Tag: #beboldbebraveandkeepyourgodfocus

EPISODE 24 CONDEMNATION VS CONVICTION

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO VERSION: https://youtu.be/FDKzCXD9JQU

The title of today’s episode is: “Condemnation verses Conviction.”

After a recent discussion with one of my friends who was under attack from some legalistic people, it dawned on me that there is a difference in conviction and condemnation. One is good and one is a lie from satan.

Conviction is something we feel when the Holy Ghost is telling us we did something wrong. Conviction comes with the possibility of redemption. When we have fallen into temptation and committed a sin, as children of God, we are convicted by God’s spirit within us. This gives us the opportunity to ask for forgiveness and get that sin under the blood covering of Jesus.

When we come to Jesus as sinners and ask for his blood covering, we are asking that all the things we are guilty for be washed away. We are no longer deserving of punishment for those things. God has erased them with the work on the cross, through and by the blood of Jesus.

The word condemn; where we get the word condemnation from has two meanings. One, when someone expresses disapproval, normally in a group setting, they will attack or degrade someone they don’t agree. Shunning is a good example of this practice.

When I was about twenty-three, I briefly attended a church that was bound by religious legalism. The pressure to measure up was overwhelming. The pastor’s wife always made you feel like you were guilty of something and not good enough to be called a Christian. There was a woman that attended church with us, this woman was about my age. She tried to commit suicide. Instead of them rallying around her when she got out of the hospital and pouring love and concern on her, all of them acted like she didn’t exist. There were only three or four of us that would talk to her.

That was when I decided that I was ready to look for another church. After discussing it with my husband we left there. I would like to say I didn’t look back, but it bothered me for a long time, how people can be so bound up. Jesus did not die to set us free, only to bind us up with legalism.

This brings me to the second definition of condemnation. Assign guilt, blame, or implicate in a crime. If someone commits a crime that is punishable by death and is caught, the judge can order that the death penalty be carried out. Everyone of us have sinned against God’s laws. Every one of us deserved the punishment of spiritual death and punishment of hell for eternity.

However, God made a way that we could wipe our records clean and get another chance to be free. It is through the blood of Jesus.

Romans 8 1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

If we have asked for forgiveness, we are no longer condemned or deserve punishment for those sins. Jesus’ blood gives us a pardon. But notice this verse says we are not condemned if we walk not after the flesh (or the will of our flesh) but after the Spirit (or after God’s will for our lives). Once forgiven we have to live the best life we can. We have to try to walk in God’s way. But if we fail, we can ask forgiveness and he will forgive us. This means we have no condemnation; we are not guilty.

When we feel bad for something, we need to ask, do I feel bad because the Holy Ghost is showing me I’ve done something wrong. This is conviction. The Spirit within us will make us feel bad for something we have done. He does this so that we can do all we can to make it right and ask for forgiveness. Conviction is about a course correction.

If you feel bad because others are trying to impose their standards on you, this is condemnation. This comes from the enemy in the form of an accusing spirit. Satan will use people who have a religious judgmental spirit to accuse you of doing things that are wrong, even if it is not a big deal.

One example of this would be in Matthew Chapter 12, I won’t read it for time sake, but go read it. When Jesus healed the man on the sabbath, the religious people said it was unlawful to heal on the sabbath. It was wrong according to the laws they created, but it was not a sin. We know Jesus had no sin. But he was judged by the condemning self-righteous to be a horrible sinner because he healed the man on the sabbath.

Life is hard enough without creating things to make it more difficult. There is freedom in the blood and the name of Jesus. When someone is new to their walk in Christ, the last thing they need is people adding to their already hard battle. They are learning how to walk in faith and in the Spirit of God. The flesh versus spirit battle is hard enough without adding more condemnation.

Think about the freedom we have as children of God. The next time you feel bad about something, ask if it is conviction or condemnation from people.

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

EPISODE 23–GIVE US FLESH

CLICK THE LINK FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://youtu.be/zJmUqeNppbs

Hello my friends

The title of today’s episode is: “Give us flesh”

NUMBERS 11 is a story of the Children of Israel and how they were tired of manna. Think about what manna represents. It is food from heaven. It contained everything their bodies needed to stay strong. God gave them plenty. They didn’t have to search for food. Without the manna, they could not have survived in the desert.

