tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38081942464454812362024-03-13T05:29:02.607-07:00On the Potter's WheelUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-52474523040602644822014-03-21T10:37:00.001-07:002014-03-21T10:37:38.520-07:00What Are You Waiting For?<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Let
patience have its perfect work in you, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking
nothing.” James 1:4 (NKJV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Enduring a
situation patiently doesn’t seem to come naturally to us, but it is the way
that the Lord works on us and molds us into who He wants us to be. Waiting on
the Lord is not about sitting in one place, doing nothing. Waiting is active
because while you are waiting, God wants you to remain in faith. And we know
faith without works is dead. Our faith, even while we are waiting for direction
or clarity, must be put into action. If we are in a situation where it seems as
if there is absolutely nothing we can do or we have done everything we know to
do, we can always declare God’s Word. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God
and our faith is active when we are speaking forth God’s powerful Word.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just as God
spoke the universe into existence, we can speak our desires into existence. Of
course, our desires must line up with God’s will. We must speak what God says,
which is the highest and purest truth. When the enemy comes at us with lies, we
can combat those lies with God’s truth and cut those lies to pieces with the
sword of the Word.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So are
you in a season of waiting? <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b><br />
<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are
you believing for transition, promotion, abundance, financial freedom, a
spouse, a child? <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What are you
waiting for?! Speak what God says about your situation! Find a promise in God’s
Word and stand on it and declare it until you see your situation turn around!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will leave
you with some lyrics the Lord gave me last week during a worship service at
church:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Open your mouth<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let Him fill it<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Open your mouth<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Speak His Word/<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Open your mouth<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let Him fill it<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh, speak Him forth!<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Be blessed!</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-19447748340793999822014-03-11T10:20:00.004-07:002014-03-11T10:22:55.119-07:00Created for GREATNESS!<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the hardest things about living in this world as a
Christian is not letting your mind conform to the earthly/carnal/temporal
surroundings. The longer you are separated from Kingdom ways, which can be
found in the Word of God, the easier it is to begin to think and act like the
rest of the world who know so little of God’s ways. We become less and less
heavenly-minded and begin to lose our focus on the eternal life that awaits us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know that’s why Paul urges us in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Romans 12:2</b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to “not be CONFORMED
to this world, but be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind.” <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Word of God will transform our carnal way of thinking
that we are naturally born with, and once we are born again by receiving Jesus
as our Lord and Savior, we must continue our transformation process because we
aren’t “home” yet. Although we are citizens of heaven, we still have a
temporary residence here on earth and because of that we are subject to its
environment. We HAVE TO renew our mind daily with God’s Word.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve personally experienced instances where I have been
pulled into following society’s timeline or approval process, measuring the way
I lived my life with the world’s standards and regulations. One instance, in
particular, is measuring success or accomplishment by popularity and quantity
when using the finances, time, talent, or drive that the Lord has so graciously
given us to use on this earth. Often we use them to make sure we advance in
this life for ourselves, but God’s plan is to use them to bring Him glory and
reach people for His Kingdom. To the world, the more people hearing about the accomplishment,
the greater the success and the more difference your life just made by
contributing your gifts, time, or finances. The world is all about outward
appearance, how something looks on the outside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But the Lord looks at the heart. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1 Samuel 16:7<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If the world saw a story in the newspaper about a shepherd
that left 99 sheep to go after 1 that had gone astray, they would consider it absolutely
foolish! “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You could have lost even more!
Think of all of that business you could potentially lose!” </i>I hear<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Or what about King David (who was anointed the next King of
Israel and awaiting his throne) who faithfully served King Saul even when he
sought to kill him? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Honor his
authority?! That throne is rightfully yours! Tell King Saul to take a hike!”<o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Or how about a man from Nazareth who changed the entire
world forever with just twelve people who gave up their entire lives to follow
Him? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“You have HOW many followers on
Twitter…TWELVE?! LOL I have 6 MILLION…I’m WAY more influential than you!”<o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ok, the last example may be a stretch, but in today’s
culture, many people truly believe having 6 million followers on Twitter is the
epitome of success, “living the dream,” and truly “making it.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, I’m not saying that the Lord can’t use someone to
advance the Kingdom who has 6 million followers of Twitter, but why do we think
that He chooses to use that person over the one who only has twelve Twitter
followers (in the context of influence, of course)? My point is that we must
break ourselves free from the mindset that your life only matters when people
hear about your accomplishments or contributions to society. The world says “MORE,
MORE, MORE = GREAT, GREAT, GREAT.” But God is looking at the motive behind our
drive to be successful. Let’s face it, we all want to do something great. But I
have to ask:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">As Christians</i>, is</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> our success becoming about us, or are we
pointing others to Jesus?</span> </i></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are we using our life’s
accomplishments to make a difference in the world even if it just for one
person and your name isn’t in the headlines, on Billboards, on T-shirts, commercials,
the credits of the latest TV show or movie? <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are we ok with being
an “unknown?”</span> </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></em> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">John the Baptist began to lose disciples when Jesus came on
the scene, but John knew His purpose on this earth: to prepare the way for the
Lord’s coming; to point others straight to the King of Kings so that they can
enter the gate of Salvation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“More of Him and less of me,” John declared in John 3:30. This
should be our mindset too as we prepare for the Lord’s second coming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is our nature to be self-centered, to long for
recognition, to be applauded for our efforts, etc. Of course, there is nothing
wrong with wanting credit for a job well-done, but we should always remember
that “we are not our own. We’ve been bought with a price” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1 Corinthians 6:20</b>). Anything we do, we should always give the
credit and the glory to the One who gave us the ability to accomplish it and
want nothing more than for others to grow and mature into a strong, healthy
relationship with their Heavenly Father and Creator. He sees each life as
precious and doesn’t weigh one life more important than another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So to the stay-at-home mom raising those little ones, you
are doing great things! You are successful!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To the CEO of that multi-million dollar company, you are
doing great things! You are successful!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And to that youth pastor with a group of ten kids who you
minister to week in and week out, you are doing great things! You are
successful!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just REMEMBER, that success is to advance the Kingdom and
win others to Christ…one person at time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Give God the glory He deserves, not only with your words but
with your heart…He created you to do great things!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-41445152444686499912014-03-06T14:49:00.001-08:002014-03-06T15:18:45.368-08:00Chasing God's Dreams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://woodwardmark.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/dreams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://woodwardmark.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/dreams.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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It seems that I have been made more aware as of late of the amount of distractions from the things of God and confusion that the media is bombarding our society, specifically our youth. I know that these tactics by the media are nothing new, but as each year passes, it just seems to be ever increasing and less and less salt, light, and truth can be found in that arena of our American culture.<u></u><u></u></div>
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Last night, I was asked to teach children’s church on short notice just as my husband and I were headed out the door to make it to sound check for our midweek service at our church. There was no curriculum planned for the night, and our pastor ensured me that I could speak to the kids about truly anything that the Lord had placed upon my heart. For someone who sometimes needs structure or guidelines, this massive amount of flexibility flustered me a bit, but I trusted the Lord would speak to me if I just inclined my ear if even for a moment. On the way to church, the Lord dropped the topic of <i>dreams </i>in my heart and told me to focus on Jeremiah 29:11 to let the children know that He has big dreams for them that are always for good and to bring them hope and a bright future. As we sat “cross-cross applesauce” in a circle on the floor, I asked each child what they dreamed of becoming when they grew up. The boys wanted to be firefighters and policemen, of course, but I was amazed that each girl in the room didn't have aspirations like that to help others and make an impact in their sphere of influence. No, they didn't want to be teachers or nurses or even mothers (it seems that not many young girls long to be that anymore…); every single little girl told me that they wanted to be either a singer, dancer, or a celebrity. I didn't stomp on their dreams, just encouraged them that they can do anything they work hard to do, but my heart was truly heavy for them.<u></u><u></u></div>
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<i>Why was this response to be an entertainer or someone famous so common among the entire group of little girls</i>?<u></u><u></u></div>
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<i>Are we raising daughters to chase after approval, applause, and performance-based lifestyles?<u></u><u></u></i></div>
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<i>Are they beginning to sing “I live for the applause” in their hearts instead of “I live for the Lord” or even “I live to help others?”<u></u><u></u></i></div>
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<i>Do they dream of that fame and stardom because it gives them a sense of purpose or worth?<u></u><u></u></i></div>
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<i>Does the thought of the response of their fans make them feel appreciated and loved?<u></u><u></u></i></div>
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If that is the case, then we are in danger of raising an entire generation of women looking for their worth in the wrong place. They will never find it in the applause of their audience or in the thrill of using their talents for all to see with the spotlight soley on them and their amazing abilities that make everyone feel good. There is so much God has planned for our gifts than to make people feel good!<u></u><u></u></div>
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<i>Don’t they know that He formed them in their mother’s womb for a purpose bigger than themselves, bigger than anything the world can offer?<u></u><u></u></i></div>
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<b><i>“Before I shaped you in the womb,</i></b><b><i><br />I knew all about you.<br />Before you saw the light of day,<br />I had holy plans for you…”<br />Jeremiah 1:5 (The Message)<u></u><u></u></i></b></div>
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An opportunity to dream with God- to help Him achieve His ultimate Kingdom plan that all may come to know Him through His Son, Jesus Christ, and become a part of His loving family not only on earth, but eternally in heaven.<u></u><u></u></div>
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<i>So I ask you, how are you helping raise this generation to find their ultimate Kingdom purpose and find their worth in Jesus Christ alone so that they may receive the Father’s love?<u></u><u></u></i></div>
