Tag: faith

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING –EP419–DIGGING OUT THE WELLS

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I grew up near an artesian well. As a kid it was amazing to go get a drink out of the fountain that didn’t need a pump. There was not a handle to turn it off and on, it ran all the time. As an adult, I understand that it has to do with pressure in the water table. To a kid it seemed almost like it was magic. Even on hot days it was ice cold, which made it more magical.

Other wells, like the one my grandfather had, was a big hole in the ground that water flowed into and stayed until it was dipped out with a bucket. This is how the wells were in the bible times. In order to stop the flow of water these types of wells must be filled with dirt or rocks.

After Abraham’s death his enemy the Philistines stopped up his wells. Issac came along and dug them out again. Each time he fought with the enemy over the wells. He would walk away and try the next well until he came to a place that the enemy gave up. That well he called Rehoboth which meant the Lord has made room.

At the well of living water God too has made room. He wants us to share the living water with everyone. God has made room for everyone who is thirsty to come and be filled with is Spirit or living water.

It is impossible for an artesian to become stagnated. Water becomes stagnated when it quits flowing. This allows decaying leaves and other things to build up and contaminate the water. Our spiritual lives can be like either type of water. If it is like the artesian well, we are living close to God allowing the things he wants to pour into our lives to flow. If our living water becomes still and doesn’t flow out of us, we can become contaminated by the world and become stagnate.

John 7:37-39 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Out of our bellies will flow rivers of living water. We need God’s spiritual water to be an artesian well springing up in our lives. The spiritual water (Holy Ghost) will continuously flow and keep out impurities. As long as we stay in the flow of the Spirit of God we will not become stagnate.

But more than having enough God in us to keep us on the right path and not stagnate, we have to share the water. Some want to share God’s Spirit according to church by laws or man’s traditions. Some want to share him on their own terms. But there is only one way.

John 14:6- Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Are you ready to be one of God’s wells that will pour out his living water to the lost and thirsty souls? God needs us to be ready to spread the gospel to the lost. He pours into us and gives us wisdom and understanding for us to take and share with those who are dying to know God’s ways. The world is in desperate need of a savior, now more than ever. We can be that well that springs up and shares Jesus with them before they die lost.

Prov 10:11-12 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

I always think of the woman at the well when I think about God’s living water. Jesus was telling her that He was God and man and Holy Spirit all in one. He was telling her that even though she had been disappointed in people that he would not disappoint her. All she wanted was someone to love her and accept her. But instead, she was left with an unsatisfied life, going from relationship to relationship. To make matters worse, everyone treated her badly because of her choices. Instead of having compassion and showing her God’s love. She had been hurt and judged by the religious self-righteous people of her day. I know many who have been judged harshly by self-righteous people. These judgmental people need more of God’s living water inside of them.

The enemy will do all he can to keep the flow of the Holy Ghost from accomplishing a good work. We are the earth that can get in the way of that flow. Today, I want you to think about how much earthly flesh you allow to stand in the way of the flow of God’s Spirit. We don’t want a trickle or small stream of God’s living water in our lives. We need the artesian well, so that there is room for everyone to have a drink. The word tells us to not quench the Spirit. How many times do unintentionally do that very thing?

Until Next Time,

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BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING — EP400– GOD’S HANDS

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: GOD’S HAND

As children of God we often say that we are in his hands. There is safety and strength in God’s hands. Today I want to take you through the scriptures and share more about God’s hands.

When I think about being in his hands I think of safety. Being in his hands means we are protected from the storms of life. One verse says we are under the shadow of his wings. We are safe when we put ourselves in his hands.

Because it is a choice, and we have free will, we can choose to leave the safety of his hands and choose to walk away. Nothing can take us out of God’s hands. There is nothing or no one bigger and more powerful.

Jer 18:6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

We are in his hands so that he can shape our lives, like a potter does clay. He knows how long to allow us to be fired in the kiln of trials and adversity. In the times of fiery trials we become who God wants to make us.

Is 64:8 But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

God spoke everything into existence, but he formed man with his own hands. Like a master potter, he forms us and molds us into the people we need to become. As long as we are moldable clay. As long as we yield to the way he tries to shape our lives. We can become usable vessels. Vessels that can be used to pour out the goodness of God in witness to the lost. We can pour our encouragement to those who are hurting.

If we do not yield to God and are not moldable clay in His hands. We will never become the vessels that God can use for his glory.

