Let God Lead the Way!
I was sitting on the couch with my laptop trying to write some devotionals for the upcoming year. I felt this exhaustion come over me and frustration was settling in. At the same time an email prompt came up. I looked up and thought that I should open it. As I went to open the email my eyes drifted down to another email. It was From Water to Wine. I thought that is my daughter’s newsletter and I should read it. After reading her message I decided to put my computer down and wait for the Holy Spirit to lead me. I pray that the message below gives you guidance for 2022 as it gave me!
Hi Jackie,
I’ve been sitting here for a few days now, trying to write something inspirational to take us into the new year, but nothing I wrote sounded quite right. I was talking to a friend and expressed my frustration about not being able to find the perfect words, and do you know what they told me? “No matter what you write, don’t send anything until God tells you to.”
You may be thinking, “Well that's a bit dramatic for a simple newsletter,” but I think the message in their response is bigger than the newsletter. The message is one I hope you take into the new year: “Don’t move until God tells you to.”
As you enter into 2022, I pray that your relationship with God is so strong that you don’t move until He gives you the green light, illuminating the path in front of you and filling your heart with peace. In the upcoming year you’re going to be presented with so many opportunities, challenges, people and decisions, and I pray that you allow God to direct and guide you through them all.
Let 2022 be the year that you wait on Him in every aspect of your life. Let it be the year you surrender to his promptings, which in turn allows you to step into the fullness He has for you! I know that this is much easier said than done. So, I’ve listed a few scriptures to serve as encouragement and guidance for the next 365 days and beyond.
I hope you had a peaceful Christmas, and I’m praying you receive everything God has for you in the new year! 🎉 https://www.fromwatertowine.net/about2
Always, Charlene
Love Journey
…his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness—Isaiah 52:14, NIV I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Isaiah 50:6, NIV Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer….Isaiah 53:10, NIV
I was up praying one morning when I heard myself say, “God, I want to out love people. I want to love them more than they could ever love me.” I immediately heard him say to read the scriptures above. Jesus was beaten so much that he was disfigured beyond recognition. He did not hide his face when people pulled out His beard, mocked at Him and was spat upon. Scripture says that it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer.
After reading those verses I thought about what I had just prayed. I could feel my eyes swell up with tears. I not only thought about how Jesus had suffered for us, but that God was telling me suffering and pain comes with love. I knew in my flesh I did not want to endure that kind of pain. I could feel a war going on in my heart. The Holy Spirit wanted me to know that to truly fulfill what I had prayed, pain and suffering would be apart of this journey and it is God’s will to crush my flesh.
I sat there with tears rolling down my eyes just thinking about what was going on inside me. Then from nowhere I understood I would be transformed into his love and my fleshly me would be conquered and I would be more like Him! My spirit was lifted and all I could say was YES!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19-20
Grinding your way to Greatness
I’ve been listening to Juanita Bynum’s series on Working with Warfare and it has been one of the best gifts God could have ever given me for this season. I need everything she is teaching in this series. She talks a lot about grinding your way to greatness. The dictionary defines grinding as (of a state) oppressive, tedious, and seemingly without end; to reduce to powder or small fragments by friction (as in a mill or with the teeth).
To grind is to stay focused on whatever call God has given us even tough sometimes it looks like there is no end to the process. When we are grinding we have to set boundaries with friends and family. We cannot get to the greatness God has ordained for us with distractions from others. I am currently working on several projects and now that I am retired my children would contact me at anytime. I had to set boundaries with them on when I would be available to talk so that I am not interrupted. When boundaries are set it takes away the frustration of getting interrupted and losing a thought that could have summed up an important project.
Grinding requires discipline, there are a lot of activities and things that come up that we would love to do with our friends but we cannot do all those things and get the task before us competed. We have to be disciplined to the call. God does require us to be balanced so we do need to have time to spend with family and friends. We also may have to put our phone on mute so that we are not disturbed. When God is speaking with us and we are working with Him we want to give Him all of your undivided attention.
It is easy to take for granted some of the jobs that God has given us because it does not seem like a job that is working for Him. But every job that we receive is an assignment from God and He expects us to grind our way to the greatness He has put on the inside of us. Amen!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Noah
The generation of people that Noah grew up with most died and did not fulfill their purpose. God told Noah that He was going to destroy the earth because man was so evil. Noah built the ark according to God’s instruction and because of his obedience he saved his immediate family. Noah’s wife, his three sons and their wives were the only human beings that went into the ark.
This morning the Holy Spirit woke me up early to read Genesis 5-7. God reminded me that Noah could not save any of his other relatives. He had brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews but he could not save them. The Bible says that God shut the door, which means that even if Noah tried to open the door he could not.
Noah’s assignment was to build an ark that carried all of us in it. We were in the womb of the eight people that went into the ark. His assignment could not have felt good, nor did he probably want to always be up building the humongous boat every day. Our flesh will fight us in our assignments but our assignment is never just to take care of us and ourselves. There is no way Noah could have known who he was carrying in that ark. We don’t know the lives that are at stake if we ignore the call God has for us. I encourage you to obey God as Noah did so that all God ordained for you to do can be fulfilled.
Father,
Only eight people in Noah’s generation out of the whole world was saved when you destroyed the world. We know that the earth will be destroyed again (2 Peter 3); therefore, we ask that you will help us to stay focused on the assignments you have given us and move like Noah to fulfill our purpose. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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The Awakening
This morning I was awoken around 2:00 a.m. I knew immediately that it was the Holy Spirit. It always seems to happen when I am sleeping so good. I mean, when you are in this really good sleep and you find yourself awake. The thing is you have the power to turn over and go right back to sleep. You can feel your body wanting to turn over and lay back down, but you know God is calling you.
This is what we call battling with our flesh, or spiritual warfare. Our flesh is telling us to do something completely opposite of our spirit and we have to decide who gets our attention. At the time I did not realize it but the 2:00 am wake up call was the best thing ever for me. I had been on this journey to get to know the Holy Spirit in a deeper way!
When I knew this was an answer to my prayers. I waited and listened while I lay in the bed. I was so excited that I was right in agreement with the Holy Spirit. He had actually come early to wake me up and I could hear Him speaking to me. I could hear the silence. I knew it was Him! I asked if I could get up and go into another room as to not disturb my husband, but He told me to lay there. I just continued to listen to the silence. The longer I laid there silently the more I knew He wanted me there. I could feel His presence and I just listened to the silence. Eventually He told me I could get up and go to the other room. I took a pen and my journal and begin to write all that He had given me.
I am learning to hear the Holy Spirit and recognize His voice just like I recognize my husband’s voice. It does not matter where I am when my husband speaks I know it is him. This is the place where I believe God wants us all to be with Him. He wants us to recognize and know Him in such a way that no matter what is going on in our lives we hear Him directing us. Why? Because He has the best plans for our lives and He knows what is up ahead. However, most of all it is because God loves us so much that He wants a deep intimate relationship with each one of us. Think of the one you love and what you would do to have this type of amazing relationship with them! God desires that a million times more and we know this to be true because He sent His only son to die for us. As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you Isaiah 62:5, ESV.
If you find yourself awake early in the morning, don’t go back to sleep answer the call because ELOHIM the creator of this world, wants to talk to you! How exciting!!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Nothing Else
JCC Ministries does not own the copyright for this video. No copyright infringement intended. For inspirational purposes only.
I felt like the Holy Spirit wanted me to post the words to this song. I would encourage you to read the words as you let the song play. The words are a powerful prayer to our Father and I pray this song speaks to your heart! The song is entitled "Nothing Else" by (feat. Cody Carnes)The Belonging Co
I’m caught up in Your presence I just want to sit here at Your feet I'm caught up in this holy moment I never wanna leave Oh, I'm not here for blessings Jesus, You don't owe me anything more than anything that You can do
I just want You I'm sorry when I've just gone through the motions I'm sorry when I just sang another song take me back to where we started I open up my heart to You I'm sorry when I've come with my agenda I'm sorry when I forgot that You're enough take me back to where we started
I open up my heart to You I’m caught up in Your presence I just want to sit here at Your feet I'm caught up in this holy moment I never wanna leave Oh, I'm not here for blessings Jesus, You don't owe me anything and more than anything that You can do
I just want You I just want You Nothing else, nothing else Nothing else will do I just want You Nothing else, nothing else Nothing else will do I just want You Nothing else, nothing else Nothing else will do I just want You Nothing else, nothing else, Jesus Nothing else will do I just want You
Nothing else, nothing else Nothing else will do I just want You Nothing else, nothing else, Jesus Nothing else will do
I'm coming back to where we started I'm coming back to where we started. When I first felt Your love You're all that matters, Jesus You're all that matters I'm coming back to what really matters Just Your heart I just wanna bless Your heart, Jesus I'm caught up in Your presence I just want to sit here at Your feet I'm caught up in this holy moment I never wanna leave And oh, I'm not here for blessings Jesus, You don't owe me anything More than anything that You can do Oh, I just want You
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Cody Carnes / Hank Bentley / Jessie Early
Nothing Else lyrics © Capitol Cmg Paragon, Capitol Cmg Amplifier, Every Square Inch, Writers Roof Publishing
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Lawlessness in the Church
And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved Matthew 24:12-13, ESV.
My husband asked me to sit down and relax before I started to prepare dinner. I took off up stairs and I thought to myself, “I’m not sure that I know how to relax. What do I do?” So I picked up this book on my shelf called Under Cover by John Bevere and I begin to read it. As I was reading it I came across the scripture above.
I took out my highlighter and began to highlight what the scripture was saying. I then pulled out my Bible to get the full context of the scripture. My heart became heavy as I read the complete chapter and I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Stop reading and write what is in your heart.”
The scripture says that, “Because of lawlessness the hearts of the believers will grow cold.” When I read this scripture I had initially thought that the believers hearts would grow cold because of the lawlessness in the world. However, He was actually speaking about lawlessness in the church! This means that lawlessness will be in the hearts of believers. As I sat and meditated on that thought I started to reflect on the condition of the church today.
The COVID pandemic has really revealed the hearts of many believers. I would have never expected the church (not the building) would be in such disarray because of a virus and a request from our government to wear masks. I listened to believers argue and fight over whether or not we should wear masks and argue that the church (a building) should not be closed. Satan has really found a way to get many believers to eat at his table!
If we don’t meditate on the word of God, and seek His word as if it is something we value, we will be lost. The Bible says that, “not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. (Matt. 7:21) And His will is, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” The second is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.” Matthew 12;30—31,ESV Beloved, we have been commanded to love!
Father,
How we praise you, thank you for your love. We seek your forgiveness for not walking in love as you have taught us to. We do not want our hearts to grow cold, we seek your help to walk out this amazing journey in unconditional love. Our desire is to obey your commands. This we pray in Jesus’ name amen.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Be careful what you say
The tongue also is fire. James 3:6, NIV
On a windy day in March 1997, a father and son visited Valley Forge National Historic Park, where George Washington stationed the Revolutionary Army during the difficult winter of 1777 - 1778. The man and his son had something much less historic in mind: They wanted to launch a model rocket. At first they tried using electric ignition wires to light the fuse, but to no avail. So they tried lighting the fuse with a common sparkler, the kind frequently seen at annual holiday celebrations. That’s when trouble began. Sparks ignited a grass fire and the winds quickly spread the blaze, burning a field where Revolutionary War soldiers had trained, and coming within a half-mile of George Washington’s headquarters. The value of what they put at risk was incalculable. It took thirty units from twelve fire departments over an hour to bring the blaze under control. In the end some thirty acres where charred, and the man with the sparkler was charged with destruction of government property and improper use of fireworks. The Bible says, “Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body” (vv.5-6, NIV). “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep…the door of my lips” (Ps 141:3, NKJV). “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil” (1Pe 3:10), NKJV). “The lips of the godly speak helpful words” (See Pr 10:21). So make sure your words help, not hurt; build up, not tear down. In other words be careful what you say!
