Walk In It

1 John 2:27
King James Version

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.




The anointing is one of the most important things in our life
and ministry. It causes us to have supernatural ability and
strength. The anointing is God's power, His ability resting on
us to help us do things with ease that would otherwise be hard.

One of Satan's greatest tricks is getting us to run around trying to
get something we already have.

Every one of us has a purpose, a gifting and a calling, and we
don't need to be overly concerned about what it is or compare
it with anyone else's.

First John 2:20 tells us that we have been anointed—past tense.
Once we know we are anointed, we can learn how to release the
anointing in us. I believe we experience the anointing as we
use our gifts.

God did not share His power with us so we could sit and do
nothing with it. We are empowered by the anointing for service.
We have a destiny! Walk In It!



You will never be anointed to be anyone else. Be careful of
comparison and competition. Just be yourself.

Weapon of Mass Destruction

Malachi 3:10-11
Holman Christian Standard Bible


10 Bring the full 10 percent into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this way," says the LORD of Hosts. "See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not ruin the produce of your ground, and your vine in your field will not be barren," says the LORD of Hosts.

When you think of the weapons of your warfare, do you consider your money? Your tithes and offerings have the power to rebuke the devil! Oh how awesome. That bares repeating, your money is a mighty weapon. It has the power to change your life. First, God honors your obedience. He commanded , not suggested in His word that we bring our money so that there will be meat in His house. He even gave you the right to test Him. He said see if He won't open my floodgates for you. Hallelujah! Then, He said, "I'll rebuke the devourer for you..." You cannot lose. He guarantees that your money will stop the enemy. All of that for 10%!

Are you as effective at warfare as you could be? Do you use all the weapons He's given you? If not, start now! If you do, continue! In these times of financial hardship, can you afford not to?

God Bless

Heart Condition

Matthew 25:40 (New International Version)
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'


What is the condition of your heart? Do you have the heart of God? I was involved in a discussion yesterday where a brother in Christ shared that in lieu of giving out favors at his upcoming wedding, he and his fiancee decided to donate that money to the people in Haiti who are eating dirt. On the day that is about them and their love, they decided to show God's love. Now that is the heart of God!

We here in the US complain about gas and food prices, and we have brothers and sisters in Haiti that pay for and eat dirt. My God! Do we consider that we are blessed to have cars to drive and food to eat? We call ourselves Christians but do we have the heart of God? Do we find it an inconvenience to pick someone up for church because gas is too high?

Are we bothered by the things that really break God's heart like hunger? Are we concerned about the least of these? Do we feed the hungry and clothe the naked? We pray for the blessings and stand of the promises of God, don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with that. We seek His face and not His hand. That's great too. But do we pray for the heart of God. On Sunday morning during worship, I asked God for that very thing. God, give me your heart. I want the things that break His heart to break mine, do you?

God Bless

Barren No More

Isaiah 54: 1-3 - "Rejoice, barren one, who did not give birth; burst intosong and shout, you who have not been in labor! For the children of theforsaken one will be more than the children of the married woman," says the Lord.

"Enlarge the site of your tent, and let your tent curtains bestretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your ropes, and drive your pegs deep. For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will dispossess nations and inhabit the desolate cities."

There are some of you who have been waiting for quite some time now.You have sown seeds, but yet you have not seen a harvest. You have stood in faith, believing God. I hear the spirit of the Lord say to you today, get ready! Your territory is about to become enlarged. I, the Lord your God have seen the many nights of tears and anguish. I have heard your heart's desires. I have seen the struggle. I have seen the constant turmoil.I know the financial hardship. Don't you worry. The journey has been long, but get ready to stretch out, for you are about the receive increase. Your season of being barren is about to be over. No, I am a God who cannot lie. If I speak a thing, you can count on it! If I say a thing, it shall not return void. Hold on. Do not give up. You will not be put to shame. You are my child and that makes you an heir to the kingdom. Your territory is about to be enlarged.Make it an excellent day!

Jonathan Maddox

Four Open Secrets about the Rest of Your Life

Tell a child you have a secret and you have his undivided attention. All of us children - big and little, young and old - love secrets; love to hear them, love to tell them. Today, I am opening the vault and revealing four of the best-kept secrets in the Kingdom of God.


Secret #1 - God has big plans for you.
Jeremiah 29:11 says it best. "I know the plans I have for you: plans for your welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope." His plans for us fall into two categories - earthly and heavenly.


Secret #2 - He is not going to tell you what they are.
In His compassion, God makes big plans for us. In His wisdom, He does not tell us what they are. He protects us from knowledge of the future for two reasons.
(1) We could not handle it.
(2) We would mess it up.

Suppose you found out that your brothers were going to fake your death and sell you into slavery, and that you would end up forgotten and forsaken in a foreign prison for years. Who could handle such news? Most of us would grieve over such a future and grow bitter toward our brothers and angry at
God. In the Old Testament book of Genesis, Joseph experiences precisely such a fate.

Suppose the Lord told you that one day you would become the king's second-in-command and live in power and luxury for the rest of your life. Who could handle news like that without becoming distracted? This too is the story of Joseph in Genesis.

