As we start a new year, we invite you to join us on a journey through the Word of God! Let’s Grow together in Him! . . . #powerofdbr #worshipwithoutwalls #3wchurch #Bibleinayear
New Bible and New Notebook read for the start of the New Year. #powerofdbr
The enemy is working hard to kill, steal, and destroy… let us diligently pursue God, pursue righteousness, pursue holiness. Let’s break with the things that separate us from God and let’s remember to give Him ALL the glory for what He has done. . . . . #powerofdbr #worshipwithoutwalls #righteousness #holiness
Some of you may not know this but entrepreneurship kind of runs in my family. I’ve talked a bit about my girls’ scrunchie making, and more recently they’ve ventured into beaded bracelets. But my son…I haven’t really talked much about his business ventures, as they’re not really craft related, BUT…pardon the mom-brag. He’s quite the business genius. . See a few years ago my in-laws got chickens, and have enjoyed farm-fresh eggs for quite some time. My son observed this, and decided he was ready to be a full-blown chicken farmer. He got a few chickens, and they started laying eggs. As he sold those eggs, he got more confident and invested in more chickens. Before long, this meant a larger coop. He’s an animal lover, so he wanted to go the free-range route, and had to figure out arrangements that would allow his flock plenty of safe outdoor time and not cause crowding issues, but he put his income to good use, and was able to expand their area, adding a open-sided barn, safe fencing, and ultimately MORE chickens! . He was banking money like I couldn’t believe, keeping a good balance of saving and investing in growing his little chicken empire! He was talking in numbers that I didn’t even know that he understood, save for the fact that he takes after my math-genius husband. It was all quite impressive until his phone died before he saved his game…and he lost…everything. . (Continued in comments)
Just leaving this here for anyone else who needs it. . I haven’t written a post about it. In fact I literally copied and pasted it from my YouVersion app onto a template, screenshot it, and here it is. Because sometimes that’s the level of energy we’ve got, right? But isn’t it amazing that *that* level of energy is all it takes to grab some encouragement straight from God’s Word, and share it with others? . I’m not telling you to get off your hiney, get to church, sign up for a Bible study, volunteer for that outreach day, or any of that (not that I’d discourage any of that). . Maybe tonight just quietly celebrate the fact that we have God’s Word at our fingertips. It’s as near to us as our phone (which statistics say is ridiculously close). . So if you’re super tired like I am today, maybe just grab your phone (oh look, you’re already on it), and open up YouVersion. It’ll even read the Bible TO you. Maybe just lay down and have a listen. . It’s okay to rest. Do it often. . . . #powerofdbr #youversion #youversionbibleapp #matthew1128 #cometomeallwhoareweary #allwhoareweary #allwhoarewearyandburdened #cometojesus #readyourbible #listentoyourbible #bibletime #restinjesus #devotime #christianblogger #coffeeandjesus #readyourbibleprayeveryday #ilovejesus #jesuslovesme #waituponthelordandrenewyourstrength #timeintheword #sotired #sotiredtoday #imsowornout
Have you ever been in a “learning moment” where someone is being corrected, and heard, “How do you think that makes God feel?” . I hate that question. Not because God doesn’t have feelings (He does), and not because we shouldn’t care how our actions or attitudes affect Him (the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom). . I don’t like this phrase, because it is a one-way ticket to Shamesville. . What it says, ultimately, is that God is surely disappointed in you for how you’ve failed Him, and that’s not biblical. . Now the reverse mindset, of course, would be that God is okay with our shortcomings; and the modern mantra, “You are enough,” can lend us the idea that we’re okay! But that’s not biblical either! . The truth is so much better than either of those ideas. The truth is that God loved us with every bit of Himself, even when we were *born* sinners! He didn’t start loving us less when we sinned for the first time. He didn’t start loving us more when we first turned to seek Him. . The truth is so simple, and so completely NOT dependent on us: . “But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners!” (Romans 5:8) . “God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law (we were convicted lawbreakers!), so that He could adopt us as His very own children. And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” (Galatians 4:6) . Are we messed up? OH yeah. . Does God’s love depend on our performance at all? NOPE. . Turns out, you’ve never been loved any less than when God decided to do whatever it took to bring you TO Him. . Your Heavenly Father never says, “Shame on you.” His *love and kindness* bring us to repentance. . And yes, sometimes repentance comes with some sorrow on our part (2 Corinthians 7:10); but the sorrow is not the goal. . The goal - the thing He died for - was because He already loved you. He already chose you. He knew all your messes and mistakes. He still called you. He still wants you. He doesn’t shame you. He welcomes you. . “For there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