Is 41:13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

We have every reason to trust that he will help us. We are not to fear, he has promised to help us. His hand is not too short that he cannot reach us. It doesn’t matter how far we fall, he will pick us up.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING–EP399–EMPTY TO OVERFLOW

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING, I AM THRILLED TO BE BACK AND HAVE EVERYTHING WORKING AGAIN.

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: EMPTY TO OVERFLOW

I often think about Peter fishing all night without a catch. He was ready to give up. Peter had used his equipment and experience, all that he had within his power to catch fish. We too can do everything in our power to get a good outcome, sometimes, but in spite of our best efforts we fail. Then Jesus came by and said go out and cast your net on the other side. I am sure the last thing Peter wanted to do was go back out after a long night. But he listened to Jesus and went back out. He was obedient.

The first time he was out he was fishing in his own strength and wisdom. The second time he went on Jesus’ word. He caught so many fish; he had to call for another boat to help him. We may accomplish thing on our own. But it is always more profitable to listen to the leading of God.

When we are obedient, we go from an empty vessel to one that is overflowing. When we are obedient, not only will God bless us, but he will bless those around us. It doesn’t say, but I think it is safe to assume that the boat which came to help Peter had fished all night too without much to show for it.

The blessing that God gives us will always overflow onto others. He pours into us so that we can pour out to others. He fills us with encouragement so that we can encourage others. The hope he gives us to give us something to share with others. He gives us faith to share the good news of salvation.

When we are tired of trying, like Peter was that morning, remember God has a plan. We may be empty like the boat Peter was in, but God can fill us up to overflowing. We just have to cast our net on the other side. If we follow God’s instructions and are obedient, we will be blessed and many around us.

Now is not the time to sit in the empty boat feeling tired and frustrated. The world is depending on us to try again. We need to keep fishing, keep trying to win the lost to Jesus. Now is the time to look for answers, listen for God’s direction. He will not leave us empty handed but will tell us to launch out into the deep.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

EPISODE 397 –LOOKING FOR A CLOUD

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The title of today’s episode: LOOKING FOR THE CLOUD

I want to encourage you today with a thought God gave me while driving home from work yesterday. The enemy will hold on with everything he has to try to destroy us. It’s like on TV you see the person hanging over the side of a building by their fingertips. They do everything in their power to hang on, but when the time comes that they can’t hold on, they fall. Satan too will have to let go, he knows he cannot hold on to us forever. The stronghold he may have built, will crumble if we turn it over to Jesus. The battle always gets the most intense right before the enemy falls.

We have to be encouraged and determined not to give up. When we turn it over to God, he will give us what we need for our battle-weary souls. It takes us being just as determined to hold onto God and his promises.

I Kgs 18:41-43 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.

What if Elijah was like a lot of us. He sent his servant, and he came back and said there was not a cloud. Most of us would complain or say, “well I don’t know if there is any use to keep praying or not.” But Elijah was not shaken by how things appeared; he simply told him to go look again. This happened seven times.

He would pray and send his servant. I am sure by the sixth trip the servant was starting to wonder if Elijah was just trying to run him ragged. Elijah didn’t give up, but knew God would answer in his perfect time.

I Kgs 18:44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.

The seventh time the servant saw a little cloud come up out of the sea. The cloud represents God’s presence. We have to hold on and keep praying until we see God’s hand in our situations.

Think about the tent of the tabernacle that was a place God designed, and the children of Israel built. It was a place of worship. When God’s presence would come down and rest upon the tabernacle, it would be overshadowed by a cloud. It is interesting how His presence shows up in a cloud.

We need to keep our focus on God and look for him in every situation. He is not far from us when we seek him. He will answer. Sometimes we have to pray several times before we see his hand, like Elijah. But we cannot give up. Breakthrough comes from persistence and prayer.

Keep looking up, don’t give up, you will reap great things if you keep looking for God’s hand in every situation.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 212 OPPRESSION

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: Oppression

Today I want to talk to you about oppression. Oppression means that a person is being controlled by prolonged unjust and cruel treatment. We think about communist countries and how their people are oppressed. We may think of the millions of people are being held against their will and are being forced into all sort of cruel treatment.

But I want to talk to you about spiritual oppression. It is possible for a child of God to be oppressed by the devil. If we are filled with God’s Spirit we cannot be possessed by the enemy, but we can be oppressed. Many things in life can open up opportunities for the enemy to come in and oppress us.

He sends spirits to try to distract us from our appointed duties. He will use fear, anxiety, depression, anger to control us. It is hard to sum up this subject in just a few minutes. I grew up in church, but we were never taught about how we can open portals to the enemy. Music, entertainment, the way we speak, doing things like yoga, astrology, psychic readings, and celebrating Halloween.