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I pray the Lord reveals to you how you can guide the young people He has placed around you. I also pray that the Lord would reveal your worth to you through His Word if you are also dealing with feeling valued or precious or are struggling with desires to seek approval from others thinking somehow the applause of men will fulfill you. You will only find your worth in God’s love. Nothing else will ever satisfy.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-27126124901440345102013-12-17T13:31:00.000-08:002013-12-18T04:46:54.731-08:00To Serve or Be Served? That is the Question!<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"</span><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ministry</span></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">" is from the Greek word <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">diakoneo</i></b>,<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">meaning</span><span class="st"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "to serve.” At my church, our pastors
believe that every member of God’s Church is a minister, so obviously that
would mean that every believer is called to serve- serve Jesus and serve His
Body. Jesus was the servant of all. In fact, He was the Servant King.</span> </span></span></div>
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<span class="st"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="woj"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For even the Son of Man did not come to be
served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.” Mark
10:45 (NKJV)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Jesus asks us as Christians
to lay our lives down continually, denying our wants and desires, or as the
Apostle Paul said to do, “die daily.” </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Do
we know how to do that?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It is human nature to seek
after what our hearts and flesh crave, but we do not have to give into that
kind of nature for we have a new nature in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit
empowers us to set aside our selfishness and learn how to be selfless like
Jesus, preferring others above ourselves. That kind of lifestyle starts in the
mind, in the way we think. Not only is the mind of Christ pure and wise, but it
is selfless. When we declare that we have the mind of Christ, we are declaring
that we can think selfless thoughts and our thoughts will then begin to affect
our words, which will in turn affect our actions, which will in turn affect our
behavior, which will in turn affect our character, which will in turn affect
our destiny. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Who
is God asking you to serve?</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">What
do you need to do to lay aside your selfish desires and put someone else’s life
before your own?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It isn’t easy, but it is
worth it because Jesus promises us that whoever loses his life will find it and
find it abundance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Minister to someone today
and find the kind of abundant and amazing life that you’ve always longed for
full of so much love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness,
and self-control- enough to both to give out and receive! True abundance! <o:p></o:p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-54967406418038122822013-12-17T07:46:00.000-08:002013-12-17T11:08:11.077-08:00The Call.<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As Christians, we are called to walk on this earth as Jesus
walked on this earth, and in an even greater way (see John 14:12). He came down
from heaven, wrapped Himself in humanity, and left His thrown to bring His
glory down so that all men may learn to walk as He did and help bring more
people into His Kingdom. He died on the cross, took the keys to death, hell,
and the grave, rose again, and ascended into heaven back to His thrown where is
making constant intercession for us as our High Priest. But He didn’t leave us
alone; He made sure that we had the same power that conquered the grave within
us and gave us the Holy Spirit to help us walk as He did. In addition to being
the Son of God, Jesus walked this earth as a Healer, as a Deliverer, as a Teacher,
as a Servant King, as a Priest, as a Shepherd, and as a great Friend to all. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we become born-again believers, we begin to feel a
stirring within us to love Jesus and love people like He did. We are able to
love because He first loved us, as 1 John 4:19 tells us in the Bible. In Him,
everything is possible because He is love and love never fails. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although I called upon the Lord Jesus as my personal Savior, acknowledging
that He died on the cross to wash away my sins, when I was 16, I have really
only been a serious and active born-again believer for the last five years of
my life. I have been through a tremendous transformation over the course of
those five years (you can learn more about that in my book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Vessel: From Marred to Honorable, </i>which will hopefully be
available in Winter 2014), and it was just within the last year that I truly
started to understand my purpose and calling and how the Lord wanted me to walk
out that purpose in the earth. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As believers, we all have the same calling, but many
different talents and gifts that we can use to walk out that calling. We are
all called to love the Lord God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength
and love others as we want to be loved, not so that they can feel all warm and
fuzzy inside, but so that they can meet the Man, Love Himself, face to face and
come into a relationship with the Father through Him. When we acknowledge what
Jesus did for us on the cross, He gives us the right to be called children of
God. That means you are a son or a daughter of the Most High God! God loves
family because He is the One who created it; He wants us all to be a part of
His family not only here on earth but in heaven for eternity. Our job as
Christians is to tell others about this awesome truth, even other Christians
who may not know! The earth is longing for the sons and daughters of God to be
revealed, meaning, we receive the revelation that we are God’s children and we
begin to take dominion and authority that the devil has tried so desperately to
completely steal from us! But He has already been defeated! Praise God!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now back to what I had mentioned before, we all have
different talents and gifts that God has given us to reach and draw people into
His Kingdom. That is where the creativity of the Creator comes into play. All
of us are completely unique in our personality, character, behavior, abilities,
finances, influence, etc. To try to copy and imitate anyone else is cheating
yourself of God’s awesome creativity to be activated in your life. Be who God
has created you to be and don’t try to put yourself in a box!</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With that said, I believe there are three ways we can fulfill
our calling and purpose to love God with our heart, mind, soul, and strength
and love others how we want to be loved:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Worship God<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Edify the
Body<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reach the
Lost<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Within those three ways that we fulfill our calling, we use
our unique personality, character, behavior, abilities, finances, influence,
etc exactly how God is asking us to. None of those three ways are more
important than the other. In other words, if God is asking you to fulfill the
call as a Pastor/Teacher, it doesn’t mean that He views how you grow the
Kingdom by edifying the Body more important than how a born-again business man reaches
the lost by telling his unsaved co-workers about how Jesus changed his life and
how Jesus will do the same for them. Or that God views a teenager reaching the
lost by leading a fellow student through the prayer of salvation more important
than a young couple edifying the Body by leading a Bible study at their college
and career discipleship group at their church. Whether saved or unsaved, you
are reaching people and drawing people closer (by Jesus being lifted up in our
own lives) into the Kingdom of God. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yet, we can’t reach anyone or draw anyone if we are not
worshipping God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Worship isn’t confined
to music and singing, or dancing, or painting, or the first 30 minutes of our
church services. Worship is a lifestyle of loving God by choosing to say “yes”
to God and “no” to our own selfish desires daily. Through acts of constant obedience,
we are giving God worth and valuing His will over our own. When we worship God,
He pours into us and then asks us to in turn pour out to others around us,
again, saved and unsaved alike. Every single soul is important to Father God
and He always desires more of us, whether we know Him and have been a Christian
for 50 years, 5 minutes, or do not know Him at all and still need to
acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Savior. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus didn’t tell us to go and make converts; He told us to go
and make disciples. If you are a Christian, and want to reach the lost, don’t
just stop at leading them through the prayer of salvation, continue ministering
until they are a part of the Body of Christ, in which they will continue to
grow closer into the Kingdom by being edified by possibly someone else who is
supposed to use their gift of teaching and encouragement to disciple and watch
them mature and grow into who God has created them to be in His family. And
please, don’t forget to live a life of constant worship through obedience to the
Father. He will pour into you, as you pour out. Live, move, and have your being
in that overflow.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-79329176750534706492013-12-16T07:52:00.002-08:002013-12-17T07:48:41.169-08:00Riding Waves<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A month has
passed since Paul and I experienced a pretty emotional and tragic event in our
lives. I chose not to disclose the information publically because we truly
wanted to heal privately, as many choose to do when they are going through a
difficult time. But it seems as if the whole experience is as fresh now as it
was 4 weeks ago and my heart is heavy for those who have had to endure such
sadness as we have recently. I process information and experiences by sharing
my heart through writing, so that is what I am deciding to do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We lost our
precious baby at just 6 weeks along in my pregnancy. I carried that child for
two weeks before ever knowing that the baby was with Jesus and not going to be
a part of our family here on earth. Our faith in Jesus Christ is what has been
our anchor through all of this. Having an eternal perspective definitely helps
you put one foot in front of the other when you are going through a storm. God’s
overwhelming love and amazing grace has overshadowed us and carried us. We have
felt His arms hold us close and we are thankful. We are also so grateful for the
prayers of so many friends and family who have continued to lift us up. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As someone
who doesn’t like to admit weaknesses, not out of pride, but because I
constantly declare Philippians 4:13 over my life, I have had a hard time
realizing that it is okay to grieve and it’s okay for grieving process to take
time. I have heard the grieving process described as “coming in waves” and I
can definitely attest to that. Grief becomes a danger when you allow those
waves to pull you under instead of rising above and riding those waves with the
grace and strength that the Lord pours out for us. Just because you have God’s
grace and strength to endure difficult times doesn’t mean you won’t ever have
to face sadness or grief. Just like all attacks from the enemy, the Lord gives
us the armor to withstand whatever is thrown at us, as well as a firm
foundation beneath our feet. Jesus promises us in John 16:33 that we will have
trouble in this world, but He also promises us that we are safe because He has
already overcame the world. Whatever you are facing has an expiration date. You
won’t have to live with that trouble forever; it cannot overtake you, unless
you let it. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So take
heart! Stand firm on the foundation of your Rock, Jesus Christ. Let nothing
shake you because you have been made an overcomer through Jesus’ victory on the
cross. Sadness and grief will come, sometimes like a tidal wave, but you have
an anchor of hope and His name is Jesus! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave you the power to walk on those waves
and He will not let you sink. Keep your eyes on Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am praying
for those who are going through a time of sadness and grief, especially around
this Christmas season. Lift your eyes up to the hills where your Help comes
from. </span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-27678184798057014012013-11-08T12:10:00.002-08:002013-12-17T07:51:46.009-08:00Sneak Peek to "The Vessel: My Process on the Potter's Wheel"<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Preface</span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the Bible,
specifically Revelation 12:11, it proclaims that the Accuser of the brethren,
Satan, has been “overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of [a people’s]
testimony.” This is a promise from God that boldly declares that Satan no
longer has power over those who believe. Through and because of Jesus’
sacrifice on the cross, we can live as overcomers. Most Christians grasp the
first part of this verse, but as a fallen people, most don’t want to be
reminded of a sinful past, let alone tell others about it. But it is the Blood
of Jesus AND our testimony that puts the enemy right where he belongs- under
our feet, and not the other way around! For the past three years, the Lord has
been stirring my heart to release the word of my testimony. The enemy has tried
to keep me in shame of my story and silence my voice for too long and I believe
with all that is within me that now is the time for me to testify for my Lord
Jesus! Every single story that tells of God’s marvelous transforming power in
our life deserves to be shared because He is forever worthy of all of the glory
that story brings!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am about to share
mine with you. In recounting my story, I have searched my heart, my memory, and
my journal the best that I can, and relied on the Holy Spirit to do the rest. I
have chosen to remain very open and honest as write the words in this book.