I’ve been having a hard time with my Bible reading lately. . Have you been there? Most of us have. But for some reason, it frustrates me every time, almost like it’s the first time; and I usually feel guilty for it. Anyone else..? . The other day I was watching my favorite TV show, The Chosen (@thechosentvseries). It’s a multi-season show about the life of Christ, and includes a creative and dynamic look into the possible lives, personalities and relationships among Jesus’s disciples. . In a recent episode, a newly called disciple admits to his peer that he never really studied the Torah (the Hebrew Bible; our Old Testament). He feels like he is behind the others, and asks his new friend where he should start. . He is given this verse: “If I ascend to the heavens, You are there. If I go down to the depths, You are there!” His friend explains to him that God is not closer to those who have memorized all of the Law and the Prophets, than He is to those who have only just started seeking Him. . He is always there. We *feel* closer to things that we feel we have some understanding of, but there is no intellectual height that brings us closer to His presence, and we are never too far “behind” for Him to be near. His presence is not a reward for our knowledge - His presence is an inherent part of our seeking Him. . Now don’t get me wrong - this is not an argument for a lackadaisical approach to studying the Word. It’s simply a reminder for you, and for me: if your devo time isn’t always rich with meaning, it doesn’t mean you’re further from God than before. If you don’t have an epiphany every time you open your Bible, it doesn’t mean that He is not working in you through your time with Him. In fact His Word “never returns void.” It never does nothing! . So if you’ve felt discouraged about your level of understanding, or feel ill-equipped in your study of God’s Word, don’t beat yourself up. He is with you in your effort, not just in your epiphanies. . Keep reading. Keep your Bible open, your notebook ready, and your heart soft to His work. The reward is in the trying.
Do you know what set Jesus apart from the other rabbis who were teaching at the time? I mean besides doing miracles. . It was pretty standard for the culture that rabbis taught a select group. Usually this included one of two groups. A rabbi would teach *either* young boys (under age twelve), and were considered the equivalent of an elementary school teacher. Or a rabbi would teach a selected group of men (over age 12) who were educated enough, mature enough, and worthy enough to study under his tutorage. . What your standard rabbi did NOT do was to include women, uneducated people, or anyone who could not actively participate in discussion style learning due to natural challenges or disabilities. . Jesus did. Sure, Jesus selected His disciples, but He welcomed all, and He shared Himself with the masses! He saw each and every person as an image-bearer, created for God’a glory, and needing Him! . In our day and age, it is just as easy as it was then, to pick and choose who we collaborate with, who we share our time with, who we invest in, and who we consider worth reaching out to. It’s easy to go the easy route, and welcome those who are like us, who we understand easily, who communicate like us, who know what we know and learn like we learn. . But what about those who don’t look like us, live like us, learn like us? They are image-bearers too. The mom who never goes to Bible study because her schedule is full of therapies for her autistic kid... The kid who can’t speak, but loves to clap along to the worship music even after it’s stopped... The kid who asks questions that “everyone else” knows the answer to intuitively... The teenager who doesn’t attend youth group because they reach sensory overload halfway through the first worship song... The toddler who lashes out or hides in the corner crying and covering her ears when they’re overwhelmed and won’t respond to verbal coaxing because you just blend in with the noise that she’s being swallowed up by (oh sorry, that was me)... There are so SO many amazing, talented, strong, courageous people navigating this world *differently*. . Do you welcome them? Do you want to learn how to do that better?
