SERVING SIX ONE

THE BELL
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God’s child (John 1:12)
I am Christ’s friend (John 15:15)
I am united with the Lord(1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price(1 Cor. 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt.5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ(1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom.8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant ( Phil.3:20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31-34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God(2 Cor.5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God ( Rom.8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor.1:21-22)
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8: 28)
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16)
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God’s temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God’s co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God’s workmanship (Eph. 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected (Phil. 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven (Col. 1:14). I have been adopted as God’s child (Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
Do you know
Who you are!?

“The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine up on you
And be gracious to you;
The LORD turn His face toward you
And give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26

In 1 Kings 18-19 you can read the story of Elijah when he challenged and defeated 450 prophets of Baal. The story is absolutely incredible. Here is a quick summary of what happened. Israel was under the leadership of a wicked king named Ahab who was married to a very evil woman named Jezebel. Ahab and Jezebel had caused Israel to turn from God and begin worshipping the idol of Baal. Because of their wickedness, God gave word through the prophet Elijah that there would be a severe drought on the land and that there would be neither rain nor dew until God gave His word for it.

It was during the third year of the drought, that God told Elijah to go and present himself to King Ahab. Elijah told Ahab to summon all of Israel along with the 450 prophets of Baal and to join him on Mt. Carmel.Ahab did just as Elijah requested. Elijah stood before all of Israel and the prophets of Baal and made this proclamation — “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow Him!”

Elijah then turned his attention to the prophets of Baal and challenged them to a contest.They were to erect an altar to thier god. Two bulls were brought and the prophets of Baal chose which on they wanted and cut it into pieces and laid on the altar as a sacrifice to Baal. They were instructed to cry out to their god and ask him to send down fire to burn up the sacrifice. Elijah would do the same. Whichever God answered by fire would indeed be the true God.

The prophets of Baal went first. They cried out, and called on their god from morning until noon. Yet, there was no response. So, they cried louder and harder, even cutting themselves with knives and swords, trying desperately to get the attention of their so-called god.

Finally, Elijah had endured enough of their pointless ramblings and told Israel to pay attention. Elijah took twelve stones, erected himself an altar, laid the sacrifice on it, and then had them bring four huge containers of water and pour it all over the wood, the sacrifice and the altar. There was so much water that it even filled up the trench dug around the altar.

Then, as all Israel watched, and in the presence of all his enemies, Elijah prayed, asking God to show Himself as Lord. Immediately, fire fell from heaven burning up not only the sacrifice, but the wood, the altar itsef and even licked up all the water in the trough.

God had showed up, just as Elijah had asked. At this point, Israel was pumped up and on the instructions of Elijah, killed all the prophets of Baal. Elijah had listened to the voice of the Lord. Elijah had obeyed that voice. Elijah had declared God’s word unashamedly and without reservations. He trusted God to do what God had said He would do.And God honored His word. He showed up with majesty and power.

When we choose to take the time to listen to God, He will speak. Oftentimes, we are to wrapped up in ourselves to hear Him. But in those times that we do take the time to listen, we need to obey what He says to do. There are so many times we know what we are supposed to do. We know that God has spoken to us and given us specific instructions, yet we do not heed them. We choose to go our own way, do our own thing and then end up in a bad place, miserable and discontent. Down and defeated.

Well, it is time that we make some decisions. How long are we going to live defeated? How long are we not going to obey and serve the God of Elijah. If the Lord is God, then Follow Him! As long as we are not listening, and not obeying, we will not be victorious. It is time, as  children of God, to seek Him, to hear Him and to heed Him.

We must stand up and declare Him Lord in whatever situations we are facing. Stand up in the presence of our families, our friends and even our enemies and procalim God as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. When we give our problems, our doubts, our sins, our shortcomings, our insecurities, our worries, and our fears to God — He will send down His fire from heaven and burn them away. He will lift us up even in the presence of our enemies and strengthen us and bless us.

It is time we know that God is bigger than anything we might be facing. He is Lord of all. There is nothing He cannot do and won’t do if we will only surrender to His will. So, let’s do it. Let’s call out to the God of Elijah. Lift up His Holy name, declare Him God, and let His fire reign down in our lives. The Lord is God, so Follow Him!!!

“Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Do you ever get tired of trying to please everybody, only to find that in so doing you’re not being yourself and that in the whole trying to please everybody process, you end up being miserable? Been there, done that. I have tried to be, say and act, many times opposite of how I felt just to appease my friends and family. I’ve put on the mask, played the charade, only to find myself miserable which ended up making everyone close to me miserable as well.

Not being who you really are, or who you were created to be can and will eventually bring you to a breaking point. Look, you were created in the image of God. You are unique. You are special. There is no one else like you on the face of the earth. You are who you are and you need to make the most  of it.

God created you in His image. That alone makes you special. He fashioned you, and then filled you with the unique gifts, qualities and features that you have. Many of you may feel that you do not have any special talents, abilities or qualities. That is simply because you are comparing yourself to others and failing to see and recognize what you have. You need to quit looking at yourself through your own eyes and start looking at yourself through God’s eyes.

Through the eyes of God, you are a special, unique and wonderfully created vessel that He would love to pour His Spirit into and use mightily. He created you for a unique purpose, that no one else can fill. There are things God has for your life and for you to do that, unless you do them, they will not be done!

So stop complaining, being down, and thinking you have nothing to give. Start seeking God’s will for your life and be about serving Him with everything you’ve got! Quantity doesn’t matter. Remember the story of the little boy with the two fish and the seven little rolls? Jesus took what that little boy had and blessed it! Then he fed thousands. Now the boy could not have fed the multitude with his  little lunch on his own. He could not have even fed two or three people. It wasn’t what he had, nor how much he had. It was, however, his willingness to surrender and give what he had for God’s purpose. In the hands of the little boy, that lunch could not do much, but in the hands of God, thousands were not only fed, but filled!

I am sure the boy probably thought that his lunch was not enough. But his thoughts did not stop him from offering what he had. I am sure he had no idea that Jesus would be able to feed the whole entire crowd with just his little lunch. But he did not let his thoughts get in the way of his heart. In his heart, he was willing do do what he could with what little he had. It was from his willingness to give what he had to God, that God took it, blessed it and used it to feed thousands.

Right now, within you, there are things God would love to use to touch the lives of others. It doesn’t matter if you can see it or not. God’s ways are not our ways. He can take whatever you have and bless it and use it mightily. But it takes surrendering to Him. Once you completely surrender to His will, great things will happen. You see, it’s not about us, it’s about Him. What we have is nothing until we give it to God! When we get the perspective right, then the outcome will incredible.

So rather than sitting around feeling insignificant, give what you have to the One who can use it to make a difference. Focus on the fact that He thinks you are great and whether you can fully see it or understand it, just let Him take control of your life. Once it’s in His hands, He can bless it just like those little barley loaves. Try it, you will be just as amazed as that little boy was.

So, go ahead. Give what you have to God and let God make the most of you!

TRUST IN GOD with all your heart, all your mind, and let Him lead You. Don’t look at the things of this world. Look at God. Watch Him. He is perfect in everyway and He is always there when You need Him.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” John 14:1

God, You are so Awesome to me. You name brings so much comfort to me. Just hearing Your voice eases away pain. Thoughts of You bring so much joy into my life. Everyday I want to feel Your presence. Just knowing I’m right there with You makes me feel so awesome inside. I will always call upon Your name when I am feeling low, because You lift me up. You take away all my burdens and help me to stand on my feet again. You lift me up on wings like eagles.

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

You put in me a greater strength than I’ve had ever before. You take my sorrows, You take my sadness; and You turn them into joy and gladness. You take all of my shame and all of my pain, and turn it into a life giving rain, that runs through me replentishing all my heart and soul. I will never take You for granted God. To You I owe back all You have given me. You will not lack anything of me God. I want to give You my all in all that I do. Help me to never let Your words depart from me. Help me to keep them in my heart, mind, and sight at all times.

“Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them And health to all their flesh.” Proverbs 4:22

I will speak forth Your word day and night, and will praise Your name forever. I will sing of Your awesome love, and amazing grace. I will keep my eyes focused on You, and never turn them to anything of this world. I will move looking at You, and Trusting you to guide my feet to walk the right path. I will not look down. I will not trust my own ways. For there is no light upon the path, and I cannot see it. But I can see You and You will guide me. You will be a light, and You will light up my path. I will hold Your hand as lead me into Your presence. Through all my troubles You carry me. You will not put me down, or ever let me fall. Whenever I stumble, You catch me, and set me up on my feet again. You are my God.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path” Psalm 119:105

I will trust in You, God! I give You my heart, take it and keep it. Don’t ever let me have it back. I can’t guard it how can. Take my mind. Keep it. Don’t let me think of negative things. Filter it God, and install in it thought of Hope. Let me only think of You. Take my Spirit, Hold me in Your arms. I am safe where ever You are. Lead me God. I want to be filled with You.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge him, And he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

I was reading in one of my favorite books the other day, and read this verse.

Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understandings; In ALL yours ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

I realized that I hadn’t been trusting in God completely with everything like I should. We should trust God with “ALL” of our heart. DON’T WORRY ABOUT THINGS. Our minds are not like God’s. We can’t understand everything God has planned for us. Don’t look at what the world has to offer. God’s gifts are far more and much greater than you can possibly imagine. Don’t let the desires of this world go before what God has to offer you. Don’t let your fleshly desires go ahead of what God has for you.

Acknowledge God in ALL that you do. When you are at work, talk to God. When going to the store, talk to Him. When going on vacation, include God. Acknowledge God as if He were standing right there with you, because He really is. God is everywhere. In EVEYTHING you do Acknowledge God, and He shall direct Your paths. If God is directing your paths, then every desire you have has to be a desire God intended for you to have. He will give you the desires you need to be in your heart to fulfill the purpose and plan He created you for.

Life is short, only like a breath compared to eternity. Make your choices wisely, and make sure you are walking with God in whatever you do. God doesn’t make mistakes, but if you go off the path God has for you to satisfy your fleshly desires, then you are making a HUGE mistake. Sure God can fix mistakes, but they waste time, cause pain, heart ache and sometimes have serious consequences So avoid the mistakes by staying intune with God. Keep walking with God all the time, because God is sure to care for you. If you are walking with God, God is walking with you, and when troubles come, God will carry you through them. So in ALL things, Trust in God.

God Bless!