Although this is my personal story, many people have contributed to the events
that have taken place on my journey. I have avoided using names where doing so
might cause someone hurt or embarrassment and that is not my intention
whatsoever. My hope is that King Jesus would receive His glory and touch your
heart as you see a life delivered from the power of darkness and translated into
His Kingdom. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were many, many, many times when I tried
with all of my might to take the pen out of God’s hand to write out my own
story, but I am here today to tell you that there came a day when I surrendered
that pen and my whole life and gave it to the rightful owner, Jesus, the author
and finisher of my faith. The surrender of my own will and submission to the
Lord did not happen overnight. It was a process that I had to be willing to
endure no matter what the cost. There was so much in my heart that the Lord had
to pull out that He never intended for me to live with. As each page unfolds,
you will discover how God transformed me from hardened, marred clay stuck in a
deep pit of the filth of life and sin and molded me into a beautiful vessel of
honor for Him to flow through and use for His plan and glory. I boast of this
transformation not because I am good, but because He is! He redeemed my soul
and miraculously changed me from the inside out. I write all of this only to
tell you He will do it for you, if you just learn to yield your life to Him.
Surrender it all over to Him and let the great Potter mold you into a vessel
that seems best to Him!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-62941604619292867672013-07-26T13:08:00.004-07:002013-12-17T11:08:03.110-08:00Run YOUR Race...<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I'm feeling a stirring in my soul to lead worship in a way
that I haven't in quite some time, but I know </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">that every season has a specific time. There is a part of me
that longs to operate in the same authority </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had in previous years, but I know that I do not have to be
on a platform to operate in that kind of authority. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can worship freely with that same authority Jesus has
given me wherever I am.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And I do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is just something about being with a team of
passionate worshippers working together and flowing </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">in the Spirit with their hearts knit so tightly together.
There is such power in that kind of worship. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 or 3 gathered in Jesus' name and He is right there in the
midst of them. I have had the privilege to do </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">that for over a year at Church in Action on our worship team
as well on a team at GHOP since April </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">and it is has been amazing. Being able to lead a group and
the congregation is a privilege as well, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">but in such a different way. I cannot explain how alive I
feel when God uses me in this way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know that the Lord had to work on my heart over the last
year and it is always a work in progress. I</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> am eager for it to be the time for me to step into that
position once again. But as I know from </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">previous experience, I cannot and must not focus on a
position, but only His Presence. Although others </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">are continually standing in that position, I cannot look at
their assignment when I know the Lord </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">has told me to set my heart to follow through with the
assignment He has given me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Run the race set before YOU."<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Figuring out that assignment takes time with the Father to
hear His voice and to hear the still small voice </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">of the Holy Spirit leading and guiding you every step of the
way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some assignments are obvious just because of location and
placement. You know what to do because of where </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He has you during that season in your life:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">your job, your neighborhood, your church home, your place of
ministry, etc. Some location assignments are life-long </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">and some are only for a certain period of time and the Lord
will move you from one place to another to reach </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It requires time in God's Presence and time in His Word to
hear more specific instructions regarding </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">your assignment though. If you listen closely to the Holy
Spirit, He will guide your every step and every word </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">the Lord is asking you to speak to help advance the Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>THIS TAKES DISCIPLINE AND SELF DENIAL.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>"More of You and less of me" kind of mentality.
All the time.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>"Thy will be done" kind of mentality. All the
time.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Right now, my locations are laid out before me, yet my
assignments are unclear to me. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you are not taking the time out of your day to sit in
God's Presence or read His Word, your assignment </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">will remain unclear. And the enemy does not want you to be
aware of your assignment and wants you to remain </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">idle and inactive for the Kingdom. He will try to stop all
action that the Lord wants you to initiate </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">and try his absolute best to silence your voice.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is what has happened to believers. We either take
control of our own lives and proceed with our plans </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">and ignore the Lord's leading or we become drifters and do
not take action at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>"I'll go wherever the wind blows me and do whatever
makes me happy or feels right" mentality.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But we are called to be soldiers in the army of God with a
Kingdom assignment/mission that will push back the </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">forces of darkness! That requires action! That requires a
Kingdom mindset!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But the enemy will use all in his arsenal to keep us fixated
on ourselves. If he can get us to become self-absorbed, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">he can stop advancement of the Kingdom. The most important
thing we can do is cast all of our cares upon the Lord </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">and He will take care of the results. Our job is to pray and
obey His instructions. Our job is to be vessels for </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">the Lord to use to flow through to reach people. This
requires surrender of your will and complete humbleness </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">and obedience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But it is all worth it. Being in the middle of God's will
every moment you can, is so totally worth it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not only do I need to keep my eyes on the race set before
me, but what will keep me motivated is the prize…Jesus. It isn’t the
position…it isn’t the ministry…it isn’t the environment that my eyes need to be
fixated on. It is Jesus- the Prize at the end of the race which we are always
running towards.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And the enemy wants nothing more than to get you to focus on
anything BUT Jesus. He doesn’t want you to know that Jesus is the solution to
whatever you are struggling with. He doesn’t want you to know that Jesus is the
only One who can satisfy your hunger for wholeness. He wants you distracted,
confused, and constantly searching.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And do you know where you find Jesus? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Word.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus was the Word made flesh when He came to earth and He
STILL is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are you looking for Jesus? Are you looking for the Prize?
Can you see Him in front of you as you’re running your race?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you can’t, then maybe your eyes are not looking in the
right place. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are your eyes focused on the Word of God or are they focused
everywhere else but the Word? Make sure you know when your focus is. Keep your eyes on the Prize of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.</span></div>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Peace&Love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Emily Rose</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-64227519806842230952013-05-05T03:20:00.002-07:002013-12-17T07:49:43.413-08:00Long time no blog...I have been up since 3 am because I have trained my body over the last few days to only live on about 5 hours of sleep (against my will of course). So instead of just wrestling with trying to fall back asleep, I just gave in and decided to arise early and do a little reflecting, since I never seem to have enough hours in the day to do that anymore.<br />
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Well, much has occurred since my last post in February.<br />
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I have stood firm in regards to a lot of things that I had been believing for and really hadn't began to see anything manifest until April. Like a speaker I heard yesterday at a prayer conference said, <i>"God takes a really long time to do something really fast."</i><br />
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BUT, God is forever faithful to the end and desires for us to be as well. Jesus tells Peter in Luke 22:32 that he "<span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> [had]</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> prayed for [him] that [his] faith may not fail..." </span>And I believe that is a prayer that Jesus still to this day is declaring over all of us.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>All things are possible for those who believe, the Word tells us.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span> </div>
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Things have accelerated so quickly over these last few weeks and my faith has been activated in a way that it never had before. And all this time, as I have waited to see my promises come to fruition, God has taught me the value of trusting Him even when I don't understand everything and even when I don't feel like my prayers are being effective at all. </div>
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But every step of obedience has its rewards. For God IS a re-warder of those who DILIGENTLY seek Him. </div>
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<b><i>DILIGENTLY</i></b> in Hebrew is <i style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">ekzētéō</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"> (from </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1537.htm" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;">1537</a><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"> </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">/ek</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">, "</span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">out from</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"> and </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">to</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">" and </span><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/2212.htm" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;">2212</a><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"> </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">/zētéō</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">, "seek") – properly, seek </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">out</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">, emphasizing the </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">personal intent</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"> of the seeker, i.e. the </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">outcome intensely</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"> and personally desired by the seeker. This seeking is only as valuable (viable) as the motive which drives it. </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span class="accented" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">to seek out for oneself, beg, <b>crave</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
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So as I look back and see all that God has done for me over these last few months and even more so over these last few weeks, I am in utter amazement. I have been praying and believing that every area of my life would experience the new life that Spring brings because I had faced a very long winter season that had left me feeling so weighed down and utterly discouraged at times. But God is breathing upon that prayer and breathing upon those areas. I am seeing, with my own two eyes, the faithfulness of God unfold in my life: pre-approval for our first home loan (we didn't even think this would be financially possible for us for another year, but has made a way), the permission from the Lord and Paul to join a team at <a href="http://gatewayhop.org/" target="_blank">GHOP</a> (Gateway House of Prayer) as a singer there and being asked on a team right away (something I had been desiring to do for an entire year), leadership opportunities at our home church where we are operating in our gifts at new levels we never thought we possible, and finally, the biggest test of faith that I had been standing and believing to happen for about 2 1/2 years-a new job with better pay and health insurance benefits- and believing for about 5 years to one day happen- a job working at Joyce Meyer Ministries. And God has came through on all of them over the last month!!!</div>
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And all I can do is praise Him! All I can do is shout for joy because I know that my God is for me! </div>
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And I know that although some of my promises may be unfolding before me, that does not mean the enemy does not want to continue to attack my faith even in the midst of my victory. In fact, he has tried even harder to steal my joy and peace since I received breakthrough. He did not want me to enjoy this victory whatsoever. But guess what devil, I STILL GOT THE VICTORY! And even when I was waiting for the promises to manifest, I STILL HAD THE VICTORY! HA!</div>
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I believe that is why Paul urges us in Ephesians 6 to stand firm no matter what. That is the way we defend ourselves from the attacks of the enemy: we stand firm and guard ourselves from his fiery arrows with our mighty shield of faith in the knowledge that Jesus Christ conquered death, hell, and the grave for us! No matter what, we win if we don't quit! Praise the Lord!</div>
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So as I walk out these next few months ahead of me, I will continue to praise God for all that He has done for me and all that I know He will do for me in the future. That is real faith: "speaking what you are expecting, not what you are experiencing" (PDW).</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Walking by faith and not by sight.</span></b></div>
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I am so, so, SO thankful for this new season! Ready for the winds of refreshing to continue to blow over me and continue to encouragement my heart that new life has arrived. </div>
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And I end with this: know that God is no respecter of persons and if He has done all of this for me, He WILL do it for you. Just believe!</div>
