Tag: #godfocus

EPISODE 190 SCRIPTURE WRITING

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The title of today’s episode: Scripture Writing

For those of you that want to start scripture writing as a part of your study time, there are many in depth videos on You Tube and Rumble that will give you lots of creative ideas.

About a year ago I started a deep dive into the Psalms. Every couple of weeks I take a Psalm and break it down. I write out my thoughts about it. I will write down the passages that stand out to me. I have a few examples I want to share with you.

There is no right or wrong way to study, as I discussed yesterday. There is not right or wrong way to do any of the creative things. I also have a note book that I will share a few pages out of that I have written down because the verses inspired me or I had a sticker that was the inspiration for the page.

Lets get started with Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

I basically took notes in different color ink for each separate thought.

I wrote that blessed is the man who doesn’t listen to the advice of the ungodly or stands in the way of sinners. Not acts disrespectful. We can stand in the way of sinners by being judgmental.

Do not be disrespectful.

We will delight (define please greatly, satisfied) in the law of the Lord and will think on it night and day.

The ungodly will be like chaff blown away by the wind. God will remove them because they bear no fruit.

We will bring fruit in our season, our leaf also will not wither. (Ever in a state of healthy growth.) This makes me think of leaves in the fall how they die and fall off the trees. But we will be evergreen, ever growing and producing fruit.

Then I had this cute sticker that says we are rooted in Christ. I wrote the 3^rd verse around it. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The way of the ungodly will perish.

Then I included a small prayer Dear Lord help me be the tree that produces fruit.

I know it is not the neatest page and not the prettiest writing, but when I got finished that day, I felt like I had made a connection with the scriptures. I felt like I had connected to what the word was saying. That is the point of Bible study.

Psalm 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. 4 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. 7 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.

I loved this Moses sticker, it reminded me that even though an army is coming to destroy me. God will make a way, he will part the sea and destroy the enemy. Psalm 3 reminded me of the Red sea moment.

David is pressed on all sides by people that rise against him. Many said there was no hope. How many times do people speak those types of words over us? With God there is ALWAYS!!! HOPE!!!

Then I copied verse 3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

The Lord is our shield (defense) His glory lifts up our heads. We have no reason to look down and feel down. He hears ten thousands of people against us for God will take care of them all. Just like Pharoah and his army. Like the three armies that came against Jehosophat. DO NOT FEAR!

On the sides of the sticker, I wrote Salvation belongs to the Lord! God has God us.

I hesitated to show you those pages at first because I do not think they are neat enough. But I have learned a lot by doing them. I have tried to slow down and be neater.

Now I will share a few pages of scriptures, to encourage you. It is always my goal for you to leave our time together feeling encouraged to dig deeper and stand stronger in your faith. To Keep your God Focus.

I was playing around with stickers to get inspiration one morning. I found these that I had left over from a poster I made for my Dad’s birthday party one year. It was his life on poster boards and he is a military veteran. Immediately I remembered the verse in 2 Cor. 10:4-5

2 Cor 10:4-5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

We need to realize as children of God that we have mighty weapons through the BLOOD of Jesus. We need to take unto captivity every thought that is not of God. The battle is in our minds. We need to check every thought and see if it is from God or the enemy. If it is from the enemy, we need to dismiss it quickly.

Life is an amazing adventure when you live a life for Jesus. You never know what He will do to surprise you. There is a joy in serving Jesus. I hope something I have said today has inspired you to get into the word and dig for all the treasures of wisdom God has waiting for you. He is worth searching out.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!!

BIBLE STUDY TIPS

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The title of today’s episode: BIBLE STUDY TIPS

It doesn’t matter what skill you wish to learn, it will take most people practice to get it right. For Example, unless, you are a gifted music prodigy, it will take hours and hours of lessons. Some are more musically inclined than others, but everyone learns at their own pace.