Numbers 11:7-8 And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium. Verse 8 And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.

They wanted flesh, they said they used to have all the fish they wanted in Egypt. They asked for flesh.

How fickle are we? Would we be like the children of Israel? Before we judge them too harshly think about it. We are a lot like them. We take God for granted and all the many blessings he gives us each day.

The taste of the manna was that of fresh oil. Oil in the bible is a representation of the Holy Ghost. So we could taste of God’s spirit with fresh anointing daily or we could have flesh.

Some people follow a preacher. They go wherever they go. Because they want the flesh. They do not realize that without God’s anointing man or woman could not preach or teach as well as they do, but yet some ministers are treated like rock stars. Normally, these are the ones who have let down the truth of God. The people who are all about their flesh, building their kingdom, they will sell out the message of God for fame, fortune, and cold, hard cash.

The people could have fresh manna, the bread of life from heaven. We can get manna from God directly in our prayer and worship time. We can get that food that sustains our spirit from the word. We don’t have to wait for a minister to spoon-feed us the word. This is when we rely too much on flesh.

Don’t get me wrong. The Bible says that God has placed in the body the ministry for the perfecting of the saint. We need preachers. But we don’t need ones who are full of flesh and want to water down the gospel. These preachers feed those who want to walk in the flesh and not in the spirit. They want the name of being a Christian without truly following Christ.

Moses got upset with the people and asked God why he had burdened him with so much. God told him to gather seventy men to be leaders, and he would put some of the burden on them. Then, God gave the people what they wanted.

Numbers 11:18-20 And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the Lord will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. 19 Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; 20 But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the Lord which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?

The church got tired of trying to live by God’s standards and wanted to walk in the flesh. They wanted to return to their bondage instead of following the Lord. So God withdrew the manna and allowed us to have the flesh. The church is just starting to wake up and realize that we need a genuine move of God. We need fresh manna. We need HIM and not a specific preacher or teacher. We need to make room for all of God’s ministers who are preaching the truth of his word.

The modern church is not going to look like many think. But as long as God is there, we will have the manna we need to sustain us until we reach our promised land of heaven.

Let me leave you with this thought. Are you wanting a real move of God? Do you desire a closer walk with the God that made you and will give you fresh anointing (or manna) daily?

Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Thanks for watching,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

EPISODE 22– DON’T GO UNLESS ARMED

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO VERSION: https://youtu.be/n8Heq8T1V-o

Hello my friends

The title of today’s episode is: “Don’t go unless armed”

It is common sense that an army should not go to battle unless armed. Having good equipment and protection is necessary to be victorious. I want to start this journey in Deut. 1:41-45 Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the Lord, we will go up and fight, according to all that the Lord our God commanded us. And when ye had girded on every man his weapons of war, ye were ready to go up into the hill. 42 And the Lord said unto me, Say unto them. Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies. 43 So I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord, and went presumptuously up into the hill. 44 And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah. 45 And ye returned and wept before the Lord; but the Lord would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you.

God first told them to go against the Amorites. Then, they started speaking against what God had said. They put on their natural weapons and were ready to go up against their enemies. But the main thing they forgot was God’s protection. His armor. By the time they decided to go to war, the Lord told them to not go because he would not go with them. They went anyway and it was a disaster.

If we are to go to battle with our enemy, we cannot do it in our flesh. We cannot fight with our emotions, intelligence, education or our physical or mental strength. We will lose to Satan every time. But if we use what God has armed us with, we cannot lose. Eph 6 lists the whole armor of God. We need to make sure we have God’s armor to protect us. Then we can use our sword, which is the word of God, and fight the enemy. Jesus was our example. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Jesus would turn around and quote scripture to satan.

This is how we fight our battles. On our knees by praying the word of God. When satan comes to temp us or tear us down. We can quote scripture to him.

