Praying that everyone has a great Monday filled with hope and expectation, and that as you seek first the Kingdom in every situation, you will find righteousness, joy, and peace, for He reigns in you, and through you.
I've still been thinking a lot about freedom and breaking free...interesting that when I was picking up a carton of eggs last night at Kroger there was a product next to it called "Break-free" egg product. Saw it as a nice confirmation. I tell ya'...God can use anything, so keep your eyes and ears open today. Peace...love you guys...let me hear from ya'.
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I believe this is a good word about the Kingdom that I took from my favorite devotional.*
"Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)
"Therefore, since we ARE RECEIVING a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace . . . ." (Hebrews 12:28)
Today I will live in the now! I will live in the now because I am a part of His Kingdom, and His Kingdom is coming now! The King is reigning in my life now. His government is increasing now. The kingdoms of this world are becoming the Kingdoms of our God, and of His Christ, now.
Today I am not encumbered with the pointless rules and regulations of religion, because the Kingdom of God is not meat or drink, but it is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. I will interpret my day by these three things, and will make seeking them my first priority.
Today is a day to demonstrate righteousness. He who knew no sin became sin for me that I might become the righteousness of God in Christ, and it is from this righteousness consciousness that my self-esteem and confidence flow today. By this I am able to show that He has made me the head and not the tail.
Today is a day to walk in peace – not as the world gives – but as Jesus Himself shares His supernatural peace with me. I let not my heart be troubled because I have the peace that passes understanding. I will not be agitated, frustrated or anxious today, because of my Kingdom right to walk in Kingdom peace.
Today is a day to celebrate joy in the Holy Ghost. I will not be sad or depressed today because His joy is in me and, therefore, my joy is full! The Kingdom joy working in me will be my strength and will give me the winner's edge.
Today I will seek the Kingdom first in every situation. Before I have a chance to think about it in the natural . . . before I analyze it, or react emotionally . . . I will look for the Kingdom before I do anything else about anything at all. He is reigning in and through me today, and every name that is named must bow to His Name!
Today I live a life that shows the world that I am a royal subject of the ultimate Kingdom and, therefore, I cannot fail, or lose, or be defeated. Jesus the King shall reign forever and ever, and He is my Lord . . . my personal friend . . . my elder brother. Today I say, "Long live the King!" and today I will live in the now!
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven – today. Amen.
*-A Year In The Now, Jim Swilley
Monday, January 25, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
LIBERATED!
A good morning to all of you, and whatever may be burdening you from yesterday, please let it go...it's a new day, don't carry it.
Right now I believe God's word to me is about being "LIBERATED", and being determined to live a liberated life, fully accepting, living in and appropriating the freedom that His grace brings to me...being unshackled from unnecessary tradition, religious rhetoric and chains, and bounding in the flow of His joy!
Come to me all of you who "labor" and I will give you "rest", says the Lord, "for my yoke is easy and my burden is light".
I wrote this on another blog and wanted to put it here, too:
Every morning can be like the breaking off of a burden. His mercies over and over makes me think of "over-easy", like an egg.
...whatever burden you may have been carrying can be cracked open off of you to allow for the flow of a lighter burden and an easy yoke upon your day.
His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. I will be determined to live the LIBERATED life today, like a chicken who knows how to fly the coop. (remembering the movie "Chicken Run")
(and even the word ver spoke...)
word ver: lybally
...that actually means LIBERALLY
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Now, the following is a great word from the devotional A Year In The Now by Jim Swilley...I really believe you'll find something that speaks to you...
". . . the Lord's mercies . . . are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness."
(Lamentations 3:22, 23)
Today I will live in the now! I will live in the now because God's mercy endures forever - one morning at a time. The freshness of the dawn and early hours of the day are a reminder to me of how current and new God is in His merciful dealings with me.
Today I will praise the Name of the Lord from the rising of the sun, to the going down of the same. I will start off my day with a love song for the One who woke me up this morning, and I will sing it to Him in my heart until I lay down to sleep this evening. I am blessed and thankful for all of God's benefits. Today I know that He is smiling on me as I sing of His greatness!
Today I will not be overcome by sorrow, because weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning. No matter how dark things have been, this morning I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I will be optimistic in my thinking, and the faith in my heart will produce great expectations in my inner man.
Today I will go where the day takes me, without fear or dread. I declare the end from the beginning by saying that this is the day the Lord has made, so I will regard it as an open door to my future. No matter what it may bring, or what I may be up against, my faith will win the day.
