Encouragement Series: Be Encouraged: God is using Everything you Have Exprienced Up To Now for Your Good

Hello readers! 

Today I want to share what I am sure is a "now" word for many of us. It's not what I planned to share today, I will share that later.The Lord had another plan so I hope you can flow with me as He leads. I'd like to share an experience from today and the word of the Lord to encourage those are having some challenges in moving forward into the call and destiny God has on their lives. And when I say calling, I am not just speaking about a call to ministry within the Church but really mostly in the marketplace, otherwise known as the "world". Remember Jesus sends us out into "all the world" to teach and make disciples of nations. Notice, Jesus never seeks to influence just a few people, all be it sometimes one at a time, since it is an individual call. No, He is after nations. After all, it was because"God so loved the world...that He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16. This is probably the most quoted Scripture in the Bible. We all know it. So with that I'd like to share the sobering words the Lord has been speaking to me recently. 

One day last week as I was washing dishes, I suddenly sensed the Lord was communicating something to me. I heard in my spirit, "It doesn't matter what you do; it matters who you are. Wherever you go, people will be blessed." Just like that!  I don't know about you, but this was extremely freeing to me. I am always seeking to be where God wants me, doing what He wants me to do, and prayerfully, saying what He wants me to say. But do you know even in that commitment, there could be a level of bondage. The bondage is called "perfectionism." I must do exactly and I cannot move forward until I know exactly. Mind you, I am not light that with everything. Something I just bolt if I sense an urgency. Sometimes, I am right and sometimes I may not always be great with His timing. 

But then there's the other end of the spectrum of just waiting and waiting and waiting for perhaps a lightning bolt. I once had a precious pastor who would say, if God puts something in your mind to do, do it. Don't worry about being perfect. He is perfectly able to clean up your mess." There is so much wisdom in that if you really hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying. In my experience, I have found these words to be true. Perhaps I need to hear them again. You see, God does not get angry because we are zealous to do His will. Instead, when we move ahead and fall, He is right there to pick us up, dust us off, teach the lesson and in so doing build us up to carry more of Him as we move along. In other words, even "failure" as some would see it, in Christ adds to our advancement. That takes me to today's experience.

As I was praying with my mom today and just sharing things God put on my heart to share and encourage, the Holy Spirit began to pray through me in tongues and it went on for a while. (It's amazing what happens when we stop and turn our attention fully upon Him. He's always right there, waiting for us to seek an encounter. And He never disappoints.) So during this time of Holy Spirit praying, the interpretation I was getting seemed quite short compared to the time it took before it ceased. It was not until I began sharing the interpretation that more came to me. This was an encouraging word but it was also directional. This what I would like to encourage you with today as the snow is falling. This word puts flesh on "All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28. This is a very popular verse for encouraging people during and after experiencing adversity in their lives. What the Lord shared today brought revelation that gives me confidence as I contemplate certain things. Please let the Holy Spirit minister His truth to you as I share, in quotes, what He said.

"Everything you have experienced in your life up to this point has made you the person you are today." That is, in Christ, what you experienced is being used for your good. All of the power and authority He allows you to flow in because of your relationship with Jesus Christ the Way, and Father God, the Source, is because of what you've gone through: the good, the bad, the ugly, the delightful, and the horrible. In Christ it is all used to BUILD YOU UP!!! The devil will try to get you to wallow in self-pity and regret because of your mistakes but there is "now, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." Don't let the enemy keep, or put more, chains on you. In Christ, you "are a new creation and behold all things [about you and in you] have become new." And by faith, we walk out what He has already spoken.

Jesus is saying through the Holy Spirit today, don't decry the past, all your past sin is covered under the blood. You have experienced much and learned much. Don't wallow in self-pity and regret. That is a trap from hell. Yes, we ought to be remorseful about sinning against God, others, and even ourselves, but we DO NOT STAY THERE! If you find you are not operating in Galatians 5:22, the nine fruit of the Spirit, which are "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control" something has gone off-track, because verse 23 says, "against such there is no law." TOTAL FREEDOM brings you to that place. So when you are feeling down and out, don't try to do anything in your own flesh. Worship. Worship. Worship. Worship so often transitions into prayer and, let's face it, it is impossible to truly worship and be down in the mouth at the same time. Actually, it is impossible. The dark clouds of discouragement, depression, and despair have to leave. 