Cooking is another example, my mother-in-law used to make the best chocolate cakes. She never measured or wrote down a recipe. She could tell by the color that she had the right amount of Ingredients. If I had tried by just watching her, it would have been a horrible mess. I needed a precise recipe, because I was taught to cook with recipes and measuring cups. Neither way is wrong if the end result is good. The same is with study of the word, as long as we are growing in our wisdom and knowledge of God, there is not a wrong way.

I however, learned about Jesus by watching someone else live for Jesus. My grandparents and parents were my example. I learned about Jesus before I could even read about him for myself. They told me about Jesus, and I grew up watching my mom and grandma sing songs about him while they were cooking and doing dishes, laundry etc. around the house.

My grandpa would sit down at the dining room table, with his dictionary, a note pad and his bible to study for his sermons. He was never too busy to share what he was reading with my brother and me. My dad would go to his bedroom where it was quiet to read his bible. My mom would read hers with a cup of coffee early in the morning or with a soda late in the evening in her recliner.

It would be easy to say that there is only one way to study, and get legalistic. But it didn’t matter as long as they spent time in the word. Today, people are bible journaling and spending time to paint and doodle beautiful things. Some do scripture writing with fancy doodles and stickers in a journal. Others are scribing the entire bible as a way to study the word. Some spend hours with commentaries and concordances.

The main thing is to study the word. I personally enjoy the creative doodles when I am doing what many call scripture writing. I am not so legalistic that I believe it is wrong to write in my bible. I do highlight and take some small notes in mine. But it gives me a little bit of anxiety to see some of those bibles. I don’t understand how they read the scripture through the paint. Maybe, the bible journaling is just a way to have a flip through of bullet points and they actually read in another bible.

I guess the main point is we need to study the word. Doing all the creative things are great if it keeps you in the word. I actually do bible journal in an actual journal. I do some scripture writing and write down things that I want to remember.

When we get someone that is a new Christian is would be easy for them to get overwhelmed with how to study. It seems like a monumental task to learn sixty-six books. One thing I wish I had known when I first started is the breakdown of those books.

OLD TESTAMENT

LAW: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy are know as the books of the law from the beginning of creation to the point of the Children of Israel entering the promised land.

HISTORY: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. These are books of the history of the Jewish people.

POETRY: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon. These books are more metaphorical but contain a lot of wisdom about life and practical living, like honoring God.

MAJOR PROPHETS: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel.

These books came to be known as major prophets because of the length of the books. It has nothing to do with the importance of their messages.

MINOR PROPHETS: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

These books became known as minor prophets because of the length of the books. It has nothing to do with the importance of their message.

NEW TESTAMENT

GOSPELS: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These books are known as the gospels. They cover the life of Christ from before his conception to his ascension into heaven. They are written from the perspectives of these four men who were a part of his twelve disciples.

CHURCH HISTORY: Acts. This one book contains the beginning of the New Testament Church. It contains what the apostles or original disciples did to establish congregations all over that area of the world.

LETTERS: Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Theselonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2 &3 John, Jude.

In Bible times they didn’t have modern communications. They did have written language. In order for the meaning of what they were saying to get from one place to the other they wrote letters. Paul wrote most of the letters but not all. They would contain instruction, clarification of meaning, warnings and encouragement for the church or person they were sending the letter. These letters make up most of the New Testament.

PROPHECY: Revelations. This is the final book in the bible. It contains prophecy of the end times with themes of a catching away of the Bride of Christ (the church). To the anti-Christ taking control of the earth. To satan being cast into the pit of hell.

If you would like a copy of that list, shoot me an email I will send you a PDF.

That guide will give you somewhere to begin to understand what is in the word. There is no wrong way to study the word. I suggest praying before you start for God to give you understanding and wisdom. If you are a brand new Christian I suggest you start with Matthew, Mark, Luke and John they are all about Jesus.

