Recently, Pastor John Hagee did a very condensed message on preparing for hard times. The first six things mentioned were typical:
1)Have an alternative source of water--water barrels, etc.
2)Develop a deep pantry/ have a garden/ learn to cook
3)Have health and first aid kit
4)Have alternative heat source--Coleman camp stove, etc.
5)Have candles, flashlights, emergency radio, & generator for refrigerator
6)Form a church food co-op/ they can buy in bulk therefore cheaper
Then he said 7)Protect & expand your wealth--get good return on your investments. He went on to say gold will be outlawed [as it was done before] and paper money would be like monopoly money.
He explained: The only way to prosper today is to Invest in the Kingdom of God. All you have is what you have given to God; it is the only amount that qualifies to enter the prosperity covenant where God has promised to open Heaven and pour you out blessings you cannot contain.
He said givers give and gain using Luke 6:38, II Peter 3:7 and several more.
This I loved: When what you have in your hand is not enough to meet your need it is your seed money. [It should go to where you know the Spirit is working] When you release what's in your hand to God, God releases what's in His hand to you. What's in God's hand is much greater than what's in your hand. [30, 60, 100 fold]
There are 3 things you can do with your seed.
1)eat seed 2)feed cow, 3) plant it [only way to increase]
We rob God if we don't tithe, Malachi 3:9-10
God dares us to test Him, try Him
In Deut. 28 God will not let Satan bother you if you tithe.
He believes you can give your way to wealth.
However, God requires your firstfruit. It takes cold-blooded-naked-faith to tithe & give offerings when you do not have enough to pay all your bills.
Plant your seed before you can expect an increase.
We already do that and God has blessed us with "Enough and Leftovers" to share.
This encouraged me to continue and God will continue to bless.
Thanks for the companionship on this walk.
Jean
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
SONGS IN THE MORNING
Recently everyone of my scripture readings mentioned songs or singing praises. I absolutely love poetry and songs and choruses. However, my mind has no idea how to form any of these beautiful forms.
Nevertheless, lately in my morning praise/prayer time phrases would come to mind so I would jot them down. Then I would put together those that sounded like they went together. [My son, Bill would wear a paper sack over his head if he found out I wrote these.]
Here are a few of the better ones. [Honestly some are worse.]
In Your presence I fly
From the earth to the sky
I bow before Your throne og grace
And see my Jesus face to face.
Lord Jesus, give me eyes
to se the in-vis-i-ble
Lord Jesus, give me ears
to hear Your still small voice
And I will praise You
Worship You, Worship You.
Lord Jesus, Your fragrance flows around me.
Your presence always surrounds and calls me
To praise, worship and adore You.
The fragrance of Your presence
Is on me still.
May it draw others to follow
Your will
And may they worship You,
Worship You.
I praise You Jesus because I love You,
I love You because You first loved me.
O Lord, You are my God,
I will exalt you,
I will praise Your name,
For You have done wonderful things.
It doesn't matter what you've done,
Only believe in Jesus the Son.
Only believe He will forgive you,
Only believe He will save you,
He paid the penalty for your sin
So now you, child, may enter in,
If you only believe
Only believe.
You can see why Rod is not impressed at all and wanted to do them over. I told him the Lord was more forgiving. When I sing them with whatever notes come into my head at the time and with my early-morning-froggy-voice, He accepts them as praise.
Obviously He loves me.
Please come walk with me again. I promise to never sing these to you.
Jean
Nevertheless, lately in my morning praise/prayer time phrases would come to mind so I would jot them down. Then I would put together those that sounded like they went together. [My son, Bill would wear a paper sack over his head if he found out I wrote these.]
Here are a few of the better ones. [Honestly some are worse.]
In Your presence I fly
From the earth to the sky
I bow before Your throne og grace
And see my Jesus face to face.
Lord Jesus, give me eyes
to se the in-vis-i-ble
Lord Jesus, give me ears
to hear Your still small voice
And I will praise You
Worship You, Worship You.
Lord Jesus, Your fragrance flows around me.
Your presence always surrounds and calls me
To praise, worship and adore You.
