From Faith To Faith!

Ephesians 4:14   Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. There must come a time in every person’s life when our childhood and its nature must pass away. We must make it our goal to grow in Christ. We must learn the lessons that GOD presents to us via the events in our lives. I call upon every person to grow up in Christ. I call for everyone to study GOD’s Word, and stand firm in the truth that is revealed, live the message, and share the love within its pages.   Stand firm on its truth and listen to every preacher that preaches, teacher that teaches discerning their words against the truth in the word of GOD. Stop relying on your pastor to show you a revelation. It is not your pastor’s responsibility to ensure that you grow in Christ. He is there to serve his flock and to guide you in your walk with Christ. However it is y

Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a nw creature: old things are passed away; behold all thi ngs are become new." How do you answer the following Question? WHO ARE YOU? Do you answer that question based on your past actions? Do you formulate your answer considering your current situation?   When you look within yourself and the mirror of your soul, who or what is staring back at you?   The bible says that a person's life is more valuable than all the riches in the world. Even with your past and current struggles, GOD values you. GOD does not see you as the person you were. He only sees you through Christ, the author and finisher of your faith. Jesus has filled the gap between your past and your glorious future.   Why live defeated? Why put your mind and effort into justifying your past. Why let the memory of the dark times in your life rule over you.   Satan uses the shadow of your past to create strongholds that keep you fro

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law   Emotions and attitudes are contagious.   If   have a negative mood, it is almost guaranteed that my wife and then my children will follow suit. Negativity is like a cancer that infiltrates the hearts and minds of those who come in contact with it.    Haven’t you worked with that one person who is negative and spreads the down side of every situation to point contagion?    The Bible says: Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,   If you take a moment to seriously ask yourself. . .”am I that person”?   Do I reflect the Fruit of the Spirit or do lose all credibility when I complain?   When we constantly complain we spread an atmosphere of unrest and negativity. What type of reputation are we building in our everyday relationships? Are we growing i

Psalm 73:26 King James Version (KJV) 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever. We need to put our “hurt”, and our “quit” in check. They have no place in the peace and work of Christ. There are so many things this world puts in our lives that will hurt, distract, and push us down to the point of failure.   Your pain is an opportunity to grow.   Your distractions are an opportunity to refocus on GOD.   The temptation to quit is the point where GOD’s supernatural nature can take over your natural ability and accomplish the things you cannot on your own. Remember the following: 1.        GOD loves you to death. 2.        GOD never rests so you can rest on him. 3.        GOD never fails, even when you feel that you have.   D o not quit. Do not think of quitting. And do not plan for alternatives in response to you possibly quitting. If you plan for the worst you will start to believe it. However if you have fait

James 1:26 New International Version (NIV) 26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless When you speak, do your words hurt or heal? When you live from day to day does your life reflect the Love of GOD or a love for the world? The example we set paints a picture of the faith that leads unto salvation in Jesus Christ. So when we speak with vain or vulgar words we hinder the credibility of our faith. Gossip, vanity, and malice hurt your reputation, and hinder your testimony from being fully received.                   Remember; don’t be fake, phony, or judgmental.   Let people know of your short comings. Let them see your imperfections and tell them about the process that GOD is carrying you through. In this way the struggle and Joy in your life that comes from choosing to accept Christ via the power of the Holy Spirit, who makes a change each day of your life.   Do

PSALMS 9:10 (NLT) " Those who konw your name Trust you, for you, O Lord , do not abandon those who serch for you.          Whenever you truly realize that GOD is who he says he is, and your faith is fully seated in Him there is absolutely nothing that should worry you.   You will serve GOD in spirit and in truth. Some of us live as if we like the Idea of GOD. We worry about the little things in life instead of resting on GOD. We are comfortable with giving our eternity to him. However the worries of this life we hold on to.   This is silly. GOD is all powerful. GOD actually is in control and has your path and story penned already.   You may try to interject your own chapter but GOD is already aware of your thoughts and has covered you.             So why worry? It’s ok to be concerned. It’s ok to have those moments that will test your faith.   Those moments are what will make you grow in faith. However when you live as if only you can fix your problems and GOD is useless in

