How Should I Read The Bible
When people ask me how they should read the Bible, my answer is simple: open it to the first page and start reading. If you don’t understand how the story begins, you won’t understand anything that comes after it. Genesis isn’t just the opening chapter of the Bible; it’s the foundation of everything God reveals. It tells you who God is, who we are, why the world is…
What are the most important questions you need answers to involving your religion?
If I were to walk into a room of a hundred professed Christians and ask them, “What are the three most important questions your faith should answer?”, I would get a hundred different answers.
Some would say, “How do I get to heaven?”
Others would say, “How do I get forgiven?”
Some would say, “How do I live a good life?”
A few might say, “How do I have a relationship with Jesus?”
And almost…
Those who form and sustain sects may not hold the reins of power, but they often are the wealthy sons and daughters of those who do, and their grievances stem from the failure of power and privilege to satisfy spiritual concerns.
Discovering Yourself is only Possible when You Discover God
Discovering Yourself is only Possible when You Discover God
WHERE IS YOUR STRENGTH??
You will be remembered for what you do.
You know what God has put inside you and around you that makes you unique, that stands you out.
It’s your gift, it’s more than just a liking, it’s a passion.
Writing, networking, computer expertise, events management, the list is endless.
Well,the key is discovering yourself.
If we would find God amid all the religious externals we must first determine to find Him, and then proceed in the way of simplicity. Now as always God discovers Himself to "babes" and hides Himself in thick darkness from the wise and the prudent. We must simplify our approach to Him. We must strip down to essentials (and they will be found to be blessedly few). We must put away all effort to impress, and come with the guileless candor of childhood. If we do this, without doubt God will quickly respond.
“You’re on your way to the promised land. Just know this is where we’re going.”
This past week, I was so weary and worn yet having difficulty sleeping at night. I’d lay there thinking and thinking and thinking. My mind was like a hamster running even when the lights have all turned off. I desperately wanted some sleep.
Then fear started to creep in. Fear of failing again in ministry. I couldn’t shake it.
The hours have been a bit more trying and I was afraid I was going to fail again. Somehow in the midst of all the prophetic promises, moving, new coworkers and leaders, I began to tell myself to pull up my bootstraps. I began to tell myself that I just need to push myself a little harder. Work more. So I did and I started to look down more often rather than up into Abba’s eyes.
But that morning, I found myself confused, needing to talk to the Lord but not knowing how. Needing His arms around me, the same comfort I felt when I sank into our old sofa back home but not being able to.
I turned to Dustin in the prayer room and told him I was tired, weary, worn….feeling like I can’t do the schedule at APHA and everything else it entails. Feeling like I’m going to fail again. After awhile of talking back and forth, he told me what the Lord put on his heart, God wants to love the real me. Who I really am.
The tears came flooding in. Invading all the space I was trying to cover with my works. The tower of Babel I was laying brick by brick without God on my side. The painful, weary, trying places of my heart I was working on bettering. I was back on the blindingly bright stage and God in the audience, who I couldn’t see.
Then He opened my eyes. I saw dirty children running to God joyfully, knowing in their hearts that He will clean them up. Confident they don’t need to clean themselves up first before running to Him. As they drew closer to the Lord, they grew more and more clean, wearing white clothes rather than the dirty ones they were wearing at first.
Then I saw a child in the dark, outside of God’s presence, trying to scrub himself clean before entering. In the process, he was hurting himself because he was scrubbing his own skin too hard. It broke my heart.
The Lord then came with His angels and they began dressing my wounds. Caring for each one with patience and gentleness and covering me instead of exposing me. He said to me, “real leadership covers.”
Suddenly, the song Healer came through the webstream that was playing in the prayer room.
You hold my every moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease
I trust in You
I trust in You
I believe You're my Healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe You're my Portion
I believe You're more than enough for me
Jesus You're all I need
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
You hold my world in Your hands
God held me with these promises these words that are true. I found His arms reminding me yet again, so faithfully and so gently, that He is my Healer, not me. He doesn’t expect me to fulfill all the prophetic promises over my life on my own. I can’t get anywhere by trying harder and pushing myself to do better.
He reminded me of the passage He highlighted to me the day before,
“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” -Exodus 14:11,13-14
It’s His invitation for me to stand still and witness the salvation of the Lord, the Lord fight for me, destroy the Egyptians while giving me peace during the whole process.
Yes Lord, You are my Healer! You are my conquering Lion. He will break every chain, take all my hurt and pain. Thank You Abba!
I pray for you to encounter His gentleness, patience and power again today and everyday! He is your Healer as well.