I know many think that yoga is just breathing and relaxing the muscles and the mind. But in doing this practice you are opening yourself up to being controlled by a spirit. Don’t take my word for it, research for yourself.

You may not think it’s a big deal to own a Buddha statue, or statues of wizards, dragons and witches. But spirits are often attached to these things. When you bring them into your home, you are opening your home to the enemy. You are giving him legal rights to torment you.

Halloween is an all-out holiday of real witches. I am not talking about the ones on television that are green with big warts on their noses. Ones with pointy hats and are afraid of water. There are people that practice the arts of darkness. They have opened their lives up to the evil things of the world. Satan is their god. The very ritual of dressing up as something that you are not is in its very nature deceptive. But many Christians every year allow themselves to be drawn into the enemy’s trap.

Let me say, I would never mistreat a child that came to my door dressed like their favorite cartoon or candy bar. As Christians, it is our responsibility to show kindness. Children don’t understand, to them, it is just dressing up and getting candy. It is all about the candy.

But we have to understand as Christians that Halloween is evil. The same people who don’t want to hear about the blood Jesus shed on the cross because it is too gruesome or graphic, are the first ones in line for the next horror movie. The people that make these movies are evil. They have real witches on set casting spells and then people willing to submit themselves to take it all into their spirit by watching.

Psalm 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

We are supposed to come out from among the evil and be set apart for the good of God. We are not supposed to allow our spirit to take in the evil of this world. There is nothing new under the sun. God’s people have always struggled with staying away from evil and keeping themselves pure. How many times did Israel go after false gods?

For many years, even as an adult Christian, I didn’t understand a lot of the things that I am starting to learn. Like for many years, I didn’t realize that all the false gods of the bible are backed by real spirits. Of course, they are all evil spirits, but I thought that these people just made up a religion and built a statue to have something that they could see.

When the word says we do not fight against flesh and blood, but spiritual wickedness in high places, it is referring to all the false gods of this world and the spirits behind them. In bible times they always built their altars to the false gods in high groves and high places.

It is time we walk closer to God. People always want to know how close they can walk to the world and still make it. That is the wrong question. We need to change our mindsets and ask How close can I walk to Jesus.

God will set us free from spiritual oppression if we ask him to, ask that he reveal places that you have opened to the enemy. They tell him you want the access to the enemy closed. Repent of allowing him in and ask for God to set you free. He will break the chains of oppression and set you free.

This was not my typical words of encouragement, but it was something that I felt needed to be said, many people are opening doors to things they are not equipped to deal with, then end up bound.

Prov 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

If we can keep our hearts right, the enemy will not be able to get a stronghold. He will not be able to oppress us if we can keep our minds on Jesus. I am completely convinced if we can keep our God Focus and not allow the things of this life to take control, we will prevail.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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CLOSER WALK

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: CLOSER WALK

I am stirred in my spirit as I try to write out what I want to share with you today. The old hymn, “Just A Closer Walk With Thee,” has been going through my mind most of the evening. I feel like God is trying to get his people’s attention. He’s saying come up a little higher. Dig a little deeper. Learn of me, know me.

When it is all said and done, he is not going to ask you if you attended a fancy church with stained glass windows. He won’t ask if you pastored a church with 500 or 5000 people in Sunday school. He won’t care how many good deeds and kindnesses we shared. It is not about quantity, it’s about quality time with God. It is about a relationship.

John 8:22-24 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. 23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

What will matter is what we believed about Jesus, that we know he is God. Not head knowledge, but heart knowledge and understanding. What will matter is that we are born again of the water and the spirit.

John 3:3-5 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

I am often reminded of people in the bible that did out of the box things to get to Jesus. Blind Bartimaeus cried out for him. Everyone one else was quiet, and his loud desperation made them uncomfortable. But sometimes we are in the middle of our struggles we need to cry loudly to Jesus. In spite of what anyone thinks.

The woman with the issue of blood didn’t let people get in her way. She pressed into the crowd to just reach the hem of his garment. She was desperate for healing. He was her only hope.

The problem with the modern-day church is that we are too dignified to cry out to Jesus. Many are afraid of what others think. “My God in Heaven, I pray that the body of Christ can break free from people pleasing.” It is not about other people. It is a personal relationship. If your church and your relationships do not encourage you to dig deeper into the word and draw closer to Jesus Christ. Run, run as if your soul depends on it. Because it very well could. I say this often, surround yourself with people that makes you hungry for God. People who encourage your faith walk.

