Limiting beliefs does not equal fact. The fact is that God is limitless. But we limit him sometimes with our preconceived notions. We say nothing is impossible with our God. But we then will turn around and put limits on God. The limits are ours to own. But if we can stretch our faith and our imagination, the sky is not the limit, there is no limit.
Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
The belief that this verse is true, will stretch our thinking. But it takes that crazy faith to walk on water, to call down fire from heaven. If we are going to change the world, we will have to take the limits off of God.
Human beings are limited by our resources, our fleshly strength, our belief system and the influence of our circle. That small group of people that we trust to have our best interest at heart. They are the ones who help form our ideas about faith, hope and love.
Jer 32:17 Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
This verse is a good one to reinforce to us that nothing is too hard for our God. Nothing is impossible. This needs to get down in our spirit.
Eph 3:17-20 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. The more we stretch our thinking and what we ask him for the greater things he will do. Our lack of faith is all that limits God in our lives.
Try to think of ways to stretch your faith and the ways your mind tries to limit God. He is truly limitless.
I want to take time to wish all of my followers a safe and happy holiday. I didn’t do a video today but wanted to leave you with a bible verse.
2 Tim 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
The soldiers we honor today understood about keeping on going even in the face of fear. We are a part of God’s army and we cannot allow fear to overtake us. We have a race to run and we must not let fear stop us. Fear is from our enemy and he is the forever loser.
THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: BE DOERS OF THE WORD
We can have the best of intentions and still do the wrong thing. We can justify wrong actions with good intentions. But our thoughts and intentions do not mean as much as our actions.
We are called to be doers of the word and not hearers only. We could listen to the word our whole lives, but if we don’t allow it to take root in our lives, it is in vain. It means nothing.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Jesus said, If you love me, you will keep my commandments. He didn’t say if you love me you will intend to do what I have commanded, but will allow the cares of life to sidetrack you.
We have the power to do all that he has asked us to do. It is within us. He will never ask us to do something that is beyond our ability to do it, with him. We just need to pray for that power of God to arise and empower us to keep his commandments. This is how the will of God is carried out.
We always want to be good ground for the seeds of the word to take root. Being ready to spring into action. Our God is a God of action. He expects his children to be also. Keep doing what you know to do. Don’t compromise with the enemy. We must follow the Lord and keep his commandments.
In Matthew chapter 13 there is a parable about four types of ground. The types of soil represent the different types of the human hearts.
Matt 13:18-19 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
The hard soil is hardened hearts that hear the word with their ears but do not try to comprehend it. The enemy comes in and steals the seeds that have been planted.
Matt 13:20-21 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
The rocky soil is someone who receives the Word but they do not grow roots. They will be Christians until the trials come, then they will return to the world. They have no way to endure without roots.
Matt 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
The thorny ground is the heart that hears the word, but the cares of this life and the distractions of the enemy choke out the word. Until they fall away because they are unfruitful.
Matt 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
The good soil is the person who hears and accepts the word. This seed matures into fruit. They take it in and nurture it. They cultivate the seed and keep the weeds pulled. We prepare the soil to receive the seed of the word. This is why it is important to be doers of the word. Hearers only will never develop fruit; they will always fall by the wayside. Doers desire to keep God’s commandments, grow and develop fruit.
Until next time,
BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT
Inspiration comes and we get excited about a new level in God. We get fresh oil of anointing poured into us and we feel like we can take on the world. We feel like the brave warrior that can raise up our sword and run into the battle. We know in our heart victory would be ours. God is with us.
We start praying things like, I want faith like Daniel in the lion’s den. Then when our Nebuchadnezzar arises, we question God. Instead of opening the windows and praying out loud in defiance, we ask God to not try us. We don’t want to walk through the trials of life. Trials are painful learning processes. There is nothing wrong with our zeal. There is something wrong with the execution of our battle plan.
We don’t want to be thrown into our version of the fiery furnace. But it is in the fiery trial we see what we are made of, gold or something that is going to burn away.
Eccl 2:5 For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity.
Gold ore is thrown in a fire to melt the gold. It is during this time the impurities of dirt and other minerals that are in the gold gets burned out. Leaving pure gold. The more our faith is under fire, the stronger it becomes. The trials of life burn away our human emotions, hang up, insecurities and doubts. Leaving us with a purer faith.
We pray, “give me faith to not be fearful.” But when God sends our lion, bear or Goliath we pray, “Oh Lord why did you let this happen, I don’t want to be tried. Please remove the giant.” Not realizing sometimes that giant is what we need to see where our level of faith stands.
