Tag: #Jesus

EPISODE 202 CHANGE HIDING SPOTS

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The title of today’s episode: CHANGE HIDING SPOTS

As children, most played hide and seek. If you found a good spot you would go to it over and over, until the seeker found you. But if you were found it was time to find a new hiding spot. I want to talk to you today about the right hiding spot.

I often encourage you to read Psalm 91. There is a lot of encouragement packed into that one chapter.

Psalm 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

God will protect his people, we are under his wing as a baby bird is protected by the mother’s wing. It is easy to look around us and be alarmed by the evil in the world. Many of us have considered our government a large entity that will protect us from foreign countries attacking us. We thought that they had our best interest at heart. Many of us understood their greed, but didn’t understand their evil. Not until recent years, have we seen the true colors of most of those who rule over us. It goes deeper than greed, many are evil personified.

Prov 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

The church has hidden behind, the passive “I don’t want to get involved in politics. We are called to love everyone.” We have hid behind our own moral compass and good deeds. Instead of hiding in the secret place with the Almighty, we have hidden in our entertainment. Justifying sin by saying that little thing or this little thing will not matter. We have cheapened the message of God’s Amazing Grace to basically a message of live anyway you want, he will forgive.

They miss the verse in, John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

It is time for the church to find a new hiding place. It is often said that the best place to hide something is in plain sight. This is what our enemy is doing. They are not even trying to hide their evil.

Far too long we have cowered in the corner, hiding our light. How will the world know they are in darkness if there is no light? It is time we hide ourselves in the secret place of the most high God in prayer and worship. Studying the word and hiding it in our heart. The word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Unless we are illuminated by having that word in us, we will not have light for our path or enough to shine for others that they may see.

Psalm 31:19-20 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! 20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

If we fear the Lord and want to walk in his ways he will hide us in the secret of his presence, away from the pride of man. Because we all know what happens to the prideful…they fall. He will protect us from evil.

Psalm 32:7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

It is time we change our hiding place, to hidden in plain sight. We want to hide in the secret place of God. He will allow us to be seen in a way that will be a help to those around us. There is too much riding on how we react to what is going on in the world. We no longer have the luxury to be quiet and passive, it is time we lift our voices to God and for God.

Look at history, the Jewish people in Germany sat quietly by and soon Hitler had slaughtered approximately six million of them. They didn’t stand when they should have and soon it was too late. We can no longer hide in passivity. It is time we went to battle. We have to fight on our knees this war, the best place to fight is in the secret place where it is only you and God.

He wants our company and for us to honor him. Our hope is in the Lord, there is no other place we can run to for safety. All of our hope is in Jesus.

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

We will weather the storms of life, because we have safety in name our Lord.

Take time and think about your hiding spot. Are you hiding in the secret place of the most high? Are you ready for what is coming or are you hiding somewhere in the passive zone thinking where you are is good enough?

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD IS NEAR

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: Whatever Season, God Is Near

Yesterday, I spent the day outside in the beautiful fall weather. The leaves have mostly turned and are falling like rain in the Autum breeze. It is good to take a few moments and soak in the sunshine, while lifting up thanks to God for all He has done.

In the political climate and with all the negative things we see, it is easy to forget how blessed we are in America. I am certain of changing seasons as I am sure the leaves will turn bright colors and fall off the trees each year. I found it interesting as I stood on the porch in the sunshine, just how dark things appear, spiritually. If you have an ounce of discernment, it is not hard to feel how evil and dark things are all around us.

But the darker things get the more our light will shine. The more people will find hope in Jesus. That is why it is so very important for us to let our light shine and to not get caught up in the darkness of the world.

As we walk by faith and not by sight, we can help others to change their focus. We will not walk in fear. We will not allow Satan’s lies to overtake us. We will walk by our faith and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ. The world is full of hurting, broken people that just needs Jesus. Some will never accept him, in spite of all the times he knocks gently on their hearts door.

We will not be able to have an effect on everyone we meet. But what if we are like Noah and witness to people for many years and everyone rejects our message except just a handful. Noah was able to influence his wife and sons and their wives. If we can pull just one soul out of the fires of hell, there is no sacrifice too great.

It reminds me of the story of the preacher that was in a boat with his son and another boy. This boy was his son’s best friend. They got in a storm and the son and his friend fell overboard. The preacher could only save one of them. He chose to sacrifice his son, because he knew he was saved. He also knew the friend was not a Christian. In that great sacrifice, the preacher mimicked what God had done. He sacrificed his son Jesus, so that we could live. That young man that was saved by the preacher went on to be saved and become a preacher that lead many to Christ.