Most everyone knows the basics of the story of David and Goliath. Saul should have been the one to go against Goliath. He was too afraid. He had allowed the enemy’s lies to penetrate his mind and cause fear. He lost his GOD FOCUS. When David said he would go out against Goliath, Saul tried to cover him with his own armor. David set it aside because he said it wasn’t tested; it didn’t fit him. He knew God would protect him. He took it off and went in the name of the Lord. He destroyed the enemy with his own weapon. Because God was with him.

1 SAM 17:45-47 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.

Notice David was armed with his faith that God would not fail him. God’s honored his bravery and delivered Golaith into David’s hand. People say that David killed Goliath with a rock. The rock knocked out Goliath, but it could have just stunned him. We do not know. But David took Goliath’s sword and cut off his head. What the enemy tries to use against us sometimes, God will turn it around and we can defeat our enemy with his own weapon.

We have a battle ahead; the enemy will destroy us unless we are armed. Never Go to battle without God’s armor. Read Eph 6 for a list of the whole armor.

We can not become battle-weary, or the enemy may overtake us. Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

It is easy to get battle-weary along this journey. It is ok to take a step back and rest our minds. We do not do anyone, including ourselves, any good if we are on the verge of a breakdown.

It gets frustrating when you work hard toward a goal. At times it seems like the harder you work the worse things seem. But God has promised that if we stay steady and keep pressing on, we will achieve our goal. As long as we look to him. So I want to encourage each of you to press on, stay strong and keep looking up, our redemption is close at hand.

Remember today to not go to battle unless armed. To go in the name of the Lord. Make sure the armor you wear is God’s armor. You will not be defeated.

Until next time, BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

EPISODE 21-GLEANING GOD’S WORD

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://youtu.be/9dJdIM5lLuM

Hello my friends

The title of today’s episode is: “Gleaning God’s Word”

The story of Ruth is a tale of three widows. Naomi, the mother-in-law, and two daughters-in-law. They all lost their husbands. Naomi told them she wanted them to return to their families. Because she didn’t have any more sons for them to marry.

The one returned to her family. But Ruth didn’t want to leave Naomi.

Ruth 1:15-17 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. 16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her. She allowed her to travel back to Bethlehem. People were happy to see Naomi because she had been gone for about ten years. It was harvest time when they arrived. Naomi told Ruth it was ok to go and glean in the fields of Boaz. On the first day, he told Ruth not to go to any other field but to stay with his maidens and glean.

In Bible times, farmers would leave the corners of their fields for the poor to harvest. It was part of their belief system under the law. They still do this today. In essence, the fruit of their labor to grow the crops is being left for someone else to reap the benefits.

We often read and glean a little something extra when we study God’s word. It is good to take the time to look up the meaning of words. Even if you think you know what they mean. By doing this, we often get a little something extra. The dictionary defines gleaning as gathering slowly and laboriously bit by bit. To learn, discover, or find out by study and research. It could be said that every time we research and study the word, we are gleaning. We can read a scripture and take it for face value of what we think it means. But if we start digging into the meaning of words in the original Hebrew and Greek, we find that we can glean a deeper meaning from God’s word.

Boaz told his workers to leave a little extra for Ruth. She impressed him because she was such a hard worker and she had sacrificed everything to accompany Naomi. He found that to be honorable. God will honor our efforts with enlightenment and wisdom. If we just invest the time to study.

Just like those who glean the fields that someone else planted. We, too, can benefit from what others have labored to dig out of the word of God. Ministers who aren’t afraid to stand for the truth can share the hidden bits of knowledge with us to help OUR FAITH WALK.

But we don’t have to wait until the next sermon, we can do a little gleaning of our own. God is waiting to give us understanding if we just ask him for it. Some don’t want to spend the time to study on their own. They are satisfied with living on what other people have invested the time to research. Many people are deceived because they are not willing to dig deep into the word of God for themselves.

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Upbraideth means to rebuke, criticize or find fault) In other words God will give us understanding without being critical that we do not already know what he is trying to share.

God’s word is all about sowing and reaping. How often do we plant a seed in someone’s life, only to have someone else say just the right thing, causing it to produce fruit? That fruit will give strength and nourishment to a weary soul. People often pick and choose who they think will be saved. They try to harvest who they choose. But we never know when God is dealing with the heart of another. We need to glean the harvest field and make sure no one is left behind.