I say that because for several years, I would start with the intention of doing the read through the bible in one year. For several years, I would get stuck in Leviticus, it became about the laws and the sacrifices. It would seem overwhelming to me. I felt like I needed to remember it all. But since I am not Jewish, I am not under the law, I do not have to worry about animal sacrifice for my sin. It makes me so thankful for Jesus, knowing that his sacrifice paid the price for all sin.

In summary, find you a good bible translation. I use the King James Version. I will accept other versions if I compare them to the KJV and the verses mean the same, however some translations are missing verses and the meaning is different.

Ask God for his guidance in prayer before you start studying. Have a bible dictionary handy. If you want to do a deep dive, a concordance.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

As we read and learn about God, we will learn of his spirit that was sent to earth on the day of Pentecost. Which is the beginning of the New Testament Church. That spirit is within anyone born again. God’s Spirit will teach us, He will open our understanding. If we desire a deeper understanding, God will not hide it from us. He wants us to know him in a deeper way.

There is no right and wrong way to learn about God. Because we could never learn everything there is to know, we always have more to learn; which is exciting. Don’t allow the opinion of the world to taint your opinion of God’s word. It is not some outdated old book about history. But it is living and breathing, it will be the best guide you have ever looked at to understand this thing called Life.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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BOLDLY APPROACH THE THRONE

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The title of today’s episode: Boldly Approach The Throne

I woke yesterday morning to a daily bible verse and short devotional. I have a dear friend that sends them to me daily.

The verse happened to be Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

I have always liked this verse because it says we can come boldly to God. We do not have to be in fear that he will reject us. He will extend his scepter to us every time. He wants to hear what we have to say.

Bold means not hesitating, or fearful in the face of possible danger. In times of kings, no one approached the king without a formal invitation. If they did there were assassins waiting to behead them on the spot. The only way these body guards did not take someone out was for the king to stretch out his scepter. It would be dangerous to approach the throne. But God says, we have access because we are his children, we can come boldly. Without fear and hesitation to make our requests know to our King.

Then I turned on Prophet Julie Green, I listen to her almost every day. The first bible verse she read was, you guessed it, Hebrews 4:16. For the past few days she has been talking about petitioning the courts of heaven for God to return to us what the enemy has stolen. Then she listed a few things like: health, peace, joy, any part of our faith walk and our finances.

I had plans for the day but, I felt God really impress on me to intercede for our country. People are dying every day because of the evil that has taken over this nation. We were founded as one nation under God. That is with a big G not any of the false gods of this world which are little g’s.

As I sat in my office, the spirit of God came over me and I started weeping. He totally wrecked me. I have not been so wrecked by the Spirit of God since I attended a ministry conference over a year ago. I could not stop crying and praying. I spent a long time praying for our nation, praying for lost family, for restoration of thing that needed to be restored. I felt compelled to keep praying for the needs I have on my prayer wall.

Once that anointing left me, I rushed to my computer to write my thoughts down.
I feel like God wants me to encourage you to come boldly to his throne. Take a list of what the enemy has taken from you. Petition the courts of heaven for what you feel needs to be restored to you.

We never know what our prayers may unlock. One example that comes to mind is the story of Hannah. She had a desire to have a child. She didn’t understand the profound effect that child would have on the world. Samuel did many things to restore their people. He returned righteousness to the house of God. He anointed kings, he gave them words of direction from the Lord.

We often have an overwhelming desire for something, but do not realize the heavenly impact of that prayer. All we know is that prayer burns within us. God will use our surrender and our prayer to further the kingdom.

She prayed, then she surrendered her son to the work of the Lord. Her prayer gave birth to the destiny of her nation. What prayer is within you that God wants you to boldly come and petition the court of heaven to receive? What may seem simple to you, may change the destiny of your nation. At the least it will make an impact on your life. Our God is a God of answered prayers.

Phil 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

This means to not worry or be anxious about things, but with thanksgiving we can come boldly to the throne and petition God for his help. We enter his presence with praise and thanksgiving. Once we have that connection is the time to ask God to move upon the situations of our lives.