We never know when we will be called on to show God’s love and compassion. We do not know what hard things we will face as the seasons of life change. But I do know who holds all of my tomorrows. Each one is planned to grow me and allow me to help others grown.

We are on the edge of the greatest revival of all mankind. God will have a final harvest, then he will call us to come up and meet him in the air. He tells us to occupy until he comes. I think he knows we will have things to do in this life that most would not consider spiritual. Laundry, dishes, mowing the lawn all the chores that we have to do. Going to work and common things like grocery shopping. But even in the middle of these simple things, we can talk to the Lord. We can worship him and be a light and a beacon of hope to the lost.

Many are groping in the darkness, looking for a light switch. When we come along, we can show them Jesus. Then suddenly their countenance will show that light that Jesus gives.

I know people that are so bound by legalism that they are miserable. There is a joy in serving Jesus. He didn’t come to give us a bunch of laws to follow. He came to teach us to love God and love one another. He came to set the captive free. He didn’t die to release us from the bondage of sin, only to bind us up again with a bunch of legalism. Do not mistake church by laws for God’s laws. Do not think that I do not stand against sin. There is a difference in breaking a rule that man sets and one that God says is a sin.

Be encouraged my brothers and sisters, God is still on the throne. Jesus still saves and we can walk in joy and freedom in the Holy Ghost. So go out today, pause and thank God for the beauty around you. Ask him to roll aways the darkness or help you to shine as a beacon of hope, always pointing everyone to Jesus.

I want to leave you with a scripture verse today. As a reminder that we are never alone. God told Joshua that he would walk with him as he did with Moses. We have to believe that he is with us as he has been in the generations before us.

Joshus 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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WE WILL PREVAIL

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: WE WILL PREVAIL

Right now, it is easy to look around at the state the world is in and be discouraged. Many are out of work or working part-time. These hurricanes have devastated several states. The enemy seems to press in from every side. The news tells of one crisis or another constantly. But even in the middle of the worst things imaginable, God can be found. We will prevail.

The word prevail, as defined by Oxford dictionary: prove more powerful than opposing forces; be victorious:

Our enemy expects that he will wear us out. He thinks by throwing so much at us that we will get to be battle-weary. But we will be victorious because God is on our side. The strength he gives us will prove to be more powerful than our enemy. We will walk in victory.

Falling into fear, anxiety and depression will not help us survive this attack from our enemy. We have to look to our king, our commander in chief named Jesus. He has a battle plan and will fight for us. The enemy will not overtake us. We will prevail.

I will remind you once again about how Jehosophat followed God’s command and set his worshippers out front and marched to battle. But before they arrived at the battlefield, God had already caused the three armies that wanted to destroy Jehosophat, to destroy one another. God will cause our enemy to do the same. We just have to keep praising our Lord and keep praying for his guidance. We will prevail, not because of who we are, but because of whose we are, we belong to the Most High God.

Matt 6:25-27 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

We have all met people who thought too highly of themselves. But even their thoughts didn’t change their status in life. We are not supposed to be concerned about what we will eat, or drink or wear. Because God will take care of us. He will supply our needs.

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

It doesn’t say he sees your need and will only take care of half, or if you are good maybe three-fourths. No, it says ALL your need. Whatever we need, he is our provider.

Matt6:28-30 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Matt.6:31-33 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

If we seek God first, he will supply our needs. We do not have to worry or fret about what tomorrow will bring. God is our provider. He will take care of his people.

Matt 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Worrying about tomorrow is not a good use of our time. Worry will not add anything to the next day, but it will subtract from the day we are walking in. Today we need to learn to lean on Jesus. Dig deep and find the strength to trust in him. If we can trust Him, we will win the battle. If we learn to trust, we can walk in faith a whole lot easier. Trust makes it easier to praise Him in the storms of life.

Taking each minute as it comes. If we take a look at where we are now and where we have been. He never has failed us; he has not brought us this far to give up on us. That would have been like saving the children of Israel from Egypt only to allow the Pharaoh and his army to destroy the Israelites. But he didn’t allow the enemy to win, he instead drowned him and his army in the Red Sea.