Today, as the Daystar arises in my heart, my vision will increase like the sunlight at dawn. This day will usher in a whole new season of increase for me. I say "good morning" to my new attitude, as I welcome all the possibilities that are on the way.
Today I let yesterday go, and use what I have in my hand right now to maximize the day's potential. A new opportunity for me lies around every corner, and I will not let one go unnoticed by being distracted by water under the bridge.
Today the Bright and Morning Star shines on me – and through me. It's a new day, and everything is different in my world than it was before. I demonstrate that His mercies are new this morning by my determination to live the liberated life today, and today I will live in the now!
Good morning, Lord! Help me to see Your new mercies today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Right now I believe God's word to me is about being "LIBERATED", and being determined to live a liberated life, fully accepting, living in and appropriating the freedom that His grace brings to me...being unshackled from unnecessary tradition, religious rhetoric and chains, and bounding in the flow of His joy!
Come to me all of you who "labor" and I will give you "rest", says the Lord, "for my yoke is easy and my burden is light".
I wrote this on another blog and wanted to put it here, too:
Every morning can be like the breaking off of a burden. His mercies over and over makes me think of "over-easy", like an egg.
...whatever burden you may have been carrying can be cracked open off of you to allow for the flow of a lighter burden and an easy yoke upon your day.
His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. I will be determined to live the LIBERATED life today, like a chicken who knows how to fly the coop. (remembering the movie "Chicken Run")
(and even the word ver spoke...)
word ver: lybally
...that actually means LIBERALLY
-------
Now, the following is a great word from the devotional A Year In The Now by Jim Swilley...I really believe you'll find something that speaks to you...
". . . the Lord's mercies . . . are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness."
(Lamentations 3:22, 23)
Today I will live in the now! I will live in the now because God's mercy endures forever - one morning at a time. The freshness of the dawn and early hours of the day are a reminder to me of how current and new God is in His merciful dealings with me.
Today I will praise the Name of the Lord from the rising of the sun, to the going down of the same. I will start off my day with a love song for the One who woke me up this morning, and I will sing it to Him in my heart until I lay down to sleep this evening. I am blessed and thankful for all of God's benefits. Today I know that He is smiling on me as I sing of His greatness!
Today I will not be overcome by sorrow, because weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning. No matter how dark things have been, this morning I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I will be optimistic in my thinking, and the faith in my heart will produce great expectations in my inner man.
Today I will go where the day takes me, without fear or dread. I declare the end from the beginning by saying that this is the day the Lord has made, so I will regard it as an open door to my future. No matter what it may bring, or what I may be up against, my faith will win the day.
Today, as the Daystar arises in my heart, my vision will increase like the sunlight at dawn. This day will usher in a whole new season of increase for me. I say "good morning" to my new attitude, as I welcome all the possibilities that are on the way.
Today I let yesterday go, and use what I have in my hand right now to maximize the day's potential. A new opportunity for me lies around every corner, and I will not let one go unnoticed by being distracted by water under the bridge.
Today the Bright and Morning Star shines on me – and through me. It's a new day, and everything is different in my world than it was before. I demonstrate that His mercies are new this morning by my determination to live the liberated life today, and today I will live in the now!
Good morning, Lord! Help me to see Your new mercies today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
MOVE FORWARD!
I believe one of God's main words to me recently and perhaps for you has been 'MOVE FORWARD'. A couple of reasons why I believe this personally for myself would be; 1) in worship service this weekend we sang a song entitled "Moving Forward" and the pastor discussed moving forward into 2010, 2) I reached for a CD to listen to yesterday going to the pet store and it was a sermon from last month entitled Moving Forward, 3) this morning I read from the book of Joshua in ch. 6 and it mentioned the words move forward and straight ahead a couple of times, 4) I picked out an animated story for Zachary and on the back it mentions about a little boy 'moving forward' into his future.
I wanted to share something with you that I wrote as a note on Facebook and on my pastor's blog:
I see 2010 coming down from heaven as a gift, breaking through the ground that was the year before. Fresh new growth that can break through any fortified wall built against us in 2009.
"MOVE FORWARD!"
Don't be afraid of what's before you, for "SEE!", I HAVE GIVEN THE YEAR OVER TO YOU. (...as the city of Jericho was handed over in Joshua 6:1)
As God commanded Joshua..."Be strong and very courageous...do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (in 2010).
So, ... "go through the camp and tell the people, 'Get provisions ready for yourselves, for WITHIN THREE DAYS you will be crossing...to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you to inherit.'" (Joshua 1:9-11)
Yes, in THREE DAYS you will be crossing into 2010.
It is a gift from heaven, a land that is yours to inherit and possess. Be STRONG and VERY COURAGEOUS if you already see something in the natural that looks like a walled city to you in the year (land) to come.
May you hear God's voice saying to you, "SEE!, I have handed it over to you."
Go in, take possession, encompass and surround those things...for God will cause them to crumble before you!
..."MOVE FORWARD, march around what seems to be a fortress to you, that walled city,...and blow that horn and give a mighty shout! Then the wall will collapse, and you will ADVANCE...straight ahead."
-(Thoughts from Joshua 6:5,6)
"MOVE FORWARD!"
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-God is wanting me to see something that I don't see in the natural.
-If your perception is right, everything is right.
-Thank God that goodness and mercy follow us.
-When we look at 2010, see the Lord. Through every situation we are conformed into His image.
-Ending the year of 2009, see where you've been...you do need your rear view mirror. It is also important to see who you've become, and what are you 'seeing' about yourself in 2009, 2010, and about your life?
(these last few lines I took from bishop Jim Swilley of Church in the Now this past weekend)
I wanted to share something with you that I wrote as a note on Facebook and on my pastor's blog:
I see 2010 coming down from heaven as a gift, breaking through the ground that was the year before. Fresh new growth that can break through any fortified wall built against us in 2009.
"MOVE FORWARD!"
Don't be afraid of what's before you, for "SEE!", I HAVE GIVEN THE YEAR OVER TO YOU. (...as the city of Jericho was handed over in Joshua 6:1)
As God commanded Joshua..."Be strong and very courageous...do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (in 2010).
So, ... "go through the camp and tell the people, 'Get provisions ready for yourselves, for WITHIN THREE DAYS you will be crossing...to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you to inherit.'" (Joshua 1:9-11)
Yes, in THREE DAYS you will be crossing into 2010.
It is a gift from heaven, a land that is yours to inherit and possess. Be STRONG and VERY COURAGEOUS if you already see something in the natural that looks like a walled city to you in the year (land) to come.
May you hear God's voice saying to you, "SEE!, I have handed it over to you."
Go in, take possession, encompass and surround those things...for God will cause them to crumble before you!
..."MOVE FORWARD, march around what seems to be a fortress to you, that walled city,...and blow that horn and give a mighty shout! Then the wall will collapse, and you will ADVANCE...straight ahead."
-(Thoughts from Joshua 6:5,6)
"MOVE FORWARD!"
-------
-God is wanting me to see something that I don't see in the natural.
-If your perception is right, everything is right.
-Thank God that goodness and mercy follow us.
-When we look at 2010, see the Lord. Through every situation we are conformed into His image.
-Ending the year of 2009, see where you've been...you do need your rear view mirror. It is also important to see who you've become, and what are you 'seeing' about yourself in 2009, 2010, and about your life?
(these last few lines I took from bishop Jim Swilley of Church in the Now this past weekend)
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
He reigns.
I wanted to say thank you for those who have been faithful to stop by this blog, even when there wasn't anything new...so much has been going on, and I really am searching for a good balance of priorities.
I would like to write more at length but my eyes are about to cross now. In short, we just put up our Christmas tree with the lights and tinsel...ornaments will be tomorrow. I bought Zachary a little starter fish tank, and all my library books are overdue! I just had a late, late night pizza slice, milk and m&ms.
What does the kingdom mean to you?..the throne?..living water?..tree of life?..city of God?..wife of the Lamb?..New Jerusalem?
Just know that He reigns...glory in the highest...He reigns!
Wishing everyone a great Christmas week filled with the King.
I would like to write more at length but my eyes are about to cross now. In short, we just put up our Christmas tree with the lights and tinsel...ornaments will be tomorrow. I bought Zachary a little starter fish tank, and all my library books are overdue! I just had a late, late night pizza slice, milk and m&ms.
What does the kingdom mean to you?..the throne?..living water?..tree of life?..city of God?..wife of the Lamb?..New Jerusalem?
Just know that He reigns...glory in the highest...He reigns!
Wishing everyone a great Christmas week filled with the King.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Sanctuary
My son Zachary asked me today, "what is santuary?" As I talked about a quiet place, restful, protected, undisturbed...thinking what I could at the moment, he chimed in and said, "like heaven on earth!" Pleased greatly at his response, I said "yes, Zachary, a heaven on earth."
From Psalm 102:
18 Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:
19 "The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death."
21 So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem
22 when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD.
1 Corinthians 3:16
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
1 Corinthians 6:19
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
Ephesians 2:21
In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
Revelation 1:6
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
From Psalm 102:
18 Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:
19 "The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death."
21 So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem
22 when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD.
1 Corinthians 3:16
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
1 Corinthians 6:19
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
Ephesians 2:21
In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
Revelation 1:6
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Bride
I really felt like posting this from one of my favorite devotionals because it talks so much about us and the Kingdom. I believe you will be blessed! Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King!
"Then one of the seven angels . . . came to me and talked with me, saying, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.' And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal." (Revelation 21:9-11)
Today I will live in the now! I will live in the now because I will walk in a greater revelation and clearer vision of the bride, the Lamb's wife – the holy, hallowed and heaven-sent city of Jerusalem that is consecrated for Kingdom fulfillment, consummated by Christ's incorruptible seed and clothed in God's glory! I am a part of the body/bride of Christ. "So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones." (Ephesians 5:28-30)
Today I will comprehend the city of God (the bride) and how I relate to it. ("But you HAVE COME to Mount Zion and to the CITY OF THE LIVING GOD, the heavenly Jerusalem . . ." – Hebrews 12:22). I know that I have already come to the city, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. Therefore, today, I will not refuse Him Who speaks – Who speaks to me! I will embrace what He IS SAYING (rhema word) more than what He HAS SAID (logos word)! I cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that PROCEEDS out of the mouth of God.
Today I will recognize and release the glory of God in me – Christ IN me, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27)! I will illuminate my world with His glory!
Today I will recognize and respect the glory of God ON me – I will arise and shine for my light has come (Isaiah 60:1)! The glory is risen UPON my life!
Today I will be faithful to my marriage to Christ ("For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of Hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the WHOLE EARTH" – Isaiah 54:5).
Today I will walk in the confidence that comes from knowing that I have become "one flesh" with Him, and that the marriage covenant produces creativity in me.
Today I will be blessed "in the city," and today I will live in the now!
Jesus, sanctify and cleanse Your bride today with the washing of water by the Word!
(from A Year In The Now, bishop Jim Swilley)
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May you have a wonderful month of revelation!
"Then one of the seven angels . . . came to me and talked with me, saying, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.' And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal." (Revelation 21:9-11)
Today I will live in the now! I will live in the now because I will walk in a greater revelation and clearer vision of the bride, the Lamb's wife – the holy, hallowed and heaven-sent city of Jerusalem that is consecrated for Kingdom fulfillment, consummated by Christ's incorruptible seed and clothed in God's glory! I am a part of the body/bride of Christ. "So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones." (Ephesians 5:28-30)
Today I will comprehend the city of God (the bride) and how I relate to it. ("But you HAVE COME to Mount Zion and to the CITY OF THE LIVING GOD, the heavenly Jerusalem . . ." – Hebrews 12:22). I know that I have already come to the city, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. Therefore, today, I will not refuse Him Who speaks – Who speaks to me! I will embrace what He IS SAYING (rhema word) more than what He HAS SAID (logos word)! I cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that PROCEEDS out of the mouth of God.
Today I will recognize and release the glory of God in me – Christ IN me, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27)! I will illuminate my world with His glory!
Today I will recognize and respect the glory of God ON me – I will arise and shine for my light has come (Isaiah 60:1)! The glory is risen UPON my life!
Today I will be faithful to my marriage to Christ ("For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of Hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the WHOLE EARTH" – Isaiah 54:5).
Today I will walk in the confidence that comes from knowing that I have become "one flesh" with Him, and that the marriage covenant produces creativity in me.
Today I will be blessed "in the city," and today I will live in the now!
Jesus, sanctify and cleanse Your bride today with the washing of water by the Word!
(from A Year In The Now, bishop Jim Swilley)
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May you have a wonderful month of revelation!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thankfulness
1 Corinthians 10:16
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
Today, I am thankful, too, for you. I hope that you enjoy a few of these quotes and that you had a great Thanksgiving.
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"Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving."
--Kahlil Gibran
"Giving thanks for abundance is sweeter than the abundance itself..."
-–Rumi
"Gratitude is the memory of the heart."
–-French proverb
2 Corinthians 4:15
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 9:11
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
1 Timothy 2:1
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone.
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
Today, I am thankful, too, for you. I hope that you enjoy a few of these quotes and that you had a great Thanksgiving.
------
"Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving."
--Kahlil Gibran
"Giving thanks for abundance is sweeter than the abundance itself..."
-–Rumi
"Gratitude is the memory of the heart."
–-French proverb
2 Corinthians 4:15
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 9:11
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
1 Timothy 2:1
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone.
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