For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

From the Scripture above we see that we are in war. A careful study of this verse informs us that our warfare is NOT with other human beings but with our enemy. Satan. He attempts to defeat us with strategy and deceit, through well-laid plans and deliberate deception.

Satan is a liar. Jesus called him “the father of all lies and of all that is false.” (John 8:44) He lies to you and me. He tells us things about ourselves, about other people, and about circumstances that are just not true.  He does not, however, tell us the entire lie all at one time.

He begins by bombarding our mind with a cleverly devised pattern of little nagging thoughts, suspicions, doubts, fears, wonderings, reasonings, and theories. He moves slowly and cautiously. Remember he has a strategy for his warfare. He has studied us for a long time.

He knows what we like and what we don’t like. He knows our insecurities, our weaknesses, and our fears. He knows what bothers us most. He is willing to invest any amount of time it takes to defeat us. One of the devils strong points is patience.

Have you ever let someone’s behavior effect your entire day? Angry, irritable, frustration? Remember to remember…..do not let others dictate your day or your future. Satan tries to trip us up, but God has a much better plan for your life. Look up! Call on the name of Jesus. Saturate your mind with His Word. He will keep one foot in front of the other, giving you the desires of your heart.

Quotes from Joyce Meyer

TRUST ME ONE DAY AT A TIME.

This keeps you close to Me, responsive to My will. Trust is not a natural response, especially for those who have been deeply wounded. My Spirit within you is your resident Tutor, helping you in this supernatural endeavor. Yield to His gentle touch; be sensitive to His prompting.

Exert your will to trust Me in all circumstances. Don’t let your need to understand distract you from My Presence. I will equip you to get through this day victoriously, as you live in deep dependence on Me.

Tomorrow is busy worrying about itself; don’t get tangled up in its worry-webs. Trust Me one day at a time.

Lord Almighty,
    blessed is the one who trusts in you. Psalm 84:12

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34



--Jesus Calling Devotional Sarah Young

LIGHT OVERCOMES DARKNESS, LIFE OVERCOMES DEATH

Genesis 1:1-4  ¹IN THE beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and the earth.

    ²The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.

    ³And God said, Let there be light; and there was light.

    ⁴And God saw that the light was good (suitable, pleasant) and He approved it; and God separated the light from the darkness.

We see a spiritual principle at work in the first verses of the Bible---light overpowering darkness. Life overpowering death works the same way. Pour in light, and darkness has to flee. Pour in life, and death has to flee.

In Romans8 :11 we read, “And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.”

Jesus was as dead as dead could be! But when the Spirit of Life came into Him, when resurrection Life came into Him---death had to go.

Romans 8:11 shows the principle of life overcoming death. Remembering, then, that the Word of God is both spirit and life, use wisdom and begin speaking life to your situation.

Some people fight with the devil all the time, and while they are doing so, they are also speaking death to themselves and their situation. Talking about the problem all the time does not bring light to the darkness.

Speak the Word! Speak the Word! Speak the Word!

Not only can you and I speak the Word of God over our own lives, but we can be an effective intercessor by speaking and praying the Word of God over the lives of others.

Quotes by Joyce Meyer

This was such a wonderful devotional on my birthday. Thought I would share it with you.

Jesus Calling Devotionals by Sarah Young –April 27^th

Come to Me with empty hands and an open heart, ready to receive abundant blessings. I know the depth and breadth of your neediness. Your life-path has been difficult, draining you of strength. Come to Me for nurture. Let me fill you up with My Presence:  I in you, you in Me.

My Power flows most freely into weak ones aware of their need for Me.

Faltering steps of dependence are not lack of faith; they are links to My Presence.

John 17:20-23  “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one — I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Isaiah 40:31..."but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint."



Praying the Word (Ephesians 6:10-18)

¹⁰In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].
    ¹¹Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
    ¹²For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
    ¹³Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
    ¹⁴Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
    ¹⁵And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the ^[a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness ^[b]produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.
    ¹⁶Lift up over all the [covering] shield of ^[c]saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
    ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit ^[d]wields, which is the Word of God.
    ¹⁸Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).