I am sure that Ruth could not have imagined the plan God had for her when she ended up widowed. There is no way for her to know that she would be part of the lineage of Christ.

We never know what God has planned for our lives. We just have to be determined to follow Jesus and to keep gleaning the word for direction. He is writing our story. It may not be as amazing as being the great-grandmother to King David but be assured God has a plan.

I encourage you to get into the word of God. Search it out and glean its deep secrets. We need to know when someone is preaching the word of God that what they are saying is true.

Prov 16:25 “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Many false teachers and preachers are in our land. We need to be able to discern who is true and who is speaking the truth. We will not know if we don’t study the word and pray for God’s guidance.

Just a nugget to think on today as you go about your routine.

Until next time, BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 20 — DECLUTTER AND REMODEL

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO VERSION: https://youtu.be/veg13mSvipk

Hello my friends:

The title of today’s episode is: “DECLUTTERING AND REMODELING”

Our spiritual lives are all about God removing things we accumulate and making them new. God doesn’t want to make over just one room. He wants to re-do the entire house of our heart. When we become Christians, Jesus makes our hearts over by painting the walls with his blood and removing all of our sins from the past.

This episode was inspired by the transition I was in during this time of my life. I have been doing a major decluttering of my home. I recently remodeled a spare bedroom and turned it into an office/prayer room. During this process, I do not know what I would have done without my helpful family. They all have special skills that helped me to complete the task.

I am going to share some lessons I have learned: if a room is not perfectly square, everything is a challenge. In other words, if our lives are not up to specifications, there will be challenges. God’s word lays out the blueprint for our lives, but if it is not applied correctly, it can cause all sorts of issues.

When doing a miter cut on trim, sometimes there is a small space that needs to be filled with wood filler. Sometimes, spiritually, where we are and where we need to be leaves a gap. God is there to be the filler; he makes everything come together the way it should.

I watched probably twenty videos with organizing and decluttering tips. I don’t remember which one said the following phrase or I would give them credit. But it has changed my thinking about a lot of items in my home. It is obvious that some things have sentimental value. But outside of these items, she said to ask, “How does this add value to my life?” If it doesn’t add value right now, then it is time to give away, throw away or sell. We need to give ourselves permission to say that certain things are not working for us and its ok to let it go.

I took this and have applied it to my spiritual walk. I ask how certain attitudes and tasks add value to my life. Only when it comes to spiritual things, have I added another question? ‘How does this add value to someone else’s life? Could I possibly share something that gives someone else values in their Christian walk?

The more expensive the item, the harder it is to let go of; we feel guilty for the money we spend on it. But it is ok to let it go. In the same manner, the hardest walked through trials are often the hardest to pour into the life of someone else. But if we don’t share the value we have gained in the struggle, it will have been for nothing. I often pray for God to use my battle with depression and other things in my life to be a help to someone else. I want the price I paid to give them value for their journey.

As we walk out of our faith daily, sometimes things happen that cause us to be hurt. Sometimes, we face battles we do not understand. God allows things in our lives to remodel and make us over better. Clutter can pile up in our homes; our spiritual house is no different. There are times we allow offense or other things to take hold in our spirit. Sometimes, it is a small amount of unbelief. Other times, it could be just going through the motions and not focusing on God. We need to ask ourselves, what can I declutter my spiritual life and let go of things that are not edifying our Christian Walk.

Remember to keep your words kind, because once said, you can’t take them back. Apologies will only smooth the surface, but the hole remains. Like driving a nail in a board, you may take the nail back, but the nail hole is still in the wood. The only thing that you can do at this point is to fill it with wood filler and paint over it. If some unkind things have been said, then God is the only one who can fill that hole that is left behind and paint over it with his blood. This is how we accomplish forgiveness.

God asks us to forgive for us. Forgiveness adds value to our lives. It releases us from the spirit of offense. Does it mean that we allow people to walk over us again? No, forgiveness is a release for us. But we do not have to go around those people and be hurt by them again. Every situation is different.

