HOW TO KNOW GOD'S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE ( 7 STEPS)

How do you find the will of God?
You see, God loves you, and me, far more than we can ever truly comprehend. He loves us; he’s actually crazy about us – and he wants to be an active part in our lives everyday. He is the Spirit, and he wants to walk with us, to talk with us, to give us advice, to give us comfort, to give us direction. He wants to live his life together with us; and that’s why he offers to personally lead us, and invites us to personally follow. 


Surrender To Him and "do not be conformed to this world"--or worldly ways of doing things--"but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove"--there will be no doubt!--"what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:1




Sometimes to find out what God's will is, we have to first find what it isn't.


If, after trying these seven ways listed below, you still aren't sure you have found the will of God, take the first step in the direction you think He is leading you. A boat has to be in motion before the rudder can take effect. Take one step, then stop and ask God to confirm that you're going the right direction. Then if the answer's not clear or you're still not sure, give it some time. God may be waiting for certain circumstances to be right before He can show you any more than He has to put yourself in MOTION to finding God's Will for your life or a particular decision.


1.READ THE WORD OF GOD
  The WORD is the source of all wisdom. Only He views your life from an eternal and comprehensive perspective. Allow Him to become part of your decision–making process and guarantee yourself a lifetime of success. I highly recommend reading the word daily during this time. Jump into a chronological reading plan and do that days reading. TODAYS DAILY READING, CLICK HERE.
 The Holy Spirit will speak to you through the Word for your personal life. Click Here to get your daily reading schedule.
 Always check your decision against God’s Word. James 3:15-17 provides the characteristics of true godly wisdom: “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” Have the courage to ask yourself whether your choice meets these qualifications for God’s wisdom, or whether there are still any outside influences directing your path.


If you sense any anxiety or confusion, keep in the word and praying.  God’s wisdom will direct your paths in a peaceful manner.


2. PRAYER
If we want what God wants for us, we must add one more thing to our list. Take a few minutes each day to be still. Slow down and take time to hear His voice. Ask Him to reveal His plan to you.
 God will always respond. Spending time with the kindest Being in the Universe will change your life forever.
Daniel 6:10 (NIV), “Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before”..
Talk to God 3 times a day during this week of seeking God's will.


3. SEEK GODLY COUNSEL    
Note: Godly counsel means godly counsel, not good opinions from nice people! Godly counsel comes from God which means that a godly counselor is one who knows the Word of God, is spending quality time with God in prayer, and is living a godly life. I’ve seen too many people follow counsel from someone who is religious, but not godly, and they end up sending you in the wrong direction.


4. FAST
        Fast for 24 hours no food just water. During this time your spirit becomes uncluttered and more sensitive to the things of God.


5. WATCH ALL CIRCUMSTANCES

Not only does God speak to us through His Word, and not only will He never contradict His Word, but God also speaks through circumstances.
Although I'm not one to base major life decisions on circumstances alone, there have clearly been times when I have sensed that something was the will of God and then things would fall into place circumstantially. At other times, circumstances have made it obvious that God was saying "no."

A classic example of God speaking through circumstances was when God spoke to Gideon, who laid his fleece out on the ground, asking God to confirm His Word. Certainly, Jonah got the right message when God brought his journey to an abrupt halt, and he found himself in the belly of a very large fish.


Of course, as a part of this process, God speaks to us through people.


 For example, there have been times when I have been listening to a someone preach or have been talking with a friend, and suddenly what he is saying addresses the situation I'm going through, even though he is completely unaware of my circumstances. It makes me realize that it is God himself speaking to me through those individuals.


Maybe God has spoken to you through a pastor or a Christian friend. Or perhaps He has been speaking to you through circumstances. Listen carefully, and remember that He will never contradict His Word.


6. MAKE A DECISION AND MOVE ON IT


Nobody can drive a parked car. 
Many never move forward because of fear. Fear that they may make a mistake, go the wrong way, or the up most fear of all . . . fear that they may fail. These people are not going against the will of God. Yet, the sin is just as dreadful because they are not reaching for it either.
Honestly . . . you will probably make some mistakes in your journey. However, we serve a God that forgives and He is a God of second chances. Don’t just sit there; get busy and take hold of what God has for you. Once you begin to move in the direction you feel God leading from doing the above steps, be patient and watch God connect the pieces.




7. REST ON THE DECISION
   On the seventh day God rested after He created the world. After taking 7 days in seeking God over a particular area the last day REST in the decision. If you do not have a decision yet...Rest and start over the following week. God will not leave you hanging, He will speak to you!
Make sure you are in church that Sunday also because many times God speaks through a pastors sermon!


I hope this helps. I use this method all the time when seeking a direction. Many times when I feel stuck in the middle of a DREAM or DESIRE I go back to this 7  day method and God always confirms His direction for me. I used this method during big house moves, ministry changes and more.
I also want to recommend a journal or notebook you can jot the word of God down in and the circumstances you see lining up. The journal helps me see my problem areas against Gods will many times and the written pushes me to make the MOVE


Tuck these steps away in a safe place, they can be life changing if put to use!


Blessings,

May God help us all to not only find His will, but to do it!

ITS ALL A MATTER OF CHOICE

AUGUST 29TH DAILY BIBLE READING "CLICK HERE"

HAPPY MONDAY FRIENDS

For those just visiting for the first time, I welcome you to join me in my chronological read of the bible. I am always surprised by how this experience has been so applicable to me on a daily basis. God interacts with me daily always challenging and convicting me to change. I daily find areas of my life that are not
 aligned with God and need to be worked on. God uses His grace, His word and love to challenge my  stubborn heart. God daily  teaches me something to reflect on and uses the things I am learning throughout my week to help me with my behavior, speech, thoughts and planning. God also refreshes my spirit and gives me a good word to share with others in their seasons of life. I encourage you to read along with me and begin a life changing journey with God. Click the link at top of page and it will bring you directly to your reading!
I would be honored to hear how God is speaking to you!
Also visit my WEBSITE  for helpful tools and a complete years schedule of the bible readings to print and keep in your bible or on your desk!

TODAY'S WORD WAS A GREAT REMINDER THAT I NEED TO WATCH MY CHOICES

1 CORINTHIANS 10:23
23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.


As believer's in Jesus Christ we are allowed to choose to eat, drink and plan activities in whatever way we wish.
 However, we must understand that not everything we choose to do would be beneficial to our bodies and overall plans.

 As believer's in Jesus Christ, we are allowed to choose whatever we want to do in life or not do. However, once again, we need to understand that certain activities or the lack of activity is not beneficial to our existence.

Why does God do all that He does? He loves us.
Why does He allow us as believer's in Christ to have the freedom to choose what we will do or what we say or what we eat?
He allows us to choose because He loves us and He wants us to choose to love Him.

 Love cannot be forced it must be chosen.


Everything in life is a matter of choice.

 Although as believer's in Christ, all things are permissible, not all things are beneficial. However, as believers in Jesus Christ, we should heed the words of Paul in Romans 12:1 (NIV) "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship."


Out of love for Christ and love for one another, we should choose to do what is right and pleasing to God.
 That's something to think about as we go about our daily lives.

 Should we choose the cheesecake or the fresh strawberries?

 Should we choose to veg out on the couch and watch TV all day or would it be better to take a walk with the family and spend time reading the Word?

 Should we spend everything we make on everything we want and have nothing to show for it but material things and debt, or is it better to spend wise, save as much as possible and tithe and give whenever we can.

Should we watch that television show or choose something better?

Should we look at the magazine filled with garbage?

Should we hang with that crowd of friends?

Should we make time for church on Sunday?

Ok, I have to be honest I struggle with these choices it does not come easy for me. However I have experienced Gods blessings and goodness in CHOOSING what is right or better.

I need His word and the challenge to be a better person. My children and husband need me to be a good example by my choices. Your choices mold others on a daily basis.

My husband will often say " I need to get back to what is good, acceptable and pleasing to His sight," I love His heart toward staying focused considering all the activities around us.

We are not perfect but God's love steers us daily and helps us make better choices and convicts us when we are heading off trail.

Today's key verse can be applied to almost anything.
"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive." 1 Corinthians 10:23b (NIV).

It's all a matter of choice YOU DETERMINE YOUR LIFE!


Joshua 24:15b (NIV), "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."


I encourage you to keep a journal and write to God about your hurts, confusion, thoughts and more. He will answer...Try and see!


Additional Reading:  


Leviticus 11, 1 Corinthians 10, Daniel 1, Romans 12

FREE FROM LEGALISM IN THE CHURCH

AUGUST 26TH DAILY READING, CLICK HERE

The Christians in Corinth were “enriched … in knowledge” (1:5). However, their self-evaluation needed correction.In the first century, much of the meat available for purchase was sold by the pagan temples after being offered to their gods. Many believers had formerly practiced idolatry, and had a weak conscience toward those meats which had been offered now that they had turned to Christ. Scripture says anything not done in faith is sin (Rom 14:23), speaking directly to this issue. Thus if they were to eat meats which had been sacrificed to idols without a clear conscience, then they were sinning.

Other believers understand that alcohol, in itself, is not sinful, but only excessive use of it. Paul even told Timothy to drink a little wine for some stomach problems – he did not recommend grape juice, but real wine. However, those who are free to drink must make allowances for those who are not by not drinking around them. We are to love them enough that we are willing never to drink again if it help them to not stumble.


For love is the whole of the law.

 When we walk in love toward God and others, then our goal will be to honor them.
Our desire will be for fellow believers to walk in victory with God. We should be willing to set our freedoms in Christ aside for the sake of those who have a weak conscience.


Another application is in regard to keeping the Sabbath.
Some hold one day above another, while others regard every day alike (Col. 2:16; Rom 13:3-13). Some believe we should keep the festivals commanded by God in the Old Testament, while others see no need as those were for the Jews as part of their covenant.


Those who are convinced we must keep the seventh day Sabbath are accepted by God. Those who believe worship should be on Sunday in honor of the resurrection are also accepted by God. And those who do not observe a specific day God receives. It is God to whom we must give account.


As long as our heart’s desire is to worship God and live for Him, these outward works ultimately do not matter as regards salvation.
We are saved by faith, not by our works.

 Satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy.
He is the author of confusion, the one who seeks to divide the church. It is he who magnifies these minor issues of religious works. Some in the church focus on these areas while ignoring the weightier things of living righteously before God in our own lives.

 Instead of teaching us to ask God what he wants us to do, many instead tell us their own doctrines and opinions. They are like the Pharisees of old, who make all sorts of rules and regulations to follow rather than teaching believers how to seek God.



(John 5:39-40) Jesus told the Pharisees that they search the Scriptures thinking that in them they have eternal life. The Scriptures all tell about Jesus. Yet they refused to go to Jesus that they might truly have life. Instead they made a bunch of rules based on the Law and prophets, and were blind to the real truth when Jesus came.


Questions for reflection:
 What areas do you judge the way another person chooses to honor God?
Are there areas you believe you are led by God to do one thing, while others are free to go another direction – and do you judge them? Or conversely, are you free to do an activity which someone you know is not free to do – do you rub their faces in your freedom?
 Ask God to reveal any such areas in your life in which He wants you to change your attitude

We need to live free from legalism, but also set aside personal preferences when dealing with sensitive conscience.

Leaders always put people first.





































 

YOU HAVE A CALLING

WHAT IS THIS CALLING?


Being free from our past lives and becoming a servant of Jesus Christ in whatever capacity God begins to shape.

Every dead area of your life is now available for further review for God's life-changing power.

Maybe a relationship in your life has fell apart
Maybe you lost your job
Maybe you made a terrible mistake
Maybe you are stuck in sin

Everything looks dead, But it's not over God is CALLING YOU!

Most of us give up on things way to soon and never consider hearing God's calling. 

WITHOUT GOD IN YOUR LIFE NOTHING CAN RESUME HOPE.

So let us be clear, all of God's people partake of the one calling, a calling to holiness, hope, eternal life and the kingdom of God. And having accepted that call we then get down to the business of obeying the Word of God which includes working with our hands in whatever way possible so that we are not a burden on others and so that we will have something to share with those in need.

 You Were Made By God's Design To Serve Him In A Special and Unique Way Within The Church or Within The World, But Not Of The World.




God’s saving call is a call to a particular people -you.

Those whom God calls,  are nobodies, from the world’s viewpoint.
They are not wise, nor mighty, nor of noble parentage and birth; rather, they are foolish, weak, and lowly in the sight of men. Those who are called know themselves to be sinners, unworthy of God’s grace, deserving of His everlasting wrath. Yet God knows them as those whom He chose from eternity to be His people; those for whom Christ died and arose; those in whom the Spirit implants the new life of Christ; those made saints, and brought into the church of Christ. Every human being is called but not all respond.



When God calls us, He speaks to us.

 He does so, as we stand by nature in the world of sin and unbelief and ungodliness; loving the lie; and hating the law. And to us He says: “Come out of such ungodliness and unbelief. Stop having ungodly ambitions. Don’t strive after worldly greatness. Stop having fellowship with unbelievers. And come into the knowledge of the truth; walk in the light; and enjoy the saving fellowship of Jesus Christ, your Lord.”


This speech of God by which He calls is really nothing else than the voice of Jesus Christ.
Christ emphasizes this in John 10:3, calling Himself the Good Shepherd. Just as the earthly shepherd goes to the pen in which the sheep and goats of many different masters have spent the night, and calls his own by name to follow him, so does Jesus Christ call His own sheep, with His own voice, and they come.


This call comes to us through the preaching of the gospel, as the Spirit works by that preaching to save the elect. The first four chapters of I Corinthians explain this point. God is growing us into the mysteries of God. 

Are you hearing the preaching of God's word in some fashion?
This is very important


Today God reminded me personally to remain in my same calling. God has been preparing me and I tend to get sloppy with my life and calling. I need to remain faithful and strong.

1 Corinthians 7:20 " Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called."

I pray today God spoke to you personally

ARE YOU BROUGHT UNDER THE POWER OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY?

AUGUST 23 DAILY BIBLE READING

“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12, NKJV).

Just because something is permissible, it doesn’t mean it is beneficial to you spiritually. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything in your life that could be hindering your walk with God.


In today's bible reading it states DO NOT BE BROUGHT UNDER THE POWER OF ANY.


ANY=STUMBLING BLOCKS THAT HINDER US FROM FULFILLING GODS CALL


FOOD
ALCOHOL
GAMBLING
SEXUAL IMMORALITY


ARE YOU BROUGHT UNDER ITS POWER?
IS THE STUMBLING BLOCK DESTROYING YOUR HOME?


LETS ZOOM IN TODAY ON SEXUAL IMMORALITY.


I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS IN MY LIFE AND TASTED THE SIN OF THIS DECEPTION. I WANT TO SHARE A SERIOUS NOTE WITH YOU TODAY.

 Sexual sins are against God’s will
 "It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable.”


 God sees fornication and adultery as taken advantage of other people.Anytime you have a sexual relationship with another person other than your spouse, you are taking advantage of that person even if the act is consensual. Pornography is included in this conversation:)

 God will punish his people for sexual immoralities, “The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you.” God will not stay silent or passive when it comes to sexual sins in the lives of his children. He will see to it that they are exposed and punished, and usually he punishes publicly.


 Sexual sin is a personal sin against God. This is noted in 1 Corinthians chapter 6. 




Adultery is a serious sin that made it to the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:14). In the Old Testament, death was the penalty of adultery (Leviticus 20:10). In the New Testament, Jesus continued to teach against adultery, even defined it in more stringent terms: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28).


In the New Testament, sexual immorality in all its forms is punishable by God: “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders” 1 Corinthians 6:9; “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery…. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-20); “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” (Hebrews 13:4).




God takes sexual sins very seriously and so should we. If we don’t realize and believe how offensive to God such sins are, we will not be able to avoid or overcome them. If you don’t believe or accept what you have read so far about fornication and adultery and try to minimize or marginalize God’s instructions, then I believe it will be very difficult to avoid such sins. However, if you believe that this sin is offensive to God and you want to do his will and please him, continue to read for more safeguards.




Understand the Deception of Sexual Sins


Sexual sins are deceitful. They promise pleasure, love, and fulfillment but they don’t deliver and they will never deliver because God designed that the benefits of sexual intimacy be reaped only within a marriage relationship. Outside of marriage, sexual sins do not provide love or fulfillment; instead, they bring pain and suffering. Proverbs 5 warns us of the deception of adultery:


YOU WILL ALWAYS BE CAUGHT
The majority of people are caught by their friends, their spouses, their children, or church members. Eventually, you will be caught and exposed. God will see to this. He already knows about your sin; for “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). And the Lord will expose every sin; “For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14). Proverbs 6 warns us that the sin of adultery will be exposed and will be punished:




The Bible guarantees that the sexual immoral Christian will be caught and that his sins will not go unpunished. Keep this in your mind anytime you are tempted to sin. God will see to it that you will get caught and exposed publicly. "But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).

Count the Cost of Sexual Sins
Sexual immorality in all its forms is very expensive. It cost you so much. It makes your life very hard: “the way of the unfaithful is hard” (Proverbs 13:15). It costs you your fellowship with the Lord. It destroys all areas of your life whether it is mental, emotional, and spiritual; “for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life” (Proverbs 6:26). It ruins your reputation. It brings you endless shame: “a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself. Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away” (Proverbs 6:32-33). It destroys your marriage, other marriages, and even your future marriage if you are still single. It hurts many people, even people you love the most. At times it leaves you with sexual transmitted diseases and HIV even in the absence of high risk behavior. It even leads to death. The Bible says, “Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death” (Proverbs 7:27). We all know of numerous occasions when fornication or adultery led to death. David’s adultery led to the murder of the innocent husband of Bathsheba. And how many crimes were committed by revengeful husbands, “for jealousy arouses a husband's fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge. He will not accept any compensation; he will refuse the bribe, however great it is” (Proverbs 6:34-35)?

Also, how many children were aborted because of adulterous relationships?
All birth control methods do not always work.
 What are your plans when you impregnate your partner or when you get pregnant yourself?
 Are you counting on abortion?




Adultery will not give you what you are looking for. The temporary pleasure will last but few moments, but you may end up paying for it for a lifetime. Sexual sin is not worth it. The cost is too high.


You may say, I have already committed adultery and lost everything, why stop now?
 Let me ask you, do you want to still be away from God, or don’t you want your fellowship to be restored with Him?
 Do you want to continue to be emotionally, mentally, and spiritually sick or do you want to be healed?
Do you want to keep hurting those you love?
We never say to cancer patients, “You already have cancer and you are going to die anyway so why bother with getting treatment?”
 We strive to remove the cancer even if it is in its last stages.

How much more, we ought to fight the cancers that attack our spirits?




Life after sexual immorality is very hard. Are you willing to pay this high cost? If you have fallen into this sin, you had paid a lot, why pay more? It is not worth it.


Do Not Minimize the Power and Stronghold of Sexual Sins

You must be familiar with the saying, “know your enemy.” To fight sexual sins, you need to recognize the stronghold this sin can have on a person. Don’t say that you are a strong person and you can handle temptations. Adultery is a very strong sin and the Bible says that all of her victims are strong people: “Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng” (Proverbs 7:26). Also know that sexual temptations are on the offense in this daily battle, and the only war plan the Lord has given us in this war against it is to flee: “Flee from sexual immorality” (1Cor 6:18).

 This means when the temptation comes knocking at your door in the form of a kiss, a flirtation, a sexual scene in a movie, etc., the only thing you can do to avoid being her victim is to flee.




Guard Your Heart


Sexual sin doesn’t start with a sexual intercourse; it starts first with a desire. This desire or lust in itself is sinful and need to be dealt with: “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell” (Matthew 5:28-29). Don’t take the sin of lusting lightly. If you don’t deal with it, you are in the slobbery slope towards more dangerous forms of sexual sins. You need to guard your heart as the Bible tells us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

How does one guard their heart? It is by keeping the Lord’s commandments in one’s heart:




The secret in fighting or avoiding sexual sins is to flee from temptation when it knocks at our door, but also to put many fences around us so that the temptation will have difficulty reaching our door. Basically, fences make this sin less accessible.

You know best what are the things that tempt you, and you need to put fences around these. Here are examples of some fences that others found helpful:


1. Avoid flirting with or giving complements to people of the opposite sex.
You may think that complements are harmless; however, do not forget that words of affirmation including complements are one of the five love languages and they work to meet an emotional need of people of the other sex, a need that must be met by one’s spouse or family. Complements can be the start of emotional connection.


2. Avoid bad company. “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character" (1 Corinthians 15:33). Bad friends will increase your tolerance to sexual immorality.
Be friends with godly people who keep you accountable.




3. Don’t spend time alone with the opposite sex.




4. Don’t provide spiritual counsel to the opposite sex. The Bible has given the job of counseling young women to older women and not to men (Titus 2:4).


5. Eliminate secrecy from your life.
 If you struggle with pornography, remove your television set from your bedroom so that you will not have the opportunity to watch things alone. Remove passwords from your personal computer and make your computer available to others in your family. Share your email with your spouse.




Find Intimacy in Marriage
God has designed marriage where we can find love and satisfaction. If you are married, then you need to find love in your wife, as the Bible says, “May you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love. Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife?” (Proverbs 5:18-20)






Go Public and Confess Your Sins


If you have fallen into sexual sins, I believe confession is a vital step to healing. You need to confess to all those you sinned against and to a spiritual leader at your church. If you don’t go public with your sins and confess, you will always struggle with guilt. The only solution to guilt is confession.






In today's bible reading it states:
I know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! …Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Cor 6:12-20).




Pray Daily about This Issue


Pray to the Lord daily to help you became victorious in this area and to protect your from temptations “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13). Also, pray to the Lord to fill you with the Holy Spirit. When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you will be controlled by Him, rather by your sinful nature:




So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.


The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.


But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Galatians 5:16 -26)


Only with the help of the Lord, you can become a godly man or woman.

May today's lesson be rich, take time and ponder each detail my friends

Contact me anytime, I have a great conference that I do just on these issues and topics




































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THE 101% PRINCIPLE

AUGUST 18TH DAILY READING

This is a world of tragedy and pain. It is also a world of joy and fulfillment.

It is my conviction that God is present to us in both worlds.

 The question always is how these two worlds can exist at the same time.

 There is no easy answer.

 Creativity always comes out of chaos.



But to return to our question: It is easy to sense God's presence when things are going right.

 But where is God when things fall apart?

Do we not find the divine presence in the very place that Jesus found it during his crucifixion?

 Could there be a greater experience of tragedy and pain than that?

In our world of pain, we can find God. 


 In moments of deep need, God comes in a mysterious way to give us courage.

When we seek Him by being creative and stepping out to find Him or bending a knee at our bedside, He begins to manifest His presence.



No one escapes the struggles of life.

 Our goodness or our faith do not make us immune from suffering.

God never promised that life would be without its painful moments. We are promised that God will be with us no matter what we face. Someone wrote, "Peace does not come with the absence of troubles, but with the conscious realization of adequate resources." God can be found as the supplier of all the resources we need to get through life's difficult moments.
 We also find God in the messages of hope. This experience of pain will not have the last word. Jesus said to his disciples, "In this world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

The ultimate victory belongs to those that can find His presence in the pain.

In 2 Corinthians 2:3 Paul states how He was ministering to others through his own fear, weakness and pain. He explains to us that it was all possible through the Spirits power.

I am convinced many have not tapped into the presence of His power or really sought after His strength. We allow the pain of the past or present to dictate or feelings.

In this world PEOPLE will hurt us and bring us down. I see this on a daily basis.

Paul teaches the people in the the Corinth Church to not focus on the pain and problems.
 He taught them something I see as the: 101 principle--- find the 1% you can affirm in your life and give it 100% of your attention. Do not focus on the pain, people or problems.
Watch what God does with the 1% that you focus on.

Learn today to practice experiencing His presence in your pain.
 It is our responsibility to learn about Christs power only then will we have a sense of destiny during despair, a sense of family during failures and a militant spirit when everything around us is irritating.

 Have a 101% principle day,

WOMEN COMMENDED PUBLICLY

AUGUST 17TH DAILY READING

Today as I was reading  Romans 16, a woman named Phoebe was mentioned. Phoebe was a significant servant in the church of Cencherea. She helped, protected, looked after and provided for many. Phoebe's name in Greek means radiant and pure!

Women had a VERY important part in the ministry of Paul. As we find in many verses throughout Romans 16. Paul specifically mentions Phoebe and speaks highly of her and her strong leadership in the church. He introduces her to other Christians as "sister," "servant," "saint," and "helper."  Paul valued her as a radiant light for Jesus.

Paul commended her publiclyand 3) she is “a patron  has

Complementarity in Ministry
From the very beginning of the Christian church, women have been absolutely crucial partners in ministry with men—partners in marriage and partners as single women.
Paul did not treat women as if they are on the sidelines.
Paul also did not treat women with a differant annointing perspective.
 In the history of missions, the role of women, and the courage of women, is simply breathtaking. The fact that God calls men to lead the church as the teaching and governing elders is, in the long run, we believe, a strengthening, liberating, joyful thing for Christ-exalting women. However... God does call women to do amazing things and if men in the church do not learn to commend as Paul  did many women could be pushed away from their destiny.

Now I want to encourage women in general today that God has a huge plan for your life!

Women have the opportunity to help others struggling with their daily lives.
 God has a significant purpose for you in His church.
I personally encourage you to step out and go to a women's meeting, bible study or other opportunity in your church. 
 God never created you to stay on your personal island.
Each women is hand picked by God, situated in Christ's body just as He desires. God will select the perfect place for you appropriate to your talents and gifts.
We all go through experiences in life, your story is important! 
God will put the exact people  in your pathway that needs your aid and help. Many difficult areas of my life have been used for others to find the heartbeat of God. 
If a person feels inadequate for the ministry task the Lord reveals to them they need to only remember Jesus' words, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor 12:9).Jesus' life began with a woman named Mary and ended at His resurrection with a woman at the tomb.
The bible recalls several significant women in the new testament and Paul affirms them by name. 

I believe public AFFIRMATION is huge when God is creating and working through particular individuals or ministries in the church.

 Friend, you are significant!

Allow God to establish you according to His ways, He has a story to tell through your life.
How are you allowing God to use you today?
How are you being commended in your place of worship?

Paul always established credibility for his leadership, remember that this in important.

Today others in church leadership should affirm those whom God calls, whether male or female, and encourage them in faithfully learning God’s Word. We need to affirm all potential laborers, both men and women, for the abundant harvest fields.

I love to hear a woman lead us in prayer corporately on Sunday mornings at my church,that alone is commending!

I am thankful for Gods word today, continue pursuing your calling my friends!

Blessings,

---

THE BIG ASK

AUGUST 12TH DAILY READING "CLICK HERE"

After spending the past few weeks touching on Paul's teaching about the beliefs in the book of Romans, today we shift gears in Romans 12. The first eleven chapters of Romans have provided us with a basis for our belief. I encourage you to go back and read Romans 1-11 if you have not done so. In those first eleven chapters it tells you what you are to believe in, how you belong and what you  become.

When I was in bible school the book of Romans was known as the study of helping us see humankind's needs because of our fallen human state.

Today we will look at Romans 12 and from this point till the end of the book it will supply a basis for our BEHAVIOR.

I plead with you today friends, based on God's mercy, to lovingly surrender.

But you may ASK how?

Let me share four ways that we should respond to God.

I know this is going to be a TALL request. That is why I titled this blog THE BIG ASK!

I love to connect as I teach and speak. My goal is to touch your heart with the TRUTH in a BIG way and then pray you respond in a BIG way.

Lets zoom in on only Romans 12:1-2 and see four ways God is urging us to RESPOND.

 ¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies a

 living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

See I told you this was a BIG ASK

I memorized this scripture by heart years ago and kept it on a index card in my pocket until I could say it without looking.

I say it almost daily over my life.

However, I struggle  with this verse because it's a tall request but in this verse it  clearly states that God has a good, perfect and acceptable will for our lives and guess what?

 I really want that perfect plan so it's worth the struggle.

  Take a look at one of my post from this week on

GODS NAVIGATION SYSTEM  and this will convince you that God will help you with the TALL REQUEST in today's key verse.

FOUR WAYS WE NEED TO RESPOND TO GOD

1. PRESENTATION:We are to present our bodies to God as living sacrifices.(v.1)

I told you this was hard!

2. SEPARATION: We are to avoid conforming to the world's ways(v.2)

 It also tells us in today's reading to CLING to what is good.

3. TRANSFORMATION: We are to renew our minds and thus change our lives. (v.2.)

It also tells us today in Romans 12:16 "to be of the same MIND toward one another" I found that clinging to friends with the same mind towards God helps me in my everyday walk.

4. DEMONSTRATION: We are to prove we belong to God by doing His Will (v.2)

It also tells us in today's reading to not lag in diligence.

DILIGENCE= Constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken. Persistent with mind and body. The degree of care and caution.

God wants to maximize our lives but it all depends on our diligence, behavior and response to the Big Ask.

Today I seek God with my heart and ask Him to help me in the midst of any hardships to continue to be DILIGENT with His requests.

If you have any questions feel free to email me

heather@hbministries.com

I am working on a study that I will be teaching at NORTHRIDGE IN PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN  this fall. I will be providing it on this site so be looking as fall approaches, I would love for you to join me and many others.

BTW if you are in the area and looking for a GREAT church come try Northridge! over 20,000 have discovered how amazing God is in this place!

ARE YOU GRAFTED IN?

AUGUST 1OTH DAILY READING

Romans 11:17
though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root.

Paul uses the imagery of the olive tree, which is an evergreen tree. The tree represents Israel, through whom Salvation comes. We're to be grafted into Christ our Salvation, who is our Root that supports each of us who believes in Him.




Therefore, most of us who are Gentile believers (those not born in a Jewish family line) are the wild branches engrafted by God's grace. We're to live fully engrafted lives by staying attached to the Root who sustains our life. Jewish brothers and sisters are not forgotten here either, so we're not to boast of our Salvation. They too receive salvation by faith in the Messiah, Jesus Christ as we do.


I enjoy the imagery of the olive tree and have adopted it as an illustration of my salvation. I have been Engrafted by Grace.


A wild olive shoot I certainly was...


A life of disorder


A marriage of hurts and threats


Confusion and disillusion


Lack of true purpose


Alcohol with no boundaries


A fogged head


No beauty


Lack of confidence


No hope


No direction


No healing or motivation


Pit living life


Full of Shame from Past


No true relationships


RELIGION NO JESUS


Life was a BIG lie


BUT GOD TOOK THE WILD ME AND GRAFTED ME INTO HIS GOODNESS.

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

God respects our free will in every area of our lives ,to the point that He will actually not force us to remain in the safety net of His love , life & desires for our individual journeys of faith.
He gives each one of us every day a choice .
There is great power in having a choice ,there is also incredible consequences and outcomes when we make the choices we do. And there is always a ripple effect that stretches beyond our own lives into others .




I DECIDED TO ALIGN MY LIFE WITH GOD AND HE BEGAN TO GRAFT ME INTO HIS PLAN AND PURPOSES FOR MY LIFE.


I BEGAN TO SET MY MIND TOWARD THE THINGS OF GOD, NOT EASY FOR A WILD SHOOT LIKE ME!


I choose to live "full",die empty!


I choose to live for JESUS, not myself!


I choose to be captured & captivated by Holy optimism & faith , not bitterness or cynicism.


I choose to love & forgive , not indulge in my own woundedness!


 I choose life not death !


 I choose Holy living , not carnal action or thinking!


 I choose to be led by God's Holy Spirit , not leaning unto my own understanding.


I choose to pray , read the Word of God and obey the Savior that died for me!


I choose to be known as a 'love -slave' of Jesus not being a self-serving individual.


I pray YOU choose God's will for your life, allow Him to graft you into His plans and purposes.


I will leave you with Jesus' Words from Matthew 6:24"NO-ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS , FOR EITHER HE WILL HATE THE ONE& LOVE THE OTHER, OR ELSE HE WILL BE LOYAL TO THE ONE & DESPISE THE OTHER .


In fact you cannot serve God with all your heart & then serve anyone or anything else , that is for certain.

My past life had to change.


Use what gifts you have for Jesus' glory , do what He has called you to do ,again for His glory!


Romans 8:29 states
"For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."


When God grafts you into His plans its IRREVOCABLE!


IRREVOCABLE: A TRUST WHICH CANNOT BE CHANGED OR CANCELED ONCE IT IS SET UP WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE BENEFICIARY.


God's grace is extended and irrevocable to each person who will receive Him through Christ.
God is wild about each person.

 Trust Him and tap in to his sap, be grafted into the nourishing Root of His love!

Let's learn to live fully engrafted to the Root.


Engrafted by His Grace--