Be encouraged this weekend, dig into the word, pray and seek God’s plan. He will never let us down, we will prevail as long as we put our full trust in him. There is not a problem that we face that we cannot overcome with Jesus by our side. There is not a battle too big for our God. We will prevail.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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BE ENCOURAGED

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: BE ENCOURAGED

Every day, I want to bring you encouragement. It is my prayer that nothing I have been through will be for nothing. I have grown a lot in my faith walk every time I have to deal with something that I don’t think I can get through. We all have seasons of growing. Storms of life can come from nowhere and suddenly we know we will never be the same.

Our God is the same, yesterday, today and forever. He is the one constant that we can depend on. He is our solid rock. Our faith walk is all about our mindset. We have to have a made-up mind. Things all around us appear scary. It feels like the enemy is closing in all around us. But we cannot give in to fear. Being children of the most high God, we have no reason to fear.

PS 91:1-3 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

We have to remember to live in the secret place of the most High. That place is a place of peace in Christ Jesus. If we keep our mind on him and stay close we will have a fortress to keep us safe. A fortress is a place not susceptible to outside influence. If we are hidden in Him and he is our fortress, then we should not be shaken by how things appear. The influence the enemy wants to send our way, we will be able to shake off, because we are under the shadow of the almighty.

In uncertain times, there are some things we can do to keep ourselves going. The first is to pray for guidance and protection. Make a choice to walk in faith and not in fear. Find supportive prayer partners to pray with and encourage one another. At times like this we need to remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness. Think about all the times he can through for us in the past.

When fear attacks, give it over to God. Dig deep in his word and allow it to light the path. The word will give us examples of people who were on the edge of disaster, but God saw them through. Hold on tight to God’s promises.

Some worship music in the background can soothe rattled nerves. Lift up your voice and sing to the Lord. Thank Him and be grateful for all that he has done for us.

I often tell the story of the little preacher who came to our Sunday School class one morning. They asked him to testify. He stood and said, “I praise God for all he is…and worry is not faith.” That hit me hard at that time because I was bound by fear, anxiety, depression and was a chronic worry wart. We realize how small we really are when disaster strikes. But even more than realizing there is little we can control. We hopefully get the revelation that our God is bigger than any storm. He holds the universe in the palm of his hand.

Col 3:2 Set your affections on the things above, not on things on the earth.

This world is not our home, we are just passing through. It is up to us on this journey of life to take as many people to heaven with us as possible. We need to set our affections on things above. Keep our mind on Jesus. Keep our God Focus.

If we can learn to live in the day that we are living in, we cannot change the past, we can only make the most of the current day, and look with hope to tomorrow. The new day can bring lots of things, we may find ourselves with Jesus in heaven. We may find that we have an assignment from the Lord. But whatever the new day brings, we have to start it with hope and prayer. Believing that God has got us.

David often fell into depression and discouragement. But after a short period of time he would encourage himself and ask God for help to face those who were coming against him. One time, his men wanted to stone him, because they were afraid they would never get their families back. David encouraged himself in the Lord and God told him to go and recover all that had been taken by his enemy.

We too, have to stand strong and encourage ourselves in the Lord. There is nothing we can not get through as long as God is with us. All our hope is in Jesus. Stay strong, we are almost at daybreak. Satan will not win.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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KEEP HOPE ALIVE

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The title of today’s episode: KEEP HOPE ALIVE

When times are difficult it is easy to lose hope. Looking at the circumstances or feeling the pain makes us want to give in and give up. We are in troubled times. It is impossible to turn on the news or look at social media without being saddened by the things going on around us.

The enemy appears to be winning the battle. It is hard to imagine us winning the war. Unless we can remember our secret weapons Faith, Hope and Love operated by our Trust of the One True God that can turn it around. Now is the time to look at all the turnaround moments in the Bible. Many of those who have gone before us have had to dig deep and find their ability to Trust and walk by faith.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith means seeing the outcome with spiritual eyes, when we do not see the result with our physical eyes. If we can stay in a place of prayer and faith, we will not find ourselves without hope. It doesn’t matter how scary things appear, our hope is in Jesus. Our hope will be secure.

I cannot tell you how strongly I feel, about where we are at, in this moment of time. Sadness tries to overwhelm me to think of how our citizens are suffering with very little help. I am saddened by all the children who are being harmed by evil people. If we allowed it to, it would overtake us in just a few minutes. We feel helpless to do anything about any of it.