Ephesians 4:32: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

When situations arise in your life, ask yourself how it adds value to your life. Sometimes, things occur to teach us a lesson. Sometimes, it is to teach someone else. Prayer will open the answers we need to show us what to do. Jesus is there waiting to give us the answers. He will come along and make over our lives if we allow him. He will show us how to walk by faith and not by sight. He will show us how to walk in the Spirit and deny our flesh. He will help the fruit of the spirit to grow in our lives.

Think about the things you do and say. Do they add value to your life or others?

Thanks for watching,

Until next time, BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

EPISODE 19 — MY FAILURE /GOD’S FAILURE

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO VERSION : https://youtu.be/UOnGliUObaI

Hello my friends

The title of today’s episode is: “MY FAILURE / GOD’S FAILURE”

By the title, I am sure some of you wonder if I have lost my sense of direction. If you have been serving God for any amount of time, you will have heard that God cannot fail. He is the God of the impossible and will do what he has promised. This is true, so we have established that God cannot fail. If there is any failure, it is on our part.

Deuteronomy 31:8 And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

If we attempt something and fail, we often get down on ourselves. Other’s opinions make us not want to try again. What will they think? They will make fun of me. Pushing past other people’s opinions is one of the biggest obstacles to getting to your destiny.

Sometimes, we fail because God steps in and intervenes. Failure often comes because if we were successful in what we chose to do, we would get stuck there. It would be like settling for Ishmael and never seeing our Issac.

Failure often happens when God has something better. But we want to hold onto our Ishmael. Failure doesn’t define us. It is just something that happens to us. However, when we try to create success ahead of God’s plan, we end up with an Ishmael and not the Issac he had planned for us. In studying this story, we need to take away from it to be patient with the Lord, and he will bring success. He will fulfill his promises.

Often, what we call failure is just God closing a door to force us to move on. Most of the time, it is just the push we need to step into our new season. Fear of failure can keep us frozen. But God doesn’t give us fear. He gives us the power to overcome our fears.

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

There is a quote that says if you are not making mistakes, you are not doing anything. I see a lot of truth in this statement. It is almost impossible to start something new and be perfect at it. It takes time to build up experience and to become comfortable with doing something new.

Failure is the opportunity to begin again with an idea of what not to do. We can never underestimate our abilities to be determined to try again.

I feel one of the biggest failures of Peter and so many of us is that we let fear cause us to deny Christ. Most of us, at some point, have allowed people to influence our walk with Christ. But God took Peter’s failure and turned him into a mighty man of God. Who boldly proclaimed the gospel for many years. But Peter didn’t allow his moment of failure to define him. We cannot either.

Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

I encourage you today to step out of your failures and insecurities and be bold enough to try again. God is there to help guide you.

Thanks for starting your day with me.

Until next time, BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

EPISODE 18 — WHERE IS JESUS?

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO VERSION OF THIS BLOG: https://youtu.be/86zlExW01Bs

Hello my friends

The title of today’s episode is: “Where is Jesus?”

Psalm 10:1 Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

David felt like we often do. When things in life get rough, we sometimes feel all alone. He felt like God was far away from him. He felt like he was all alone in his time of trouble. Others have felt that way too or the author would not have written the poem, “Footprints in the sand.” In the troubled times when we only see one set of footprints, Jesus did not leave us, He was carrying us.

God often carries us at our worst moments when we feel all alone. Other times, we have walked away from Him. Not completely or intentionally in an I am done trying to be a Christian, kind of way. But we sometimes start looking within to figure out things that are troubling us and we neglect our bible study and prayer time. Before long, we find ourselves asking, “Where are you, God? Why are you so far away from me?”

When we come to a place where we feel like God is far away. We need to pray and worship. Ask him to draw close to us. It is up to us to return to where we left him. Look at the story when Jesus was a child. Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem for Passover. When it was over, they started traveling. They assumed that Jesus was traveling with the rest of their group.

They went on a day’s journey before they realized they couldn’t find him. They turned around and went back to the last place they had seen him, Jerusalem. It took them three days to find him in the temple. He was sitting with the scholars and was asking questions that showed them He was special. He was teaching them things about the Word because He was the Word made flesh.

