Tag: #Jesus

EPISODE 176 LEARNING TO TRUST

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The title of today’s episode: LEARNING TO TRUST

During the Friday night prayer meeting, I heard my friend Bonnie pray, “Oh, God, are we praying away the very storms we need?” Over the past few days, I have been thinking about the storms we need and the ones we don’t.

When God allows a storm in our life it will strengthen us and help us to grow. Some are God sent to shake us and wake us out of our slumber. He wants us to learn to trust him in a deeper way. Others are more sinister in nature, they are sent from our enemy to cause us to fall into sin, or at least into a spiritual slumber. He hopes the pounding waves will cause us to fall into fear and not trust our God.

Discernment will show us the difference. Once we know who is sending the storm, we can determine what to do about it. If it is God sent, then we pray for understanding. Learning the lesson is harder, it will tell us how to is listening to the voice of God?

Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

In order to survive the storms, we need a solid foundation. The Lord is our rock, our foundation. The core of our belief system that gives us solid footing.

A fortress is a place with walls, often towns or cities. It is strongly reinforced or fortified to make it strong against enemy attacks. It is not easily influenced by outside forces. The Lord will build a hedge around us to protect us from the attacks of our enemy.

My deliverer, God is there to remove the danger from our enemy. Things may appear to us to be dangerous and cause us to fall into fear if we are not careful. Fully trusting in God will help us to realize that he has already removed the danger from our situations. We just have to trust in him to see it play out or manifest in our lives.

My God, My strength, in whom I will Trust. God is the strength of our life. He will help us to keep going even when we do not think we can go another step.

My Buckler- A buckler is a small shield worn on the forearm. God is our shield. He will protect us from the darts of deception and the rest of the things in the enemy’s arsenal.

Horn of salvation is another reference for God. David said God was his horn of salvation, which meant he delivered him and empowered him. The ram’s horn was used for many things like calling the assembly together to hear the word of God. To sound the alarm to go to battle. They stored anointing oil in horns and would pour them out. One example would be when a prophet would anoint someone to be king. It gave that person authority to lead the people.

After breaking down just one verse we can see how God is everything we need. Storms bring darkness; Jesus is the light. Storms bring floods sometimes, but Jesus is that wall that will not allow us to be swept away by swift water.

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.

When our enemy comes in like a flood. It seems like there is no direction to turn without being overtaken with his attack. God will raise up a standard, against him. A standard is a gauge in which everything is measured. It is what is considered the norm. I have heard that in the context of this verse that a standard is a flood wall that will be strong enough to hold back the flood and protect us. It is a measure set so that everyone knows the level that is normal and when that level is exceeded.

When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will set a gauge that says this is the limit, you can come no further. Which compares to God being our fortress. He puts up walls of protection against our enemy.

When faced with a storm, we need to remember Jesus is the one who can calm any storm. To us, in a small boat with huge crashing waves, it may appear scary. But we need to learn how to TRUST, even in the storm. We see the big scary waves; we see how things appear to us. The enemy will come along and whisper his lies. You are going to drown; your boat is going to sink. You are going to die today. But Jesus says, have faith in me, I am your standard, your protection, you will live and not die today, you will not drown or capsize. I am with you.

Prov 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

What will you say to and about your storm? The words out of your mouth will determine the outcome. Whose report are you going to believe? Will your boat be capsized in the storm, leaving you to struggle to stay afloat? Will you speak the words of Jesus and lean on him?

The power is in our mouth. Follow me for just another moment.

Matt 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Jesus was speaking to the overly religious people of his day. Our mouth will speak what is within our hearts. We have to learn to trust God in our hearts in order to speak trust, love, peace, joy or speak in defiance of the enemy. Getting God’s word within our hearts will give us the strength to withstand the storms of life.

