Power Of Gifts

Key Scripture:  “For I am longing to see you, that I may impart and share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen and establish you;”   Romans 1:11, Amplified Bible

Power Point:

     I did it!  I just celebrated a landmark birthday!  It was a wonderful event thanks to my family and my friends. They gave me the most wonderful gifts. One of my favorite gifts was a notebook that my dear friend Julie had put together, filled with letters from people who knew me (and still loved me!).  Their words were such gifts from the Lord.  None of them had any way of knowing that the things they said to me were confirmations of the Words that the Lord had given me over thirty years ago. It will always be a treasured gift.

   I think the reason for that is that people took the time to reflect and put down on paper those things that they were seeing in my life. We don’t do that very often do we? We’re too busy or too challenged in our own lives and we don’t always take the time to give the gift of good words.

     Do you remember the old saying: “ I told you I loved you when I married you and if it changes, I’ll let you know”? We really need to let people know on a more regular basis, don’t we?

     If you think about it, Words are terribly important to God. Jesus is called the Word.  If HE is the word, than we should be concentrating on what He says shouldn’t we?  In Ephesians 4:29, Holy Spirit says that we are only let good words come out of our mouth; words that are “good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it.”  Ah.

     My mama used to tell me, “Think before you speak.” It’s taken a long time but I think I’m getting on track with that.  How about you?

     When you look at what Jesus says about our words it should make us stop and think shouldn’t it? Here’s your guideline for today:

Is what I am going to say, good, beneficial for someone’s spiritual progress?  Is it fitting to the need and the occasion? Will those who hear it be blessed? Will it give grace to them?’

What good word will you give to someone today? They may need to hear a kind word, an encouraging word, a helpful word or an “I love you because” word. What a gift you will bring them just as my friends did.  Lovely.

Power Thought:

The Blessing Angel

If you have the mind of Christ, what you think before you speak should be a good thing and what you speak will come from God's heart.

Powering UP America!

Key Scripture:  “You planted a flag to rally your people, an unfurled flag to look to for courage.  Now do something quickly, answer right now, so the one you love best is saved.”  Psalm 60:4, The Message

Power Point:

     I’ve always loved my country. As a child I can remember celebrating it on the Fourth of July and on Memorial Day. It was called “Decoration Day” back then.  My mom and my grandma and I would go to the graveyard and put flowers on the graves of our loved ones who were buried there.  Flags and banners were everywhere you looked. Businesses were closed and parades were on the march. There was always a picnic somewhere, and of course a baseball game and fireworks. It was a great family time and a great opportunity to be thankful for this great nation and to honor it and to honor God for giving it to us.

     I still get a tear in my eye when the flag is raised and I think about all the good things that God has done in and through this nation. In my mind I see the flag as a symbol of how we are a nation that trusts in God. Our flag and our God have been united from the very beginning.  When I see Old Glory flying,  I thank God because He is the One who allows it to still fly in spite of all the opposition. Did you know that when the flag is folded, the stars point upward to remind Americans of our national motto, "In God we trust!"? Yes.

     You may not remember, but forty or fifty years ago we were very proud of our nation. Yes, there were things that weren’t perfect but as Americans do, we kept working on them. And the beauty of that is, that because we were a free people, we had the freedom to change things that were wrong. Then people decided to take God out of the equation. He became very unpopular. People said He was dead. I guess that meant we could go ahead and live our lives any way we wanted to because it didn’t matter anymore.

Romans says it like this, “These men deliberately forfeited the truth of God and accepted a lie, paying homage and giving service to the creature instead of the Creator. Professing to be wise they became fools.”  One woman was instrumental in taking prayer out of the schools. One. One person decided that the constitution did not give us freedom of religion but freedom from religion. One. One person decided to fight the phrase, “One nation under God”. One.

     You may be only ONE person but if you are ONE in Him, you can change things. One person under God can still see miracles.

     The foundation of this nation is built on the fact that God is the One Person who is worthy to lead us, and that His wisdom is the only wisdom we want to order our lives by. It says in Isaiah 59,” God’s arm is not amputated-he can still save.  God’s ears are not stopped up-he can still hear.  There’s nothing wrong with God; the wrong is in you.”  We can change that can’t we?  We can call on Him in faith and confidence that He is who He says He is and can still do what He said He would do. And He wants to. So? Let’s change directions.