Do not allow it to discourage you. There is something we can do…fight…fight…fight on our knees. Ask God to move quickly to help those that are in need. Help those volunteers to get to the victims of the hurricane. Ask God to set the children free who are victims of trafficking. Evil will not prevail.

Psalms 37:1-3 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

God is getting ready to cut off the evil ones that have tried to destroy His Bride. We cannot allow ourselves to fall into fear. We have to stand strong in our faith. We have got to praise our way through the trouble.

Psalm 34:1-4 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

We can rely on our Lord to deliver us from ALL fears. Not some, not only on a random Tuesday, but all of our fears. In other words, we have no reason to fear.

Psalm34:5-6 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

Our burdens are lightened when we look to Him. Not only does He deliver us from our fears, when we allow them to creep in, but He saves us out of ALL of our troubles. It doesn’t matter how bad things look. We have to trust that Our God is Big enough to solve our problems, Big enough to pick us up when we fall.

We cannot look to the right or the left. We cannot look to man to fix our issues in this country. It is going to take God’s people looking to him to remove all the evil ones and give us victory.

People will look at us as crazy when we say God will remove the evil ones. Because they have never seen it done. But just as he wiped out Pharaoh and his army, God can take out our enemy with just a flick of his finger.

Our job is to keep hope alive. Keep the faith and be strong in that faith. Because there is truly nothing that My God and your God cannot do. Only believe, all things are possible when we believe.

As the battle intensifies it is easy to get battle weary. But as the old quote says, “It is always darkest before the dawn. We have to stand strong the darker things appear because, at daybreak, we will have a bright new day. Have you ever thought about midnight, that is the zero mark before the new day starts. Add one second to midnight and it is the new day. Do not be discouraged by the darkness, Jesus is our light, the bright and morning star, our beacon of hope. We just have to keep the faith and hope alive until the daybreak.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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FEARLESS

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: FEARLESS

We often think about soldiers being fearless. They run into battle with a war cry and face their enemy. If you ask most of them, they have a little amount of fear. But they do not let their fear control them, they control their fear. Now is the time for the body of Christ to rise up and be fearless. We have to meet our enemy head on in battle, but we do not fight with conventional weapons, but we fight on our knees in prayer. This is spiritual warfare.

Our enemy’s biggest tool of deception is to cause us to fall into fear. Fear is the opposite of faith. We have crossed over the threshold of perilous times. Things have to appear scary in order for God to show his power. The children of Israel were in fear when they saw the Egyptians coming at them, they were boxed in and it looked like there was nowhere to go. But God opened the sea and his people were safe.

I am calling all my brothers and sisters to Prayer. It is time to show Satan that God’s children are not going to give in to his fear. Florida is about to be hit with another storm. We can cancel the enemy’s agenda with this storm by praying for God to dissipate this storm. Jesus spoke Peace Be Still to the storm when the disciples thought they were going to perish. Jesus has given us the power collectively as his body to stand up and take authority. We need to plead the blood of Jesus against this storm.

As children of God, we cannot allow fear to overtake us. We have to be strong. Jesus died for us so that we can have an abundant life. A life full of fear is not an abundant life, but a suppressed life.

I am always encouraging you to BE BOLD, BE BRAVE and Keep your God Focus. If we can Keep our God Focus, we will keep our faith focus. Staying focused on God will give us strength. Stand strong my Brothers and Sisters. God is on the throne, and we will prevail as long as we can keep our Faith.

My go to verse is 2 Cor. 5:7 ..We walk by faith and not by sight.

We will walk by Faith and not by the fear of how things appear. Any time things start to seem out of control and fear tries to creep in, I start working on my attitude and quoting we walk by faith and not by sight.

We cannot allow fear to get the upper hand, we have to keep God in our focus. He will deliver us from all of our fears.

Fear is a liar. Of course, if would have to be since it comes from the father of lies to tear us down. God wants us to not fear, but to trust him. He is bigger than anything that could happen to us or come against us.

2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

This verse reminds us that fear doesn’t come from God. He gives us power over the enemy. He gives us love. He gives us a sound mind. Our nation is facing some scary situations in the next few months. But God will take care of his children. Those who have the blood covering of Christ.

Now is the time we reach down deep and find the courage to stand. God will provide the miracles if we can just have faith. If we allow fear to get a foothold then comes its companions, anxiety, worry, depression and irrational thought. Fear can cause us to make snap decisions without thinking them through.