Praying  the Word closes the gates of Hell, and opens the windows of Heaven.

From Ephesians 6:18 we see that prayer is a part of our spiritual armour, but what kind of prayer? All kinds of prayer are to be used in our walk with God.

The prayer of agreement: prayer in which two people come together to pray in harmony about an issue.

United prayer:  prayer in which a group of people come together to pray in one accord.

The prayer of thanksgiving: prayer that offers sincere thanks to God for His goodness in general or for a specific thing He has done.

Prayer of praise and worship: prayer which does not ask for anything but instead praises God for what He has done, is doing, and will do. It especially praises God for Who He is—for Himself. This prayer moves into worship and adoration, expressing  love for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The prayer of petition: prayer which makes a specific request, asking God for something for ourselves. This is probably the most frequently used prayer.

The prayer of intercession: prayer which involves standing before God for someone else, in his or her behalf, asking God to do something for his or her benefit.

The prayer of commitment: prayer which takes a problem or burden and casts it upon the Lord, committing an issue to Him for His care.

The prayer of consecration: prayer which sets apart a person or an object for God’s use.

The important thing about prayer is that whatever kind it is, in order to be effective it must be filled with the Word of God and offered in full assurance that God keeps His Word.

Fill your prayers with God’s Word. By doing so, you will be commissioning the angels to minister on your behalf. According to Hebrews 1:14, angels are God’s ministering servants sent out to assist the heirs of salvation. Psalm 103:20 reads,

Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His commandments, hearkening to the voice of His Word. This Scripture tells us that angels are moved into action by God’s Word being voiced.

Psalm 138:2 shows us the exalted position that God gives His Word: I will worship toward Your holy temple and praise Your name for Your loving-kindness and for Your truth and faithfulness; for You have exalted above all else Your name and Your Word and You have magnified Your Word above all Your name!

We know how we are to honor the name of the Lord and how powerful His name is, and yet, in this Scripture He tells us that He magnifies His Word even before His name!!!

Fill your conversations, prayers, and meditation with His Word.

Quotes taken from Joyce Meyer;  The Word, The Name, The Blood

"If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you." (John 15:7)

A person who learns to abide in the Word, and let the Word abide in him will have power in prayer.

In addition to these words spoken in John 15:7, Jesus also said, …if ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31,32 KJV) If you and I abide in His Word and let His Word abide in us, we will have power in prayer!

Consider 1 John 2:14 also,”I write to you, fathers, because you have come to know (recognize, be conscious of, and understand) Him Who [has existed] from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong and vigorous, and the Word of God is [always] abiding in you (in your hearts), and you have been victorious over the wicked one."

These men were victorious because they were abiding in the Word of God.

Many believers go to church every week to listen to someone else preach the Word to them, but they never know the Word for themselves. You must do your own study of the Word –

Dig out for yourself the gold that is hidden in the pages of the Bible.

This is talking about something far beyond reading a chapter a day. That is good but we need to give God’s Word a place of priority in our lives and that also means in our thought life.

We ABIDE in God’s Word by staying in it!

As soon as our feet hit the floor, we should be confessing and singing the Word. If you struggle with temptations, addictions, depression, saturate yourself in the Word – teachings, preaching, and Christian radio. On lunch breaks, read the Word; also filling our prayers with the Word.

Abiding does not mean unceasingly, define it as relentlessly – on a regular, continuing basis.

Sing it, speak it, LIVE it!!! Seek Him and His Word and He will find you….

Quotes by Joyce Meyer-- The Word, The Name, The Blood

My Beloved,

I AM calling you to a constant life of communication with ME. Basic training includes learning to live above your circumstances, even while interacting on that cluttered plane of life. You yearn for a simplified lifestyle, so that your communication with ME can be uninterrupted. But I challenge you to relinquish the fantasy of an uncluttered world. Accept each day just as it comes, and find ME in the midst of it all.