Scripture promises the Lord will not put more on us than we can bear. One way He does that is by withholding details about our future. The burdens would rob us of our joy and threaten to destroy us in advance, while the blessings would distract us from our responsibilities of the moment.


Secret #3 - God is working on His plans this very moment.
He is getting you ready for the future and getting the future ready for you. Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you. If I go away, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:1-6). He is getting Heaven ready for us. He is getting us ready for Heaven.

One way God prepares us for future challenges is by giving us difficulties and hardships. He strengthens us the same way a personal trainer builds our muscles: by laying on stress. "It is good for me that I was afflicted," the psalmist said, "that I might learn thy statutes." (Psalm 119:71) That's how
it works.


Secret #4 -- Your job is to be faithful today.
Bloom where you are planted, as the saying goes. The way to be ready for tomorrow's opportunities is to do our job today, no matter how insignificant or routine.

Writing in the Spring 2003 issue of "Columns," the alumni magazine of Louisiana College, Curt Iles pays tribute to science professor Charles Cavanaugh. Early in Curt's sophomore year, he paid Cavanaugh a visit to tell him he planned to drop chemistry.

"Prof," said the 19-year-old, "I thought it was God's will for me to become a science teacher. I enjoyed the biology classes you taught last year. But chemistry is killing me. That little rural high school I attended did not prepare me for this. I failed the test yesterday and I am not going to be able to pass this course. So, I plan to drop chemistry. Maybe God will have something else for me since I can't be a science teacher. I need to find His will."

Suddenly, the professor cut him off. "God's will? God's will? Son, I'll tell you what God's will is for you! Get in there, go to work, and pass chemistry. That's what God's will is for you!" And he stormed out of the office. Curt sat there in shock. Finally, realizing the professor was not returning, he went back to his dormitory. That night, he studied chemistry, and the next day, made a D on the test. At least, it was passing.

"That day," Curt Iles writes, "I decided that nothing was going to stop me from achieving my goal of teaching. I was going to pass this course or die trying." A month later, the chemistry professor said, "Iles, what's happened to you?" He was a student with a purpose.

Before leaving the disciples, Jesus began to prepare them for the future. Peter listened, absorbed all he could, then turned to the apostle John. "Lord," he said, "what about him?" Jesus said, "What is that to you? You follow me." (John 21:22)

God has big plans for you. He is mercifully not going to tell you what they are. At this moment, He is at work getting you ready for them and them ready for you. Your job is to do the work He has put on your plate today.


Joe McKeever
www.JoeMcKeever.com

God is in Control

Unknown

This was sent to me and made me stop and think. I know this as you do, but sometimes we need a little reminder.

God Has It Under Control!
Don't get worked up...
God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up. Matthew 6:34 TM

Fear is just a 'grown-up version' of worry! If you let one in, the other comes with it. Stop and take inventory of the things you worried about last year, or even last week, how many came to pass?

And how many did you change by worrying? And did worrying make them better or worse? And what about the physical and emotional toll it's taking on you? And what does your worrying say to those who kno w you're a follower of Christ?

And when are you going to face up to the fact that you worry so much - and do something about it? "What can I do?" you ask.

You'll only stop worrying about tomorrow, when you learn to place it in the hands of the One who holds all our tomorrows. Listen: "Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you" ( Psalm 37:5 NLT).

By committing each day to the Lord, you're trusting Him to go before you and work things out in your favor. It's amazing what you accomplish when you live trusting God a-day-at-a-time.

When you go through difficulties you discover things about God (and yourself) you never knew before; things that make you stronger, wiser and more compassionate.

Here's an idea - instead of worrying, attack your anxieties with the promises of God. Go ahead, bring your fears into His presence and watch them shrivel: "It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life" God is in Control

Pray without ceasing, God hears what you say, From the moment you rise, to the close of the day, Don't think for a moment, that He turns a deaf ear, Trust and have faith, and you'll never know fear.

Jello Lesson

Author Unknown


Jello Lesson

Carla stirred Jello into boiling water, added cold water, and put the bowl with the watery mixture in the refrigerator to set. "Didn't Dana ask you to come over to play this afternoon?" asked Mother after Carla had finished washing the dishes.

Carla shrugged. "Yeah," she said, "but I don't feel like playing with her. I'm beginning to think she's hopeless. She always wants her own way, and she says mean things about other kids--stuff like that."

"Hm-m-m-m. That's too bad," said Mother. "Well, maybe it's time to check your Jello."

Carla went to the refrigerator. "It's getting there," she said. "It's ready for the fruit." She added apples and bananas to the Jello while she continued to complain about Dana.

"Tell me something," said Mother. "Dana became a Christian just recently. Has she improved at all since then?"

"Oh, sure." Carla nodded. "She used to be just awful--nobody liked her. Now she's not as bad, but she still has a long way to go."

"Like the Jello," said Mother.

"The Jello?" repeated Carla. "What do you mean?"

"The Jello has improved since you started it, but it has a long way to go, too," explained Mother. "It isn't hopeless, though. In time it will be set and ready to eat. It reminds me that Christians don't usually 'set' all at once, either. It takes time. As Christians grow in the Lord, they improve in outward behavior. We need to be patient with them."