God gives us a new day, what we give back to him will determine our destiny. “Just a closer walk with thee.” The song writer who wrote those words, was desiring a deeper relationship with God. If we are his children, we should desire a closer walk with him. God could be saying the same thing. He desires a close walk with us too.

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

We want clean hands and a pure heart. We are not to be double-minded or stuck between two opinions. Today is the day to make up our minds to draw closer to Jesus.

God desired a relationship so much that he came and died on a cross for us. He ascended into heaven and came back in the form of the Holy Ghost to live and dwell within us. If he is in us, how can we get any closer? It is not physically possible, but spiritually feeling that connection to God sometimes is difficult. This is when we start quietly saying, “I want just a closer walk with thee. Grant it Jesus is my plea.” We can have a daily walk that is close, but we have to invest in the relationship. It is about being sold out to the cause of Christ. It is about being willing to step out in faith and not care about what others think.

Are you willing to leave your comfort zone to see someone set free? Are you willing to be rejected by people when you tell them the truth? Until we can set aside our fears, we cannot walk in faith. It is time to say goodbye to the comfort zone.

A closer walk and new adventures of faith are awaiting those who are bold and brave enough to take the next step. Are you one who is brave enough? I am trying to be, I don’t want to miss anything God has for me.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 71–SPIRITUAL STORMS

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: “ SPIRITUAL STORMS”

The recent storm that ripped through my surrounding community knocked out our power and internet. I stood on my front porch one minute and went inside the house. I heard hard rain hitting the roof. As I looked through my window, I could see the rain, I could hear the thunder. All was ok at my house.

My family lives half a mile away. They got high winds, and there was lots of storm damage near them, including downed trees and power lines. It may take a week to get through all the damage. It reminded me of the Derecho of 2012. That time, my home had all sorts of wind damage and trees on my roof. My neighbors looked like they had been through a rainstorm.

Spiritual storms in our lives can come out of nowhere. Things we don’t expect can throw our lives into chaos. The enemy loves to create chaos. He tries to get us to doubt how big our God is by making our situations seem out of proportion. If he can get us to fall into fear, he is closer to getting the upper hand.

Many scriptures tell us to not be afraid. I have to admit when that Derecho was tossing treetops on my roof, I was a little scared. Just as quickly as the storm came up it was gone. The whole thing was over in about three minutes, except for some rain.

When it comes to the spiritual storms we all face, we have to remember that we have some control over the situation. We can call on Jesus. He will help us to endure the short time it takes for it to blow through our lives.

Faith is what helps us to stay on course in a storm. Without faith we cannot stand firm on God’s word. It takes that deep belief in the power of God to stand strong when the wind is blowing.

The enemy would like nothing more than to send a storm to destroy us. He will try all sorts of things to distract us from our mission. But we must stay on course for the sake of those we are on earth to reach.

We never know when a spiritual storm may arise. We do not always know when someone else is in the middle of a storm. They may be fighting a battle that has hit them like a Derechos.

As children of God, it is our responsibility to help those that find themselves in a spiritual storm. Pray for them. Our country needs prayer to survive the spiritual storms that are coming. But be encouraged, Jesus is in our boat and will speak “Peace Be Still” to our storms.

Finding peace in the middle of the storms is not always easy. Our emotions want to get in our way. Fear will overtake us if we allow it. Fear is the opposite of peace. Allowing fear in our storms only gives power to the enemy. He then will bombard our minds with more scenarios. Your boat is going sink you will drown. He will try to put so many what if’s in our thoughts that we begin to believe them.

But our God is there waiting and watching, to see if we can walk on faith like Peter walked on water or if we are going to sink by losing faith. Do not be discouraged, sinking happens to everyone. It wouldn’t be a storm if it wasn’t something to overcome. It wouldn’t be a storm if it wasn’t scary.

God is close by to see how we handle our storms. But if we are His child you can be sure He is not far and will lift us above the storms. As the old song says there is shelter in the arms of God. To quote it, “I will have no fear for Jesus walks beside me. Sheltered safe within the arms of God.”

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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OPENING DOORS TO A NEW SEASON

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Yesterday, I talked about how we close doors on the enemy to prevent him from creating havoc in our lives. Today, I want to talk to you about opening doors that are shut. God opens doors during different times and seasons. Right now, the door of salvation is standing wide open. Everyone has an opportunity to be born again. This is a door that only God controls when it is open and shut. Just like the door to Noah’s Ark. Once God shut it, no one could get inside. If you don’t know Jesus as your savior, do not wait too long before entering the door of opportunity.