Talk with ME about every aspect of your day, including your feelings. Remember that your ultimate goal is not to control or fix everything around you. It is to keep communing with ME. A successful day is one in which you have stayed in touch with ME, even if many things remain undone at the end of the day. Do not let your to-do list (written or mental) become an idol directing your life. Instead, ask MY Spirit to guide you moment by moment. He will keep you close to ME.

In ME you have everything. In ME you are complete. Your capacity to experience ME is increasing, through MY removal of debris and clutter from your heart. As your yearning for ME increases, other desires are gradually lessening. Since I am infinite and abundantly accessible to you, desiring ME above all else, is the best way to live.

It is impossible for you to have a need that I cannot meet. After all, I created you and everything that is. The world is still at my beck and call, though it often appears otherwise. Do not be fooled by appearances. Things that are visible are brief and fleeting, while things that are invisible are everlasting.

Ephesians 3:20-21 - Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

2 Corinthians 4:18 - Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 3: 6 - In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

--Jesus Calling

I found this article very interesting..



Jesus warned about our days, saying, "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold" (Matt. 24:10). The Lord's warning was not just about conditions in the world; He is speaking to His disciples. He warned about conditions in the church.

Today, the church is overstocked with Christians whose love has grown cold. As a result, rancor fills our conversations. We have become a sub-culture that is mad that the world has not become Christian, while we are tolerant that we are not Christlike.

When you discuss things that are wrong, does rancor come forth or prayer? The word rancor came from Latin rancere, which meant, "to stink." (See rancid). This is exactly what we exude heavenward when all we do is find fault and criticize. The smell of our rancor ascends into the awareness of God. These things ought not to be.

On the other hand, intercessory prayer is a sweet aroma to God. Again, when we pass through trials and determine to emerge more like Jesus, our very lives become "a fragrance of Christ to God" (2 Cor. 2:15). Amazing! in spite of our flaws and weaknesses, while we are living in this harsh world, we can actually become like Christ. Indeed, may this be the passion of all who trust God's Son: to become a fragrance of Christ to God.


Quotes by Francis Frangipane

I sure want to be a fragrance to God. My life in everything to glorify Him.

We must love ALL as Christ did and does.

Titus 3:4-8
"But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone."

Dear Child,

This is a time in your life when you must learn to let go: of loved ones, of possessions, of control. In order to let go of something that is precious to you, you need to rest in My Presence, where you are complete. Take time to bask in the Light of My Love. As you relax more and more, your grasping hand gradually opens up, releasing your prized possession into My care.

You can feel secure, even in the midst of cataclysmic changes, through awareness of My continual Presence. The One who never leaves you is the same One who never changes: I am the same yesterday, today, and forever. As you release more and more things into My care, remember that I never let go of your hand. Herein lies your security, which no one and no circumstance can take from you.

Love,

God

Psalm 89:15

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,

who walk in the light of your presence, LORD.

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Isaiah 41:13

For I am the LORD your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.

--Jesus Calling

"like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand....." Jeremiah 18:6

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

God is love. God has transformed our spirits in the image of love. Love is the first commandment Jesus gave us, yet it is something greatly missing in the body of Christ. We get so attracted to the power of God. But His power will not work without love because faith works by love. This love is the unconditional, 'agape' love.

Follow the example of Jesus

John 8:3-11, talks about the lady who was caught in adultery. The Pharisees and the scribes were ready to stone her. They asked, 'What do you think we should do, Jesus? What's your verdict? They thought, Jesus is not going to disagree with what Moses said. But Jesus did something strange. The Bible says that 'He stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger as though He did not hear'. He basically ignored them.

If we talk that accusing talk, Jesus is not going to hear us. He will ignore us too. He will do the same to us as He did to those accusers. Jesus is such a tremendous example for us to follow. God is love. He knows that we have made mistakes but still loves us. He always sees our potential.

John 3:17 says,' For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world'. Our God is full of compassion. When you show love, that is when people see Jesus in us.

The Bible says in Galatians 6:1, "When a person falls into sin, you who are spiritual should restore him with all gentleness." That gentleness goes a long way than condemnation. You will never go wrong living a life of unconditional love.

Allow the Lord to deal with People

We need to realize that as Christians, we are on the same team. You may ask but what about the differences? Let God deal with it! He is well able to take care of the situation and the people. God is able to teach them.

Their doctrines may different. There is not a single one in this earth whose doctrine is 100% correct. Our God loves variety. No two individuals are identical. No two churches are identical. God has allowed it to be like that because different kinds of churches can reach different kinds of people. We should never say they are wrong and we are right. It is so pitiful to see Christians stop having fellowship just because they disagree on petty things. There is such a cold war in the body of Christ that they cannot stand the other brother. Friends, start loving them in spite of who they are.

We must learn to be inclusive and not exclusive. Life is too short to get caught up in our petty differences. The Bible says in Hebrews 3:13, "Exhort one another daily." That word "exhort" means to encourage. And if we do anything other than encouraging and comforting others, that will hinder your walk with God. Give others the benefit of the doubt. Nothing does more damage than spreading bad news about others.

There may be people who don't treat you right. They may be disrespectful. Jesus said that we are to even love our enemies. He said if your enemy's thirsty, give him something to drink. Get him a 'chilled coke'. He said if he's hungry, give him a 'Happy meal'. Make him happy! He said if he wants your shirt, give him your coat as well. He said, by doing this, you will heap coals of fire on his head and the Lord will reward you (Rom 12:20)

Love sees the best in every person:

1 Corinthians, chapter 13 talks about love. Verse 8 talks about, how love believes the best in every person. Love overlooks a person's faults. We can find some good, even in our worst enemies, if only we made the attempt to.

We've got to be quick to show God's mercy. Psalm 18:25 says, 'With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful' .The meaning is that the Lord is merciful to those who show mercy. Matthew 5:7, "Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy." And what we've got to realize in life is that at one time or another all of us are going to need God's mercy. We need to learn to be quick to show mercy to other people so that God will be quick to show mercy to us.

But have you noticed how the carnal nature is to point out each other's faults. We just say, They deserve it. Lord, 'give them their rightfully deserved punishment. They're guilty. They need to learn their lesson'. This type of attitude displeases God. It is against the very nature of our God.

When Jesus walked the earth, He showed love and compassion, even to the people who were not good to Him. He always saw the best in people. He encouraged and loved them.

We must make sure that you're living a life of unconditional love and looking for the best in every one. Just make sure that you're keeping yourself pure. And we've got to be extremely careful, especially as Spirit-filled Christians that we don't look down on or criticize somebody else just because they are different. They are never looked at as second class citizens in the kingdom of heaven. Just love them like Christ loved us.

May the Lord help us to live a life of unconditional love. Amen.

By Jemima Rayan

The Measure of Spiritual Strength

 "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” Romans 15:1

It’s not how much you can do, but rather how much you can bear of the weaknesses of others.

It is very satisfying to to be strong in your own ability, in your own ministry, in your own experience---to be the man with all the answers. But that does not require much spiritual strength. However, it does require spiritual strength to bear the weaknesses of others.

Spiritual strength is measured by God and by the Scriptures in proportion to the amount that we are able to support and bear the weaknesses of other people. This is exactly the opposite of the spirit of this age. Once we begin to make what suits us the measure of what is right, we are on a slippery path that goes downward into a horrible mess.

If I am a Christian, my first motive needs to be to please Jesus Christ in all that I do. Once we begin to live by seeking to please Jesus, we will inevitably lead a life that is completely different.  We won’t need to peddle a lot of doctrine, for, in itself, pleasing Jesus will make us different.

Quotes taken from the book The Grace of Yeilding by Dereck Prince...thank you Robin!!!



 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

Running With Nehemiah

Picture yourself running into a stadium filled with the giants of the faith. Those who have gone on before, watching us run our leg of the race we call life.As she comes alongside us, she seems to glide as we move down the track.

In this race of life, join me as we round a lap with one of the great Old Testament heroes, who is filled with great insight and wisdom. 

The next giant of the faith joins us on the track quickly. He looks like an official of some kind. He is wearing a gold chain around his neck indicating his official status, and he is carrying a small scroll.

The man looks at us, and he seems to sense my desire to go out and meet life head-on. He says, “There was a time in my life when everything was going well for me. I had access to the king daily, and I enjoyed the many pleasures of the palace. Mine was a coveted position, one that a foreigner doesn’t achieve. You could say that I had ‘arrived.’”

The man turns and looks us in the eye, and says, “I am Nehemiah. I was cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia. Then one day I received word about my hometown, Jerusalem. The walls of the city were in ruin and the gates had been burned to the ground. The people were unprotected by their many enemies. The news hit me like a blow. The situation was hopeless, and I was helpless to do anything about it. In my grief, I turned to God, and He made me understand something: No problem is too big when you have help.

Nehemiah 1:1-13:31

The rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem is not the story of one successful person. The walls were rebuilt because many people helped one another and worked together. First, Nehemiah sought the aid of his king, who agreed to send him to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls. When he got there, Nehemiah again asked for help. People banded together, family by family, and worked for a remarkable fifty-two days with swords in hand and trowels in the other, rebuilding the wall.

With the wisdom of someone who has rallied a great group of people to do a work for God. Nehemiah shares with us: Motion always causes friction. But whenever God’s people move forward, the enemy always increases its opposition, and that really turns up the heat. When others oppose us, it’s not time to give up. It’s time to get help.

As our time comes to a close with Nehemiah, his leadership is incredible as he shares his last thoughts with us:

“It isn’t easy to ask for help. Don’t let insecurity, or ego or fear make you try to go it alone. In God’s kingdom, there are people ready to help you at the right time, in the right way---people you don’t even know yet.”

“Not everyone will help.” No matter how great the vision, how strong the morale, or how far the progress, someone in your camp will refuse to help. Don’t wait on them. Keep moving forward.”

“Many times you don’t need a miracle---you just need each other.” Many of the great men and women here in this stadium saw God provide for them miraculously.  But you don’t always need a miracle to do something miraculous! God had already provided all that we needed. We just needed to work together. Without the leadership I provided, the people would have remained fearful and inactive. Without the hard work the people provided, the walls would have remained in ruins. My friends, you can run this race well, but you cannot run it alone!

Nehemiah’s Prayer for Us

Sovereign King,

I ask you to give my friends…

courage to face their difficult problems,

faith to come to You before anyone else,

belief that others will come alongside to help them, and favor with all whom they ask

because, God, no problem is too big when we have help.

Amen.

Quotes from Running With The Giants John C Maxwell

 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

Running With Abraham

Picture yourself running into a stadium filled with the giants of the faith. Those who have gone on before, watching us run our leg of the race we call life.As she comes alongside us, she seems to glide as we move down the track.

In this race of life, join me as we round a lap with one of the great Old Testament heroes, who is filled with great insight and wisdom. 

The man now stepping out of the crowd reminds us a little of Noah, although he is not nearly as old. Before we even have time to observe more about him, he quickly comes along side us and immediately states, “My name is Abraham.”

I can hardly contain myself. Abraham was a friend of God! I wonder what this great man will say to you and me. We’ve run only a few steps when Abraham says with great assurance. "God always does the right thing.”

The greatest test of Abraham’s trust came from God asked him to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. Why would God want Abraham to kill his son of promise? It didn’t make sense; it appeared to go against God’s promise to make Abraham’s descendants  into a great nation.

Trust and obey. God had been faithful to every promise He had made, so Abraham trusted his character. He finally understood that we should not try to understand God until we have first obeyed Him.

“Perfection is not a prerequisite for God to begin His work in our lives. I could hardly believe it when He called me to leave home and go to the land He would give my descendants. I went immediately, but thought to myself, Does He have the right person? What can God do with someone like me? Even after I obeyed God’s call, I still made many mistakes. You aren’t perfect either, but that’s not important. This is what matters: when you walk with God, your character becomes more like God’s.”