Do you ever read Ephesians 2:10 and feel like you’re the exception? Let’s review it real quick: “For we are His masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, to do good works that He planned in advance for us to do.” . Sometimes I read about the things my Bible heroes accomplished, and I think, “I’m not cut out for Kingdom Work like they were. That’s way beyond my skill set!” The funny thing is, most of what was accomplished in the Bible was way beyond anyone’s skill set! Take David for example. He wrote, “With God’s help we will do mighty things!” Actually, he wrote it twice. We’ll look at the first occurance first, in Psalm 60. . Psalm 60 is a real morale booster🙄😜 For 1/3 of the chapter, David talks about how God apparently has NOT fought Israel’s battles for them, and they’re basically falling apart from failure. He rambles a bit about their defeats, and how he feels like God’s been pretty hard on them. They’d been through some pretty tough battles, fighting multiple enemies. While he had troops defending Israel’s borders in one area, his top general Joab was down south fighting off the Edomites, who’d been pretty awful to Israel for a long time. Pretty yucky situation. (Continued in comments)
The flesh is weak and prone to enter into temptation. Being watchful and above all, Praying! Stay connected to the Lord in prayer to overcome when temptation comes! #powerofdbr #pray #watch #remembereveryday
Do you have a friend who seems to know what you’re likely to be doing at any given time of day? They text you to ask about your work day around the time you get home, or ask how the kids are treating you right around the time you usually need a bit of support. They’re aware of your ups and downs because, well, they’re around you so much that your cycles have synced up and you’re both a little crazy at the same time!🤪 They also seem to know how and when to call you out when you need it 😬 (It’s okay, we all need it sometimes). On a more fun note, they’re also the friend who seems to be able to find the best gifts for you because they just *know you.* . Whether you have a human friend like this or not, it’s pretty safe to say, that’s an awesome friend. Somehow, they know all the ins and outs of your life, they’ve seen you rise and fall and get back up again, and they stick around and love you through it all. They’re pretty much the safest person in your life. . Well according to the Bible, God is that Friend! Literally NO one knows you like He does. Literally NO one loves you like He does. He tells us that He rejoices over us with singing. He promises to be with us and guide us when we need it, offering us wisdom when we ask for it, and pulling us back up when we’re down. . Doesn’t it feel good to know that He is “intimately acquainted” with you, and will still never ditch you? Isn’t it encouraging that He is faithful despite knowing all there is to know about us? Be encouraged, knowing He is always there! . And maybe be a little bit challenged. Y’know that line about a friend who really knows what kind of gifts to give you? . God gave you the perfect gifts and talents that suit your identity to the core. . Stop doubting your abilities! That thing He’s been tugging at your heart, nudging you to do? Go do it! He wouldn’t guide you toward something you weren’t built for, and He won’t abandon you when you step out. . He knows you. He gifted you *perfectly.* And He’s with you.
Ever feel like blaming God for your nonsense? 🤣 Maybe the psalmist did too. . Of course it’s not God’s *fault* when we don’t listen to Him. But if we ask, He promises to give us wisdom if we truly believe that He will give it to us 💙 . James tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, ask God for it. He gives it generously, without faulting us for asking. But if you ask, you must ask in faith. The one who doubts is like the waves of the sea, tossed around by the wind. That person shouldn’t expect to receive anything from the Lord.” . Do you need God’s help being wise? Need Him to give you some sense? I sure do! Let’s ask God for His help. After all, He’s already told us that He doesn’t fault us for needing Him 😉 No shame in asking! . #powerofdbr #verseoftheday #bibleverse #psalm119 #wisdomplease #godhelpme #devotime #dailydevotional #dailydevo #dailydevotions #readyourbible #readyyourbibledaily #readyourbibleprayeveryday
We quote scripture daily on our car rides to school. She has learned the whole Psalm 23. #trainupachild #dailymanna #powerofdbr
Something "Good" . As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. —Genesis 50:20 . How marvelously God turns everything around for His glory and purposes! Through all his years of suffering and difficulty, Joseph refused to become bitter. His brothers—the means through which his suffering had come—could have been prime targets for Joseph’s blame. But Joseph didn’t play the blame game. What a class act! Joseph’s wisdom gave him the perspective to see God’s work, not the devil’s, in and through his life. Paul reminds us in Romans 8:28 that “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” God even turned around Pharaoh’s terrible actions of destroying babies so that Moses could be brought to Pharaoh’s daughter! There is nothing Satan does that will not turn around on him. God will not be defeated or outwitted. Trust Him, refuse to become bitter, and watch Him turn your situation around for good! . Verses for the Day Genesis 50:1 - Exodus 2:10 Matthew 16:13-17:9 Psalm 21:1-13 Proverbs 5:1-6 . #3wVerseoftheDay #PowerofDBR #DailyBibleReading #VerseoftheDay
