What You Tolerate Dominates!

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Don’t Win the Battle and Lose the War!

Setting boundaries within families can be one of the most difficult things to do. We are bound to these people for a lifetime and frequently interpret that as a no-choice position if we want to honor Christ. Lack of boundaries wreaks havoc in a home. Growing up with an abusive mother was quite the adventure at my house; the cliché “roller-coaster”,  a hysterical adventure ride that often times threw me right off the tracks of my life. Moving and compromising my boundaries became the pattern of my youth. Arguments, threats and unrealistic expectations were daily occurrences. Years later, after I left home, the Lord generously began to reteach me in terms of His precious boundaries for my life.

One of the first things He taught me is that setting boundaries is not about making threats. It is about giving choices and then consequences for the poor decisions that are made, much like we do with our parenting skills. So don’t feel guilty enforcing or witnessing consequences. Guilt leads to compromise. We cannot be in a healthy relationship without appropriate boundaries. Setting personal boundaries are like identifying the gates in our invisible fence lines which protects the heart and soul inside our bodies. Our personal boundaries are God’s boundaries for us, for our protection. We need to maintain boundaries in order to freely grow and expand in our relationship with Christ and also in our ability to minister effectively to others. Boundaries are tools of protection. They set appropriate limits both externally and internally. Externally, they can provide protective limits on others who treat us poorly or in an aggressive manner. Internally, they can protect us from unreasonable expectations we place on ourselves which could unwittingly hinder our walk with Christ.  Many people look at boundaries as walls, but rather, when we establish healthy boundaries, they provide a way to distinguish what we choose to let in and what we choose to let out. They form flexible gates, not stationary walls. It is important to learn about setting healthy boundaries so we can make decisions about what is and what isn’t permissible in our relationships. It really doesn’t matter how elaborate the fencing or how eloquent our statements are, if we don’t honor ourselves enough to draw the boundary line and stick to it consistently. 

Often we grow weary in holding our ground, especially when old patterns draw us back to unhealthy behaviors. We must keep our eye on the mark…this is a spiritual war to tear down strongholds of pride, rebellion and narcissism. Winning a battle in a relationship means little if we lose the spiritual war. “Winning a battle but losing the war”, describes a poor strategy that wins or settles for a lesser objective, but overlooks and loses the truly intended objective.  Occasionally I would win a small battle with my mother and she would become a little responsive and for a time peaceful. Believing that the battle was won and not wanting to upset her further, I would begin to compromise my boundaries once again in order to maintain a semblance of peace in the household. Walking on eggshells was my way of life. The more I yielded, the more she consumed, and pretty soon the situation was progressively worse than before. It was a vicious cycle and, at the time, I had no clue how to altar it or how to escape from it.

Godly relationships give honor one to another. It is just as important for the other person to learn how to be with you and what the guidelines are for the relationship. If there are old patterns, it may take some time to convince others that you are serious about sticking to your boundaries. Improving our ability to set boundaries can, at times, be both painful and difficult. It requires consistency, perseverance, much prayer, and the support of others. Setting appropriate boundaries is an ability we can all learn through God’s direction. Below are some practical steps in learning to set boundaries:

1. Be honest about your anger when others violate your boundaries. First of all be honest with yourself and with God.  Ephesians 4:26 says, “Be angry, and yet do not sin.” Pouting or the “silent treatment” is anger as well. Manipulating people through any form of anger is not God-honoring. People who have difficulty setting boundaries are often angry because they feel like others are wielding power over them. They do not realize that they themselves have unwittingly relinquished that power. 

2. Ask God to help you to be truthful in all things, even in negative truth. Setting boundaries may sometimes rock the boat. Take special note of this scripture…

“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for in the same way their fathers used to treat the false prophets.”Luke 6:26

3. Cultivate relationships with people who encourage the use of your boundaries, instead of threatening your boundaries. Those closest to you should love your “no” as much as they love your “yes”!

Careful…….. What you Tolerate, Dominates!

Let It Go!