Mary and Joseph found him right where they left him. We can, too. If God feels far away while we are in a season of trouble. We need to turn around and look for Him. He will be found right where we left Him. He has said he would never leave us.

Hebrews 13: 5-6 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee

Life can sometimes cause us to be wary. Troubles and trials can be distractions in our lives. The distractions do not have to be temptations and sin. It can just be a large to-do list or a time of walking through a trial of sickness or other issues. It doesn’t take long to realize that we have been neglectful with our time and have not given Jesus the attention he deserves. We suddenly feel like we are in a dry place.

Psa 63:1 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; Psa 63:2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Psa 63:3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

We have all walked through spiritual deserts in which we feel like we are alone. We feel like God is not there. Being in the desert gave David a good perspective. Our bodies desire water; we cannot function without it. But just as our flesh needs water, our soul needs God’s living water.

I want to take time to remind those who feel like they are in a spiritual desert that God is there and will not leave you. He has promised he will never leave us or forsake us. Just when we think we cannot go one more step, he sends a refreshing to our soul. O Lord, how our souls thirst for your presence. Fill us up Lord. God is with us, even if we cannot feel his presence.

Thanks for watching today.

If you have a prayer request, it can be sent to my email angela@godfocus.net

Until next time, BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

EPISODE 17–FEEL GOOD QUOTES THAT ARE NOT BIBLICAL

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO VERSION: https://youtu.be/Lm_HptTBRhM

Hello my friends:

The title of today’s episode is: “FEEL GOOD QUOTES THAT ARE NOT BIBLICAL”

Our society has a variety of sayings that are on t-shirts, notebooks, mugs etc. People say them all the time. We often say things without thinking about them.

(1)

The first one is “Follow your heart.” At first, this sounds like good advice. Often, when making a decision, we need to know how we feel about it. But more importantly, we need to know what God feels about it. God doesn’t say follow your heart. He says, follow me. If we follow him, we will never go wrong. He has promised to lead and guide us.

The word says, Jer. 17:9-10 (9) The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (10) I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

The word says the heart is deceitful. We don’t want to follow our hearts for this reason.

Matt 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Now, knowing the things that come from the heart, do we really want to follow our heart? Every one of those things will lead us down a bad road to troubles and destruction in this life and the life to come.

(2)

The second one is, “If you believe its true then its true for you.” This is one of the worst attitudes that has been planted into our society. What makes it worse is it has taken root in some congregations across America. Have we forgotten the meaning of the word truth or true. The definition of truth is “that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality, actual fact.” The statement “If you believe it’s true then it’s true for you.” doesn’t really make sense. Things are fact or they are fiction. What I think about it doesn’t change it to fact if it is not a fact. On the other hand, if it is a fact, my thinking about it, what I feel will not make it fiction.

A friend of mine recently met a guy with this attitude. He said Satan wasn’t real because he didn’t believe it; it wasn’t part of his truth. I pray he changes his mind and makes things right with God or he will find out the hard way that the devil is real.

(3) The third quote is a new-age thing that has worked its way into our culture, “Karma will come around and bite you.” Karma is the way the new age explains the good and bad that happens in our lives. There is not a thing in the universe that controls the good and bad. God’s word, however, says, “We reap what we sow.” God makes the rain fall on the just and the unjust.

(4) “God will not put more on you than you can bear.” How many times have you hear Christian’s say this: This is man made scripture that worked it’s way into the church culture. The verse says, 1 Cor 10:13 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. It says God will not allow us to be tempted above what we can stand. He will make a way for us to escape.

(5) “You Only Live Once.” This buys into a you may as well do what you want and enjoy your life, even if it is sinful. Because you only live once. But this is not true; we only have one life to walk in this flesh. But after it comes the judgment and eternity in one of two places: heaven or hell. Where you go depends on how you use the life you are given. So don’t buy into the You only live once attitude.

I want to change the meaning of this one and say you only live once, so you have to get it right. Only a life lived for Jesus Christ is a life worth living.

