Tag: #dailydevotional

EPISODE 249 THE LIGHTHOUSE DOESN’T MOVE

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The title of today’s episode: The Lighthouse Doesn’t Move

In the darkness of night, a ship lost at sea would rejoice at the sight of a lighthouse blinking in the distance. Ronnie Henson, wrote the song that most Christian’s know today called The Lighthouse. He compares Jesus to the lighthouse. The light shines in the darkness and guides the ships safely to shore. The lighthouse is a fixed point, it never moves.

I often am amazed at how I got out of the darkness of depression. Many days, I didn’t believe I would ever be free. Not only was I in sin, but I was bound by depression. Which in most cases is simply an attack of the enemy to destroy a person. Man’s answer is to throw anti-depressants at the problem. In many cases, this only makes people worse by masking the symptoms, but it is still there. The only real way to recover is for Jesus to remove the enemy’s oppression.

Many are caught up in all sorts of darkness in their minds. Post Traumatic Stress, loss of a loved one, having a high level of stress and financial pressure, many things can factor into the right frame of mind for the enemy to get a foothold. Once he gets a hold on our mind he will use our issues against us. He will drive them home, he will use them to make you feel hopeless and worthless. He will try to convince you that no one loves youor ever will love you. Then comes his next trick, suicide. It starts as just a brief thought, You are not happy, everyone would be better off without you, maybe you should end it all. Then if you do not rebuke the enemy. He will keep telling you those lies about ending it all.

People look at someone who has attempted suicide and ask what did they do that was so bad, what was going on that they felt it necessary to end it all. It may be nothing or something, but the issue becomes a reel that has played over and over in their mind until it becomes all they could focus on, it is all they see. That view is distorted and out of balance.

If you find yourself in the middle of a dark storm of life, feeling depressed and that there is not way out. I am living proof that people can recover from depression. Do I get sad and down at times? Yes, that is normal and being human. We all face things that make us feel sad and down. But I know the warning signs of the enemy’s attack and I start praying against it, before it becomes depression.

This time of year, there are certain expectations in our society. It adds a lot of pressure to people. Some feel torn between families, it is hard to be everywhere at once. Some feel they do not have enough money to buy the latest and greatest toy for their children. But Christmas should never be about the gifts under the tree, but the love of Jesus and the important people in our lives.

How do we keep from getting depressed about what we don’t have? We change our attitude and start thanking God for what he has given us.

Col 3:15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

If we allow the peace of God to rule, there will be no space left for the enemy to attack our emotions and cause depression, fear or anxiety. The God of peace comes to give us strength and joy. Which goes back to us having a God Focus. Everything in our Christian walk can be brought back around to us giving him the proper place in our lives and keeping him the center of our focus.

He will shine a light into our darkness and save us from ourselves, from our enemy the devil, and he will lift us out of the pit and place our feet on solid ground. If you have not ever suffered from severe depression, thank God and praise him for sparing you from the enemy.

You see the lighthouse never moves, he stays where he can be found. The light still shines, we just have to get to the place we can see it. If the sea tossed ship can just get close enough to see the light in the darkness, it can send a signal for help. We do the same, we send prayers for help, Mayday..Mayday..Jesus come and save me. He will be our lifeline, our light and our strength.

Do not ever give up hope, one thing I know is that life can turn on a dime. What looks one way this moment, may be different in the next moment. Even if it feels like you will be trapped in that darkness forever, it is possible to get out, but you have to want out. The only way out of the darkness is through it.

Freedom and victory are waiting on the other side. That is why 2 Cor. 5:7 is one of my favorite verses. I often tell myself that I have to walk by faith and not by sight. We cannot depend on how things look because the way things look can become distorted. Our faith can change it as long as we keep looking toward the light of the world, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

If you are suffering with depression and need prayer, send me a note to my email: angela@godfocus.net.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 248 A FLOCK, A STONE, AND A BANNER

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: A FLOCK, A STONE AND A BANNER

I came across a verse that I have read before, but today it seemed like it had a lot to say. This one verse I look at like it is a summary of God’s people.