Psalm 27 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? If he is our light and our salvation, the strength of our lives, we will have no reason to be afraid.

Psalm 27:2-5 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

He will set us upon a rock, a solid foundation, a place we have sure footing. We have no reason to fear.

Be encouraged, stay strong, and pray for the people in the path of the storm. Do not fall into fear and do not allow the circumstances to seem bigger than your God.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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THE PANTRY

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: THE PANTRY

A couple of times a year I try to clean out my pantry. I wash down shelves and wash the baskets and drawers that I use to store food items. I check for food that is outdated. I think about what my needs are for the upcoming six months. If I do not think I will use something before it expires or I get to check again, I add it to a donation box.

I have been working on my pantry over the weekend and it prompted me to think about our spiritual food. It is time the church cleaned out our pantry. First, we need to rid it of bible translations that are watered down and bad for our spiritual health.

It is easy when shopping at the grocery store to pick up items that look good. Once we get them home, they are complicated to fix, we are missing one ingredient that we keep forgetting to buy the next time, or it just doesn’t sound as appealing as when we bought it.

I think the real church is starting to figure out the man-made ideas that have been packaged as a good meal are not filling or fulfilling our needs. These ideas have left us hungry for something of substance. They are like Hamburger Helper, they need the meat of the word.

It is not too late to get into the meat of the word. I cannot seem to get away from the message of digging into the word of God and knowing it for yourself. We cannot depend on our preachers to do all the meal prep for us. They are human and can make mistakes too.

This is why Paul says in Philippians to work out our own salvation. In other words, we are each responsible for our own soul. It is up to us to know the word and if we can trust what is being said, some are wrong by mistake or misunderstanding. Then there are others who are evil and deceptive only wanting our money. We have to discern the difference between right and wrong and those with evil intent.

People think that God’s word is a big jigsaw puzzle to be pieced together. They feel like it is too complicated to understand without going to Bible College. I believe if we ask God to open our spiritual eyes we can know and understand his word.

I am not so arrogant as to say I understand everything in the word of God. There are many things, especially in the prophecy books that I have not figured out yet. But that doesn’t mean that we do not keep trying.

The things that I end up throwing away the most are expired spices. They are the things that add to the flavor of the main dish. If they have lost their strength, they are not worth anything. The enemy tries to add things to us that take away from the joy we have in our life. We need to get rid of the spices he tries to add like, fear, anxiety, dishonesty, depression, grief, physical illness and pain, and all the joy stealers.

Matt 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

We need to make sure our lives are full of people that enhance our faith walk. Make sure they are good salt. Our life is enhanced by the joy of the Lord. He gives us peace, friendship, healing and joy to make our faith walk an experience of growing.

Just like the expired spices. There are times when we have to walk away from people in order to maintain our peace. It is not an easy thing to do, or one to be taken lightly, but when God tells you to separate from certain people, He has his reasons. He knows they are often poison in the stew of our life.

We need to make sure we store our food somewhere that mice cannot get to it. People often pour things out of boxes and plastic wrappers into storage jars. We cannot allow the word of God to be compromised by those who wish to just eat the edges and corrupt it for everyone else. Like a mouse would just chew the corners off of the crackers. These false teachers will give you just enough of the word to make you think you have been fed but will leave a lot of the good stuff behind. We have to have the word hid in our hearts to keep the enemy from ruining it, by only giving us the edges.

Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Before pouring food into the storage containers, we must make sure they are clean vessels. Asking God to remove anything from our lives that are not of him, will make our vessels clean. Then we are ready to pour his word into our hearts to hide there. We study and hide God’s word in our hearts so that the enemy cannot deceive us with false words known as fake bread. Jesus is the word and our Bread of Life. But we do not hide God’s word in our hearts only for ourselves. But we have to have it within us in order to go out and share with those who are starving for the truth of God.

2 Corinthians 4:3-6 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

In summary, we need to get rid of everything that is not healthy for the body of Christ. Make sure to eat of God’s word and share that which we find to be good food.

Have you ever gone to a new restaurant and had a meal that was just what you had been craving. It was prepared perfectly. You couldn’t wait to tell others about your experience. A good message from God’s word should be the same way. We need to share the things that the true anointed ministers of the gospel are saying, it may be just what someone else is starving for as well.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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BROKEN VESSELS

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: BROKEN VESSELS

In Judges chapter seven is the story of Gideon. We normally focus on the fact that God commanded Gideon to send most of his army home. He went from a large company of warriors down to three hundred men.