"God’s blessings are never earned. I did nothing to merit God’s call upon my life. I didn’t deserve the promise of the land or my many descendants or the grace and favor of God. They were all gifts. That became crystal clear when God asked me to sacrifice  Isaac, and I laid him on the alter in obedience. God gave me everything, and He was free to take it away. Life is a gift. Be grateful, and no matter what, always trust God.”

We are coming very close to the end of our lap and with that Abraham closes in a prayer for us…

Lord, I ask that You help my friends have patience when it seems like a long time since they have heard from You. Help them……..to be obedient when Your leading seems so strange, to ask questions when they do not understand, to trust You when they do not find answers, because, God, You always do the right thing.  Amen.

As Abraham leaves us, I am struck by how ordinary he is. And even that, drives the point home to me: When we trust God, He can make the ordinary extraordinary!

Quotes from Running With The Giants John C Maxwell

 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

Running With His Staff

Picture yourself running into a stadium filled with the giants of the faith. Those who have gone on before, watching us run our leg of the race we call life.As she comes alongside us, she seems to glide as we move down the track.

In this race of life, join me as we round a lap with one of the great Old Testament heroes, who is filled with great insight and wisdom. 

The next giant of the faith comes down to greet us. It’s a man with a long beard carrying a staff in his hand. As his step falls into place with ours, he remains silent. Finally Moses, the man who spoke with God, face-to-face as one would to a friend, says, “Live in the faith zone, not the safe zone.”

As we continue running, Moses seems to consider what he wants to tell us. Finally he says, “Each person’s life story is written in risks---the ones taken and the ones avoided. The greatest moment in my walk with God came at the burning bush. The decision I made there that day wrote the next forty years of my life story. It is a decision that brought daily encounters with the living God! But in the moment of decision, it was not easy to make. Sad is the day when a person becomes absolutely satisfied with the life he is living, the thoughts he is thinking, the deeds is he doing----when there forever ceases to beat  at the door of his heart a desire to do something greater for God.” Moses says.

When God called Moses through the burning bush and told him to leave his comfortable situation and go back to Egypt to accomplish his life’s mission, Moses felt totally unqualified to lead. He was insecure about himself and his future. As a result, he had many questions and doubts.

“Who am I that I should go?” Exodus 3:11

“What shall I say to them?” Exodus 3:13

“But suppose they will not believe me?” Exodus 4:1

“But I am slow of speech.” Exodus 4:10

God wouldn’t take no for an answer. And though afraid, Moses finally did the only thing that helps when we are uncertain about our future: He leaned on God, the One who knows our future in every detail. In doing that, he agreed to answer God’s call, leave his comfort zone, and return to Egypt.

"If I wouldn’t have left the desert, I would have never seen God part the Red Sea or deliver His people. And I never would have talked to God face-to-face. During that time, God broke and remade me. I learned humility. You can’t stay the same and learn at the same time. If you want to grow, you need to go.

God wants you to leave your wilderness and enter the Promised land. Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the risks you didn’t take than by the ones you did. Defeat tomorrow’s regret by moving forward and getting into the faith zone today."

Moses’ Prayer for Us

Lord God, the God of my fathers,

Give my friends a healthy discontent. Draw them out of the safe zone so that they may live every day in the faith zone. Make them wholly dependent on You, so that they can do things greater than themselves. Amen.

Moses’ prayer is a little more than a whisper, but there is incredible power in it. As soon as Moses finishes speaking, he is gone.

Quotes from Running With The Giants John C Maxwell



"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

Running The Dream

Picture yourself running into a stadium filled with the giants of the faith. Those who have gone on before, watching us run our leg of the race we call life.As she comes alongside us, she seems to glide as we move down the track.

In this race of life, join me as we round a lap with one of the great Old Testament heroes, who is filled with great insight and wisdom. 

A man steps out and approaches the track. He is wearing a white robe and a headdress. As he strides up to us, he immediately begins speaking. He says,“Dreams are conceived long before they are achieved. The period of time between the birth of a dream and its realization is always a process. This period is filled with doubts, adversity, changes, and surprises. During the process, you will experience good days and bad days. And frequently you will be faced with a dilemma: Do you give up, or go on? Without hesitation, I can give you the answer: Don’t give up on your dream.”