Zechariah 9:16 And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.

Let’s start by breaking it down in smaller pieces. “The Lord their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people.”

We are often referred to as sheep and Jesus our shepherd. There are many lessons we can learn from this comparison alone. I will try to summarize for time sake. Shepherds are people that watch over and care for their flock of sheep. They make sure they have a place to graze and find water. They anoint them with oil to keep away bugs and snakes. Just as God’s anointing drives away the serpent the devil.

Is 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. There is no one else that can save, heal and deliver us except our God and God alone. When the new lambs are born, the shepherd talks to them often so they can get used to his voice. They know by his voice that they are safe and he will take care of them. Just as Jesus takes care of us.

Philippians 4:19 – But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Just like God provides all we need to live.

Shepherds protect their sheep from predators even if they are putting themselves in danger of being hurt. Because they love their sheep they want to keep them safe.

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 – But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

Shepherds keep their sheep together, if one gets lost they go and look for the lost lamb. Just as it is often said about us, Jesus left the ninety and nine to find the one lost lamb. Each of us has been that lost lamb at some point in life.

Psalms 100:3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

The next part of the main verse says, “for they shall be as the stones of a crown,” We are the embellishment that make his crown to have meaning. If he didn’t have people to be king over the crown would not mean a whole lot. The crown is a symbol that Jesus is our king. Jewels are valuable, the more that a king has in his crown the richer the kingdom.

The third part of the main verse for tonight, “lifted up as an ensign upon his land.”

Many think of a military rank in the navy when they hear the word ensign. But it also means emblem or banner. It comes from the latin word insignia. We see in history when a people conquered a land they would plant their flag or banner. This was a sign to everyone, who was in control of that land. They always planted it on the highest ground possible, so everyone could see.

God is our banner. Ps 60:4 Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah. A banner is a symbol that people can rally around. Just like our the stars and stripes of America. That banner identifies us as citizens of this great country. We come together under that banner from every walk of life and bind together as Americans against our enemies.

As Christians, we are a sign to the world that God has control of the world. We are like a banner to show the world that he is real. Just as banners or flags were always planted on high ground, we too are in a place that people will see God. When we let our light shine, it is unmistakable that we are the children of God. Matthew says a city on a hill cannot be hidden, because of the lights.

Think about how amazing God is to give us ways to think about our relationship to him. All the stories and parables in the word of God to help us understand God in a deeper way. And all of them are there to help us hear the voice of our shepherd.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 247 – WHY EXPECT LESS

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: WHY EXPECT LESS?

Yesterday, my scripture writing was to write the fourteenth chapter of Matthew. One of the portions of that chapter is the story of the miracle feeding of five thousand. With five loaves of bread and two fish, he fed about five thousand men, not counting women and children. I would say that most of those men had wives, and people back then had large families. I am guessing it was probably closer to ten to twelve thousand. Either way, by human standards, it would be hard to feed a few people with two fish and 5 loaves of bread. And still, Jesus fed a large number of people and had food left over that it filled twelve baskets.

People often use this to show that if we give God what little we have, He will multiply it, use it, and give us back more than we had at the start. This is one of God’s principles throughout his word. We cannot outgive God. He will bless it and break it and create more than was there to start with once everyone is satisfied.

Why should we expect less today? Why do we act like God cannot provide for our needs? Why do we walk in fear and worry about tomorrow when God is already there and will take care of his people.

Then, the next section is about the disciples crossing the sea to the other side and Peter walking on the water. Anytime we try to make a crossing to get away from the large multitude, we will face a storm. The word tells us to be set apart from the people of this world. Because we are not of this world when we become children of God. We are travelers passing through. Those who choose to walk in darkness are of this world.