Today and every day take refuge in the Lord #powerofdbr #worshipwithoutwalls #3wchurch
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants and grows into a tree where birds can come and find shelter in its branches. —Matthew 13:31-32 . From a tiny seed comes a mighty tree that provides shade and refuge for the animals of the world. In the same way, the Kingdom of God spreads from small and insignificant beginnings. Joseph is an example of such a seed. From one solitary life, the Holy Spirit provided a huge and fruitful tree that brought life to the world. Under Joseph’s direction during the seven years of plenty, “the granaries were filled to overflowing” (Genesis 41:49). During the time of famine, people came from many lands for the provision Joseph had stored (Genesis 41:56-57). God desires to bless you, like He did Joseph, with an abundance to be put into a storehouse for others. Such abundance represents your overflow finances, seed that God will place in your hands to bless the world. Be faithful, prepare a storehouse bank account for missions, and ask God for seed. He will turn your “mustard seed” into a mighty tree for the nations! . Verses for the Day Genesis 41:17-42:17 Matthew 13:24-46 Psalm 18:1-15 Proverbs 4:1-6 . #3wVerseoftheDay #PowerofDBR #DailyBibleReading #VerseoftheDay
Verse of the Day . . Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged. —Matthew 7:1-2 . How quick we are to judge something or someone with a standard we cannot live up to ourselves. When Judah discovered his daughter-in-law’s prostitution, his first reaction was “Bring her out and burn her!” (Genesis 38:24). The problem he failed to realize was that he was the one who had hired her as a prostitute! When Nathan told David a story about a poor man who had only one sheep that was stolen by a man who had many sheep, David was enraged. “As surely as the Lord lives,” he vowed, “any man who would do such a thing deserves to die!” (2 Samuel 12:5). Verse 7 says, “Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are that man!’ ” The Pharisees wrongly judged Jesus Christ when they said He cast out devils by the devil. Jesus asked them, “And if I am empowered by the prince of demons, what about your own followers? They cast out demons, too, so they will judge you for what you have said” (Matthew 12:27). Jesus taught His disciples that they would be judged by the same standard with which they judged others (Matthew 7:2). It’s hard to remove a splinter from someone else’s eye when there is a log in your own! . Verses to Read Today: Genesis 37:1-38:30 Matthew 12:22-45 Psalm 16:1-11 Proverbs 3:27-32 . . #3wVerseoftheDay #PowerofDBR #DailyBibleReading #VerseoftheDay
ONE WORD . The Lord’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over. —Psalm 12:6 . One word from God can completely revolutionize your life. Jacob received one such word in Genesis 31:10-12, when God instructed him concerning the “streaked, speckled, and spotted” sheep. With that one word, Jacob developed a specific process of breeding the sheep that gradually converted the entire flock to his ownership! God sees the dilemma you are in, whether it’s with an oppressive employer, a difficult marriage partner, or some other strained relationship. He can give you one word of wisdom that will completely change your situation. We call this word revelation. Through dreams and visions, the Holy Spirit communicates to your mind something that is in the mind of God. In Jacob’s case, it made no sense to put peeled rods in front of sheep, but he did it anyway. His obedience to that word from God brought him much success and wealth (Genesis 30:43). Such is the miracle of God’s Word. It may seem ridiculous to the natural mind, but God’s Word works. You must wait upon Him to receive that Word, and then keep it before your eyes daily, just as Jacob placed the rods before his sheep. . Bible Reading Passages for Today: Genesis 30:1-31:16 Matthew 10:1-23 Psalm 12:1-8 Proverbs 3:13-15 . #3wVerseoftheDay #PowerofDBR #DailyBibleReading #VerseoftheDay
But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. —Matthew 6:6 . The importance of patience in prayer and in life cannot be overemphasized! Abraham lived most of his life patiently believing that God would fulfill His promise to give him a son. In his old age, however, he succumbed to pressure from his wife to have a child by her maid, Hagar (Genesis 16:2). Abraham hearkened to the voice of his wife instead of giving her godly direction—a choice that proved to be a historic mistake. Ishmael has come to symbolize the fruit of impatience. When you do not believe that God has heard your cry in prayer, you take matters into your own hands and create situations that you cannot successfully bring to a close. If you truly believe that your Father has seen you and heard your prayer, why struggle to come up with your own solution? Boldly assert as did Hagar, “I have seen the One who sees me!” (Genesis 16:13). Isaac means “laughter,” so you may as well keep laughing until your “Isaac” shows up. Ishmaels come quickly, but they never go away. #3wVerseoftheDay #PowerofDBR #DailyBibleReading #VerseoftheDay