Psalms 145:3 – Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

His greatness is unsearchable. In other words, it would take more than our lifetime to understand God. He is beyond fully knowing, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try to understand his vast greatness.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD’S FIRE

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: GOD’S FIRE

What made the burning bush that Moses encountered so special? What made it different from all other bushes? Why did he notice it?

It was on fire but was not destroyed by that fire. God used the fire to get Moses’ attention. How will God get people’s attention today? He will send down the fire. The church for too long has denied the power of God. If people cannot control it, they don’t want it.

Our God is a consuming fire. He burns out all that within us that is not of him. This is why our trials are called fiery trials. Because they are purifying us. But the fire I want to talk about is the fire of God.

The children of Israel were led by a pillar of fire. It also was there standing wall between them and the enemy. It gave light to God’s people and brought darkness to the enemy.

Just as the blood of the lamb on the door post represented Jesus atonement for sin. This pillar of fire represented the Holy Ghost that was given on the day of Pentecost. This fire from God will be our guide.

We have to allow the Spirit of God to lead us. For too long we have had our programs and ideas of what church should be like, it is so programmed that there is not time for God to move and do what He wants to do for his people.

So the pillar of fire that goes before us, is God’s Spirit. The separation from our enemy is also the spirit of God. If it was not for God we would be overtaken by the enemy.

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.

The Spirit will lift up a flood wall to keep us from being overtaken. We need the fire of God in our life. Most of you will relate to the little lady on the movie War Room. She is fiery, and I am sure the enemy shakes in his shoes when she wakes up in the morning.

If we can catch on fire, our fire will produce light that will shine out and others will see that we are different. That fire will not destroy us. We will be like the burning bush God used to talk to Moses. We will shine, but will not be destroyed. There were probably many bushes around but the only one that caught Moses’ attention was the one on fire. It was the only one God used to talk out of.

We can no longer be a body of lip service. We have to be the body of God’s light. We have to be able to pray for people and God will move in their lives. Many needs delivered from horrible situations. Only God can help them, it is beyond our human capacity to help most of them, but God can deliver. He can save, heal, deliver and set free. But only if someone catches fire.

Matt 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

A candle will not light a room without fire. We need God’s holy fire to be stirred up in us. A camp fire will die down to only a few embers, but as long as the coals are hot the fire can burn again by adding some wood and blowing gently on the coals.

As the body, it is time we throw some wood on the fire of revival. Ask God to send the gentle breeze of his breath to cause the tiny coals we still have to turn into a roaring fire of revival once again.

Just as Elijah called fire down from heaven to prove his God. We too can be a fire starter. Many people on the mountain that day needed to see that God was real. We need to be the ones today that shows them he is not just a fairy tale from an old outdated book. This time the sacrifice is not a bull, like it was in Elijah’s day, but it is our praise and worship. It is about our relationship with the one true and living God. If we make ourselves a living sacrifice like the word says, we can be that light God wants us to be.

The world is waiting to see some light. They are needing the warmth to step out of the coldness and cruelty.

Ask God to make you his mouthpiece, allow you to be the on fire tree that is a light to someone. The world needs the church to be that beacon of hope full of God’s holy fire, once again.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 186 THE WAY OUT

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The title of today’s episode: THE WAY OUT

We often find ourselves in the middle of trial. These things happen for many reasons. It doesn’t matter how bad the trial, we can worship our way out. The word says that God inhabits the praise of his people. Praise and worship gets his attention.

We do not worship in an action only, as if to butter up God for a favor. He is not one to be manipulated. But if we can learn to praise him, from a sincere place in our hearts, he will come to our prisons of trouble, he will shake the jail and set us free.

I said it that way, because that is what happened to Paul and Silas. They had been taken prisoner for preaching the gospel. Other believers gathered to pray on their behalf.