Something I noticed this time when reading was how large the company was against them. I realized always that there was a big army. It was the Midianites and the Amalekites, so basically two armies.

Judges 7:12 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.

That is a huge army to go to war against. God encouraged Gideon by sending him to listen in on his enemy.

Judges 7:13-15 And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along. 14 And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host. 15 And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.

God sent fear into the enemy’s camp, long before Gideon ever assembled his army to go against them.

Judges 7:16-20 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. 17 And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do. 18 When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon. 19 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. 20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.

They took their light with them, but it was hidden until they could get closer to the enemy. Then they collectively blew their trumpets and let their light shine.

Judges 7:21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.

The entire army of Midianites and the Amalekites ran from Gideon’s men. Because with the help of the Lord they appeared to be mighty.

This made me think about our enemy and the people he is using to destroy as much of the world as possible. They do not want anything to do with Christian values, morality, decency, love or kindness. They have been overtaken by the enemy. Just as the Midianites and Amalekites were afraid of Gideon. You can be sure that our enemy and his foot soldiers are in great fear of us.

Satan knows if we ever come together the way the body of Christ should be, that God will use us to destroy him and his army. We have to be in unison. Notice God only took those who drank a certain way. They thought alike. We have to be in one mind and one accord.

Notice they took empty vessels and put lights in them, but the light didn’t shine until the vessels were broken. We as children of God are empty vessels until he puts his light within us. But we can never truly let our light shine until we yield to God in brokenness. We allow him to strip our pride and selfish motives, our judgmental attitudes and anything that is not of him. When we release the things he wants us to let go of then he can use our light to shine into the darkness.

God uses broken things and broken people. Every time we face something difficult, God is peeling away a little more of us. Which allows our light to shine a little brighter.

I read a story once, I don’t know who wrote it or I would give them credit. But there was a woman that had a pole that she carried two pots to her well to get water. One was perfect on the outside and held all the water within. One had some cracks in it and would leak water all along the path back to her house.

One day, the vessels that had been broken said to the woman, I am useless I don’t even know why you take me to the well. I have very little water left by the time we get back to the house.

The woman smiled and said, do you see the lovely flowers all along my path? They would not be there if you didn’t have broken places. How do you think you got the broken places to start with? that is what I needed in order to water my flowers.

We often feel like we are broken and useless. The enemy wants us to think that we have no purpose. But we can not spread beauty if we don’t allow God’s living water to flow out of us like that broken vessel. Being a light and allowing God to flow in our lives is not for the faint of heart. It takes great strength and courage to be vulnerable before God and before people. Looking weak to others is one of mankind’s greatest fears.

The next time the enemy tells you that you have nothing to contribute, that you have nothing to share, that you are worthless and not fit to do anything for God, remember the story of the little woman with the beautiful flowers along her path. Then, use your brokenness to let your light shine.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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SACRIFICE

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v5h95nx-god-focus-this-morning-ep194-sacrifice.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: SACRIFICE

When many of us think of a sacrifice we think about a practice under that law that was to atone for our sins. When Adam and Eve had disobeyed God and ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God killed animals, shedding their blood and used their skins to cover them. This way proved to be imperfect, because the only punishment for committing sin, was a consequence of giving up some livestock.

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

What does it mean to be clothed with the garments of salvation and with the robe of righteousness? When we are covered by the blood of Jesus through having a repentant heart. Those things should have less draw on us to do. We have to renew our minds and hearts with the word of God. Ask him to give us strength to avoid temptation.

When we receive the Holy Ghost, we have power to walk in God’s ways. This is how we become clothed with his righteousness. Just as God made Adam and Eve clothing of skins after the shedding of blood. We too have been clothed by God because we have accepted Jesus’ blood offering to atone for our sin.

He covers us with his righteousness. Which is far above the righteousness level we could reach on our own.

Col 3:5-9 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

The word mortify means: To subject someone to embarrassment or to deaden the body or bodily appetites through abstinence or self-control to the point of discomfort. When this verse says mortify our members it is saying get control over your impulses and wrong appetites, that cause you to commit sin.

Col 3:10-14 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

Walking in the ways of the Lord are not always easy. We battle our flesh constantly. God will prompt us to go talk to someone. We want to argue with him like Moses did, “I have a hard time talking to people. I am not good with words.” He will tell us to fast a meal and we act like we never had anything to eat. He may tell us to give away something that means a lot to us. That would be another way to sacrifice. To give away something you would like to keep. God sometimes asks us to give away things we really love, to prove our love for him is more important to us.