REALIGNMENT BEFORE REQUEST Prayer can be seen as only bringing requests to the Lord. There is definitely a component of request to prayer, but there is much more! The first part of prayer, as seen in the Lord’s Prayer, is realignment. This means bringing your perspective into focus on God in the right way before looking to Him for your requests. First you have to see Him as your Father. This is a relational approach. Put everything to do with God in a context of relationship. Second you must realize that He is building His Kingdom. This realigns you with the central focus of what God is doing. Lastly, you realign your life with His will. This puts what He wants for you ahead of your desires and ambitions. This embraces the cross afresh and crucifies any desire that is not birthed by the Holy Spirit. Now that you have realigned yourself, you can move into request. You can ask Him to give you, forgive you, and lead you. You can make your request known. You will find that many of the requests you have are no longer relevant after properly realigning yourself. #selah #powerofdbr #mcheyne
START THE YEAR WITH THE WORD Come back to the Word. Live by the Word. Turn over the plate and open up the Book. Get in the Word each day. Don’t make a resolution, make it a lifestyle. Start with determination. Develop discipline. Enjoy the delight when it comes. Putting the Word of God above the news, above hanging out, above the coffee shop, above everything in your life will pay dividends you can’t imagine. You will never regret building your life on the Word! No matter if you have read every day for the last 20 years or never strung 2 days of reading together in your life, start with determination today. Don’t let up. Get some friends who will join you in the journey. Let’s do this!!! #powerofdbr #mcheyne
They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind. —Matthew 4:22 . . Something about the comfort and safety of the boat makes it hard to leave! After Noah had floated in the ark for months, God caused the floodwaters to recede and directed Noah and his family to leave their haven of refuge. Surely Noah wondered what it would be like outside the ark. Peter, too, knew the safety of the boat. But one day Jesus challenged him to leave the known and enter the unknown realm of “fishing for men.” Can’t you just imagine how Peter must have felt? What would it be like to wake up every day and follow Jesus? he must have thought. The boat represents old habits, securities, and ways of doing things. Peter had been a fisherman for years; Noah had been confined to the security of the ark for months. Both had to decide if they would dare to follow the One who called them. When Noah sent the dove out the second time and it did not return to him (Genesis 8:12), he knew it was time to leave the ark. Like the dove, he had no desire to stay in his world of former security. When Peter heard the voice of the Master, he knew it was time to leave the place of family refuge and follow the will of God. Once you have tasted of a new world—a world of ministry—you will have no desire to return to the mundane routine of life. Leave the boat, my Christian friend. A new world awaits you! #3wVerseoftheDay #PowerofDBR #DailyBibleReading #VerseoftheDay
October is in the books folks!! #powerofdbr
Sept is in the books!!! #powerofdbr #eatthatbook #hiswordistrue
"For you answer all prayers, and to you all people will come." Psalm 65:2 #3WVerseofTheDay #3wchurch #WorshipWithoutWalls #PowerofDBR
#3WVerseofTheDay "A River brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Highest." Check your "river" today. God lives in the city where the river flows. #3wchurch #WorshipWithoutWalls #DailyBibleReading #PowerofDBR
A wonderful reminder! Have a blessed Tuesday. #3WVerseofTheDay #PowerofDBR #DailyBibleReading
#3WVerseofTheDay He will keep you strong right up to the end, and he will keep you free from all blame on the great day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. God will surely do this for you, for he always does just what he says. . . . —1 Corinthians 1:8-9 #3wchurch #WorshipWithoutWalls #PowerofDBR
#repost "Children are a gift from the Lord;. They are a reward from Him." -Psalm 127:3 #3WVerseoftheDay #PowerofDBR #DailyBibleReading @3wchurchkids
"Children are a gift from the Lord;. They are a reward from Him." -Psalm 127:3 Let us expect all our children to know and serve the Lord and to being us great delight as they walk before Him with all their hearts! #3WVerseoftheDay #PowerofDBR #DailyBibleReading @3wchurchkids
"So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as He said." -Acts 27:35 #3WVerseoftheday #DailyBibleReading #PowerofDBR
"Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful. O Israel, rejoice in your maker. O people of Jerusalem, exult on your King. Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp." Psalm 149:1-3 #3WVerseoftheDay #PowerofDBR #DailyBibleReading #verseoftheday
They Replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with your entire household." -Acts 16:31 #3WVerseoftheDay #WorshipWithoutWalls #PowerofDBR
Another month bites the dust! #powerofdbr 🤠🤓🙌🏼✔️✔️✔️
3W #VerseoftheDay 📖 "Whatever your area of need, select several promises that apply to your situation and memorize them. Then meditate on them all day long (Psalm 119:97). When doubt, fear, discouragement, and strife enter your mind, "think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise" (Philippians 4:8). Your faith will grow & your mind will change, and your way will become successful!" #PowerofDBR #Dailybiblereading #3WChurchathome #WorshipWithoutWalls
Let us rejoice in the Lord today and every day! #powerofdbr #rejoice
HOLINESS & HARMONY There are two things we are told by Peter to stay diligent about, holiness and harmony. Holiness is something that can never be neglected. The holiness of yesterday will never suffice for today! Harmony is a delicate balance that can be lost at any moment. It must be contended for. It must be valued and pursued. Both these things are matters of great diligence. Are you allowing sin or compromise into your life that would jeopardize your holiness before God and man? Are you allowing strife and drama in your relationships that would jeopardize your harmony with others? Final thought: these 2 things are just another way of saying Love the Lord your God and Love your neighbor as yourself. The two great commands are being reiterated here in a different form. Holiness is our calling before God and harmony with others positions us to be effective in our witness. #selah #powerofdbr @powerofdbr
Are you bound by addiction today and long for freedom? Whom the Son sets free is free indeed! Are you caught in the endless cycle of poverty? He became poor that you might become rich! Are you lonely today and feel hopeless to ever find fulfilling family? He sets the lonely in families! For every need He gives a promise. Not just any promise. A precious promise! What do you need most in your life today? What is the one thing that you would sell all to get the answer or breakthrough to? For me, divine health. I would give all i have and more to lay hold of physical well being devoid of all sickness, disease, and suffering. Thank God! There is a precious promise for that. By His wounds I WAS healed!! No matter what your situation today, there is a precious promise for you. In fact, there are so many of them you will never run out as long as you live. Find one and stand on it till you receive that which you have believed! Praise King Jesus for His marvelous, precious Word that is filled with so many promises! 👏👏👏🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 #powerofdbr @powerofdbr
You can lead wherever you are! You don’t have to wait on a title or the ultimate destination of your purpose. You can step out and lead now. No one has to make you “king” for you to be able to lead. David waited for a long time after he had been prophesied over and anointed by Samuel. In fact, at the point of this verse it was 20 years since that eventful day. Much had happened. Many victories. More hardships. But David was not put off in his pursuit of the ultimate place of his purpose. David’s example still speaks to you and I today. He led despite difficult circumstances. He made himself an example to all, even though he still didn’t have the throne. Are you leading today? Are you setting an example? Or are you waiting on the ultimate prize of position and authority before you ever do anything? I’ll let you in on a secret... you will never lead in the way you desire if you don’t lead now when things are not the way you want them to be! Selah #powerofdbr @powerofdbr
These 7 words can change your life. These 7 words can change the lives of those around you. His wounds paid the price for our physical healing. So many of the body of Christ are sick and afflicted in their body. This is an issue close to my heart with the battles I have fought for 29 years. What it all comes down to is whether or not you believe God’s Word. Do you trust that this statement is written by the Holy Spirit and is absolutely, uniquivically true concerning the wounds of Jesus? If so, then you have to take possession of what is already yours. I have been convicted recently of my passivity in pursuing what is mine in Christ. You would think that years of suffering would be all the motivation needed to press in. But alas, suffering is not the motivator for the miraculous. Faith is the only key to the hand of God moving in a miraculous way. If you are sick today, or you have a loved one that is suffering, begin to speak to the mountain of illness and command it to be cast into the sea. Command every tormenting spirit of sickness and disease to bow to the name of Jesus. His blood purchased our salvation. This includes the healing of our body! Praise the name of Jesus forever!!! By His wounds, you WERE healed!!! #powerofdbr @powerofdbr
With God, trust is everything. Nothing pleases God unless it is based on trust. Nothing happens when you pray unless you trust. This is a lesson that I continue to learn day by day. At what level do you trust God? When you pray urgently, do you trust God with the answer or just simply wish He would answer? There is a difference. A big difference! This verse says that when they cried out to God, they trusted him and He answered. Faith is the word used many times in place of trust but the concept is the same. Crying out to God because you have nowhere to turn is a good thing but is just the start. Believing Him to answer and trusting Him to answer in the way He sees fit is the determining factor. I don’t know about you, but I have cried out to God many times and not been answered. I didn’t really expect an answer. I didn’t trust God’s timing and method of answer. I was more looking for a genie that I hopefully rubbed the right way and got my wish granted. This is not our God! He is not your genie! Be encouraged today to trust in the Lord. If you have cried out to Him with an urgent plea, be sure if you trust Him fully that He will respond. It may not be the time or way you want but He will respond in the context of your purpose and for His greatest glory! #powerofdbr @powerofdbr