Acts 16:22-24 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

Paul and Silas went about doing good. They had cast a devil out of a woman who was being forced to basically be a fortune teller. But once that spirit was cast out of her, she could no longer make money for her masters. They stirred up the people against them and they were thrown into jail.

What would we do in their position? Would we complain about how much our backs hurt from our beating? Would we have a pity party and sit in the dark jail until someone bailed us out?

Acts 16:25-26 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

Notice God shook the foundations of the prison, then the doors were open. The doors of all of them were opened. Then he loosed their bands. It took a shaking of the foundation to set them free. Sometimes we build our lives on things that are not the right foundation and God has got to shake the foundation to set us free from our prison.

For example: I keep feeling like God is calling for unity in the body of Christ. God is shaking the foundation of our religion so that we can be set free to just be His body. This is something everyone of us needs to be praying, “Lord remove religion and help me to see you in a deeper way. I want to walk in your ways and not be bound by man’s traditions and man’s religion.”

Acts 16:27-30 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

People are watching our lives. They see us in our storms and wonder how we are even breathing at times. When a tragedy hits us and we are stuck in the prison of our pain, sickness or grief for a season. But if we can keep praising God in the middle of our pain and our prison, God will set us free and use that to help others find Him.

When this jailor realized that he would not be executed for letting the prisoners escape he came and fell down before them and asked them to introduce him to Jesus.

We never know how strong we can be until we are faced with the trials of life. But if we face them with prayer and praise. God can use our dark times to set free those around us who are bound. We will be able to be a witness for the cause of Christ if we can just learn to worship and war with prayer and praise.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 185 WORSHIP THE LORD

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: WORSHIP THE LORD

Never before in history do we need God’s presence like we need him today. It is impossible to turn on the TV, look at social media or even go to the grocery store without being bombarded by evil. The enemy has ramped up his spiritual attacks on everyone. He is determined to destroy the next generation. But God has other plans.

No one has a bigger heart for children than our God. He loves that they are completely honest and open. But their innocence and honesty sometime is a handicap when it comes to satan. But it is not just children that do not know how to handle the enemy. Many of us as adults struggle with it.

How can we get to a place that God will be there and listen when we call? It is all about our relationship with him. Once we are saved, that is not a place that we can get comfortable and sit down and wait until the rapture. That is the beginning of our work here on earth. We are called to go make disciples or followers of Christ. We cannot do that if we do not have a real relationship with him.

Opening our bibles only on Sunday and only praying over our food is not enough to really build a relationship.

Psalm 145:18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

We cannot have a relationship with someone we do not ever talk to, the same way goes for God. We need to spend time with him getting to know him. He inhabits the praise of his people. He wants us to worship him. We need to lavish love upon him.

Imagine being engaged to someone who only wanted to be kind to you when they wanted you to do something for them. What kind of a relationship would that be; not a very good one. But I am sure God feels like we don’t care unless we need him to fix something that is wrong in our lives.

Our prayer sessions are all about the needs of us and others. But do we stop and listen for him to speak?

Worship is the key that opens the door to everything else in the spirit realm. We open ourselves up to whatever we worship. If that is God or our evil enemy, worship draws us closer to what we praise.

Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

We are living in a day and time when God will not accept less than our whole heart. When we give our heart to Jesus, we cannot take any of it back to walk in the ways of the world.

We have been given his promise to seal our marriage contract. He gave us the Holy Ghost to be our engagement ring. The first fruits and down payment.

2 Cor. 1-20-22 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

The earnest of the Spirit, means our downpayment of His Spirit working in our lives.

God wants our worship more than that of the angels. They were created to worship. God created us for friendship, to have a relationship with him. Then sin entered our world. Now we have to connect to God through worship and prayer.

The book of Psalms is full of beautiful passages about praise. David learned in isolation what it would take to carry him when he stepped out in faith to walk in his calling. We all have things God has created us to do.

