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I said, "You are gods, and all of you are sons of the Most High. (Psalm 28:6)

This is a big statement into who we are in the eyes of God. Jesus later repeated it in John 10. In Psalms it was a statement told to the judges at the time to remind them they have the power to dispense judgment and justice to and for the people as a direct representative of God. That's all fine and dandy except for the fact that most of us Christians don't believe we hold this kind of power and have the authority to use it in this present day as representatives of God. We all have a call on our…  ( Click for more )

The popular statement is: “We are on a journey.” As a Christian I prefer to say: “We are in a battle for our promise land.” It doesn’t sound like fun but it gives me a clear picture of my life on this earth. Don’t get me wrong, I still have a good time and can be a jokester. Having said that, we all know this life will relentlessly beat you to the ground if you are not on guard. Marriage can be hard. Staying out of debt can be hard. Dealing with your kids, boss or co-workers can be hard. Not falling under condemnation can be very hard.

So…  ( Click for more )

When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob's thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. - (Genesis 32:25)

Definition of Wrestle: To strive in an effort to master something. Grapple

Definition of grapple: to grip or seize, as in a wrestling match; "the two men grappled with each other for several minutes"

It's been nearly thirteen years since I've move from Arizona to the east coast. That's how long I've sincerely followed Christ. Yet, I still have been in question on what He is doing…  ( Click for more )

Life is like fruit carving. Fruit carvers have a specific set of tools that they use to create their carvings.

So it is with this life. To carve out the life we want we must use certain tools. Our tools are our thoughts, words and action.

1) Thoughts-we must first think of what it is we want. It could be a nice car, a better marriage or a physical healing. Whatever it is you want, you must picture the final result of it in your mind. And it must be thought of as often as possible. God used the stars of the sky to show Abraham his future. Joseph was given a dream concerning…  ( Click for more )

2Corinthians10:5 AMP…and we lead every thought and purpose away captive…

Next level thinking will cause you to check your every thought and take it captive until you clear it with a very high set of standards. This can be exhausting at times but very rewarding.

Some things that change as you learn to take every thought through your set of standards. 1. You notice change in yourself 2. You see the world differently 3. You notice more negative and unproductive language in yourself and society.

The bible is clear that the…  ( Click for more )

I am a cotter pin. That's what the Lord told me a few years back. What is a cotter pin? A metal pin used to fasten two parts of a mechanism together. Picture this. It looks like a ladies hairpin. In the industrial world it is used to fasten two pieces of metal together. For instance, on a tractor, you will find several cotter pins holding two different parts together. Without the part held together, by the cotter pin, the tractor would not run correctly. Though cotter pins are relatively small compared to the tractor, it is a very important part.

What the Lord was telling me…  ( Click for more )

He must have seen the glory beaming out of the one named Adam. He had to see the sunrise and sunset, creativity and passion, strength and love in the muddy mixture. He must have seen the majesty of untold greatness and the beauty of wholeness in this unfamiliar work of creation. Lucifer, in all his anger, resentment and bitterness must have seen Adam as a reflection of Almighty God. He must have shook in fear as he watched the Creator from a distance form, mold and shape the mud into man. Questions and worry must have invaded his mind as God etched away all imperfections to create…  ( Click for more )

A movie I was watching featured a popular detective known for his ability to solve difficult cases. A street cop walks up with some pertinent information. The street cops says to the detective, “I love your work and would love to be on the ’Special Cases Task Force’.” The detective responds, “If you want to be on the ’Special Cases Task Force’, then go out and do something special.”

This is an effective principle to use in the work force or in the educational arena. It’s a principle that will help you get noticed by others…  ( Click for more )

Last week we discussed the expectations Jesus has for us if we are to follow Him. In Matthew 5:20 Jesus said, “For I tell you, unless your righteousness (your uprightness and your right standing with God) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” In addition He added to the requirement. In verses 21-22,27-28 He digs deeper into our spiritual pockets and makes it clear on what He expects of us concerning our heart and mind.

When Jesus brings in these additional verses, He is stating that we have the responsibility…  ( Click for more )

Jesus crucifixion started in the garden. The Father gave Him a vision. (Luke 22:41) Jesus died to His own will. (v42) Jesus accepted, visualized and internalized the Father’s plan. (v44) This sequence of steps was a defining moment for Jesus and for us. No, it was much more than that. It was the beginning of the final great battle that led Jesus to the victory that had been foretold for thousands of years. This was the established point in time for Jesus. The same point in time God gives to all of us. He gave His only begotten Son, our only chance, a vital, critical and crucial…  ( Click for more )

Sometimes I think the way Jesus presented His messages was a little unusual, . He would say these wonderful truths, then seemingly change the subject in a moments notice. For instance, the famous sermon on the mount in Matthew 5. Jesus starts out with the “Blessed are they” speech. It’s basically an “everything is beautiful” feel good message. (v3-v11) Then He says, (paraphrased) “Now that you know you are blessed because of God, don’t hide it. Let your light shine.” (v13-v16) After that it turns a little rigid. Jesus makes a…  ( Click for more )

Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned [as it were] with salt, [so that you may never be at a loss] to know how you ought to answer anyone [who puts a question to you]. (Colossians 4:6 Amp)

My friend once told me a trick he used to help him avoid eating all the food on his plate lest he over eat. He would open the salt shaker and pour salt over the remaining food. I’m not so sure it was a good plan. It may have solved the issue at the moment but what about the discipline it takes to live a healthy lifestyle.

The apostle Paul wrote…  ( Click for more )

Isaiah 46:3-4 (NLT) "Listen to me, all you who are left in Israel. I created you and have cared for you since before you were born. I will be your God throughout your lifetime until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (Amp) Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, …  ( Click for more )

As a boy, I had several cuts, scratches and bruises just like most boys do. I remember one particular incident when I had a good sized scrape on my knee from a bike accident. After few weeks I had a full scab and was on my way to complete healing. Unfortunately for me, we had a friend of the family visit us. Somehow this “friend” convinced my parents to pour peroxide on my scab. In a panic I tried to talk my way out of the forced treatment but it was to no avail. As my parents held me down, I cried through the torture. I’m not sure what it was to accomplish. The…  ( Click for more )

Matthew 6:19-20 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal

I admit it. I enjoy watching…  ( Click for more )

John 5:6-7 When Jesus noticed him lying there [helpless], knowing that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, Do you want to become well? [Are you really in earnest about getting well?]

The invalid answered, Sir, I have nobody when the water is moving to put me into the pool; but while I am trying to come [into it] myself, somebody else steps down ahead of me.

Think about this man’s response to Jesus. His statement gives us a very revealing look at his spiritual state.

To better understand this, we must clarify the meaning of the…  ( Click for more )

Where does the time go?

Birthdays go from creep to leap as the years past.

Work weeks drag and vacations fly by.

Time is a ridiculously silly concept.

Who thought of it?

What good is it?

It seems to put stressful boundaries on us

and is a relentless taskmaster with our future.

It waits for nothing or no one.

It plays no favorites.

We can earn money, but time is allotted.

We make stupid statements about time.

"I've got time to kill."

"I've got all the time in the world."

"I'll have more time later." …  ( Click for more )

Psalm 42:7 (AMP)

[Roaring] deep calls to [roaring] deep at the thunder of Your waterspouts; all Your breakers and Your rolling waves have gone over me.

This is not a description of a gentle God. It sounds like God is trying to drown the writer with a mighty vengeance. I love this description and I need it to be true in my life. Let me try to explain why.

The apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesians to know the depth of God’s love. I’m sure I will never completely know this because God is Love. It’s too deep to comprehend. I can’t comprehend the depth…  ( Click for more )

What do you want?

John 5:12-13

They asked him, Who is the Man Who told you, Pick up your bed and walk? Now the invalid who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had quietly gone away [had passed on unnoticed], since there was a crowd in the place.

I find it interesting that the man that was healed in this story didn’t know Who healed him. It is obvious to me that Jesus exerted visually His authority or the man likely would have told Jesus to leave him alone.

I was raised in a religion that believed in Jesus but did not know Him. They never talked…  ( Click for more )

There is a very interesting story in John 5:1-9. 1LATER ON there was a Jewish festival (feast) for which Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2Now there is in Jerusalem a pool near the Sheep Gate. This pool in the Hebrew is called Bethesda, having five porches (alcoves, colonnades, doorways). 3In these lay a great number of sick folk--some blind, some crippled, and some paralyzed (shriveled up) waiting for the bubbling up of the water. 4For an angel of the Lord went down at appointed seasons into the pool and moved and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up…  ( Click for more )

There is something terribly wrong", ringed the voice in my head as I laid in the shredded lawn. I was semi-conscious and quite unsure of the cause of the accident I was in. It was sudden, quick and caught me off guard. It was the turn. It was sharper than expected and my tires couldn't keep me on the road at the speed I was going. It was a simple misjudgment on my part that flung me from my car and took me to the edge of death.

Laying there in darkness, alone and shocked, I wondered if this was the end. I knew where I was going but the thought of death and living forever…  ( Click for more )

If you’ve ever been a snowstorm you may have experienced a whiteout. In my experience in a whiteout, I couldn’t see very far in front of me and lost my sense of direction. There was so much snow and cloud cover, I could only see vague outlines of dark objects. I was surrounded by so much “white”, I was uneasy and uncomfortable with my surroundings.

On the contrast I’ve also experienced a total blackout. During a tour of an underground cave, the tour guide shut off the only light we had in the cave. We were standing in total darkness. With our eyes…  ( Click for more )

Proverbs 4:24

Put away from you false and dishonest speech, and willful and contrary talk put far from you.

The last two weeks I talked about the strategies of the enemy after finding the call and purpose for your life. (You can find those two articles in the archives.) You will at some point realize the plans of God are not small in any sense of the word. He has a grand plan and purpose to complete on this earth. It is a plan greater than man can comprehend and visualize. But your part, to you, will also be grand and more than you can complete on your own power. After all,…  ( Click for more )

Last week I talked about the first strategy of the enemy after finding the call and purpose for your life. You will at some point realize the plans of God are not small in any sense of the word. He has a grand plan and purpose to complete on this earth. It is a plan greater than man can comprehend and visualize. But your part, to you, will also be grand and more than you can complete on your own power. After all, God's original plan was to have Mankind dominate the earth.

If you think about it long enough this thought ups the ante'. Dominate! What are you to dominate? It can…  ( Click for more )