But even in the middle of our worst storms. Jesus is there to protect us from serious consequences. Peter was more in the storm than those who sat in the boat. He was the one stepping out, trying to get closer to Jesus. His faith was increased because of his brief moment of walking on the water. But Jesus protected them all. None of them were harmed by the storm.

Why should we expect less?

Jesus has promised to go with us and to be our provider, protector and safe place. There are many examples in the bible of how God looked out for his people. I feel it is safe to say, we should not expect less.

I used to wonder what I would do if put to the ultimate test, like Daniel or the three Hebrew men. Bow to this false God or die. But every day, we are put to that test in smaller ways. I feel sure that if it ever came to the ultimate test, the Spirit of God would rise up in us and we would stand strong.

Some people say they don’t want to serve God now, that they will be saved during the Great Tribulation. That is a lie of the enemy they have chosen to believe for two reasons. One, unless you are Jewish, you will not have a right to be saved. But the one that came to my mind first when I heard it was, what makes them think they can defy the anti-christ and stand against the evil then, when they cannot stand against it now. Because it will be even harder to survive in those days.

Many people down through time have been blessed, healed, delivered and set free by our Lord and our Savior. Every promise in that Bible belongs to his children. Why should we worry, fear and be down trodden. God will save, heal, provide for whatever we need and deliver us from our storms. He has never failed his people. Why should we expect less?

Have faith, stay strong, be encouraged Jesus is coming soon for his bride. We need to make sure we are ready. Many say that it is just a story. That Jesus will not return. Some say, people have been saying that for over two thousand years and it has not happened. But you can be sure, Jesus said it, it will happen. Why should we expect less?

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 246 WHY SO SAD?

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I was out shopping yesterday, now I know why I order my groceries and pick them up. The people in the stores were all walking around looking sad and defeated. It was almost like they were wearing a dark cloud that was pushing them down. It is easy to let the cares of this life weigh us down. It reminded me of the question, “Why has thy countenance fallen?” God was talking to Cain.

I am sure the enemy was working on Cain, telling him that God loved Abel and if he wasn’t around then Cain could be God’s favorite. He was filled with jealousy and rage; God warned him what would happen. He had a choice to make, but he didn’t make the right one. It is important that we always choose to do and say the right things.

Genesis 4:6-7 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

It wasn’t because he gave vegetables and his brother gave sheep. Notice Able gave of his first fruits. I imagine Cain picking up a basket of vegetables and thinking this is good enough. He didn’t give God of his first fruits. I believe he did it with the wrong mindset and attitude. Where Able gave to God first. It meant that Able knew where God fell in the order of things. God was first.

Genesis 4:8-10 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.

Cain allowed the enemy to get him in the wrong mindset. When our countenance falls and we start thinking negatively, we are going down the wrong road.

Another example of a fallen countenance.

Nehemiah 2:1-3 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. 2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, 3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?

Nehemiah was sad because Jerusalem lies in ruins. The people were living in captivity in a foreign land. But God gave him favor with that king. He allowed Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem to repair the walls and gates to the city.

In our society today with all going on in the world we have every reason to appear, sad, down-trodden and depressed. Many are fighting severe illness; others are struggling to survive financially. But we do not have to carry these things alone. Our king is waiting like Nehemiah’s to do something to fix our problems.

We can have peace like a river that washes away our pain and sorrow. God’s peace can whisper to our broken spirit, “It is going to be ok, I am with you.” Even if things may not be going our way at this moment, we can have peace if things are well with our soul.

Nothing we face in this life will ever cause God to give up. We have a choice to make, we can keep doing the right thing and eventually things will work out. If we choose to make the wrong decisions, we will end up in an even bigger mess.

We have every reason to be encouraged, God is going to save America and other countries around the world. We have a lot of work to do as the body of Christ. A huge harvest is coming. Do not worry, do not fear, do not be discouraged. I want you to have hope in the Lord. He will always lift our head when we are downtrodden.