He will show us the way if we fellowship with him in times of worship. Every day is a new chance to raise our hands in praise and thanksgiving. Church, we are in the home stretch, the finish line is in sight, how will we finish our race? How many sheaves will we bring along in our harvest baskets?

It is all about Jesus and it is all about helping the lost give their hearts to Jesus. Not in word only, but to truly, fully, openly, to be 100% sold out to the cause of Christ.

Worship will light the fire in our hearts to go out and share what wonderful things God has done for us. I pray that God lights you up so brightly that you reach your area of influence. The harvest is ready and there are few laborers to gather them into the barns. Go out and make a difference in someone’s world today.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 184 JESUS OUR SOURCE

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: JESUS: OUR SOURCE

I want to share something with you today that I never really thought of before this morning. For the last few weeks, I kept seeing videos pop up about the impending collapse of our economy and wished I had invested in gold. God hears our thoughts and knows our anxiety even when we don’t voice it to him. It is not like I have been praying about having gold in order to secure my financial future.

To God I have been speaking the words of faith, even if I didn’t fully feel them. God reminded me He is my security and my source. Then I thought about the children of Israel. It is like he said to me, “They had massive amounts of gold, silver and jewels but they still needed me to provide.” I had to sit and think about that this morning. At that time gold, silver and jewels didn’t mean much because there were no stores in the desert, not even a dollar general in sight. Their gold could not be used to purchase for them food, water, shelter, clothing or shoes.

The entire time they wandered in the desert, God was their source. He supplied all they needed. We have no greater security than knowing that our Lord is in control and will take care of us. We don’t need large stashes of gold or silver. They just needed him to watch over them and so do we today.

Deut 2:7 For the Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.

We often quote Phil 4:19, but do we really believe it. I admit at times I do and other times I allow doubt to creep in and tell me lies. It is in those times God sends me reminders to pull me from my human understanding and concern.

Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Notice it didn’t say some needs. It said all your need. Think about all the wealth God has, all the gold and silver belong to him. This verse is not only material things. It can mean if we need peace, he has an abundance of peace to share. If we need joy, he has an abundance of joy to share. He truly is all we need, if we can learn to fully surrender and fully trust in him.

When I looked up the phrase supply all your need in the original text it translates as to cram, level up, to furnish, diffuse, satisfy, finish, complete or impart richly. If we have a need, he will fill it until it is finished, satisfied and complete.

How much more could he provide than that, he will give us what we have need of until there is no longer even a hint of a need.

Psalm 146:7-9 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners: 8 The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous: 9 The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

God is about to turn the ways of the wicked upside down. As we face the things that are coming, pray for protection over God’s people. Pray for godly leaders that will stand for truth and the constitution. Pray for President Trump and his family that God will continue to protect them from evil. Pray for peace, strength and provision. Peace that we will not fall into fear. Satan wants nothing more than to make us fear what could happen. Strength to stand strong against the attacks of our enemy. Provision to sustain us through whatever is facing us.

Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

We cannot give up now, we are almost at the finish line. I think that Jesus is saying this to us today, instead of Simon, Simon, he is saying all of our names. Satan desired to sift you as wheat, but I have strengthened you. We have almost completed our course. But we must keep holding onto our faith for just a little while longer.

We are in the darkness before the dawn when God will send down his power on this earth. We will have a great harvest of souls. Our lost loved ones are depending on us not to get side-tracked. They need us to stay laser-focused on God and his plan for the next few months.

It is time we shake off the shackles that the enemy is trying to put on us to cause fear, anxiety, worry and unbelief. Jesus is truly all we need.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 182 TIME TO BREAK FREE

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: TIME TO BREAK FREE

The world has so many people bound by fear, anxiety, depression, drugs and all sorts of sin and perversion. It is easy to get into a mess or fall into sin. As humans it is hard to stand up to the enemy. We are susceptible to the shiny, exciting way he paints sin. Without Jesus, satan is hard to resist. He understands us better than we do ourselves, then custom creates the sin that will put us into bondage.