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Let It Go       9792442-musical-notes-and-staff

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.” Ps 143:10 NIV

My granddaughter Allyson is an energetic five year old who loves the movie “Frozen”, and especially loves to sing at the “top of her lungs” the movie’s theme song, “Let It Go.” When the movie was first released Allyson sang that song, to the dismay of her parents, again and again and again. She is also the typical five year old, who wants what she wants, when she wants it. When we just couldn’t seem to hit “the replay button” fast enough to suit her, she would bellow “Let it Go”  over and over without the music with a joy and enthusiasm that made us all smile. Let’s just say patience is not a favorite word to a five year old. In fact I believe I’m correct in saying “patience” is not a popular word at any age. When God promises us something and it doesn’t seem to happen in our time frame, it’s so easy to get impatient and start doubting Him right away. Eager to make it happen, we start to take matters into our own hands and can unknowingly detour the plan and even make quite a mess of that plan like Abraham did. God promised Abraham children “as numerous as the stars” (Genesis 22:17 NIV). Tired of waiting He took matters into His on hands and had a child, Ishmael, by his maid servant, Hagar. That’s when Abraham’s troubles really began!  Rivalry between the two wives set off a spiral of events that eventually led to the “letting go” of his son Ishmael. Hagar and her son were literally sent away from their home and forced to fend for themselves. God loved Ishmael and had great plans for him, but Abraham had to “let go” of him in order to fulfill God’s will. It was one of the most painful experiences of Abraham’s life.

So what do we learn from Abraham’s story? First of all, emphatically refuse to allow the Enemy to send anything into your life that will undermine your plans while you are waiting and praying. Secondly, be careful of the advice you receive, even if it is from someone close to you. Fathering Ishmael was advised by Abraham’s wife Sarah. When God speaks directly to you, listen and obey His will above all others. Thirdly, because you are willing to take responsibility for your actions doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences for those actions and sometimes even long-lasting ones!  There are things you can give up effortlessly, and other things that will take every ounce of grace within you to release. Letting go of troublesome past experiences may be extremely hard. It is especially difficult to give up something of great attachment or something that reflects you, like a job you love, the house where you live, a friendship or a present relationship. But when you have gone as far as you can with your “Ishmael” and you are ready to see God’s promise fulfilled in your life, you must be willing to ……Let It Go!

The good news is obedience to God is always followed with blessing. When you know God is clear about what you must do, even if it hurts, “ throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” (Hebrews 12:1) and eagerly and enthusiastically cry out or even sing at the “top of your lungs”…

Let It Go…Let It Go…Let It Go !   9792442-musical-notes-and-staff

Whining in the Wilderness…A Leanness Of Soul

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“He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.” Ps 106:15 

No one likes a whiner. Does this sound like a familiar pattern for today?

While living as slaves in Egypt for many long years, the Israelites cried out daily, “ Lord deliver us, save us, get us out of here!” While crossing the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land they continued their cries, “ God we are going to die out here! We were better off in Egypt. At least we had all the food we wanted!” So God in His compassion delivered food right to their doorway and fresh manna bread actually fell at their feet. This was a diet so perfect and healthy that the Bible states “ there was not one feeble person among them.”(Psalm 105:37). However, after a short time, they began to cry out again, “ We’re tired of this stuff, we don’t like this manna. Where’s the meat? We want something more than what you’ve blessed us with? We deserve better.” So God once again said okay to their grumbling and wailing. “Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The Lord heard you when you wailed, “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the Lord will give you meat, and you will eat it. You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it—because you have rejected the Lord, who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?” (Nu 11:18-20)

Ouch! Such a lesson! Be careful of what you are asking, because you might very well get it! Covetousness angers God because it is rooted in pride and spills forth in ingratitude. Covetousness is defined as an excessive desire for wealth or possessions, or an excessive desire for anything in our lives that we seek more readily than God. The Bible says “He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.” (Psalm 106:15.) What a dreadful prospect! He actually sent leanness into their souls.

With God we can be satisfied with very little, but without Him there is no satisfaction. There is only leanness of soul; an emptiness, an insatiable longing that can never be filled. Many of us say that God is first place in our lives, but our desires reveal our hearts. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”. (Luke 6:45) God viewed the hearts of His people and the malnutrition of their souls. Sadly, we often view God, consciously and unconsciously, as positioned only to fill our endless requests and “questionable” desires.

What are you coveting today that has put your life on hold or that you find yourself continually begging God for? The question is: “How lean is your soul?” What will it take for you and for me to come to a settled place in Him where the manna fills and fully satisfies each and every day of our lives?

God is the only true essential for our lives. Nothing can even partially fill His seat.

“Why do you spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. (Isaiah 55:2)

Oh may our souls delight in the fatness of contentment in Him!

