Tag: #Jesus

EPISODE 110- KEEP LOOKING FOR GOD’S HAND

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v4zn5ft-god-focus-this-morning-episode-110-looking-for-gods-hand.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: KEEP LOOKING FOR GOD’S HAND

There is much in the Bible about the hand of God. He formed man from the earth with his hands. His hand will protect, bless and provide for his people. There is an anointing he gives with the touch of his hand. But on the other hand, there is punishment for disobedience.

We often talk about the love that was in those nail scared hands. He holds us upright with his hand and helps us to walk. Like a parent would a toddler. There is healing in his hands. There is also rath for those that will not heed his word.

Look at Egypt, they received punishment for their disregard of God’s words. Pharoah looked at Moses as an annoying cousin. He was not going to heed his word. Pharoah didn’t realize that Moses’ identity had changed and he was now a prophet of the real God. Moses told Pharoah that God said to let his people go. Pharoah refused, his pride and arrogance would not allow him to bend. While God was sending plagues with one hand in Egypt, his other hand, was a hand of protection over his people in Goshen.

I was inspired by a recent conversion with one of my prayer partners. She was talking about the story of Elijah, and how he kept sending his servant to look for a sign of rain. This was a sign of Elijah’s faith. He didn’t give up.

This occurred right after the showdown on the top of Mount Carmel between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. The one where God answered by fire. There had been a drought in the land, and everything was dying.

I KGS 18:41-43 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. 44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not. 45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. 46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Then my friend said something that was encouraging to me, and I wanted to share it. She said, “That is what we have to do when we pray is keep looking for a sign that his hand is moving.” This is how we show faith. We have to be expectant of the answer. What if Elijah gave up after six prayers? What if at the third time he said within himself, well I’ll pray again but it probably won’t do anything? No each time he sent his servant out to look, he was expecting to see the answer.

God had just proved himself to the people that He was God, when He answered by fire. Then Elijah prayed for rain, he was expecting to see clouds. His servant finally came back and told him he saw a small cloud rise out of the sea like a man’s hand.

When we pray, we need to be looking for evidence that God is moving. If we don’t see it yet, keep going to look and see. Because one day we will see that cloud like a man’s hand rising up to bring our victory.

ISAIAH 59:1-4 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. 4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

Isaiah was telling the people of Israel. God’s hand is not short. Then he went on to say that he is not deaf. But because of their sin there was a separation. Many today are the same way. But they expect God to give them the desires of their hearts.

Some live their lives how they choose then expect God to bless them. They have one foot in the world and one foot in trying to follow God. The only thing about trying to walk that way is it will always cause you to fall. Only when we surrender to God and walk in His way will he give us the desires of our heart.

Psalm 37:3-5 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Sometimes, God is telling us to wait when we pray. Other times we need to check ourselves to make sure we do not have any sin in our lives. Pray and put them under the blood then make the request. Sometimes we have to be determined in faith and expect the answer. If we don’t see the cloud. Pray and go look again.

Because Israel followed after Baal, God allowed the drought. Once the miracle on top of Mt. Carmel happened, and they had made right their sin, God opened the heavens and let it rain when the prophet prayed.

It wasn’t just a little rain; it was an abundance of rain. God knew the land was dry and all the crops were drying up. The people needed water for everyday living. So, he sent them an abundance of rain.

We too can have an abundance of whatever we are praying for, if we look to God with expectation.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGEMENT

EPISODE 109 — WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR HOUSE?

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://youtu.be/GR4Vzjimc3M

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: “WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR HOUSE?”

2 John 1:9-11 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

A few verses before these listed speaks about how the spirit of the antichrist is in the world. Many will be deceived by this spirit. The only way we can guard ourselves against the spirit of the antichrist is prayer and study of the word. Right now, there are preachers and teachers out there deceiving many.

We are to love people and try to show them the truth. But as much as we are to walk in love, that is not license to accept anything coming and going. When the word says something is a sin, it is a sin. Some are afraid to stand up for the truth. They say it is not love to hurt someone’s feelings. Sometimes the truth hurts. Saving them from hell is love, even if it may initially hurt their feelings.

