What You Say?

 Happy Sunday!

"The only words that have power in your life are the ones you believe!" - Barry Bennett

Take a moment to read that quote again. I'll wait!  I heard the story of a man whose father always berated him.  They were mechanics, and cannibalized old cars for parts.  His father would tell him, "You are so stupid, you can't even screw a nut on a bolt without cross threading it!"  He believed the "Words" his father spoke over him and years later he would still get nervous about doing this simple task.  Words matter.  Faith people are often criticized for "Naming It and Claiming It", but EITHER way you will have what you say!  You will also have what you believe.

Jesus said, "The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don’t make anything happen. Every WORD I’ve spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making."(John 6:63 Message).  Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."(KJV).  Don't miss this!  Your Life, and Your Death are in the power of Your Tongue!  What are you speaking?  Are you saying, "My employer has started the lay-offs, I will probably be the first one to go"?  Or are you saying what God said through the Apostle Paul in the Bible, "My God will supply all that you need from his glorious resources in Christ Jesus."(Philippians 4:19 Phillips).

Are you saying, "It's Hay Fever Season, I always suffer during this time of year"?  Or are you saying, "He personally carried the load of our sins in his own body when he died on the cross so that we can be finished with sin and live a good life from now on. For his wounds have HEALED ours!"(1 Peter 2:24 Living Bible).  

Matthew 12:35 says, "Those who are good have good things saved in their hearts. That’s why they SAY good things. But those who are evil have hearts full of evil, and that’s why they SAY things that are evil."(Easy-to-Read Version).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

What Do You Desire?

Happy Sunday!

Psalm 37:4 says, "Do what the Lord wants, and he will give you your heart's desire."(CEV).

Dr. Bill Winston once said, "What you don't DESIRE, you don't deserve!"  Let that sink in for a moment.  Read it again if you need to!  I know a few indecisive people.  Maybe you do too.  You take them to a restaurant and it takes forever for them to decide what they want.  I, on the other hand, have certain favorites at most of my regularly visited eateries.  I laugh with my daughters any time we enter a Drive-Thru.  I expect you to have your desired items identified and ready by the time I get to the speaker to order.  If you can't make up your mind, the next time you will go inside to order!

The Word of God tells us if we delight ourselves in the Lord He will give us the desires of our heart.  Sure, He can read our minds.  Psalm 94:11 says, "The Lord knows what people are thinking.  He knows that their thoughts are like a puff of wind."(Easy-to-Read Version).  BUT he wants us to be clear about what we want.  Jesus said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."(Matthew 7:7-8 KJV).

The Widow in 2 Kings 4:1-7 came to the Prophet for help.  Her husband died and she was left in debt.  Her sons were going to be taken into slavery to pay the debt.  The Prophet asked her what she had in the house.  You know the story.  All she had was a little jar of oil.  She desired to be out of debt, and she desired to keep her sons free.  She was willing to LISTEN and OBEY the instructions of the prophet.  He told her to borrow as many vessels as she could from her neighbors, close the door behind her, and pour oil in the vessels.  Miraculously, the little jar of oil filled every vessel until the last vessel was full.  Then the Prophet instructed her to sell the oil, pay her debts, and LIVE off the rest!

What do you Desire?  Jesus often asked people what did they desire or want before he healed them.  For example, in Mark 10:51, "Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man answered, “Master, I want to see!”(CEV).  I used to attend Prayer Band meetings with my Mother-in-Law, Minnie Pruitt.  We would sing a catchy song.  It said, "Any way you bless me Lord, I'll be satisfied!"  Sounded right, but it's full of unbelief!  We are very blessed in the USA, but we are not always satisfied.   God cares enough about you to give you what you desire. He doesn't force you to accept what I desire.  You are unique.  You are designed by God.  You may look like other people, but you are not them.  You are You.

Mark 11:24 says, "So listen to what I’m saying: Whatever you pray for or ask from God, believe that you’ll receive it and you will."(Voice).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Our God

 Happy Sunday!

"The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways."(Deuteronomy 28:7 KJV).

Do you have any enemies?  Anything or anyone that has set themselves against your life, health or strength? Well, I've got GOOD NEWS!  God promised that our enemies will be "smitten" right before your eyes! Smitten can be defined as "a sudden, quick, decisive, fatal blow with the intent to utterly conquer or destroy"!  Don't miss this! Our enemies haven't got a chance!  Even the Apostle James encouraged us, "So give yourselves humbly to God. Resist the devil and he will FLEE from you".(James 4:17 Living Bible).

The Seven Redemptive Names of God provide total victory for us against the seven enemies that we all face!  Reminding ourselves of these names and attributes of our God will give us strength in times of adversity.

Jehovah-Jireh    -  God Our Provider

Genesis 22:13-14

Defeated the enemy of Poverty and Lack

Jehovah-Rapha   -  God Our Healer

Exodus 15:26

Defeated the enemy of Sickness and Disease

Jehovah-Nissi      -  God Our Banner or Victory

Exodus 17:14-15

Cancels the enemy of Defeat and Failure

Jehovah-Shalom   -  God Our Peace

Judges 6:24

Defeated the enemy of Worry and Care

Jehovah-Ra-ah     -  God Our Shepherd

Psalm 23

Cancels the enemy of Confusion

Jehovah-Tsidkenu    -  God Our Righteousness 

Jeremiah 4:2,  Hebrews 2:14-15

Defeated the enemy of Condemnation and Shame

Jehovah-Shammah   -  Our God Is Here

Ezekiel 48:35, Isaiah 41:10-12

Cancels the enemy of Fear

God gave Jesus for us, and Jesus paid the full price for our freedom, liberty, prosperity, healing, and peace.  Are you enjoying the Benefits?

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Resurrection Daily

 Happy Resurrection Sunday!

"To put it another way: if we have been united with Him to share in a death like His, don’t you understand that we will also share in His resurrection?"(Romans 6:5 Voice).

Don't miss this!  We get to share in His Resurrection!  Not just once a year on Easter, but everyday!  The Apostle Paul said it like this, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the LIFE which I now LIVE in the flesh I live by the FAITH of the Son of God, who LOVED me, and gave himself for me."(Galatians 2:20 KJV). This means we can experience resurrection life in every area of our lives every day!

Jesus didn't die for a one day celebration.  His sacrifice paid for our abundant daily life.  He's concerned about every thing that concerns you.  Philippians 1:6 says, "There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears."(Message).  Do you need healing?  Do you need peace?  Do you need money?  Do you need sleep?  God through Jesus has even provided peaceful sleep.  Psalm 127:2 says, "It is senseless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, fearing you will starve to death; for God wants his loved ones to get their proper rest."(Living Bible). 

1 John 5:14-15 says, "We can come to God with no doubts. This means that when we ask God for things (and those things agree with what God wants for us), God cares about what we say.  He listens to us every time we ask him. So we know that he gives us whatever we ask from him."(Easy-to-Read Version).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

‘‘Tis So Sweet

 Happy Sunday!

"In face of all this, what is there left to say? If God is for us, who can be against us? He that did not hesitate to spare his own Son but gave him up for us all—can we not TRUST such a God to give us, with him, everything else that we can need?"(Romans 8:32 Phillips).

I love the song, "’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus"!  Are you familiar with it?  The lyrics are, "'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His Word, Just to rest upon His promise, Just to know, "Thus saith the Lord".  Don't miss this!  Trusting God means trusting his Word!  It's like getting a certified letter from the IRS.  You can basically trust that its legitimate and requires immediate attention.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."(KJV).

What scripture are you standing on?  I remember when 2 Corinthians 9:8 first exploded in my spirit.  Pastor Loren Burris was ministering in Cahokia, IL.  I've read and studied the Bible but that day this scripture came alive to me.  I literally said to myself, "Is that in there? Is this true?"  It says, "God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others."(CEV).  At that moment, I was a financial mess.  You know "living just enough for the city". LOL!  But that scripture gave me hope.  I began to quote it and now without any effort I have everything I need and more than enough to give to others!

The Bible is God's Love Letter to you.  He loves you more than anyone one else can.  He's concerned about you!  He wants the best for you!  BUT he won't force it on you, and you have a part to play.  Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."(KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Do Good

Happy Sunday!

"So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us DO GOOD to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers)."(Galatians 6:10 Amplified).

Opportunity is defined as, "a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something".  The Apostle Paul encouraged Believers to be alert always looking for ways to be a blessing!  It's exactly what God told Abram, "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt BE A BLESSING:"(Genesis 12:2 KJV).

Ephesians 5:1-2 says, "Watch what God does, and then you DO IT, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is LOVE you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that."(Message).

  

Love and prayers, Cynthia