinderella. All the characters were certainly in my life and fully acting out their parts. Do you ever have those days? Yeah, I know you do--we all do. But it is what we do with them that matters in the end.
Godzilla was truly an ugly character that was demanding his way, even when it wasn't the best for the team. Cinderella--oh my, so many were up for the part including me. You know Cinderella in the cinders cleaning, scraping, sweeping, doing the grunt work, still waiting for the Grand Gala.
The Bible says that the power of life and death are in the tongue, and that was Pandora's Box. People were responding without thinking to some very critical choices we were in the middle of sorting out. Frustrated because some things don't move as fast as they think they should, and frustrated that resources aren't as plentiful as desired and needed. That's when Godzilla erupted by a member of the team.
Sitting down afterward with an associate you has been my sounding board and armor bearer for almost 15-years patiently listened to me debrief my thoughts and own frustrations. At the end of the debriefing, we both realized that people are just great individuals going through a process called learning to communicate. In a previous column I spoke about the need for communication.
We had to communicate through phone lines to calm Godzilla down and demonstrate a Christ-like love and get them on our side so we could move forward. They are great people, well worth each syllable of word after word. In any team, we all take turns acting out the various parts of the play. This week I got to be the director, feeling like Cinderella before the dance.
At the end of the day, we either build a family team, business team, church team, or neighborhood team--it still comes down to working through the words and emotions behind them. So I have made a choice. Let me share it with you.
Here is this week's Magnitude (expansion, greater, explosive)
Most of us are reading and/or beginning the study of end-time prophecies, whether from a biblical perspective, Nostradamus, or other writings.
Perry Stone's Manna-Fest Program on www.voe.org this week spoke about the presidential election years. The feelings of confusion that seem to manifest as the election date draws near increases and then began to demonstrate historical lineage. Well, it's good to get understanding in all things, and listened with great interest. But my outcome is not one of concern because I know that with the right attitude and focus on Jesus, today is another Monday Magnitude!
So today, I choose to take the advice of God when he said, Consider your ways.
Today I choose to carefully consider my ways so that my future will be bright and with all good things. I will carefully consider my ways knowing that He directs my path into the ways of righteousness that brings me blessings.
Today I choose to expand or make the magnitude of my thoughts towards good choices, to be part of today and each day into a purposeful and deliberate future.
Haggai 1:5 "Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; consider your ways.
YOU make a difference to me and others!
THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE: Consider your ways, what character were you during the week and what was the best/worst about it? What have you considered changing?
Monday Magnitude August 11th -- Love and Joy --Consider Your Ways
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Expand the blessings of this day throughout the week--Let Love and Joy push away doubt and fear