I am not saying we should jump on people and tell them they are horrible sinners. We can speak the truth in love and maybe gain them by planting a seed. But if we do not walk in love, telling them the truth, we will never gain them. They may not agree with us, but they will respect us for having the backbone to stand for what we believe; the truth of the word of God.

We should not open the door widely for them to share their false teaching. The word says do not receive them into your house. I think that could mean do not allow them to come into where you live (earthly house) and tell you some false thing. It can mean do not let them behind the pulpit of the church to spread false doctrines. But most of all do not accept their doctrines into your heart. Ask Jesus to guard the door to your heart from anything false.

We are to be ever vigilant to know the truth and to only follow Jesus.
I Peter 5:8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

There are other things that can corrupt our spiritual house. Sometimes it comes in the form of something on the television that we don’t agree with, but do not turn off either. When we don’t turn it off we are allowing it to penetrate our thoughts and mind. If we are strong enough in our convictions, we will stop the thing at our mind. It is when our heart dwells on it that we are in danger of accepting it as not that bad.

Well not that bad is not a standard to shoot for. Not that bad by what standard? If it is wrong by God’s standards then it is wrong. We can justify almost anything, if we think about it long enough. But it boils down to this, if it is wrong in God’s eyes, then it is wrong.

Sometimes we allow attitudes to creep in over time. Maybe we are not as vigilant as we once were to fight against the enemy. Great mountains normally do not crumble in a day. But over time, wind, rain, heat and cold can cause it to erode. Every now and then we need to take inventory and see what we have in our house. If we could walk through our spiritual house like we do our natural homes what would it look like?

Would everything be the way it should be, so that it looks like the pictures in a magazine or would it look like an episode of Hoarders. Stuff piled from the floor to the ceiling. Emotional baggage everywhere ready to fall at any moment. Most of us live somewhere in between.

But most people have a closet or two that is just junk we cannot part with, like painful experiences from the past. Bitterness, anger, possible hate, feelings of despair, depression, judgmental attitudes all are things that we need to toss out in the dumpster of life. This will help us to have the kind of house that Jesus would be comfortable occupying. After all, our heart is home.

We have cleared out the clutter, now what? Normally in the natural we try to organize that space to make it more useful. Allowing the Holy Ghost to have free reign to decorate, will help us to become more like Christ.

In Second Kings, there is a story of a widow who went to the prophet Elisha for help.

2 Kgs 4:1-4 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. 2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. 3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. 4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. 5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. 6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. 7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

The prophet asked her what she had in her house. Often God has already provided our answer. She was getting ready to say nothing then she said except a pot of oil. But at that point one little pot was not enough. If we are willing to give God what we have he can bless it and multiply it.

She felt like this trouble was going to swallow her up. But God turned it around with a miracle through the prophet Elisha. She barrowed many vessels then God allowed her to have enough oil to fill them all. When she finished there was still oil in her original pot. She was able to sell the oil and pay her debt.

She already had the answer to her problem in her house. It was the oil that was her answer. There was more than enough to save her household. Sometimes trouble comes our way. We do not think we can go on. We search and search for the answer. We need to be reminded that we have a pot of oil in our house. (The Spirit of God often referred to as oil in the word.) So there is not a problem too big that the Spirit of God (which dwells in our house) cannot see us through.

We need to be like Joshua and have determination to always follow God. The children of Israel were in a strange land just like we are strangers in this land. We are children of the most high king. We are just passing through this life. We cannot allow the things of this life to clutter up our house.

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

So I ask the question that Elisha asked the widow. What do you have in your house?

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGEMENT

EPISODE 103–LESSONS OF A SPIDER

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION : https://rumble.com/v4wnp3t-god-focus-this-morning-episode-103-lessons-from-a-spider.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: “LESSONS FROM A SPIDER”

I want to start with a question today? How many of you if you found a spider in a loaf of bread would eat the bread? I don’t think many would say yes. But some that are really hungry would say yes. Often satan is compared to a spider. He has placed webs of deceit in the bread of the word. Some of the new translations cannot be trusted. They are missing verses and meanings of others have been changed to support the new all roads lead to heaven lie.

We would say that the loaf of bread is going to be tossed out with the garbage. What if the spider had spread venom on the bread? Well, satan’s lies is poison to our spirit. Some of the translations need to be tossed out with the trash. I say this to warn you to be careful. I always compare everything to the King James Version. If I feel it means the same thing then I feel like that verse is acceptable. I compare on a verse by verse basis.

