MONEY!

At times, GOD displays to me HIS omniscience and mercy in ways that I can't explain.  Dr. Charles Stanley's Devotional this morning was exactly what I needed to hear.  Please listen to what Dr. Stanley has to say and let it ruminate in your soul TODAY! 

February 8

God's Master Plan of Finance

Malachi 3:7-12

Though the world is full of disorder, confusion, and uncertainty, believers in Christ have the wonderful assurance that God is in absolute control of every situation. When He created the heavens and the earth, He had a purpose and a plan, which He carried out with precision and order. Nothing was haphazard, late, or uncertain. The Lord also has a plan for each one of us, and every aspect of our lives is not only under His scrutiny, but also under His care.

One of those areas is our finances. If we'll follow God's plan, He promises to manage our money. Now, that's quite a blessing. After all, who do you think would be better at knowing how to handle money—you or our omniscient, all-powerful God? He promises that if we will give Him the first part of all we receive, He'll provide for our needs. He has an amazing way of making the remainder stretch farther than the original amount.

So, considering the blessings of this promise and the unfailing faithfulness of the Promise Giver, what is keeping you from obeying this command? The most likely reason is unbelief—fear to test Him on this even though He invites you to do so. But you may be asking yourself, What if He doesn't come through? What if I give it away and don't have enough?

The Lord is after your trust, and what better area to test and build it than your finances? Believing Him for our salvation seems easy, yet we often doubt He'll keep His promise when it comes to money. Take a step of obedience TODAY, and discover how faithful your God really is.

LIFE vs. LIVING!

Jeremiah 1:5

"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."

Society today wants us to believe that life begins at birth.  Yet no one has been able to explain to me how 

Jeremiah was known to THE LORD "before" he was formed in the womb.  No one can tell me how JESUS was predicted (prophesied) and named (Luke 2:21) BEFORE HE was formed in the womb.   

GOD is a SPIRIT.   So if GOD knew Jeremiah and JESUS "before" they were formed in the womb, then HE knew my spirit before I was formed in the womb.  HE knows ALL of us (our spirit) before we are formed in the womb (body).  

"LIFE" is from GOD!  Genesis 2:7 says "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a LIVING SOUL."  Our "LIVING SOUL" was breathed into us from GOD ALMIGHTY!  Our living soul is what sets us apart from animals or any other living (body) creatures.   

Modern Society has placed all of the emphasis on our Life (body) and ignored the real life (soul) that GOD breathed into us.  It seems we are more interested in protecting that which is temporal (body) while we leave the spirit (soul) to die from malnutrition.   

We go to fitness centers to exercise and get our "bodies" into shape, yet we find our spiritual health is not important enough to do any spiritual calisthenics.  Look around you and you can judge who "goes to the gym" (body) regularly.   They have a physique that demonstrates it.  Our "LIVING SOUL" also demonstrates our exercise program as well.  Prayer and bible STUDY (not just bible reading) are essential to your LIVING SOUL!     

Joshua 1:8 instructs us that "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."  If our lives demonstrates no spiritual exercise, then we are destined to exhibit spiritual malnutrition.    

Perhaps this is the reason "society" has degraded into one that devalues life so.  We, proclaiming Christian's, have become so enthralled with the "TEMPORAL" that the world cannot hear our words for our actions are speaking so loudly!  

MAJORITY!

Just the other day I received the following email from a lady. 

"Foundation Restoration: Your comment on the post Overcoming Inadequacy and Insecurity has a new reply

Here is your original comment:

I too have struggled most of my 52 years with not feeling "good enough" for whatever was before me.  But not long ago, Ephesians 6:12 became SO REAL to me! We battle against demons and I have let them win long enough!

Here is the new reply:

Ray, thank you so much for sharing! You are so right; "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12). We have to remember who our enemy really is!"

The enemy (satan) will use any tactic or distraction at his disposal to impede us obeying GOD and following HIS plan for our lives.  Sometimes the enemy may even use people who are our friends.  

 John 16:31-32 says "Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? 

Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and YET I AM NOT ALONE, BECAUSE THE FATHER IS WITH ME!"

GOD used David and ONE stone to fell Goliath!   GOD does not use those who can rely on their friends, status, or position (Gal. 2:5-6).  GOD may use a shepherd boy who only had a sling shot and some stones!  We ARE a majority when we have GOD working with us!  

Five years!

Five years ago today I went to the doctors office to get a release to go back to work after my near fatal brain hemorrhage.   I also carried my mom with me to get the results from a mammogram she has performed earlier. 

I was excited about getting my "APPROVAL" to return to work.  It had been almost seven months since I had been at work and I desired to feel "needed"!  

We went to see my doctor and the same man who had seven months earlier witnessed GOD do a "miracle" (his word) with my life gave me a letter saying I was fit for work.  Then, he turned to my mom and said "Ms. Alice, you're tests show you have Stage 4 BREAST CANCER"!!  

My world STOPPED!  The woman who had birthed me was told her options, as far as treatment.  She quickly told the doctor "You are not putting any of that poison in my body"!  For the next 22 days I stayed with her day and night.  I told my doctor privately that she had suffered most of her life raising us.   I did not want her to suffering.  He said we could keep her comfortable.  .  

On February 27 my mom went on a trip....to HEAVEN!  She had never been able to enjoy traveling much.  She gave her life for three children.  My two sisters and I had LOVE like few others. We were not afforded a lot of luxuries, but the legacy she left me was one of self sacrifice for eternal gain.  

Her journey was now complete!  She is HOME!  1 Peter 1:4 says "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you."  I miss you Momma!   "Incorruptible and undefiled" will I join you someday!!

I SURRENDER ALL!

Exodus 14:14 (ESV)

"The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."

Whenever I read this scripture (which is often) I have the feeling that if I don't do something for The Lord, it won't get done.  But, is that the case?   More times than I can count GOD has instructed HIS children to wait, rest, I will do it, and on and on.  

It seems I, along with MOST humans, want to do THINGS for GOD instead of letting HIM work for our good!   I have quoted a dear friend of mine many times.  "We try to be MORE than GOD intended us to be!"  

My salvation is an example.  My two children being born is another.  GOD took care of everything and all I had to do was accept HIS salvation and welcome my two sons into this world.  No work or input on my behalf was required.  

Without a doubt, one of the BEST examples I can give was in 2007 when my brain "leaked".   Being in a drug induced  COMA for 20 days was simple for me!  I had no choice but to just "lay there" and let GOD work.  

GOD miraculously healed me without any help from me!   HE didn't need my suggestions or help.  HE restored me with NO DISABILITIES!   Why do I now think HE needs my help in working HIS plan for my life?  This lesson is proving difficult for me. 

"All to JESUS I surrender

All to HIM I freely give

I will ever love and TRUST HIM

In HIS presence daily live"

BE QUIET!

Sometimes, I just need to "BE QUIET" and let HIM speak!

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

"And that ye study to BE QUIET, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing."

FAITH

GOD has a way of using the strangest things to get my attention.  Today I was ruminating about some things and all if the sudden, it came to me!

When scripture says in 2 Corinthians 5:7 "For we walk by faith, not by sight",  it is telling me that I don't need to see how things will work out in the end!   That is having a roadmap.  I am to trust GOD for TODAY and HE will take care of tomorrow.  Matthew 6:33-34 has always been one of my favorite verses to quote.   "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  "Therefore do not be anxious about TOMORROW, for TOMORROW will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  

When we WALK in the daylight and we are not required to use as much faith.  But scripture does not say to use faith only when you need it!   "Walk by faith, not by sight" is not a suggestion to make our life easier.  It is an IDENTIFYING MARK that we possess to delineate "BELIEVERS" from "the world". 

Dictionary.com describes "believe" as:

Believe

verb (used with object)

1. to have confidence or FAITH in the truth of (a positive assertion, story, etc.); give credence to.

  

Tony Evans posted this recently: "Faith doesn't make sense. It makes miracles."  I am walking by faith and trusting GOD with my miracles of tomorrow.