Psalms 3:1-3 Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. 2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. 3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

He lifts our heads when we are looking down, so that we can see him. If we keep looking up, we will see him more clearly.

Psalm 3:4-6 I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. 5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

This was David’s reality. Large groups of people, armies from all around were out to destroy him. If we are honest most of us do not have that many wanting to destroy us. Only the evil one, the forever loser and he was defeated a long time ago.

Psalm3:7-8 Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

We can be encouraged and not be downtrodden. It doesn’t matter what we are dealing with in life. God is with us.

When Moses had been on the mountain with God and came down, his face glowed. We too can shine if we take the time to spend with God.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 245 THE CONCLUSION

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: THE CONCLUSION

The word of God seems like an endless book. Every time I pick it up to read the word enlightens me in some way that I never saw before. People say it is living and breathing, because the word changes the reader. We are transformed by the word according to the situations we are currently walking through.

We know that God is love, but each time we walk through something, and God shows up to be our strength and help, we understand His love in a different way. The very basic idea is that love is a flowery feeling. But God’s love is so much more than a feeling. It is an expression of his greatest gift, a right to become his child. We were orphans, lost without hope, but Jesus died to give us the right to be adopted. We can continue to learn about His love a lifetime and still not figure it all out, because his ways are beyond us ever understanding fully.

The writer of Ecclesiastes summed up our duties as children of God as:

Eccl 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

The summary of everything is to Fear God and keep his commandments. It is the complete duty of man. Because this is a serious conclusion, it is not to be taken lightly. We must learn to love God. If we love God, we will want to keep his commandments and walk in his will.

We are not born knowing how to love God. This lesson was taught to me many years ago by my four-year-old nephew. His parents had been teaching him to say that children’s prayer at the dinner table, God is great, God is good… he was sitting at the table and has said that but continued to sit quietly with his head down. My mom finally asked him if he was finished, then he said some profound words… “Help me Love God, amen.”

I pondered those words for a week or more before I wrote a newsletter article about it. That is the conclusion of the whole matter, help me love God. Because the more we love him the more we will want to please him. The more we will want to do for him. The more we will desire to read the word so he can talk to us. The more we will want to pray and sit in his presence, the more we will pray and sit in his presence.

It is so elementary, but still so hard to obtain. We walk through times we feel like he has left us all alone, and we do not feel his presence. But to remind you when walking through times like this, love is not a feeling. God is faithful and consistent. He will always be there, even when we cannot feel him. Because he promised to never leave us.

Heb 13:5 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.

Jesus summed up everything to his disciples as:
Matt 22:34-40 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Jesus was saying if we love God, we will not desire to commit sin. If we can keep our God focus, we will not allow our flesh to give into temptation. If we love our neighbor as ourselves, we will treat them with respect and make sure that we do right by them.

Although, we think we know what these verses mean, everyday is an opportunity to learn a little more about what it means to walk in God’s love. It is a lifetime journey. We will never know all there is to know, because just as God’s mercies are renewed every day, so are the lessons for us to learn.

God wants us to be a sponge and openly embrace the journey. Spending time with him and learning to lean on him for everything we need. Life is a journey and every step we take will teach us a lesson for the next day. But the greatest lesson we can learn is how to love God and one another.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 244 – PLEADING THE BLOOD

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I have been doing online research about what others have said about, pleading the blood of Jesus. This is something I grew up around and never thought about where it came from until I started to look deeper. Although there is not a bible verse that specifically says to say these words, I do not believe it to be harmful as some would have you believe. Some have gone as far as comparing it to an incantation or magical words. Which is witchcraft. I assure you it is not an incantation or spell. People who plead the blood say it to acknowledge the work of Jesus to give us salvation and power over our enemy.

Sometimes, when we are in situations, we desperately need God to move, we plead the blood against it. This means that we are saying, “I accept that you have given us power over the enemy and that he will not prevail because of the blood of Jesus.”

I have seen God move in serious situations where someone prayed and pleaded the blood against the enemy. I know it to be a valid practice.

