Today I want to share Perry Noble's blog post (http://www.perrynoble.com/). I have been praying about some things and this weeks many times God has used others to confirm what He is telling me. This post by Perry Noble is kind of like the icing on the cake for me.
I hope it challenges you too!
A Call To Action
Posted: 26 Feb 2010 04:56 AM PST
Deuteronomy 1:7-8 jumped out at me the other morning…as I had this thought…
God has NEVER led anyone to the point of indecision…it’s NOT that we don’t know what to do most of the time…but rather we know EXACTLY what to do, but in order to obey it will cause us to break out of our comfortable routine and actually put forth some effort.
God had promised the Israelites the land they were going into…He had spent years preparing them for the takeover…but when it came time to make things happen He didn’t tell them “Sit here while I go do it all,” but rather, “Break camp and advance…”
Translation…
“Break camp…” – Get out of your place of comfort.
“Advance” – In other words…DON’T try to keep things the way they are…there are MUCH better things in store.
I love how God doesn’t call His followers to be passive…to sit back and do nothing. We serve a living and active God…which means if we seek to imitate Him then the same should be said of us.
So…any decision that you’ve been putting off that you KNOW He’s clearly spoken about?
“Break camp and advance…”
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Be Still.
It's been a really busy week. Sunday's are crazy but this past Sunday after doing two servics, we also had a board meeting and a workday for our upcoming Easter Eggstravaganza.
Then Monday started by running back and forth between two hospitals to be with families and check on two people having surgery at the same time. Then Tuesday was anbother busy day filled with a ministers meeting and hospital visits.
All of a sudden it is Thursday afternoon. I find myself sitting at my computer wondering where the week went and how will I get everything done that needs to be done for Sunday?
In the midst of my busyness, I began to think about Psalms 46:10 which says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
Be still, he says. Do you ever think,"if only I could be still, that would be nice." Even in the midst of our busyness and accomplishing this and that, we must make tim to be stil and know God. Many times we rob ourselves by being "too busy to be still".
Why not try it right now. Just stop for a minute. Take a deep breath. And just say "God I'm listening, speak to me."
We could learn a lot by learning to take time each day to be still. How much do we miss because we're too busy? How much less stressed out would we be if we just took a moment to "be still"? As we make time for God, He is exalted. He wants to be the focus of our lives, and to focus you have to be still!
Let's stop the ride and focus for a moment. Be still and know He is God.
Then Monday started by running back and forth between two hospitals to be with families and check on two people having surgery at the same time. Then Tuesday was anbother busy day filled with a ministers meeting and hospital visits.
All of a sudden it is Thursday afternoon. I find myself sitting at my computer wondering where the week went and how will I get everything done that needs to be done for Sunday?
In the midst of my busyness, I began to think about Psalms 46:10 which says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
Be still, he says. Do you ever think,"if only I could be still, that would be nice." Even in the midst of our busyness and accomplishing this and that, we must make tim to be stil and know God. Many times we rob ourselves by being "too busy to be still".
Why not try it right now. Just stop for a minute. Take a deep breath. And just say "God I'm listening, speak to me."
We could learn a lot by learning to take time each day to be still. How much do we miss because we're too busy? How much less stressed out would we be if we just took a moment to "be still"? As we make time for God, He is exalted. He wants to be the focus of our lives, and to focus you have to be still!
Let's stop the ride and focus for a moment. Be still and know He is God.
Friday, February 19, 2010
The Bait of Satan - part 4
Today is the last day of quotes from John Bevere's book "The Bait of Satan".
As you can tell, this is an incredible book. I personlly think everyone should read this book.
I have posted all these great things on my blog to minister and challenge my readers, but also for me. I read somewhere that if you re-teach the new things you have learned, you retain more of the knowledge you have gained. So this has been my way of re-teaching what I have learned through John Bevere's book.
Seriously, get yourself a copy of this book and read. You'll be glad you did!
Now for today's quotes from the book.
"The Bible does not record that Jesus reacted to any of the men who left Him. His only delight was to do the will of the Father. In doing so He would benefit the greatest number of people."
"When you live for the will of God, you will not fulfill the desires of men. As a result, you will suffer in the flesh."
"The way we forgive, release, and restore another person is the way we will be forgiven."
"Bitterness is a root. If roots are nursed - watered, protected, fed, and given attention - they increase in depth and strength."
"Our degree of maturity determines how well we will handle an offense without injury."
"We grow in tough times, not the easy times... If you choose to run from them, you will seriously hinder your growth."
"It takes maturity to walk in humility in order to bring reconciliation. But taking the first step is often harder on the one who is hurting. That's why Jesus told the person who cause the offense to 'go to him...'"
As you can tell, this is an incredible book. I personlly think everyone should read this book.
I have posted all these great things on my blog to minister and challenge my readers, but also for me. I read somewhere that if you re-teach the new things you have learned, you retain more of the knowledge you have gained. So this has been my way of re-teaching what I have learned through John Bevere's book.
Seriously, get yourself a copy of this book and read. You'll be glad you did!
Now for today's quotes from the book.
"The Bible does not record that Jesus reacted to any of the men who left Him. His only delight was to do the will of the Father. In doing so He would benefit the greatest number of people."
"When you live for the will of God, you will not fulfill the desires of men. As a result, you will suffer in the flesh."
"The way we forgive, release, and restore another person is the way we will be forgiven."
"Bitterness is a root. If roots are nursed - watered, protected, fed, and given attention - they increase in depth and strength."
"Our degree of maturity determines how well we will handle an offense without injury."
"We grow in tough times, not the easy times... If you choose to run from them, you will seriously hinder your growth."
"It takes maturity to walk in humility in order to bring reconciliation. But taking the first step is often harder on the one who is hurting. That's why Jesus told the person who cause the offense to 'go to him...'"
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The Bait of Satan - part 3
This is day #3 of blogging quotes from John Bevere's book "The Bait of Satan".
"We will be judged according to fruit, not gifting. A gift is given. Fruit is cultivated."
"God never created us to live seperately and independently of each other... An isolated person seeks only his own desire, not God's. He recieves no counsel and sets himself up for deception."
"When God does instruct you to leave, you will go out with peace, no matter what the condtion of the minstry... Spiritual growth is a function of obedience... Our knowledge of Scripture is not the key. Obedience is... When God releases you in peace, you will not have pressure to justify your departure to others."
"The way you leave a church or a realtionship is the way you will enter into your next church or relationship."
"Many times God will allow people to run from situations He desires them to face if they are set on running from them in their hearts."
"How you react under pressure is how the real you acts."
"Trials in this life will expose what's in your heart - whether the offense is toward God or others. Tests either make you bitter toward God or others or stronger. If you pass the test, your roots will shoot down deper, stabilizing you and your future. If you fail, you become offended, which can lead to defilement with bitterness."
"Love is the bottom line in our relationship with the Lord - not love of principles or teachings but love for the Person of Jesus Christ."
"If you preach the truth you will offend people, and they will be uprooted and leave. Do not grieve over them, but rather continue to feed and nurture the ones God has sent you."
"Stay in your authority, or someone else will take it from you and use it against you."
"We will be judged according to fruit, not gifting. A gift is given. Fruit is cultivated."
"God never created us to live seperately and independently of each other... An isolated person seeks only his own desire, not God's. He recieves no counsel and sets himself up for deception."
"When God does instruct you to leave, you will go out with peace, no matter what the condtion of the minstry... Spiritual growth is a function of obedience... Our knowledge of Scripture is not the key. Obedience is... When God releases you in peace, you will not have pressure to justify your departure to others."
"The way you leave a church or a realtionship is the way you will enter into your next church or relationship."
"Many times God will allow people to run from situations He desires them to face if they are set on running from them in their hearts."
"How you react under pressure is how the real you acts."
"Trials in this life will expose what's in your heart - whether the offense is toward God or others. Tests either make you bitter toward God or others or stronger. If you pass the test, your roots will shoot down deper, stabilizing you and your future. If you fail, you become offended, which can lead to defilement with bitterness."
"Love is the bottom line in our relationship with the Lord - not love of principles or teachings but love for the Person of Jesus Christ."
"If you preach the truth you will offend people, and they will be uprooted and leave. Do not grieve over them, but rather continue to feed and nurture the ones God has sent you."
"Stay in your authority, or someone else will take it from you and use it against you."
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Bait of Satan - part 2
Yesterday I started blogging quotes that challenged me from John Bevere's book "The Bait of Satan".
Here are some more...
"God tests His servants with obedience. He deliberately places us in situations where the standards of religion and society would appear to justify our actions. He allows others, especially those close to us, to encourage us to protect ourselves. We may even think we would be noble and protect others by avenging ourselves. But this is not God's way. It is the way of the world's wisdom. It is earthly and fleshy."
"You are not the one who choses where you go to church. God does."(1 Cor. 12:18)
"Remember that, if you're in the place where God wants you, the devil will try to offend yo to get you out. He wants to uproot men and women form the place where God plants them. If he cannot get you will not budge, even in the midst of great conflict, you wil spoil his plans."
"When you're out of the will of God, you will not be a blessing or help to any church."
"Once you leave the place God has chosen for you, your root system begins to dwarf... You end up coming to the place where you have little or no strength to endure hardship or persecution."
Here are some more...
"God tests His servants with obedience. He deliberately places us in situations where the standards of religion and society would appear to justify our actions. He allows others, especially those close to us, to encourage us to protect ourselves. We may even think we would be noble and protect others by avenging ourselves. But this is not God's way. It is the way of the world's wisdom. It is earthly and fleshy."
"You are not the one who choses where you go to church. God does."(1 Cor. 12:18)
"Remember that, if you're in the place where God wants you, the devil will try to offend yo to get you out. He wants to uproot men and women form the place where God plants them. If he cannot get you will not budge, even in the midst of great conflict, you wil spoil his plans."
"When you're out of the will of God, you will not be a blessing or help to any church."
"Once you leave the place God has chosen for you, your root system begins to dwarf... You end up coming to the place where you have little or no strength to endure hardship or persecution."
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The Bait of Satan
I just finished an incredible book by John Bevere, "The Bait of Satan".
This book was so incredible becuase I began reading it and then noticed how God was teaching me lessons in my own life as I read it.
The book deals with the issues of offense. Everyone has been offended or hurt by someone and the way we deal with that offense or hurt determines if we grow or become stagnant.
Just thought I would blog a few quotes from John Bevere that really challenged me.
"The knowledge of God's Word without love is a destructive force because it puffs us up with pride and legalism."
"A minister or a Christian is what he lives, not what he preaches."
"When you resist the temptation to be offended, Godbrings you great victory."
"Absolutely no man, woman, child, or devil can ever get you out of the will of God! No one but God holds your destiny."
"If you stay free from offense you will stay in God's will. IF you become offended you will be taken captive by the enemy to fulfill his own purpose and will."
There are many more quotes from this book that challenged me. Think about what I've already shared and I'll share more next time. Or hey, why not head out and pick up your own copy of "The Bait of Satan". I promise you it will challenge you too!
This book was so incredible becuase I began reading it and then noticed how God was teaching me lessons in my own life as I read it.
The book deals with the issues of offense. Everyone has been offended or hurt by someone and the way we deal with that offense or hurt determines if we grow or become stagnant.
Just thought I would blog a few quotes from John Bevere that really challenged me.
"The knowledge of God's Word without love is a destructive force because it puffs us up with pride and legalism."
"A minister or a Christian is what he lives, not what he preaches."
"When you resist the temptation to be offended, Godbrings you great victory."
"Absolutely no man, woman, child, or devil can ever get you out of the will of God! No one but God holds your destiny."
"If you stay free from offense you will stay in God's will. IF you become offended you will be taken captive by the enemy to fulfill his own purpose and will."
There are many more quotes from this book that challenged me. Think about what I've already shared and I'll share more next time. Or hey, why not head out and pick up your own copy of "The Bait of Satan". I promise you it will challenge you too!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Snow Day
Actually, I know He was listening because I know Him!
Remember Jesus words in Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Did you catch that part? "You will find rest for your souls." God knows when life becomes to much to bear. He's waiting for us to come to Him and find rest for our souls. So may times we just keep on going, even when life becomes too much for us to bear on our own. The "P" word keeps us from going to Jesus to find rest. Yes I mean pride. Pride keeps us from admitting we can't handle things on our own. Many people think admitting you can't handle things is a sign of weakness. But the apostle Paul cried out to God and God told Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." And then I love Paul's response, He says, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulities. For when I am weak, then I am storng." (2 Cor. 12:9-10)
So when life becomes too much to bear, run to God and tell Him you need a "snow day". He's waiting for you to come to Him so He can help you find rest for your soul.
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