     Isaiah 59:19:  “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a banner against him and put him to flight.”  He will lift up a flag, the banner of Truth. Our flag is a testimony to the goodness and grace and truth of God over this land.  It’s worth the fight isn’t it? Are you ready to join the march and fight for the land that God has given us?

Power Prayer For America:

Father, no matter how bad things may look in the natural we have the privilege, as Your children, to live in the supernatural. We are not confined to what men say, but what You say. If You loved this nation enough to create it then You are still passionate about it. We will call on the Name of the Lord. We will watch You re-establish Truth as the rallying point for Your children. And we will stand on the truth that:

“This is My covenant with you. I’ve put My Spirit on you and I’ve given you truth to speak.  Those Words and that Spirit will not leave you, nor the mouths of your children or your grandchildren. You will keep on repeating these words and won’t ever stop.”   (adapted from The Message).

Your truth WILL go marching on!

In Jesus name.  Amen!

     

 It's a GRAND old flag!

Power Of Digging Ditches

Key Scripture:  “God’s word:  Dig ditches all over this valley.  …The valley is going to fill up with water.  This is easy for God to do.”  2 Kings 3, The Message

Power Point:

I can’t think of a much harder job than digging ditches. Whether the ground is hard or soft; whether it’s raining or snowing or the sun is shining; whether it’s cold or hot, the ditches have to be dug or there’s no place for the water to flow in a dry place.  In 2 Kings 3, Jehoshaphat and the King of Israel ask Elisha for a word from the Lord before they head into another battle. God tells them to “dig ditches”. Imagine heading into a fight and having to stop and dig ditches. God wants the ditches for a reason; He wants to fill them with water, a strategy by which He plans to confuse the enemy. Could He have done that on His own?  Absolutely. But He wanted the nation to help Him dig those ditches. When they are finished, they wake up the next morning to find that “suddenly” the valley is full of water. The ditches are holding the water.

     My daughter-in-law, Kim is a home school mom. She has to do that every day whether its hot or cold; whether she feels like it or not. She doesn’t get a day off. Every day she gets up, and digs ditches for her children so that they can become what God has called them to be. Sometimes its easy.  Sometimes it’s hard. My son recently encouraged her with this chapter. “Honey, you are digging ditches.”

     Are you digging some ditches in your life? Is there a “someone” who needs you to get into the trenches for them so that their valley can be filled with the River of God? You may be in the place where you can’t see the water yet, or maybe it’s just a trickle.  Could I encourage you today to keep digging?  Could I help you to grab on to God’s perspective and prepare for the flow of water which He has promised to send?  Will you “prepare a place” for God’s Spirit to rest?  It may not look like it now but the Water of God is on it’s way.  One morning you will wake up and “suddenly’ that valley will be full of water so that everyone can drink.

     We dig ditches when we “call for the things that aren’t yet seen but have been promised.”  We dig ditches when we refuse to give up, give out or give in.  We dig ditches when we trust God to help us do the hard things so that He can do the miraculous things.

     You’re digging ditches at work. You’re digging ditches at home when you tuck your children in at night with a prayer and a blessing. Grandparents, you're digging ditches when you pray.

Friend, you’re digging ditches when you intercede for your friend, when they can’t “see” the way yet.  Keep digging.  Soon the River of God will be flowing and the valley will be filled.

Power Thought:
To dig ditches correctly, you need to be able to see what will fill them.

Power Of Being An MIP

Key Scripture:   “What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus!  Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven- and the future starts now.”  The Message.

Power Point:

What if each thought in our heads was based on the other person?

How can I bless you today?

How can I pull out the treasure in you?

How can I call out the things that aren’t yet but are going to be?

How can I encourage you?

How can I strengthen you?

How can I…

     If we are Jesus with skin on, then that’s our assignment isn’t it?

We are to love unconditionally, bring His peace that passes all understanding, leave people in a better place than they were when we came in, and unlock heavenly doors for them so that they can think higher, live higher and reach higher. Something tells me that if I do that, I have done my job and I will be happier!