Faith moves God. Far too long Christians have torn each other apart over our practices and beliefs. When we should be working on reasoning together and seeing people saved, healed and delivered from satan and hell. If you don’t feel it is necessary, then don’t do it.

When Israel was about to leave Egypt, we all know the story of the Passover and how they applied the blood of a spotless lamb to the door as a seal. That was a foreshadowing of how Jesus would become the lamb that would take away the sins of the world. His blood cleanses all sins.

When we plead the blood, we are saying that we acknowledge that Jesus’ blood cleanses all of our sins. There is power in that blood to save, heal and deliver. Without that blood we would not have the right to ask for anything else. Without the blood, we cannot become children of God. We would not receive his Spirit, which empowers us to live as Christians. We have power over the powers of the enemy because we are part of God’s family. That comes through the blood of Jesus.

By pleading the blood we are saying, I accept that your ways are higher than mine, your sacrifice is a covenant to save and deliver me. Through the blood we have access to the power of God to save, heal and deliver us from all manner of attacks of the enemy. God is our defense. When we plead the blood we are acknowledging what he did for us on the cross.

This is not a magic phrase, as some would argue. But these same people also do not preach blood as redemption for our sins, because it is too gory. Their megachurches are all about their smoke machines and entertainment. We don’t go to church to be entertained. Church is not about us. It is about worship of the one true God and his plan for our lives.

We understand that God works everything for our good. Sometimes, things we want to happen do not because they are out of the will of God. Pleading the blood against a situation helps us to turn it over to God for his will to be done. We have to pray according to his will. The best way to do this is outlined in Jude.

Jude verse 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.

We have to get into the spirit of prayer, allowing our spirit to pray. When our spirit connects to God, it is easier to pray His will in our situations. Praying in the spirit causes all of our human wants and desires to fall away. It gets us to yield the situation to God for his will to be done.

Prayer and the power of prayer is a vast subject. Many books have been written about how to pray. Many make it too complicated. Prayer is connecting to God. Spending time in that secret place with him and waiting for him to answer. I have barely scratched the surface on the subject.

I will continue to plead the blood over my life. I want to keep my sins under the blood. I want to be found faithful on the day of his return. I hope that this will encourage you to pray for God to guide you in all things.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 243–FINDING HOPE

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v5yh4pk-god-focus-this-morning-ep-243-finding-hope.html

There is a phrase that says, I’ve lost all hope or they’ve lost all hope. What does it mean to lose hope? First, we have to understand what having hope means. Hope is having an expectation that things will work out for our good and we will have a happy outcome to our situations.

We have all been walking through some crazy things since Covid hit. We can tell when an event makes an impact because we say before Covid or after Covid, just like the events of 911. Almost everyone can remember where they were when the news came that there had been a plane crash into the towers. It was like time stood still. For a couple of days, we were in shock, but then America rallied and found hope.

We are in another time that it seems like hope is hard to come by, but as a Christian we can always have hope. When we have Jesus, we can get through the highs and lows of life, because we are not alone. We place our hope in Jesus and, not in our abilities, politicians or anything else. When we put our hope in man, we will be disappointed.

Finding hope in Jesus, means that we know without a doubt, he is the one that will go before us. In our highs and lows, our happy times or our worst days, we have hope that he will work everything out.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

It is hard to understand circumstances sometimes. It is even harder to believe that loss and grief can be for our good. It is hard to walk through sickness and pain, wondering how it is for our good. In other situations I have walked through, I questioned how it could be for my good. But God knows what he is doing and will use even the dark times to strengthen us and help us grow closer to him.

This life is all about growing fruit an winning souls for the kingdom of God. Our purpose in life is to be a light and help to all that we come in contact with in this life.