Romans 12 1:2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We give our lives to Christ, but we do not lay down our physical lives. Instead, we live a life that is pleasing to him. One which is a light to the world around us. But we should have a made-up mind that if it came down to it, we would go as far as laying down our physical life too. Many have been martyred to keep the gospel of Jesus Christ alive in the earth.

When we say, I give to you my life, Lord Jesus; we mean that we will walk according to the scriptures and will be a witness in the earth. We have to walk out that life, living a way that is acceptable to God.

The definition of sacrifice: an act of slaughtering an animal or person or surrendering a possession as an offering to God or to a divine or supernatural figure:

Our sacrifice is saying, I will not live the way I choose, I will not do what I wish being led by my flesh, but I will choose ever day to walk in the way that God leads. Allowing his word and His Spirit to be my guide.

This says to not be conformed to the world, but be transformed. How are we transformed, by the renewing of our minds. Our minds are renewed by prayer,

the study of God’s word and being led by His Spirit.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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TIME TO LEVEL UP

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: TIME TO LEVEL UP

Almost everything in life comes in levels. I want to encourage you to go to the next level in your faith walk. The more I learn about God, the more I realize what little I know, but I enjoy sharing what I do know with you.

When we are children we go to school and at the end of each year we are raised to the next level. But we have to learn the lessons of the current season, or we will be held behind until we do learn those lessons. Because we will not be able to handle the next lessons if we do not know what we were supposed to learn in the previous season.

Our Christian walk is like that, once we are saved we are the equivalent of pre-school kids in our knowledge of God. As we go through our life we are allowed to go through hard seasons. It is in the testing that we see if we can apply what we have learned. God will move us up a level of responsibility.

As soldiers in God’s army we all have ranks and with each rank there is a responsibly. We are all called to witness, pray, study the word and to love God and love others.

Do not be discouraged if you fail a test. God will let you take it again until you lean what he is trying to teach you. We have all fallen short of our duties. I want to share a few reminders of things to help you to level up.

2 Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Jesus is the word, we need to fall in love with the scriptures. The more I dig into the word the more excited I am to keep digging. God is starting to bring it into focus for me. I have learned a lot in the last couple of years. The more I learn the more I realize I have a lot to learn. But I am excited about the journey. If we put in the time, God will shine his light on our efforts and give us understanding.

I Cor 3:2-3 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

We have to stop being so sensitive to every little thing. We have to be mature and walk in unity. We will never come to the fullness of God unless we have unity.

Heb 5: 12-14 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

It is high time that the body of Christ mature in our faith walk to the point that we are in unison. We will only grow if we get some strength from the meat of the word, washed down with the anointing of God’s living water.

A few years ago, we had the luxury of time to let people meander through their walk, growing up in their faith slowly. Some slower than molasses pour out. But today, with all the darkness in the world we have to be ready to stand against, we do not have the luxury of time. We all need to get on an accelerated plan to grow strong quickly. The harvest is coming, if we haven’t built up ourselves to handle it, we may be overwhelmed by it.

Jude 14-21 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

Does that sound like any of the people that call themselves Christian’s today. It is easy to get caught up with murmurers and complainers. I have been guilty of doing this, but God is not pleased when we complain. Many people that call themselves pastor or preacher I would not walk across the road to hear, because they have a me centered, watered down, as long as you do the best you can do message. Their great swelling words are sending people to hell because they never have a true conversion in their hearts. They are Christians in name only.

Jude 17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

In other words, let us have a feel good message that eases my conscience and helps me to believe the delusion that I am on my way to heaven. The rest of the week I will live in all sorts of ungodly perversion.

20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

We are not called to be built up by feel good messages by false preachers. We are called to get on our faces before God and allow him to lead us. We are to build up our faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. If we do that, we will have no trouble keeping ourselves in the love of God. It makes it a whole lot easier to keep ourselves from sin.

People look at the word of God and say, I cannot do all that stuff, I cannot stay away from sin. But I am here to tell you it is possible if you read your Bible, apply it to your life, pray for wisdom and guidance and learn to walk in love. If we can do these things we will keep growing to new levels in Christ Jesus.

Take some time and think about what you can do to reach the next level.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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