Satan is the father of lies and we often compare a liar to one that spins a web. The poor insect that gets caught in the web has no idea what is coming its way. The spider doesn’t kill its prey all at once. It will kill it slowly over time. Satan doesn’t come at us full force, he comes at us a little at a time. Maybe with a watered-down bible. Then he will make you think that this little thing or that little thing won’t matter. Afterall, God’s grace is sufficient. Don’t think the enemy doesn’t know the word of God. He will keep coming at us a little at a time until he has us in a desperate situation.

We have to be on guard constantly for his small attacks. The word says it’s the little foxes that spoil the vine. We are looking for him to come at us as a roaring lion with a big attack. When he is working on the little things. Like getting us to say we will pray tomorrow and go on to bed. We may decide to skip our bible reading today because we are so busy. The next thing you know it has been a week since we picked up the bible or prayed with any real enthusiasm and devotion. It’s the little things that add up.

Prov 30:24-28 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: 25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; 26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; 27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; 28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.

From these five verses we could do a study that would give us a lot of wisdom. After all Proverbs is the book of wisdom. I want to briefly touch on each but keep mostly to my original topic of the spider.

Ants are colonies of many, they communicate well with each other and work as one. They prepare for winter in the summer. Just as we are to prepare in this life for our eternity. Will it be eternal life or eternal death. As ants work together, we are to band together and try to help others prepare for eternal life.

Conies are rabbit-like creatures with shorter ears than rabbits. They build their dens in rock for protection. It is their fortress, like God is our rock and fortress. They are protected from predators and storms. Just as God protects us from the enemy and storms of life.

The Locust goes in bands. There is evidence of where they have been because the leaves are dead and brown. We as Christian’s need to stick together. There needs to be evidence that we have been somewhere. Unlike the locust that leaves behind death, we can bring life to people.

Prov 30:28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.

Spiders can be anywhere from a pitiful shack of a house to a king’s palace. They are so small that most don’t even notice them. Until the evidence of cobwebs starts to show up. Then we know a spider has been in our house.

One time for about two weeks I would sweep down all the webs on my porch. Every morning when I went out to go to work, I would walk through new webs spread across the opening of the porch. I would look around and not see any spiders. Because they go back in a crevice and hide until they feel the vibrations of something being caught in the web. I went out in the dark and found it spinning a web. I killed the spider and didn’t have any more webs.

We need to be like the spider in the sense that it is determined to keep building even if someone tears down what we have built. It travels by swinging on it’s web. It is safe to say that what comes out of the spider gets it where it wants to go. Can we be like that and be determined to keep working on building the kingdom of God even if someone else is trying to undo all that we have done.

Spiders know when something is caught by the vibrations of it’s web. We need to be in tune to the Holy Ghost inside of us and have enough discernment to know when the enemy has entered the room. Have you ever met someone that you could feel evil around them, so much so that it smother you?

People don’t wake up one day and say, “I think I am going to be evil.” It is a process of being bit by the poison of satan over and over again. As a spider kills its prey in the web little by little, satan slowly kills the persons desire for good. He slowly posses them with evil until in some cases they are too far gone to ever yield to God calling them to be saved. It is so very sad when people allow their evil to overtake them to the point that they think they are God and will not yield.

In summary, we need to be like these four little creatures. Prepare like the ant. Work now because there will come a day when the work ceases. As the conies hide in the rock we need to hide in Jesus. Make sure that we make Jesus who is our fortress our dwelling place. He is our rock and foundation. We need to band together, we can do more if we work toward a common goal together. People will be able to see where we have been.

When we think of the spider, we remember that even though satan is often compared to the spider, it has good qualities too. It is determined to keep building even in the face of adversity. It is what is in the spider that gets it where it wants to go. Just like God’s spirit in us will get us where we want to go. We need to have more discernment in the body of Christ. We need to be so in tune with the Holy Ghost that we can sense the enemy. Because he will not only let us sense the evil but tell us what to do in every situation.

