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Get ready to receive exciting new things starting this month. I heard the Lord say that there are a number of gifts coming to us starting in December.
Many of us received promotions during the month of October just after Yom Kippur, on October 12. (You can read the details of that prophetic word in my blog from October 2016: "Why This is Such a Significant Time.")
Many of us received promotions during the month of October just after Yom Kippur, on October 12. (You can read the details of that prophetic word in my blog from October 2016: "Why This is Such a Significant Time.")
The Kingdom of God is for the poor. I have been pondering about this truth and it has astounded me what kind of power the truth has that the kingdom of God is for the poor. James tells us an important truth: "But you have dishonored the poor man." (James 2.6) The Gospel of Luke is written for the outcasts, for those outside of society: the sinners, tax collectors, poor people like the poor Lazarus who went into the bosom of Abraham, drunkards, lost sheep, prodigal sons, heathens, etc. We read that even Jesus was an outsider. He did not find room in an inn. He had to be born in a manger. James continues to exhort us: "Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?" (James 2.5)
A seamstress sat at her sewing machine trying to combine linen and polyester – two diametrically opposed fabrics – and out of the corner of her eye, caught her reflection in the mirror. She lifted up the presser foot, took her foot off the pedal, got up and faced the mirror. A hand reached out, and she heard, "Let Me show you your true reflection." Romans 12:21: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." The Church tries so hard to overcome all the negative forces in this world with what it is seen as good by natural eyes. But the word "good" in the verse above doesn't necessarily mean positive, it means wholeness – that which is without holes – because it originates from God.
Years ago before the twins and Liberty were born. My wife and I were out of everything in the house and had no money. We were out of everything from toilet paper to formula and diapers for our firstborn son. We had prayed for days for the money to come and God just didn't seem to answer. Then one night, I believe it was a Sunday night we went to church and there was a guest speaker there speaking that night and he would be there for a few nights speaking on doing street evangelism and holding revival meetings.
Like a woman cooking a large family meal, I have a pot on every burner right now. Front right is the woman who has given up on her husband. Back right is the child still going the wrong direction. Front left is the young woman who has given up on her family. Back left is the woman who sees no hope in herself. I keep a spoon of prayer stirring in each pot where someone teeters on the edge of writing someone off. According to the Free Dictionary by Farlex, the idiom "to write someone off" means:
"They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us." 1 John 2:19 Division can come from God - for division reveals the true heart of man. When President Obama won the election for the 2nd time I was unsure of why, and felt that the leadership of Romney was going to lead the nation into a new direction.
I'm the worst at always focusing on the next thing instead of what's right in front of me. It's so hard for me to live in the now, when I've always got the next thing cooking. Add to that the fact that my email inbox is constantly filled with how-to's from successful experts I want to be just like. I read their emails and immediately get overwhelmed by all the "amazing things" I'm not yet doing. So what do you do when you want to change the whole world in an instant but you have days when you feel like you can't keep up? You confess that craziness to a friend. Because, seriously, that is crazy. I have people who love me enough to tell me to put the brakes on.
"My little children, for whom I am again suffering birth pangs until Christ is completely and permanently formed (molded) WITHIN you..." (Galatians 4:19 Amplified Bible) "The mystery of which was hidden for ages and generations [from angels and men], but is now revealed to His holy people (the saints)... this mystery, which is Christ WITHIN and among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory." (Colossians 1:26-27 Amplified Bible) There is "much ado" the world over, and rightly so, every December concerning the natural birth of Jesus Christ (although that is not really when He was born). Personally, I love the time of year, even though I am fully aware of its pagan origins. Anything that celebrates the birth of Christ is good with me.
The enemy works overtime to distort and hinder people's identity. If he can hinder your identity, he can hinder your destiny. Your life, actions, behavior, and relationships all flow out of your inward identity. Identity is formed by how you think and feel about yourself. The enemy doesn't play fair. He often starts early in a person's life to try to shape and influence their identity in a negative way. He especially targets children. I believe schoolyard bullying is demonic at its root. The reason a child is singled out by the enemy is because of the amazing destiny on that child's life. The enemy uses the words and actions of those around them to try to shape them into his image.
We carefully checked the weather before departing, a forecast of a 10% chance of rain. Then, off we went on our four-hour trip to lead a marriage conference in the hill country of Texas. After being on the road about an hour the clouds started getting darker and darker. Suddenly we were in a storm. A big storm! A big, unexpected storm. Heavy rain. Strong winds. Immediately, we disengaged the cruise control, lowered our speed, and made certain our lights were on. Our hearts were pounding. A powerful 18-wheeler was overturned, covering most of the highway.