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Peace&Love,</div>
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Emily </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-6548383299331412222013-02-27T14:43:00.001-08:002013-12-17T07:51:25.642-08:00Salt and Light<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Nqe6-JR-XQY" width="459"></iframe><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-56482637559868225752013-02-11T07:33:00.001-08:002013-12-17T07:53:41.421-08:00The Pitfalls of Comparison<br />
Here are my notes from my teaching on 2/10/2013 at CORE at Church in Action...<br />
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A few weeks ago, I was in prayer and was having a difficult time letting some thoughts go regarding the direction of my life. The enemy seems to flood your life with so many distractions that will cloud your mind, bring confusion, and cause you to question God or grow bitter towards others and mess with your love walk. For me, because of the way I was raised and also the environment I spent a majority of my life in (theater/acting/performance), I was so used to looking at other people's lives and measuring my life with their's. Whether to make myself feel better or give myself a goal to work towards. If you do not read the Word of God, this is how most people make decisions in life. They say, "Well, that's how so-and-so did it so that seems like a good plan." Or "So-and-so is just so successful in life, and seems to have everything they want. I will just follow what they did so I can have that kind of happiness and have those nice clothes, car, job, house, spouse, etc." Ulimately, you grow resentful towards others and envy starts to grow in your heart. Envy will cause you to look for reasons why you deserve what someone has.</div>
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But the problem with that mentality is this: COMPARISON EVENTUALLY LEADS TO UNGRATEFULNESS, WHICH EVENTUALLY LEADS TO SPIRITUAL DEATH (EMPTINESS OR A VOID IN YOUR HEART).<br />
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I've noticed over the last several years, Facebook, instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and pretty much any other social media outlet is a huge door to comparison. Your eyes begin to get fixated on earthly things instead of things of the Kingdom and God's plan for your life and this messes with your decision-making. In regards to material things, you are now spending money you don't have and are not just now trying to "keep up with the Jones'" but everyone in the entire world! People's lives are constantly on display and it is a great temptation for us to become disatified and unthankful for what God has given us. We're not happy. Not only that, but we aren't happy for one another. "Everyone is getting married, having babies, getting an education, getting a house, getting a raise, a new job, a new car, pursuing their dreams, making connections to further their job/ministry, traveling, wearing the latest fashions, making more money, going on vacation, losing weight, AND WHY NOT ME?! IT'S NOT FAIR...WHAH, WHAH, WHAH!" and list could go on and on and on...<br />
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The moment you take that step into comparing your life with someone else's is the moment you will find yourself in a deep, empty pit. You will never be satisfied in life if you walk down that path. The enemy will tempt you and lead you to the very same pit that he was cast down into when he began to compare himself to God (we will talk more about this later...)<br />
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COMPARISON-->ENVY/COVETOUSNESS-->PRIDE-->SELFISHNESS-->BITTERNESS-->UNGRATEFULNESS<br />
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COMPARISON LEADING TO ENVY/COVETOUSNESS<br />
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PROVERBS 14:30 (KJV)<br />
"A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rotteness of the bones."<br />
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SOUND in Hebrew is marpe= healing, remedy, calmness, wholesome, yielding<br />
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You can forget about living in peace or feeling complete or whole if you enter into the land of envy or covetousness.<br />
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JAMES 3:13-16 (NKJV)<br />
"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have the bitter envy and self-seeking (selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there."<br />
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That kind of wisdom (verse 15) is the mentality of the world and James calls it demonic. We are not children the dark (Satan/demonic), but are children of light!<br />
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EPHESIANS 5:8-11 (NKJV) tells us what we are supposed to do as children of light<br />
"For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."<br />
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Paul tells us also in Colossians about wisdom from above in Colossians:<br />
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:1-2)<br />
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He urges us to "put to death [our] members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walk when you lived in them." (Colossians 3:5-7)<br />
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When we were disobedient, we were "foolish, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another." Titus 3:3 (NKJV)<br />
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Going back to Colossians "Covetousness, which is idolatry...": You are worshiping what you don't have. Whether that is material things, a person, or a situation, that thing, situation, person, position is now placed above God and God's plan for your life. You have made that thing, situation, person, or position an idol in your life. And we know what the Bible says about idolatry from what was given to us in the 10 Commandments. You have left trusting God and if you don't trust God, you are walking in your own understanding, walking your own way, and you are in PRIDE. You become self-centered and concerned too much about yourself and your life.<br />
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PHILIPPIANS 2:3-6a (NKJV)<br />
"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus..."<br />
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When we walk in selflessness and humble ourselves, God will give us grace. Proverbs 3:34b<br />
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LUSTS OF THE FLESH (LIST OF MAJOR SINS (which ENVY is listed among them) THAT WILL KEEP US FROM INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD: READ GALATIANS 5:16-26<br />
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All sin is based in selfishness. "Selfishness hinders the full power of God operating in your life." -Pastor Rochelle West<br />
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SELFISHNESS= concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself : seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others<br />
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Selfishness triggers the law of sin and death to operate in your life. The only way the law one can overcome the law is by love, which imitating God, who is love (love does not envy...it is not self-seeking...)<br />
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Ephesians 5:1-2 (NKJV)<br />
"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."<br />
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This very act is the definition of selflessness and humbleness. And we are told to imitate this kind of love to our brothers and sisters.<br />
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Selfishness is rooted in fear as well-which is contaminated faith. Selfishness makes you bitter and ungrateful and you aren't operating in love at all. You are now completely disconnected from God. There is no way to please Him because all of those other sins comparison leads to have sucked the life out of your faith. (Hebrews 11:6) You are in danger of falling into a pit. The enemy has tempted you to fall straight down into a pit that he did when he was cast out of heaven.<br />
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READ EZEKIEL 28:12-19: a description of Lucifer/Satan<br />
verse 15: "you were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you."<br />
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<i>PERFECT</i> in Hebrew is tamim meaning without defect, blameless, without blemish, upright (righteous), with out spot, undefiled<br />
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Us- righteous,without blemish under the blood of Jesus=how God sees us<br />
2 Corinthians 5:21 "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."<br />
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The enemy did not get that chance to be washed clean of his iniquity:<br />
THE FALL OF LUCIFER<br />
ISAIAH 14:12-15<br />
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This is why the enemy has used the trap of comparison since the fall of man.<br />
GENESIS 3:4-5 "and you will be LIKE GOD."<br />
ISAIAH 14: 14 "I will be LIKE GOD."<br />
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The motive behind their disobedience was comparison which lead to covetousness which lead to pride, which lead to selfishness, which lead to ungratefulness for what God had already provided (all rooted in fear) which lead to spiritual death.<br />
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In fear? You're not in faith. Anything that is not of faith is sin. (Romans 14:23) The wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23) Spiritually, then eventually sometimes after disconnection from God and living as a son of disobedience, natural death.<br />
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When we compare ourselves with another, we are saying we would do a better job planning out our lives than our Creator, the Most High, acting like Satan who fell and caused Adam and Eve to fall. Whoa, that is a dangerous place to be!<br />
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We are all guilty of comparing our lives to someone else's life at one point or another. The only way out is to repent, plead the blood of Jesus over your life, and set your eyes on Jesus. The moment you compare your life with another, is the moment you have taken your eyes off of Jesus and you will sink. Keep your eyes on Jesus and His Word. Cling to Him, abide in Him, and you will remain full of love and nothing else can satisfy you. You won't want anything else than what He has for you. His promises for you will be more than enough. You will begin to trust God with all of your heart and lean on His understanding, not your own. When we do that, He will direct our paths and He will never lead us astray. Ultimately we've been given the choice of how to walk through life. We can choose to be thankful or ungrateful, selfish and bitter, or generous and loving. It is up to us. We can be like Paul when he said, "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content; I know how to be abased (live humbly), and I know how to abound (live in prosperity). Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:11-13)<br />
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Christ will strengthen you when the enemy comes at you with every distraction and temptation "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it (ENDURE!)." (1 Corinthian 10:13)<br />
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Focus on the Lord and His promises for your life. And when the enemy sends thoughts of comparison your way, just begin to praise God and thank Him for His faithfulness and all that He has given you. "Praise is the language of faith. Be thankful!" -Dr. Larry Lea The enemy will eventually leave you alone because he doesn't speak that kind of language. Resist him with your gratefulness to God and he has to flee from you! And if you do end up in a pit-remember, it isn't permanent. Praise will save you out of the Pit and Jesus will pick you up out of the Pit. God will use it all for your good and will turn your mess into a message!<br />
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TO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO OF THIS TEACHING, VISIT MY SOUNDCLOUD ACCOUNT.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-34662954292766537232013-01-28T05:54:00.000-08:002013-12-17T07:53:09.141-08:00Do You Know WHO'S You Are?<br />
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Here are my notes to the message I taught on 1/13/2013 at CORE...</div>
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The world seeks to find a label for you from the moment you
are born. Society wants to categorize you and put you into a box with everyone
else like you. But God has created you with His own hands and has called you to
NOT be like everyone else.</div>
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He told Jeremiah:</div>
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<span style="background: rgb(255, 254, 253); color: #001320; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before
you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the
nations." (Jeremiah 1:5, NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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SCHOOL:<span style="background: rgb(255, 254, 253); color: #001320; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Growing up, you are labeled as a daughter, a son, a brother
or a sister, the youngest child, the oldest child, the only child, or the baby.
All centered around being a part of a family, which is how God sees us, being a
part of His family. But once you are in school, for many of us, this is where
we step foot into the world’s system and the world’s categories. You are
labeled as your grade, or you are smart, advanced, dumb, slow or if you didn’t
go to public school, you have an entirely different category…home-schooled. And
everyone in public school thinks you’re weird. Once in high school, you are
then put into more categories regarding your personality and what you do:
athlete/jock, cheerleader, math-geek, drama geeks, band nerds, stoners,
partiers, rich kids, poor kids, etc.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
YOUR CAREER:</div>
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And on top of all of that, your entire time spent in the
education institution you are trying to figure out who you will be when you
grow up. Your whole life existence from that point is founded on one thing,
your career. And as we know, we are NOT our job position.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p> </div>
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<b>Those who try to find
their identity in what they do will always be searching for their ultimate
purpose and will never find fulfillment in life. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
WHY?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Because there is only one position that will ever give you a
sense of purpose.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<u>You are a child of God! You are His!<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<br /></div>
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When you receive Christ as your personal Lord and Savior,
you are then ADOPTED into the family of God. But many of us continue to look
for purpose on our walk with God, working to achieve His love, instead of just
trusting in it.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p> </div>
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John 1:12-13 (NKJV) says:</div>
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Speaking of Jesus, “But as many as received Him, to them He
gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who
were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man,
but of God.” </div>
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<br /></div>
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READ GALATIANS 3:26-4:1-7 </div>
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<br /></div>
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WE ARE HEIRS OF GOD!!!!! WE ARE ROYALTY!!!!</div>
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Our God is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and we are called
sons of God because of our FAITH IN CHRIST! </div>
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<br /></div>
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<u>ADOPTION in Greek “huiothesia”=adoption as sons, sonship;
in NT culture a son received greater inheritance and honor, but in Christ men
and women inherit equally.<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<br /></div>
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We must walk in the Spirit (which means praying, listening,
and remaining fully obedient to the Father at all times) to use our faith and
denounce any kind of worldly mentality which will only bring bondage (ROMANS 8:1-9;12-17).