Some feel that all roads lead to heaven. But Jesus is the only way to receive salvation. He is the door to salvation. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. This refers to the door of our heart. That is one door that we have the power to open or shut. God has given us free will. He wants us to accept Him and allow Him into our life. But we have to make the choice to open the door and invite him to come into our hearts.

There are also smaller doors that open during different seasons. God sometimes calls us to step out in faith and do a ministry. (Not all ministries are about standing behind a pulpit and speaking.) Many have ministries and never speak to a crowd. You may feel like God is calling you to gather blankets for the homeless or start a food pantry. But every time you think about how to do this thing you feel like you are called to do, something gets in the way. God often gives us a vision for something long before he opens the door for us to actually do it.

Many times, we have to do research and see how to go about doing what we are called to do. Like for the food pantry idea. Maybe you would want to visit a pantry, ask them how they determine who to help. Find out about how to collect food and store it so that nothing goes to waste. Do you have to have permits in your city? Once that is done you may still need to pray for the project. It will come together when it is God’s timing. He will open the doors to use the ministry to bless many.

Sometimes doors are open before us and we have to ask God, is this a door I am supposed to walk through. The enemy will often offer us a shortcut to where we want to go. But his shortcuts will lead us down the wrong road every time. It will take twice as long to get back on track and to find where we belong. The enemy’s main function, if he realizes he can’t stop us, is to distract us.

There are seasons when God opens a door for us. We dwell within that season. But there are times when he wants to elevate us to a new season of life. When this happens, he will open a new door and lead us to shut the old door. We cannot reach our potential if we stay stuck in the doorway of the completed work.

Matt 7:7-8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (8) For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

The best way to get doors to open is through prayer. If we seek direction, He will always guide us and open the right doors. We can trust him that he will lead us to the right one. I often pray for God to open the doors I need to walk through and to make sure to shut the doors that I don’t need to walk through. Seeking God’s direction is always the right move.

We need to always be encouraging of others when they are in transitional seasons. We can lift them up in prayer that God will guide them and open the right door. As I covered yesterday, we also need to pray for God to help us shut any door that will give the enemy a toehold and cause us to sin.

As you open the door to new beginnings, remember that anything worth doing requires hard work and sacrifice. Pray about the seasons in life and live each day with a servant’s heart, knowing that God is there to guide you.

Until next time, be bold, be brave and keep your God

EPISODE 28 –IT IS ALL IN THE PACKAGING

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Hello my friends

The title of today’s episode is: “IT IS ALL IN THE PACKAGING”

Psalm 27:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

Think of the extravagance of Las Vegas; everywhere you look is bling and flashing lights. It is called Sin City, and it lives up to its name. Often, things have to be painted up, glitzed up, and made fancy to be more appealing to people. They never share the ugly side of sin.

The advertising industry is a multi-billion-dollar-a-year industry that paints up and glamorizes everything from dishwashing liquid to toothpaste. The better the packaging, the more they sell.

God’s way may not be packaged with glitz and glamor but it is truth. Truth doesn’t change with the trends. Often the truth is not what we want to hear because sometimes the truth hurts. But the plain path will lead to a place where the Lamb is the Light. A place where sin is no more. The plain path leads to truth and righteousness.

The enemy will always try to paint sin as something we can’t live without. Like all the “for a limited time” gadgets that make our lives better. After all, everyone needs all these things to make our lives better. But most of the time they are just more clutter.

The enemy comes at us with something that he knows is our weakness. He will try to get us tied up in knots. He custom-designs temptations for each of us. We have the power to walk away. We have, with God’s help, the strength to say, “Satan get behind me.”

The battle always starts in our minds. The thought will come to us to do something we know is a sin. If we reject and say get behind me, satan. We take authority over that sin. We will be strong enough to walk away. If we entertain the thought for a moment. The next thing we know, we are caught in satan’s trap. It is always easier to get into the trap than to get out of it. One example is the story of King David and Bathsheba.

A lack of integrity in one area of our life always carries over to another area of life.

2 Sam. 11:2-4 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

(3) And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

(4) And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

Look at David, he saw Bathsheba, he could have turned away, resisting temptation. That would have been the end of his grief. No, he stood and allowed lust to take hold of him.

Still, he could have resisted temptation. When he found out that she was someone’s wife. He should have maintained his integrity and walked away. But he decided he didn’t care, he wanted her and that was all that mattered. He allowed his lust to draw him into an adulterous relationship with the woman he saw.

