Category Archives: Sermon

“I Am” A Proud Drama Mamma!

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In November, our church hosted a Thanksgiving Dinner for the residents of Gulf Breeze Apartment Homes…

Yum!!  So much food!  And such a blessing to serve and meet the residents!

Our Drama Team was invited to do a human video drama…

It was the first outreach for all our new kids…I was so proud of them!!

They did such a great job, that I had tears in my eyes!

We chose “I Am” by Eddie James…It’s really such a powerful song!

(**Click on the link above to see the human video drama that we based our drama on!  It’s really well done!)

(Here are the lyrics)

“I Am the Lord…

I’m the Almighty God…

I Am the One for whom nothing is too hard…

I Am the Shepherd and I Am the Door…

I Am the Good News to the bound and the poor…

I Am…

I Am the Righteous One and I Am the Lamb…

I Am the Ram in the bush for Abraham…

I Am the ultimate Sacrifice for sin…

I Am your Redeemer, the Beginning and the End…

I Am…

I Am Jehovah…

And I Am the King…

I Am Messiah, David’s offspring…

I Am your High Priest and I Am the Christ…

I Am the Resurrection, I Am the Light…

I Am…

I Am the Bread and I Am the Wine…

I Am your Future so leave your past behind…

I Am the One in the midst of two or three…

I Am your Tabernacle, I Am your Jubilee…

I Am…

I Am Hope, I Am Peace, I Am Joy, I Am Rest…

I Am your Comfort and Relief from your stress…

I Am Strength, I Am Faith, I Am Love, I Am Power…

I Am your Freedom this very hour!

You’re my Hope, You’re my Peace, You’re my Joy, You’re my Rest…

You are my Comfort…

You’re Relief from my stress…

You’re my Strength, You’re my Faith, You’re my Love, You’re my Power…

You are my Freedom this very hour!”

Yes, He is!!

Give Birth In A Stable!

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12-1-12 Walka-Alligator lights! 019

Re-posting of my previous post called “Living In The Stable”

Part of the glorious Christmas Story…

Involves living in a stable!

How do we go from “Living in a Stable” to

“Sitting in the Heavenly Throne Room with Christ?”

How do we get from the hardship of the stable to the glory of the throne?

We trust and wait!

What do we do when there’s no room in the Inn?

We give birth in a stable!

Here’s my definition of a stable:

“A Stable is a place we find ourselves physically, emotionally, or spiritually, where we don’t want to be!”

Mary & Joseph wanted to be back in their home in Nazareth in Galilee, or at least in the Inn in Bethlehem…

Especially when Mary was ready to give birth!!

But, they found themselves in the stable!

It’s a mistake to label someone in a “stable” situation as:

A transient…

A fugitive…

A drifter…

An orphan…

Often a gradual process of circumstances got us there.

I know my All-Powerful God…

Could have delivered…

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph…

Out of the stable…

Kept them in Nazareth in Galilee…

And not sent them to Bethlehem in Judea…

But there was a purpose…

And a prophecy that had to be fulfilled!

What is the prophecy concerning us…

And our families?

What is our promise from God…

That needs to be fulfilled…

Because we’re in a stable right now?

Are we…

Like Jesus…

Headed for the throne room?

We are…

If we know Christ!

How did baby Jesus get from the stable…

To the throne?

Through suffering and trials…

’Til He went back to the Father…

True for us, too!

Suffering and trials…

‘Til we return to our Father in Heaven!

But, we can bless our Father through our trials…

Jesus did!

How long did Jesus, Mary, and Joseph stay in the stable?

One day?

Two days?

A while…

What were the conditions?

Stables are smelly…

Loud with animal sounds…

Uncomfortable…

Lacking the simplest comforts…

Lacking family support…

And it’s a lifestyle…

That is at the mercy of strangers!

Have we ever found ourselves in a stable?

Was there stress?

Mary glorified God…

Even after submitting to a pregnancy…

She could never explain…

Months of village criticism…

And all God’s requirements for bearing the Son of God!

Our belief…

And obedience…

Is what magnifies God!

From The Fruit Of The Spirit Bible, we read:

“It is always the heaviness of the burden…

That teaches us the best song.”

Mary was faithful…

Which I define as:

“Always doing what God tells us to do…

Exactly when He tells us to do it!”

Amen!!

Patience never argues with God,

And it has a habit of praising God…

While it waits for miracles to take place!

There’s never any reason to hurry God!

