Be an Overcomer!

Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. - Philippians 4:4-6,8

Do you desire to be an over comer in your day to day life? Philippians 4 gives us some guidance. We are told to Rejoice in the Lord. We are challenged to think on a list of characteristics that help us to be an over comer and pray with thanksgiving. However, all of this is in vain if we don't put into practice what we have seen or heard from the Father. Today reach for these verses and apply them to the doorposts of your heart. Let them well up inside of you. You are an over comer. Remember, we have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. What will your testimony speak today?

Blessings,
Todd

Rooted and built up!

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human traditions and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Since, then you have been raised with Christ set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. - Colossians 2:6-8, 3: 1-2

In today's society there is plenty of hollow and deceptive philosophy based on human traditions and principles being preached to us everyday. How can we stand strong in the midst of the battle we are in. Colossians encourages us to be rooted and built up in Christ first. Second, we are two be thankful (no complaining). Third we are to set on hearts towards the things above. We want to have our hearts beating in time with God's heart for the world. Finally, we are to set our minds on things above, not earthly things. This is the hardest step. 80-90 percent of the battles we face are in the mind. We must take captive the thoughts that exalt themselves above the knowledge of who and what God thinks about you.

Blessings,
Todd

That the King of Glory may come in!

Show me your ways , O Lord, teach me yours paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Who may Ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; be lifted up,. You ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. – Psalm 25:4-5; 24:3,4b,7,8

The Psalmist helps us see in these verses that God has ways for us to follow. He has paths that He will teach us. The Holy Spirit in you will guide you into all truth and teach you. I am glad that I have a HOPE in Him. Today as you come before the Lord He tells us that we can enter His presence with clean hands and pure heart. Tear down the Idols or strongholds that are keeping you from the deep things of God. As we start our day with a clean slate before Him let us approach the throne room with clean hands and a pure heart. One final note, how affirming it must be to know that God is strong and mighty in battle. Heaven is on high alert to fight on your behalf for the KING of Glory to come in through your life. Allow the Glory of the Lord to flow through you today, for HE is worthy of our Praise.

Blessings,
Todd

Do not Lose Heart?

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Somedays our troubles do not seem light or momentary, however, God sees our trials and considers the larger picture about our eternity and life here on earth. To rest in the assurance that we are receiving eternal glory, puts things into perspective. As we walk through our day, Look to the unseen which is all around us. God has many surprises to give us as we look to the eternal. "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." - 1 Corinthians 2:9

Blessings,
Todd

Here I am Send Me!

And they were calling to one another "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty." Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." The I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here I am . Send me! He said, "Go and tell this people: - Isaiah 6:3-8

As you stand in the presence of the Lord today, what is your response to him? Jesus commissioned us all to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Like Isaiah, who had an encounter with God, we need to be ready to respond to God with an answer for how we live our days. As we experience God in the deep places I pray, like Isaiah, we would be willing to say, "Woe to me for I am ruined." Ready to be restored by the coal touching our mouth and lips commissioned for His service. Take your stand today for the King of Kings. Raise up your banner for the Nations. For Our God Reigns. King of Kings and Lord of Lords. His banner over us is Love.

Blessings,
Todd

The Lord is my Right Hand

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 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. for I myself will help you, declares the Lord. But you will rejoice in the Lord and glory in the Holy One of Israel. - Isaiah 41:10,13,14b,16b

What could be more refreshing than to know that you are held with the righteous right hand of the Father. The word picture says, He takes hold of your right hand and says, "Do not Fear". Today as God is the lifter of your head take hold of His right hand and fear not. Rejoice in all that God has and is doing in your life. He is there. Give God the glory for who He is and bruise the head of the serpent who deceives you in fear. (False Expectations Appearing as Real)

Blessings,
Todd

Our Portion

Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. You have made known to me the path of life you will fill me with joy and in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. - Psalm 16:,5,6,7,8,9,11

Thank God for the portion He has given to you today. It is a blessing to have the Lord showing us the path of life that fills us with Joy and rest in the eternal pleasures He has for us. I thank God that He is our counselor and the lifter of our heads. Even as we rest in Him, He instructs us. Rejoice in the inheritance that is placed before you. Come to the banqueting table where He has already assigned you a place with your name on it.

Blessings,
Todd

Deep Calls to Deep

Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me a prayer to the God of my life. - Psalm 42:7-8

Think of how deep the ocean is for a minute. Now think of God's Greatness. Allow the Holy Spirit to wash over you today with waves and breakers that will sweep over you. How amazing to be directed by His love in the day and to sing His song as a prayer of consecration over your life daily. Reach for the depths of God and His love today. You won't be let down or disappointed. Remove the distractions that so easily come into our lives and reach out to your creator who loves you and wants to lavish you with His love. The Word says fear not, for I am with you, be not afraid for I am thy God.

Blessings on your day,
Todd

The Bread of Life

Then Jesus declared, " I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. - John 6:35,40

Jesus in this passage of scripture makes an amazing statement, "I am the bread of Life". Every time I hear those words they pierce my spirit. To know that we will never have lack in our spirit man, if we will turn to him who satisfies our needs. Then Jesus goes on to tell us that as we come believing him we will also be raised up by Him. What a HOPE to know that we will not die, but will live eternally and be raised up by the SON. Rejoice today that the Bread of Life has come in the flesh to make a way where there was no way.

Blessings,
Todd

The Word Stands forever!

For, all men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the WORD of the LORD STANDS FOREVER. I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. He sends from heaven and saves me. When I am afraid, I will trust in you, In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. - 1Peter 1:24 -Psalm 56:3,4 - Psalm 57:2, 9

How refreshing to know that the Word of the Lord stands FOREVER. Thank God today who knows the purposes and plans for your life. In obedience walk forward and listen to the voice the speaks to you. The voice that spoke you into existence. Praise the Lord among the nations today. Let people today around you know that you serve the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who can be trusted. Offer the hope to people who are desperately in need of a touch from their creator.

Blessings,
Todd

If one falls down?

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Though one may be overpowered two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken -Ecclesiastes 4:9,10,12

We are not islands and were not created to be islands. We are relational creations. We were created in His image and the Trinity is constantly in relationship with one another according to John chapter 14. We need each other. Today reach out to someone and let them help you. Maybe you need to pray with someone, or bear one another's burden. I can promise you that the Lord will meet you in the midst of your reaching out one to another.

Fix our Eyes

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. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. - Hebrews 12:1-3

At this time in history more than ever before we need to make a conscious decision everyday to fix our eyes on Jesus. Persevere daily in your pursuit of Him. Retain your Joy in adversity and let the adversary and your fleshly desires know who is in charge. Casting off that which hinders our mind, will, and emotions from being all that God desires us to be we will be victorious everyday. Enjoy today for this is the day that the Lord has made.

Blessings,
Todd

Familiar, but Powerful!

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. - Psalm 23:1-6

Sometimes we run by these words so fast they don't have time to absorb into our spirit. In this Psalm God is our shepherd, provider, rest, restorer, comfort, peacemaker, anointing, and father of discipline. We see that goodness and love will follow us all the days of our life on earth and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. How can you lose with a God that promises to be all those things for you. Embrace God and the fullness He has for your life. Take time today to enjoy the definition of who God is to you through Psalm 23.

Blessings,
Todd

Applying the Word to your Life?

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and , after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - will be blessed in what he does. - James 1:22-25


Are we listening to the Word? Are we reading the Word? Are we applying the Word to our daily lives? James clearly challenges us to do more than merely listen to the Word. Like any other discipline we have implemented in our daily lives, how much more should we consider applying the Word to our daily lives. We are guaranteed a blessing in what we do by applying the Word of God.

Blessings to you on this Labor day.


Todd