That sin led him to try to pass his child off as her husband’s child. But Uriah, her husband, refused to go home and see her. He did not think it would be fair to his soldiers since they could not go home. David sent him to the front lines, hoping and knowing he would be killed.

One step led to something worse: to hide the first thing. This is how the enemy lures us in, one step at a time. He went from an accidental glance at a naked woman to practically committing murder.

That is why we need to be vigilant and avoid the first sign of temptation. The enemy will paint pretty pictures of the things we want, but it is all an illusion.

All that glitters is not gold. Many fish have been caught on shiny lures that are not real. The instinct of the fish is to look for food. It allows the shiny lure to fool it into thinking it is a smaller fish or minnow. Then, the hook is set, and it ends up in a frying pan.

Many things have been suffered by people because they allowed Satan to make sin look shiny and pretty. No doubt Bathsheba was the most beautiful woman David had ever laid his eyes on; he should have walked away. Every step he took dug him in deeper and deeper.

We cannot leave the tiniest crack in the door to our thoughts, or the enemy will take advantage. He will stick a toe in, then a foot, and before we know it, he will use our thoughts to create a stronghold.

Not only will he have a place of constant intrusion at this point, but he will attack our conscience for ever sinning in the first place. Doubling our misery and pain.

Never think you cannot get out of the trap. All it takes is to turn from evil and ask God for his help and forgiveness. He will break the chains that have us bound and will set us free. But we have to want to escape. We cannot be like Sampson and play with the enemy. We have to walk away.

Think about what the enemy is trying to sell you? Think about how he is packaging it, I can guarantee it will only bring pain.

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

EPISODE 27–WHY FOCUS ON GOD?

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v49xvkf-god-focus-this-morning-episode-27-why-focus-on-god.html

Hello my friends:

The title of this episode is: WHY FOCUS ON GOD?

This morning, as I sat pondering the goodness of God. I was thinking about the name of my blog and my videos. God is a general term, but make no mistake, when I say God, I mean the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only true and living God. With a capital G., all of the gods of this world are not even worth mentioning unless it is to point out in a story how they were defeated by our God. When writing, we use a Capital letter because our God is the superior and only real God. All the others are little g’s. Because they cannot hold a candle to Jesus.

There is a doctrine that has deceived many, and I am sure this episode will not make some of them happy, but I have to speak the truth of God’s word. All roads do not lead to heaven. It is the biggest lie ever told by satan.

This is a universal idea created by people who do not want us to know our identity in Christ. They do not want us to understand that we have power over the enemy. They want us to be weak-minded, so we will blindly follow and not question anything. My God gave us a sound mind and the power to reason. He also will help us discern and understand things that are happening around us.

None of the little g’s, the gods of this world, died for me. They didn’t deliver me from my sins and from the pit of depression. That was Jesus, to him I owe all praise and glory.

John 14:5-7 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Back up to verse 6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus came and died on the cross so that we could have a right to be born again. So that we could become children of God. None of the little gods of this world ever died for us. Even if they were a person at one point, they just died, and they will be judged along with everyone else. Many of the little gods of this world and their followers shed blood for them in sacrifice rituals. Jesus is the only one who shed blood for us. His blood was pure and it will redeem us from all sin.

I had a hard time finding a name for my blog and my channel that wasn’t already taken, I started to think about what I wanted to accomplish with the ministry that I had been given. I realized I wanted to encourage people to keep their focus and not be distracted by the things of the world. To keep their God Focus. If we can focus on him, everything will work out.

Col 3:1-2 3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

The word affection means to be fond of or liking. The act or process of affecting. Affecting means touching the emotions and moving. In other words, this verse is telling us that we need to worship God, talk to Him, and build a relationship with him. In doing so we will move God’s heart.

I Pet 5:6-7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

This verse is often used to cheer people up when they are struggling. Saying we can give him our burdens and worries because he cares for us. Although that is true, it could also mean we need to cast our affections on him. We humble ourselves and show him how much we care for Him by showing him trust and worship.

We are in scary times if we look at things around us. That is why I always end with Be bold and be brave. God is needing warriors to arise and be brave, boldly declaring the truth of the Bible. If we are bold and brave, we will not walk in fear no matter how bad things look around us.

If we keep our focus on Jesus, we will walk by faith and not by how bad things look around us. I want to encourage you today to stand strong in your faith. Knowing that Jesus is the only way.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS