I had someone call me recently and say, "Pastor I just don't know what I am supposed to do in life."
This person continued, "it seems there is no joy and I just feel useless."
It is so important that we realize that Life is all about the Journey!
Who we meet, the relationships that we develop and how we influence those around us.
We have been placed on this planet for a purpose, and there is no greater purpose than helping those who are in need and pointing them to a real Savior! If we live this life without helping someone who is hurting and pointing them to Jesus - then we have missed our entire reason for being here!
There are people in need all around us, they may be at our work, at our school campuses, at the store where we shop, or maybe at our churches.
I challenge you to look around you, to allow God to open your eyes to those in need. If you will - You will make yourself available to Him and you will find yourself being used by Him!
I have found a truth in life, its very simple but very true!
Boats are made to sail!
Airplanes are made to fly!
And you were created to be a vessel for Him to use!
Listen to me: when you are being used by Him, you become fulfilled, because you are being used for what you are created for! Mary said, let it be unto me according to your word! She became a carrier of life!
When Jesus came he came with a purpose, Jesus said, I have come that you might have life and have life more abundantly. He also said, come unto me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest!
Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, comforted the hurting and fed the hungry!
Jesus said, "the works that I do, you will do also and greater works than these shall you do!
Jesus came and in One Day Changed the World for others!
I urge you to live the 1D40 Journey. When you do you wont feel useless but rather you will be used by Him!
1D40 = One Day For Others! Let it be unto me according to your word, help me to be a carrier of life!
Live and be a blessing, because if you will - you yourself will be blessed!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
The Joys of Fasting!
The Joys of Fasting??? Are you crazy, a Joy????? How can Fasting be a Joy????, especially when you fast for 21 days? What is fasting anyway?
These are great questions, and I am glad you asked!
To find the answers to these questions we need to do an inward examination.
First of all; (Sincerely ask yourself these questions)
Am I as close to God as what I can be?
Am I in need of a closer intimate walk with the Lord?
Do I desire to hear His voice more frequently, and clearer than what I can hear right now?
Are there things in my life that I would like to overcome?
Are there bondage's that have developed in my life, that I would like to be free from?
Is there a dream inside of me that only God can bring forth?
Is there someone that I know that needs salvation?
Is there any bitterness in my life?
Are there relationships in my life that are not what they should be?
If you answered yes to any of these questions then: This fast is for you!!!!
First of all what is a fast???
Simply stated: Biblical Fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose!
It is that simple!
Some may decide to do a full fast - that is liquids only - you establish the number of days.
Some may decide to do a partial fast - from sun up to sundown.
Some may decide to fast a certain number of meals during the day, it is your choice, your free will enacted for the purpose of spiritual growth!
God is pleased when His people seek Him more than anything else!
Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all of your heart!
That scripture follows Jeremiah 29:11 Where God said, For I know the thoughts that I have toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you a future and a hope.
Do you desire to know God's direction for your life? Seek Him! Fast and Pray! When we seek for Him with all of our heart we will find Him!
God gave me a word recently, He said For I will restore health to you, and Heal you of all your wounds!
Our God is the Healer of our lives, He is the healer of our emotions, He is the healer of our hurts, and past failures!
Those relationships that are in need of healing, God can bring healing, but it first starts in our own lives!
Fasting causes us to be more keenly aware of His presence and His will for our lives!
We begin to empty ourselves of ourselves and joyfully take on His attributes;
Forgiveness
Love
Compassion for others!
Isaiah 58:6 states: Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens, To let oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?
The word oppressed can be translated - Broken
There are so many people all around us who are broken in spirit and bound by sin!
Fasting can be a tool for freeing those who are broken and bound!
Oh the Joys of Fasting!
Those Joys are revealed when we see those who we are praying for set free!
Those Joys are revealed as we begin to walk with God on a more personal and intimate level! Those Joys are revealed as we begin to experience the compassion, love and forgiveness of God demostrated in real ways toward those he loves, the outcasts and rejected by society and religious self righteous people!
Fasting is not about becoming self - righteous it is becoming the hands and feet of Christ!
Isaiah 58:7 Is not the fast that I have chosen to;
Share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?
Verse 8 Says; Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you;
The Glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Verse 9. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer!
So I invite you to Join us in this fast and together lets not just see more of God but lets experience more of God!
And as we experience Him we will experience His Joy!
These are great questions, and I am glad you asked!
To find the answers to these questions we need to do an inward examination.
First of all; (Sincerely ask yourself these questions)
Am I as close to God as what I can be?
Am I in need of a closer intimate walk with the Lord?
Do I desire to hear His voice more frequently, and clearer than what I can hear right now?
Are there things in my life that I would like to overcome?
Are there bondage's that have developed in my life, that I would like to be free from?
Is there a dream inside of me that only God can bring forth?
Is there someone that I know that needs salvation?
Is there any bitterness in my life?
Are there relationships in my life that are not what they should be?
If you answered yes to any of these questions then: This fast is for you!!!!
First of all what is a fast???
Simply stated: Biblical Fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose!
It is that simple!
Some may decide to do a full fast - that is liquids only - you establish the number of days.
Some may decide to do a partial fast - from sun up to sundown.
Some may decide to fast a certain number of meals during the day, it is your choice, your free will enacted for the purpose of spiritual growth!
God is pleased when His people seek Him more than anything else!
Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all of your heart!
That scripture follows Jeremiah 29:11 Where God said, For I know the thoughts that I have toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you a future and a hope.
Do you desire to know God's direction for your life? Seek Him! Fast and Pray! When we seek for Him with all of our heart we will find Him!
God gave me a word recently, He said For I will restore health to you, and Heal you of all your wounds!
Our God is the Healer of our lives, He is the healer of our emotions, He is the healer of our hurts, and past failures!
Those relationships that are in need of healing, God can bring healing, but it first starts in our own lives!
Fasting causes us to be more keenly aware of His presence and His will for our lives!
We begin to empty ourselves of ourselves and joyfully take on His attributes;
Forgiveness
Love
Compassion for others!
Isaiah 58:6 states: Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens, To let oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?
The word oppressed can be translated - Broken
There are so many people all around us who are broken in spirit and bound by sin!
Fasting can be a tool for freeing those who are broken and bound!
Oh the Joys of Fasting!
Those Joys are revealed when we see those who we are praying for set free!
Those Joys are revealed as we begin to walk with God on a more personal and intimate level! Those Joys are revealed as we begin to experience the compassion, love and forgiveness of God demostrated in real ways toward those he loves, the outcasts and rejected by society and religious self righteous people!
Fasting is not about becoming self - righteous it is becoming the hands and feet of Christ!
Isaiah 58:7 Is not the fast that I have chosen to;
Share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?
Verse 8 Says; Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you;
The Glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Verse 9. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer!
So I invite you to Join us in this fast and together lets not just see more of God but lets experience more of God!
And as we experience Him we will experience His Joy!
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