BUT GOD…When we give our lives to Christ, he takes responsibility for us. He will give us power over the powers of the enemy. We will have the strength to resist satan and his lies. Suddenly we can have power over the sin that has so easily taken us over, before Jesus. I am not saying we cannot fall into sin. But we have a way of resisting that has the power to keep us free, as long as we look to Jesus.

It is time for us to break free from the chains that have bound us too long. The body of Christ has allowed the enemy to come in and slip chains on us. We are like Sampson; we played with Deliah until we were made weak. For far too long, the body has allowed little things to be overlooked in the name of not judging. In the name of loving others.

The bride of Christ can break free from traditions of men that are not based on the scriptures. She is chained up by man’s philosophies of loving everyone and accepting their sin. The only thing that will overcome these things is telling them the truth in a nonjudgmental way. Some say this is speaking truth in love.

The world doesn’t hold each other to any type of standard, but they expect Christian’s to be perfect. When we fall, they judge us, but do not want to be judged. It is time we walk upright and do the best we can, but when we fall, accept God’s grace. Even when the world and our brothers and sisters in Christ are judging us.

Isaiah 9:4 For God will break the chains that bind his people and the whip that scourges them, just as he did when he destroyed the vast host of the Midianites by Gideon’s little band.

His people were in bondage in the land of Egypt. He saw their pain and how they were treated. He had compassion on them and sent a deliverer. Jesus is our deliverer from our spiritual bondage.

What was the first thing the Egyptians wanted to do when the enemy pursued them? They fell into fear and wanted to return to bondage. Today this is called a trauma response, they are afraid of the unknown and would rather return to what they knew, than to face the unknown. Yes, they were in bondage, fear, pain and many afflictions. Facing a new land with giants, they could not see themselves overcoming them, even with God on their side.

I pray that the body of Christ will not allow the size of our giants and the fear of the unknown to cause us to want to turn around. I pray we can get our mindset straight and focus on the one who set us free.

It is time we open our minds and hearts to God’s will in the earth for our time. It is time we set aside man’s ideas and doctrines and ask God for his direction. It is time that we break free from the traditions of men.

Sincere prayer time, not just petitioning God, but waiting quietly for his response, will give us the answers we need to not be afraid of our enemy. We must break free from the response, “It has always been done this way. This is what we were taught.” How can we prove to people who do not know God what HIS truth is, if we do not know ourselves. Just because it has always been taught a certain way, is not a good answer for someone trying to find God.

I want to encourage you to search your heart, search your soul. Ask God to show you the direction he has for your life. Ask Him to break your chains and set you free from anything that is not of Him. Now is the time to be free.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 183 HIDDEN TREASURE

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: HIDDEN TREASURE

Prov 2:4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

Prov 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

This is encouraging to me and should be to you too. We are on our way to gaining wisdom and understanding, when we search for it. God wants to give his people so much, but we are not ready. We are not wise enough or mature enough to carry the weight of what he wants to share with us. Because we have allowed for too long a watered down message to be prevalent in our pulpits.

God will give us what we can handle; if we seek wisdom and understanding. This chapter says if we look for it as a hidden treasure, then he will give us knowledge and understanding.

When I hear the phrase hidden treasure, I think about it being something that has to be searched for by studying our guide or map to find it. Then once the spot is located, there is a lot of digging to get to the pearl of wisdom or the treasure chest of understanding.

Verse 7 says he is a buckler. When the bible was written that was a common word everyone understood. Today many people would look at you strange if you said God, was your buckler. Part of digging for that treasure is understanding the time in which the text was written. A good bible dictionary is one of our best tools.

A buckler was a small shield worn normally on the left arm to protect not only the upper body but the sword hand from enemy attack. Our bible is our sword. As we use our sword, God will be our shield, to protect our work. To keep us from falling prey to the enemy. When the enemy starts throwing his darts, God is our defense.