I hope the next time you see a spider that you think about how they are determined. I hope it reminds you to pray for discernment. I definitely hope it is not in your loaf of bread.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGEMENT

EPISODE 71–SPIRITUAL STORMS

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://youtu.be/AR4aji24n2A

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGEMENT

EPISODE 65 — GOOD FRIDAY??

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v4m4k5h-god-focus-this-morning-episode-65-good-friday-.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: “GOOD FRIDAY??”

When I was a child, I wondered why the day that Jesus was brutalized and nailed to a cross was called Good Friday. I didn’t think that what happened to Jesus was good at all. I remember asking my grandpa what made Jesus different from the other two on the cross with Him. What made him special?

He explained that the other two committed crimes and that was how the Romans punished criminals. Then he said, Jesus was perfect and without sin. Yet He chose to be punished to take away our punishment so that we could be saved. I remember being a little scared that they could have put us on a cross. Still not understanding why it was Good Friday. It still seemed like a bad Friday.

I am sure the disciples that ran and hid felt like it was a bad Friday. They were in shock and allowed fear to overtake them. Can you imagine how they felt? They had walked with Jesus and saw the miracles. They knew He had power. Yet they saw Him punished. Fear had to set in a little because it looked like the Romans had power over Jesus. But Jesus gave up his authority to become the lamb of the world. He surrendered to the process for each of us.

I cannot think of the crucifixion without Day Three by Lords Song going through my mind. But it says “Day One the hill ran crimson red with blood to cleans all sin. Day Two reminds us keep the faith when the doubt sets in, what a difference one day makes from death to victory. The cross became an empty grave on Day Three.”

Good Friday is good because that was the greatest day in history. It was the day we all were given the right to be set free. It looked dark on Friday. The enemy thought he had won. Day two, the disciples were down and feeling the pain of grief. But the good news is that He rose from the dead-on Day Three, full of power and victory over the enemy.

We cannot only find encouragement in the resurrection and how it gives us the right to be saved. But the story of the cross can give us encouragement for all of our situations. Things could not have looked darker than it did on that Friday. But Sunday came and freedom came with it.

Our situations may seem bad or look dark sometimes, but we can look at Good Friday and how dark it was and remember that the light will spring forth again. Sunday was the brightest day of hope.

When we are dealing with moments it looks like the enemy is winning. We may feel like we lack strength to go on but be encouraged and hang on because victory is just around the corner.

While Jesus was in the grave, he descended into hell and took away the keys of death, hell and the grave. When He rose, He had taken back the authority that Adam lost by eating of the tree that God told Him to not eat. Jesus destroyed the plans of the enemy.

He gave us the power to become the sons of God. But if it had not been for Good Friday, there would not have been the victory of Sunday morning. Without the dark times, we could not appreciate the light of victory.

As we walk through dark times, we have to hold on, victory is just around the corner. Remember the cross became an empty grave on day three. As your enemy closes in and you feel trapped, like the children of Israel at the Red Sea. Remember, God made a way and opened the sea. He turned a scary moment into ultimate freedom.

Do not be discouraged, He is waiting to turn our dark Fridays into victorious Sundays. Take time to thank God for His work on the cross and that He has given us the right to become the sons of God. Praise him for his precious blood cleanses all sin. His blood that gives us power over the powers of the enemy.

Day One, they found him guilty, and it turned dark. Day two was full of doubt, and the enemy thought he had the upper hand. He thought he had won. Until Jesus met him face to face and took the keys of hell from him and set free the captive. He came out of the grave on Day Three victorious over death, hell and the grave. This is why we celebrate Day Three, for we have nothing to fear. Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, has risen. It is time for us to rejoice in the freedom he has given us from bondage.

Have a wonderful resurrection weekend.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGEMENT

EPISODE 42 – IT’S ALL IN THE PERSPECTIVE

Click here for the video version: https://youtu.be/pSS5eU-GQPM

Hello My Friends,

The title of today’s episode is: “It’s All In The Perspective”

1Cor 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Most things in life come down to perspective. We judge things by our experience and comfort levels. I used to look at a guy I worked with and tell him he was crazy because he would ride a bicycle on a narrow, dangerous mountain path. I am talking this path is six inches wide in some spots on the top of a mountain. If he missed the path, he would fall hundreds of feet to the bottom. Because I am not comfortable doing it, I feel it is crazy. But if I was comfortable riding that trail, then I would think he was normal. I would call it an extreme sport or even fun. It is all in the perspective.