ACTS 3:19 Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;   There is a real problem if you know that there is anything separating you from GOD in your life that you are not dealing with. I’m am not talking about things that you struggle with daily. Nor am I talking about the occasional slip up in your walk with Christ. I am speaking of the sin that you turn your head away from and just live with from day to day. For many young people (such as myself before I was married) it is fornication. For others it is paying tithes, and yet still for others it is carrying hate for present or past enemies. There are many sins and situations that provide the opportunity for us to repent and renew ourselves in the presence of the Lord. It takes so much effort to maintain that sin. It also takes its toll when the consequences of life, as a result of the sin, are manifested.   For an exam

Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. What is your struggle? What stands in your way?   Many of us deal, with something day in and day out.   There are things in this world that pester us to our very core and in essence we just learn how to operate despite of this struggle.   We stare it down each day in the mirror, and push it deeper inside in order to keep it from spilling into our day to day lives.   However, it is still there and manifests itself in many ways. Some struggle with, anger, gossip, and even insecurity.   And in these times the world will only re-enforce it and if you are not grounded, and or seeking GOD’S face daily you will end up feeling alone and at your ropes end.   How can you concentrate on Loving your neighbor and GOD if you are constantly looking within yourself hating what your struggle is turning you into?   What do you do when your struggle has been with you so long you do not even know how to give it to Jesus? T

Romans 8:28 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose     Where are you right now? I don't mean physically or spiritually.   I mean to say: Where has GOD brought you from, in all aspects of your life?   Do not despise, but rejoice in your current situation for it is just another step in the journey and story of your life.   GOD is using your life to bring and manifest himself to the world and share his Glory.   What have you been through?   And what has GOD brought you through.   Only you and GOD completely know your story.   There is a purpose in the pain.   There is a testimony in the tears and soon GOD will show you exactly what those hard times have prepared you for.   The good times are not to be taken for granted.   God grants us those times to reflect and recharge for the next level that is approaching.   It is an absolute waste to make it out of the storm

  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1   Some of you have asked GOD for a breakthrough, a new job, a child, or a husband.   Some of you have been waiting so long and have gotten so close only to feel as if the answers to your prayers have slipped through your fingers.   Some of you are losing, or have lost hope.   As a result your prayers are not fueled by faith and you only ask GOD because it is the only thing you can do.   You are essentially bracing yourself for the impact of rock bottom.   You ask "WHY and WHEN LORD?"   Each day becomes a struggle to move forward and your faith is giving way to fear.     If this describes you I would like to ask you "WHY and WHEN oh faithful of GOD?"   Why do you doubt when GOD's resume is ever fresh in your life.   When will you stop carrying GOD around in your pocket as if he is the special weapon when

Ephesians 4:32 ESV Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. How can you love God, and still be upset with that family member that owes you 200 dollars from twelve years ago.   We say we would die for the cause of Christ and His gospel, but it would almost kill us to speak to the person who wronged us. When this life ends, all of the wrongs and anger will fade away and all that you will face will be GOD’s judgment for how you spent you time here. How can you really believe that you have lived a life of love when your neighbor or your family member has been on your “ill will” list for the past 5 years. Don’t you think it’s time to practice the love you profess? It is time to stop letting hurt, pain, and un-forgiveness occupy your heart. How can you fully become what God has commanded you to be when this issue lingers in your life? When you hold that memory, and pain in your heart you give Satan a foothold in your life. You let

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.  Ephesians 5:25 People talk about the “Love” being gone when their marriage ends. They speak of “Love” as a feeling that is missing when they decide to call it quits. However Love is a decision that you have to make every day.   We have a very narrow and fleshly view of love. We are focused on how everything feels, instead of the work it takes to make love.   The bible says that “God is Love”. God is the ultimate picture and goal of how we should treat each other and live together as brothers and sisters, and Husbands and wives. He does everything with a purpose. Even in his wrath he has a purpose for us and has made a way for us. God   showed his love for us via his own sacrifice. When was the last time you had to give up something dear to you for the one you love? When have you had to do more than compromise in order to show that you really loved someone in word and in actions? This is th

Matthew 22:32 God isn't the God of the dead, but of the living. Some struggle with “what was”.  Others struggle with “what’s to come”.  Their focus is constantly on what they have done or would have done. In these cases that person is just living, and never really gets to be alive.  Christ came to put the past to bed. He came to handle the affairs of your future. Worry never fixes what GOD has already planned.  The past is done. Those who have betrayed you and those you have betrayed are a part of the story leading to salvation.  In other words, they are just a piece of the story that makes up your testimony. They are you life’s lesson.  To think of them in any other way or to dwell on them in hopes to see how you would have changed anything is counterproductive. That old relationship or any expired experience is gone.  Commit to being alive. Commit to Christ and leave everything at his feet. Connect your heart to his and listen for the direction and assignment he places