James 1:3-4 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Trials only come to make us stronger. Being tried is exercise for our faith muscles. In the natural, people lift weights to build muscle power and strength. As they gain strength they increase the weight to level up their strength.
Our faith is this way. We do not get up from an altar of repentance and become an instant David or Daniel. It takes years of walking out our faith daily. It takes the trying of that faith to help us grow into a mature Christian with fruit to show. There will never be testimony without a test or trial.
A goldsmith will pour out the liquid gold. Then he will proceed to beat it while it cools. This beating process shapes the gold. It makes it denser and stronger. When asked once how he knew the gold had been beaten enough, he said when I can see my reflection in it.
This is how God knows we have been beaten enough by our trials, when he begins to see himself in us. Trials and troubles produce fruit in our lives. Think about it the next time you are faced with a fiery trial. Are you going to allow the process or say to God, please don’t try me.
Momentum determines how much effort it will take to stop and object or how much effort it will take to get moving again. I think about how a ball rolling down a hill will roll faster. But sometimes it takes a while to get to the ball rolling.
Once we have momentum in our spiritual walk, we need to keep it going. The enemy almost had the church stopped in 2020 when many chose to shut down. The enemy almost stopped us with distraction, fatigue and complacency. But we have prayed hard and are starting to get the momentum we need to keep going.
The momentum of revival is coming soon. We must be ready to go with the momentum of the wave of God’s movement.
Looking back sometimes gives us motivation to keep moving forward. For example: we look back to remember a bad situation that God stepped into and fixed. It’s good to be reminded of God’s help. We know we can keep moving forward as long as God is with is. But looking back even in grief, longing for the days of the past isn’t healthy. We will not see where God wants to take us if we are looking backwards. Moving forward is the only way.
Phil 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul was saying he didn’t claim to know everything. Apprehended means to mentally grasp a concept or to anticipate something with fear. In order to keep from falling into anxiety, he forgets the past. Instead, he reaches forward to the future. He presses toward the mark. He is saying we need to be focused on the goal, as if it were a race with a finish line.
It is dangerous to focus on the past, if the focus is on failures and things left undone. It is ok occasionally to look back at where God brought you from as a gratitude tool. We are defined by our past. We cannot become spiritually complacent. This is how the church as a whole, almost lost this world to our enemy. With a positive attitude we need to move forward with optimism and hope.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
We are talking about moving forward. We are new creations in Christ. As we run this race we may fall down, but God is there to pick us up. He will strengthen us and renew us so that we can finish our race.
Isaiah 43:18-19 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
This is a reminder to let go of the things that are past. God will bring new things into each day. He has amazing things in store for us. But we will not be able to embrace them when we are stuck in the past.
Keeping our forward momentum going is crucial to our faith walk. There is nothing behind us, but God is before us. We will reach the end of our race with confidence as long as we don’t give up.
The reason Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt, was that she looked back. She looked back with longing. She didn’t want to leave her home and her married daughters. God had told them to leave and not look back.
Finishing the race strong is going to take prayer and determination. But there is nothing we cannot do with God on our side. If God be for us, who can be against us. The answer is no one of consequence.
I want to discuss strength, trust, weakness, faith with you today. Now each topic could be days long on their own. I want to share how they relate to keep us on the right path. In order for us to be effective in the land as witness, we must be strong. The enemy will try to discourage us and make us feel weak. Our faith and strength will keep us on the right path as the enemy tries to distract, deter and discourage us.
To be discouraged is to allow our joy to be depleted. Keeping the joy of the Lord is keeping our strength. Staying focused on the goodness of God is how to accomplish joy. It is separate from our circumstances. Our future is not determined by our circumstances, but by the grace of God.
Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
This verse creates a link between our trust in God and our joy. Worship can help bring joy to our lives. Worship can help to strengthen us. But more than what worship can do for us, we owe it to God to lift him up.
We can be strong and encouraged because God goes with us wherever we go. He will not leave us alone.
Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Because he is with us, we can trust him. He will watch over us and protect us. He is our hiding place, our strong tower, our deliverer. We will gain strength if we rest in him.
Psalm 32:7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
Faith over fear, takes joy and strength, we cannot allow weakness to cause us to fall into fear. Weakness is an opportunity to stand up and become strong. We cannot fail, God is within us. He will give us power to not be weak and weary, but will give us strength and power. In the physical when we exercise, we gain strength. Why would we not gain spiritual strength as we exercise our prayer and worship muscles.
Isaiah 40: 29-31 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Waiting upon God to move in our lives is the ultimate way to strength. Our hope, our strength, our Joy and our Peace all come from Jesus. I encourage you to praise and pray for God to renew your strength and joy. Imagine soaring high above the cares of this life, like an eagle soars high in the sky. We can have that carefree feeling when we wait on God and allow him to give us peace and joy.