To Christians, the preaching of the cross is life and strength. It is peace and salvation. It is healing for our souls and bodies. But to those who are lost, they look at us as if we are crazy. Because they do not understand. They do not understand from our perspective. They will not understand until they get out of their comfort zone and let Jesus open their understanding. He is the only one who can give them a new perspective.

We need God’s perspective on life. I want to look at a few scriptures that may give some a little perspective.

John 16:32-33 32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 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.

Jesus spoke to his disciples of his upcoming arrest and crucifixion. Verse 33 is still true for today. We can have peace in Jesus. The world doesn’t understand how we can have peace when our lives appear from the outside to be burning to the ground. Everything could be going wrong and falling apart, but if we truly walk with Jesus, we will have peace. Because our focus is not on our lives burning down but on Jesus, who has the power to fix things and restore them.

When we do not walk with Jesus, it is said that we are in the world. If we do not have God’s leading, we will not have peace but tribulation. Christians are not immune from bad things happening. We still lose loved ones, we still lose jobs, and we still have things happen that most people feel are bad. The difference between a Christian and the world is that we have Jesus to help us cope with our situations. He will give us His perspective and His solution of how to deal with the issues.

Christians walk by faith, not by sight. The world doesn’t have this kind of faith, so they have no choice but to walk by sight. We have faith that God will see us through anything we face. So, when things happen that appear scary or bad, we can lean on our faith perspective, not our sight and emotions of the situation.

Our five physical senses can be deceived by past experiences. If we truly hear from God and allow His perspective, we cannot go wrong.

Deuteronomy 31:8 – The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

He is telling us not to be discouraged, which tells me we have some control over the situation. We can rise above the emotions of situations and look at them from God’s perspective. God goes before us and will be with us through all of our fears, tears, disappointments, failures, and times we feel depressed or defeated. It is not wrong to feel the emotions. I am not saying if you are a Christian, you will not feel the emotions. It is even ok to be in the emotion for a small length of time. Then, we have to gain control of the situation by giving up our control to God. He will lead us to the right perspective.

Don’t be discouraged if people don’t understand you. Some may even think you are crazy. But if we walk our lives out daily, being led by the Spirit of God within us. We will have the right perspective. Continue to walk in God’s love and show others the way to the cross. It is the only hope they have, even if they do not see it yet.

UNTIL NEXT TIME

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

EPISODE 37–OLD LANDMARK

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v4c3o2b-god-focus-this-morning-episode-37-old-landmarks.html

Hello my friends

The title of today’s episode is: “Old Landmarks”

Prov 22:28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

The early church didn’t neglect prayer and fellowship. We need to be consistent in the word of God. We have been given a solid foundation. Standing firm on that foundation of the apostles is the old landmark that many churches have left in order to be more modern.

Jer. 6:16 Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

I recently heard it said that some mega-churches took the marketing approach to building their church. They did surveys about what people wanted in a church. This is why many are nothing more than social clubs, with their coffee bars and fog machines. Without sticking to the old paths, they have gotten away from what makes “THE CHURCH” different from the world.

In order to be effective, the ministry of “THE CHURCH” has to show people that they can walk the walk and not just talk the talk. People are craving a REAL move of God. They want to know him for themselves. All the marketing in the world will not replace prayer and knowing God. Really truly digging into the word. Putting it under a microscope and asking what does this really mean. Dig deep below the superficial surface of the word.

Psalm 17:5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

This should be our prayer every day. Hold up my goings; in other words, support my sense of direction. Direct my way in your will. Because if you don’t, Lord, I might slip and fall.

Just like in the natural, if the wind blows strong enough it is impossible for a human to stand up. The winds of this life can spiritually knock us for a loop. Without Jesus to hold onto, it is possible that the storms of life will drown us. But he always keeps us settled and on the right path.

Let me repeat Prov 22:28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

Landmarks can be something unique so you know what city you are in, like the arch in St Louis. It can also be as simple as a stone, which lets you know you are on the edge of your property. It is something that gives you a sense of direction, in spiritual terms. The boundaries have been set long ago by God. His words are specific. The apostles and prophets of long ago set the guidelines as a landmark to keep us on the right path.

