Do you want to PREACH?!

LOVING GOD'S WORD =
LIVING GOD'S WORD
What we do in this life, does matter!
We must receive and build upon a practical foundation of God's word, by:
1. ACCEPTING
2. BELIEVING
3. DOING
A. Yes, God loves us!  1 John 4:7 says, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. However, verse 8 goes on to say, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
John 14:15 Jesus says, "If you LOVE me, you will obey me."  Receiving this kind of love means, that we ARE ALSO WILLING to SACRIFICE TEMPORAL PLEASURES for the eternal gift of God's LOVE!
We reveal God's love, to those not familiar with it, by how we love one another.  However, truly loving Him means, we'll OBEY CHRIST "daily."
B. Yes, He has MERCY on us. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
C. Yes, God provides us with His GRACE: Ephesians 4:7-8 says, "But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. (8) This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people."
BUT CHECK IT OUT: Romans 6:1-2 says, "Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? (2) Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?
Before you ask God for a FIRE to PREACH His word, how about PRAYING for a FIRE to FIRST START LIVING IT!!
Stop trying to be SEEN BY MAN!  Then you will GET THE ATTENTION OF GOD!
LIVING GOD'S WORD =
PREACHING GOD'S WORD & is preaching in it's most POWERFUL FORM!

A GOD WORD!

Leaning on others for advice and or correction can serve as a helpful guide.  However, all that we receive from others must be discerned with the inward witness & truth which we continually receive from God's Word & the Holy Spirit.  When we (trust) allow the word to back up all that we hear, then no man will ever confuse us!!  You might hear something, but learn not to "receive" unless Daddy God says, it is so. Do you ever notice how you receive a particular scripture, at a certain time in your life, from a person & it encourages you in that exact area in your life?  Or, have you ever had someone come up to you trying to prophecy over you & they way off?  Through the truth which is already inside you, the Holy Spirit tells you whether it's right. That's why the more we HEAR & MEDITATE on God's word, the more wisdom & understanding we receive. Thus, empowering us to know & apply this God-given INWARD truth to our lives, in other words, to live it out!  Anytime you receive a word & that fits your life at that moment, it comes no other way, than through the revealing of the Holy Spirit.  And through each season, through the good, and especially the bad, receiving, applying & living God's word will cause your foundation to grow like to become one day like:
 Psalm 92:12-15
The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in EVEN IN OLD AGE; they shall be fat and flourishing; to shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him."

A Committed Work!

What are you passionate about (singing, dancing, playing an instrument, leading others, even; administration, sales, nursing, writing, inventing, helping others, or anything...)?  Is it a holy desire? Was this desire birthed through your relationship with Christ?  Does your fulfillment of these desires involve mere self gratification, or bringing God to glory? 

There is nothing wrong with having personal ambition, as long as it doesn't outweigh our purpose for existence, which is to lift up the name of Jesus.  This is simply becoming a witness for Christ.  Otherwise, all that you do is done in vain.  

John 12:32 says, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." 

I encourage you to put God 1st in all that you do! Through this you will not only succeed, but you will cause others to look to the one who has saved you, delivered you, who daily empowers you to be who be His witnesses, that you may become who He's called you to be!!

Ive carried this scripture in my pocket for 5 years which my motherSandra Shaffer gave to me. It serves me as a daily reminder of how when I commit my works to God He will bless & empower me to prosper, in all that I put my hand to!

When I'm committed to God, His desire becomes my desire.  Therefore, I can't fail!!

A NEW LANGUAGE. NEW CHRISTIAN?

I have been studying Spanish for some time and recently began studying Arabic.  I have discovered, as with any language, especially Arabic, you must deeply examine the language within its historical heritage and cultural context.  You must dummy up in order to start from the beginning.  There is no direct correlation between English (my 1st language) and Arabic.  It requires learning a completely new manner of alphabet, verbs, phrases, culture and more.  It even requires studying abroad in an atmosphere in which the language is spoken.  

Although learning a new language is a process which takes place on an intellectual level, something about it paints a picture of the process which began on a spiritual level when I gave my life to Jesus.  I began to deeply examine God's word through the historical heritage and the context of scripture.  I had to humble down and admit that I was a sinner in need of a savior.  In a sense, I had to dummy up and start from the beginning. There is no correlation between sin (the darkness of my past) and the righteousness (the light of my future).  It required me to begin from the inside out, learning a completely new manner of understanding, attitudes, confession and total way of life.  Just as with a new language requires the change of atmosphere, so does growing in the things of God.  Find yourself a church where God's word is proclaimed.   Surround yourself with others of like understanding, attitudes, who are confessing these truths and living their lives for God!

A difference between the process of learning a new language and growing in the power of an everyday life in Christ is that the Holy Spirit is right here, inside of me, enabling me to increase in the learning, understanding and living of God's word!  He is my interpreter!  Yes, I was granted salvation, love and a  relationship with Christ at the time of confession and belief that He is my Lord.  However, in order to thrive in my relationship with Him, I must remain ever-learning, growing, speaking and living in this new way; else I lose that first love which I gained. 

As with learning a language, my salvation must also be spoken and practiced daily, even until the day of Christ!

I want to exhort you to continue on in word and in deed.  Give your salvation the highest of priority!  Study the things of God, in light of scripture outside your previous understanding and don't quit!  This is not always an easy process and it requires dedication and determination, but you have a helper, translator, (the Holy Spirit) who will lead you and guide you into all truths!  He will never leave you, nor forsake you!!

Be blessed!

God's Vision & Your Words

I got this from what my Pastor, Russell Hylton preached on this evening at Bethel Family Worship Center!  

Don't allow anyone's doubts, thoughts, or opinions to box you in, keeping you from your God given destiny.  The vision God has planted in your heart is not born through man's interpretation of that vision.  The vision is brought to fruition through the combination of timing, obedience & the Rhema (God BREATHED) Word of God!!  A Child of God has the same ability that Jesus had, by which He called Lazarus forth out of the grave!  You can continue to speak the Rhema Word which God has already breathed into your spirit man! 

Line yourself up with the timing of God & the Word of God through your obedience to God. Continue to speak against the confining defining words of man, by speaking the truth of God over your life & God's plans/vision for you WILL come to pass!

Get Involved!

Many fail to recognize the value of serving in the local church.  Not only can you gain intrinsic benefits or "eternal rewards" (laying up treasures in heaven), but you will also gain practical, real life experience necessary to thrive in the workplace, home, and in all aspects of life.  Serving in the church is not about giving so you can get, as many unconsciously interpret it, as they begin yearning to be seen & praised. 

However, when you do selflessly and lovingly lay down your time & talent to be used of God, in any capacity, you become one who has not just been called, but chosen!  You become a wise steward, who sows & reaps.  You will not only begin to reap the benefits from what you have sown, but you gain access to a spoils which you had no hand in! God will cause even your enemies to begin to bless you! 

I want you to know that out of my personal experience of serving God through my church, I have gained experience and skill sets, knowledge, wisdom & understanding, courage, relentlessness, faithfulness.  I have learned and grown in the areas of how to discern situations, operate in culturally diverse settings, plan, organize and execute events, building maintenance, the list could go on.  Most importantly I've gained a "whatever it takes" attitude, which has been imparted to me through "priceless" mentoring relationships.  I say this not to boast, but to share with you, how great of an opportunity it is to even volunteer in the church.  I had never fully understood how much I've gained over the past few years of volunteering, until asked for experience on a job resume.  If you are a young person, especially.  Get involved with your local church and start volunteering.  Before you know it, you will have broadened your experience and beefed up your resume becoming someone who today's employers will seek out.  God is good!!

Thoughts On Prayer

You don't have to be confined to your community, state, region, nation, continent, hemisphere; you can make a global impact! Prayer is REAL, RELEVANT, NEEDED. It is the most talked about, the most doubted & the least practiced. Prayer is free. It's an investment that you don't have to finance! There is 0% risk & full return! You don't have to bury it in the back yard, or lock in a vault. You don't have to establish a trust for your loved ones to benefit from when you're gone. You can spend it whenever you'd like! The government can't tax it. A pre-nup won't affect it. No one could ever take your ability to call on Jesus!! Need I continue?? One prayer prayed could surpass the value of every dollar you could ever earn in limitless lifetimes! #JustSayin #Prayer #Jesus

We all need more in our lives! Good night