1 Corinthians 13:8, 13

“8. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away

13. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

A lot of things in life are shaky. Things you depend on break down or become unreliable. People you love may disappoint or let you down. Jobs and homes are lost. People May pass away from our lives. The list is endless.

One thing is certain, the love of God remains constant. It never fails, it never changes. We can depend on it. God’s love is always there to prove comfort and strength. It’s there to rebuke and correct. It’s there to provide provision of all types.

God’s love does not change when I am disobedient, act out, or outright fail him. It is always there. Knowing this gives me comfort and pushes me to do better, and be better.

My prayer is that this thought brings comfort to you too!

Matthew 18: 21-35

We learn to let go for our own peace of mind and well-being.

The purpose of fasting is to willingly snd humbly deny something of the flesh to glorify God, enhance our spirit, and go deeper in our prayer life. We fast gain deeper fellowship with God.

By definition, to fast is to abstain from all or some kinds of food or drink, especially as a religious observance.

Consecration is the action of making or declaring something, typically a church, sacred.

Growing up, the month of February was also know as “prayer and fasting” month. The church would focus corporately on seeking to draw closer to God. Each person would freely give up something they loved to do/eat and spend at least 1 full hour daily with God in prayer and reading the word of God. Turning our focus and attention to God.

This is a worthy tradition that has merit and great benefit to the body of Christ as a whole. Especially in the times we live in. It is necessary to do some self searching and do what we can to bring peace and love back to our lives. God has the answer that he will glad share with people who have a mind to hear and obey. We must get into the place where we can hear. That requires us to quiet every voice that is not God in our lives, so we can hear and receive from Him.

Take a moment to consider what sacrifice you are willing to make for God. What are you willing to give up for God for the month of February? Then consecrate time for the purpose of seeking God. The benefits you receive will greatly outweigh any sacrifice.

Bringing the miraculous goodness of God from abstract knowledge to an inward witness/confirmation.

We are testify of God’s goodness. Sharing what he as done for us so others might be able to overcome what they are facing (Revelations 12:11).

My testimony:

I was told that I was facing bilateral knee replacements unless I made some changes. I was told that all the fluids that were supposed to be in my knees was almost gone and I was close to bone on bone. Sorry, I don’t know all the technical terminology.

I work in Short Term Disability so I have a lot of experience when people have this surgery. I was (still am) determined not to have to go this route. So the first thing I did was to go get a gym membership. I started out exercising 2-3 times per week. I had some slight improvement because I began to feel better. But I still had a lot of pain and inflammation. Not just in my knees but other joints as well.

So I began to seek a God about my healing and how to eat and be healthy. I was so specific in my prayers that I asked God to show me what foods to eat and which to avoid.

God is so good that be began to give me dreams about avoiding certain foods and food additives that I never even heard of. But it started me on the research kick. To find out which foods this particular additive was in (cellulose, just in case you wanted to know). The next thing God did was to encourage me to eat specific foods (root vegetables) and again I did research.

In obedience to God’s command today I do know have any knee joint pain and no longer suffer from inflammation in my joints. But most miraculously, I went to the doctor again and had updated X-ray on my knees and the fluid level in my knee has improved. I could actually see the space between my bones and feel so much better in my body.

I continue to seek God daily because I am expecting a total healing in my body from every ailment. What he has already done just encourages me even more to know that he will complete the work he has already begun in my body.

What is your testimony? Please feel free to share.

Luke 22:19

“In your patience possess ye your souls.”

By definition, patience is the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.

We all have petitions before God. We have asked him for somethings. We serve a God who told us to ask so we can receive, to seek and we shall find, and to knock so the door can be opened (Matthew 7:7). The same God who parted the Red Sea, who healed the sick, raised the dead, and caused money to be found in the fishes mouth (Matthew 7:24-27), is the same God we serve. He is a way maker and miracle worker. So don’t sweat it. God’s got your back. Just be patient. He is working on your behalf.

Once you have made your petition, rest in Praise – be patient. Wait on God. Don’t give up, don’t give in. Know that your obedience has been noticed by God and your blessings are on the way.

Praise is integral in the life of every believer.

Psalms 100 tells us that how we are to come to God. Psalms 150 gives us the command to praise with details.

Let’s take a look:

Psalms 150

“1. Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.

2. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.

3. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.

4. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

5. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.

6. Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

The command to praise was given in verse 1 and reiterated in the latter portion of verse 6.

Verse 1 tells use where to praise him. Verse 2 tells us why we praise him. Verses 3-5 tells us what to use to praise him. Finally. Verse 6 tells us who should praise him.

Taking a closer look: by definition “firmament” is the heavens or the sky, especially when regarded as a tangible thing. A sphere or world viewed as a collection of people.

1. We are commanded to praise. We are instructed where to praise him. Not just in the sanctuary (or church), but everywhere (the world).

2. We are told why we should praise him – for the things he has done; because he is a great God.

3. We are told what we should use to praise him. Notice that among the instruments listed your body is also included (dance). Praise is a very physical thing and requires the use of your whole body. Your mouth, your mind, your heart, your arms, legs, and feet – you are a powerful weapon of praise.

4. Finally we are told who should praise him. Everything that has breath. That encompasses everybody. We are all to give God praise. No one is excluded from the command.

Praise is probably the most overlooked weapon every believer has at their disposal. And it is a mighty weapon at that. Praise accomplishes 2 very important things immediately: it brings God’s presence in the middle of your situation (Psalms 22:3), and it confuses the enemy (2 Chronicles 20:22). The enemy will not be able to understand why you are joyous when you are going through tests, trials, persecutions, etc. with a praise for God on your lips and in your heart. Praise will cause the enemy to defeat himself when he comes against you.

Praise magnifies God in your situation and diminishes the enemy. Praise works to lighten your load and eases every burden. Your praise brings the God’s presence. Where light is darkness has to flee. Peace abides.

It is a weapon that can be used at any time. You can always take a praise break in your heart and mind. Especially when you are in a situation where verbalizing the words are not in order. But we can praise God in our hearts at all times.

Praise is essential for every believer. If you don’t classify yourself as a “praiser “ give it a try. Not only is it a command of God, but is is a stress reliever, a faith strengthener, and a peace bringer. There are only benefits to praising God, no draw backs.

Romans 8:28

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

We are built to withstand pressure, not to buckle underneath it. Yes, there are times when the thing you fear or dread happens. Times when friends and loved ones betray us. Causing so much pain that you feel you can’t make it. But you must remember there is always purpose behind the pain.

Many suffer horrible childhood traumas that may carry into their adult life. But we serve a God who has an anointing that can break and destroy every yolk. There is nothing you can ever good through that God cannot heal you from. We do not have a complete “why” for the things we go through. Suffice it to say we live in a world where sin has a hold on. But God is so good that we are not left with our hope. We have a way through it. And it is in God.

As you serve God, we must learn to give all these things to God. We must learn to pour out all these feelings to God- be open and expose them to God. Be transparent before God. Yes, he already knows. But in your “telling God about it” you are able to remove the burden of secrecy. Continuing to keep the secrets of your past also keeps you in bondage to it. It also gives power to the person, place, or thing that caused your wound. When we are honest before God we make it possible for Him to salve and heal your wounds, to mend your broken heart.

In the end you are made whole. You have a deeper and stronger relationship with God. Most importantly, you are in a position to be a catalyst for someone else’s healing and deliverance. You are free now to share your testimony to the glory of God. Making what satan designed to destroy you, be the very thing that God uses to propel you to the place where he can use you.

Romans 8:28, does not say that everything that you face, have gone through or will go through are good. It simply says that they will work together FOR your good. You just have to have a survivors attitude, not a victims attitude. What is the difference? The survivor does not focus attention on what happened, they realize that the made it through. Yes, there are scars and wounds, but they made it. While the victim chooses to relive the trauma and cover they wounds and scars, hiding them from the opinions of people. Either way, God is able to heal, deliver, and set free. However, your attitude reflects where you are. You must be willing to be set free.