Our path is not as clearly marked as it once was, because the church has allowed weeds to grow up over the path. The road less traveled may not be as worn down. It may take a bit of looking to ensure we are going the right way. We need to find and stick to the old path. In it and in it alone we will find our way home.

Where are the children of God who are standing on the truth of God’s word? Even we can be road markers for people to let them know which way the need to go to find God. By being steady and strong in our faith, others will take notice and will want to know how we endure the things of life.

What makes us different than those who are lost?

What are some of the road signs along the way that we can use for our guide?

Prayer, honesty, study and knowing the word, loving others, abiding by what God’s word says we need to do. Put on the whole armor of God (Eph 6) Allow the Holy Ghost inside of us to produce fruit of the spirit in our lives (Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law)

Be willing to reach down and lift another up when they have fallen.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 KJV Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

Take some time today to think about the old landmarks. Do whatever it takes to find them in your life.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

NEW SHOES- A NEW LEVEL OF YOUR FAITH WALK

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://youtu.be/vIX-b_FSKmk

Hello My Friends,

The title of today’s episode is: “NEW SHOES, NEW LEVEL OF OUR FAITH WALK”

We often are told to not judge someone but to try walking a mile in their shoes. In other words, we do not understand how difficult things are until we are in the same situation. Often, the things we think we would not do under the same circumstances, we find ourselves doing when we end up walking the same road. This is why we are told to not judge one another only God knows all and is qualified to judge.

We are not meant to walk in anyone’s shoes but our own. Just like a child that goes through the house wearing their parent’s shoes. They scuff along, dragging the shoes that are obviously like giant shoes to their tiny feet. God designs our lives in many different seasons. Sometimes, the shoes we are wearing must change with the seasons. For example, we wouldn’t want to wear sandals in the middle of winter. They would not provide the protections we need. But they are much needed in the hot summer months to keep our feet from getting too hot.’We are not meant to walk in anyone’s shoes but our own. Just like a child that goes through the house wearing their parents shoes. They scuff along, dragging the shoes that are obviously like giant shoes to their tiny feet. God designs our lives in many different seasons. Sometimes, the shoes we are wearing must change with the seasons. For example, we wouldn’t want to wear sandals in the middle of winter. They would not provide the protections we need. But they are much needed in the hot summer months to keep our feet from getting too hot.

When we are born, we are given baby shoes to wear. Because we do not know how to walk, these often do not even get dirty on the bottoms. As we grow, we learn to walk and have outgrown the first shoes. The new shoes help us balance and take our first steps.

Then we grow from toddler to child, we get other shoes. During the course of childhood to adulthood, we will wear many shoes. Some are just regular shoes, some for athletics, maybe even tap or ballet. Dress shoes for the first school dance, our first set of high heels, or hunting boots.

Our spiritual lives can also come with lots of shoes for different seasons of life. I mentioned trying to walk in our parent’s shoes. God never meant for our experiences to be exactly like those of our parents, grandparents, brothers, or sisters. God has specific shoes made for us because of the path that he is taking us down. He has created us to have our own “faith” walk.

We often feel pressure when our parents have walked their “faith” walk well. We do not feel equipped to live up to their reputation. In some cases, their expectations. If we are not careful, we will run in the opposite direction from where we need to be because fear causes us to take the wrong path. Suddenly, satan is giving us shoes. He will take us to a place where the terrain is not made for us. We may end up on a rocky terrain in flip-flops. Walking in his shoes will cause cuts and painful blisters because the shoes don’t fit.

We cannot ever let other people’s opinions of where we need to be in life change what God is doing in our lives. No one else is wise enough to create just the perfect size shoes for the size of our current “faith” walk.

I want to share a little story with you. I call it tennis shoe wisdom. When I was a child, just learning to tie my shoes. Dad told me I couldn’t go to the store with him unless I tied my own shoes. I struggled with it for a little while then I did what any kid would do, I went to someone older and wiser. I asked my grandpa to tie my shoes. But if I had not let go of the strings, he could not have tied the shoes.