The words we speak have power in our lives. Think about what you are saying, are you speaking life and positivity or are you speaking negatively? We will have to do an in-depth study about the power of our words. Are your statements popular quotes or are they truth?

Take time to watch what you say,

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

EPISODE 16–THINGS ARE NOT AS THEY APPEAR

Episode 16 Check out the video version of this blog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9ek7gVcYpg

The title of today’s episode is, “THINGS ARE NOT AS THEY APPEAR” Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. The flood that destroyed the wicked elevated the ark. We often feel like the enemy has the upper hand when really God is just waiting on the right time to bring the flood. During that flood, he will elevate us above the destruction and destroy the enemy. Even though they were rained on just as hard as the rest of the world, they were safe inside the ark. God gave people plenty of time to do the right thing, but they just mocked and laughed at the preacher who was building a boat on dry land. God was patient, but once he sealed the door, it was too late.

God always has a plan. He always protects his people. Like during all the plagues of Egypt. God’s people didn’t suffer any of the plagues. They were safe in the place where they dwelled. Things escalated to the meeting at the Red Sea. That divine moment destroyed their enemy while delivering them safely to the other side. We can dwell in safety. He will never allow us to be overtaken by the enemy, as long as we dwell in the secret place with Him. We dwell under the shadow of His wings.

God told Jehoshaphat to go to battle. He had three different armies that were against him. That sounds like a recipe for disaster. To the natural mind, what Jehosophat did may seem silly, but God knew what needed to be done. He led him into the battle to see that God would take care of his people.

These are just a few examples of how God used different people to destroy the enemy. Each one took faith and walked in God’s promise that he would deliver. Can you imagine loading all those animals on a boat and getting inside, not knowing what was going to happen. It took faith to get inside with a bunch of wild animals. Under normal circumstances, they would have ended up ripped to shreds by claws and fangs. But God made the animals to even be peaceable.

Imagine how scary it was being trapped by a body of water and the enemy closing in fast. God used that moment to show the Israelites that he was their God, their provider and protector. He turned that moment of fear into joy as they saw God destroy the enemy.

Imagine you are a worshipper in Jehosophat’s army, he says, “God said you will go before the army.” To the natural mind that is a scary place to be, you would be the first one to see the enemy. You would be the first one attacked. As you march along praising God, you are also the first one to see that the enemies have destroyed each other.

The Jewish people in the book of Esther were going to be destroyed. Haman the evil advisor to the king we determined to kill them all and had a special hatred for Moredcai. (Esther’s cousin) But after calling a fast Esther boldly went before the king. At that moment, God started turning the situation around. Before that moment, the evil Haman had built a gallows to hang Mordecai. But because they prayed and trusted God, the Jewish people were saved from being slaughtered, and the evil Haman ended up hanging on his own gallows. Him and his sons. God even destroyed his bloodline.

These examples lead me to believe that as long as we trust Him, even when it seems to the natural mind that it is a crazy or bad idea, we will experience amazing things. We are about to experience what may appear scary to the natural mind. We live in uncertain times. But we know through reading the bible that there is nothing we face that we have to face alone. This is where we have to fully put our trust in him. He will keep us safe and will show us amazing things. He will allow what the enemy meant to destroy us to be our salvation. If we can only trust in Him. Take time to think about your life and your situation. Remember, things are not always as they appear. God may be allowing something that looks scary to launch you into your destiny. Hold tight to him. He will deliver you from the enemy as long as you look to Jesus.

Thanks for watching,

Until next time, BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 15–TREASURES

Hello my friends

The title of today’s episode is: “TREASURES

Matt 6:21 –“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Show me what people spend their money and time on, and I will show you what they treasure. Treasures are the things we value the most.

This verse made me think about what a lot of people treasure in this life. Many people will automatically think of a pirate chest full of jewels and gold worth a lot of money. Some people treasure their money and all the extravagance it can buy for them.

Then my thoughts turned to myself: what do I treasure? I was raised to value things like friendships and gifts made from the heart. I have never been a materialistic person.

Let me ask you a question? What if I told you that your house was going to blow up and nothing would be left, your family is safe and your pets are safe. I will even allow you a freebie of getting all your important papers that are in your fireproof safe.