When will our prayers and our voices find rest in crying out daily, “Lord today and every day, You are my ultimate desire. You are more than enough…I just want more of you…”

 

Be Blessed…

The God of Avoiding Risks

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Risk aversion has become one of the major gods of our time. Nowadays, everyone is familiar with the slogan of “Safety first!” and, therefore, we do everything we possibly can to maintain our personal safety and the safety of others as a top priority. Risk aversion, avoiding risks, has even become one of the major factors in our decision-making processes. Throughout the culture, there is big business in selling the numerous products that promise security and safety. Today we have all sorts of safeguards to insure our safety such as alarm systems, identity theft protection programs, and various insurance services for just about anything. I remember the first cell phone that I ever purchased. My husband initiated the purchase as an instrument for my protection. Nowadays, children as young as seven and eight years old are given cell phones as a means of protection.

Please don’t misunderstand. I am by no means suggesting that we not take precautions in our lives, but I am suggesting that we not lose sight of who is in control of our lives. The overriding internal message, which lurks behind the overt message of our need for safety, is FEAR. In effect, we are breeding a society engulfed and entrapped in fear. Of course, the reality is that what we mean by being safe is only what has the feeling of being safe. While there are ways of minimizing our risk, there is no definitive way of eliminating risk. There are only tools and choices that lead us to think and believe we are safe.

However, as underlying fears, both conscious and unconscious, become our focus, those fears grow and multiply hindering greatly the work of the Spirit’s call. Risk aversion becomes a priority measure and moves into a stranglehold position in our lives. Our kingdom imagination to reach for the extraordinary becomes limited and bound to the ordinary. Risk aversion stifles our efforts to seed the gospel and halts our courage to take risks for His kingdom glory.

A major aspect to risk aversion is our desire to control our own lives. This also suggests our aversion to God’s control over our lives by not surrendering our fears and control to Him. The idea that we feel safer the more we are in control is about trusting in ourselves rather than trusting in God. For many the concept of entering a situation and not being in charge is difficult and for others it is overwhelming. That being said, obsession for control is a blatant form of self-idolatry. Personal control is illusory. Only God is in control and He will never give up His control or share it with anyone.

Jesus modeled the life of a risk taker in Matthew 10:32-34…They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

Amazingly Jesus led the way into critical danger for Himself and for His disciples in order to complete the mission! The purpose outweighed the cost. No cost was too great to complete the Father’s mission.

 So the question to us as believers today is this: Are we prepared to lay down our fears and insatiable need for personal safety as an offering on the altar of God? Are we willing, for the sake of God’s kingdom, to confront danger, realizing our inability to control the outcomes?

And finally, exactly what are these risks?

Risks for the kingdom are not about making random choices for your life. They are about abiding in intimate communion with the Father and obeying His call and His leading regardless of the cost or the risks. These risks are grounded in trust of an omnipotent loving Father to control, direct, and protect us for His glory. There will always be a cost, but that cost is minimal to His purposeful outcome. Psalm 91 is a beautiful psalm of trust in God. More importantly, it is God… the Father’s promises to His people… and of His divine protection. Here the Lord commands His army of Angels to spare no effort in your protection. God, the Father will jealously guard His people throughout their lives.

 

Father, may we lay down fear and control this day and every day oh Lord,

Purge it from us; root it out, that we may not be hindered in your purposes.

May we be continually grounded in your trust,

Courageous and bold in our stance,

And obedient to the mission.

In Jesus’ Name we pray,

Amen

Doubt is Contagious

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Doubt is contagious and requires no faith or effort on our part to obtain or contain it. It’s always easier not to trust God than it is to trust Him. Since doubters are so prevalent, doubting always seems to come in an easy to unwrap package. In our efforts to satisfy our need for self-protection, doubt encourages us to lower our expectations. Not wanting to fail or to be hurt, we lower our expectations to prevent disappointment. With lowered expectations our circumstances become somewhat easier to accept when things don’t work out the way we had hoped or imagined.

Frequently doubt enters the door through the people around us who are quick to point out the obstacles and hindrances to our situation. The Bible states, “…you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth.” (Pr 6:2) Doubt is carried on the wings of words. The words you speak or listen to will either lift you up or tear you down, either increase your faith or decrease it. The Bible also states, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Ro 10:17). If we don’t keep our mind filled with God’s Word we’ll be constantly assailed by doubt. Words are powerful!

Who’s words are you listening to today? Are you walking in faith or are you walking in doubt? Are you walking with God’s perspective of your situation or have you cowered to man’s perspective? Man’s perspective is limited and skewed and hinges on doubt. God’s perspective is free and boundless and wrapped in His promises.