He will renew us to run and not be tired, if we can walk and not faint. This reminds us that he is always there to give us strength when we need it. Thank God for his amazing love and the strength he gives us everyday to keep running our race.
Yesterday, as I watched the rededication of our nation to God, I found that hope arose in me. This one day will not magically fix everything in the short term. We still have to walk out some things before God allows the complete anointing to fall. Revival is on the way, but it begins within our heart.
Revival is not for the lost, but for the church to be revived and rededicated. Once the church is aligned with God, then true change can happen. God will come down and save the lost.
It is time we return to the old ways and old paths. For too long the nation has been lost on new paths of unrighteousness. It is time we found those ancient landmarks. What once appeared to be a lost cause, has had new life breathed into it. God is breath and life.
We have been given a fresh perspective on our purpose. Now is the day to pick up the banner and run. The banner of God’s love and compassion. Nothing will change until we become determined to fulfill our mission on the earth. That mission is to Love God and Love People, to walk in the commandments of God. Showing the world there is a better way.
Col 3:15-17 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
We need to let the peace of God fill our hearts because we are called into one body, the body of Christ. We must be thankful for what God has done for us. Paul says to let God’s word be in us richly or abundantly in all wisdom. We are to teach, gently warn one another, singing with grace in our hearts toward God. Whatsoever, we do, whatever we speak we must do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus with a thankful heart. This is our purpose.
Each of us has callings and talents that God wants us to use for his glory. These calling and talents will point the lost to Christ if we are obedient about how we use those tools God has given us.
As we begin to experience the new anointing of God, we must embrace it and allow it to strengthen us. Empowering us to step out like never before to show the world Jesus. Do not think that the enemy will take this rededication of our lives and our nation lying down. He will try to reestablish his strong hold. This is why we must be in prayer for our nation now more than ever as we walk through the night before the dawning. We will get through it all with God and with each other. Let unity arise in the body, let the love of God flow freely. We are at the threshold of amazing things. Keep the faith. I want to leave you with a verse to ponder today.
Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: MORE FRUIT AND NEW LEVELS
I want to talk to you about Sunday May 17, 2026. The day will go down in history as the turning point for America. We were knocked a little off of our foundation. But with God’s mighty hand we will once again be strong and faithful to the one true God. I am well pleased that our president decided to rededicate our country to God.
If you look at the history of Israel how many times did, they leave their worship of Jehovah and go after Baal, the goddess Diana or other false gods. Every time, God would remove his hand and they would end up in a major mess about like we have been in for the past few decades.
But Israel also understood God’s long suffering and forgiving heart. They would turn back and repent. They would make declarations of dedication to God as a nation. Every time he would bless them and prosper them. That was why the other nations hated them, because they could see God’s blessing and protection upon them.
This is not something to be taken lightly. We need to be in prayer from now until then that the enemy will not stop it. We need to pray for protection for our president and all of those who are participating. It has been a long hard battle to get our country back. We are not there yet, but we have made great strides. God All mighty, our Lord Jesus Christ, that lives within us will give us victory. He will go before us and fight our battles.
The sin curse came on the earth with the downfall of Adam and Eve. Until then, they were going to live forever. But death entered with sin. One day our spirit will be taken and our flesh will return to the dust of the earth. Right now, however, we have power over the sin curse. We can overcome things in this life. If the power of God lives within us, we will be victorious.
I John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Because of faith in the power of God, which causes us to be born of God, we have victory that overcomes the world. We have power over sin in our own lives and we have power over the enemy that is in the world. There is not a giant too big for our God to handle. No army, is strong enough to stand against the power of God within us.
We somehow do not allow that power to flow from us. Unlimited power is within us, we just need to spend more time asking for help to access it and use it for God’s glory. The more we pour out the more God will fill us up.
Victory means an end to the conflict or struggle. We all have issues that we struggle with, sometimes for years. When God sees that we are ready to let go of the situation, he will cause the battle to cease by fixing the problem. The lessons we learned in the struggle we need for the next level.
2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
This explains how we are transformed into the image of Christ. It is a progressive process. The more we grow in wisdom and understanding the more fruit of the Spirit is in our lives. The new fruit will equip us for the new level in Christ. In order to grow new fruit, we must draw strength from our vine Jesus. It will take that strength to step out of our comfort zone and do more for the Lord.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Think about a branch, if it is cut off from the vine it will never produce any fruit. It will dry up and die. This is why it is important that God gets the glory for every fruitful thing that is in our lives. It takes the sap running through the branch to nurture the fruit into maturity. I like to think this sap is the power of the Holy Ghost flowing in our lives.
