TAKE A STEP TODAY

All of us have some sort of dream or vision—areas of our lives where we want to better ourselves or achieve more.

Maybe it’s to get in shape or have better physical health. Maybe you want greater financial stability or greater success in your long term dream. Some of you may be believing for greater ministry opportunities.

Whatever your goals are, there’s one thing for certain—it will be almost impossible to get there without discipline.

But here’s the truth: We can change. By the grace of God, we can begin making daily choices and developing new habits that will bring us the life we desire. We have to work hard at this every day! 

Know Your Power Source

First and foremost, living a disciplined life and establishing new habits requires a lot more than just will power.

“ Whatever your goals are, there's one thing for certain—it will be almost impossible to get there without discipline and self-control. ”

Take a little time each day to read God’s Word and talk to Him. Some of my greatest breakthroughs have been the result of simply sitting quietly in His presence, letting Him know that I can’t do anything if He doesn’t make it happen.

You Can’t Have the “Perks” Without the “Works”

I believe a lot of people want the “perks without the works.” In other words, they want to have all of the good results without having to discipline themselves or take any of the responsibility to get them.

You see, although today we can microwave a meal, there’s no such thing as “microwave Christianity.”  Because little by little, as we make right choices, He delivers us from our past  and takes us where we need to be.

Yes, in the beginning, disciplining yourself will be difficult. It won’t feel good and you won’t like it. But every time you make a choice to do the right thing, the next time it gets a little easier. And you get one step closer to your goal.

Take a step today toward your dream! 

Listen, anything counts and when we take a step God will direct and order...He is waiting for you to MOVE IT MOVE IT! 

IS YOUR NAME ZOE? IT COULD AND SHOULD BE!

1. Zoe  refers to an individual person's life while on earth (Luke 16:25, Philippians 1:20, James 4:14). But in the Greek New Testament, zoe has a special meaning. It speaks of the life that is given by God through Christ Jesus

 Resurrection as we hear and begin to understand even more during lent and the Easter season is not magic. 

It is a transforming of something already present in earthly existence to a higher plane, a fuller, realm of freedom and love; it is the transplanting of a struggling sprout from the  ground of this world to the rich land of the world to come where it can bear fruit forever!

 What is the “something” that must be present now, even if only weak and incomplete, that will be transformed and transplanted later?

 It is zoe, the God-life that comes to believers by faith.

This provides a clue why the New Testament speaks in terms about the “dying” (or even the “killing”) of the old person in order to be raised “to walk in newness of life.”

A picture of the Easter story in our lives friends! 

Please ponder this over lent.

Paul says, “whenever Christ is manifested, who is your life (Zoe), then also you will be manifested with him in glory” (Col. 3:4).

 The expressed  Christ-life:zoe, with your life is the reason why Christians speak of the necessity of Jesus for salvation.

 There is no possibility of salvation apart from Jesus Christ because it is by the life and death of Jesus that God overcomes human sin and reestablishes zoe, the God-life in the world. There is a method to the blessings! 

So much behind the Easter story blows my mind. God really wanted everyone to have the same name and for our Bios to have the same theme.

 Easter is about you and for you! 

I have always loved the name ZOE and at one time it was in my baby journals as a name desired.

So I kinda like that we can all have ZOE as our middle name!  

Heather Cynthia Zoe Baxter (my middle name is in honor of my aunt cindy and Zoe is in honor of my God life!  pretty cool huh?

 Whenever anyone turns to God’s will and turns to Jesus Christ in faith, God implants the seed of a new life within, ZOE. 

In contract to the natural life ,zoe alone is eternal, and it is zoe that God will resurrect and complete in the last day. So in my case NOT Heather but Zoe.

The New Testament  teaches that there are three possible realms or dimensions of life, not three separate compartments of life. 

Zoe does not exist simply along side bios. 

Rather, it infuses them and transforms daily existence itself into the sphere of God’s compassion and concern, and the means of his glory so our bios can be powerful! 

 In every dimension of existence we are indebted to love and serve God because this is the way God created us. We long for the Zoe life.

 “Whatever you do in word or in deed, do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17). •

1. The Life of an animal.
2. The mental, intellectual Life.
3. The Life of God.

In the Greek language there are three words for “Life”:

1. Zoe, meaning = The kind of life that God has.
2. Psyche, which is the root for psychology, which means the intellectual life, mental. It is the temporal life, pertains to both mankind and animals. Psyche is sometimes 1 John 5:12 “He who has the Son has life;”
    TODAYS OBJECTIVE: Discovering the life of God in us, and the power to live in the blessing of his will
   Jesus spoke of the new life that can only come from God. All living things have life, but God’s life is only in those who are born again. Normally there are three words for “Life”:translated as “mind”.
3. Bios, is derivative of Biological life, referred to natural life, animal life, a life of the body.

Zoe is used to refer to both temporal and eternal life. The life of God is in those who are born again and because of that ZOE life, the born again Christian has a lifestyle different from those who have not experienced the power of the resurrection. So our Bios should stand out and you should know your Zoes in your life.

The purpose of Christ is not only to forgive our sins and save us from eternal punishment. The purpose of Christ is that each of us may experience exuberant, happy, blessed and successful life in the here and now! The purpose of Christ is that God’s life be displayed in all who have received the ZOE.

EASTER PREPARES US TO MEET ZOE AND BECOME A ZOE

The image of God when restored brings new life clothed with dignity and it produces in us fruit, growth, multiplication and excellence. The life of God manifests in us his will, his purposes and mission. That is why believers love what God loves and live to show his goodness.

Ephesians 4:22-24 “For you ought to put off the old man (according to your way of living before) who is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And you should put on the new man, who according to God was created in righteousness and true holiness.”

The new man is created in the image and likeness of God. And those who have God’s life (Zoe) operating in them live according to His righteousness and apart from the things that God hates. God’s justice is to walk the extra mile and to love others as he loved us, forgiving others as He has forgiven us, and serving others as he served and gave his life for the entire human race

The life of God moves us to be transformed in our minds through the truth of Scripture. As we change our thoughts we change our ways for the Glory of God. This change is reflected in our relations with all people. It blesses our marriage, our children, and our families in general. It leads us to be better parents, better children, better friends, better employers, better employees and servants of God Most High.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.”

The old man had only natural life. No ZOE. That is why the works of evil operate in those who are not born again. BUT the children of God exhibit the works that God prepared in advance for us to do. The likeness of God’s shows goodness and generosity.

Conclusion

Those who are born again have God’s spiritual genes. That is why they strive to live differently. Christians have a lifestyle of goodness, mercy and generosity.

when we desire to grow and learn to seek out our ZOE nature.

Take time this Easter Season to think about your ZOE name. Christ made it all so real! 

Take a second and look up Colossians 3:1-5

Let God speak to you through this verse in regards to life as God would have it! 

ZOE BAXTER

NO GREATER LOVE IS THIS STORY...

No greater love

God is so amazingly on time! 

Let me share what TRUE love my dear friends really looks like...

Last night about 11:30 pm I was finishing up some notes for a speaking message on Sunday. I will be speaking at the Northridge Grosse Ile Location to a wonderful new community that God is stirring up for His amazing purposes.

" So blessed to be INVITED to this event to share Gods love"

With that last statement in mind, I finished my notes titled 
The Greatest LOVE Invitation

I plan to speak on Isaiah 55:1-6 
The INVITATION to abundant life.

Here is a brief summary of the passage...a quick lesson folks to get you on the same page with Gods love today! 

the Israelites had sinned against God and had experienced exile into Babylon for their sin. It was painful, but God came to them through the prophet Isaiah, and offered an invitiation to the exiles life and a relationship with him. God moves toward us in our greatest pain and darkness—even when its legitimately our fault—and begins to redeem us from our sin and draw us to himself. We need only be willing and receive and respond to His invite! Isaiah 55 is just such a picture of God as he repeatedly calls out to his people to come to him and enjoy life and relationship!

Isaiah 55 (NET Bible)

55:1 Hey, all who are thirsty, come to the water!
You who have no money, come!
Buy and eat!
Come! Buy wine and milk without money
and without cost!
55:2 Why pay money for something that will not nourish you?
Why spend your hard earned money on something that will not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me and eat what is nourishing!
Enjoy fine food!
55:3 Pay attention and come to me!
Listen, so you can live!
Then I will make an unconditional covenantal LOVE promise to you,
just like the reliable covenantal promises I made to David.
55:4 Look, I made him a witness to nations,
a ruler and commander of nations.”
55:5 Look, you will summon nations you did not previously know,
nations that did not previously know you will run to you,
because of the LORD your God,
the sovereign king of Israel,
for he bestows honor upon you.

55:6 Seek the LORD while he makes himself available,
call to him while he is nearby!
55:7 The wicked need to abandon their life style,
and sinful people their plans.
They should return to the LORD, and he will show mercy to them,
and to their God, for he will freely forgive them.
55:8 “Indeed my plans are not like your plans,
and my deeds are not like your deeds,
55:9 for, just as the sky is higher than the earth,
so my deeds are superior to your deeds,
and my plans superior to your plans.

God has a plan and every time the love invitation is extended we have a chance to choose to respond to the greatest love.
The way He extends His love into the details of our life is in His timing and control. 
But God will satisfy in the end.

NO GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THEN HE... John 15:3

Jesus offers himself FREELY to all who respond. He loves the needy, the poor, the disobedient, the immature, the charming, He loves all. 

In my speaking notes I talk about what the Invitation looks like and by the end of the message God challenges us to respond.

RSVP

R  ECEIVE GODS LOVE
S  EEK AND YOU WILL FIND
V ALUE THE SPOKEN WORD FOR YOU
P RESS ON AND PURSUE HIS 

The message has more bulk but for today's main post I want to zoom in on how God showed me His great love today, Valentines Day. 

About 5 years ago I was INVITED to be the main speaker at a women's retreat tucked way in the woods in upper Michigan.

In this place I spoke of God's love...

At this place I met a beautiful woman named Cynda

During this time Cynda responded to Gods love through the spoken word

This day Cynda accepted Christ as we prayed together in the corner of the room. I see it like it was yesterday.

After the retreat I INVITED Cynda to do a study with me. She responded to this invite with a YES! We began to meet and God poured His love into her.

Cynda struggled in this life with addiction

Addiction is real

(let me tie this together for you in a bow)
Last night after I finished the speaking notes I did my nightly stroll through my facebook feed. I noticed a friend mention about her daughters passing. 
I felt God nudge me to investigate further because... HE KNEW WHAT I NEEDED TO KNOW.

I have so many friends on facebook from all over so I really did not think I knew this friend but maybe through a mutual friend.

As I read through the moms feed I seen CYNDA'S picture.

After 5 years of not talking to Cynda, I sat at my computer and honestly needed a refresher. I asked God sweetly "Do I know her? I feel like we connected Lord?"

So of course I messaged mom

My message
" I am so sorry for your loss. I am sitting here feeling like I have met Cynda. At a retreat about 5 years ago? Maybe I am wrong and it was another connection but I feel we talked. "

Mom message

"Yes you definitely knew Cynda. Cynda and I went to the womens retreat at camp up north together about 5 years ago. That is where Cynda got saved and then took one of  your classes. She talked about you all the time because you made such an impression on her, thankyou for the impact you had in her life."

Honestly friends the impact was a simple INVITATION.

That Invitation 5 years ago has brought peace to a family today knowing she is finally at peace with the abundant life she strived for.

The invitation works in ways we will never know. God works in mysterious ways.

Mom went on to explain the struggle Cynda had for years and how it became stronger then her, she passed away in her sleep last night due to addiction.

Mom also explained that the ONLY thing that has gotten them through is the fact that they know she is with the Lord because she responded to his invitation and now is no longer struggling.

Are you kidding me? I sat in my chair and wept.
I thought what perfect LOVE. God knew I was speaking on the Invitation to LOVE tomorrow with a new community of sisters. 

 Gods LOVE is so important that the extended invitation could be the matter of ETERNITY for someone in Gods timing.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes IN HIM will not perish but have ETERNAL life

To know Cynda's eternity rests on the fact that she responded to an INVITATION at a sweet ladies gathering....then Gods timing to point it out to me as I wrapped up my notes last night at 11:30 with the notes titled ...The GREATEST LOVE INVITATION.

Only God, Only God
What perfect love my friends

Happy Valentines Day

YOUR INTERVIEW WITH GOD

WOW! If Blogger had "TIMEHOP" this would be the post wrote 1 year ago! 

It has had almost 4000 HITS in one year. I believe people truly have thoughts about their interview with God! 

Today I zoomed in on Matthew 24:42-44, while reading I began to picture how my interview with God would go. I then visualized my friends and families interviews.

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Lets look at today's thoughts from the word of God and see what this interview is all about!
I encourage you to write a PLAN, PRAYER and PRAISE somewhere on paper about today's inspiring thoughts.

 Writing things down brings power to the goal


MATTHEW 24
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

LETS LOOK AT FACTS:
Kingdom wars presently abound in the Middle East. Egypt and Saudi Arabia are preparing for a possible confrontation with Iran. The past couple years we have seen prophecies about Egypt metastasizing into fulfillment.
Read Isaiah chapter 19, its all about the BURDEN in and against Egypt.
Everyone will fight against brother and neighbor, city against city and kingdom against kingdom. It starts with the heart of Egypt and will MELT IN ITS MIDST.
As we listen to the news we see the heart of Egypt melting.

The truth is someday we will see the prophecy of the Son of Man appearing in the sky coming on a cloud with great power and great glory!
Just as we know a new season is coming by the change of trees and leaves. Even so, when you see the signs today in Egypt let it be a reminder that a new season is near and right at the door.

ARE YOU READY?

 I urge you to keep watch because you do not know the day your Lord will come, the birth of something NEW is on its way my friends.

Just as we prepare for a new babies arrival... we need to prepare and understand for Gods arrival.
Christ is coming soon and the stage is set....We do not know what day or time however we need to be ready.

Have you thought about  what to expect in the future?

Have you taken Gods truths seriously?

We will receive the history we deserve

I pray we diligently pursue the goal to prepare to be ready to meet the future.We do not want to stand and act surprised or scared on the final day.

For too many, meeting God at death will be a first introduction.

This is not because God did not make Himself known, but because they ignored  all that God has said and done. God has spoken, but they have not listened.

The unprepared will meet with God just as certainly as the prepared will.

The scriptures teach that an interview with God is inevitable.

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." (2 Cor. 5:10)

God does not want you to come ignorant and unprepared.
He sent His prophets, and later His son and the apostles, telling men to prepare.
He also furnished  proof that the judgment meeting will come.

"Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead." (Acts 17:30,31)

The need to prepare to meet God is clearly recognized by all who understand what will happen when we meet.

There will be a thorough judgment of all sinners based on all their sins. "And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds." (Rev. 20:12)

Since we know that this will happen someday will we get properly prepared?

I have listed a few ways to start preparing, please take time and review your life.

1. How do you obey Gods word? Do you accept His word? Do you study and read His word? Do you go to a place to HEAR the word?

2. Are you committed and open to the help of others? God has put people all around you to help you accept His truth.
Maybe step back and watch God at work around you.

3. Have you taught not only yourself but your family to EMBRACE His truth and accept His message.

The fact is that you cannot do anything you want and be living out the story He wrote for your life.
When we meet God face to face I know He will show us the REAL story He had planned for our lives.

John 16:13 states "The spirit of truth will guide you and help you."

I care for my family and friends and when I read today's word I wondered how many even care to be ready?

I want everyone to be ready for their personal interview!

Blessings friends!

THE RADIANT GLOW ON YOUR FACE

EXODUS 34:29'35 THE SHINING RADIANT FACE OF MOSES

Lately I have had a LOVE FOR trying new skin care night creams. Man! one of those nice creams can cost up to 400 dollars a jar! 
The results guarantee a radiant glow which hydrates the skin.

 A RADIANT GLOW

This morning as I was skimming through Exodus which happens to be today's scheduled bible reading. CLICK HERE  for a daily reading schedule I put together for you!
 In the reading today this jumped out to me..."When Moses came down from the mountain from being with the Lord His skin glowed with radiance. Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses and and said Behold the skin of his face!

Friends, others seen and felt Moses anointing from being with the Lord!

Those who spend time in the presence of the Lord will reflect his glory (29, 30).

This was a physical reflection with Moses who was with God on the mountain, and began to reflect the glory of His presence in his skin.

In the New Testament (2 Cor. 3:18) this is effected through the Word, and the transforming glory is more spiritual.

It is what Paul instructs in Romans 12, to be accomplished by renewing the mind daily.

 MOSES THEN BEGAN TO LEAD THE PEOPLE FROM HIS DIVINE ANOINTING

When Moses met with the Lord (quiet time) the nature and character of God began to rub off on moses. The glory took such for that he had to wear a veil to cover his face. The Israelites sensed both God's presence in moses' leadership and a DIVINE ANOINTING to lead.

Spiritual formation must equal anointed leadership

Do others describe your leadership as "anointed"? What does it mean to be anointed? Here's one way to break it down.

Anointed leadership is:

1. CHARISMA: The anointed, like Moses enjoy a sense of giftedness that comes from God to their spirit. It seems magnetic.

2. CHARACTER: People see God's nature in your leadership and they can trust you.

3. COMPETENCE: You have the ability to get the job done and your job produces results and energy.

4. CONVICTION: Your leadership has a backbone. You stand for what is right!

Leadership is not based on your ability to perform but your ability to make time to be in God's presence to prepare you to lead in that Position.

Only through God can a good leader become a GREAT leader.

We all lead someplace.

In the workplace
In the home
Out with friends
Church ministry

 YOU ARE A LEADER! 

 Do others feel a radiant magnetic glow and a sense of peace in trusting your leadership?

The answer will be YES if you get to your personal mountain with the Lord.
 When you come down you will GLOW.

Blessings xo xo,

TODAY, LIKE EVERYDAY IS GAMEDAY

I think of the Christian life like a football game. 

To win a football game you have to do two things: play good offense and play good defense. 

Your goal on offense is to score a lot of points. 

Your goal on defense is to not let the other team score points and to get back on offense as quickly as possible.

Defensive strategy

The word tells us what we must not allow to gain any yardage in our life. In short, we are playing defense against sin. Sin is a Running Back that wants to run up a 100 yard game on us today. Good defense knows the Running Back’s number, knows his favorite plays, and aims to tackle the Running Back for a loss of yardage and minimize his impact on the game.

The more we stay in the word the better plays we have.

OFFENSE

 Delight in God and heed God’s voice. To march the ball down the field you don’t need superior athleticism and trick plays. The play calling is simple: delight in God, know God, love God, adore God, trust God; believe his voice written down in the Scriptures, pay attention to his voice.

Gameday

Today, like everyday, is Gameday.

The ball was just snapped, a Running Back named “Anxious Thoughts” received the handoff and is charging your direction. Where are you? You’re on defense. Don’t give Anxious Thoughts an inch, knock him down as hard as you can and as quick as you can. Next play.
The starting Quarterback, named “Condemnation”, drops back with the ball. He spots a Wide Receiver, named “Guilt & Shame”, open downfield. Your job: sack the Quarterback, don’t let him throw that pass.(love this analogy...thanks Justin!)

There’s deep wisdom here!
 Like it or not, you will begin most days on defense. The goal is to try to hold the world, the flesh, and the devil to just 3 downs and to force a punt on 4th down.

You are not alone. God is for you, God is with you, God is talking to you.
 Your playbook is more than adequate, God has written down everything he wants you to know and do.

 The game is God’s

He recruited you to play your particular position at this particular time in human history.
Good plays and bad Plays

 Trust him. Delight in him. Understand that the game is his and the game is already won. Enjoy God, focus in on his voice above all others, and run fast down the field doing what God recruited you to do with your life.
 Score as many points as you can. Use your talents. Give God all the glory, and revel in the joy of it all.

You have to play both ways in the Christian life. You need good offense and good defense.
The key is to always know where you’re at on the field, to know if you’re playing offense or defense and to play your guts out until the final whistle blows.

THAT'S VICTORY!

HAPPY SUPERBOWL SUNDAY!