</div>
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<br /></div>
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When we make a decision based upon our flesh, it is going to
eventually end in death because our flesh eventually dies. But if we make a
decision based upon God’s Spirit and in Jesus, it will be eternal because in
Jesus, there’s life eternally and NO CONDEMNATION.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>“…our acceptance with God has to do with nothing but
faith in Christ. God is very unimpressed with your performance, but He is
deeply impressed with Christ’s performance. When you put childlike faith in
Christ, Christ’s performance record is credited to you. Faith in Christ unlocks
the Father’s heart to you. When you believe on His beloved Son, the Father’s
heart explodes in affirmation and acceptance and delight-totally independently
of your diligence or lack thereof” (The Secrets of the <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Secret Place</st1:address></st1:street>, Bob Sorge). <o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<br /></div>
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READ MARK 1:9-11 (The Father was pleased with Him even before
He did one miracle or went to the cross. He sees our heart and sees the end
from the beginning). </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You find such freedom when you finally realize you can rest
in knowing that Jesus paid for your performance (AND YOU HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN)
and by accepting that, God sees you as His daughter or son. You are so loved by
the Father. Nothing will be able to change that. (ROMANS 8:38-39) He will
always love you, but He doesn’t always agree with the decisions you have made
in your life outside of His best (His will). That’s why we must seek Him for
direction, so we remain in His will.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we fully understand God’s love for us and that we BELONG
to Him as a daughter or a son, everything in us wants to love Him back with all
that we have. Suddenly we find ourselves longing to be with Him all the time
and be obedient to all that He asks of us. We long to sit at His feet and gaze
into His eyes and hear His voice. Our prayer life is not seen as a chore but as
a privilege. We are privileged to be a child of God in the earth and do His
will every day wherever He sends us. The earth is longing for us to reveal Him.
(ROMANS 8:18-19)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
THE SUFFERING CAN’T BE COMPARED</div>
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TO THE GLORY THAT’LL BE REVEALED</div>
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CREATION EAGERLY AWAITS AND GROANS</div>
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FOR THE SONS OF GOD TO BE REVEALED</div>
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ARISE, ARISE!</div>
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MAY THE SONS OF GOD ARISE!</div>
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ARISE, ARISE!</div>
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MAY GOD’S GLORY BE REVEALED</div>
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<br /></div>
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HABAKKUK 2:14 <span style="background: rgb(255, 254, 253); color: #001320; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">For the earth will be filled with the
knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. (NIV)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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We will reveal God’s glory by standing up as an army of the
sons and daughters of the Living God proclaiming His love for the whole world
and explaining how He sent Jesus to die for them-the gospel! How will they know
if we don’t fully grasp that we have been given the RIGHT to become the sons
and daughters of God? The harvest is great, but the laborers are few because
many don’t know that they don’t have to strive or work for their position as a
son or daughter of God. They just have to believe and walk in it. Father God,
through Jesus, would never give us a command to “go into all the world and
preach the gospel” and not give us help. HE DID! We have the Holy
Spirit…another amazing gift from above! (Luke 11:9-13)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So what are you believing for? What are you asking for? Are
you coming to the Father boldly as a son or daughter? Or do you still see God
as a dog-trainer somewhere up in heaven just waiting to punish you for your
wrong? Remember, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Step into your position NOW as a daughter or son of the Most High God. He’s
waiting for you with open arms ready to tell you how much He loves you and how
proud He is of you for running this race for Him. Running without time alone
with God is the work of a slave and we aren’t slaves, we are His children!
Knowing this will fuel you to go out and tell the world about Jesus! You are
His beloved child in whom He is well pleased. Trust in that. Trust in Jesus.
Trust in His love. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Peace&Love.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Emily</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-38135236675284159322012-11-18T17:40:00.001-08:002013-12-17T11:08:11.060-08:00The Lord has need of it...<span style="background-color: white;">Jesus told 2 of His disciples</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">: </span><br />
<br />
<span class="text Luke-19-30" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj">“Go into the village opposite <i>you,</i> where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring <i>it here.</i></span></span><span class="text Luke-19-31" id="en-NKJV-25763" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup><span class="woj">And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing <i>it?</i>’ thus you shall say to him, ‘<b>Because the Lord has need of it.</b>’” Luke 19:30-31</span></span><br />
<span class="text Luke-19-31" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><br /></span></span>
This passage in Luke came to my mind when I began to think of some opportunities that have begun to open up for me lately in regards to sharing my testimony and my faith in God with others. It seems like we always start to question God when He asks us to tell someone about Jesus or give an offering that seems too big for our faith or pray with someone who desperately needs it.<br />
<br />
He wants us to step out. To be bold for Him. He wants us to spread the gospel and tell others of His great love. And we shouldn't hesitate.<br />
<br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Why? </span></b></i><br />
<u><br /></u>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Because the Lord has need of us</u>. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
So my question to you is this...will you loose your voice, your time, your talent, your finances, your life (which really isn't your own anyway for "you were bought with a price" <i>1 Corinthians 6:20</i>) for the Lord?<br />
<br />
Because He needs it.<br />
<br />
Will you let His presence ride upon your shoulders into the streets wherever He asks you to go?<br />
<br />
The Lord has been speaking to me about releasing my testimony now more than ever and I believe He is asking many of you to do the same.<br />
<br />
He wants to use you for His glory.<br />
<br />
Will you share your story of how God has delivered you, healed you, saved you, protected you, blessed you, cleansed you, restored you??? (...and the list of course goes on and on because He is such a good God!)<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Why? </span></b></i><br />
<u><br /></u>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Because the Lord has need of us</u>. </span><br />
<br />
He needs us to point others to Him so that fellowship can be restored with the Father. Will you be a willing vessel for the Lord? Will you be carrier of His presence for all the world to see?<br />
<br />
What are you waiting for? God is counting on you to carry Him into the streets so that others may see His glory and encounter His love.<br />
<br />
Be bold. Be humble. Be a carrier of God's presence. Wherever you go.<br />
<br />
We have lots of work to do and He needs every one to do their part in spreading the good news that Jesus gave His life for them so that they may come back to their Heavenly Father without the stains of sin! They need to know that Jesus makes all things new! We were born for such a time as this! The fields are white...the harvest is ready!<br />
<br />
Be blessed!<br />
<br />
Peace&Love.<br />
Emily Rose<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-75458306362688589622012-11-06T16:29:00.002-08:002013-12-17T11:08:11.096-08:00Just not now...Those three words seem to be the words I have had to say quite a lot over these last several months. And I am not a fan of having to turn down opportunities, especially when they seem so right, so perfect.<br />
<br />
But the timing may not be...<br />
<br />
Sunday morning before church, I was reading Psalm 37 and I think the Lord was trying to prepare me for a decision I was going to have to make later that night...<br />
<br />
Psalm 37:4 (NKJV) tells us to:<br />
<span class="text Ps-37-4" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><br /></span>
<b><i><span class="text Ps-37-4" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><span style="background-color: white;">"</span><u style="background-color: orange;">Delight </u><span style="background-color: white;">yourself also in the </span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white;">,</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Ps-37-4" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">And He shall give you the desires of your heart."</span></i></b><br />
[<a href="http://www.blogger.com/(http://mbcpastoringlobe.wordpress.com/2008/05/22/delight-yourself-in-the-lord-%E2%80%93-psalm-374/)" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.71666717529297px;">The Hebrew word translated “delight” (</span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: '} '; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">עָנַג</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.71666717529297px;">, pronounced aw-nag) literally means to be delicate or feminine (Strong’s, </span><span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: '} '; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">עָנַג</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.71666717529297px;">.) It carries the idea of being pliable or sensitive. In this particular context, it means to be dependent upon God and to derive one’s pleasure from Him. </span></a>]<br />
<br />
When we read this verse, we usually picture the word delight meaning to enjoy God, which in a way it does. But as I went deeper researching the Hebrew meaning of the word, I realized the verse almost seemed to be a command to us.<br />
<br />
The Lord is trying to tell us that He will give us the desires of our heart once we FULLY DEPEND ON HIM AND HIS WAYS. When we have a full revelation of who God is and what His ways are like, we can take genuine pleasure in Him. Not because of what He can do for us, but just because of who He is.<br />
<br />
We see in Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV):<br />
<br />
<b><i><span class="text Isa-55-8" id="en-NKJV-18749" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Isa-55-8" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">Nor are your ways My ways,” says the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Isa-55-9" id="en-NKJV-18750" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">9 </sup>“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Isa-55-9" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">So are My ways higher than your ways,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Isa-55-9" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">And My thoughts than your thoughts."</span></i></b><br />
<b><span class="text Isa-55-9" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><br /></span></b>
When we understand this, or at least ATTEMPT to understand this statement from the Lord, we see that God's plans may be difficult to comprehend for us humans because they will always be higher than our's.<br />
<br />
So how do we walk through life when we have to be the ones making the decisions?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>TRUST</u> IN THE LORD. <u>WAIT</u> UPON THE LORD.</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><i><b><span style="background-color: #f9fdff;">"But those who </span><span style="background-color: orange;">trust</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff;"> in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)</span></b></i></span><br />
<i><b><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">"But they that </span><span style="background-color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">wait </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">upon the LORD shall renew </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">their</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">and</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></b></i>
And of course...<br />
<br />
<b><i><span class="text Prov-3-5" id="en-NKJV-16461" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">"Trust in the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> with all your heart,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Prov-3-5" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">And lean not on your own understanding;</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Prov-3-6" id="en-NKJV-16462" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">6 </sup>In all your ways acknowledge Him,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Prov-3-6" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">And He shall direct your paths." </span></i></b><br />
<span class="text Prov-3-6" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><b>(Proverbs 3:5-6; NKJV)</b></span><br />
<span class="text Prov-3-6" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Then the Lord really hit me with this one in Habakkuk:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span class="text Hab-2-3" id="en-NKJV-22752" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; position: relative;">"For the vision is yet for an appointed time;</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Hab-2-3" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; position: relative;">But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Hab-2-3" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; position: relative;">Though it tarries, wait for it;</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Hab-2-3" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; position: relative;">Because it will surely come,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Hab-2-3" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><i>It will not tarry." </i>(2:3 NKJV)</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span class="text Hab-2-3" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There are opportunities in your life that have yet to completely unfold and there are promises that the Lord has spoken to you that have yet to manifest, but before you give up or take matters into your own hands, trust and wait. The Bible says that God's promises are YES and AMEN (so be it). If whatever you're believing for, praying for, hoping for is supposed to happen. It will. In GOD'S TIMING. </div>
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You may find yourself saying, "just not now..." but know that the Lord has not forgotten about you. He knows exactly what He's doing. He holds your precious life in the palm of His hand and He won't let you fall. If you lean on Him and depend on His ways, You won't be able to help yourself finding delight in Him and the desires that He placed in your heart will unfold right before your very eyes. </div>
