Day 71

You Have The Victory!

Romans 8:37 
37Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

If God’s Word says that we are more than conquerors through Christ, then we are. We are not going to become, we already are. We may be experiencing some failures or setbacks in life right now, but only good will come out of our situations because God says that “in all these things we are more than conquerors”. We have the victory!

You see, God has placed us in Christ, whom He has exalted to the highest place in the universe. We are not trying to get to victory ground. We are already on victory ground. We don’t confess God’s Word to get victory. We confess His Word because we already have the victory. We don’t fight for victory. We fight from victory.

The devil will try to steal our victory. He will come against us with lies and fears, and cause us to be conscious of our failures, weaknesses and symptoms in areas such as our health. But we are not trying to be healed. We are already healed because God’s Word declares that “by His stripes we are healed”. (Isaiah 53:5)

A sister in our church was seeing two psychiatrists. She had been under psychiatric care and medication for panic attacks for the most part of her life. She said that when she started coming to church and learning about Jesus, the truth of God’s Word began to dawn on her.

She started believing that victory over her condition was already hers and began confessing it. From then on, all her fears were removed and her panic attacks ceased. Today, she has a sound mind, is free from all medication and knows that her life is greatly blessed through Jesus who loves her.

My friend, the moment you accept Jesus as your Savior, you are born again and the new person inside you is more than a conqueror. You are already on victory ground and you have victory over every challenging situation in your life!

Thought For The Day
We don’t fight for victory. We fight from victory.

Why is it that so many bands act like arrogant jerks? I’m no authority on bands or music. I was blessed to have a chance to travel and perform music that I really enjoyed and miss doing that all of the time. Most of my experiences have come within the metal and hardcore scene, but this goes for all genres of music. I don’t understand why some people in bands act like they are so cool and above the people who like their music. The people who take time to listen to, buy, or download your music, should at least be treated with enough respect to get a smile from a band member. Unless the band is like world wide famous and there are so many people that it’s not possible, I understand that. But I’m speaking of bands who still travel in vans and such. Or bands that have forgotten what that it was like to tour in a van and forgotten about the loyal friends and fans who were with them in those times. What’s the deal? Even if you are busy, can’t you take time to at least smile and say thanks? Or the arrogant frontman who thinks that he is The coolest or sexiest thing that has ever played music. If I think a band has amazing music, but I then see that they are a bunch of arrogant jerks, then I don’t give a crap about how good they are. Sure, sometimes they may be tired, sick, or having a bad day, that’s understandable, I’ve been there. But a consistent display of being a bag of douche is unnecessary. The time that I was blessed to have when I did music full time was great. But I always said, that I would rather people enjoy me as a person more than the music I played. I could handle someone not liking the music that I was playing, as long as that person thought that we were genuinely, nice and loving people. Why should i have thought that i was a “Big Deal?” i was just a fat guy from South Georgia traveling in a van and living off of 5 dollars a day for food. I guess that all I am saying is,”Come down off of your high horse, you are just a person who has been blessed to do something that you love, show some dern courtesy and be friendly.” Ok, I’m done for now.

God Is Not Judging You

Romans 8:33 
33Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

Some people see God as a judge who has exacting demands on man. When they fall short or when things go wrong in their lives, they think that God is judging them.

My friend, the truth is that if you are a believer, God does not bring any charge against you. Instead, He justifies you because of the blood of His Son. In fact, God’s Word goes on to say that the One who has the right to condemn you, chose instead to die for you and is risen at the Father’s right hand to be your righteousness! (Romans 8:34)

But what the devil tries to do is to get you to believe that God watches you with a critical eye and punishes you when you do wrong. He has deceived many sincere Christians into believing that if they have done something wrong, sickness or some other evil thing has a right to come upon them and their families. And when these things happen, he convinces them that they are suffering God’s judgment because of their wrongdoings. In the meantime, these sincere Christians struggle with condemnation because they think that they are the cause of their problems.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Ever since the cross, where Jesus was judged in your place for every one of your wrong actions, thoughts and words, God no longer judges you, His child. You need not accept condemnation or evil things happening to you because Jesus took all your punishment at the cross.

So when you start to feel condemned for your actions or when you experience negative circumstances, say, “It is written: It is God who justifies me. I am completely forgiven and made righteous before Him. I refuse to accept any condemnation and I reject every symptom of the curse that I am seeing in my circumstances!”

Then, simply stand on the truth of God’s Word, and watch Him deliver and bless you!

Thought For The Day
Don’t accept condemnation or evil things happening to you because Jesus took all your punishment at the cross.

What’s wrong with having questions?

In the wake of the horrible tragedy in Boston I’ve had questions. Yes, I used a picture from the X-Files because it’s one of my favorite shows and I thought it was fitting. I wouldn’t consider myself a full blown conspiracy theorist, but I have become rather interested in many conspiracy theories. Now, I know that there are many people who take the idea of conspiracies entirely too far. Paranoid is an understatement for some conspiracy theorists, some would even use the words crazy or insane. I don’t believe everything is a government cover up or conspiracy, but I do believe that the American people are often lied to by the government that they often trust. I used to believe everything that the media fed me and believed that if the “Right” people were in office that we could trust our government. Well, when you look at history, there is good reason to be suspicious. Three well known examples being the Watergate Scandal, the denial of Area 51 until satellites made that impossible, and the use of Agent Orange in Vietnam, which has killed many veterans who served our country proudly. I don’t have the space or time to list all of the other things that I have learned of and thought had validity. Now to my main point. There have been many suspicious red flags in the Boston Bombings in my opinion and in many other people’s opinion. To list a few, the existence of men dressed in clothing that matches that of Navy Seals walking around with backpacks, a bomb drill going on at the same time the bombing took place, men with dogs sniffing for bombs at the start and finish lines, all of this before the bombs went off. Not to mention eye witness accounts of officials announcing to people to not be alarmed “It’s only a drill,” as the explosions were happening. These are just a few examples, there are more and I’m not just saying that, but to not take up any more of your time i will challenge you to look into it yourself.
Now, am I saying that I completely believe that the bombings were done by the government and that it’s a cover up? NO I’m not! But I do have questions. I hope that the suspects that have been brought to justice are the ones to blame and that true justice has been done. But I can’t say that I believe whole heartedly that this wasn’t a cover up. The problem is, that if someone has views like this, they are made out to be the bad guy. Those who know me know that my political views are mostly on the conservative side. I have many friends who are liberal in their views, but we love and respect each other. I haven’t always been this way, I used to be very closed minded and I thought I was always right, and didn’t care what others had to say. Well I was wrong for being like that and I still have to put myself in check when I’m stubborn. My point is this, asking questions isn’t wrong. Questioning the motives of government isn’t wrong, nor is it un-American. Our country was founded by people who had problems with their rulers. Now by having questions about the government’s motives I don’t mean be violent, disrespect law enforcement, or go out and break the law. We should be thankful for all of those who protect and serve us, none of this is about our local public safety.
I am a Christian, but there are many who would say that having these views is un-Christian. Well, if I remember correctly the government of the time had a key role in crucifying The Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, I know the Bible says to “Obey the laws of the land,” but remember it’s not illegal to ask questions or share your thoughts in this country, for now anyway. But, if the law of the land is against our faith as Christians, we have an obligation to God first.(that was a side note) The bottom line is, demonizing someone who questions things or has different political views than you is wrong. I have many questions about what we have been lied to about in the past, and what we are being lied to about now. But I do love Jesus, America, our soldiers, law enforcement etc. I just think that believing everything we hear in the media, and from the government could have bad consequences.

God Can Use Those Whom The World Rejects

1 Corinthians 1:26 
26For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.

You may think that you are a nobody, maybe even a has-been or a loser in the eyes of the world. Take heart because God’s Word says that if you are not wise, not mighty or not noble according to the flesh, then you are a prime candidate for Him to call on! And when He begins to use you, you will see His favor, power and increase change your life.

In the eyes of the ancient world, Moses was the rising star of Egypt. The Bible tells us that in the first 40 years of his life, “Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds”. (Acts 7:22) But God could not use him then because he was too smart, strong and full of himself.

It was only 40 years later, after having been in the unglamorous desert of Midian, emptied of himself and thinking that he was a has-been, that God sent him to confound the might of Pharaoh.

The world may pass them by — the weak, the small, the forgotten and the losers, but God chooses them to confound those mighty in the world.

I know this to be true. As a little boy, I grew up facing rejection and ridicule because of my Indian-Chinese racial mix. And as a teenager, I was the butt of many jokes because of my stammering and stuttering.

When I was in my teens, I remember praying to God, “I don’t know what I can do for or give You, but You got me — spirit, soul and body.” I don’t know how many times I prayed that prayer. But I knew that God heard me because He called me. Only God would dare choose me, a stammerer and stutterer, to pastor a church for Him that has since grown to more than 24,000 members today.

I know what I was and where I came from. I know I have done nothing and can do nothing apart from His anointing and grace in my life.

My friend, when you think that you are weak and small compared to others in the world, that is when God can use you to do great and wonderful things for Him!

Thought For The Day
God chooses the weak, the small, the forgotten and the losers to confound those mighty in the world.

Day 59

Surely!

Isaiah 53:4 
4Surely He has borne our griefs [sicknesses] and carried our sorrows [pains]…

While waiting for the manifestation of their healing, some people find it hard to believe that Jesus really took their sicknesses and pains, just as He took their sin and shame. If you are one of them, don’t feel condemned. Your Father in heaven understands. That is why He put the word “surely” there when He said, “Surely, My Son has borne your sicknesses and carried your pains.”

Once, my daughter Jessica was crying all night because she was not feeling well. She had been sick for a few days. In my study, I took out my Bible and the Lord led me to Isaiah 53:4 where it says, “Surely He has borne…” Now, I know the original Hebrew here and it says, “Surely He has borne our sicknesses and carried our pains.” So I said, “Surely, He has borne Jessica’s sickness…”

But it was like the verse was just not real to me. Her cries seemed more real. Then, all of a sudden, the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to a word in the verse that really revolutionized the way I saw the whole passage.

Notice the first word in the verse? It says, “Surely…” Surely, He has borne our sicknesses and carried our pains. Now, look at the next verse: “He was wounded for our transgressions…” Every Christian knows and believes that Jesus was wounded for our sins, yet the word “surely” is not put here but in the earlier verse. I think God knew that we would find it hard to believe that Jesus also bore our sicknesses and carried our pains, so He put the word “surely” there to help us believe!

When I saw that, I put my Bible on the floor, stood on it and said, “Father, you know I don’t mean any irreverence, but I am standing on Your Word. Surely, Jesus bore Jessica’s sickness and carried her pain! I don’t care if I can still hear her crying. Surely, Your Son, Your beloved Son, bore her sickness and carried her pain! Hallelujah!” That night, the breakthrough came. That night, little Jessica was healed.

Are you or your loved ones suffering some sickness or pain right now?

Surely our Lord Jesus has borne your sicknesses and carried your pains. And as you believe this truth, surely, your healing and breakthrough will come!

Thought For The Day
Surely our Lord Jesus has borne your sicknesses and carried your pains.

God has used this guy and this book in my life more than I can express. I must be honest, I don’t listen to a large amount of preachers like I did at one time in my life. His biblical view of radical grace was such an eye opener to me. Anyone who has ever suffered from guilt, condemnation, and fear, please read this book! Jesus loves and came to save, not condemn.

Michelle Obama, I don’t care what kind of gestures or faces you make at your dern hubby while he is giving a speech or debating. Paul Ryan, I like you, but don’t wash dishes in a soup kitchen for the camera! Wether they were already clean or not, doing something just to be seen is missing the point IMO. Dern I’m tired of politicians.

This post could go in a thousand different directions, so I apologize for being scatter brained in advance. For my friends who don’t share the same beliefs that I do this may not even be something that means anything to you, so I understand if you read something else.
For some reason, at one time in my life I think I thought that I had God figured out and that I was this “Mature” Christian guy. Well I have realized how many of my ideas about God were more just results of where I was raised, and views or opinions of people that I just accepted as truth. Hell was something that was in my mind quite a bit. Not because all of the preachers and teachers who taught me made me think about it, I had some AMAZING adults and friends in my life when I was a teenager who showed me God’s love
and taught me the truth about Christ and His salvation. I think it was just certain things i heard some people say and much of the mindset of churches in general. How many times did I hear “Accept Jesus or you will go to hell!” Well, yes I believe that Hell is real, and I believe that those who reject Christ’s free gift of salvation will go there. But that’s the thing, A FREE GIFT! Jesus did it all for us and made it where all He asks is we believe and accept Him, He doesn’t want us focusing on a place that He made for Satan, a place that wasn’t made for us. I’m not saying that it shouldn’t ever be mentioned, but why try and use it to scare people? I spent much of my childhood thinking I had to be good enough or else! Not grasping how much He loved me regardless of my actions. Not grasping that at the moment I asked Him to be my Lord that He made me good, and that I became holy and righteous in God’s eyes because Jesus paid for my sins. Well, then came the whole focus of sinning after I became a Christian. Guess what, I sinned plenty after I became a Christian and I still sin plenty! Do I think that it’s ok for me to sin? No of course not! But I am finally actually grasping the truth that my mistakes have no bearing on where I stand with God and where my eternal destination is. Hearing someone scream from a pulpit about what mistakes people were making and talking to Christians like they were these bad people who should be ashamed of themselves for sinning never helped me! When I learned that my Spirit was made new, my old man was dead, but I still had fleshly desires that God had to help me defeat, it really helped. What helped even more was realizing that my standing with God was right, and I have the Righteousness of Christ in God’s eyes simply because I accepted the salvation that He offered through Jesus’ death and resurrection. That no matter how I perform, that is the truth. That’s what continues to help me with my ongoing struggles! I don’t have to fear! I still deal with this, I still battle guilt when I make mistakes, but with God’s help I will walk in peace. It’s this grace that empowers Christians to say no to sin. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that sin is ok, or that there aren’t consequences from bad decisions.
As far as someone who isn’t a Christian, why do so many Christians condemn them when Jesus doesn’t? He came to save and not condemn. Christianity has been made out to be calling people sinners and pointing fingers at others, instead of sharing the love and hope that Jesus has for that person. Do I think “Preaching” is wrong? Of course not. But I think an arrogant person pointing out someone else’s flaws, not looking at their own, and not showing unconditional love is! I don’t care who your favorite preacher, “Christian” Band member, or teacher is, THEY DO STILL SIN! So to the Christian who is being made to feel like a piece of crap because they are struggling with sin. Don’t listen to that crap! You are Righteous because of the Blood of Jesus. To the person who doesn’t share my beliefs, in no way is any Christian person better than you and im sorry that attitude comes from some Christians.

I didn’t watch them. I may try and watch some of the replay sometime. I do know that chances are I will absolutely hate most of the music on there. Between Katy Perry, Nikki Minaj, and Justin Beiber, I would rather get heel kicked in my dern eye socket, then have to watch them put on their display of annoying sounds and ridiculous stage shows. Wow, that sounds a little harsh, but dern, gimme a break it’s 3:18 am and I’m at work. For real though, in my opinion some of the music that is popular nowadays is ridiculous in my opinion. It’s tragic to me how so much of music as taken steps backwards. But hey, opinions, we’ve all got them.