I do not hide the fact that I went through a period in my late twenties when depression was my companion. I had lost all hope. It seemed like everything I ever wanted was slipping through my fingers. The harder I tried the worse things seemed. I pray that you never have to experience that smothering darkness of lost hope. As long as we can hold onto our peace and hope, we will not fall into depression.

Prov 13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

The word deferred means to postpone or put off. When hope is postponed, it is easy to become hopeless and fall into depression. If you are in a state of depression, it is impossible to just snap out of it. I had someone tell me that one time. It is not that easy, but it requires a change of attitude. You need to find a reason to have hope again.

Jesus is the light that can shine into our darkness and give us a ray of hope. Once we find that hope again, we need to hold onto it with every ounce of strength we have in us. I pray I can always hold onto hope in every situation that I will face.

Once we have walked through a few situations in life, it is easier to cling to hope. Because God brought us through our fiery trials in the past, we can use that to strengthen our hope that he will do it again. We may not see how He will see us through, but He will.

Lam 3:18-21And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord: 19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. 20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. 21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

Anytime we face a situation that tries to cause us to lose hope, we have to remember where God has brought us from and the promise of where we are going. It will strengthen our hope in the Lord.

Many stories in the bible will help to encourage us and strengthen our hope. God is the God of the impossible situations. He can take the bad and turn it around for good.

I want to leave you today with one final verse:

Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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Episode 242 – Honest and Sincere

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v5y41bk-god-focus-this-morning-ep-242-honest-and-sincere.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: HONEST AND SINCERE

I want to talk to you today about being honest and sincere. What does each thing mean? How do we apply honesty and sincerity to our lives?

On a family vacation when I was about fifteen, we visited a wax museum. To a kid in the 80’s that was an amazing thing to see. There was even one of the statues on the outside of the display that looked so real, we waited for her to move out of our way for a short time before we realized she was wax too. She was a little blue-haired lady with her pearls and purse on her arm. Although they appeared real, they were only statues.

People all down through time have worshipped people and things that are not the real, one, true God. There is only one God, our Lord Jesus Christ. If you are idolizing anyone else, you are committing a sin. Movie stars, pro athletes, and singers are normally at the top of that list. But some even put preachers on a pedestal. Our pastors are meant to lead and watch over the flock to warn of false teachers who are wolves in sheep’s clothing. They were never made to be a dictator over their congregation’s lives. They were never made to be idolized. All of these are like the wax people in that museum. None of them are real compared to our God.

Psalm 97:5-7 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. 7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.

The word says that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Even the most wicked, demonic person we can think of because the demon that is controlling them knows who Jesus is and that they have no power over him. We want to be found in worship of the only God that is worthy. The one that died to save us from eternal torment.

We want to be found doing God’s will and being sincere vessels. For those of you who do not remember when I shared this before, the origin of the word sincere means without wax. It used to be that when porcelain vessels were fired in the kiln, sometimes they would develop small cracks. Dishonest merchants would fill those tiny cracks with wax to make them appear to be whole. The ones without cracks sold for more money. The ones without cracks were said to be sincere or without wax.

When we are real, genuine and sincere, we will simply be who we are and will not try to be something else. Learning to accept who God made us to be is the beginning of a whole new world. Because we will be walking in the path he created for us. If we are doing all that we can do, Jesus will cover our broken places with his blood. We do not need to fill in the broken places of our lives with wax.

The world is full of people wearing masks, trying to be something that they are not, there is freedom in just simply being ourselves. There is freedom in honesty.

Proverbs 11:3 – The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

Integrity means to walk upright, have good morals or to be honest, lacking deception. Our integrity will be our guide because when we walk with integrity, we follow the teachings of the Bible.

Psalm 26:11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.

This verse emphasizes the importance of walking in honesty and sincerity. They are building blocks for the fruit of the Spirit to develop in our lives. We all know how important it is to bear good fruit. Go out today and make it a good one by walking with integrity.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 241 HIGHER GROUND

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: HIGHER GROUND

It is often said when we find ourselves in a situation that could cause us to fall into temptation, we need to seek higher ground. It seems the opposite should be true, if we are in danger of falling, the closer to the ground the safer the landing. However, when it comes to the things of the spirit, the higher the better for us.