"Maybe we can add some 'fruit' to help them." Carla was enjoying the comparison. "Like. . .we can pray for them, and we can be friendly."

"Good," approved Mother, "and let's remember that you and I aren't finished yet, either. Let's grow together."

HOW ABOUT YOU? Do you know Christians who need a lot of improvement? Are you praying for them? Are you helping them by being friendly and encouraging them to attend church and study God's Word? Do you set a good example for them? God finishes what He starts. He'll finish what He has begun in them--and in you.

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil. 1:6)

Walking Through Life's Hot Spots

How to Walk Through Life's Hot Spots

Living through the pressures of life can be compared to walking through fire. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah believed that if you have faith in God, you can walk through fire and not be burned. He didn't promise that you won't feel the heat, just that you won't be burned.


Keep On Walking
A surefire way to get burned is to stop walking. When you are afraid, or under extreme stress, or hurting -- keep going. You will get through if you keep dealing with the everyday tasks at hand to the best of your ability. PERSEVERE

Remember That This Difficult Time Will Pass
It may feel that you are in a repeating time warp, but realize that pain is time-limited. All problems have a beginning and an end. BE PATIENT

Make Rough Times Work For You
Not everything is good, but the Bible reminds us that everything can be used for good if you submit your will to God. Look for ways to learn, grow, or cope in your pain or stress. HAVE COURAGE

Take "What Is" And Make The Most Of It
Make lemonade from your lemons. You are not called upon to create perfection from every situation, only to make the most of it. Don't waste your time on ceaseless complaining, but look for meaning and joy in all situations. BE CONTENT

Clean Up Your Own Trash
Stand on your own feet and don't try to blame others for your problems. You are not a victim. Choose to live the rest of your life with a controlled response to what is happening. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

Be True To Your Self
You will have more strength for dealing with ordeals in life if you have the courage to be true to your own values. Hypocrisy destroys internal energy. MODEL INTEGRITY

Be Gladder Than Madder
Expressions of gratitude calm the soul and clear the mind. SHOW GRATITUDE

Have As Much Fun As You Can
Anticipation of fun raises the level of your energy. Learn to laugh through your trials. DISPLAY HUMOR

Determine What Is Within Your Control
You cannot control what happens to you, but you can choose the frame you put around your experiences. You can choose how you will deal with all situations. EXHIBIT INTERNAL CONTROL

Be Enthusiastic
Enthusiasm literally means, "God in us." If He is in you, let your life so shine. Learn to love life. Education is not the filling of a bucket but the lighting of a fire. SHOW YOUR PASSION


Author Unknown

Training Elephants

by David Langerfeld

Although more humane methods are now employed, for years, the method for training elephants was very harsh.

As soon as a baby elephant was old enough to leave its Mother, it was taken from its family to a special training area. Itwas then placed inside a small enclosure for three days that was just large enough for it to turn from side-to-side.

At the end of three days, it was taken from this enclosure in the pitch dark to a large bonfire area. A big, strong rope was tied around the elephant's leg and then tied to a huge post that's driven deep in the ground. All night, the people around the elephant would shout and jump around. Every time the baby elephant tried to move, they would hit him with Bamboo sticks. After several hours of this, the baby elephant quits trying to move. Now, all he needs to hold him is a small piece of rope and a piece of wood the size of a tent stake to hold him.

Do you get the image here? This big powerful creature who could crush a car with his foot, can't pull a small stake out of the ground. It's not because he doesn't have the power, it's because the elephant has been convinced that he doesn't have the power.

Has Satan convinced you that you can't run the race? Has he convinced to
give up - because you can't win
quit trying - beause you can't do it
not make the effort - because it's not worth it

You have the power.
You have the strength. .
You can do it .
Press On!


"Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." 1 John 4:4

"I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

"But this one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward
what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has
called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14

Building Intimacy With God

Unknown

GENESIS 16:1-17:8

Intimacy with God doesn't just happen. It requires determination and a significant investment of time and effort. As we seek closeness with Him, we must learn:

• Conflict Resolution - In human disputes, there is usually error on both sides. But if we find ourselves in conflict with God, then we know we are in the wrong; the Lord is always right. When Abraham fathered a child by Hagar, there was great strife in his home. God kept His promise to make Abraham a father of many nations but did not lift the multi-generational discord that resulted from his actions.

· Trust—Intimacy grows only in an atmosphere of trust. As we understand God's character more, our confidence grows, and we are drawn closer to Him. Our part is to show ourselves trustworthy.

· Risk Taking—The more we reveal who we are in Jesus Christ, the more we risk facing arguments, experiencing rejection, or being misunderstood. (very true) But God understands us fully and promises that we belong to Him forever. (John 10:27-29) And any disagreements with Him can be resolved by yielding our desires, seeking His viewpoint, and asking for deeper faith.

· Agreement—For us to maintain a close affinity with God, our schedule and plans must reflect His priorities. We are to be available for His use and open to His directions.

God designed us for intimacy with Him. All that He requires is our presence and cooperation. What priority have you placed on building a deeper relationship with Him?