     Being a recovering analytical, who is also a recovering “critical”, I find myself in a place of greater peace and joy when I do what Jesus would do.  Instead of always trying to point someone to the “error of their ways” I  try to point them to what God thinks about them. I try to get them to look above and beyond today, into the future where God’s plans are coming to pass.

The thing about the promises He has given us is that they are unbreakable. His promises for every single one of us is our ticket for the future He has planned for us. In 2 Peter 1:4, those promises are described as a gift from a God who has such great mercy that He has allowed us to be born again into a life full of hope. Isn’t that what we should be offering people- hope?

     As I began my devotional time this morning, I found this quote by Roger Dawson, “Treat everyone you meet as though they are the most important person you'll meet today.”

As I thought about it, I realized that that is exactly the way God treats everyone. We are all His favorites! We are all MIP’s (Most Important Persons) to Him.  He is out to bless and honor and enjoy us.

     That does not mean that He does not recognize our shortcomings, He’s just not focused on them. His thoughts are always higher than ours aren’t they?  He’s thinking about the great things ahead, not the bad things behind. He’s thinking about how much He loves us. He’s planning how He can fill in the gaps that we’re missing in our experience of Him.

     So, off you go today to spread some heaven around earth today. First of all be sure you’re thinking higher, then think outside the box that you’ve already placed that person in.

It’s a stretch sometimes, but it’s a good stretch.

    Each person is a treasure to God, (yes, even that one!) and the best way they can see Jesus is when we act like Him. He always wants them (and us), to think higher, live higher, and reach higher. He wants that for us too.

Power Thought:

Remember to treat everyone you meet today as though they are the Most Important Person you’ve ever met.  God does.

Powering UP America!

Key Scripture:  “...here they are, rewarding us “by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit.  O our God, will You not judge them?  For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; no do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”  II Chronicles 20:11,12

Power Point:

     So what’s the point? Have you ever asked yourself that? What’s the point of continuing to try to believe God for divine intervention when everything seems to be in shambles?  What’s the point of praying or declaring or trying to talk to others about the power of God over this nation when they will just think you’re crazy?

     Beloved, here’s the point!  The enemy surrounded the nation of Israel. King Jehoshaphat was a great leader. He knew where to get help. As he goes before the Lord, He begins to remind Him, (and himself) of God’s power for His children. It went something like this:

The BAD news:

A great multitude is coming against us.

The Strategy:

Jehoshaphat feared and set himself to seek the Lord. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

These are his words:

You gave us this land and now they are coming to throw us out of YOUR possession, which You have given us to inherit?

Will YOU not judge them?

OUR EYES ARE ON YOU!

The GOOD News:

This is not your battle, it is the Lord’s. Position yourselves, stand still and see His salvation. He is with you. Don’t fear or be dismayed, go out against them.  Believe in Him and in His word and you shall be established.

The GREAT News:

When they began to sing and praise-the Lord set ambushes against the enemy. They turned on one another and no one escaped.

The GREATEST News:

They return with joy for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies.

Is He not still God? Is He not still our Savior, our Rescuer, our Deliverer? Isn’t He the one who has given us victory in establishing a free nation? Yes, My friend, He is. And it’s not over until He says its over. And it’s not over in His mind until the victory is secure and His people, who have called on His name have seen Him answer and save.

     In Malachi 3:16, it says, “those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them.”  What will you say today?  Will you remind yourself and those who love Him that He is a stunning provider, an awesome Warrior, and a Mighty God who acts on behalf of those who rejoice as they wait for Him? Remember, you are deciding and declaring your agreement with what God says, not what the world says. Remember, we walk by faith and not by sight. And that's the whole point.

Powering UP Prayer for America:

David Preparing For Battle

Father, I am so grateful that You are still God. I am so grateful that You never forget us; That our faces are inscribed on the palms of Your hands. Thank You that because of Your care for Your children, we live a blessed life, not a cursed one. We are the head and not the tail. Your words, Your character, Your passionate love for Your people are the things that set us free. We decide and declare that You are still God and You still act on behalf of those who eagerly wait for you, who believe in Your word, and there are no giants too big that You cannot destroy them. Thank You that we will return with joy as You make us to rejoice over our enemies.Thank You that we are never between a rock and a hard place, we are always standing on the Rock.

Let Your Truth keep marching on!

In Jesus Name.  Amen!