Source: The Word For You Today
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Harmony At Home (3)
“It’s smart to be patient, but it’s stupid to lose your temper.” Pr 14:29, CEV
It’s never okay to explode at those God has entrusted to your care. “The Bible says, “Don’t get so angry that you sin. Don’t go to bed angry and don’t give the devil a chance” (Eph 4:26-27 CEV). Satan would like nothing better than to gain entry to your home and turn it into a living a hell, and every time you fly into a rage, you lose ground to him. That’s why the Scripture say, “it’s smart to be patient, but it’s stupid to lose your temper.” The key to managing your anger lies in finding healthy ways to express it so that it doesn’t end up hurting more than helping. It’s important to share your feelings, but you must always do it in the right way. Ultimately it’s not about who’s right and who’s wrong, or who can yell the loudest. It’s about finding the solution that’s best for everyone. Understand this: Nobody can be everything you want them to be all the time. It’s impossible to have a long-term, loving relationship without learning to accept human weakness. So instead of dwelling on one another’s shortcomings, focus on your collective strengths as a family. Clinical neuropsychologist Paul Pearshall says, “Most of us would give our own life for…a family member, yet we lead our daily life too often as if we take our family for granted.” Learn to control your temper; your family is worth it. After all, who else loves you regardless of what you do? And where else can you go to find comfort and strength that comes from that kind of support system?
SOURCE: The Word For You Today
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Harmony At Home (2)
“A house divided against itself will fall.” Lk 11:17 NIV
They say, “The apple never falls far from the tree,” and Jacob certainly proved that. Nearing the end of his life when he should have been preparing to bless his sons Simeon and Levi, he told them, “I…curse…you because of your…anger” (Ge 49:7 CEV). But their behavior should have come as no surprise. The fact is, Jacob had already shaped them by his own example when he deceived his father (See Ge 27) and his father-in-law (See Ge 30). And his mother facilitated the deception. Behavioral patterns are passed from generation to generation. Your attitudes and actions will either blight your children or bless them. The Word of God says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Pr 22:6). Your children inherit more than just your looks. They end up with the values you taught and the emotional disposition you displayed. Don’t involve them in your marital disputes. The Bible says, “Anger rest in the bosom of fools” (Ecc 7:9 NKJV), and kids are easy targets for misdirected rage. Even when your outbursts aren’t aimed at them, they still suffer the effects. For example, your boss reprimands you at work, and because you can’t retaliate, you come home like a bear with a headache and make everybody around you walk on eggshells. Lower the decibel level! Don’t let your anger run amok. King David shined on the battlefront but struggled on the home front. Perhaps that’s why one of the last Psalms reads like this: “Help me to guard my words whenever I say something” (Ps 141:3 CEV).
SOURCE: The Word For You Today
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Harmony At Home (1)
“Patiently put up with each other and love each other.” Eph 4:2 CEV
Without harmony on the home front, all your career successes can feel empty. Anytime you find it easier to talk to outsiders than to your own family, something’s broken—and urgently needs fixing. God designed your family to be a support system, and a safety net to catch you when you fall. And His word gives us the prescription for creating harmony at home: “Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. Try your best to let God’s Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace” (vv. 2-3 CEV). Note four important words in this Scripture: “humble,” gentle,” “patiently,” and “united.” Without those essential ingredients, it won’t work! So start praying for your kids instead of just laying down rules that create distance when you don’t see eye to eye. You won’t always agree, but you can learn to value, love, and respect each other. Every family has its ups and downs—and every family tree has a few nuts! But if you bail out when things get tough, you’ll miss the harvest you could have reaped by hanging on. For example, sometimes the child that ends up blessing you the most is the one who didn’t necessarily agree with your ideas, or embrace your values, or marry the person you thought they should have. Yes, it’s upsetting, but in the long run none of that matters because family is a life-long investment. Some of those who opt for divorce end up wishing they had hung in a little longer, and had loved a little bit more. Make sure you’re not one of them!
SOURCE: The Word For You Today
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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The Prowling Enemy
And give no opportunity to the devil. Ephesians 4:27, ESV
I was looking at another scripture when the one above came in my view. I thought, “Oh wow that is a good scripture! I need to write about it.” As I sat writing, I wondered how do I give the devil opportunity? Then a thought came into my mind to read Ephesians 4.
