Power UP!

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Power Of Staying In The Shallows

Power Of Staying in the Shallows

Key Scripture: "He brought me through the waters and the water came up to my ankles. Again...He brought me through the waters; the waters came up to my knees...again, He measured the depths and the water came up to my waist. Again He measured and it was a river that I could not cross, for the water was too deep, water in which one MUST SWIM, a river that could not be crossed." Ezekiel 47: 3-5

Power Point:

When my son David, was small, we introduced him to the water in his grandparent's pool. He wasn't having it. He screamed until we took him out. So we decided to "start small". We started in the shallow end where there were some steps until he finally got used to that. He would play with his toys on the steps but that was definitely as far as he intended to go. His dad would pick him up and hold him close to his chest and slowly walk more deeply into the water. Then he would dip into the deeper water. David was definitely NOT having any of that. Finally, they invented "floaties"-those wonderful inflatable floats that fit right on his arms. You absolutely could not go under the water with those things on. The Floaties allowed David to get used to the feel of the water and eventually of course, he lost his fear and began to swim. In fact, today he trains for Triathalons and swims it to win it! On the other hand, his four year old daughter Hannah, has been ready to swim from the beginning. It should be interesting to see that fearlessness play out in her life.

The Christian life is like learning to swim if you think about it. In Ezekiel, we see the River of God flowing from the Throne of God. In the beginning, you usually just dip your toe in the water, then the water comes up to your ankles, then your knees, until suddenly it's so deep that you have to swim or you will sink! When you float, the water will hold you up, but you won’t make much

progress. When you learn to swim, you move forward. Some Christians decide to stay in "the shallow end". They don't want to bother learning to swim. After all, their dad is there to hold them. The unfortunate part about that logic is that living in the shallows means that you never learn to swim on your own. You never get to learn the joy of that experience. Then when the waters of life get deep or rough, you are always calling for rescue, always frantically looking for someone to get you OUT!

The truth is, that God will hold you close but at some point He will begin to dip into the depths of the water so that you can learn to swim on your own. That's vital, and that's His purpose. Swimmers are prepared when the waters seem too deep. They use their skills to navigate the deeper waters knowing that their Father is right there with them, and if the current of those waters become too strong, then He will clasp you to His chest and the waters will not overflow them.

Beloved, we were never meant to stay in the "shallows" of the River of God. His plan is to teach you to become comfortable with the water and eventually to swim and not sink. Even now, somewhere in your life circumstances you are being given an opportunity to learn to swim. God knows that you can't rely on staying in the shallows and He knows that floaties won't help you navigate the rough waters. He wants you to learn to swim before you get to the rough waters. It's so much easier that way.

Perhaps you've decided to stay in the shallows in the area of developing the Fruit of the Spirit. You never try to grow your spirit man so you are always dog paddling through relationships. You might be putting on your floaties to help you swim in Faith. You simply refuse to take the time to do the necessary training to develop your faith muscles. What is the area of your life where your heavenly Father is offering you the opportunity to learn to swim on your own?

Isn't it time to come out of the shallows and learn to swim into all that God is training you for?

Are you ready to sink or to swim?

Power Thought:

You were never intended to stay in the shallows Beloved, you were always meant to swim vigorously in the river of God. And enjoy it.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Power of Waking UP

Key Scripture: “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.” Isaiah 60:1

Power Point:

When I woke up this morning, I woke up to the glory of the Lord filling every available inch of space in my bedroom.

When I woke up this morning, I woke up to the presence of Perfect Love.

When I woke up this morning, I woke up to kind words being whispered in my ears.

When I woke up this morning, I woke up to a day filled with purpose, Godly plans, and a future vibrating with hope.

When I woke up this morning, I woke up to grace, favor, forgiveness, and blessings.

When I woke up this morning, I woke up to the Power of God ready to do "whatever I asked in Jesus Name."

Actually, I have the privilege of beginning every day in that way. And so do you, Beloved. Jesus promised that if we would follow Him, He would manifest Himself to us. The Father has promised that He would be with us. The Holy Spirit is an ever-present presence of the Person, and the Promise of God for us. He is everywhere we are.

Perhaps you haven’t woken up to those glorious truths. Perhaps you thought you were on your own. Perhaps you walked right out of the glory of His presence and decided to live life on your own today.

Beloved, if you are His and He is yours, all of heaven is waiting with eager anticipation to see how you wake up. Your God and all of heaven’s resources are there to fight for you, bless you, and keep you close.

Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed today? You might want to go back and get up on the right side. You might like to rise and make a dedicated effort to see the glory of God in your life.

Deep darkness will cover the people;

BUT the Lord will arise over you,

And His glory will be seen upon you.

Isaiah 60:2

That’s the inheritance of the children of the Lord. Live it.

Power Thought:

When you wake up to the glory of God, you will rise and you will shine!

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Power Of Adding Things UP!

Key Scripture: "For if you forgive men their trespasses, THEN your heavenly Father will forgive you. BUT if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you." Matthew 6, 14, 15

Power Point:

Often when someone offends us, we begin to ADD UP his or her other sins against us. Well, he/she did that but I should have expected it because they did all these other things before. Our mind swings to the past and with laser like precision, we zero in on every single thing they've done since they drew their first breath! In truth, everything they do from that moment on is carefully added up. They can never get out of the hole you have dug for them.

Our heavenly Father knows that "counting sin" is one of the most destructive things we can do to ourselves.

That's why Jesus zeroed in on forgiveness everywhere He went. You see Beloved, true forgiveness is a gift that we give ourselves. When we refuse to forgive someone, even though we might be perfectly justified in being offended, we hurt ourselves most. That offence doesn't happen just once, it happens over and over and over again. The real victim of unforgiveness is ourselves. Instead of thinking on all the "good" that God has promised, our focus is on an offense, which causes us to be bitter and angry. We become unable to access the Life of God that is present in us. The results of unforgiveness, cause us to live separated from the fullness of God's love for us and in us. We may, walk like a Christian, talk like a Christian, but in truth the we are missing the key to receiving His perfect love, forgiveness, grace and mercy. We become unable to access all that potent healing power of the Holy Spirit, which is readily

available. We decide that our problem is more important than making the choice to forgive and move past the offense. Someone has said that holding on to bitterness, (or irritation, or frustration), is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die. Poison kills the person who ingests it. I take a thyroid pill every morning. That's a good thing. It helps an important organ in my body to work well. What if you or I took a "bitter" pill every morning before we began our day? It would be debilitating wouldn't it-not to mention-ultimately fatal.

We can never be free to experience all that our Father has stored up for us if we are always adding up the sins of others against us. I am reminded of Moses when Miriam and Aaron betrayed him so profoundly, stirring up the Children of Israel against him. Moses paid no attention, but God did. He dealt with it in a way that only He could. I'm pretty sure Miriam never said another word against her brother.

And then of course, there's Job. He would have been justified in holding on to the offences of his friends but the Bible says that after some time alone with God, he began to pray for them. When he did that everything was restored to him, in abundance. After all, forgiveness was God's idea first.

We have a choice today Beloved, we can repent (begin to think differently), and be restored, or we can continue to add up and multiply the sins of others until they drown out the voice of God. The slippery slope of unforgiveness will eventually destroy the very foundation of the kingdom of God in your life. That's why forgiveness is so important. Begin to add up all the times He's forgiven you. Set your feet on the firm rock of His ability to forgive you, and then ask Him to multiply your ability to forgive them.

Love one another for love is of God.

Forgive one another for forgiveness is of God.

Power Thought:

How would your life be different if you focused on all the "good" and the 'new" that God has for you today instead of all the “old” and “heavy”. What would it be like to be free of all the things you've been adding to your load? Forgiveness is what will set you free and release the Kingdom of God that is in you right now.

Is it time to put away your calculator?

Monday, December 1, 2014

Power Of The Song

Key Scripture: “He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

Power Point:

Before Jesus came, there was no song of hope in the earth. In fact, no one had heard the voice of God for over 400 years. There was extreme poverty. There was oppression. Disease was rampant, and the people were bound by laws that were impossible to keep. They were slaves. They were without hope, without dreams and without a future, and definitely, without God in the world.

The coming of Jesus turned everything upside down didn’t it? When He closed His eyes for that final time on earth, He opened our eyes to a heaven that was now available for everyone who would take the time to find the door. Every moment, every detail of His life, emphasized God's plan for those who would find the door to His kingdom.

Instead of poverty, He offered generous provision as He did at the feeding of the 5000. Instead of disease He offered healing. Instead of shunning lepers, He touched them. Instead of the law He offered His grace and mercy. Instead of slavery He offered freedom. Instead of chaos, He offered His Perfect Peace.

When you hear people wondering what God's will is, you might remind them to go back and read through the life of Jesus. His life is a symphony of the love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, kindness and faithfulness that He desires to sing into our lives. His great heart is to sing those notes to every one, but only a few will listen for them.

Those songs are sung over you every day by your heavenly Father who is breathless with anticipation over what you will allow Him to do next in your life. It’s time to turn up the volume don’t you think?

What glorious songs He sings over those who come to Him with all their hearts.

Power Thought:

He is your hiding place.

He preserves you from trouble.

He surrounds you with songs of deliverance.