“May it be to me as God has said!”  Mary prayed…

And then she sang as she waited!

Who was there with them in the stable?

No family…

But God knew where they were!

And He blessed Mary and Joseph…

With the birth of their son…

Jesus…

In a stable!

And worship…

And support…

Came to the stable from everywhere…

Even Shepherds need a Savior!

He knows where we are, too…

Even if we’re in a stable…

And, He will bless us with birth, too!

Perhaps, the birth of a needed job…

The birth of a home of our own…

The birth of a long-held dream…

The birth of a vision…

And the birth of a purpose!

What was the result of Mary & Joseph’s stable experience?

Christmas!

Jesus’ birth in a stable…

Brought joy…

Brought faith…

Brought hope…

Brought vision…

And brought a promise for us!

It got the attention of angels…

Kings…

Magi…

And shepherds!

In our stable experience…

We can’t discount the enemy at work…

But don’t give him any glory either!

Satan’s a liar!

We shouldn’t ask…

“Why are we here in this stable, Lord??”

We need to ask…

“What are You trying to birth in us, Lord…

Right here in this stable?”

We must know that God plans…

To take us from the stable…

To the throne…

Just as He did for His Son…

Jesus!

But, we’ve got to let Him!

Hope is here!

We’re children of God!

And, this is the season when God reminds us…

Of His Love!

Christmas is for those of us in the stable…

So God can show us…

That His purpose…

Is to bring us out of the stable…

To His throne!

We’ve got to go to God…

And want everything He wants for us!!

We need to be faithful…

To God’s favor and guidance…

Even in the stable…

Of small beginnings…

To get to the glorious ending…

The throne!!

Even if we’re in a “stable” situation right now…

We must accept the gift of Jesus…

Because even in the stable…

God’s right there with us!!

Remember!

His Son was born there!

And, once we’re out of the stable…

Don’t look back…

Just look up…

To where the throne is!

Amen!!

I preached this sermon last year when our Drama Team ministered at our local Homeless Shelter…

I preached it for me…

And I needed to hear it again…

Thanks for letting me re-post it!

From Pastor Ron Gray’s Christmas Newsletter:

“One of the great truths concerning Christmas is that Christ came to us.

So many times we tend to think that we came to Him.

It was the love of God for His creation that caused Him to send His Son.

He came to redeem us.

He came to bring us abundant life.

He came to be our Savior, Lord, and King.

Today…

Jesus comes and brings light, hope, and a future…

I believe that God will come to you today in the middle of whatever you are going through.

You may think He is not interested,

but I believe He cares,

and He knows what you are dealing with.

Jesus is making Himself real to you today.

Give Him an opportunity to work.

Stop for just a moment and talk to Him.

He has come to you to bring you joy.

I trust Him today to work a miracle in your life.”

“And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself RESTORE you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.”  I Peter 5:10

You can’t have Christmas without Christ!

Christ is the heart of Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

And God’s Abundant Peace to all of you!

Can You Stand?

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Sunday’s message at  the church we visited while on vacation was…

“The Word Stands, So Stand On The Word!!”

The Pastor said…

“Get in the word, and let the Word get into you!

Faith=See what God promises…

See new possibilities!!

You get what you see…

And what you believe!

Don’t doubt!

Believe WHEN you pray and then get it!

Not just pray and get!

You must believe first!

All God’s promises are ‘YES’ to us!

He is the Lord who heals us!

FAITH sees only what God promises…

Not the problems!

The Word is living!

The Word is the Sword of the Spirit needed to win the battle!!”

I don’t know about you…

But I have friends and family who need miracles of healing right now as I write this…

Thank you Pastor Leonard…I was so blessed by this powerful message!

So I’m sending it along to everyone!

How And When Did You Meet Jesus???

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This is your post today!!

Your Comments will tell the story and witness to others…go for it!!

Was it anything like this???

Listen to “When Mercy Found Me”

by Rhett Walker Band

Here are the lyrics:

“Something had to give, something had to give…

‘Cause living my life so wild and free, finally caught up…

Oh, it left me broken, left me hopeless…

But that’s where I met Jesus…

In one moment everything changed…
Who I was got washed away…
When mercy found me…
My Savior’s arms were open wide…
And I felt love for the very first time…
When mercy found me…
All those days, all those doubts…
They don’t seem to matter now…
His Grace is all I need…
And the chains that I was in before…
They don’t hold me anymore…
His love has rescued me…
His love has set me free…
In one moment everything changed…
Who I was got washed away…
When mercy found me…
My Savior’s arms were open wide…
And I felt love for the very first time…
When mercy found me…
My mind found peace…
My soul found hope…
My heart found a home…
In one moment everything changed…
Who I was got washed away…
When mercy found me…
My Savior’s arms were open wide…
And I felt love for the very first time…
When mercy found me…”
Yes, it felt exactly like this!!  Amen!

Song Lyrics For The Church…

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Listen to “Jesus, Friend Of Sinners” by Casting Crowns

It teaches the Church a powerful message…

Here are the lyrics…

“Jesus, Friend of sinners…

We have strayed so far away…
We cut down people in your name…

But the sword was never ours to swing…

Jesus, Friend of sinners the truth’s become so hard to see…
The world is on their way to You…

But they’re tripping over me…
Always looking around, but never looking up…

I’m so double minded…
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided…

Oh, Jesus, Friend of sinners…
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers…
Let our hearts be led by mercy…
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors…
Oh, Jesus, Friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks yours…

Jesus, Friend of sinners the one who’s writing in the sand…
Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands…
Help us to remember we are all the least of thieves…
Let the memory of Your mercy bring your people to their knees…

Nobody knows what we’re for, only what we’re against…

When we judge the wounded…
What if we put down our signs, crossed over the lines…

And love like You did…
Oh, Jesus, Friend of sinners …
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers…
Let our hearts be led by mercy…
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh, Jesus, Friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks yours…

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast…
For the leper and the lame; they’re the reason that You came…
Lord, I was that lost cause…

And I was the outcast…

But you died for sinners just like me…

A grateful leper at Your feet…

‘Cause You are good, You are good…

And Your love endures forever…
You are good, You are good…

And Your love endures forever…
Oh, Jesus, Friend of sinners…
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers…
Let our hearts be led by mercy…
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors…
Oh, Jesus, Friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks Yours…

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast…

You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet…”

Amen and Amen!!

I have nothing to add…

Except to pray that we the Church listen…

I Eat Meat!

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Nothing against vegetarians!!

I’m talking about spiritually…

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,

So that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”  I Peter 2:2  NIV

Milk is for baby Christians…

Grow up…

Eat meat!

“For when…you ought to be teachers,

You have need that one teach you again…;

And…have need of milk, and not of strong meat.”  KJV

Crave strong meat, not just milk…

Pick up your Bible!

God’s Holy Word…

God’s instructions on how to live a victorious Christian life…

An abundant life!

Open it and devour it!

The Bible teaches us to Believe…

Feed your Belief!

We’re told to increase our Faith…

Feed your Faith, so it will grow!

Start with the book of John in the New Testament to learn about the Word made flesh…

Jesus!

Pray for understanding as you read…

Let the Holy Spirit talk to you…

I’m attending a DVD/Bible study right now by Robert Morris, based on his book The God I Never Knew.

He says, “To many people the Holy Spirit is mysterious, confounding—even controversial.”

As the senior pastor of Gateway Church in Dallas, Texas, Robert Morris reveals a common-sense approach to the Holy Spirit.

He explains, “The Holy Spirit doesn’t need to be feared and isn’t a weird element of the trinity…

The Holy Spirit is a person who thinks, feels and has desires, and is present to help each person live the Christian life.

Perhaps its time for you to meet the God you’ve had misconceptions about…

The one you’ve feared..

Or the one you never knew!”

I’ve never been more excited about a Bible study message before!!

I believe it should be shouted from the roof tops!!

I love learning more and more about the Holy Spirit…

And how He operates in our lives…

You can also read these Christian books:

John Bevere:  The Bait Of Satan.

This is my all-time favorite Christian book…it’s about how we should not take offense at everything that happens in our lives!

Because that’s what the enemy uses to try to defeat us…

It’s the bait he uses!

To hook us!

A must read for every Christian, for sure!!

His other books are great, too!  Heart Ablaze, Relentless, Extraordinary, and more…

Pastor Reza Soffa:  Blessings In The Light Of Our Redemption, and more…

Joseph Prince:  Destined To Reign, Unmerited Favor, and more..

T.D. Jakes: Reposition Yourself, Woman Thou Art Loosed, and more…

Reinhard Bonnke:  Evangelism By Fire, Taking Action, and more…

Joyce Meyer:  Battlefield Of The Mind, Never Give Up! and more…

Joel Osteen:  Your Best Life Now, Every Day A Friday, Become A Better You, and more…

Rick Warren:  The Purpose Driven Life, The Purpose Driven Church,

Max Lucado:

He is my all-time favorite Christian writer…I could read his books forever, since…

Because of his God-given gift of writing, I can picture in my mind everything he’s saying!  His writing is awesome!

Read his other books, also…Facing your Giants, It’s Not About Me, He Choose The Nails, Cure For The Common Life, and more…

Also read anything by Billy Graham, Charles Stanley, Tony Dungy, John Eldredge, Tim LaHaye, Beth Moore,  Stormie Omartian, Lee Strobel,  Philip Yancey, Bill Hybels.  There are so many anointed Christian writers, pastors, and speakers!

Go ahead…read them!

And go where you can (to church, Bible studies, conferences, conventions, camps, etc.) to…

Learn…

To Dig Deep!!

To find that morsel of meat in the Word to nourish your spirit…

Something that tastes so good to your spiritual taste buds…

Take notes…

Read the Scriptures again at home…

Pray…

Pray for your pastor, your speaker, your Bible teacher…

That God will fill them with wisdom and understanding…

To teach you God’s Word with a fresh anointing each time you hear them speak…

A baby must be fed…

A mature Christian needs to find what sustains the spirit-man…

Listen to God when He speaks…

Listen to worship music that lifts up your soul…

And praises your God!

Put contemporary Christian tunes on your iPod…

Download them onto your computer…

Play them when you’re walking your dog…

Or driving in your car…

Keep a prayer constantly on your lips…

And a song in your heart…

Some of my favorite contemporary Christian artists are:

Casting Crowns, tobymac, Francesca Battistelli, Laura Story, Skillet, Newsboys, Mandisa, Jamie Grace, Britt Nicole, Steven Curtis Chapman, Anthem Lights, MercyMe, Eddie James, and so many, many more…

Are you hungry, yet?

Hungry for more of the Lord?

Hungry for meat?

Sit down to a bountiful feast with the Lord…

When you’re blessed with meat, be grateful to God…

Because He is the only One who satisfies us with a full meal!

Good Morning, Super-Size Me!

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Stop!  Listen to Mandisa’s “Good Morning”

Good Morning, God!

Help!

I pray this simple prayer today…

Are you there?

“Yes…”

I have Super-Sized dreams…

I need a Super-Sized God…

I need Super-Sized blessings…

I want a Super-Sized anointing to do Your work…

Super-Increase my influence for you…

I love you  Lord, give me a Super-Sized life in You!!

Amen!

“Done!!

Use My finger to write your life…your Super-Sized life!

If you’re searching for me…I’m right here…

For now and into eternity…

Your Super-Sized dreams are doable…easy for Me!

Your blessings will be Super-Sized…and your favor with others, also!

The anointing on You will be Super-Sized…and I’ll give you wisdom and understanding, too!

I’d be happy to Super-Increase your influence for Me…

Here Are My Words…”

“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.  And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.  Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.  Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock.  Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl… “ Deuteronomy 28:1-68   (ESV)

 “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…”  Ephesians 3:20   (ESV)

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”  Psalm 23:5   (ESV)

Thank you, Lord…now, is there anything I can do for you?

“Yes!

Go!

Into all the world…

And have a Great Morning!”

Reasons To Try Church Again!!

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So…last week…my dear friend, hairdresser, fellow believer, and I were talking about Jesus…

As we do, non-stop, during each of my hair appointments!

And it occurred to me that as far as church goes…

My life seems to have worked out in twenty-year spans of time…

For the first twenty years, I grew up in church…

Loved God…But rode the fence…

During the second twenty years, I went to no church…

I slipped away…Burned-out on religion…My life became all about ME…

And, in life, we always live with the consequences of our own decisions…

Even after God has forgiven  us…And we’ve forgiven ourselves…

In the last twenty years, I came back to church…

It seemed cruel to raise my son in this world without faith…And it brought a deep desire to be closer to God each day…

Relationship, Relationship, Relationship!!

How about your life?”

My dear hairdresser said: My life has been very different.  I have not known the Lord my whole life.  I grew up in Catholic School, and  in a ‘non-practicing’ home.  I knew who God was, but I did not ‘know’ Him, I had no relationship with Him.  At 40 yrs old, and spiritually sunk, my younger sister lovingly said, ‘Maybe you oughta go to church.’  I didn’t know it then, but God was already working on my heart, and a few short weeks later, on Easter Sunday, I received Christ as my Lord and Savior!  WooHoo!  Since then (5 yrs), I have been on quite a journey growing in the Lord!  GOD ROCKS!!”

So, we decided to list our reasons to try church again!

My reasons to try a Bible-believing, Spirit-filled Church:

1.  It’s a place where the same language is spoken…God’s Love!

Acceptance and encouragement…Not rejection or judgement…

2.  It’s a place where fellowship with believers is an anchor…

Like a family during good times…And a support system during a crisis…

3.  It’s a place where we can hear from God…

It’s a sanctuary…And His still, small voice can get through to us…

4.  It’s a place where we can be discipled…

A new Christian needs guidance…And church is where we learn about classes, courses, conferences, and camps…

About dynamic spiritual leaders, and about being where spiritual experiences are welcomed, and most powerful…

About anointed worship music, drama, books, etc. to lead a victorious life…

5.  It’s a place to see miracles…

Where changed lives can, and do happen…Where physical, spiritual, and emotional healing occurs…

“But how can people call on Him if they have not believed in Him?  How can they believe in Him if they have not heard His message? How can they hear if no one tells them the Good News?”  Romans 10:14  (God’s Word Translation)

Her reasons to try a Bible-believing, Spirit-filled Church:

1.)  You can be introduced to Jesus there and grow closer in a RELATIONSHIP with Him.

2.)  Worship!!  Worship!!  Worship!!  Sing Praises to the King!  (Can you tell I’m a Worshiper?!)  We are all made to Worship the Lord!

3.)  To hear and grow in the Word of the Lord ~ The KNOWLEDGE of the Truth will set you FREE!!  FREE!!  FREE!

4.)  Fellowship with other Believer’s, and building relationships with others, where you can encourage, and you can be encouraged

5.)  Recharging your “spiritual” batteries….day to day life can get hard, so for me, it is a day to be RECHARGED!  “Stoking the Fire”

6.)  Your Gifts can be developed, and you can grow in your Destiny

7.)  Miracles!  I agree with you, I have definitely seen miracles, since I have been in Church……Go God!!  This is a definite Faith Builder!

Not all churches are “filled with hypocrites!”  Find a church with sincere believers of Christ, and become one of them!

Right,  I think if you asked everyone who loves “meeting” Jesus on Sunday Mornings (and/or nights) in their church there would be many more reasons 🙂

We need to grow up!  Let’s not be babies!  We can’t base our life on other people…

It’s about being followers of Jesus…

Do what God asks YOU to do…

I feel more free now than ever before….

The Spiritual realm is so liberating!

All my decisions are made with God…

That means I receive God’s favor…

I’ve found that:

No church=no foundation or plan…

No purpose in my life…

Because I wasn’t focused on God…

I was doing fine:  Married, teaching, had a house, cars, vacations, etc.

But, something was missing…

I lived a random life, like the little silver ball in a pinball game, constantly bouncing off things, and never really going anywhere…

There’s a special place inside of each of us that ONLY Jesus can fill…

I knew it, but fought it for a long time…

Maybe you know it, too!!

I read this article by Alex Bryant, who serves as college and young adults pastor at First Assembly of God in Fort Myers, Fla., titled: “Pirate or Marine?”  In the Pentecostal Evangel dated October 1, 2012…here’s an excerpt…

Are you a Christian pirate or a Christian marine?

“When Christ sets us free, we should make it our life goal to see as many other people as we can (as a matter of fact, everyone we know) attain the same freedom!

What if you were out hiking with a few friends and all of you fell into a hole in the ground. You’re all screaming and calling out for help, then along comes a stranger and pulls just you out of the hole. Once you were freed from the hole and back on the path, would you run off celebrating, leaving your friends trapped back in the hole? Of course not! You would be happy that you were freed, but you would stick around and help your friends out, not resting until each of them was back on the path, free from the pit of despair.

The same is true with God. You have to understand that God wants you involved with His goal of reconciling others to Him!

“So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!'” (2 Corinthians 5:20, NLT).

All followers of Christ who have been set free are called to represent Him.  We are free to act like Him and carry His message of reconciliation to the lost. Christ is making His appeal to others through us…Christian marines who know, His mandate is to ‘Leave No Man Behind!”

Are you living by that standard? Or are you too preoccupied with enjoying your freedom to think of others? Are you a Christian pirate who realizes others are still in bondage, but you’re too busy with your own life, and you’re living by the decree, ‘He Who Falls Behind Gets Left Behind?’ God help us!”

I’m urgently praying no one falls behind…I’m praying you’ll try again…

Jesus waits with open arms…

It’s all about you and Him, not anyone else…

 Ask, “What’s your plan for me, Lord?”

Then sit back and wait…

Watching His plan unfold…

Instead of constantly striving for  ourselves…

By ourselves…

Decisions made with God are better than those made without Him…

The Creator of the Universe is making my decisions…

His best decisions are for me and my family!

How cool is that?

And how easy for me!

You don’t NEED a church to find God…

You can find God anywhere…

All the time…

He knows who you are…

And exactly where you are at all times…

But…

His Church is the Bride of Christ…

There’s a wedding to prepare for…

Get ready…

The wedding is the beginning of forever with Christ…

Go back to church to get your wedding garments on…

And the oil of the Holy Spirit in your lamps…

The Bridegroom is coming back for a blemish-free, prepared Church…

Will you be ready when He comes?

Is there a reason not to be a part of His Church???

I’d be interested to know what’s keeping you away…

“Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure, for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’  And he said to me, ‘These are the true words of God.’”  Revelation 19:7-9  NIV

I’m going to be at this wedding!!

I’m praying you’re there, too!

Trash Day!

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There’s just no room in my house for junk anymore….

So at the start of this summer, I was determined to give up a lot of my old stuff…

We, (meaning my son, of course!  Ha!  Without his help, we can do nothing!) had to cart it all out…

Trash (STUFF!) we didn’t need…

And…Have a Garage Sale…UGH!!!

It was hard work…It was hot and humid…We had to force ourselves to part with some of the things…They were no longer serving a useful purpose to us…It was time to get rid of them….But it was exhausting!  Whew!

Apparently, in the ten years we’ve lived in FL, we’ve had no will-power over our constant accumulation of STUFF!!  Seems we couldn’t resist buying and hoarding things to decorate our new home…

But, truthfully, we brought most of our excess stuff  here from our life in NJ, and didn’t realize we didn’t need them in our new life…

Me, in particular!

Long-sleeve dresses, pants, boots, winter coats, gloves, hats, scarves…and on and on…

And also, clothes my son no longer wore…

Tons of junk in the attic…

We had just hung on to them for no good reason…

Eventually, our treasures from NJ, became our trash here in FL…

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Matthew 6:21   NIV

So, after I completed my Minister’s courses in March last year, after my permanent substituting job was over in mid-April, after my son’s graduation from college at the end of April, after we spent quality time with my husband’s cousins while they were visiting, after our vacation at the beach, after I completed my courses to renew my FL Teaching Certificate, and after I purged and cleaned my house…

I decided we needed to have a garage sale!!

I called it “Trash Day!”

We looked through cabinets, in drawers, in boxes, on shelves, or through things hanging in closets…things too small, too large, too ugly, too whatever!  We sorted and hunted for unused stuff in every nook and canny of our house:  Kitchen, family room, dining room, bedrooms, bathrooms, den, lanai, garage, attic, and then outside…

For stuff that needed to go elsewhere…

Our trash!

I was adamant that NOTHING we put in the garage sale was going to come back into this house!!!  Anything left was going to go to Goodwill!

Yipee!!  Everything’s gone!!  My house is in order…I don’t miss any of  it…I don’t even remember now what I had.  There was so much…and as we were pulling it all out of its hiding places, all of it landed on our dining room table for a few days ’til the garage sale started…

It was such a huge pile…

That looking at all that junk in one place made me sick!!

After we come to Jesus…

After we’re filled with God’s Holy Spirit…

He takes the trash out…

It’s like the Holy Spirit says, “Oh look, they want to serve Jesus…It’s time to help them clean house!”

We can’t try to clean it out ourselves…

We need His help…Without God we can do nothing!!

He takes away the desire to bring all that trash back into our “house'”again…

The stuff from our old life, that we don’t need in our new life anymore!!

When we’re filled daily to over-flowing, we have more power to resist the enemy’s temptations to accumulate  junk in our lives…

We’ll know we’re due for a refilling of the Holy Spirit, when we can’t seem to get rid of the trash…

When we hoard it…

When it builds up and chokes us…

It’s piled so high, it makes us sick…

It separates us from God…

The reason for each of us individually to have a very real and personal relationship with Jesus Christ is that we need to hear directly from Him concerning those things that are trash in our lives…

Those things that are obstacles to the abundant life He has planned for us…

Obstacles, separating us from our Father…

For instance…I like sugar, but it makes my blood sugar level go up so high that I get very disoriented.  My body is personally telling ME,  not to eat sugary foods.  You can tell me to stop all you want, but until I personally feel it confirmed in my body, I won’t listen to you.

Because it’s something I love…

I don’t want to give it up!

I can choose not to listen to my body, but my health will suffer…

Trash in our lives is like that…Only God’s Holy Spirit can make us desire to give it up…

So, when we ask Jesus to take control of our life…

That gives the Holy Spirit permission to help us…

Give it up!

Cart it out!

Sin is trash we don’t need!

Trusted spiritual leaders can confirm truths to us…But, only the Holy Spirit can convict us and convince us…

We need to hear from God personally about when it’s “Trash Day” at our house, and in our hearts!

Obey…

Take it out…

Of our lives forever…

Let it all go!

We can choose not to listen, but our spiritual condition will suffer…

Our relationship with God will suffer…

“But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all Truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.” John 16:13   NIV

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”  Proverbs 14:12   NIV

Give it up!

It’s “Trash Day!”

What do we have to “trash?”

Things from our “old life” that take up too much of our time?

Replace them with time to go to the gym…

Or, to go to a Bible study…

God stretches us out of our comfort zones…

It feels uncomfortable…

Sometimes it’s exhausting!

It’s just like when I go to my chiropractor and get aligned…

My back hurts the next day…

It’s not used to being aligned correctly…

We must sort the things in our lives carefully…

We can’t give up real treasures…The things of real value…The things for eternity…

We’ll end up regretting it…

The Joy of the Lord is our strength…

Keep that Joy…

The Holy Spirit convinces us of the things that need to stay…

Our relationship with Jesus…

The eternal value our relationships with family, friends, co-workers, even our beloved pets…

Things that bring Joy…

But, the trash needs to go…

What do you need the Holy Spirit to trash in your life?

Fly The Friendly Skies Of “The Holy Spirit Airlines!”

Standard

               Our Destination:  Heaven…

Who are we going to live with?  God…

Who’s on this flight?  Those who are saved and ready to go to Heaven…

Who has a ticket?  Everyone…

Who paid the price?  Jesus…

How did He pay the price?  He died for us…

This is a devotional about the Holy Spirit for our Drama Team that the Lord gave me, waking me up at 3 am to write it all down, as is His usual way of doing things!!  Ha!

Picture this He said:  “People are on a huge commercial airliner flying to Heaven…

I’m the Pilot…

I’m the Only Way to get there…

I’m going to get everyone there safely, but there’s work to be done on the way to Heaven…

In the Coach section are all those who are saved, those who have given their hearts to Me…

The First Class section, positioned right behind Me, are all those filled with My Holy Spirit…”

“Is there a difference, Lord in the two sections?”  I asked…

“Yes, there’s a big difference,” He replied…

“Lord, I’ve never flown First Class, I can’t afford the price!  But, if someone paid the price for me, I wouldn’t refuse it!  Why would I???

I wouldn’t chose to stay in the Coach section, where it’s more crowded, it’s loud, has only peanuts to eat, has tiny bathrooms, and no way to rest peacefully,”  I mentioned…

“I’d love to get an upgrade to First Class!  Where there’s more leg room, better food, more pampering, nice cozy blankets and pillows, peace and quiet, a joyful ride, a place to put your feet up and really relax!!

How can I do that Lord, when I can’t pay for it?”  I asked…

“It’s easy, I already paid the price, just trust your Pilot!” He said…

“Who are those on the ground, Lord?”  I asked…

“Those are the people who don’t know Me yet!”  He said sadly…

‘You mean sinners, Lord?”  I asked…

“I like to think of them as those who haven’t heard yet, how much I love them,”  He answered…

“They’re carrying so much baggage, Lord,”  I commented…

“Yes, I told them I would carry ALL of it for them, but they don’t believe Me yet.  That’s some of the work we need to do on our way to Heaven…

Go and tell them:  Leave your baggage at home…

No cargo space is needed on this plane that goes to Heaven…

No carry-on luggage space needed either…

Only the essentials are needed on board…that you know Me, My Father, and His  Holy Spirit…”

It’s a “No Brainer!”

I Believe In The Holy Spirit!

If someone wanted to bless me with a gift of a First Class airline ticket…what would I do…DUH!

Take it and fly!!!!

In Coach…I’d be comfortable, but would I be soaring???  I’d only be thinking about my own comfort, or lack of it!

In First Class you can roam around the cabin, socialize, fellowship, witness, sleep restfully…

You can even go back and talk to those in Coach…

You can encourage them…

That they, too, can get a ticket to First Class by being filled with the Holy Spirit…

Or, before you even get on the plane, you can inspire, and encourage, those still on the ground to lay down their baggage…

And board the plane to Heaven…

They may want what you have, but they thought they couldn’t pay the price either…

But, if they know Jesus, they can…

And, why just fly Coach, when Jesus paid the price for you to fly First Class…

Where you’ve been given the authority and power of your Pilot…

The privilege to sit up front closer to Him…

The safest place to be is right behind our Lord!

Where He can fight your battles for you…

Where you have boldness to witness to others…

In the right seat (position) to pamper (love on) others!

Get off the plane at the next stop…find out how to serve God…

He’s filled you to overflowing with His Joy…

Go spread some around wherever you go, to those on the ground…

And bring them back on board with you…

The First Class section should be the biggest section on board the plane to Heaven…

Coach should just be a holding station, ’til they too, are filled with God’s Holy Spirit…

No one should be left on the ground…

Everyone should come to know Jesus…

And get on board!

The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift…

Don’t Return the Gift!

It’s a gift you “re-gift” by telling everyone else about it!

The Holy Spirit…moving in our churches for corporate worship, or in our individual lives for power…

The Book of Acts…tongues as of fire…a rushing mighty wind…

I believe in it all…because that’s what it feels like…that’s what it looks like!

I know from experience it’s for me today, and for you too!

Pray to God the Father for the infilling of His Holy Spirit…worship the Giver, and He will give you the Gift.

And because it’s a gift…just take it!  Jesus rose and went to Heaven, so He could send His Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth…He’s our Comforter…

Eccles. 4:1  “…I saw the tears of the oppressed–and they have no comforter…”

Why not want ALL that our gracious Heavenly Father has prepared for us?

His Son is our glorious Savior, we can be filled with His righteousness…

And His Holy Spirit is our Comforter and our Counselor…

Power to witness, to lead a pure life, and to be filled with His Joy…

Ask for it!  Receive it!  Live it!

It’s like being born all over again!

It’s a redo!

Starting from scratch!

Reborn!   To live with Joy now!

A changed life…a changed attitude…

In the blink of an eye…generational curses broken, weakness turned to strength, sickness turned to health, anointed to witness, with wisdom and understanding…

It’s crazy!

Yes, “Crazy Love!”  (****Read Frances Chan’s book, “Crazy Love”)

Be a follower of Jesus!  “Not A Fan!”  (****Read Kyle Idelman’s book, “Not A Fan”)

It’s having the ultimate Friend!    (****Listen to, “I Am A Friend Of God” by Israel Houghton)

With God’s Holy Spirit in you…you have it all…everything that Jesus has, you have…  (****Read John Bevere’s book, “Relentless”)

Upgrade…

It’s like your insides got a car wash!!  And your outside looks shinier!!

The beauty of this upgrade??

Free access to the Pilot (JESUS!) who’s taking you to Heaven!

Favor with God…pampering, healing…

How to receive this?  Accept it!  It’s a gift!

Tell the Lord, you’re movin’ on up!!

Relax, take your shoes off, put on your slippers, read, study, watch TV, stick in your ear buds and listen to your favorite music…everything has been prepared for you…so you don’t have to DO anything!

Someone else is carrying your load for you!

A pillow is placed under your head…cool beverages are offered…delectable treats are brought to you…

Then, have restful sleep, no annoyances, loud sounds, silly chatter…slip on Jesus’ robe of righteousness…be covered with the cozy blanket of His love.

Decide to take the First Class airplane ride to Heaven…Coach is good, and will get you to your destination, but First Class gets you there in style…

And, when you pray for the (First Class) Holy Spirit..know that it IS God’s perfect will for you!

For you to go up to the next level in serving God…

Bringing no baggage with you…

To change the world…

We need a larger First Class…

A smaller Coach section…

And less people left on the ground…

Get on!  Jesus is flying this plane!

And Oh, what amenities His Holy Spirit has provided for you!!