That's why the enemy of our souls so often try to prevent us from worshiping because worship brings us into submission to God, and as we resist the evil one, he must flee. It is then that we become free. If you worship does not bring you into freedom, ask the Lord and read the what the Word says about worship. And let's be honest, sometimes, you just don't feel like it. Especially after a "lively discussion" or argument or something where we's exhibited less than exemplary behavior as a Christ-follower. Sometimes the last thing you want to do is come before God in worship. That's often because of shame. But do you know that God "gets" us? That is when we really need to worship is when we don't feel like it. The key is to quickly repent, ask for forgiveness, and be the delightful treasure you are to Him again. 

Never let the enemy keep you in a place of defeat because of shame and condemnation. You don't have to accept hell's "gifts". Never accept anything that God and has not approved because it always comes at a price, a very hefty price. 

So the goal here is to encourage you, especially those who have been struggling to find their direction and you are petrified about making the wrong move. I want to encourage you to day, if you hear from God, and the Jesus tells us that "My sheep hear my voice, and another they will not follow". Trust that as you align with Him He is working out His purposes in your life to bring you to a "good land," your promised land. Listen, on the way to the promised land there is lots of danger, toils, and snares, in addition to the often rugged and treacherous terrain. Then when you make it to the promised land, you're bound to find "giants", specifically formed for you. It is when you face those giants AND overcome them that you become free and to lead others to the same freedom. There is only a reward to those to are OVERCOME AND ARE FAITHFUL TO THE END. God takes no delight in those who shrink back, because they are shrinking back to perdition. Don't shrink back and lose all you have gained in Christ. Keep moving in faith and confidence that He is right there with you. 

So be encouraged and move forward past the fear, Love has cast that out, and failure is covered the blood. You are on team Jesus and He ALWAYS WINS!  And as far as the consequences to all the bad decisions we have made, remember what the HOLY SPIRIT has said, "Everything you have experienced in your life up to this point has made you the person you are today." God can use it all and turn what was meant for bad into good. Sounds impossible but we know that impossibility is not in God's vocabulary. Nothing is impossible for Him.

Remember that God delights in who He has made you! Align with Him in agreement about who you are, and see the miraculous transformation in your life. It has happened to me and it continues even to today. Let's keep advancing together. 

That's it for now! This has been an honest heart-felt post, and I believe the Holy Spirit wants to touch some people through it. Let His freedom and forgiveness wash over you and remove every spirit of depression, and oppression hanging around from your past and move forward in Him. It is your time to soar and to shine.

God bless you! Please let me know how the Lord touches you with these words! He loves you and heaven is routing for you to WIN YOUR RACE!

Let me pray for you:
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I lift up all of my readers to sense and feel your arms pulling them in as you seek to touch their lives, and to set them free from all hindrances and encumbrances to your will. You will is to advance and prosper us as we continue in You. In Jesus name and in His authority alone, fear go now, depression, oppression, un-forgiveness, hatred, condemnation, guilt, bitterness, shame, heart-ache, blindness, deafness, mute conditions in the Spirit and in the natural, go now in Jesus name! Lord, please come and fill up every empty place left vacant by the influence of the enemy and his demons. Thank you, Lord, for your love, grace, and mercy towards us.

Thank you Jesus for shedding your blood for our sin, rescue, salvation, release, healing, and resurrection. Thank you for setting us free and yanking us out of darkness and establishing us in your kingdom of light. Thank you for the power you have given us over sin and to do your work in confidence that what you have promised you will do. We walk in freedom now and give you free reign over our lives and our possessions to do as you please. Take my burdens and give me yours because yours are light. Take my yoke and give me yours because it is easy. I love you, Lord. Thank you for this new day! Amen

Spiritual Warfare Series: Lesson on Spiritual Warfare - Prophecy vs. the Occult

What I am about to share with you is what the Lord shared with me. It's regarding something happening particularly on the Charismatic side of the His Church in the prophetic ministry.  I believe it began a while ago when God would share certain things about a minister or ministry and the person would appear to be prophesying right on the money but there was something that was just not right. I could not see how they could be used of the Lord and given all of that information when there was something severely wrong. But as with everything about God, it is about timing. He reveals things in the fullness of time. That means He has a perfect time for revealing and unveiling necessary information when He deems that we are ready to know them. And as a teacher, I naturally want to share what He has shared with me. I believe the Lord will use it to help some people to avoid trouble. First, let me just caution you not to run around seeking prophetic words from people. If God wants to bring you a word through a person He is more than capable of doing that. The real goal is to draw near to Jesus and He will tell you more than you thought possible.

As I said, I had been wondering about these things, and have actually been quite perplexed at times. But God is faithful to answer our questions and He will often provide answers to questions before they're even asked. As we search Him out, He reveals things that puzzle us often in a flash of insight. In other words, God answers the questions we ask as well as some we don't. In this case the answer came so clearly that I wondered why I failed to "get it" earlier. The question essentially was how are false "ministers", who are suspect, promoting themselves under a guise of being a mouthpiece for God,  able to "prophesy" over lives in what appears to be a high level of accuracy? I mean, why would God allow self-promoting ministers that level of power when they are only using it for personal gain? Well, I must admit I was not ready for answer but I would like to share this with you in the form of a lesson about spiritual warfare. 

Be Intimately Connected to Jesus

The first step in spiritual warfare is our connection with the Son. You cannot survive or have any level of success as a nominal Christian without intimacy with Jesus. The enemy would have too much influence over and in you. Without a strong foundation in Christ, you do not stand a chance. And I would submit that many have died early being embroiled in this warfare without that connection to Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Many get involved in things that appear harmless but in fact are spiritually and physically detrimental. They were not connected intimately, not submitted, and therefore, deceived and taken out before their time. I know, it almost happened to me more than once. Believe me, no matter how much firepower you carry in the spirit, on your own you are no match for the devil. He is stealthy, wily, and will lure you into a fight that the Lord has reserved for Himself. You have to follow the Lord when it comes to spiritual warfare. Sometimes He'll say, "This one's Mine. I've got it."  Other times, He'll instruct you in how and when to engage...IN HIS STRENGTH." How do you know when to do what? By being intimately connected to Him at all times. "But that's difficult!" you say. No, it's not.

What give me the right to say it's not difficult to remain connected to Jesus? I know it's possible. But it requires that we empty ourselves of our own strength, abilities, aptitudes, independence; the list goes on. In other words, we need to come to the end of our own fleshly abilities and take on Christ's. That means we leaves our limitations behind and take on the limitlessness of Jesus Christ. See Galatians 2:20, and Ephesians 2:4-6. Just a few examples of our call to limitlessness.

Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ; it is not I who live, but Christ lives in me; ad the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Ephesians 2:4-6 - "But God, who is rich I mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."

The Scripture above is a reminder that although all believers have Jesus Christ inside then, not all believers are in Jesus.

So how are these people able to "prophesy". The Lord answered this is 2 stages and I am sure there is more. But let me share what I have thus far because it will help some of you avoid catastrophe:

1. There are more people involved in the occult in the church than we realize.
2. They take their information from a realm in the spirit called the soul realm, otherwise known as the second heaven
3. They read information that is in the 2nd heaven, or soul realm about a person, people, place, thing, etc. and report on that. Everyone is amazed.

Don't Exalt the Mailman

First of all, do not be amazed at a prophetic word and put that person on a pedestal. If the person is getting a legitimate word from God, the information comes from God so that person is simply a messenger. Yes, a special messenger especially if operating in the office of a prophet. That is God's servant and friend, Amos 3:7 says,      . But all believers should have the prophetic flowing in their lives as part of their daily walk with God. It is not mysterious. It comes out of intimacy with the Godhead. Perhaps, that's where the "difficulty" comes in. Many want a program-centered Christianity, religion without relationship. But back to my point, exalting the minister who gives you a wonderfully accurate prophetic word is like praising the mailman for bringing me my mail. Of course, that's not an exact analogy but the point is, it's his job and he is rewarded with a paycheck for doing it. He does not do it because he likes you or because you are special --- although you are.

The Problem: Some Claiming to Prophesy are Reading Static (past) Images in the Soul Realm (Second Heaven)

Second, if the person is not legitimate they are using occultist practices, which run the spectrum between flesh and wholly demonic. Don't forget that He gives the gifts without repentance. However, the gift on its own does not edify and benefit others unless it functions within the guidelines and under the authority of the Holy Spirit. Beware. The "word" given is not life-giving. The Word says, the "testimony on Jesus Christ is the Spirit of Prophesy." Jesus is the Way, Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6). Therefore, a prophetic word from God must be life-giving even if it is a rebuke, warning, or some other serious word. Whenever I have been rebuked by the Lord, I have always felt His love which is His motivation. The flesh (soul)  or the enemy cannot produce life outside of Christ. And I am not referring to the "conviction" of the Holy Spirit here. Obviously, if someone is in sin and they sense the conviction of the Holy Spirit, God is trying to rescue them and let's face it a word from God when you are in sin, should, you'd better hope, it makes you uncomfortable.

There are too many people in the church calling God's warnings bad and ear-tickling words that stroke their ego- good, all while they saunter down a path to destruction.

So the next time something just does not feel right in your spirit about a person "ministering" to you in the prophetic, before you open up yourself to receive it ask God the question: Is it prophecy or the occult? That may sound harsh, but trust me, you'll be glad you took the time to inquire of God. Not all that calls itself of God is actually of God. Men love the praises of others and "playing" in he supernatural is intriguing to most. In addition, if the person is charismatic, it is that much easier for them to carry through. Ask the questions and avoid being defiled by demonic activity.

As we continue our list, let's break this down to the nitty-gritty, shall we?

What: The False Prophetic Word Cannot Bring Life and Hope

The third, and perhaps the most important point, the true prophetic which comes from the Lord will have attached to it a supernatural level of hope. The false prophetic on the other hand, cannot bring life as it is made up of static images and not that which is living. A true word from God must contain as a sense of the solution and light. Jesus in the Light of the world. (Scripture)  When He shines His light on a situation He is there to heal and resolve it. So even if it a false prophetic word that is not from God sounds good, a discerning person might not feel encouraged as he or she would hope to be. Instead, there would be a tinge of condemnation or repeating past issues which the Lord has resolved. The reason is that the soul realm information is only a snapshot taken in time and saved there forever until the Lord renews all things. In other words, someone may speak a word as a word of knowledge because they have "read" the information by searching the soul realm regarding that individual receiving the "word".  And as this is practiced it is not difficult for them to do so. Why, because the information is with you in your atmosphere.

How: The Use of Familiar Spirits by the False Prophet Defiles Believers

How do they get this information and who delivers it? A familiar spirit. Yes, a demonic spirit that hangs around families and individuals and whom the person is in touch with that gives them guidance and information about others. The problem for these people is that they are headed to hell for these abominations according to God's word. SCRIPTURE HERE. That is, unless they repent and amend their ways.

So be careful you allow to lay hands on you and speak words over you. This is not fear mongering but just being smart. God gives us discernment for a reason and if for any reason you are uncomfortable with a person seeking to speak over you, do not let them. There is no sin in obeying what you believe God is speaking to you. If you focus on following the Greatest Commandment and the Second Greatest and walk in faith in Almighty God, you will be pleasing to God and therefore be righteous in His sight. You do not need to please people.

Ask God for More Discernment

Now a word of caution, some people are amateurs and are obviously charlatans. Therefore, it does not require a whole lot of discernment to know what they are up to. More difficult to assess is the "professional" who has been engaged in this type of activity for a while, with a level of charisma to boot. So what can you do if discernment is not your strongest gift? Be prayed up. Stay close to Jesus. Trust God to guide you through His Spirit. Surround yourself with discerning friends. The More you trust God, the more confident you become that He will always take care of you. There is no need to walk around n fear. That's not what this is about. But we will in an imperfect, sin stained world, where the devil has been given a level of power, limited though it may be, it is still too much for the "unconnected" believer. Perfect Love in the form of Jesus Christ, has taken care of annihilating fear. (Scripture). "And God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and sound mind." (2 Tim, 1:7).  But He also tells us that the "devil walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he might devour. (1 Peter 5:8). As a matter of face all of 2 Peter deals with false teachers and false prophets. So remember, the most important part of spiritual warfare is our connection to Jesus, "Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you." Without submission to God, we cannot resist the devil and he will not flee from those who are unsubmitted to the Almighty.

Please do not be lulled into thinking the Christian walk is a cruise through "la-la land". Run from any strain of Christianity that tells you that lie. Paul wrote to the Corinthians and told them he did not want them to be ignorant about the spiritual gifts given by God for the edification of the whole Body of Christ and not for personal gain. And to the Ephesians, He said we need to put on the armor of God because we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, and powers and the rulers of the air." That certainly is not la-la land. But thanks be to God that in the Spirit, we can have, as Paul, wrote to the Galatians, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Yes, even in the midst of warfare, because we do not war alone.

And although we love all people, there is no commandment to trust everyone equally, or give everyone equal access to ourselves. That is just not wise and just downright dangerous.

The One "Prophesying" must Point to Jesus and not to Self

Finally, those who come in the name of the Lord to offer the Word of the Lord either to individuals or corporate bodies must never pass themselves off as the answer to the problem. Instead, the goal is to point everyone to Jesus. We are conduits of His Light, Life and Hope. We are way-makers, pointers, and signposts to Christ Who is the only One able to address and permanently solve ALL problems.

The Bride Series: Vision of the Bride This First day of 2015.

These one-scene visions so often convey the most significant and profound messages. So much about God is mysterious and simple at the same time. And only the Holy Spirit can speak volumes from a simple scene.

This first morning of the new year, I saw a bride. Actually, all I saw of the bride was the back of her left shoulder up to the top part of her lower half. She was wearing in a very lovely wedding dress. The sun was bright and gleaming. Ordinarily this would be a very happy scene but what the bride was doing is the focus of this post and I believe a message from the Lord her Groom.

In this vision, the bride's dress was perfect and spotless. So the issue was not the condition of her dress. The issue was her focus and her walk.

She bride was not walking with confidence in the love of her groom on her big day. Instead, she was walking quite gingerly while looking down. At first, I though she was limping as if lame in some way since she seemed to be hobbling along slowly. But that was not quite it. She was walking as she looked down because of the rough, dry and rocky terrain on which she walked. She was not looking at or following her groom.

I knew this to be a message for and about the Church of Jesus Christ. In 2015 and beyond as the intensity in the world builds toward His return, the Bride need not be focused on the terrain, as difficult as it is and will become, but on her Groom! And frankly, this terrain looks unfamiliar. It appears to be in a dry, rubbly, perhaps even war- torn place. Of course this was in the Spirit so it speaks of places where we have not been before but are expected to confidently negotiation because we are following the Captain of the Host. 

When we are walking on unfamiliar and rough terrain, the temptation is to focus and be very careful where we tread so as not to fall and injure ourselves. But if we are following Someone, we cannot focus on that Person and where and how He is walking if we are focusing and looking down at the terrain to negotiate our own way. We must either be totally dependent or totally independent.

What happens to the Bride if She does not Focus on the Groom but on the unfamiliar and unfriendly terrain? She is distracted with the things of earth. She loses her Way. She gives in to panic. She loses her confidence. She loses her ability to lead. She loses her effectiveness. She gives in to fear. She loses her power to hold back the gates of hell. She becomes disconnected from her Source. She loses her position. The list goes on. 

This reminds me of the story of Queen Esther. Do you remember the queen before her? Queen Vashti? Who can forget that woman's terrible end? She lost her position because of her unwillingness to heed the king's call and to do his bidding. She lost her position to a better and more submissive and obedient person.

But it is not too late thankfully. And of course, the Lord would never lose His true Bride. He saying in 2015 and beyond, the Bride must keep her eyes on her Groom. She must be looking up and not down. She must pull her focus upwards and not be overly concerned about the terrain on which she walks on the earth. She must concern herself with her position of being seated in the heavenly places with her Groom. Jesus told us to watch and pray when we see the signs of His coming because our redemption draws near.     

We are living precarious yet extremely exciting times...if we remain in Him. There are so many distractions today, many of them very good but they are still distractions. Often, our pride will cause us to justify why they are okay or even ordained but they really are not. Our enemy is a formidable foe, who has tricks up his sleeve custom tailored for each of us. The key to avoiding a fall, is to keep our eyes on the Way, staying connected to the Vine...Jesus Christ. Satan is a formidable foe to us but not to Christ, and therefore, not those who are "in Christ." And therein lies the rub, to be in Christ is to not only have Him in you but you be in Him through the Holy Spirit. Many are walking around as playthings for the enemy not because they have to be but because they do not know their "place" in Christ.

So for 2015 and beyond we have to be aware of our surroundings and the terrain but we cannot afford give our focus on anything or anyone else but Christ. 


So what's the Lord saying to His Church:   Focus on Me.

I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
I am the Bread of Life.
I am the Light of the World.
I am the Beginning and the End.
I am the Head and not the tail.
Without me you can do nothing.
Nothing is impossible for Me.
I am Love an Love never fails.
I am Love and Love conquers all.
I am Love and love covers a multitude of sins.
I never change.
I have been given all authority and I give it to you.
I am that I am.

Focus on Jesus in 2015!

What if Abraham Had Missed It?

JUST AS HE CHOSE ABRAHAM, GOD CHOSE YOU

It's so important for the people of God to seek His face and get His direction down to the tiniest detail. Not only the big vision but also His strategy and everything associated with the assignment. I find that it's so easy to get the general directions but still mess up because I did not seek Him for all of the details. That means it's not just the "what" but we need to know the "how" as well, and it us usually one step at a time. Now I may not be so important to what God is doing but what if the father of the faith, Abraham, had missed it? The implications are so far-reaching it's hard to imagine. Could God have used someone else? Of course, He is God. But He didn't.

It's the same with you. God can find someone else to do and to be  what He has called you to? Of course, but He chose you. And only you can do and to be what He has called you to in your particular way with exactly what He has packed into you.  What if Abraham did not depart from among his family to be led by God to a place he did not know? God told him to leave and go to a place who builder and maker is God and I will make you a great nation. [Paraphrased]  Why? So that Abraham could be a big shot? No. God had nation-forming and Kingdom-expanding plans for what He would entrust to Abraham. That's why the following words have had such an impact on me. I hope they will bless you, too:

Gen. 12:2:
"I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great and you shall be a blessing." 

Ever hear the phrase "blessed to be a blessing.?" Abraham was not blessed with greatness for himself or his immediate family. He was to be a blessing to all. Look at verse 3 of the same chapter:

Gen. 12:3:
"I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you: and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

All the families of the earth would be blessed through Abraham's blessing. Wow! But how?


ABRAHAM'S LINEAGE

The very Person we celebrate during this Christmas season, Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Son of Man. You see, Abraham's forefather Shem, Noah's son, from which we get the word "Semite," the root of the Jewish people. And of course, Noah was Seth's, Adam and Eve's third son, great, great, great, great, great grandson. Yes, that's a lot of greats, give or take one. Suffice it to say, Noah was in the Seth's line and so was Abraham. However, by the time it came around to Abraham's family, they were not submitted to the Creator God but had become idolaters. But God has a way to re-align mankind and that was He aimed to do through Abraham. What a calling! So that's why the Jews refer to Abraham as their father today and in Jesus' day.


JESUS, OUR BLESSING, WAS A JEW

God chose to come into the world as a Jew so Jesus was a Jew. Therefore, to hate Jews is to hate God's chosen people. It's ridiculous and it is usually driven by jealousy. If you have a problem with Jews, ask the Lord to help you because it will be a stumbling block to your walk with Him. Trust me. But Jesus is the reason for the Christmas season and the One through Whom "all the families of the earth have been blessed." Through Christ, we have access to Abraham's blessing, but most of all, we have access to the Father of Lights Himself, the Source of all that is good.

And it's not so much Abraham that is the focus but Jesus Christ the only Way man can be reconnected with God after the Fall of our foreparents, Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden. 

So if Abraham had missed it perhaps God would have devised another plan and found someone else; but He didn't. Praise be to God! And as you know, it's a great honor and privilege to be the child of God and also to be His servant. Most people don't trust God to the degree Abraham did, so most will not be entrusted with what God entrusted to him. But we are all called to be the hands and feet of Jess here on earth to complete the Kingdom work Jesus started. Yet, we are also seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. God begot a people through Abraham's line, natural and adopted. And while life in Christ is also a life full of tests, trials and tribulations, To those who trust in Him, He always delivers us. And God gave this man Abraham, some very difficult tests. Tests such that most of us have ever faced or will ever face.