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

Just reach out today and thank him for his peace. Hold on to his hand, and he will pull you out of the darkest storms. Worship, can roll away a lot of storm clouds and help us to see S-O-N shine. Once our storm clouds roll away, we can take our light and be a light in someone else’s storms.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 175 DARKNESS TO LIGHT

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: DARKNESS TO LIGHT

I was thinking about how I got where I am today. I can trace my faith walk, my being an author and encourager to one time in my life. I have told you before that I walked through a rough time with depression in my late twenties. I was bound by fear, anxiety and depression.

I hated my life and at one point,D was listening to satan’s lies about everything. He even convinced me that everyone in my life would be better off without me. I seriously contemplated suicide. I am thankful for my praying family.

Lessons to take away from my dark time in the pit of despair.

If you have lost family that are bound by anything that is dragging them down, any form of sin or depression, don’t give up. Have faith and keep praying.

If I had not walked through that experience I would have never written my first book, let alone nine and several bible studies. I would not have this channel that encourages others to focus on God. I would not have been able to step in and prevent a woman from suicide. I would not have been able to encourage others to keep climbing out of their pit of despair.

If I had it to live through again, I would because that time has become my motivation. When something seems tough or hard to see my way through, now I pray. I tell myself I got through that depression; I can get through anything.

Our lives are like a tapestry. Every thread is intricately woven in a pattern. If we unravel even one thread, the picture changes. This is why God does not allow us to go back in time and “correct” our mistakes. Because he has our lives planned out. He can use our mistakes to turn us into people he can use for his glory.

Sometimes, it takes a storm to know you need Jesus. The darkness tells us it is time to find our peace in the only one that can give us peace. It is in those dark times that we learn to pray.

When we are walking through a dark time, we have to stay focused on the light. It doesn’t matter how small it seems. God is light and he is big enough to see us through any storm.

I have watched my grandparents walk through hard things in life, my parents and my in laws, I know that God has sustained them through the fiery trials.

I Pet. 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

This verse means we are called out of darkness of sin, into his marvellous light of salvation. When I was in the pit of depression I was walking in sin. I am not saying that all bouts of depression stems from sin. But unless it is an actual chemical imbalance in the brain, caused by Serotonin levels being off, then it is probably an attack of our enemy satan.

If the joy of the Lord is our strength, it stands to reason that the enemy would want to rob us of joy. In doing so he can weaken us. One of his tools is to get us to keep repeating over and over again how blue and depressed we are, then we change our focus. We take our focus off of God and become obsessed with our depression.

I will remind you again and again, because I am always reminding myself. The things we focus on become bigger to us. The more I focused on how depressed I was the worse I felt. The deeper I dug the pit.

This is why I always close with Keep your God Focus. As long as we focus on him, we will not lose our joy, strength or our peace. I pray that you are enjoying my channel. I say mine but it actually belongs to the Lord. I have told him to do with it as he wants. I keep getting people that want to help me grow my channel. But I feel like God will grow it in his time. If it never gets any more views, then that is fine too. Because I do this for him, and it will reach who he needs to see it.

If you enjoy my videos, hit the thumbs up, it will help push it out there for others to find. Feel free to share if a particular video encourages you. It is all about encouraging people to walk as close as possible to our Lord Jesus Christ. He is coming soon.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 174 — GRACE AND ACTS OF FAITH

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: GRACE OR ACTS OF FAITH

Today, I want to talk to you about God’s grace. There is much debate among those who say they are Christians about what grace means. The definition of grace means the unmerited favor of God. Which means that there is nothing we can do to earn his grace, he gave it to us out of his love for us.

Many will quote scriptures and say that your works will not save you. Although salvation doesn’t come by works. We need to define works in comparison to acts of faith. If we feed the poor as we are commanded, then we are acting in faith. No amount of feeding the poor will save our souls, but if we are truly Christians, then feeding the poor is an act of our faith, not a work.

Attending church will not save you. You could be at every church service and die lost, if you are looking at it as your duty and not an outward showing of the faith in God that you have inside. Our faith will cause us to have works of our faith. But we do not earn grace, salvation or anything else by the works we do.