Psalm 91: 4-7 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

It does not matter the size of the enemy. Look at David and Goliath. God doesn’t care how big our enemy is, because he is bigger and far more powerful. Another place in the word says he is our our defender. It doesn’t matter how bad things appear, he will protect his people. He loves us so much that he sends his angels to protect us.

Psalm 91: 11-12 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

He will keep us on the right path if we seek him and allow him to guide us. He will shine a light on our path. That will help us to find the hidden treasures of wisdom and understanding.

How have you improved your understanding lately? Are you studying his word and asking for wisdom? The word says if we seek we will find, if we knock it will be opened to us. What plan can be put in place today to help you find what you seek? There are several tools: daily devotionals, bible studies, bible journaling and scripture writing, listening to mid-week podcasts. None of it should be done without asking God for his understanding to flow.

1Peter 3:15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

We cannot tell anyone else about the great treasure we have found, if we lack understanding about what we have found. The hope we have even when the storms of life rage, the hope we have when we are standing at a loved ones grave the hope that when we leave this life, heaven is waiting for us. Our hope comes from the Lord and understanding his promises in his word.

In other words, we cannot be an effective witness, if we do not know the word of the Lord. In digging for the hidden treasures inside the pages of our sacred book, we find God and learn about his character. We learn to look at ourselves through the lens of the scriptures.

I have found the more I dig into the word, the deeper my faith and hope grows. I understand that many of the hidden treasures written there are not hidden deep. God wants us to find them and he wants us to truly know Him. In prayer and study, we can be transformed from who we are in the world to who we are in Christ.

Ponder the hidden gems of God’s wisdom, then get out your road map and start looking for direction.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 180 –SOW GOOD SEED

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: SOWING GOOD SEED

As Christians we often speak about the golden rule, do unto other as you would have them do unto you. Today I want to talk to you about another rule of God’s word, you will reap what you sow. Meaning whatever we invest into our spiritual walk, that is what will guide our life. Our life becomes the fruit or product of our spiritual walk. If we invest in our relationship with God, we will reap in many areas.

I was reading Matthew Chapter 5 this morning. I never thought about what is normally known as the beatitudes, many can be something we sow in our lives.

Matt 5:1-12 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: ²And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, ³Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.⁴Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. ⁵Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

If we sow meekness, we will reap from God’s hand; we will inherit the earth.

⁶Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Starting with verse six, if we sow in hunger for God’s ways, his righteousness, we will reap in having that hunger filled.

⁷Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. ⁸Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

If we sow mercy, we will receive mercy. If our heart is set on God and his will, we will have a pure heart. God can use a heart that is pure and doesn’t have any deception in it.

⁹Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

We are called to be peacemakers. If we sow in peace, we will reap in peace.

¹⁰Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. ¹²Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Then comes the ones we don’t want to talk about, Being persecuted, falsely accused and had evil lies spread about us. We are to stand against it by not defending ourselves. If we do not defend ourselves, God will fight our battles for us.

He will shut the mouth of the accuser.

Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

With God on our side we do not have to go out and try to defend ourselves. God is our defense.

It is hard to take the high road at times. Our flesh wants to get scrappy with people. But we have to walk in our humility and keep our head up high. The only opinion that matters is what God thinks. We are to continue on doing God’s will and he will take care of the rest.

We are in serious times, now is not the time to be playing games. Now is not the time to sit on the fence. We are either Children of the Most High God, or we are the children of darkness. There is no middle ground.

It is time that we examine ourselves and look to see which side of the fence we are on. Are we sowing the right seeds in our lives? Are we daily sowing prayer seeds that will bring forth God’s blessings, power and strength in our lives?

Time is short, we want to hear him say, “Well Done” the saddest thing to ever hear is “depart from me I never knew you” I pray that you think about it and do something this weekend to strengthen your faith walk.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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