Often, we try to do things on our own, struggling. Then we decide to take it to God to handle for us. But now comes the hard part, we must let go of the strings. He cannot tie our shoes and move us into the next phase of life if we are holding onto the strings. We must trust that He knows what He is doing and will take care of the problem.

Proverbs 16:9 – The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. God puts things on our hearts sometimes and we feel strongly that we need to step out in faith. We make our plans and start walking. But for those plans to be established, we have to commit them to the Lord and make sure they align with His plan for our lives.

In order to walk things out in faith, we have to trust His plan and His timing.

Proverbs 16:3 – Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

Eph 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

God has ordained our steps. What does ordain mean? To decree, command, order, fix or establish. This shows us that our lives are his craft, he has created with skill His plan. Workmanship is the sign of someone with skills to design or create something, a craftsman.

This verse is saying that we are his creation, created in Christ Jesus to do good works that he has skillfully planned and established. We need to put on our shoes, allow God to tie them and walk this “faith” walk with the courage to know that he has established our path.

It is my prayer for you that you find yourself growing in your “faith” walk and that God will decide that you need a new level in him. When He does, you will get new shoes.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

THE SCARIEST THING TO SAY TO GOD

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://youtu.be/hBOFTH4v-Wg

I am about to share with you the scariest thing you will ever say to God. It is ok to be honest with God and tell him what is on our minds. He knows how we feel and what we think. There is nothing we can say to him that will shock Him.

In Isaiah Chapter 6, Isaiah saw a vision of the throne of God. It is a beautiful chapter to read. I suggest you go to it and just picture it as you are reading. The angels worship constantly, saying, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty! I want to draw attention to the fact that Isaiah was at an altar and confessed that he was simply a man. He said he was a man of unclean lips. An angel took a hot coal off of the altar and touched his lips, making them pure.

Once we have been before God and have had him to cleans us and burn out our impurities, we are ready to start walking out our faith walk.

Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Once again, God is asking if we are brave enough to say the scariest thing ever to him, “Here am I; send me.” For a control freak like me, that is a scary thing to say. Here I am, I will go where you want me to, say what you want me to, my life is fully in your hands. In other words, Jesus take the wheel. I am going to let you drive.

We all know we can trust Him. We believe He is big enough to save our souls from hell. He is big enough to solve our problems. There is so much that we trust Him for, but that last step is a big one. It is not one to be taken lightly. But in order to reach the loss of this world, it is going to take all of us being 100% sold out to the cause of Christ. (As the generations before us would say, “Be on fire for God.”)

If we ask logically, would God send us somewhere we couldn’t handle. We would say no. If someone asked, Do you trust God? Then the answer would be, “Yes, of course.” In our minds, we trust Him. Our hearts and emotions are something completely different. We hold back a little part of ourselves from Him. Many think that the sin we struggle with is our biggest battle. I believe surrendering fully is the biggest battle we will ever have with our flesh.

The flesh throws a temper tantrum, wanting us not to take this faith walk too seriously. We don’t want to get burned out and lose our witness. Some may even have a fear of falling into sin again and being a bad light. All the fears we could come up with are not as scary as full surrender.

Isaiah 45:9-13 9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? 10 Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth? 11 Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. 12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. 13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts.

The God of the universe, Our Lord Jesus Christ, is a master creator. He has everything intricately planned. He knew everything about us before we were ever conceived. His plan was put into place before the moment we drew our first breath. Nothing we do or fail to do surprises him.

Like Jonah, God knew he would run. I am sure God adjusted the schedule to deal with the delay so that Jonah was right on time for a great revival.

Potsherds in the bible were earthen vessels or broken pieces of pottery. So this is saying, who are we to be contending with God and trying to persuade the way he is making our lives. We are clay; He is the potter. He knows how to shape clay. How much water it will take and how much pressure to mold and shape it.

We can trust His hands; they were nail scared because He loved us so much. He will take care of us. We just need to dig deep and find some of that boldness that so many of the saints of old had within them. Ones who would say, I don’t care what you say, I don’t care what you do, I am going to do the will of my Father in heaven.

If you find yourself struggling with total surrender. You are not alone. The harvest is ready and needs many laborers. May we all find strength to say, Here am I; send me.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

OPENING DOORS TO A NEW SEASON

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://youtu.be/9q1Bs5v_QF4

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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