Focus

Focus 

 Recently, I did not get a job that I really wanted.
 I thought that I had a really good shot. The interview went well. I know people in the office, all of whom endorsed me, and I am more than qualified for the position. Put all of that together with God’s favor and I thought I had the job.

 While I was waiting to find out whether or not I got the job, I kept telling God that regardless of the outcome, I would praise and glorify Him.

 Well, now my own words are being tested.

 I have had to remind myself over and over again that God is my supply and through Him all things are possible. I know these things to be true, but to recognize them repeatedly reminds me that a job is a natural, material thing is irrelevant when it comes to the things of God.

 Over the weekend I watched the movie Facing the Giants.

 In that movie God does some pretty miraculous things through a high school football coach. The coach was able to tab into God’s favor by making two decisions.

 The first decision he made was to give God his best effort regardless of what he was doing. He was no longer working to keep his job. He was not working so that he could pay the bills. He was working, and more importantly living to glorify God. Everything he did was to praise God. 

The second decision he made was to not allow natural results to effect how he praised God. He told his players that they would praise God when they won and praise God when they lost. This attitude spread to the teenagers that he was coaching. They began to see their efforts in life as more meaningful because they were serving a hire purpose, and as a result they started to see God’s blessing in their lives.

In the movie, God tested the coach’s resolve. Not everything would go the way the coach wanted them to, but the blessing came when he stuck to his guns, put his emotions under, and continued to give God his best.
He was tempted along the way by Satan, but he, like Jesus, was determined to do his Father’s work.

 What I take aware from this is that the job I wanted is not as important as giving God the glory and continuing to do my best at my current job. Regardless of where I am working, I am ultimately working for God. I will continue to praise God for the fact that I have a full-time job and he continues to provide resources to provide for my family. I recognize that absolutely nothing is impossible to God, and he is able to do anything regardless of the natural circumstances.

 Isaiah 26:3 says “Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

 This passage tells us that if we keep our focus on God, He will keep us in perfect peace. I believe this is telling us that if God and His kingdom remains our first priority, He will guard us from anything that would hinder our peace by providing our needs to the point that natural circumstances are inconsequential.

Mathew 6:31 tells us that we are not to worry about necessities because He has already provided them for us. If we start looking to the natural for these things, we may get them, but then we will start giving the natural credit for them. God wants us to rely on Him. By relying on Him, we eliminate any chance of failure and disappointment, and we able to continually glorify Him.

Christian Carlisle

What Do People See When They Look At You?

Genesis 39:3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. Potiphar could actually see the Lord was with Joseph. Joseph was just a slave but the Lord was with him. Joseph exhibited the outward manisfestion of God's blessing because the Bible says "LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand". The Bible goes on to say - Genesis 39:4-6 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured. Do people see the Lord in us? Do we exhibit the traits of Joseph? Remember he was just a slave but Potiphar saw something special in Joseph. People today, like Potiphar, are looking for Christians that are true and who actually manifest the blessing of God. They are more than willing to put us in charge. Joseph's main focus was God and this evidently led to him becoming 2nd in charge. Let's be like Joseph and show the world the God we serve!

Written By: Mike Mosier

What Are Your Intentions?

The Lord has really been impressing upon me lately that my intentions need to be in the right place.

He has also been teaching me to praise him regardless of the circumstances around me.

As I have meditated on these two things, I have come to realize how much they are related. They both bring glory to God, and the both demonstrate that He is first in my life.

I believe, now more than ever, that God’s intention for my family is to have nothing but the best. He wants us to be in good health. He wants us to have good finances, and he wants us to enjoy the best that life has to offer.

I know why he wants these things for me. It is the same reason why I want my children to live a good life. No one wants to see their children struggle, but what I am starting to understand is that it is much more than just living a good life.

God has recently taught me that it is not possible to fully walk in His will if I am concerned with the things of this Earth.

Do you think that Pastor Keith Moore worries about how his bills are going to get paid? Do you think Pastor Kenneth Hagan worried about his health or what the people around him were up to?

Not only are the concerns of the world a hindrance to a person’s spiritual walk, but a person cannot tangible full-fill their call. If a person were to be called to be an oversees missionary, how would they be able to do so if they were struggling with their health or their finances. God wants us to be free from those worries so that when He calls us for the Kingdom we don’t have to worry about worldly affairs. Without hesitation, we are able to believe God and act.

Everyone desires good health, financial freedom, and a worry free life, but why should we desire those things?

According to the Bible, we should desire the will of God.

The will of God is also for us to have good health, financial freedom, and a worry free life so that we can be ready to act when called.

I used to want good health because I did not want to go to the doctor, and I don’t like not feeling good. I used to want financial freedom because I wanted to be able to purchase what I want when I want and go where I want when I want.

My prayer has now changed from obtaining these worldly things to: number one; believing and thanking God for them, and number two; asking God to change my heart so that the reason I desire these things is so I may praise Him, honor Him, and give Him all the glory.

I can be living what seems to be the greatest life there is, but if I am not honoring God, it is pointless. There is one thing that I know for sure. The reasons that I use to have did not bring me a blessing that I cannot contain, and until I have received a blessing that I cannot contain, I am falling short of where I need to be. And until I receive a blessing I cannot contain, I cannot be the blessing to others that God wants me to be.

Written by Christian Carlisle

God Will Save His People

Olivia Meadows is 11 years old and when I (Christena) asked her if she would like to write something for our church blog, she was a little hesitant but agreed. I told her she could take up to 4 weeks, just wait and listen to the Lord.

I am so proud of her, she came to me this past Sunday with what the Lord had spoken to her. And I want to share it now.

"God will save His people from the wicked devil.

God will bless His people.

So I say right now, repent for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Peace That Passes Understanding

">

Women Motivated 4 L.I.F.E.

Peace That Passes Understanding

Are you tired of letting the devil get you all stirred up? Do you easily get thrown into a panic or tizzy? When something seems to go wrong in your day, does a multitude of one thing after the next go wrong? Are you often losing things and spending needed time to locate it? Does something someone says or does throw you into a tizzy and you respond with words or actions you later regret?

If any of the above questions sound familiar there is hope! There is absolutely nothing, and I mean nothing worth losing your peace over!

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:7

Facts about Peace:

God gave us a supernatural peace, unlike the worldly peace offered to us. Peace came to earth on the very first Christmas in Luke 2:8-14. True peace was given and like all spiritual blessings, we must renew our mind to His Word about his peace.

It transcends, outdoes, surpasses, excels, rises above, and goes beyond and over the top of any other kind of peace.

Peace begins with trusting God and believing that His Word is true. By choosing to stay in peace we are expressing our faith in God.

Isaiah 26:3 “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You and hopes confidently in You.”

The Hebrew word for peace in this scripture means “completion, safety, soundness, favor, healing, wholeness, prosperity, quietness, rest.” It is supernatural and is released only by a choice to believe in God.

Benefits of Perfect Peace

Peace is like a spiritual compass. It will give us a true north in all situations. If we keep this peace by disciplining ourselves not to lose it, then we will hear His voice successfully and walk in prosperity in not only the good times, but also the rough times. God will reveal answers and wisdom to us from the spiritual realm that we would never have known in the natural realm.

The mind which is the control center for the human being, determines the condition of a person’s life. From Isaiah 26:3 we see that this peace keeps our hearts and minds. The Greek word for “keep” is a military term expressing an idea of a soldier who stood faithfully at their post of the city gate to guard and control all who went in and out of the city. They were a gate monitor. No one entered or exited the city without their approval.

Therefore this peace, if allowed to work in our lives, will stand at the gates of our hearts and minds monitoring everything trying to enter our hearts, minds and emotions. When God’s peace is ruling us, nothing can get past that divine “guard” and slip into our hearts and minds without approval! It disables the devil’s ability to disturb us by preventing his attacks to slip into our minds.

Perfect peace protects, guards, keeps, and defends.

Facts About Fear:

The opposite of true peace is fear. Jesus always addressed fear in man, because He knew it would prevent man from tapping into the Divine supernatural realm. Mark 4:36-40 and Luke 8:41.

When we are in fear we cannot hear God speak to us. In the spiritual realm, fear literally opens the door, or attracts, negative things to come on us. The very thing we fear will come upon us. Proverbs 10:24 “The thing a wicked man fears will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.”

We must recognize when fear is in operation against us. We need to realize what initiates fear and how it effects us.

Feelings, thoughts, physical manifestations, or words of fear are:

• “I feel anxious, stressed, in a tizzy, uptight, and upset. I have so much to do. How am I going to get it all done?”
• You find yourself yelling at the kids and your husband. Even getting short and impatient with the people at the store. Wanting to just run away. Can’t wait until Christmas is over and things are back to normal.

You have a headache, making poor food choices for convenience, restless sleep, sweaty palms, adrenaline rush, or just freeze up.

Plan of Action:

We can refuse to allow the devil to access us, throw us in a panic and anxiety, or push any button inside us any longer!

Practice P.E.A.C.E.

Pause. Take a step back. Breathe.

Ear to the Lord. Be still before the Lord. Abide in Him.

Ask the Lord what to do.

Carry out His plan of action. Walk in obedience.

Exalt Him for His faithfulness in keeping your heart and mind in perfect peace.

Confession:

I confess that I am guarded and protected by the powerful peace of God that works in my life. It rises up and dominates my mind; it controls my thinking; and it determines the condition of my life and the environment where I live and work. I am unaffected by the circumstances that surround me, for this supernatural peace stands at the gate of my mind and emotions to monitor everything that tries to access me. Because no fretting, anxiety, panic, or worry is allowed to enter me. I remain free, calm, and peaceful, even in difficult situations that in the past would have upset me!

All Things Are Possible