The family is safe and your pets and paperwork, now I tell you that you can go inside and safely get five things before it explodes. What would you get? What would be the five things that mean the most to you? It doesn’t matter how big or small the items are, just that they are important to you.

I spent a lot of time pondering this question myself. I never want to ask you a question that I don’t ask myself first. I wish that I could say that my first thought was my bible. I would like to be so spiritual that it was my first thought, but it wasn’t.

I thought about a wooden shelf that my grandfather made me when I was six. It is not fancy, and neither is it made from some expensive wood. It was made from plywood. But my family was moving into our new house, and I told him I needed a shelf in my room. A couple of days later, he gave me this shelf. I treasure it because he made it for me. He has made me many nice pieces of furniture and shelves since, but that one means the most to me.

I finally completed my list, including my Bible, after I was reading my prayer journal from many years ago, and I came across an entry that had me in tears. I worked for a car dealership and used to work as a fill-in operator at lunch at my job. Every day, I would take my bible and a notebook to the switchboard with me. I would make notes for the next issue of my newsletter or daily devotionals.

One day, I was sitting there answering the phone when this lady approached me. I am not sure what nationality she was; she looked oriental. I assumed maybe Chinese. She was looking for the service department. Her eyes lit up as she looked down at my Bible and said, “OH, Is that a Bible? You are reading it out here?”

I said, “Yes, I try to read it every day while I am out here waiting for the phone to ring.”

She responded, “I have seen them a few times. Our church had one.” Our church had…One. Something tugged on my heart when she said it, “Our church had one.”

I looked at her and said, “You do not have a bible?” She sadly said no. I immediately dumped out all my pieces of paper that had notes on them and that I was using for bookmarks and said, “Here, you can have this one.”

She took a step backward away from me and said, “Oh no, no, I could never take such a treasure from you.”

I said it’s okay. I have another one at home.” It wasn’t even a fancy study bible. It did not have a thumb index or chain reference. It was one of the Sunday school award bibles I bought for like ten bucks. Just to keep at work.

She looked surprised and timidly asked, “You have two?” I said yes. Really, it’s okay; you can have it. She said ok, and she took that bible and clutched it to her chest like I had given her a million dollars. It made me feel like I didn’t treasure the word of God enough. I felt very spoiled and puny as a Christian not to treasure my bible.

Anyone who needs a bible I try to provide one or them. It is our lifeline, our road map. It is strength and life, it is God written out on a page that we may understand him better. It is our salvation, healing, and our manual for life.

There is another verse, Psalm 119:16-Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee.

If we can take our bible and treasure it like that little woman did, we will read it and study it until we live and breathe it. No one will be able to remove it from our hearts. There could come a day when the government may come and steal the paper books from us. But if we have God’s word in us, they can’t take away such a treasure.

This is why it is important to study the word and hide it in our hearts. Many times I will be facing something and a verse will come to mind. God will bring it to our remembrance when we need it. But it must be hidden in our hearts first.

I encourage you to challenge yourself. Find a verse that encourages you. Memorize it. Think if you learned one verse a week. At the end of the year, you would know fifty-two verses. Now multiply that by five years, ten years. How long would it take before you were a walking concordance like my grandfather? More than the shelf he made me or anything he did for me, he was the one who pointed me to Jesus.

What do you treasure? Silver and gold, a big screen TV the newest smart phone? Or do you treasure that word, that has the power to transform, encourage, deliver, heal and save. Then next time you don’t want to read or study your bible think about the little woman I met, think about how excited she was to just have a bible in her hands that was her very own, because where she was from, her church had one.

The treasure chest of our spiritual life is our heart. If it is in our hearts, it will show on the outside in our lives. Our Christian walk is all about having a good heart. We need to pour good things into our lives, and it will show. When the heart is full of God’s word, we will have something encouraging to say to anyone who needs a little kindness.

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Thanks for spending a little time with me. Think about your treasures and choose wisely. Check out my blog at http://www.godfocus.net. Until next time, Be bold, Be brave and keep your God Focus.

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS