Psalm 119:49 – Remember your word to your servant by which you caused me to…
Today’s breath of life is your reminder no matter how dark it seems you still have a road out of your situation. Remember though, you can’t see what you’re not looking for. Continue reading
Based on Spurgeon’s Morning Devotion 7-3-2015:
“The ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven wellfavoured and fat kine.”
Genesis 41:4
Pharaoh’s dream has too often been my waking experience. My days of sloth have ruinously destroyed all that I had achieved in times of zealous industry; my seasons of coldness have frozen all the genial glow of my periods of fervency and enthusiasm; and my fits of worldliness have thrown me back from my advances in the divine life. I had need to beware of lean prayers, lean praises, lean duties, and lean experiences, for these will eat up the fat of my comfort and peace. If I neglect prayer for never so short a time, I lose all the spirituality to which I had attained; if I draw no fresh supplies from heaven, the old corn in my granary is soon consumed by the famine which rages in my soul. When the caterpillars of indifference, the cankerworms of worldliness, and the palmerworms of self-indulgence, lay my heart completely desolate, and make my soul to languish, all my former fruitfulness and growth in grace avails me nothing whatever. How anxious should I be to have no lean-fleshed days, no ill-favoured hours!
This message offers a most powerful indictment of the tends (tendencies) and chords that draw us away from task. While rest is an absolute necessity, how careful are we to watch for the leanness creeping in the guise of a blessed moment of peace? Appearing in the form of a blessing yet there is a startling difference and a dangerous persistence embedding itself.
In the passage there are two cows, both at work, but an important difference the lean worked to devour the fat. As Spurgeon espoused and the word informs of our leanness, slight indifference, our neglect even in the guise of rest – it works to devour all that is accomplished in his name while we traverse the lands of Egypt. Whether you fare as sumptuously as Joseph or as trodden as a slave.
While we’re here God is sustaining us. Yes you’ve been washed and reborn – regenerated into the promised land of Zion yet until the physical day you set foot in Canaan there is a vigilance to educate, to nourish the body as we share learn and discover the elements of faith. There is a vigilance that we need to go often to the well, to the rock – to the Word of God that it may always be as He said. My soul, Psalm 63:5 (HCSB) You satisfy me as with rich food ; my mouth will praise You with joyful lips.
Let us remember today and always the lesson of the dream and the dream itself.
God speaks that we may understand and DO! The dream doesn’t change situations it’s up to you to heed its thoughts and follow through.
2014, I will confess, was full of labors. Everyday tasks with lifetimes of implications, if I were to minister to yesterday’s issues – 2014 was a work. Yet hearing and receiving in faith, I speak it today. The first breaths of a new year – Celebrate! Beyond the revelry and parties rejoice! I rejoice as in seeing the first blades of grass. The seed, the sweat, the stirrings and turmoil – 2015 has arrived and brings with it a booming harvest. Initiatives sown have taken root and now we’re seeing the first shoots of what’s to come. CN Life is bearing fruit.
The fruit of faith and perseverance; the dedication even wavering and questions – the choice to sow seeds is ready and producing a harvest. As we walk into a new year, you walk with us. We walk in agreement, in the power of faith. Today we celebrate!
Beyond Happy New Year, I speak and concur, with the blessing God has spoken over all life. Be Fruitful and Multiply!
Not merely addition, but swelling for the flight. I challenge you to take your faith and subdue the jungles that have not heard the word in your life. Produce!
Bear Fruit! Today is the first moments of an opportunity to see the hint of what God has promised and delivered. You will have the good of the land. The Good of the land is yours. Forgetting past ways, what do you choose to do with it today?
Receive the blessing of CN Life and Me personally in Faith! Be fruitful and watch God multiply!
It’s not always pretty. In fact in the words of Pastor Mankins: Get “Ugly” For Jesus
Check Out the New Book – Embrace of Faith – http://amzn.to/10LTVMz
The message brought about an intriguing thought, one I’ve had for some time. David praised God out of his clothes. Whether you’re hurt or joyous about a circumstance you often forget how it looks to others. Most often you’re just trying to accomplish a thing. Why not the tell others the gritty truth. Faith ain’t pretty. It gets hard at times but these are the times to push for the other side knowing God is there, with you and waiting for you, with the winning bouquet of Glory.
A local tire store had an advertisement that caught my attention. The ad said, “Hello, neighbor! Tires ain’t pretty, but everyone needs tires, so you might as well get them from us at the best price.”
Some time later I was in a radical, wild church service where people were laughing, and shouting, and praising God. Some were even leaping for joy, running, and dancing! During all of this, the Lord spoke to me in this way, “Hello, neighbor! Faith ain’t pretty, but everyone needs faith! So get your faith from God and learn how to release your faith and respond to the Word and power of God.”
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
(Rom. 10:17)I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
(Ps. 119:162)Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.
(Jer. 15:16)
…yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
(1 Peter 1:8,9)
Notice that between “believing” and “receiving” in these verses is “joy unspeakable.”
Joy Unspeakable
When you are really a Bible believing Christian, there must be some rejoicing with joy unspeakable. If the joy is “unspeakable,” you must let it out somehow through laughing, shouting, leaping , or dancing for joy. This kind of joy is full of glory. The spirit of faith declares the outcome even in the middle of adversity. You see the victorious end of the challenge you are facing.
Some people would have great faith, but they are too concerned about being pretty all the time. They want to look cool or sophisticated. Real Bible faith ain’t always pretty. (I know that may not be good English, but it is still true.)
For the entirety of Mark Mankins Message Read more at http://www.cfaith.com/index.php/article-display/19-articles/faith/21930-faith-ain-t-pretty
Source: The Spirit Of Faith by Mark Hankins
Go Bold!
People believe you have to conquer the enemy within before you challenge the devil with out. Let me submit to you. To conquer the darkness within all you have to do is shed a little light on the situation. Let God do what he promises, provide all you need according to His riches in Glory in Christ Jesus. Tell the world! I’m struggling with pride. I’m hurting with lust… People are quick to testify I made it. But you can’t leave out the best part. In the middle of it GOD CAME THROUGH. God changed some things. This wasn’t a decision I came to on my own. When fear took me from everyone who might have cared, GOD answered me with a thought. Go Big or Go Home!
Go Bold! Declare – I’ve got the victory! The seven habits of effectual people tends to make people believe they have to handle issues all themselves. Yet I assure you, privately, if you don’t ask for help; if you think that I can keep going on and I’ll find my way to the end. The end you reach may not be the end you’re looking forward to. You may not want to share your faith with others. you might be afraid to tell the real story for fear of reprisal. Let me assure you, if you won’t. You’re missing an opportunity to empower others to Go Big and Go Bold! That’s what it means to be proactive. Before you get the end in mind, you’ve got to make a decision. Am I willing to Go Big? Am I willing to tell the whole story? Am I willing to take my victory public? Enduring whatever doubt or persecution comes my way, am I willing to share my story? Take your victory public!
Make your victory known today.
The Bread for Adversity – ISBN 9781496153029
Wisdom Quotes, Sirach 2:1
If you come forward to serve the LORD prepare yourself for temptation, – Also (James 1:2-4, 12-15)
The question is posed, who wants a million dollars? With little hesitance many hands are raised. Given it’s purpose and a conceivable reward, many would still find conditions favorable for acceptance. Yet if I told you, you had to walk through the wilderness to get it, many would turn away. Some feeling it’s not worth the risk. Others, fearing the consequence of failure… Many without seeing – the trial isn’t just a test. It’s your measuring stick.
The fierceness of the battle is your proof you’re nearly there. The skirmishes were merely a distraction to keep you from the Promised Land, from coming forward. You want to go forward, Advance! God is calling you higher. Advance! You tests are not a sign of unworthiness. It’s proof you are getting there. Don’t get afraid and turn back now. Don’t get discouraged during the process and start looking back. Where you are is on the road to where you’re going. What you’re becoming is… God’s servant, A Servant of the Lord with God’s authority to speak! To do! To make things happen.
If you choose to answer this call, don’t be impatient. Don’t be afraid! Expect temptations! Expect distractions, infirmities, insurrections, divisions, strife; expect turmoil to proceed. It happens! you need to know. It’s part of the process of removing some (-ites) from the land.
The Hittites Jebusites, Amorites; all things that are not of the LORD must be dispossessed. All people, that are not hearing or seeing what God has appointed for you, have to disappear for you to grow, to come forward.
For you to Go Higher, to think higher, tests must be run. ( Go Paul) Tests must be taken. (Endure James) In order to proceed you have to pass. In order to pass you have to know The Answer! Jesus is the Way, The truth and The Light.
You received a call? It’s time to Prepare for Action!
No one said waiting on the promise was easy. But enduring patience, building
patience is a work that must be accomplished. Because there are many times that
may come upon us suddenly that will try to turn us away from God; tear us away
from our focus. And these are the times when the appreciation or the art of waiting
become not only a necessity but a source of strength.
As we see in Saul, it delineates character, having the ability to wait patiently on God.
To not take matters in our own hands without knowing all the consequence. It may
seem all right today and tomorrow but when we lack patience, we often lead others
to lack patience. And ultimately this can cause a whole nation to stumble.
Prayer Note: – James 1:3-5
We are instructed to let patience have its perfect work. Perfect is an indication of
complete, full and precisely accurate. It makes no mistakes. As such I say, if you are
indeed feeling the stress of life’s situations, take a moment and absorb these words.
Grant me patience to endure all afflictions and sufferings. Comfort me in all
misfortunes and distress. Forgive me daily my sins and grant that I may thus continue
firm unto my soul’s salvation, and that I may, in the true and saving
faith and with a good conscience, serve Thee even unto
Amen.
(AN EXCERPT OF THE LITTLE TREASURY OF PRAYER)