It is believed that the Apostle Paul is the author of the Book of Ephesians. He wrote a letter to the church in Ephesus about how to live the Christian life. In Ephesians 4:26-27 Paul writes, Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Wow that is it! Our unresolved anger allows Satan an opportunity to get into our heads and cause havoc. We have to be so careful of what we invite into our minds. Scripture says, Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1Peter 5:8, ESV
Have you ever been so angry with someone that in your mind you walk through everything you would love to say and do when you see that person? We can feel our emotions build up as we prepare our minds on how we would handle the situation. We even go so far as to think how the other person might respond. All these thoughts have just given Satan the opportunity that he needed to get into our heads! He is actually the one putting the negative thoughts into our heads to create the scenes for us. When we do this we have moved away from hearing God, to hearing Satan. Satan is a master at his craft and we have to meditate on the word of God so that we recognize his attacks. His tactics have-not changed, but because we are not equipped in the full armor of God we cannot recognize them coming. At all times even when we have righteous anger, we have to be careful to release it to God so that we don’t open the door for the enemy in our hearts! Amen!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Enslaved
“…people are slaves to whatever masters them” (2 Peter 2:19, NIV).
Slave: a person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them. synonym: bondman, bondwoman, bondservant, bondslave, serf, vassal, thrall
When I hear the word slave, immediately my mind goes to the brutal mistreatment that my ancestors suffered because of the color of their skin. When I looked up the definition of slavery on the internet, pictures of auction blocks depicting the way my ancestors would have been treated were displayed. My heart aches with pain because of the complete and utter brokenness that was happening in this country at that time. Slavery was a result of a deceptive and destructive spiritual scheme led by Satan himself. The saddest part is that few people recognized or understood that Satan was and still is the ruler behind this awful atrocity.
Scripture says, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5, KJV). From birth we were all enslaved to Satan and he is constantly devising plans to set us up to destroy ourselves and each other. He is the lord of all evil. He moves around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. We would never think of ourselves as enslaved by anyone because we cannot see Satan in the flesh. Satan knows we think with our natural carnal mind instead of with our spiritual mind, therefore it gives him the advantage to keep us in bondage. He deceives us into believing that since we cannot see him, he must not be real; therefore, we direct our revenge at the wrong enemy.
In America, everyone believes we are free. Earlier this month, we celebrated our Independence Day. Many people put American flags on their homes and all kinds of fireworks were set off to commemorate this occasion. Satan keeps us focused on the natural things which are passing away so we will continue to be enslaved to him.
However, all is not lost, for we have a choice of whom or what will master us. Scripture teaches that Jesus came to the earth, lived a sinless life and died on the cross for our sin. He paid the price to give us a choice of a new master. The choice is up to us, we can be mastered by Satan, the lord of all evil or Jesus Christ, the Lord of lords who gives eternal life. Any other choice besides Jesus Christ is a choice of Satan. Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
We are all enslaved but because of Jesus Christ we have a choice. We have the authority to choose who will master us.
Father,
Thank you for giving us a choice to live eternally with you, we know that your yoke is easy and your burdens are light. We know that because we were born in sin we have to repent to you and according to Romans 10:9, if we declare with our mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved. We ask you to become the master ruler over our lives.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Friend
Friendship: the emotions or conduct of friends; the state of being friends.
friends: a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations
A couple of days ago I was blessed to have a retirement tea party given to me by my co-workers. I had actually told them that I did not want a party, but I am so glad they insisted! At one point during the party individuals started to give speeches and most of them talked about being friends or having a friendship.
When I sat down to write the word friendship came up again in my spirit. I thought okay this is at the center of my mind this is what the Holy Spirit is directing me to write about. In the paragraph above, I listed the definition of both friend and friendship. The more I meditated on the definition of friendship it struck me that friendships are developed by two complete strangers. Our marriages and families are developed by strangers coming together and learning to love one another. We were taught how to show ourselves friendly as young toddlers. Our parents taught us to say, “Hello!” and to be kind.
The only friend we will ever meet who we will not be a stranger to us is Jesus. He knows us by name and He created us for this specific time and season. We are ordained to be here on earth right now and to meet those around us. It is unfortunate that in the past we did not know Jesus and we treated Him as a stranger. However, Jesus was always present; like a friend sitting on the sidelines waiting for us to invite Him into our lives. He wanted to share with us the mutual affection and bond that would give our lives an amazing journey.
Friendship is an emotional relationship between individuals who are friends. Scripture says
There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24, NLT). We are put here on earth to love one another and to develop friendships that will allow those who are lost to see Jesus through us. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another (John 13:34,ESV).
When I accepted my position at the California Department of Education, the last thing on my mind was making friends. My focus was to do a great job and receive a paycheck so that I could help provide for my family. Over the years I have come to learn through the Holy Spirit that my job was never about a paycheck, but an assignment from God to let His light shine through me so He could show the world that He is their friend!
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13, ESV).
Father,
Help us to remember that our assignment along with doing our job is to let others see you through us and that you are their friend. We thank you that even in the difficult times you are with us; and we are not to be dismayed, for you are our God; You will strengthen us, You will help us, and uphold us with Your righteous right hand. To God be glory and praise Amen!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
My recently published book Life’s Journey is now available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VYJKJ9K/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_6Z95ANB487AMDF3VTDP9
God’s Will
When a loved one dies, they usually leave a will giving their wishes of their estate for the family. Depending on the age of the children they may leave stipulations on how the children can receive their inheritance. A few weeks back, I was going through the internet and I came across a message from a pastor I had listened to in the past. In this message, he made reference to the fact that we have an inheritance from God. He said when Jesus Christ died, He left a will. I don’t believe I can remember any pastor expressing God’s will in that way. But it is so true we have an inheritance from God and we can choose whether to accept His inheritance or not.
The pastor did not focus too much on that area of the message but I could hear the wheels turning in my head. I was repeating over and over God has a will. What is the inheritance that he left us? I heard the Holy Spirit say, “I need you to write about my will.” As I started writing, I asked God, “What part of your will do you want me to talk about? You have given us so much.” Then he reminded me of the scripture below:
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (I Cor 11:23-26, )
Our inheritance is His body and his blood; it is the beautiful gift that Jesus left for us. It was the only thing He gave the disciples and he waited until the night before he was going to die to give it to them: His will. His body contains all the other inheritance in the will; His blood, power, knowledge, wisdom, healing, etc. All of it He left for us to have while we are here on earth. Sadly, there are so many individuals who have not cashed in on His will because He left a stipulation. You must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that He died for our sins.
It’s unfortunate that so many individuals have been deceived by Satan. He has people believing that they can have a relationship with God without going through Jesus Christ. The problem is God says we cannot come to Him without going through his Son because He shed his blood that covers our sins. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for all the ugly things we have done or may do in the future. God cannot look on sin. The cost of sin is immediate death. If we do not accept this fact, it will cost us our eternal life.
Father,
I pray for every individual that has not received Jesus Christ as their Savior. I ask that you remove the scales from their eyes and draw their hearts to you so they can receive the gift of eternal life. It is not your desire that anyone perish and you left your abundant will for us to enjoy! In Jesus’ name, amen.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
My recently published book Life’s Journey is now available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VYJKJ9K/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_6Z95ANB487AMDF3VTDP9
Growing
Okay, I’m giving a disclaimer right now…I am a little over the top with my garden. This is the first year I have ever planted a summer garden and I am super excited! I seem to notice every little thing that happens to my plants. I always hear God speaking to me in the garden and I love it!
A few days ago, I looked at my cucumber plant and I noticed that one of the vines had attached itself to the trellis I have in the planter box. I wanted to train the plant to grow up this trellis so that I would have more room in my planter box. I was so excited that the plant obliged me and did it on its own without me guiding the vine.
Of course, this made me think of us. I wondered how excited God must get when we just follow what He has set up for us. Everything in this world comes from God and do you know that we are the only creation that does the opposite of what He tells us? We are the creation that He loves the most yet we are the hardest to get to be obedient. I could not tell my cucumber plant what to do but it figured it out. Perhaps we should take a little more time to please God by seeking Him first and surprising Him with our obedience.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
My recently published book Life’s Journey is now available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VYJKJ9K/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_6Z95ANB487AMDF3VTDP9
Who is Mastering You?