Joseph’s Story (Genesis, chapters 37-50)

This is Joseph, the son of Jacob, who went from privileged son to the pit of slavery to the palaces of Egypt.

Why didn’t Joseph give up? He says,”I had twice as many give-ups then go-ons. Every dream contains negative surprises  that can greatly discourage you. Every time I found myself in a give-up time of life, I realized the Lord was with me. That’s what mattered. Even when life made no sense to me, it made sense to God! You never know what God’s timetable will look like. When you’re in the middle of your journey, never give up on your dream!”

" But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." Genesis 50:20

Joseph has a lot to say, so as we come nearer to the end of our lap, he says, “ God is always with you. Develop yourself during the down times. Learn from the pain. Pursue healing in the Word and prayer. Try new things.  Overcome the adversity. Stay strong. Let people refine you, not destroy you and your dream! When your dream is God-given, it’s fulfillment is worth the wait. The realization of my dream far exceeded my expectations. God has in mind for us more than we can imagine. He is the giver of every good and perfect gift, and the fulfiller of every dream He gives.”

Joseph’s Prayers for Us

Sovereign Lord,

I don’t ask that You relieve every pain experienced by my friends; I ask that you fuel them to fulfill their purpose.  Make Your dreams for their lives vivid in their minds, and give them the heart to keep running the race. Amen.

When Joseph finishes praying, he briefly grasps each of our shoulders and gives a quick squeeze of encouragement. Then he departs for the stands.

Quotes from Running With The Giants John C Maxwell

 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

Running With The Queen

Picture yourself running into a stadium filled with the giants of the faith. Those who have gone on before, watching us run our leg of the race we call life.As she comes alongside us, she seems to glide as we move down the track.

In this race of life, join me as we round a lap with one of the great Old Testament heroes, who is filled with great insight and wisdom. 

“I must tell you something very important.” She says, “God has a place for you.”

Her voice is gentle, but strong. We look into her eyes and she says simply,

 “I am Esther.”

If ever there was someone with a strong sense of place and destiny, it is Esther. “For much of my life, I felt out of place. But no place is out of place when you’re in God’s place.”

Read her story (Esther 1-10)

Have there been times when you felt you weren’t where you belonged? Esther understands. Through her story of hardship to becoming queen it took a lot of courage!  Courage and initiative come when you understand your purpose in life. God not only has a place for us; He has placed us where He needs us. The decision is ours whether we will do what we can where we are!

Esthers story is a great encouragement to us. But she’s not done. As we make the final turn on the track, she tells us this, “For a period of time, you may not understand God’s planning and purpose for your life. But take heart. Just because you don’t comprehend God’s plan for your life doesn’t mean He doesn’t care or doesn’t have one. Have faith and remain obedient to Him. When the time comes that you recognize a call of God on your life, it will fire you to action—even in the face of opposition or danger.”

Esther’s Prayer for Us

Heavenly Father,

Allow my friends to look beyond adversity or feelings of insecurity to see Your greater purpose. Empower them to take joy in the place where You have put them, take comfort in the knowledge that You are in charge, and take action to fulfill the purpose for which You have called them. Amen.

Then with that, Esther glides back towards the stands to take her place with the others.

Running with Noah

 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

Picture yourself running into a stadium filled with the giants of the faith. Those who have gone on before, watching us run our leg of the race we call life.

In this race of life, join me as we round a lap with one of the great Old Testament heroes, who is filled with great insight and wisdom.

We round the first circuit of the track and we see an ancient man coming out of the stands to greet us. His face is weathered; his hands are boney and walks with a limp. As you and I approach him, we are surprised to find that he falls in step alongside us. He turns to us and says,

“One person can make a difference.”

He continues, “I know because when God decided to destroy the earth with water, He made a covenant with me so that humankind might not perish.”(Genesis 8:21) And so I built a boat.