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He is ready to give them to you. All you gotta do is....WAIT. :)</div>
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Peace&Love.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Emily Rose</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-65547924283631901272012-10-10T13:26:00.003-07:002013-12-17T11:08:11.085-08:00Believing and TrustingBelieving in something seems to start in your head. You make your mind up to believe and that's that. But there comes a point when you let that belief settle down in your heart and it becomes stronger. It starts to go deeper and take root in your heart. You then begin to trust in that belief and it takes a lot more to break that trust because it has gripped your heart.<br />
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Believing in God and believing in His Word allows your mind to grasp it, but it can be a struggle every day. Paul wouldn't have called it a fight if it wouldn't be a daily battle to hold onto our ability to believe:</div>
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><i>"Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:12 (NLT)</i></span></div>
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This tells me that there is a struggle for our faith. If the enemy can take away our ability to believe in God's Word, then there is no way we will ever be able to trust God. </div>
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In Mark 9, a father had asked Jesus to deliver his little boy from a tormenting spirit. He proclaimed, <i>"I do believe; help my unbelief." (vs 24: ESV)</i></div>
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We can declare all day long that we believe God's Word and let that belief stay in our minds, but the enemy's easiest access into our lives is in our mind. He will try to distract you with thoughts and send other people to speak into our lives things that go against God's Word. We live in a fallen world (in which Satan is the god of) and we are going to come across something at least once a day that goes against God's Word (unless of course you become a shut-in and do not turn on your computer or TV or answer your phone). </div>
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That's why we have to CONSTANTLY stay in the Word. The Word purifies and cleanses our minds of all that junk that enters it by what we see and hear throughout our daily lives.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.05em;">Psalm 1</span></div>
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<div class="poetry" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;">
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<span class="text Ps-1-1" style="position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">1 </sup>Blessed is the one<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-13941A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-1" style="position: relative;">who does not walk<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-13941B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> in step with the wicked<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-13941C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup></span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-1-1" style="position: relative;">or stand in the way<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-13941D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup> that sinners take<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-13941E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-1" style="position: relative;">or sit<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-13941F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup> in the company of mockers,<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-13941G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup></span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-1-2" id="en-NIV-13942" style="position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">2 </sup>but whose delight<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-13942H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></sup> is in the law of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-13942I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-2" style="position: relative;">and <u>who meditates<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-13942J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></sup> on his law day and night.</u></span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-1-3" id="en-NIV-13943" style="position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">3 </sup>That person is like a tree<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-13943K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup> planted by streams<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-13943L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></sup> of water,<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-13943M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></sup></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-3" style="position: relative;">which yields its fruit<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-13943N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></sup> in season</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-1-3" style="position: relative;">and whose leaf<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-13943O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)"></sup> does not wither—</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-3" style="position: relative;">whatever they do prospers.</span></span></div>
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When we meditate on the Word day and night, our faith grows and takes root in our heart and we then begin to trust God. And like Psalm 1:3, we are like trees planted by streams of water. It takes a lot for a tree become uprooted, especially when it has been planted for many, many years. </div>
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<span class="hw" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">med·i·tate</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> </span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,0,0" height="21" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 1px;" width="13"><embed src="http://img.tfd.com/m/sound.swf" flashvars="sound_src=http://img.tfd.com/hm/mp3/M0194200.mp3" menu="false" width="13" height="21" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></object><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="pron" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(128, 158, 131); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">(m<img align="absbottom" src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/ebreve.gif" />d<img align="absbottom" src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/prime.gif" /><img align="absbottom" src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/ibreve.gif" />-t<img align="absbottom" src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/amacr.gif" />t<img align="absbottom" src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/lprime.gif" />)</span><br />
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<i>v.</i> <b>med·i·tat·ed</b>, <b>med·i·tat·ing</b>, <b>med·i·tates</b></div>
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<i>v.</i><i>tr.</i><br />
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<b>1. </b>To reflect on; contemplate.</div>
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<b>2. </b>To plan in the mind; intend </div>
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(thefreedictionary.com)</div>
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I want the Word to go so deep down in my heart that no matter what happens in life, my trust for God is never broken and my faith is never affected or decreased. We know that without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). The enemy will try to damage our faith and destroy any ounce of it we have, but keep reading the Word! Meditate on it. Let that belief take root in your heart and your faith will strengthen and grow such a strong foundation of trust towards God and His Word.</div>
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Meditate on the Word so much that it moves from your mind down into your heart. And remember to keep watch over that too! </div>
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><i>"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)</i></span></div>
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<b>Lord, help us learn how to trust You. Keep us hungry and thirsty for Your Word for it strengthens our faith and help us fight off the enemy's tactics. Thank You for never leaving us and always loving us even when we fail. You are forever faithful and forever good. In Jesus' name. Amen.</b></div>
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Peace&Love.</div>
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Emily</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-83757831024118674052012-10-03T08:33:00.002-07:002013-12-17T07:47:53.930-08:00Created to WorshipDid you know that everyone was created to worship?<br />
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YEP.<br />
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Worship is giving something or someone worth. It is what you devote your time, your devotion, your affection, your finances, your heart to. If you allow yourself to really reflect on this, you will know in your heart where all of those things in your life are going to.<br />
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If you worship anyone or anything besides God Almighty, the Bible calls those people or those things<i> idols</i>. And when it comes to God, He doesn't want you to give yourself away to anything or anyone but Him. He's not egotistical or prideful, He just loves us SO MUCH and wants us to see the world and people like He does. Worshiping God creates an atmosphere in our hearts that is conducive to letting God mold us into His image. It becomes a breeding ground for selfless love to be produced in us.<br />
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2 Samuel 16:7 says:<br />
<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><i>"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (NIV)</i></span><br />
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When we allow the Lord to mold us and change our hearts, we will be able to love others with the Father's love.<br />
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In prayer one day, the Lord dropped this song down into my heart:<br />
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<i>Cultivate the ground of my heart</i></div>
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<i>Til it yields a harvest of lasting fruit</i></div>
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<i>For Your purpose</i></div>
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<i>For Your plan...</i></div>
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<b>How does God cultivate the ground of your heart?</b></div>
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By worship.</div>
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By worshipping God Almighty and surrendering your life completely to Him. And worship is not just singing to the Lord (although that's important). It is denying yourself and saying "yes" to Him every single day of your life. From seeking Him in prayer or telling a stranger that God loves them by praying with them or giving them a hug, every "yes" to God is worship. When we love God with all that we are, our hearts can't help but overflow with His love for others. </div>
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So it is true. Worship IS a lifestyle. It is constantly telling God <i>"More of You and less of me." </i>EVERY DAY. And every time we obey God and say "yes" to Him, we give Him glory. We give Him worth because He sees us growing up and maturing. Every Father wants to see their children mature and succeed their love walk.</div>
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So who or what do you worship? Yourself? Your plans? Your job? Money? Nice clothes? Everything in this world will pass away, except for Love. Let God speak to your heart today and see if there are areas in your life that you are holding back from Him. The more we say "yes" to God, the more He can molds our hearts and they will overflow with His perfect Love. </div>
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Give God worth today. Even in the little things. :)</div>
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Peace&Love.</div>
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Emily</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-7111116381097185282012-09-05T18:30:00.002-07:002012-09-05T18:34:41.519-07:00The Blood SpeaksI thoroughly enjoy reading in the book of Hebrews. Tonight these few verses captivated my attention:<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to<b> the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.</b> See that you do not refuse Him who speaks." ~Hebrews 12:22-25 (NKJV)</span><br />
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Then my attention was brought to this verse in Genesis:<br />
<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">"The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! <b>Your brother's blood cries out to me</b> from the ground." ~Genesis 4:10 (NIV)</span><br />
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Then these lyrics popped into my head:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><b>NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD </b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><b>BY: MATT REDMAN</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><i>Your blood speaks a better word</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Than all the empty claims I've heard upon this earth</span></span></div>
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</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-center;"></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Speaks righteousness for me</span></span></div>
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</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-center;"></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">And stands in my defense</span></span></div>
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</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;"></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Jesus it's Your blood</span></span></div>
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I'm just saying, something went off in me when I read that scripture in Hebrews. I have read that passage many times before, but tonight verse 24 just gripped me and I couldn't stop meditating on it.</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">Jesus' blood speaks... </span></u></b></div>
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just as in Genesis 4 tells us that Abel's blood was heard crying out to God from the ground after Cain murdered him. </div>
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Jesus' blood speaks on our behalf. It stands in our defense. The Father not only SEES us covered in the blood of His Son, but He HEARS us in the blood of His Son. When we are covered in His blood, God hears the voice of our "Mediator" (vs 24). Our prayers and our cries are filtered through Christ's blood. God responds because of the powerful sound that Jesus' blood makes. When we are in Christ, the Father hears our every word and it is righteous to God because Jesus is our righteousness. </div>