Heb 11:6-7 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Noah found grace or favor with God. But his favor would not have saved him. He had to be obedient or act on his faith. Everyone has God’s grace when it comes to salvation. He died for us all. But if we do not accept that grace and are not obedient to his word, we will never be saved. Just like Noah had a plan of salvation, the blueprint for the boat. If he had not built the ark, he would have perished along with all the rest. The word of God tells us what to do to be saved. Following that is not works but faith unto salvation.

James 2:14-16 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

I guess it boils down to why we have works. If you are doing “Christian” things thinking God is adding it up to see if you are good enough then that is the wrong attitude about works. There are not enough things that we can do to bypass the blood of Christ and earn our salvation. Why would we try to earn it when it is already a gift to us.

But we will not have living faith without works. Our light will not shine without works. But they must be carried out with the right attitude. If we do things just to be seen or gain favor with man, then we have our reward. But if we do them because it is the right thing to do, then it will be a light.

Matt 6:3-4 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

God sees the intents of our hearts. He knows our plans, our motivation and our thoughts. He knows when we do things to be seen of man like the Pharisees. He knows when we do things because of the love he has put within us to be a light.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 173–GOD SINGS

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: Hello my friends

The title of today’s episode is: “GOD SINGS”

Zep 3:17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Reading this verse always gives me a picture of a loving father looking down on a sleeping child in a crib. He hums as he stands staring at the amazing creation God has entrusted him with to protect and care for. The child is sound asleep, not a care in the world. They trust that their father will be able to take care of them. They do not wring their hands in worry or doubt. They do not worry about their next meal or if they have shelter. There is no fear of what tomorrow will bring. They feel at peace because their father watches over them.

God wants to bring us comfort and peace. He finds great joy in us, his children. He will bring us peaceful sleep if we turn our cares over to him.

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

This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. He is so worthy of our praise. I am so thankful that he never gives up on me but is merciful toward me and you. As we sleep, he watches over us as a parent would their child.

He is one we can depend on and trust. Friends may let you down. Family may let you down, but Jesus never fails. Take time today to thank him for his renewed compassion, mercy and his great faithfulness.

Prov 3:21-24 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: 22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. 23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. 24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

These verses seem almost impossible to walk out. It says we will not stumble. It says we will have sweet sleep. If I were to ask when was the last time you walked though a day without stumbling. That would let me know if you were walking in God’s wisdom.

If you are awake at night, that can be all sorts of reasons. Sometimes, God has us awake to battle the enemy in prayer. But when we sleep, we will have peaceful rest, just like that baby in the crib. When they are asleep, they almost glow with peace. That is because nothing is troubling them; they are at peace.

If we keep wisdom and discretion, they will strengthen our faith walk. We will walk and not stumble. When we lie down to sleep, we will not be afraid.

Psalm 3:5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

Every day we wake up is a blessing and an opportunity. Everyone has nights that they just can’t turn off their thoughts. Things in this life can weigh on the mind. As children of God, we are not immune to a sleepless night now and then. But if we can turn our cares over to him in prayer, he will cause us to have peaceful sleep.

He wants to bring us comfort and peace. He finds great joy in us, his children. This is why he sings over us, because he delights in us.

Prov 3:11-13 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: 12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. 13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

A good parent will correct their children when they step out of line. The Lord will correct us when we are disobedient. We need his correction to make sure our path stays straight. It is for our own good. His word tells us to avoid sin, not because it is terrible, but because it will kill us spiritually. He knows what is best for us. He understands how sin can destroy. We can only see the shiny picture that satan paints. But God knows the consequences of our sin.

The next time you lay down to sleep, look up and thank God for watching and singing over you. Remember how important you are to him that he would so lovingly care for you, that he watches over you while you sleep in peace.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 172 — SUNSHINE

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: “Sunshine”

One beautiful Spring Day I was sitting outside. I was thanking God for the warm bright sunshine. It had rained for several days prior to this bright day. I started thinking about the sun. It is always there, even in the darkest night. We don’t see it at night, it is on the other side of the world. But it is right where we left it.