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. John 8:7 Even though we know better, do we live parts of our lives in secret as if GOD is not watching. We need to ask God to shine a light on the areas we need to fix.   Yes we need fixing. Just as no man could throw the first stone at the woman caught in adultery, we cannot cast any judgment on to anyone but ourselves. We do not deserve  anything but death because of our sin. If we are dirty, and in no way worthy of GOD’s attention, then WHY!?!?!,.   .even though we deserve the stones to be thrown upon us does GOD cover for us.   In this scripture we are manifested in the face of the adulterous woman.   At one point in our lives we have chosen our way over GOD’s way. Realize that when we choose our way over GOD’s way that is sin.   Just as Satan sinned when pride entered his heart and he vowed to raise himself above the throne of G

The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. - Deuteronomy 31:8 We pray for new seasons and new beginnings. In faith we dream and hope in GOD for bigger, and yes better things. And as GOD gives us visions and dreams, deep inside we are a little fearful. We, as humans, can’t see the end of the road. And when this occurs we, instinctively, make plans to fill in the gaps between the vision and its fulfillment. Like Sarah who gave her slave to Abraham to have the promised child, we improvise and step all on GOD’s toes (symbolically speaking). We lose sight of what the scripture says to us. God, the giver and fulfiller of dreams, walks with us. But more importantly he walks ahead of us.   The vision was his to give and his purpose and glory is the ultimate fruit of the journey he allows us to take.   Remember, the biggest thing God cannot do is fail. God is not a loser, and when you roll with him in s

What ever you do, Work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will recieve an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 I have a question. Who is your master? Who do you answer to? The world acts as if every person is their own personal god.  There is a dwindling source of fear for GOD. This is even extended to those who claim to believe in GOD.  Please remember three things: WHO you are, WHOSE you are, and WHERE you are going! Remember everywhere you go and every person you meet is a place and person of opportunity to represent Christ in your life. Your boss is not really your boss. The authority in your life is really GOD. And as long as you serve Him and do what pleases Him you have nothing to worry about.  Do not live as if GOD is absent. Do not work for others as if the bare minimum will do. In all things work as if GOD is your boss.  This is what it means to truly do

Exodus 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall see them again no more forever. What do you do when your back is against the wall? When you are waiting for deliverance and the providence that GOD provides? What do you do when the world is hunting you down and attempting to assassinate your life and the plans GOD has for you?   What do you focus on? What words do you put into your life? In life doubt will come and your feelings will betray you. In life you will find yourself in situations with nothing in this world to hold on to and reaching for anything to pull you through.   Your feelings will betray you and your words will not mirror the faith you profess. Your words will contradict the resume GOD has laid out in your life. We have all been there. In these times , Just as it was for the Jews at the Red Sea, we need to follow the advice

Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, Isn’t it funny that we pray to God to come through and we give Him a plan and time table. We say that we want patience to wait on his plan but still find ourselves tapping our foot, (as if to say “STILL WAITING”).This is just a friendly reminder that GOD will come through when it is the right time for you. GOD will see you through when He is certain you will take the lesson and have obtained the testimony he has prepared for you. The word expresses that Christ came at just the right moment. So true is your blessing, your husband, your wife, your promised child, and deliverance. From Abraham to Jesus was a long time according to our standard. But rest assured if Jesus had come a second earlier it would have not been the right time. If Jesus had come not to die for salvation, and just skipped to his actions in revelations, then GOD’s plan for our lives

John 20:9 for until then they still hadn't understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead   The life we live is full! Full of tears, lessons, and seasons.   The perceived failures of our lives are opportunities for GOD. . . Yet the world will never understand why we cling to a GOD that allows us to live in such a world. For the worst day on earth is better than the best day in hell. Consequently the best day on earth is nothing compared to a second in heaven. With this in mind praise GOD when you are going through. When we think of the humiliated, broken body of Christ on the cross we rejoice. We rejoice because it should have been us. Even though the act was horrible, the result was beautiful. When you are going through trials, the world will not understand your praise. When you are broken, crucified, and humiliated, the world cannot comprehend why you are at peace.   Before the rise there must be a fall. Count on the falling times in