As we climb toward higher ground the closer, we become to God. When our God Focus is set right, we will not fall into temptation. The closer we get to God, or the higher ground we find ourselves standing, the more we will be able to resist temptation.

The enemy wants to drag us down. It is his job to make us fall. He will come at us like a flood at times, just to see if he can destroy us.

Isaiah 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

God is our standard or wall of defense against the enemy. He may come at us like a flood, but it will not penetrate the wall of defense or dam that God has raised against it. The enemy is powerless against God. God’s ways are higher than ours, he is always our higher ground. He is our safe place to run to when the enemy comes in like a flood.

High places have always been used for religious purposes. Moses went to the mountain top to receive God’s laws. God was speaking to Moses on the mountaintop and the children of Israel were in the valley, committing evil. They were breaking every law God had given to Moses. Many prayers and sacrifices have been made on mountaintops.

We should never discount the lessons of the valley. The valley is not a bad place, it is a growing place. Sometimes it is a resting place before we start to climb the next mountain in our path. Rest assured even though Jesus is the lily of the valley, He goes with us on our journey to climb the next mountain.

The higher, the fewer; this phrase could describe anything school, work, athletics. Only those who have discipline and determination will rise to the top. Many people for example, start out with big goals, but as life happens, they allow things to cause them to drop out or fall away. We cannot allow the circumstances of life to destroy our determination to keep climbing to higher levels in God.

Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

We can feel safe in knowing that God’s ways are higher than our ways. He knows best and will take care of us, as long as we look at him. We can not allow the things that are going on in this life to drag us down. They may seem bad, scary or disappointing, but as children of God we have to stay strong and keep looking higher.

We can never allow ourselves to be overtaken by pride either. Pride will cause us to have a false sense of security. It will make us feel to good to ever fall. When we get to the point that we feel we are higher and better than others, we can be sure a fall is coming. God will not tolerate his children being prideful.

Prov 16: 18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

The only way we can keep from falling is to stay on solid ground. Keep our feet on the right path and our focus on Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 56:12 Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. 13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

We depend on God to save our souls. Why can’t we depend on him for everything else, like keeping our feet on the right path? If we can stay on the right path and depend on him, we will always reach higher ground.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 240 BE ENCOURAGED

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There is nothing too hard for God. He is with us and will watch over us. Each day is a new beginning. God gives us a chance to start fresh and change our future. I could not imagine when I was in my twenties that I would have walked through some of the things that I have been through. We never know what a day will bring, good or bad. But God can and will use whatever we face and go through for our good and the good of others.

Romans 8: 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

God’s mercy is waiting in our future to carry us through anything that the enemy will try to do to us. There is not a battle that will come our way today that God will not be there.

Lam 3:22-23It is of the Lord‘s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Mercy means that we are given forgiveness, kindness and compassion when we deserve punishment. God shows up in our time of need, even if we have brought our troubles on ourselves. His compassion doesn’t fail us when we need it. He is faithful or loyal to be there for us.

How faithful are we to doing what God wishes for us?

At times we can get busy in the hustle and bustle of life. Especially this time of year and get sidetracked. It is easy to lose our focus. But even when we have lost focus, God is there to help us get on track. We sometimes need to stop and take inventory of our priorities.

I have allowed myself to get a little sidetracked this weekend. I didn’t have much time to prepare anything for your devotion. I am cutting this short this morning. In order to refocus and regroup. I am glad that God never gives up on me and that his mercy is new each day.

I just want to remind you that God is good. When we are celebrating, God is good. When we find ourselves in the middle of our fiercest battle, God is good. On the ordinary days, God is good. Keep looking up and stay encouraged. He will not leave us to face things alone. We can look to him in every situation. Remind yourself that you are not alone.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGEMENT