Generosity With Your Praise?

Nobody said it was going to be easy to process your afflictions, your sorrows, your chaos, and the mess you have to deal with from time to time in your family, your work, and with life.

Paul is telling the Thessalonians, "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Notice he didn't say, "For everything." What he is saying regardless of what I face, I will still praise him. Paul and Silas give us an example of that when they have just been beaten with many stripes and were placed into prison. (Acts 16:22-25)

Now it would have been real easy for them to whine and murmur and bellyache over their pain. Nowhere does God say that we could live out our lives without pain. Instead they chose to sing praises unto God.

Can you imagine what the other prisoners were thinking, "are these guys on cocaine, or are they drunk?" Regardless they chose to be generous in their sounding out praises to the Lamb of God who had redeem their life.

"He that will see good days let him refrain his lips from speaking guile." (1 Peter 1: 10) If you want to brighten up your life, begin to be thankful for all that He has done for you.

Did Christ save you, has he healed you, gave you power, gave you peace, given you purpose to life out this life? Has he prepared your heart for eternity?It's all about our focus. If you choose to focus on His goodness, His glory, and His gains in your life, it can change your trajectory going forward.

That night in prison, Paul said to Silas, "let's sing praises unto God." When they began to praise God, God sent an earthquake that shook the foundation of the prison. They walked out of that inner prison because God was so moved by their praises to Him.

Have you chosen to praise Him for the good and great and the glory that He has in-parted in your life? There are great results from those who chose to praise him regardless of their dilemma, and the quagmires of life.

David said; "This is the day that the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it." If it worked for David and Paul and Silas and many other great saints of God, it will work for you and I.

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Exempt From Trouble?

2 Corinthians 4:8a "We are troubled on every-side yet not crushed."

This morning I got a call from my daughter that was on her way to work. She was minutes away from the trajectory shootings in Manhattan New York. An angry man who had been fired came back to murder his boss. Is there a place in this journey with God without stress and storms and setbacks? Can I grow to a place in God that I'll never face danger or heartache and discouragement in this life?

Friend nowhere in this life are we exempt from troubles. Paul says; "We are troubled on every side but not crushed." People who say just have more faith in God and you can escape the troubles of this life, I don't know what planet their living on, but it sure isn't this one.

The only land without pain and grief and sorrow and disappointment is when we leave this earth and make heaven our home.

The good news is God isn't going to leave us hanging without his power, his touch, his protection, his strength, his courage and his covering working in our lives on this side of heaven.

Paul is attempting to encourage the Corinthains church. Don't get all bent out of shape just because trouble comes your way. Trouble is part of the DNA in growing in your faith. Show me someone that has had very little trouble and I'll show you someone that has had very little growth.

God knows when you're up for the test. When Jesus said to his disciples, let us go to the other side, he knew a storm was on the way. Jesus went on to sleep, they awoke him saying, "Lord we perish." Jesus woke up rebuke the wind, then he ask them, "Where is your faith?"

You will never know where your faith is without a storm. Without trouble you will never develop muscles in your confidence and faith in God.

Each of us should expect God to come to our rescue in every scheme that hell sends our way. There is great confidence as I travel out this journey with God.

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow the almighty. I will say of the Lord He is my fortress, my God in Him will I trust." (Psalm 91:1,2)

Expect God to show up in your despair. Not one hair falls from your head without his knowledge. Not one sparrow falls from the sky without his all Seeing Eye. God says "How much more does he care for his own."

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Lifting Up Or Taking Down?

Job Chapter 4-36

Some people's words are like and elevator, they either take you up or take you down. Jobs three friends have said nothing to encourage or to edify Job in his worst nightmare. Have you ever thought about, "A pat on the back, though only a few vertebrae away, gets greater results than a kick in the pants."

It's amazing to me that as close to God as these assumed they were; they still couldn't say something to help and edify him in his own oxymoron of life. No matter how many years you have served God, you may still find yourself in a quagmire that makes no sense.

God says we walk by faith and not by sight. Each of us will find seasons in our spiritual journey where we may have more questions in the end than we have answers for.

God tells us it's from faith to faith, from glory to glory. None of us know what a day may bring forth. So what is the answer to all of our dilemmas? The grass withereth and the flower fadeth but the word of God remains forever. (Isaiah 40:8)

Job could have easily given up in this season of life, but rather he dug in and believed in His God. Somehow Job decided to stand still and see how God would bring him through his ordeal.

Many years ago I was in a very difficult season in my journey. All I could hear God say was "Stand still and you will see the salvation of the Lord." In that difficult season, I also had a leader friend come along telling me it was time to pack up and move on. I went home so down and despondent over his words.

I'll never forget what God spoke to my heart, "Why would you place more value in his words than you would my words to you?" I had to repent that I had placed too much stock into his words. Friend never forget that God's words are greater than the words of a man.

Job didn't have a man to stand with him in his dilemma but he held on till God's words would come and sustain him in his storm of life.

Friend be so careful and cautious in how you speak to one of your friends in their own oxymoron of life. It may be you next time that's trying to figure out your own rubik's cube in life. It may be you next time that's in your own tsunami of life. Remember, "A friend loves at all times and is born for a time of adversity." (Proverbs 17:17)

Let the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart always be acceptable in thy sight. Are your words today taking people up or taking people down?

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They Have Refreshed Me !!

1 Corinthians 16:1-24

There are some sounds in this life that make you cringe. Like one who scrapes their nails across a chalkboard, or the sound of silverware across their plate, just the thought of that sound makes me cringe.

Paul had experienced many episodes of pain and sorrow with many setbacks and disappointments in ministry, but he makes mention in his book to the Corinthians how delighted I am to have Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus here. "They've refreshed me."

How many people do you have in your life that is refreshing to your faith? They have a way of building you up. Some people's words are like an elevator; their words either take you up or take you down. Why don't you take a moment in prayer and evaluate the kind of words that you use towards your spouse, your kids, your co-workers, and your neighbors? An honest assessment could turn your whole world around. God says; "He that will see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil. (1 Peter 3:10)

Proverbs 18:21 There is death and life in the power of the tongue. Does your words bring encouragement? Do your words bring inspiration for a friend to keep pressing towards their dreams and ambitions in life? Or does your words make people cringe? Does your words lift people up or do they take people down?

Walt Disney was fired because he was told that he lacked creativity. What would have happen to him had he believed in such words? There may have never been the enjoyment of 11 Disney theme parks around the world. I want to encourage you to be a refresher to those your around, and to surround yourself with those who believe in you and inspire you towards your dream.

If you're concerned about living in some crazy bubble, believe me there are enough negative people in the world to challenge your faith. There will always be those like Job's friends. They had nothing good to say to him in his worst nightmare. Even still God can give you grace to tunnel through those kinds of people.

Don't get bitter with these kinds of people, knowing that you have to learn to shake off their words. I heard a story about a farmer whose donkey fell into a well. The farmer and a friend worked all day to pull him out and save his life. With no success he decided to put him out of his misery and bury him in the well. As he began to throw dirt on top of this creature, each time the dirt hit his back; the donkey stepped up and shook it off till finally he walked right out of that well.

In life there will be plenty of those people who will come and criticize and throw words of grief and sorrow and pain your way. Each time choose to step up and shake off those words. Be very thankful for those that God places in your life that will Refresh you in your faith, in your call, in the assignment that God has given you. Why not be a friend and a Refresher to someone today who needs a lift, who needs encouragement. Push the button with your words that causes people to rise and go up? You'll never regret being a refresher.

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Is There Hope?

If there's ever been a story written for someone's difficult and dark place in life, it would be this story the book of Esther. God doesn't just sit passive on his throne when the people of God turn to him with all their heart and passion in great need.

A wicked man Haman had demised a plan to kill all the Jews. He connived in ways that were deceptive and destructive to kill all Jews in 127 providences. How would the Jews escape this dark plan of destruction?

It wasn't by chance that God had chose Esther to be the new queen of Persia. Was it her beauty, her talents, her smile, her demeanor that caused her to rise to the top?

God wasn't surprised when Haman came up with his demise to destroy all the Jews. He had a person in place named Esther that was chosen to make a difference with the enemies plot. Haman had great hate and anti-Semitism against the Jews. He hated Mordecai who refused to bow to him and plotted to rid himself of every Jew.

It so happen that an assassination attempt was being planned to kill the king, Mordecai heard of it and went and told Esther. As she reported the information to the king, the plot was stopped and the men were taken out and hung.

The king was up reading one night and so happens to read where Mordecai had saved his life, stopping the plot of these evil men. He asks, "What was ever done to Mordecai for saving my life?" The response was "Nothing was ever done. Haman who was in the king's court was ask, "What should be done to the man who the king wants to honor?" Haman thinking he wanted to honor him said, "I would parade him up and down the streets on the kings apparel and his horse." The king said, "Go and show honor to Mordecai."

Was God already at work for the Jews deliverance? Was God already working behind the scenes? Never give up friend in your darkest hour. Never under estimate the power of the hand of God to turn any situation around. Esther had ask her people to fast and pray for 3 days believing for a breakthrough.

The bigger question today is this, what am I doing to see a breakthrough? Am I being proactive with my own prayers and fasting in my darkest hour? God is no respecter of persons, He doesn't play favorites, and He does see and hear the cry of our hearts.

This story isn't over just yet and neither is yours. Never give up in your darkest hour. God can turn any mess into a miracle, He can turn your darkness into a powerful deliverance, He can turn this test into a awesome testimony. Ask today, what am I doing to see it happen?

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One Man

Nehemiah 8:1-18

A vision or a dream doesn't start with a congregation, or a committee but rather one man. Creating a light bulb didn't come from a large group of people but rather it came from one man who experimented some 1000 times before he designed the first light bulb.

Homes and businesses today enjoy light in our homes without candles all because one man was determined to make a difference. One man chose to take our transportation beyond the horse and buggy days. Henry Ford was determined to build a horseless vehicle that would carry a man to his destination. The model T Ford became a reality and it changed the way people live out their lives.

One man named Nehemiah wept when he heard that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down. He had a dream of going back and viewing its brokenness and ended up doing something about it.

As you read through all the names of those who came out of Babylon, nearly 50,000 were released to go back to Jerusalem to worship their God, let's be reminded that it all started with one man.

Are you that one person today that God will give a dream, a vision to make a difference in your community, your workplace, your family, your church, your neighborhood, your small life group?

Never underestimate the power of one man. The word of God is full of stories of one person who accepted the challenge to move the people of God forward into His blessings.

What would Israel have missed without Moses who went to Pharaoh to release them out of Egypt? What would have Israel missed without David who fought the giant Goliath and later became their king? What about Esther who became the voice of deliverance for Israel under Haman's demise?

Praise the Lord our Lord Jesus Christ, the son of the living God became the second Adam who gave his life on a cross so we could have life. The perfect Lamb of God would take away the sins of the world.

Paul said; "I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me." Just how many enjoyed the blessings in Nehemiah's day all because he was willing to take the risk and use his courage and faith to start a new day for the people of God. He made a decision to go beyond being a cupbearer for the king, and became the servant God was calling to make a difference with the brokenness of Jerusalem.

Has God placed something on your heart to accomplish? Never say, "I'm just one person." It all starts with one who is willing to yes, "Here are my hands, my feet, my voice, my heart, my faith. Here I am Lord, you can use me."

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More Determined?

Nehemiah 6:1-19

Troubles and problems cause some to cave in and run while others find a way to dig in with more fire and determination. It always seems easier to run than to stay and fight.

Most pastors stay at the church only three and half years and most youth pastors only stay nine months nationwide. What is it that affects our tenure at a place? I'm convinced that many move on because they think the grass is greener in another location. Maybe the next place won't have any real big problems or real bears? Friend there is no such place on this side of heaven.

What about your mandate? What about the assignment that the Lord has given you? What about making a mark in a place that needs a breakthrough, a real move of God? Can one see that done in a few years, or will it take a decade or even more time?

Nehemiah was under heavy fire from Sanballat and Tobiah. They even hired a prophet to tell him it would be better for him to pick up and run. I have learned that even when the fire is being turned up, "It's better to wrestle with your struggle than to wrestle with the regret that you quit." Friend let's not forget that God's hand is controlling the thermostat. He knows right where you are and what's really going on.

Too many times ministers don't stick around to enjoy the harvest that would come if they would just dig in and trust God to see them through their nightmare experience in ministry.

Sanballat's are still around today. They will intimidate and manipulate and aggravate you from what God has called you to do. Nehemiah states to this evil man, "You have made me more determined to continue this work until it is done."

Leaders need to remember the picture of the turtle sitting on a fence post? He didn't get there by himself. If we're not careful, we will forget that we didn't get where we are by ourselves. God is the one who opens the door and gives us the power to go the distance, the provision to keep the work going, the passport was written out in heaven for our place, and the protection to stay in place.

Nehemiah must have remembered the miracle that got him to the walls in the first place. God gave him a passport to get through some 1000 miles back to Jerusalem. God gave him the provision of timber from the king to build the walls. He gave him the protection to make the journey, and God gave him the power to get where he was. We forget to easy all that God did to get us where we are today. We had better expect a fight when we get on the job.

Dig in today, don't lose confidence in the one who has you in the place He has called you. As I look back through the pages of history, Moses, Joshua, David, Daniel, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, none of them had it easy. They all experience a bumping rocky road experience in fulfilling the assignment.

Why should we expect anything less in our service to our God? The apostle Paul said, "I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor angles, nor principalities, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate me from the love of God.

Paul was determined to not only stay in the fight but to keep the faith and to finish the course that was set before him. Jesus is our greatest example of all. He could have easily bailed out when all of hell's pressures came at him, but He said, "It is finished."

What if Christ had of never said those words? What if he had of called 10,000 angels to come to his rescue? Thank God he didn't . He finished the assignment that his heavenly father gave him.

Be determined to finish your wall, your mandate, and your assignment. Somebody is watching you. Somebody is counting on you. Somebody is depending on you to finish what you started.

Dig in, fight the good fight of faith, and watch the Lord stand up for you like he did Stephen. As he was saying, " forgive them for they know not what they do," The Lord was not sitting but standing at the right hand of God, cheering him on.

Are you more determined today? Have you made up your mind to go the distance? God has a grace for the test, the ordeal, and the quagmire that you're working through today. Hey, this case your dealing with now isn't to hard for your God.

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Keeping Your Joy?

Psalm 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,Whose sin is covered.

Where does one really find joy? Does it happen when I get my drivers license, when I get my first car, when I meet my first love, when I get through with college, or I get married, or is it when I have my first new child? There are people who are on a long search for something that will fill that emptiness in their gut.

David says very clear, joy is found when a man's sins are forgiven. In the Psalm 32, David expresses a season of his life when he was covering up a time where he had made a great blunder. He lusted after Bathsheba's beauty, slept with her hoping nobody would find out. To make sure nobody would put two and two together, he had her husband killed then he took her to be his wife.

David is expressing days that have gone by, "My bones waxed old through my roaring all the night long." He tossed and turned in the night miserable about his evil acts of adultery and murder. David starts out this Psalm, "Blessed is the man whose sins is forgiven." There is no joy like knowing things are cool between you and the Lord.

Why would anybody want to be at odds with God? Why would anybody want to go into hiding from a Holy God? Like a small child not wanting to see mom or dad when they come home, knowing they have done something wrong.

Months later, the prophet Nathan comes to David and it was revealed that David had been hiding his sin. David confesses that he had sinned and cries out to God for his mercy. The greatest joy a man can ever find in this life is to know that everything is right between him and God. Life is to short to live your life with covered up sin.

James says; "Confess your sins to God, He is faithful and just to cleanse us from all of our unrighteousness." Jesus teaches his disciples to pray each day, "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil."

One day, when Oral Roberts kids were small, he said he came home without asking any questions and gave his son a wiping. He later explained to him I just figured you needed one for all the times that you didn't get one. We all know there were times we may have felt we got away with something, but you know it in your heart when you have said something you shouldn't said, your attitude got out of line, your actions brought a heaviness in your spirit.

Friend real joy is found in keeping God's peace of forgiveness in your heart. David said, "When I kept silent my bones waxed old." Another words when he failed to bring to God his failures and mistakes he lived with this heaviness in his life. Go to God and get it out. God isn't looking for reason to junk you or get rid of you. He loves you and is just waiting for you to come to him for His mercy.

When there is real joy in your spirit, it will show and glow to others around you. There is nothing better else in life than knowing your sins are forgiven never to be in God's memory again. God says, "He buries our sins in the sea of forgetfulness."

God has a joy that puts a spring in your step and a smile on your face. Has He done that for you? He says, "Out of our bellies shall flow rivers of living waters." Are they flowing from your inner most being today? If not get alone with him today, confess whatever is troubling your inner man and watch the Lord restore unto you the joy of your salvation.

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Expect A Fight !!

Nehemiah 4 :1-23

Hell isn't sitting in his rocking chair this morning, he's not sun bathing on a cruise liner, he's very busy working his schemes and plans to discourage and distract God's children from their assignment.

Until we cross over to our home in heaven, Satan will stay at it with his demons to steal, kill and destroy. Nehemiah was very proactive in his approach to stay on the wall. He was very alert that Sanballat was angry and would attempt to stop and hinder the work of God.

Before our armed services, the marines, the army, the navy, the air-force goes into battle, they are all very aware of the threats of the enemy. On their radar is a close eye, watching out for their sneaky attacks. They stand ready, prepared, alert, and sober, to successfully win over the opposition. They realize the power of working with one another.

Nehemiah instructed his men to keep not only their tools by their side but to keep a friend by their side to protect them. I am thankful for the body of Christ. God teaches us to encourage one another, pray for one another, edify one another, be a friend to one another, fellowship with one another, worship with one another.

27 different times in the New Testament, God talks about one another. A friend is born for a time of adversity. The bottom line is you won't keep standing on the wall and keep working without buying into the plan of God who says, "We need one another."

The walls got built because Nehemiah was expecting a fight and he knew the only way to get the job complete was to work with one another. One was protecting his friend while the other was building the wall.

I have a group of men and women who pray for me everyday. The only reason I can keep doing what I am doing is, I know there is a devil who would like to take me down, but I know the real way to win the battle, is through prayer partners.

It's not your gifts and talents thats going to keep you on the wall, but it's winning the battle from discouragement and distractions and deception that hell throws your way. You can't do it alone. "Two are better than one." Live out your call and assignment with the anticipation that your going to need a friend that will stand by your side when the battle comes. Do you have a prayer partner? Do you have a friend that is standing with you? If not become one for someone else. Guys there's another brother than needs your prayers, sister there's another sister that needs your support.

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