We then realize, it’s Noah.

His righteousness saved humanity from extinction. As we run with Noah, he shares encouraging words…(Genesis 6-9) 

"You can make a difference for your family. Living a life of integrity and obedience to God always has the potential to positively impact others. Those who are closest to you benefit the most when you do the right thing.

Noah says, “Don’t be afraid to stand out in a crowd. I stood for God when everyone else in the world stood against me! Difference-makers are different. Don’t let that stop you!”

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." (2Chronicles 16:9)

God is always looking for someone to stand in the gap for Him, and He desires to partner with people who love Him.

Noah’s Prayer for us...

Dear Lord,

Please help my fellow runners to understand the power of one. Speak to them about the unique task You call them to, and give them the will and the power to follow through so that they, too, can make a difference. Amen

And with that, Noah slows and bids us goodbye. We watch as he returns to his place in the stands, and then we notice a woman is coming out to run with us…

Quotes from Running With The Giants John C Maxwell

The Call

I came across this yesterday and I found it very interesting. You may, as well,  if going through a time of decision, due to God's call on your life.

Service is the overflow which pours from a life filled with love.....

When it pleased God . . . to reveal His Son in me . . . —Galatians 1:15-16

The call of God is not a call to serve Him in any particular way. My contact with the nature of God will shape my understanding of His call and will help me realize what I truly desire to do for Him. The call of God is an expression of His nature; the service which results in my life is suited to me and is an expression of my nature. The call of the natural life was stated by the apostle Paul— “When it pleased God . . . to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him [that is, purely and solemnly express Him] among the Gentiles . . . .”

Service is the overflow which pours from a life filled with love and devotion. But strictly speaking, there is no call to that. Service is what I bring to the relationship and is the reflection of my identification with the nature of God. Service becomes a natural part of my life. God brings me into the proper relationship with Himself so that I can understand His call, and then I serve Him on my own out of a motivation of absolute love. Service to God is the deliberate love-gift of a nature that has heard the call of God. Service is an expression of my nature, and God’s call is an expression of His nature. Therefore, when I receive His nature and hear His call, His divine voice resounds throughout His nature and mine and the two become one in service. The Son of God reveals Himself in me, and out of devotion to Him service becomes my everyday way of life. --Oswald Chambers

Seek HIS face..

"Look to the LORD and his strength; seek His face always." 1 Chronicles 16:11



So many times we become discouraged, whether it's from work, school, people, or just plain life. We forget Who walks beside us every day, wanting to fill our hearts with His peace and guidance. We get easily distracted with the demands of life and stress. God knows, but He longs for our companionship. God wants to light our path as it says in Proverbs 3:5-6 from the Message Bible it reads,

"Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
   don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
   He's the one who will keep you on track."

If we pray intentionally with His eyes as our focus, His heart beat as our own, His step in stride with ours, what a difference it could make in our every day life.
Let Him fill the emptiness you feel, and be the joy that fills your heart, day in and day out. He is the Only answer.


Lord, thank you for loving us. Forgive us when we let the demands of life distract us from Your face. You know our hearts, You know us inside and out. Thank you for Your guidance and Truth. In Your blessed and Holy name, Amen.
 "As for me, I will continue beholding Your face in righteousness, rightness, justice, and right standing with You; I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake [to find myself] beholding Your form and having sweet communion with You." Psalms 17:15

Submit to the Potters Hands

"Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our Potter, and we all are the work of Your hand." Isaiah 64:8

Something I've learned this past year is this exact thing. God wants to give hope with a future! What it is, we learn of it, step by step, in His timing. He reveals it just as He molds us, layer by layer. He's an amazing God! If we wait on Him, He will give us the desires of our heart. Begin to breathe this prayer every day. "Lord, reveal Yourself and Your plan You have for my life. Point me in Your direction, the path You have for my life."

You will be amazed what He will show you!

Father God, bless those who intentionally want to seek You with their whole heart for their families and future. Give them strength, power, courage, and the peace only You can give...in Your precious name, Amen.