Released and Free…

Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you”

Daily we’re offered the opportunity to become offended with people. It may be with our politicians, pastors, friends or strangers. No matter who offends us, if we don’t deal with it, our future becomes incapacitated.

This weeks verse clearly shows us why we need to forgive. It simply says that our heavenly father doesn’t forgive our offence unless we forgive others. We must learn how to forgive and release people who offend us.

So, how do we know if we’re carrying offence? If we clearly remember the pain and hurt of the event then it’s likely that forgiveness towards that person is still in process in our life. We must continue to release people from the blame for what they’ve done so we can be released from the clutches of offence.

This week let’s work on forgiving those who have offended us. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to release them and forgive them. Then commit to pray for them just like you would pray for yourself. As you do this any bitterness in your soul will leave and hindrances to your future will dissolve.

We’ve done this and it works, so we encourage you to do it as well. Get ready because as you apply this principle to your life it will propel you forward into God’s amazing plans for your future.

Building Strong Families…

Psalm 103:17 “But the Lord’s love for those who respect him continues forever and ever, and his goodness continues to their grandchildren”

The foundations under any building are what cause it to stand strong. If they are faulty or inferior they won’t fully support the structure that is built upon them. If foundations are weak, they will almost certainly fail at sometime in the future.

Everyone wants their family to be strong and functional. Our verse teaches us how to build the strong foundation needed to achieve this. It says that as we show respect to God He pours out His love and goodness on us. But it goes further than that. He keeps pouring this love and goodness out onto our children and our grandchildren. Now that’s a strong foundation to build under any family!

It is not difficult to show respect to God. As we are obedient to His Word and live life the way the bible says our lives transform from being self-centered to being God-focused. We become a vessel of worship to Him and He responds by pouring His love and goodness into the future generations of our families.

This week why not strengthen the foundations of your family and effect the coming generations. As we make a choice to do things God’s way we cause His love and goodness to flood over us, our children and our children’s children. A strong foundation will be formed that will enable our families to stand strong through any storm. Prepare now for a strong family in the future!

The Road Ahead…

Exodus 15:18 “The Lord reigns for ever and ever”

Have you ever driven a road that looks like it lasts forever? Each time you turn a curve you discover that the road continues on, disappearing into the distance.

Our verse says that God’s reign, that is his control & influence, are just like a never-ending road. His reign goes beyond what we presently see or experience, all the way into the future. It runs right through eternity.

In our Christian life there are certain truths that we must settle. God’s reign over our life journey is one of them. It doesn’t matter what curves and turns we meet in life God must be allowed to lead and steer us on a course of safety.

Daily the enemy takes every opportunity to push and batter us. Nonetheless God’s reign, that is his control & influence, allows us to survive and navigates even the greatest attacks. God will lead us beyond what’s happening today towards a powerful and dynamic future.

This week, why not make an unwavering commitment to accept God’s reign afresh in your life. His plans and purpose for you are full of future and hope. God will securely take you forward on life’s path if you allow him. You will go beyond your current circumstance and, before you know it, you’ll be racing along life’s road again filled with faith and hope.

Fan that Flame…

1Timothy 1:6  “…I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…”

A fire left unattended will eventually die down to nothing but a few glowing embers. If we refuel and fan them, flames will quickly start to flicker and climb and before long the fire is ablaze again.

Our verse lets us know that this is how our God given spiritual gifts work. If we leave them unattended they will decrease and become nothing more than an ember of what they should be. People may notice them smouldering in us but be unable to see the raging beauty that they should be.

Now, just as a fire needs three things to exist: fuel, heat and oxygen, our spiritual gifts need prayer, study and fellowship to blaze. As we diligently bring these three together the flames of our spiritual gifts begin to rise and gather strength. What is an ember today can be a flame tomorrow and a raging fire in our future.

This week why not fan into flames the spiritual gifts that God gave you. Start praying over them, studying God’s Word and fellowship with other Christians who think the way you think. This will cause even the smallest dying ember of your spiritual gifts to flicker and come to life in a short time. Don’t stop when you see the first sign of flame but keep on praying, studying and fellowshipping until your spiritual gifts are a raging fire that no man can stop.

Help Wanted…

1 Chronicles 16:11 “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.”

Have you ever seen a sign in a window that says “Help Wanted” In reality this sign is offering more than just employment. It is signaling that someone has discovered that they can’t accomplish all they want by themselves.

You and I can be in a similar position when we look at life and think, “I don’t have the strength to accomplish all of this.” These are the times when we need to put out our “Help wanted” sign to God.

Our verse lets us know that He will respond. He will allow us to draw our strength from Him. Now there’s an amazing key hidden in this verse that will have you feeling strong more often than you feel weak. The key is to seek God’s face continually.

Now a face always looks forward. God’s face is the same. We find His face as we look towards our future. We will never find His face in our past. As we look for God in our future we are ensured that He will be our strength.

This week let God know that you need His help. Stop looking for Him in your past and resolutely seek Him in your future. As we do this strength will flow from heaven enabling us to flourish into the future. It’s not difficult; you just have to look in the right direction – to God in your future!

We love you and believe in you.

Happy Days…

Psalm 118:24 “This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be happy in it.”

If we create something, we like to think that whoever receives it will enjoy it. This is not always the case. There is nothing gloomier than getting an ungrateful response from someone. The gift had no fault but the recipient did. Today’s verse shows us how we should receive the gift of time that God gives us.

Everybody has 365 days a year and God creates each one. No matter what day it is, as born again believers, we have an escape to the suffering and struggles that others accept. We decide exactly how we will live each day. My decision is always: “As for me and my house we will rejoice and be happy 365 days a year.”

Now I know you want days filled with happiness and rejoicing as well. The fact is that they are not difficult to create. Simply ensure that you follow Psalm 118’s two instructions:

  1. Acknowledge that God has made this day
  2. Make a firm decision to rejoice and be happy in it

Before you know it life will turn around. The mountains of discontent and worry that stood before you will come down. The light of a brand new day will flood your soul. You will begin to experience future and hope like never before. When this happens let others know that these happy days can be theirs as well, just like they are yours.

A Very Great Future…

Job 8:7 “Then, although your beginnings were small, your future will be VERY GREAT INDEED”

We are at the beginning of the 2nd half of 2012. Even though the new year seems only days ago, 6 months has actually passed by. At the start of this year we encouraged you that “Jesus has already gone into 2012 to prepare the way for you!” You can read about this on our BLOG POST [Click Here]. Now we are at the ½ way mark of the year.

This verse becomes very timely today. It says that this years beginning may seem small but the remainder is going to be VERY GREAT INDEED. Now that sounds awesome to me! Over the previous 6 months we saw that God did great, wonderful and mighty things for every one of us. Remember though, that they are small in comparison to what He wants to produce in the final portion of 2012.

Jesus has prepared 6 VERY GREAT months ahead for us. We must keep advancing, obeying Him and giving our life to His purpose. As we do this we obtain a future that is VERY GREAT INDEED. It is available, so let’s go get it!

Our key to apprehending this future is to not falter in our progress. Today, let’s commit to staying tuned to the voice of the Holy Spirit, obedient to God’s Word and in love with the Father. The result will be that 2012’s small beginnings will end up VERY GREAT INDEED as our year draws to a close!

Get Ready…

Matthew 18:4 “Whoever becomes like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

A few days ago I was at the supermarket waiting in a checkout line. In front of me was a 4-year-old child having a conversation with his grandmother. He was excitedly telling her that he was four and in a few days he would be five. His excitement was uncontainable. He wanted everyone to know that he was approaching a great milestone and that we should all be as expectant as he was.

We must recognize that God really loves this part of a child’s nature. Excitement and expectation are extremely important in life. They are both vital traits that build a great future.

Our verse says that as we exercise such traits they cause us to become great in the Kingdom of heaven. There is no reason for us to exclude excitement and expectancy from our lives. They are designed to help build our present faith and construct our “mountain moving” faith for the future.

So, this week, join us in getting excited about what God has planned for the future. Build expectancy just like the 4 year old at the store. Don’t allow someone else’s wet blankets to put out your newfound fire and zeal. Instead let your excitement and expectation overcome every obstacle in your path. Before long you’ll be celebrating your arrival at the milestone and be looking forward to your next one.

Love Your Future…

1 Corinthians 2:9 “…No one has ever seen, no one has ever heard, no one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Have you ever visited someone’s home and smelt a roast dinner baking in the oven. Even though you have not seen, heard or even imagined that dinner there is an instantly hope you might get invited to stay and enjoy it with them.

Our verse explains that God has cooked up something very special for us. He has provided, prepared and made ready our future. He has promised a future that will eclipse our past.

Now, stop and ponder on this for a moment… God has prepared a future that is so magnificent that it is beyond anything we have ever seen, heard or even imagined. I have seen, heard and imagined some gigantic things but God says that He has tirelessly prepared something even bigger for our future. WOW!

So, how do we access this future? We are told that God has already prepared it for those who “love” him. This word “Love’ comes from the word “agape”. It means to love unconditionally and unbounded. It is how God loves us and how we should love Him.

Let the agape love of God consume you this week. If you feel you need more ask the father and He will provide and before you know it you will be walking in what God has prepared for you.

PS: In the past we sent an Encouragement on Agape Love titled “Close the Gate” You can read it again on our blog by clicking here. It will help you to understand agape love and activate it in your life.

Healing Jesus…

Philippians 2:9 “Because of this, God has also greatly exalted him and he has given him The Name which is greater than all names…”

Today, I sit writing this email in a medical library. There are hundreds of thousands of books stacked on row after row of shelves. They are all filled with information about sickness, disease and infirmities. They cover being unwell in the physical, mental and spiritual realms.

Now, remember that Adam was entrusted by God to name His creations in Genesis 2. Ever since then mankind has given names to everything they discover. Nothing exists that we will not name. So, as I survey this library of books filled with words, I laugh to myself. We have just one word, one name that is above all the multiplied millions of ailments named. We have the name of Jesus!

This is the truth of the GOOD NEWS of the gospel. EVERY knee must bow to the name of Jesus. Every sickness, disease or infirmities must admit defeat. Jesus has already won the victory over them. The battle is already finished!

Are you ready to prepare for a victorious week? We need to take this GOOD NEWS and wage war with it. Lets speak the faith filled name of Jesus against whatever ails us, never taking “no” for an answer. We’ll be staring victory in the face before we know it.

Remember that we continue in pray for you daily. We know that God’s best is pursuing you into your future.