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24, NIV).
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26, ESV)
How can we tell what is mastering us? If we are following after Jesus Christ and doing what Scripture says, then He is our master. But if we are saying we accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, but are still living according to our fleshly desires, we are liars and the truth is not in us.
A simple way to tell what is mastering us is to use these questions as filters:
1. Do our actions align with the Bible?
2. Do we have peace in our spirit about this action?
3. Does our action align with the character of God?
4. Who will get the glory by this action?
If we run all of our actions, behaviors, and even our thoughts through these filter questions, we will know who or what masters us. Jesus did not come to condemn us, but to give us an abundant life. “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10, KJV). He wants us to enjoy this life as we walk in obedience to Him so we can live eternally with Him.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
My recently published book Life’s Journey is now available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VYJKJ9K/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_6Z95ANB487AMDF3VTDP9
Your Goliath
As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. 1 Samuel 17:48-50, NIV
I was listening to a teaching about David and Goliath. The teacher said that Goliath was David’s problem. He said that no one knew about David until Goliath was a problem for Israel’s army. The teacher then asked “What is your Goliath?” It became so clear to me that without Goliath, David would not have been famous. Goliath was one of David’s problems to solve.
This teaching made me think about how I handle problems that are like a Goliath to me. I usually try and prevent those problems at all cost or I am quickly trying to figure out how to get rid of it. We do not want problems. We do not look for them and when a problem comes we go on the hunt as quickly as possible to get rid of it. Many of us go to God and we ask Him to take away the problem.
I wonder if the problems that we face are the ones that we were sent here to solve. We are always looking for our purpose, but we never expect it to come in the form of a problem. David became King because there was a problem with King Saul. Ester became queen because there was a problem with Queen Vashti. Jospeh became second in command to Pharaoh because there was a problem with drought in the land. Moses became a leader because there was a problem with slavery of God’s people in Egypt. Whenever there is a problem a solution must be found. If you look around our world the most successful businesses are solving a problem.
God has ordained each of us to be here at this very moment because He has placed in each one of us the answer to problems that the earth has. We must spend time seeking God to find out what the problem is that we are suppose to solve. When we solve the problem people will pay us for the answer. We must remember that when the problem comes we should not run away, but do like David. Go to God in prayer and then quickly run towards the battle. Remember the answer resides in us.
There is not one problem that comes to us that we have not already been provided with the answer. The answer is always waiting on the problem to get there. King David, Joseph, Queen Esther and Moses were already on the earth waiting for the problem to arise. God had already put the answer in them and He has done the same with us!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
My recently published book Life’s Journey is now available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VYJKJ9K/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_6Z95ANB487AMDF3VTDP9
Be Who You Are
It all begins with an idea.
My husband had a minor in/out surgery procedure. His surgery was at 10:30 so we arrived at 10:00. What I did not realize is how nervous my husband was about his procedure. He chatted with everyone that was in the waiting room. I am not the talker so I chose to sit quietly and just listen.
My first reaction was to try and have him speak softly to those ladies that he was chatting with so that he would not disturb the other individuals waiting for their treatment. But what I noticed is that everyone was listening and seemed to be enjoying the conservation he was having with the two individuals.
Everyone acted as though they were involved intently in reading their books or on their phones but they were actually using those means as a distraction for themselves. I saw people chucking to themselves when my husband conservation lead to something funny. As I observed the different reactions from those individuals it made me realize that God ordained my husband to be there at that time to bring joy to some other individuals lives.
The more I reflected on the situation, the more I realize that our different personalities are a gift from God. We should always strive to be who God made us to be. I can never be the talkative, funny, joyful person that my husband is, he has this way of making everyone laugh. I can only be the person God made me to be. I will rarely ever walk into a room and strike a conversation with strangers because that is not comfortable to me. But my husband will rarely ever write a blog about what he experienced. Despite our difference no gift is better than another. We all have beautiful gifts given in our personalities that will draw others to Christ if we just be who God made us to be.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
My recently published book Life’s Journey is now available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VYJKJ9K/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_6Z95ANB487AMDF3VTDP9