For The Love Of Their King

Once upon a time in a land not too far away there lived a young boy that worked in the Kings stables taking care of the royal horses. He loved them, cared for them, and knew each one by name. "One day, I will ride one of these grand horses as a knight fighting for my King," declared Taylor as he fed and watered his friends.

Laughter bellowed from a knight standing nearby who had overheard his words. "You are too young and short lad," said the knight. "You don't have the muscles and you will never be able to fit into a knight's armor. Ha! Ha! Ha! You are just dreaming child." he roared as he walked away.

"I am not a child!" declared Taylor. "And one day, I will grow tall and strong and have muscles! You will see!"

The knight walked away laughing and shaking his head. Taylor sat in the stable feeling hurt and frustrated. But Noble, his favorite horse, touched Taylor's cheek with his muzzle and spoke quietly in his ear. "Do not lose your dream Taylor just because someone else does not share it. You have a knight's heart, and one day, your body will grow tall and strong. Set your mind to serve your King and to love his kingdom, and one day, you will be rewarded by seeing your dream come true."

Read the rest of this story at:
http://www.helium.com/tm/722528/their-kingonce-there-lived

Prophesy Against The Shepherds

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4 (King James Version)


We are living in the times just before the return of Jesus. Everywhere you look, the signs bear witness to the truth of God’s Word prophesied in days of old. But according to II Thessalonians 2:3-4, this “day will not come, except there come a great falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.” He is the antichrist, and he will declare himself to be God.

“A great falling away” means that many will abandon their faith and deny Jesus! How could this happen? What circumstances would lead the Christian population to reject and deny Jesus? Jeremiah 50:6 says “their shepherds have caused them to go astray.”

Ezekiel 34:2, declares God’s rebuke: “Son of man, “prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd; and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.”

The pulpits and airwaves are filled today with teachings so void of the word of God that there is an epidemic of spiritual malnourishment among the body of Christ. We are in the days of famine as spoken by the prophet Amos. It is “not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord;” (Amos 8:11)

Men and women are running to and fro chasing their favorite personalities, and defending fervently their teachings. But like junk food to the body, many of these teachings are poison to the soul. The power of positive thinking and confession replace the message of salvation through the blood of Jesus. Modern day prophets teach that it is acceptable if their prophecies are at least 67% accurate. False shepherds who love money fleece the flock leaving them empty handed and feeling guilty if they don’t sow into their ministry.

Now is the day of salvation! Call upon the name of the Lord while He may yet be found! Call upon Him while He is near! Let the sinner forsake his ways! Jesus is coming soon! He is coming for a church that is without spot or wrinkle! She is His bride who has adorned herself for her wedding day. Her garments are white. She keeps her lamp filled with oil awaiting the coming and call of her Bridegroom.

Forsake the false shepherds and cling to the Good Shepherd. He will not lead you astray. He will not leave you to be prey. He will feed you and lead you beside the still waters and shall restore your soul.

The Lord Is My Rock

“I LOVE You fervently and devotedly, O Lord, my Strength. The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my keen and firm Strength in Whom I will trust and take refuge, my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation, my High Tower. I will call upon the Lord, Who is to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.” (Psalm 18:1-3 Amplified)

David was called by God as a shepherd boy to be king of Israel. For several years, he was pursued by King Saul who jealously sought his life to destroy it. But God was faithful to deliver him. After he became king, he had to fight many enemies, but God fought for him and delivered his enemies into his hands.

David reflects back on all of the years of struggle and the many ways that God showed His protection and faithfulness to the shepherd boy who became a king. The first account of this Psalm is recorded in II Samuel 22. It seems that this was a psalm that David wrote to remind him of God’s faithfulness in his life. It was sort of like a marker in the road or a memorial stone to help him to keep his focus on the faithfulness of God.

David made it a practice to seek the will of God in his life. Most of his decision he made were after he had inquired of the Lord how to handle certain situations. God always answered. David loved the Lord so much that the Bible records that he was a man after God’s own heart. Yes, he made wrong choices that were met with the Word of the Lord from the prophet Nathan, and he suffered the consequences for his actions.

To his dying day, he recounted God’s faithfulness. His words remind us what we must do when we face our struggles in life. David fervently loved the Lord. He declared God’s faithfulness, deliverance and favor. He recognized that the Lord was his high tower and only source of salvation. He called upon the Lord and praised Him because He was worthy of David’s praise. He watched as God faithfully delivered him out of the hands of his enemies.

Did you know that God has a plan for you? Does opposition raise its head to run you off course? Ponder this scripture! Imitate what David did and watch the salvation of God in your life! The man of God in Psalm 1 meditates on the word of God day and night and becomes like a tree planted by the waters that bears fruit in its season. His leaf does not wither and whatsoever he does prospers. Why? Because he fervently loves the Lord, and he calls upon and praises His name.

David Crowder Music Video - O Praise Him

The Choices We Make

God is sovereign. There is nothing that catches Him off-guard. There are no surprises that cause Him to wonder what happened. We did not choose Him. He chose us! Before the foundation of the world He foreknew, predestined and chose those who would follow Him.

But the God of the universe that created us gave us a choice. The free will that He gave us “allows” us to choose to receive or reject Him. Our choice determines His blessing or curse.

We are commanded to “submit to the Holy Spirit”, “grieve not the Holy Spirit”, “believe in your heart and confess with your mouth”, “receive the Lord Jesus”, and “yield under the might hand of God.” Obeying the Word of God always brings His blessing. “To obey is better than sacrifice; to hearken than the fat of rams.”

Disobeying His commands will remove His blessing and bring a curse into our lives. It will eventually lead to our destruction and eternal separation. “For what fellowship has light with darkness.”

When we choose to obey, we “allow” the blessing of God to operate in our life. He is “allowed” to flow in our lives according to the plans He already has established for us. We are able to receive the full benefit of His blessing through obedience.

When we choose to disobey, we grieve and hinder the Holy Spirit from operating in our lives because sin separates us from Him. He is holy and cannot abide in the presence of sin. He therefore is not “allowed” to move freely ion our lives because we withdrew from Him.

Before the children of Israel entered their promised land, God told them his commandments and the blessings and curses that would result from either their obedience or disobedience. He even told them in advance that they would turn to other idols and would be led into captivity. But He was sovereign and let them make their choices to worship Him or the idols of Canaan. His words to them are recorded in Deuteronomy 30:19-20

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

In Joshua 24:15, they were given the same option.

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

We must choose Him and according to the scriptures, “work out our salvation with fear and trembling.” One day stand before Him and give account for the things we did in our lifetime, whether they were good or bad.

I have chosen in times past to hold on to things He has told me to let go of. In doing so, I hindered Him from moving freely in my life and the blessings that would have been mine were withheld. I pray I have learned from my experiences and that this day forward, I receive all that He has for me by surrendering and coming under His authority, thus “allowing” Him to move in my life and take me to the places He has prepared for me.

The choice is also yours. I encourage you to listen to what God told the children of Israel and “choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.”

Possess The Land!

Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged. (Deuteronomy 1:21 KJV)

When the children of Israel left Egypt, they witnessed the miracles of God over and over again. Before they left Egypt, they witnessed the plagues of judgment that came against the Egyptians. They witnessed the declaration freeing them from slavery. They witnessed the parting of the Red Sea and the Egyptian army destroyed as the waters of the river washed away both horse and rider. They witnessed God’s leading with the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. They witnessed God’s protection as the fear of the Lord preceded them and the nations they passed through left them alone. Food and water was provided all the days of their journey, and their clothes didn’t even wear out.

Now it was time for them to take possession.

Thirty-nine years earlier, Israel had been at this crossroads, but despite the miracles, their parents grumbled against God because they heard the bad report that giants were in the land that lay before them. Believing that the giants were greater than God’s promise, they grumbled, accusing God and Moses of bringing them into the wilderness to die. They cried out wishing they were back in Egypt. In God’s wrath, they were not allowed to take possession of His promise.

Now, forty years after leaving the bondage of Egypt, the children of Israel stood at the crossroads once again. The land was theirs! God had promised it to them! But they had to take possession! They were instructed not to be afraid. They were admonished not to let discouragement fill their hearts. They had to choose to believe the promise of God and take possession of their promise.

At what crossroads do you stand? Have you been here before? Did you have the opportunity to take possession once before, but were afraid to take what was rightfully yours? Now is the time! Today is the day! The promise of God belongs to you, and according to the word of God, you can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens you. Don’ be afraid! Take courage! TAKE POSSESSION!

Like Goliath mocking David, your giant may mock you. But David came against his giant in the name of the Lord God. There is no other name above the name of Jesus. Don’t wait any longer. In the name of Jesus, go in this year and possess the land that God has already given to you, and eat the good of the land.

Come Let Us Reason

Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land: But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword”; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. (Isaiah 1:15-20 – NKJV)

We are living in times similar to the days of Noah when men call that which is evil, good; and that which is good, evil. In these days of political correctness, we need to stand for righteousness and the God we serve. First, we must examine ourselves against the light of God’s Word. Has compromise crept in so that instead of living on the cutting edge, we are living in the shadows?

In Genesis, Lot chose the cities of the plain for his dwelling. This included the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The Amplified Bible reads in 2 Peter 2:6-8 that he was “greatly worn out and distressed” as day after day, year after year, he saw with his eyes and heard with his ears all of the ungodliness and lawlessness that surrounded him.

What has surrounded you and stolen your strength? It’s time to commit ourselves to God and stand up for righteousness! Come, reason with the Lord your God. Let His light of truth shine into your heart and life as He shows you what is unclean and displeasing to him. No matter how stained the heart with sin, His blood will wash it white as snow.

If you are obedient, you will prosper in your way and God’s blessing will be upon you. But if you choose to ignore His prompting, the devourer has permission to come into your life seeking to destroy everything he can touch. God has a plan for your life. Include Him in your plans, actions and conversations, and watch as His hand prepares the way before you.

God's Appontment For You

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV)

We are at the halfway mark of the first month of 2008. Where do you stand in regards to last year? Are you stuck in some memory or hurt that just won’t let you move forward?

Believe me when I say, I’ve been there, done that, and bought the T-shirt. The only thing it ever did for me was to hold me back from reaching the potential God had for my life. My dreams and visions of where I wanted to go with my life ground to a halt as I struggled over my disappointment.

The goal of our enemy is to disappoint us! Let me say that again with emphasis. Satan’s desire for you and me is to bring DIS - APPOINTMENT to us.

God has a plan for our lives. His APPOINTMENT for us is not only LIFE, but ABUNDANDANT LIFE. We are not destined to wrath. We have been saved by God’s grace and according to Ephesians chapter 2, we have been seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. And who is under the feet of Jesus? The devil who is our defeated foe. But he wants you to believe that you too are defeated, so trials that come try to DIS - APPOINT us so that we believe that we are beneath and not above; that we are the tail and not the head.

So cast your cares upon Jesus, for He cares for you. Take your rightful place in heavenly places next to His side. In doing so, you will discover that through Christ Jesus, you can do all things through Him because He has set you above and not beneath. He has made you the head and not the tail.

Here is a little film clip from GodTube to remind you put the past behind you and embrace the future that God has called you to walk in. Have a blessed day!

He Knows What You Have Need Of

“Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” (I Peter 5:7 Amplified)

We worry about so many things. Living in a world that is driven by money, we wonder how we will pay the bills, clothe our families, keep a roof over our heads, and to pay for the ever increasing cost of gasoline to get us there and back. These are just a few of the demands that exert their financial pressure into our lives. This does not even account for our other emotional, physical, mental, temporal, and spiritual needs.

But according to Matthew 6:32, our Heavenly Father already knows what these needs are. His promise is, that if we seek FIRST His kingdom and His righteousness, all of these things will be supplied.

I remember back in 1995 when God had called my wife and me to leave Washington State and head out into the unknown. We were traveling in a 27 foot 1984 Pace Arrow motorhome with only a disability income as our livelihood. It was August and we were camped in Idaho at a free campground just below the Palasades Dam. His Spirit spoke to both of us that it was time to pack up and leave. Slowly we made preparations, because honestly, we weren’t in too big of a hurry. It was a beautiful day, and besides, we were about six days away from being paid! We weren’t in a financial position to travel.

A knock sounded at the door of our RV. The park ranger asked if we were preparing to leave. I affirmed we were, but inquired as to why was he asking. He told us that a blizzard was approaching and that we needed to get over the pass before we got snowed in.

Two days later, we drove into Cody, Wyoming with only $5.00 to our name and four days before payday. A local store denied our request to stay in their lot. My wife and bowed our heads to pray. We thanked God for warning us to leave before the blizzard, but now we needed a place to stay.

Suddenly, a man walked in from of the RV and knocked on my door. He invited us spend the next two nights for free in his number one spot in his newly opened RV park. He wanted advertising that he was open for business. He even made arrangements with us to stay until we received our automatic deposit and could pay him!

You see, the Father already knew our needs. We were walking in obedience and He saw to provide for our needs even though we didn’t know where the provision would come from. He warned us to leave because He new the winter storm was coming. He prepared the way before us giving us a safe place to stay one we arrived.

Whatever your circumstances, put your trust in and rest in the arms of your Heavenly Father. He has more than enough to take care of you. He owns it all. And He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Slow Down And Reflect On God's Word

This year is already moving fast. I encourage you to take time NOW, while the year is still young to remember to reflect on God’s Word that He has given us. Psalm 1 says that the man that meditates on the word of God day and night shall be like a tree planted by the waters. His roots will grow deep and he will be fed by the nearby waters filled with enriching minerals. Add to that the splendor of the sun shining upon him, his green leaves will shoot forth and the fruit he was intended to grow will prosper on his branches.

One thing my wife and I have learned is to write Bible verses on large sheets of paper and post them in prominent places around the house as a reminder of God’s love, faithfulness, and promises that are ours for the claiming. If you don’t have one already in mind, start this tradition with this one. You won’t believe the difference it will make in your life.

Psalm 23 (Amplified Bible)

THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.

He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.

He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him--not for my earning it, but] for His name's sake.

Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.

Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.

Bush Expects Peace Treaty by January 2009

Arutz Sheva of IsraelNationalNews.com reported today that President Bush expects a peace treaty by January 29, 2009 between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

He said, “I believe it’s possible – not only possible, I believe it’s going to happen – that there will be a signed peace treaty by the time I leave office. That’s what I believe.”


What Does The Bible Say?

The Bible tells us that this will not be a lasting peace. Let’s do a little Bible study by starting with a prophecy that was given in 443 BC in Daniel chapter 9.

Verse 24 starts off by telling us that 70 weeks are determined for Daniel’s people, the Jews. For the purposes of this study, 1 week = 7 years. Additionally, a Jewish prophetic year contains 360 days.

Verses 25 and 26 continue, “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:

Seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks = 7 weeks + 62 weeks for a total of 69 weeks. According to our formula, this translates to 49 years + 434 years = 483 years.

In Matthew 21:8, Jesus the Messiah made His triumphant entry into the City of Jerusalem. This was on April 6, 32 AD, exactly 483 years after King Artaxerxes gave the command to rebuild Jerusalem on March 14, 445 BC. Considering a 360 day calendar including leap years, this period of time covered 173,880 days, or exactly 483 years as prophesied in Daniel.

One week after His entry into Jerusalem, Jesus the Messiah was “cut off” or crucified just as prophesied in Daniel 9:26.

Daniel 9:26b-27 describes what happens next:

“and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

Israel will enter into a covenant of peace that will not last and the false prince of peace will offer a scrifec on the altar of God which the Bible calls the abomination of desolation. I believe that Isaiah 28 refers to this promised peace as the “Covenant with Death.” But God promises that this covenant will be disannulled.


Isaiah 28:15-18

“Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

“Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

“And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.”



The 70th Week of Daniel – What Jesus Said.

When His disciples inquired regarding the timing of the end of the age, making a direct reference to Daniel 9:27, Jesus replied to them in Matthew 24:15-21:

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation , spoken of by Daniel the prophet , stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

“Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

“Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

“Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

“And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

“But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”


In Summary

There will be no lasting peace in Israel until, Messiah, the Prince of Peace, returns and sets up His kingdom. We as a nation should not be taking part in dividing Jerusalem. We are touching the apple of God’s eye, and according to the covenant He made with Abraham, He will bless those that bless Israel, and will curse those that curse her.

Now is the time to pray for the people of Israel as Jesus commanded in Matthew 24. Israel will soon enter into a covenant of death with her enemies according to Isaiah 28. Her leaders will do this believing the lie that their compromise with the Palestinians will someday bring a lasting peace to the region. Israel will suffer through this and tribulation shall come.

But the King of kings, the Prince of peace, shall return to His people to deliver them and disannul this covenant of death. He will be their God and they will be His people. And according to Zechariah 12:10, they will look upon Messiah,” whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him.” Zechariah 13:9 says, “And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.”

God bless, and remember to pray for God’s chosen people and the days ahead.

Abundant Living Through The Word Of God

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8 NKJV

The Word of God is powerful! By His Word, this world came into existence. It has the power to transform lives. Jesus spoke and the storm ceased, the leper was healed, the demon possessed were delivered, the dead came back to life, and healing and restoration came to those who were sick and diseased. His Word is living. It transcends time. According to scriptures, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent. You can count on the word of God.

Psalm chapter 1 says that the man that meditates on the Word of God shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of waters that bears fruit in its season. Its leaf shall not wither and whatsoever he does shall prosper. Finally, Jesus said in Matthew 6:32-34 that our heavenly Father already knows our needs, and if we seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, then all of these things will be added into our lives.

Read God's Word. Meditate on what it speaks into your life. Declare those promises as yours. Observe and do all that is written in it. Watch as it transforms your life, giving you wisdom in everyday decisions. God's hand will be upon you and you will witness His blessing and multiplication.

The Fish And The Minnows

My wife read me a story last night about an experiment that was made with a large fish and some minnows. The large fish was put in an aquarium along with several minnows. The large fish was allowed to eat as many minnows as often as he desired. In phase two of the experiment, a sheet of glass was placed as a separation between the fish and the minnows. Many times, the large fish tried to get to the minnows with no success. Propelling himself forward, he would hit his head against the glass until finally he realized that there was no way to get to the minnows. He stopped trying to get to them. In phase three, the glass was removed and once again, the minnows swam freely around the big fish. The fish however, left the minnows alone believing that it was impossible still to get to them. He ended up starving to death.

What circumstances in your life have left you believing that you have no control over your future? Have you lived a life filled with abuse? Every time you seem to get ahead, does something always seem to go wrong? What is your roadblock?

Don’t become like the fish that became conditioned to believe that he could never eat the fish swimming freely around him. There are many who have had disappointments and setbacks all through their lives, but have continued to push through to break the barrier before them. An underground spring pushes itself through many obstacles before it reaches the surface. The process of going through those obstacles purifies the water making it drinkable and refreshing.

You don’t have to face these obstacles alone. Call upon the name of Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to strengthen you so you can overcome rather than remain a victim of circumstances. If you are in an abusive relationship, you don’t have to stay there. Seek help and find the courage to make your break. This is a new year. Plan for your new beginning.

Tear Down The Walls

Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye: and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God. And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:12-17)

Last January, God prompted me to tear down the walls which I had built up because someone had hurt me deeply. It was a dragging anchor that was holding me back from becoming the person God called me to be. In obedience, I surrendered the hurt and chose to forgive.

When we choose to hold on to a hurt, we become the prisoner. We become bound to an event that begins to poison our spirit with bitterness, anger and regret. Our vision becomes narrow, and we begin to see life through the eyes of our wound. Soon it begins to fester as we refuse to let it heal.

Is there a wound that has held you bound for some time now? Forgive the wrong and the individual. Place the heartache into the loving hands of Jesus and allow his Holy Spirit to comfort and heal you. Allow God’s word to replace the hurt, and soon, you will find that a song of praise will arise within you as God’s love and grace covers the sin that broke your heart.

Malachi 4:2 has a promise for those that worshipfully revere and put their trust in the Lord. “The Sun of Righteousness will arise with healing in His wings, and you shall go forth and gambol like calves released from the stall and leap for joy.”
In this New Year, let go of the things that have hurt you. Honor God by giving Him your pain. Allow His peace to come into your heart, and His radiant love to arise in your being with healing. He will give you a new song to sing, and cut the chains to the anchor that has held you captive. He knows the plans He has intended for you. It is filled with a future and a hope.

Make This An All Things New Year!

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Revelation 21:4-7 KJV)

2008 is here! Did you know that in the Bible, the number eight stands for a new beginning? Are you ready for a new beginning? It’s yours for the asking and yours for the taking.

The verses above are the words of Jesus. “Behold, I make all things new.” Anyone who comes to Jesus and receives Him shall become a new creation. The Bible says, the old is passed away and all things are become as new. God’s word is true! He is not a man that He should lie not is he the son of man that He should repent. His word says in Jeremiah, “I know the plans I have for you. I have plans for a future and a hope.”

Maybe hope seems to have faded so dark that you think its glimmer is like a desert mirage. But I am here to tell you from my own experience, that I serve a good God. He loves you and wants to make all things new in your life. He will not abandon you, but will give you everything you need to overcome. But that is a personal choice that must be made by each person that draws breath into their lungs. Receive the Fountain of Life you so desperately need. Let the blood of Jesus wash away your sins. Take hold of His precious promises. He will give you the water of life freely. Overcome, and you will inherit the precious promises He has declared for your life.

God richly bless you, and have a happy and blessed new year in 2008!