ABRAHAM'S FATHER - TERAH

One of the things that fascinates me about Abraham was his father, Terah. Terah had taken his son Abram and grandson, Lot and was headed for Canaan but he never got to his destination because he stopped and lived - and died - in Haran. And it was not until Terah died at round the age of 205 (Abram was born when his father was 70), that God called Abram to leave for Canaan, really to finish the trip. But God kept the destination hidden from Abram. He just said leave and go to this place that I'll show you. I wonder why God never talked to Terah and why did he wait until Terah was dead before He called Abram. Perhaps, knowing the characters of both men God saw Abram as the one who would be more faithful and submissive and carry through to the end as directed by God. And that while Terah was alive that same faithfulness would be a hindrance to the outward call. The bottom line is that Abram was a faithful son to his earthly father and perhaps that was a qualification for his faithfulness to the heavenly Father. We are blessed by the fact that Abram, re-named Abraham, did just as God asked. The Bible says He believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. So he was faithful AND righteous. That is my personal prayer and from this foundation flow God's willingness to trust us.

What we know about God is that He is generous with His blessings but quite discriminate with His trust.


GOD's TRUST, UNLIKE SALVATION, MUST BE EARNED

So much is dependent upon the obedience of the saints. You never know what depends on your obedience. I believe it would boggle our minds if we did know. I am challenged by this and so I challenge you to be obedient to the Lord as He often asks you to do what makes little sense to others, believers and non-believers alike. I am not talking about God's commandments, those are not negotiable! But when the Lord says go here or there and do this or that or say this or that and you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that it's Him, just do it! And although it may often be uncomfortable, in the end you will not be sorry! In addition, obedience carries with it a supernatural peace and well-being that surpasses all understanding.

Abraham was faithful even to the point of preparing to sacrifice his own son upon God's command. And Isaac was not just any son, He was the promised son of Abraham's old age. I imagine that to be the ultimate test for anyone, especially for a parent.


ABRAHAM LIKE FATHER GOD

Abraham was a picture of our Father God Who sacrificed His own Son, Jesus Christ for our redemption. The difference is that God spared Isaac's life and provided a ram in the thicket instead, whereas He went all the way through with the sacrifice of His own Son so that mankind could be redeemed by accepting the sacrifice. God sacrificed perfection to gain imperfection. Wow! Glory be to God! That is an indescribable type of love. The blessings of Abraham the Old Covenant prophetic picture of the New Covenant fulfillment in Christ.

God bless you as we continue on this amazing path God has set before us. I pray that you and I will be like Abraham and follow the Lord wherever and in whatever He leads us. He may not call you to set out like Abraham but we are always to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). And ultimately, to be like Jesus who obeyed His Father always, even to the death.  Notice the level of obedience matches the level of ability to do the impossible. It was in Jesus's life and it is for us, too. Submission to our loving God is the key. There is every reason to trust Him and no reason not to. It not difficult but it does take practice. Why not start now with whatever it is you are facing that you see as impossible to get pass or to solve.
After all, it was through Jesus that His Father became our perfect Father. None of our earthly fathers were perfect, but praise be to His Holy Name our heavenly Father is! This means, we can release our earthly fathers from any inadequacies and just love them.


WALKING AS JESUS DID IN 2015 AND BEYOND

Jesus said His food was to do the will of the Father. He said what He heard His Father say and did what He saw His Father do! Praise God we don't have to walk blindly as we walk by faith. He also said that whoever did the will of the Father is His brother, sister and mother (Matt. 12:50). Matt. 7:21 says that not everyone who says "Lord, Lord" will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of the Father in heaven. 

I leave you with this powerful Scripture of our blessing from Romans 4:11-13:

"that he [Abraham] might be the father of all those who believe, ... that righteousness might be imputed unto them also ..., but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham which he had, being yet uncircumcised. For the promise that he should be the heir of the world came not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith."

There is so much more to this. I just felt led to share this again today.

Have a Happy and Wonderful 2015!