We have much to be thankful for today. Thank God for the fruit in your life. Ask him to produce more and more as you grow in wisdom and obedience. Thank him for the harvest of souls that is coming as God begins to fill our land with his Holy Spirit once again. He is not only going to fill our land, but all the nations around the world.
Again, I want to remind you to pray for our country, pray for the rededication, pray for the harvest, and pray for the protection of our president. Allow God to work in your life, let your light shine and be encouraged.
I try to stay positive and encouraging. But, I have days that I don’t feel encouraged. It is normally when I am tired. Getting proper rest helps to keep us in balance.
I’ll never forget wise words from an older man at our church. He had walked through many terrible things, but was very upbeat and encouraging. He would say, you can be mentally tired and be ok. You can be physically tired and be ok. But when you get mentally and physically tired you are going to get sick if you aren’t careful.
Two reasons we are told to not be anxious, to not stress and worry. It weakens our immune system. Making us prone to illness. Two, it causes us to be self-absorbed, and we appear to be uncaring.
The major reason not to have anxiety is we get our relationship with God out of balance. We stop relying on him to take care of things. We start trying to fix them on our own. God doesn’t need our help, he needs our trust.
Psalm 37:5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
God needs our commitment to follow him. If we give our issues to him, we have nothing to worry about, it’s his responsibility. Why do we worry? God has promised he would take care of us. There is not one time in the bible that he failed his people. He is unfailing. He sees the big picture more clearly than we can see it.
Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
This is a reminder that he is watching over us like a parent does their child. This also means he is our protector and provider. We have every reason to trust that he will take care of us. Why are we discouraged, he will lift us up.
Psalm 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
I love that he is long suffering toward us. He is patient and good. Sometimes I need his patience. It is not always easy to do the right thing. Sometimes we want to be like Jonah and run the other way. But we cannot allow fear to be our decision maker. Look how that worked out for Jonah. We must try to be obedient and let God lead us.
We can trust his nail scared hands, because he cared enough to prove his love on Calvary. So be encouraged, do not worry, do not fear. The God who created everything, who created us holds us in the palm of his hand. He will keep us safe from the storms that are coming to cleans the earth.
THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: INSPIRED BY HISTORY
What I am about to share with you was left out of our bibles but it is in Fox’s Book of Martyrs and is widely accepted as the truth of history. The book of Revelations was written by John. He had been exiled to the island of Patmos. But our Bibles left out a story that could be used for inspiration along with stories of the three Hebrew men, David and Goliath and Daniel in the lion’s den.
Many have been martyred for the gospel. Others the enemy tried to destroy and God had other plans. Just like John. He was making Rome nervous with his loud declaration of the gospel of Christ. He was so passionate about his task of spreading the gospel that they could not stop him. Threats, decrees nothing would shut him up.
Rome could not have people turning from the empire to Christianity. They decided to make an example of him, by public execution. They hoped to put fear into the people. Many gathered to watch the execution. They got a cauldron of oil and set it over a flame. They heated it until it was roughly boiling. They lowered John into the pot of oil. But instead of a brutal screaming display of John dying, he was fine. No harm came to him.
The fire of God inside of him protected him from the fire under him and the hot oil that surrounded him.
Rome was afraid that if the people saw him walking around, it would increase their faith in Christianity. They exiled him to the isle of Patmos. It is generally believed that he wrote Revelations from that island. Although some argue he wrote it in Ephesus.
The point is that many have died for this gospel. Many others have made great sacrifices to further the gospel. It is not to be taken lightly. Now the torch has been passed to us. What will our story be, will we stand strong no matter what we have to face? Will we be bold and brave in the face of adversity?
The times in which we live, has its own set of struggles. Many people in other countries are being jailed and martyred for the gospel. God gives his people what they need to withstand their adversities. We are here for such a time as this, because there is much to be done to gather the harvest.
Just as all who have gone before us had their tasks to further the kingdom, we too have ours. Each day we have a choice to make; do we keep going or do we give up. We owe it to all of those who have died to further the gospel to stand strong. Fight the good fight of faith. We owe it to all the lost souls to share this beautiful gift we have been given.
We all want to finish our course well. Knowing that we left nothing undone. Be encouraged we live in an exciting time. We are about to see an amazing move of God. That will be worth it all.
Matt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Go out today and make a difference, let your light shine.
Until next time,
BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT
GOD FOCUS--Psalm 34:3 O magnify the Lord with me.... 