The fragrance of Your presence
Is on me still.
May it draw others to follow
Your will
And may they worship You,
Worship You.
I praise You Jesus because I love You,
I love You because You first loved me.
O Lord, You are my God,
I will exalt you,
I will praise Your name,
For You have done wonderful things.
It doesn't matter what you've done,
Only believe in Jesus the Son.
Only believe He will forgive you,
Only believe He will save you,
He paid the penalty for your sin
So now you, child, may enter in,
If you only believe
Only believe.
You can see why Rod is not impressed at all and wanted to do them over. I told him the Lord was more forgiving. When I sing them with whatever notes come into my head at the time and with my early-morning-froggy-voice, He accepts them as praise.
Obviously He loves me.
Please come walk with me again. I promise to never sing these to you.
Jean
STRONGHOLDS
I'm sorry to have been so negligent about not coming for walks with you, but you have been on my mind and heart.
I've been reading lately about the devil having more activity because his time is short and trying to ruin Christian's reputation or life so others won't be attracted to Christ by our life. Recently I heard Dr. Ron Phillips from Abba's House speak on the subject of Christians having strongholds.
I had always thought strongholds were where non-Christians were controlled by a strong demon.
Pastor Ron's idea is that even a Christian can have a stronghold because it isn't a demon. It is a fortress of wrong thinking. But a demon will come and encourage you in your wrong thinking until he can take control. In other words, I can continually sin by overeating until I develop a stronghold in that area. If I continue a demon can come and control that stronghold, making it have an even larger control over me, giving me hunger pangs for even more things I should not eat. Finally it can become like a drug that I must have.
I have family and friends that have strongholds of drugs, sex sins, rage issues, etc. even though I know they have accepted Christ as Savior. They always feel defeated.
It isn't God's plan for His children to be defeated. He wants us to be free to follow Him.
This is real warfare down deep in the invisible realm where sinister forces stand flaming and fanatic against the rule of Christ. The only way to meet this demonic passion is with the power and passion of the Lord Jesus Christ and His shed blood. A passionless stand will not work here.
God has given us as Christians the ability to cast out strongholds by the authority of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by His blood shed for us. Also, God has said what we bind on earth, He will bind in Heaven and what we loose on earth, He will loose in Heaven. With those weapons we are ready to go to work.
First, we must confess the sin that has taken control of our life in some way. Second, we must thank Jesus for the work He has already done in our lives. Third, with the authority of the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and His blood that was shed for us, plus the power of Holy Spirit, bind whatever spirit has taken control of your stronghold. It doesn't matter whether it's fear, your health, drugs, rage, or the desire to be liked by everyone so are unwilling to correct your children.
Whatever it is, cast it out.
If you still do not feel in control of that area of your life, go through the process again. Some have to fast and pray to regain control where thay can put their life back under the control of Christ.
Remember it's unconfessed sin that gives permission for this problem to develop. So keep up-to-date with your confessions.
Then pray and claim the Mind of Christ to be in you. "Let this mind which was in Christ be in you."
Let's get rid of our house of wrong thinking and stay our minds on Christ.
See you next time.
I've been reading lately about the devil having more activity because his time is short and trying to ruin Christian's reputation or life so others won't be attracted to Christ by our life. Recently I heard Dr. Ron Phillips from Abba's House speak on the subject of Christians having strongholds.
I had always thought strongholds were where non-Christians were controlled by a strong demon.
Pastor Ron's idea is that even a Christian can have a stronghold because it isn't a demon. It is a fortress of wrong thinking. But a demon will come and encourage you in your wrong thinking until he can take control. In other words, I can continually sin by overeating until I develop a stronghold in that area. If I continue a demon can come and control that stronghold, making it have an even larger control over me, giving me hunger pangs for even more things I should not eat. Finally it can become like a drug that I must have.
I have family and friends that have strongholds of drugs, sex sins, rage issues, etc. even though I know they have accepted Christ as Savior. They always feel defeated.
It isn't God's plan for His children to be defeated. He wants us to be free to follow Him.