Doubt corrupts God’s word and leaves us wavering and vulnerable.

Faith does not ignore the facts, it ignores the power of the facts.

Faith is not about telling God how big your storm is, it’s about telling the storm how big your God is!

May the word of God capture our minds and send us forth in FAITH this day and every day…In Jesus’ Name we pray…Amen

 

A Crown of Victory

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Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. (Rev. 4: 4)

In August 2008, Greek archaeologists discovered a priceless gold wreath dated about the time of Alexander the Great, fourth century BC. The crown of golden oak leaves was included along with human bones inside a golden cylinder, which itself was secured within a large copper vessel.

There are two types of crowns mentioned in the New Testament. One crown is a rulers crown a Diadema, the other is a victors crown known in the Greek as stevfano …Stephanos …meaning victors crown. In ancient days this crown was given to victors as symbols of success in military conflict and in athletic contests. Often the crown was constructed from the leaves of oak or pine trees.

In Revelation 4:4 mentioned above, the type of crown the 24 elders have is a “Stephanos”crown. Since the elders are sitting on thrones they are clearly in positions of authority. Soon each elder throws down his crown (Stephanos) before the One on the throne, symbolizing their dependence on Christ for their victory. Christ promised his saints positions of authority over his coming kingdom. “Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:28.

At the close of his life, the Apostle Paul describes what he had accomplished by God’s grace: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” He confidently adds, “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing”. (2 Tim. 4:7-8). This crown of victory is also termed Stephanos. In Revelation, Jesus urges us, “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life”, a victor’s crown, Stephanos(Rev. 2:10).

I was reflecting this morning about two dear friends who have endured great pain and suffering throughout the last few years. I must admit I stand in total awe of the model of tenacity and perseverance they have continually demonstrated throughout their situation. I have watched them reach out to others and minister in the church while under the most trying of circumstances. I have also noticed how they have continued to spend themselves for the benefit of others, in spite of their own suffering; never making any excuses, just walking in continual obedience to God’s call. Recently, I was reminded of a past discussion with my friend where she was refusing to allow herself to be bound and ruled by her circumstances. She fought continuously to free her mind to the things of God, always focusing on His Word, His will, and His purposes, while striving to walk in His authority.

In my mind, I believe this beloved couple has already received the Stephanos, the victor’s crown, and that it is awaiting both of them.

Many of you may be experiencing some extremely difficult situations or setbacks in your lives at this very moment. However, I know in my heart that the Lord would have you be encouraged that “in all these things you are more than conquerors” when you stand in His authority.

We have the victory! We are already on victory ground. We don’t confess God’s Word to get victory. We confess His Word because we already have the victory.

We don’t fight for Victory! We fight from Victory!

With Jesus as our focal point, in spite of hardships and numerous trials, and because of Christ’s continual faithfulness we win a Stephanos… A crown of victory…Victory over oppression, victory over our circumstances, victory over darkness , victory over this world !

Stephanos!

Confronting Evil

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As never before, the risk of terrorism is now real for each one of us in America and across the world. Fear is a powerful emotion with deep roots. In those difficult moments in our lives when there are no answers, or when unexpected change occurs, it is important that we fight the desire to live by our feelings, but instead, that we move forward to confront our fears, to meet them head on. It was a great revelation to me when I realized that I couldn’t control the feeling of fear but I could keep it from controlling me. The word fear means “to run or to take flight.” So when we give in to fear, we always run away from something that we should be confronting. God wanted the Israelites to go forward into the unknown. He wanted them to be so fed up with bondage, that they would be willing to risk drowning in the Red Sea rather than going back to slavery. God wanted them to be bold and courageous…and He wants us to be bold and courageous too!

As we delve into the New Testament, we see how Christ confronted evil. He met it head on…Jesus said, “”But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”
We make a serious mistake when we shrink back or turn our back on evil, and here is why:

•When we believe that evil does not exist, ignore it, or cower from it, we become oblivious and vulnerable to it.
•When evil is dismissed as unreal or insignificant, good becomes irrelevant.
•Good is only understood in relation to evil.
•If nothing is evil, then nothing is good.

Since most of us are not in position to physically confront evils,
let us go forth in an even more powerful way…by confronting it with daily, fervent, Radical Prayer:

1) Praise God that He is sovereign, that He has ultimate control over all, and that nothing takes Him by surprise (Isaiah 45:5-7).
2) Ask God to break our hearts for His people, for the people of all nations, that we may be committed to intercede and pray daily on their behalf.
3) Ask God for a passion and love for Christ that DRIVES OUT FEAR.
(1 John 4:18).
4) As believers, let us boldly take authority through Christ to tear down the strongholds of evil and brutality that drive terrorism; may God destroy the darkness that permeates groups like ISIS, Al Shabab, Al Qaeda, and Boko Haram.
5) Ask God to bring unprecedented SPIRITUAL OPENNESS to people—a hunger for God and His truth in the midst of these terrorizing events. Thank God that he will use for GOOD, what Satan intended for harm. (Gen. 50:20-21)
6) Ask God to bless the ministry that has been thrust upon the church to help those affected by the terrorist attacks and the war.
7) Ask God to focus the minds of public officials and the military on the need for prayer in dealing with the challenging difficulties and decisions before them.
8) Ask God to stand against Satans attempts to make people experience unresolved anger or guilt over the loss of loved ones and friends, or a desire to seek revenge. Justice will be served, if not in this life, then in judgment for those who are not covered by the grace of God through Jesus.
9) Pray that those Arabs and Muslims who are innocent of these attacks will not be blamed or physically harmed.
10) Pray for the return of peace, both in America and throughout all the nations.
11) Thank God for the people who will be DRAWN TO SEEK GOD’S FACE because the overwhelming nature of these events leaves them nowhere else to turn.

Our greatest weapon against fear is the sword of God’s Word through Prayer….Our response to evil should always be to confront it!

Raise your sword…take a Stand….and Fight!

Christmas Conquers Fear

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Everyone feels afraid at some point in their lives, whether it’s a gnawing, anxious feeling or a paralyzing phobia. Even positive changes, like a marriage or a promotion, can prompt feelings of fear.  Almost  every day I meet and pray with people who are afraid or anxious. Perhaps they fear failure or rejection, or concern for how others view them. Perhaps they fear losing a loved one, issues from their past, a lack of money, disease, pain, or even fears of Christmas.

Surprisingly enough, the very first Christmas was surrounded in fear. When an angel of the Lord first appeared before Mary, the angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”… Mary was greatly troubled(frightened) at his words…  But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.  You will conceive & give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great & will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”(Luke 1:28-33)

As the great angel of the Lord began to speak to her, Mary’s “fear” had to have been overwhelming! And yet, in his bold pronouncement of the forthcoming Savior, Mary’s fear was replaced almost immediately with “Joy”.  What a powerful hope was instilled by the angel’s proclamation. A promise of astounding and phenomenal “joy” !

When angels appeared before the shepherds proclaiming the birth of Christ, they too were afraid.  In fact the Bible says they were terrified. “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:8-11)

Following this pronouncement, a company of angels appeared praising God and rejoicing:

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

The shepherds “fear” quickly changed to great “joy” and exultation.

My very first memories of Christmas center on a fearful, defenseless young girl, hopeless and abused, helpless to change the horrible situations around her. For me Christmas was a season of enhanced fears, shattered dreams, and broken promises. By God’s grace, my grandfather’s prayers changed my life and instilled in me joy and hope, as he shared stories of Jesus’ birth and His unending love for me.

The Christmas story reminds us that Jesus came to remove all fear. In fact, “Fear not!” is the most repeated command in the Bible. Lloyd Ogilvie in his book Facing the Future without Fear stated that there are 366 “Fear nots” in the Bible, one for every day of the year, including Leap Year!  How like our Father to not want us to go a single day without hearing his word of comfort, “Fear not!”

For that reason, we must push ourselves beyond the worldly hustle and bustle of the season, and set our sights on the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas triumphs over fear; it vanquishes fear and defeats it for all time. With great “joy” we rejoice in our Savior, Jesus Christ, who protects us, delivers us and is our eternal hope.

What gift will you give Christ this Christmas season? How about one soul for the kingdom? Ask Him. Be expectant and go forth. Oh, that we would pray and seek a soul as arduously as we seek an item at a Christmas sale! I pray the Lord will encourage you to share His “joy” this Christmas season. Be intentional, be bold and share the gift of Christ. I thank the Lord for my grandfather who by God’s grace helped me conquer my fear with the “joy” of the Lord…

Go and do likewise!

“Fear Not” my friends ….“Joy” is here! Rejoice in Him and Share Him!

Merry Christmas one and all!

Learn of Me

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Recently the Lord really spoke to me about praying for our discipline in Him and the necessity of coming together in study with all diligence and prayer.
Jesus said, “Come unto Me, all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me” (Matthew 11:28-29,KJV). Christ tells us very plainly: “Do not attempt to take on a walk with Me until you are at rest in your soul!”

If you do not have full confidence in Christ, His yoke will not be easy or light. On the contrary, you will spend your time striving in the flesh to please Him. You will be tossed to and fro, living with unnecessary guilt and shame.

I believe the key to this verse lies in the words “learn of me.” Jesus is speaking here of the discipline of learning who He is and what He accomplished on the cross. He is saying, “You must have a knowledge of what I have done for you. Then, once your soul is at rest, you can take on My yoke. So, learn of Me!”
The word “learn” is written in a progressive tense, meaning on-going and continual. The inference is that we will never learn all there is to know of Christ, at least not on this earth, and that we can never study the word of God too much.
Financial investments are frequently lost, relationships are sometimes lost, but no investment in the Kingdom is ever lost…
Jesus says, Learn of me !    So I ask you friends, how can we ever say no to Him!

Speak To Your Mountains

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The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. (Revelation 6:14 NIV)
The fact that the entire sky receded or moved apart like a scroll and every mountain and island on the earth was moved from its normal positioning is both shocking and unbelievable in the natural realm. And yet, such is the awesome power of our God!

When I was a young woman in my twenties, I was continually sick with strep throat. In fact one year I had strep throat seven different times in seven months. At the time we were a struggling young couple with little income and no insurance. Spending money to go to the doctor was quite a sacrifice; groceries or medicine that was always the question. And now, frustratingly, here I was again with another case of strep throat. What to do? The doctor had recommended the removal of my tonsils some time ago, but lack of insurance had quickly ended that alternative. Frustrated I went to the bathroom mirror, opened my mouth widely, and peered inside. White pockets were visible on the right side of my throat and I noticed that swallowing was nearly unbearable. Not again I thought, as I sighed and sat down on the bed. Tears began to trickle down my cheeks and after a little while, seeking comfort, I pulled out my Bible and began to read. My eyes scanned the page and fell promptly on Mark 11:23 (KJV):

‘For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”

The words on the page seemed to pop out at me and I hastily read them over and over again. Everything happened so quickly that I didn’t have time to allow the doubts of the world to enter my mind or to listen to the doubts or concerns of others. I just dared to believe what the Word of God stated and what I had just read. I eagerly sat up in the center of my bed, Indian style at that, and began speaking aloud to God. I began to tell Him what I know He already knew:

“Father I have little to no money, a newborn baby, and I have had strep throat seven times in seven months. However, I know that You can heal me according to Your Word and I am asking you to heal me now by the power of your Spirit.”

I repeated the scripture, Mark 11:23, over and over again aloud, in belief and in desperation. Suddenly I felt a gentle nudge and realized that my body was falling back on the bed. A warm rush of heat flushed the right side of my throat and I knew instantly that I had been healed. I sat up quickly and ran to the bathroom mirror with my mouth opened wide. The white pockets that were lining my throat were gone! They had disappeared! I swallowed multiple times with no pain at all and then began rejoicing, weeping and praising the Lord.

Since receiving that special healing touch from God, I have never had strep throat again. In fact, I have even managed to keep my tonsils as well. That experience opened me to a new realm of belief that has allowed me to experience multiple healings throughout my life by the Spirit of God, for myself and for many others. God moved a mountain for me that day and I don’t know exactly all the reasons why. But this much I do know, God showed me His glory that day and He showed me that He is true to His Word and He wants us to dare to believe!

Many believers spend time praying to God about their mountain. They describe the mountain in full detail to God. They inform God of the exact dimensions of the mountain. They even cry and moan to God about what a hindrance or impossibility the mountain is in their life.

Some people use the “mountain” as an excuse for nonperformance in their Christian life. Other people make up doctrines and traditions about God, to justify why the mountain is still in their life. Repositioning mountains or islands on the earth as stated in Revelation 6:14; this is nothing for Our God. The creator who made the earth could certainly choose to relocate mountains or islands or any parts He chooses. His power is endless and His Word is always true! I believe that God is just waiting for us to come in His authority and to speak to the mountains in our own life and to tell them to be removed!
So speak to your Mountains my friends!

And Dare to Believe!