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I will leave you with this tonight:</div>
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."~John 14:6 (ESV)</span></div>
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When we enter through Christ, God sees us and hears us every time and He is faithful to answer our prayer. Let Christ speak for you and do not refuse Him who speaks.</div>
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-80902198795742061282012-08-29T16:44:00.000-07:002013-12-17T11:08:11.100-08:00Refiner's Fire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHMfOcsRyc4z7uvqC6dpanIjD5dpaEYAKR5FLzgeyL6bbs7L3tMwezdAjMBoFZimHiqUCg6W5HdxoJ89V3aGvGSVmxs2c9eCDQCKxofxRb72r8rQqJCd5v2WHWA_xVseaH1cmI5a2ewk/s1600/new_bedike_088%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHMfOcsRyc4z7uvqC6dpanIjD5dpaEYAKR5FLzgeyL6bbs7L3tMwezdAjMBoFZimHiqUCg6W5HdxoJ89V3aGvGSVmxs2c9eCDQCKxofxRb72r8rQqJCd5v2WHWA_xVseaH1cmI5a2ewk/s320/new_bedike_088%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Refine me like gold.<br />
Purify me until I shine like the Son.<br />
Purge my heart of all that does not belong...all that doesn't look like You.<br />
Take me through the fire and consume me with Your love.<br />
Refine me like gold.<br />
Gold is a symbol of Your divine character.<br />
When I am refined like gold,<br />
I am shining with Your divine nature, Your glory.<br />
Pure and spotless<br />
without blemish<br />
Like Your Church<br />
Like Your Bride.<br />
You will return soon<br />
coming on clouds with fire<br />
Your Bride will meet You<br />
And we will reign with You forever.<br />
We must be refined individually<br />
as members of Your Body,<br />
Your Church, Your Bride first<br />
before we shine as a whole.<br />
So stir up a desire in all of us<br />
to be pure<br />
and spotless<br />
and holy<br />
like You.<br />
Refine us like gold.<br />
Cleanse us with Your Blood<br />
until we shine like You.<br />
<br />
(written on 8/6/2012)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-68046121881973387692012-04-18T11:08:00.004-07:002013-12-17T07:50:53.756-08:00Here I stand, Lord.<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">It's been an intense 2 months. A lot of transitions. A lot of pruning. A lot of growing.</span></span><br />
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When Paul and I decided to to step down at Wrecked and become more involved at Church in Action, we didn't know that the Lord would need us to dive in so quickly. But what I have been hearing consistently lately is "the harvest is great, but the laborers are few." God needs us to get serious and not waste a moment of time. </div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">I could move whenever a door opens, but that would not be wise at all. So I have been waiting on the Lord and trusting that He will position me exactly where He needs me. There can be no room for </span>comparison or questioning God's timing or ways. Who am I to question the Creator the Universe? I can read Job to see the rebuke he got from God when he did. No, <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">I must stand firm and boldly say, "Here I am, Lord. I will go, Lord. Lead me and I will follow."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">I am starting to understand the body of Christ more and more each day. As Jesus reveals more to me about His body and His bride, I begin to see my purpose more clearly as a member of it. I may not confidently know if I am a hand or a mouth, but I do know I am called to love and make disciples wherever I am, even if it doesn't look like I can in a medical office answering phone calls and verifying insurance benefits. He has me EXACTLY where He needs me. I don't need to know why. He's God (I am not), and He says so, that's why! Until He tells me to go, I must stay put and "work at it with all of my heart for the Lord" (Colossians 3:23). If God wanted me to move or to constantly travel from country to country, then He would tell me this and make a way for that to happen. I would know without a shadow of a doubt that I have been chosen to proclaim Christ to the nations as a traveling missionary. But He has not told me to. I have recently realized that my husband and I have been called to be a a part of the wallet for the body and this season is focusing on it now more than ever as we get closer to being out of debt. Praise God! We have jobs in the secular world to help propagate the gospel and send missionaries to places outside of St. Louis. </span></div>
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Although it doesn't seem as exciting, I know that I am doing MY PART to help fulfill the mission of advancing the Kingdom of God. I cannot wait for the day when I get to write checks to missionaries to take care of their financial pressures. I get even more excited when I think about meeting others' needs by feeding them, clothing them, and helping them get out of debt (my heart is for the student who has bought the lie that you HAVE TO GO TO COLLEGE EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR IT <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">TO STUDY SOMETHING YOU MAY NOT EVEN FIND A JOB DOING WHAT YOU STUDIED</span> and is strapped with thousands of dollars of debt before they are even 25). How can we advance the Kingdom if we are all in horrible debt? This is an epidemic in America and we are so blinded! This will be a part of our ministry, I know it. </div>
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Another part of our ministry that God has been revealing to us has to do with justice. I know that when you take a stand for something that is wrong, there will be 10 other people who want to tell you to shut up and sit down. Now when you bring God's name into it, sadly, there will be thousands more people who do not want you to speak up at all and will attack you. This is because the devil wants to silent us and take our authority by deceiving us into thinking we have none. He doesn't like it when light is shed upon the dark things he has worked so hard to create in our world. But we must shine bright! </div>
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<b><i>"<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16</span></i></b></div>
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I will shine bright for you God! </div>
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3 more days until JUSTICE PRAYER GATHERING and I can't wait to gather with a group of radical Christ followers to pray for our city, nation, and world. And as we speak, people are attacking it and me. But we must stand firm and be BOLD. In the end, it will all be worth it!!! </div>
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Peace&Love.</div>
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Emily </div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-63554265096511477212012-04-04T14:23:00.005-07:002012-04-04T15:29:03.838-07:00Unity and Love.<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, arial; font-size: small; text-align: left; ">The Lord really has been hitting me over the head with one topic that He has had me studying for the last few months. LOVE. Every sermon I hear (most times unexpectedly) and every scripture passage that I feel led to read has had something to do with love. Walking in love. Enduring difficult situations and transitions and remaining in love. The definition of love. I can't seem to study anything else. And I really don't want to.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; text-align: left; font-weight: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; text-align: left; font-weight: normal; "><span>I can't tell you how many times I have read 1 Corinthians 13, "The Love Chapter." And every </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">time I read it, I see love and God, who is Love, in a deeper way. Last night I received a greater revelation to this love walk that we Christians must endure.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; text-align: left; font-weight: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left; "><span><b><i>"[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, ENDURES all things..." 1 Corinthians 13:7 NKJV</i></b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; text-align: left; "><span><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; text-align: left; "><span>So if we are truly walking in love, we ENDURE through it. What if relationships begin to fall apart? What if people are spreading lies about you? What if the ones you care about disappoint you? What if those you care about hurt you? It doesn't matter. Love endures. Love stands firm through it all. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; text-align: left; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; text-align: left; "><span>And guess what? We must love ALL PEOPLE. No matter wh</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; text-align: left; "><span>at! </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; text-align: left; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left; "><span><i><b>"But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them." Luke 7:32 NKJV</b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left; "><span><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left; "><span>What if fellow believers are not living a righteous life? Is it our job to point out their flaws? NO! </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><b><i><span style="font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; ">"[Love]</span><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); text-align: justify; "><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs." 1 Corinthians 13:5 NIV</span></span></span></i></b></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><b><i><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); text-align: justify; "><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></span></i></b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); text-align: justify; "><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; ">So here is my ultimate question...why are we keeping a record of wrongs against The Church? I am so tired of hearing sermons and remarks about how screwed up The Church is from other believers. The Church is Christ's bride. He loves her unconditionally. He loves Her so much He died for Her and for others who He wants so badly to believe on Him and become a part of Her. If I was caught up in sin, my husband would be concerned, but would never stop loving me. And if he heard another bad-mouthing me, it would hurt his heart to hear it, but He would stand up for me. I can only imagine how Jesus feels about us bad-mouthing The Church, His bride and His body.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); text-align: justify; "><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); text-align: justify; "><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><b><i>"And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually." 1 Corinithians 12:26-27 NKJV</i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); text-align: justify; "><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); text-align: justify; "><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><b><i>"For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones." Ephesians 5:29-30 NKJV</i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); text-align: justify; "><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><div style="line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; "><span><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "></span></span></span></div></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); text-align: justify; "><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; ">When we speak ill of the body of Christ, we are speaking ill of Christ. He is the head and we are the body. He is a part of us and we are a part of Him. If we are members of the Church then why do we constantly point fingers and poke holes in the Church's behavior? I am not saying that there aren't flaws, I just choose to cover them in love and build up and not tear down because the Bible says to.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); text-align: justify; "><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><b><i><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); text-align: justify; "><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; ">"</span></span></span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8 NIV</span></i></b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); text-align: justify; "><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); text-align: justify; "><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; ">Last night at CIA, Pastor Rochelle brought a powerful message about the Lord's Supper and Pastor Darnell highlighted something that I never thought of before regarding this</span></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: justify; "><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); "><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><div style="line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; "><span><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "></span></span></span></div></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); text-align: justify; "><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "> verse:</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); text-align: justify; "><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); text-align: justify; "><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><b><i>"Take eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 1 Corinthians 11:24b</i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; text-align: left; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; text-align: left; "><span>We can take the words "remembrance" or "to remember" and break it a part into RE-MEMBER=to put something back together. To re-assemble. Pastor Rochelle and Darnell made it a point to let us know that every time we partake in the Lord's Supper, each member of the body of Christ is coming together in unity to form the body of Christ. We are "re-membering"</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: justify; "><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); "><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><div style="line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; "><span><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "></span></span></span></div></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; text-align: left; "><span> ourselves. In unity. In love.</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: justify; "><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); "><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><div style="line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; "><span><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "></span></span></span></div></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; text-align: left; "><span>I am reminded of this:</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; text-align: left; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; text-align: left; "><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: verdana, arial; font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-center; "><b> "I see your Church, all rising up in power</b></span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: verdana, arial; font-size: small; "><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span> </span>Laying down their lives in unity and love</b></span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: verdana, arial; font-size: small; "><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span> I hear the sound of every tribe and nation</b></span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: verdana, arial; font-size: small; "><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span> Giving glory to Jesus Christ the Son.."