This is real warfare down deep in the invisible realm where sinister forces stand flaming and fanatic against the rule of Christ. The only way to meet this demonic passion is with the power and passion of the Lord Jesus Christ and His shed blood. A passionless stand will not work here.
God has given us as Christians the ability to cast out strongholds by the authority of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by His blood shed for us. Also, God has said what we bind on earth, He will bind in Heaven and what we loose on earth, He will loose in Heaven. With those weapons we are ready to go to work.
First, we must confess the sin that has taken control of our life in some way. Second, we must thank Jesus for the work He has already done in our lives. Third, with the authority of the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and His blood that was shed for us, plus the power of Holy Spirit, bind whatever spirit has taken control of your stronghold. It doesn't matter whether it's fear, your health, drugs, rage, or the desire to be liked by everyone so are unwilling to correct your children.
Whatever it is, cast it out.
If you still do not feel in control of that area of your life, go through the process again. Some have to fast and pray to regain control where thay can put their life back under the control of Christ.
Remember it's unconfessed sin that gives permission for this problem to develop. So keep up-to-date with your confessions.
Then pray and claim the Mind of Christ to be in you. "Let this mind which was in Christ be in you."
Let's get rid of our house of wrong thinking and stay our minds on Christ.
See you next time.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Peter Marshall
Lately it seems everything I read or listen to mentions people hearing God speak to them. There is an almost endless supply of stories about it. They are interesting and I love to hear about them. Others rarely tire of hearing them, even when they do not entirely believe them.
I think they capture the imagination and perhaps challenge people to investigate or research the subject of divine guidance and hearing God.
I recently re-read an account of a Scot named Peter Marshall, who in the middle of the twentieth century became one of America's most widely known and admired ministers. He brought the office of chaplain of the U.S. Senate to a higher level of prominance through his outstanding qualities as a man as well as a minister.
One night while he was still in Britain, he decided to take a shortcut across the moors in an area where there was a deep, deserted limestone quarry. It was a foggy, pitch-black night and he was plodding blindly forward.
Suddenly, an urgent voice called out, "Peter!" He stopped and answered: "Yes, who is it? What do you want?" There was no response.
He thought it had been his imagination so took a few more steps. The voice came again, even more urgently, "Peter!"
He stopped again and tried to see into the darkness, but he stumbled forward and fell to his knees. Putting down his hand to brace himself, he touched nothing but air. He felt around in a semi-circle and discovered he was right on the brink of the abandoned quarry, where one more step would certainly have killed him.
Brother Lawrence, "The Practice of The Presence of God" author wrote:
There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful
than that of a continual conversation with God.
Those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it;
yet I do not advise you to do it from that motive.
It is not pleasure which we ought to seek in this exercise;
but let us do it from a principle of love,
and because God would have us.
Hope you enjoyed the walk, Jean
I think they capture the imagination and perhaps challenge people to investigate or research the subject of divine guidance and hearing God.
I recently re-read an account of a Scot named Peter Marshall, who in the middle of the twentieth century became one of America's most widely known and admired ministers. He brought the office of chaplain of the U.S. Senate to a higher level of prominance through his outstanding qualities as a man as well as a minister.
One night while he was still in Britain, he decided to take a shortcut across the moors in an area where there was a deep, deserted limestone quarry. It was a foggy, pitch-black night and he was plodding blindly forward.
Suddenly, an urgent voice called out, "Peter!" He stopped and answered: "Yes, who is it? What do you want?" There was no response.
He thought it had been his imagination so took a few more steps. The voice came again, even more urgently, "Peter!"
He stopped again and tried to see into the darkness, but he stumbled forward and fell to his knees. Putting down his hand to brace himself, he touched nothing but air. He felt around in a semi-circle and discovered he was right on the brink of the abandoned quarry, where one more step would certainly have killed him.
Brother Lawrence, "The Practice of The Presence of God" author wrote:
There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful
than that of a continual conversation with God.
Those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it;
yet I do not advise you to do it from that motive.
It is not pleasure which we ought to seek in this exercise;
but let us do it from a principle of love,
and because God would have us.
Hope you enjoyed the walk, Jean
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