Sometimes during the daylight, we cannot see it for storm clouds. But the sun is always there. If the sun were to burn out and not exist any longer, the Earth would freeze. Even when we cannot see or feel the brightness of the sun, it gives us warmth.

We know that God exists because everything has precision. If the sun was any further aways from earth, we would freeze. If it was closer, we would burn up. We have just the right amount of distance. But with Jesus, we cannot get too close, the fire he give us, we will not consume us.

Jesus is our spiritual sun (son of God). This son shines brightly and gives us warmth and spiritual light. During the storms of life, even when dark clouds hover, He is always there. He is a small ray of hope shining out from behind the darkest clouds.

Take the time today to notice the sun, then thank the SON for his love and warmth. Remember he is always there for us, day or night, in happy times or sad. Look to Jesus, he will brighten your day, even in the midst of the darkest hour.

When you find yourself in the middle of a storm, look to the son he will brighten your day. There is nothing that we face today that God cannot handle.

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus has his pen, and he is writing out our story. He has each day planned for us, as long as we follow his plan it will all work out for our good.

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

Thank God for another day, enjoy the sunshine and rain, because it takes both to make the flowers grow. It takes joy and sorrow to make our lives blossom into what they need to be.

Psalm 84:11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

The Lord is a sun and shield, in other words David is saying, God is our light and our protection. He will not keep any good things from his children that walk in his way.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 171

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v5db1kp-god-focus-this-morning-ep-171-legacy.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: LEGACY

Many worry about their legacy. What will people say about them after the have died. Some spend large sums of money to buy a place to leave their names, a university football field perhaps. But our legacy in this world means little unless it is about our faith walk.

I want to talk to you today about what you leave behind. Some accumulate large amounts of money and assets to leave to the next generation. Some are not as fortunate to accumulate wealth by man’s standards. Some leave antiques and others are hoarders and leave large amounts of stuff that was only a treasure to them, other look at the stacks and stacks of stuff as junk.

Every day we have a chance to leave behind something of a more important nature than great wealth or keepsakes. Everyday, we have a chance to make an impression on the people around us. We may never see some of those acquaintances again. What impression did we leave with them? Will they remember our kind words? Will they remember our testimony or witness? Maybe we had prayer with them before we went our separate ways.

Everything in this life is temporary, except what we do for the cause of Christ. Every word we speak to encourage someone, every prayer we say, every time we show love, when there is no reason, it makes an impact on the eternal. That is our legacy.

Some have their names on libraries and hospitals as a part of their legacy. But I want my name to be written on the things that will not pass away. It is not always about what you take with you, sometimes it is about what you leave behind.

I Cor 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

All the things we leave behind will not matter in one hundred years, except what we do that impacts the eternal. We need to be steadfast which means committed, unwavering, loyal. We need to be unmoveable, this doesn’t mean have a stubborn spirit. It means to not compromise on the truth. But to do it with love. Abounding in the work of the Lord. Abounding means flourish. We are to grow and flourish in doing the work of the Lord.

When we walk as God wants us to we will offer forgiveness when someone does us wrong. This doesn’t mean we have to be a door mat and allow people to abuse us. We can be assertive and stand up for ourselves, without sinning. We need to avoid anger, bitterness, fear, rage and unforgiveness.

I want you to think about what you will leave behind? More than any material thing, what will your legacy concerning the kingdom of God be?

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 170–GET FIRED UP

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: GET FIRED UP

There are many things that fire can do. It can purify something, such as gold, tried in the fire. It can cook food to make it safe to eat by killing bacteria and parasites. Fire can consume and burn to ashes flammable things.

We often say that we want to be on fire for God. When we are on fire for him we are like the burning bush that Moses saw in the wilderness. God’s fire is on us but doesn’t destroy us or consume us, at least not in the way that most things are consumed. Wood thrown on the fire is burned to ashes. So we can say that the wood was consumed. We are never reduced to ashes, but we are built up with God’s holy fire.

Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

I often think about the story of Elijah on the top of Mt. Carmel. Israel was worshipping Baal and had turned from the one true God. Elijah told them they were going to have to choose. He proposed that the prophets of Baal should pray to their false god. He would pray to the one true God. Whichever God that answered by fire, he would be God.

The prophet of Baal went first. They prepared their altar and sacrifice. They danced, shouted and even cut themselves with knives. Their god did not answer. Then Elijah repaired the altar and had the sacrifice put on it. Then he made them pour water over the bull on the altar and fill up a trench around the altar.

Then he said a simple prayer and fire came down and consumed the sacrifice, altar and all the water. Have you ever thought about the sacrifice. It was a real sacrifice, there was a famine in the land. The people were starving, the water they poured over the altar was a precious commodity. God deserves only a real sacrifice.

If we push beyond our flesh and lay the will of our flesh on the altar daily. God will answer with his fire. His fire is the Holy Ghost, which brings the anointing of God upon our lives. The fire consumes the things in us that should not be there when we give them to God. He takes our sacrifice of who we are and leaves us more of God.

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.

If we are a living sacrifice, acceptable to God, we will have the fire to fall on our lives. He will help us to be transformed into the living sacrifice or light of the world.

We are transformed by the renewing of our minds. We renew our minds with the word of God. This will give us understanding to do things that are acceptable to God.

In the ninth chapter of Leviticus, the priests begin their work. The Old Testament is a type and shadow of the New Testament.

Leviticus 9:22-24 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings. 23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people. 24 And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

Notice there was a fire that came out from before the Lord and consumed the sacrifice upon the altar. When people saw this fire, they shouted and fell on their faces. If we can become that living sacrifice we need to be, the fire of God will be upon our lives. It will cause people to want to fall down and give their lives to him. That is how we can be a good witness. We do not give the cause of Christ just lip service and say all the Christian things. But we allow God to send down the fire upon the altar of our life. We will never be the same and people will notice that we carry God’s fire and light.

Like a campfire that brings warmth and comfort on a cold night, we can be a little warmth and comfort to a person with a broken life. God can and will use a life fully surrendered to him.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 169 — KNOW YOUR MOUNTAIN

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: KNOW YOUR MOUNTAIN

Faith is a hard concept to grasp at times. Jesus told his followers that if they had faith as a grain of mustard seed, they could say to the mountain move and it would move. I believe this is true, there have been times that God has moved mountains for me. But what do we do if he doesn’t? We have checked our faith and we know that there is not any doubt that could hinder our mountain moving. But it still won’t move.

God in his vast wisdom, knows all things and understands what is best for us, even when we don’t. He knows that if he moves that mountain, that in the long run it will weaken us. Sometimes we are meant to climb the mountain that is in front of us. We see it as an obstacle to be removed. He sees it as a learning experience. A place that we will grow in grace and knowledge of who he really is and who we are meant to be.

Maybe the big picture depends on that mountain staying and you overcoming it. If he allows it to exist, the end result is better for us. We can trust that God knows the way. Our outcome will be better than where we began.

We are trying to take a class in faith that can move mountains. God is trying to teach a class on being an overcomer. Given the choice, I will take God’s class any day, because he is the master teacher.

Part of being a Christian is submitting ourselves to the father’s will. Jesus prayed in the garden, if it be your will let this cup pass from me. The mountain in front of him was mount calvary. He didn’t want to climb that mountain. He had a choice, he still had free will. He could have avoided the mountain. He could have even made a choice to go around the mountain and bow to satan. But he chose God’s will and took the hard climb up that mountain. The father had a plan that was bigger than Jesus avoiding the mountain.

Just as our salvation depended on Jesus climbing Mt. Calvary, it could be that someone watching our lives needs to see us climbing our biggest obstacles. They need to witness us being full of God’s grace under our fiery trials.

Job 23:6-10 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. 7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge. 8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: 9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: 10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

When we are climbing our mountains and struggling, sometimes we feel all alone. Job often felt alone during his testing time. But like Job, God is not far from us. He is there like a wise parent cheering us on. Every step we take will remove the will of our flesh and we will come out of the process stronger and more like God.

Professional mountain climbers, study their mountains. They know when there is ice and snow on their path. They learn everything they can about the terrain and elevation. Many will even talk with others that have conquered the mountain. They will pack their backpack with the proper gear. Getting to the top is all about what you take with you and what you leave behind. The less burden you have the easier it will be to climb. We have to let go of the things that weigh us down and learn to move forward.

I guess the point of this post today is knowing the will of God and know the mountain. As we approach the foot of the mountain, we need to size it up. Then ask God, is this a faith lesson that I can say to this mountain, be removed; or is it an obstacle to be conquered. Once we know the nature of the mountain we can get busy. But every mountain is to be approached with intercessory prayer. We will get our answer about our mountains from the one who created everything we see. Then we will know what to take on the journey.

Romans 8:26-28 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Do not be discouraged if you have been praying against a mountain. The problem may not be that you don’t have pure faith as a grain of mustard seed. Maybe you do not have any doubt within you. Maybe the mountain in front of you is not one to be moved, but one to be conquered, for the good of those who are watching your faith walk.

The greatest gift we can give to God is to be fruitful and win souls for the kingdom of God. By conquering the mountain in front of you, you may reach many souls. So take a deep breath ask God for help you deal with the path ahead, then start climbing. You will make it, because God is with you.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 168 — REALITY OR NOT?

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: “REALITY OR NOT”

People on TV are doing lots of things for a chance to win One million dollars. Would people go to a church and pray until there was only one left, for a chance to win one million dollars. How long would they be willing to pray and worship? Now I understand that true prayer and worship is a heart thing and not for monetary gain, but hang in there with me for a moment. The point is it is hard to hold peoples attention for a couple of hours, twice a week.

One million dollars is nothing to compare with what we receive when we spend time with God. His favor is beyond anything we can imagine. He has the ability to give us the best life here and eternal life beyond. Life with Jesus is an adventure. He will push us beyond our limits to show us that there is no limit in him. He will open doors that there is no way we could have ever walked through them without him. We say he will make a way where there seems to be no way. Do we believe it? Only when he gives us a red sea moment.

Most grew up with fairy tales, some still think that the story of Jesus is just a fairy tale. Reality TV has been the downfall of the younger generation. They grew up thinking that a life full of trauma and drama was reality. The people on those shows were always up in one another’s faces yelling and fighting. This is how some of them act in their real lives.

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

We are not meant to live a life of chaos all the time. We are supposed to walk in peace. A life lived for Christ is one full of excitement and peace. When you say to God, here is my day, do with it what you want, where do you want me to go. It is exciting to see what he does with it. I have a friend that does street ministry; that is her calling. Every morning, she gets up and asks God where he wants her to go that day. He sets up many divine encounters for her. She has been able to pray for people that were sick, suicidal, depressed, on drugs and in desperate need of a savior. She lives her life with passion.

I however, have a calling to be an encourager of others. My calling reaches to the saved and the unsaved. Because I have prayed for everything in my life to be a strength to others, I often cross paths with people that are suffering from depression. More recently, I have been able to help a few people that are dealing with grief in different ways. As I walk out my own grief, I have been able to reach out and encourage others.

I have another friend that dedicates her life to prayer. That is her calling, she is an intercessor. God has worked miracles through her prayers. She is passionate about praying. Her life is an adventure, because when you war in the Spirit, in prayer, it is never a boring day.

Our callings are all very different in many ways, but we all can walk in the peace of God. Because of Jesus’ love for us. He gives us the peace that passes all understanding. It goes beyond our feelings or emotions of the day. It goes beyond our circumstances and how things appear in a particular moment.

There is a Christian saying, “A day hemmed in prayer is less likely to unravel.” I find this to be true, when we put God first his peace will surround us. He helps to hold our lives together. His Spirit will lead us. He will lift us up above the noise of reality. Our reality becomes peace in him.

Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

Take some time to think about your reality, is it one of chaos and drama. Or is it one of peace even when life’s storms are raging. Which one is your reality? It is never too late to ask God to help your reality to be one of peace that passes all understanding.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 166 SURROUNDED

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: SURROUNDED

Armies all through history have found themselves surrounded. Situations look dire, it is in those moments that battles are lost or won. The next moves of the ones surrounded will show what they are made of and if they will survive.

When we are battle weary it is easy to lose heart. If an army finds themselves in a position to be battle weary, it is easier to give up. If the ones surrounded are strong in faith, in other word they believe in their cause, they will not give up easily.

I am sure many history buffs could give me some more modern-day accounts than the bible. But since I am not one that is glued to the History channel. I will turn to a story of Elisha.

In the book of Second King Chapter Six

Elisha was given a warning for the King of Israel. The King of Syria was upset that Israel has slipped through his hands. He wanted to know who had betrayed him. He was told that Elisha had warned the King of Israel. The king of Syria sent an army to Elisha to destroy him.

2 Kings 6:14-16 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! How shall we do? 16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

I am sure his servant thought he was crazy, because he looked around and there was the two of them. All around them were horses and chariots. His servant was about to learn a valuable lesson. Things can look one way to our flesh, but when we look with faith, we see something different. We walk by faith and not by sight. What we see with our natural eyes will cause fear. What we know God is going to do by faith will give us strength to keep fighting the good fight of faith.

We cannot allow the reports on the evening news to paint a picture of how dire our situation is in America. They only tell us the worst things to cause us to fall into fear. It is the tactic of Satan to cause us to fear. Because falling into fear is turning our backs on our faith. Faith says God is in control and any one of us plus God is a majority.

2 Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

We can get so wrapped up in looking with our natural eyes that we do not see the full picture. We can be surrounded and still win the battle. We do this because of Jesus.

The children of Israel are another perfect example: They were boxed in, a sea in front and vast desert to the right and left. Their enemy was closing in fast on them. God had stood between them with a pillar of fire on the Israeli side and a cloud of darkness to the enemy.

He will always give us the light and fire we need to see clearly. We cannot look at our enemy as having us surrounded. God opened the Red Sea for the Children of Israel. He will make a way for us also. We need to have a little faith of the heart and ask God to show us his army that surrounds us.

Psalm 91:11 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.

We are surrounded by the glory of God just like the pillar of fire. We are blessed to be surrounded by his angels that protect us. We will never be defeated as long as we stay under his covering. We may not see them, but we have more for us than are against us.

The news would like you to think that the whole world is liberal. The news would like you to believe that there is nothing you can do to save America. But we have to go to battle on our knees, declaring that God will save America. Things are not always as they appear.

Elijah was in a cave hiding from Jezabel. He told God that he alone was the only one left standing. He was feeling surrounded and battle weary. But God told him that he had seven thousand prophet that had not bowed to Baal. Elijah was not alone even though he felt alone. God had other believers, and he had angel armies.

Today we are not as alone as we feel sometimes. It is easy to look with natural eyes and get overwhelmed at the way things appear. But we are not surrounded by our enemy. We do not stand alone. The body of Christ is alive and well, there are many of us. It is time we stood strong for the ways of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If God be for us, who can be against us. David face Goliath while an entire army cowered in their tents. But David knew God would not leave him and that with God on his side, he was the majority.

God separates out people sometimes for his purpose. Gideon had a very large army, around 32,000. But God made him send thousands of them home, he narrowed his army down to three hundred men. When God dwindles down the army around you, he is calling you to a battle that he has created you to fight.

God delivered a very large army of Midianites and Amalekites into Gideon’s hand. The scripture says they were like the sand of the sea and their camels were too many to calculate.

There are many other stories in the word that we can draw encouragement from if we take the time to read them. Who is on the Lord’s side? Remember, we are in the majority, even when we are alone, as long as we walk with God, we have no reason to fear. Even when it appears to our natural eyes that we are surrounded.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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