</b></span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: verdana, arial; font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span> (lyrics from the song "Do It Lord")</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: verdana, arial; font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: verdana, arial; font-size: small; ">Are we going to lay down our lives for one another (there is no greater love) or are we going to point fingers just as the Accuser wants us to as he dismembers us? We know together we are stronger! Are we going to choose to build up or tear down? Let us re-member a</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: verdana, arial; font-size: small; text-align: center; ">nd remember what the Lord did for us as He laid down His life for us so that we may have everlasting</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: verdana, arial; font-size: small; text-align: center; "> life forever with Him in heaven together. </span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: verdana, arial; font-size: small; text-align: center; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; text-align: justify; "><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); "><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><div style="line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; "><span><span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7yXxpQwdboT7zZIsbT8aEFQ2VirccPxCqWe40c0iAZK4yLDq9ACrryngrBXhDQkS-MVu63C2PW7dua-iN3CkM29yoLtU2jxXjQjDDX0257NTGXBqlV-H_RvuvoYmbRMaGcjLE-Mtknk/s320/botts_mural_completed.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727674950176504834" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 182px; " /><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; text-align: left; font-size: medium; "></div></span></span></span></div></span></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: verdana, arial; font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: verdana, arial; font-size: small; ">Be blessed.</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: verdana, arial; font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: verdana, arial; font-size: small; ">Peace&Love.</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: verdana, arial; font-size: small; ">Emily</span></div></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; text-align: left; "><span><br /></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-36626954869012543852012-03-14T18:43:00.001-07:002012-03-14T18:43:26.945-07:00<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhC8yCJQjnK2k9n9DMHUdudNZe0laBvR6gXIoeOlyWPxWIjNKjIsPuokVhiT7XBSuhThovFzvzrVFELHKAq1WGCA7tcN1uYFEh-kk64uaZFV7GHZtg5H3Dch-vQpNfPNF59bAKU7_924/s1600/justiceprayer.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhC8yCJQjnK2k9n9DMHUdudNZe0laBvR6gXIoeOlyWPxWIjNKjIsPuokVhiT7XBSuhThovFzvzrVFELHKAq1WGCA7tcN1uYFEh-kk64uaZFV7GHZtg5H3Dch-vQpNfPNF59bAKU7_924/s320/justiceprayer.jpg" /></a><br />
I have been asked to lead a prayer meeting at my new home church!<br />
Totally excited to see what God is gonna do when a bunch of radicals cry out for God's justice to reign!!!</div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-40419670719396649062012-03-07T11:52:00.003-08:002012-03-07T12:42:35.968-08:00Standing in AGREEMENT.<span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">These last few weeks can only be described in one word: battlefield.</span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">I have been pulled in so many directions emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. It seemed like everywhere I turned, something or someone was demanding more of me. I found myself disagreeing on more topics than agreeing. It seemed like I was ready to fight at the drop of a hat. In complete defense-mode, really. All I could see was chaos around me.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">I always thought I was a peace-maker. I never realized how passionate I can become if something I love is messed with. Whether a person I care deeply about or even the truth I stand for is attacked or tested...I get territorial. I begin to search for the truth to stand against the deception and lies. Whatever it takes, the truth will shine forth! </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">I realized very recently how much more I can accomplish when I begin to agree instead of disagree. Instead of pointing out what is wrong, I need to speak life over the situation to see how it can change for the better. If I am continuously looking at what is wrong with something instead of what it could look like if it was right, I would probably live without a lot less stress and frustrations and my relationships would remain strong.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; ">This kind of mind-set is really centered in <b>faith</b>. Cutting through all of the mess with words of <b>hope</b> that begin to change things.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div><i style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">"God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did..." <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>-Romans 4:17</i><br /><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; ">When life throws you a curve-ball, sometimes you swing, miss, or you get hit in the head. Instead of screaming at life or even the "curve-ball" for hurting us, why don't we pick up our bat, stand firm, and take another swing at the next pitch? We could stand firm and believe the next pitch will be different. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; ">The beautiful thing is, God gives us new "pitches" every day. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><i>"Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They [His mercies] are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness." <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>-Lamentations 3:22-23</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><i><br /></i></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">I want to stand firm on God's word and be in agreement with what it promises. As believers, we could stand in our </span>similarities<span style="font-size: 100%;"> instead of looking at our differences. We could stand in agreement of the scriptures instead of dispute and disagree. Even if we do not fully understand everything God is doing, we can all agree and know that God is good and God is faithful. </span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">I'm learning to read the scripture to find truth for myself and not to point out another brother or sister's flaws. </span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span >I must "<i>work out my OWN salvation with fear and trembling</i>" as Paul says in Philippians. </span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >It really is about speaking life or death. Building up one another instead of tearing down. </span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >I choose to agree from now on. </span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >And I hope you can stand and agree with me that GREAT IS GOD'S FAITHFULNESS!!!</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >Peace&Love.</span></div><div><span >Emily</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><i><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><i><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><i><br /></i></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-31560632992396595692012-03-04T12:28:00.003-08:002013-12-17T11:08:11.043-08:00Consumed by Your Love.<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 100%; ">You, Lord, are a consuming fire.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">A fire of Love.</div><div style="text-align: left;">A holy fire of Love.</div><div style="text-align: left;">And You are Love.</div><div style="text-align: left;">And Your Love casts out all fear and darkness.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Consume us with Your perfect Love.</div><div style="text-align: left;">We will never be perfect but we are clothed in the Perfect One.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Therefore, in Christ, we are able to reflect Your perfect Love to the world.</div><div style="text-align: left;">And we are able to receive strength through Jesus to walk in holiness.</div><div style="text-align: left;">But we need Your holy fire, that is Your Love, to consume us </div><div style="text-align: left;">so that all we know and all we are is Your love.</div><div style="text-align: left;">You ask us to be holy because you are holy.</div><div style="text-align: left;">We cannot reach holiness and purity on our own and in our own strengths or actions.</div><div style="text-align: left;">(We could never pray, fast, or read enough to achieve it)</div><div style="text-align: left;">We need Christ to cleanse us with His blood.</div><div style="text-align: left;">We are made holy and pure when we come washed in the blood of Jesus.</div><div style="text-align: left;">We repent and You cover our sins in the blood and You see Jesus-the Holy One.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Jesus, the Perfect One.</div><div style="text-align: left;">We please You with our faith in Christ and in the cross, not with our works alone.</div><div style="text-align: left;">We need faith to empower us to do great works for Your Kingdom.</div><div style="text-align: left;">But we can do NOTHING if we have not LOVE.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Faith will pass away.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Hope will fade.</div><div style="text-align: left;">But Love will never fail.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Your Love Remains.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Consume us by Your unfailing Love.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-17297255546321445742012-03-03T17:47:00.000-08:002013-12-17T11:08:11.023-08:00First Time for Everything!<span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">Dated: March 5th</span></span><div><div class="article-content entry-content" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: auto; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; clear: both; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">I taught last night at Wrecked Ministries for the first time ever. Not just the first time at Wrecked, but I mean, first time EVER. Can I tell you...it was intimidating! I had been studying for a little over a week, but it really was a topic that has been on my heart for a long time.<br /><br />I have to admit that it was nothing like leading worship, but still oh so awesome to feel God using your voice to speak to His people. I was on such a high right after worship that it made the transition into speaking a little easier for me. Worship leaders: that's why it is SO important for you to understand the weight that your worship set helps carry...you are stirring up an atmosphere for The Holy Spirit to continue to move and not only speak through the teacher, but speak to the hearts' of the people. I'm so grateful and thankful for the band for their commitment during worship last night (and every night)! You guys were amazing at allowing God to use you all in such a mighty, powerful way that helped prepare my heart to speak and the congregations' hearts to receive! Thank you! :)<br /><br />It was an intimate group last night, but I truly believe those who were supposed to be there were. I had a young girl, who had never been to a Wrecked gathering before, come up to me after the message and let me know that God spoke to her heart about His plan for her life. She had confirmation come and there is no greater feeling in the world than to know that The Holy Spirit used you to get a word to one of the Father's children! God is so good!!!<br /><br />I don't want to promote myself in any way, shape, or form but only point those straight to Jesus. HE deserves all the blessing, honor, and glory! I just wanted to share with you something that God put on my heart to speak to His kids about. If you are having difficulty dealing with moving on from your past into a life full of God's best for you, the message I spoke last night may be for your heart. You can click on this link and it will take you straight to our recorded live stream from last night. May God bless your heart today!<br /><br /><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: center; "><a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/13093518" style="color: rgb(179, 143, 0); outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition-property: color; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.3s; -webkit-transition-timing-function: initial; -webkit-transition-delay: initial; display: inline; ">http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/13093518</a></div><br /><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; ">"All I want is You to have Your way</span></b></div><b></b><br /><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; ">You are the Potter and I am the clay</span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; "><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; ">All I need is You to have Your way</span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; ">You are Creator and I'm what You've made</span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: center; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></div></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; ">Finally I Surrender</span></b></div><br /><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: x-large; text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; "><b>You are God, I am man, You are sovereign!"</b></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">-Misty Edwards <i>Finally I Surrender</i></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; "><i><br /></i></span><br /><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; "><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; ">Have a blessed weekend!</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; ">Emily</span></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808194246445481236.post-19525106168744937632012-03-03T17:46:00.000-08:002012-03-03T17:47:09.253-08:00understanding your callDated: April 14th, 2011<div><br /></div><div><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has called me to lead His people in worship. But if we are not careful, we can put too much focus on our calling and not enough on Him. In every aspect of life we have priorities and choices. But we must ALWAYS choose to seek Him first in all that we do. Even if our calling involves being in ministry for Him. His face needs to be the most important prize we seek, not approval from leadership or your mentors. It is His face that you should long for. </span><br style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">We must be seekers first, then our calling may follow. </span><br style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">This has been on my heart more than ever lately and I'm trying my best to live a life of worship both in the secret place and in public. </span><br style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">I pray that for each of your lives as well. May you hunger after His eyes and His affection in the secret place. May you come to know Him on such an intimate level that your calling becomes your way of life and not just your constant focus. </span><br style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Focus on His face. It is worth it. </span><br style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Peace & Love, </span><br style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Emily</span> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0