Realize that there is a purpose behind your pain. In the end God will get the glory out of your life.

Galatians 6:9

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. “

Sometimes, life is hard. We face challenging situations or times that are so hard that you don’t think you will make it through.

But remember there are also good times. Times when things are going great. It is during these good times where the seeds we sow are so important. The fruits from these seeds sustain us when times are so tough it seems hard to even pray.

Remain faithful to God, and do what he has give you to do to the best of your ability. God knows and understands you. Your seasons and times are in his hands. He has blessed your seeds that are sown in obedience.

Hard times come to show you God’s goodness and grace. Trust God through the bad and tough times just as you do during the good and easy times. His faithfulness is always sure and true. He will never fail.

It is your season. Trust God for the manifestation of it. Don’t run, don’t hide, and don’t be fearful. There is light in your tunnel. Move towards it.

Have a blessed day!!

John 1:4

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

Throughout the book fo John we see that Jesus is the life giver.

⁃ John 5:26 shows that God is life. When Jesus came he put this same life in him, to be the source of life to all who would receive him.

⁃ John 10:10 tells us that Jesus came to give us abundant life.

⁃ John 11:25 tells us Jesus is the resurrection and the life-he can bring life to things that many believe to be dead.

⁃ John 14:6 Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life – life that leads to God is in him only.

So what is life? Life is the difference between living and dead. It includes the Capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change. It is vitality, vigor or energy.

When Jesus saves us, he transforms us from death to life. He infuses us with the life that the father gave him according to John 5:26.

GROWTH

From the life that Jesus gives us, we are built continually grow in him. Only living things can grow. Where there is no growth, there is no life.

There is no limit on our growth. The more we seek him, the more we will grow in him.

REPRODUCTION

We are built to reproduce – make disciples of men. From that which God has poured into us, we are to pour into others. This should be a never ending cycle. When we stop pouring out, we tie the hands of God.

How? Because our cup remains full. It is not until we share what is in our cup that we make room for more. If you ever get to the point where you can not get a word from God, check your cup. It may be too full. You may need to give out what you have so you can get a fresh word from God.

Functional Activity

We are built for a purpose and we are built to work. The life that God gives us creates purpose in each of us. As God reveals his purpose for our lives we are then required to work in the purpose. We are designed to be useful, not just to sit on the seat of do nothing. Knowledge is nothing until it is practically applied to life. We must fulfill our purpose.

If you don’t know your purpose, seek God. He will reveal himself. Generally speaking if you have a passion for a thing, that may just be your purpose. But you will not know for sure until God reveals it to you. Seek him!!

CONTINUAL CHANGE

God designed us to change, continually. We need to be who God needs us to be, when he needs it. As we walk in our purpose, we may find that the way we were doing things is no longer effective under the current circumstances. That is okay, God designed you to change. Alter the way you do things to fit into the current flow of the spirit of God.

There is nothing sadder than a man or woman of God who is unable to move with the flow of the spirit. To be stuck in the traditions of men, rather than follow God as he leads. The word remains the same – unchanged. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever. This will never change. However, the flow of ministry will. Be obedient to the voice of God. Don’t worry about the opinions of man. Move as God does.

VITALITY, VIGOR, ENERGY

Everything we do for Christ should be done with excitement. We are lively stones. Who wants to be bored? No one. If you are not excited about what God is doing, who do you expect to be drawn? Excitement is contagious. Allow the life of God to flow from your body and infuse the work he has given you to do. Fulfill your purpose or the work of God with vitality, vigor, and energy.

— — — —

We only get one life to live on this earth. The life that God gives equips us to do it big, and in a manner that fulfills us individually and pleases him. We are to live a life that will impact nations long after we are gone. All we have to do is to submit to God and let his will be done through us.

This is the life that God gives!

Have a blessed day.