Wait...there is a devil?? There really is a terrible, tormenting devil who is still going about seeking to steal, kill, and destroy? YES and YES! The Lord has been dealing with me lately on the seriousness of my warfare with the enemy. This doesn’t mean you can blame every negative thing in your life on the devil and move on. It does mean you have an adversary of your soul. An accuser of all you are in Christ. A destroyer who seeks to ruin your God-given purpose. James tells you to resist the devil and he will flee. The opposite of that is to allow the devil and he will stay! I don’t know about you but I don’t want the devil staying with me. I want him out of my house. I want him out of my relationships. I want him out of my body! Resist the devil and he WILL flee! This is a promise to you and I. Our part is to learn how to resist him. We do this by the confession of our mouth. The sword of the Spirit is in your mouth today to defeat the enemy. It does no good if you don’t speak out loud. You and the devil need to hear you! You can’t defeat the enemy by your thoughts. You can’t defeat him by wishing. You have to defeat him by the words of your mouth that line up with the Word of God! This is how Jesus resisted the devil in the wilderness and it is how we still resist him and make him flee. Don’t allow the devil in your life. Don’t excuse his handiwork as just natural things. Allow him and he will stay. Resist him and he will flee!! #powerofdbr @powerofdbr
What comes to your mind when you hear this word? I think of a long race that you don’t think it is possible to finish, but somehow you do! Endurance is a theme of the Kingdom. It is not something we preach about much. It doesn’t make us shout or wanna dance. It doesn’t bring up good feelings. Nevertheless, endurance is an important component of the Christian walk. James says that when you have developed your endurance, you will be perfect and lack nothing. What he is referring to is maturity in Christ. What he is teaching us is endurance brings all along with it everything you need to walk out your Christian walk in perfect obedience. What is your view of endurance today? Do you ever think about it? Do you even resist the training of endurance without realizing it? There is no doubt that this virus has given opportunity for endurance to develop at another level. I know it has for me! But if you just whine and complain you won’t grow in endurance. If you rebuke the devil and fight against it you won’t grow in endurance. You have to ask the Lord for His sufficient grace and allow your endurance to GROW! #powerofdbr @powerofdbr
What is seen came from what is not seen. Visible from invisible. This makes no sense to the natural mind. It has no logic to it. When you try to make everything about God logical and reasoned, you miss God entirely. When you remove the mystical from Christianity, it becomes sterile and outdated. When you embrace the realities of faith and the myriad of things that you will never understand in your natural mind, you step into the realm of God’s domain and release the supernatural. I don’t know about you but I want to see the supernatural. I want to live a supernatural life. I want to see the water of ordinary life turned to the wine of extraordinary life. This was Jesus’ first miracle and it made a powerful statement. Don’t try to explain or make a formula out of Jesus! Have you eliminated everything that you don’t understand or seems weird to you about Christianity? Have you gotten your theology so logical that it no longer needs God at all? Join me today and let’s press for the supernatural! #powerofdbr @powerofdbr
The price was paid. The blood was shed. Access has been granted to the holy places. The places very few human feet were ever allowed to step under the old covenant. Only the high priest once a year could tread these holy places. The question is... What will you do with that access? Will you utilize it to the fullest? Will you enter boldly each day into the throne of grace and fellowship with the Living God? Will you make full use of your right as a child to enter the holy place and fellowship with Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? When I read verses like this it convicts me that I would fail to lay hold of the access granted by Jesus’ sacrifice. The next verse says He made a way through the veil of His flesh. His body was torn for me to enter behind the veil. Can I take time from my busy schedule to benefit from this? Can I put down my phone? Can I get up an hour earlier? Can I press into the place of intimacy knowing Jesus paid the ultimate price for me to be there? I pray today that you will be stirred in your heart as I am to make full use of the access paid for by the blood and body of Jesus, our heavenly High Priest! #powerofdbr @powerofdbr
Have you grown weary waiting on the promise of God to come to pass? Have you given up or find yourself on the verge of abandoning God’s promise over your life? Does it seem the longer time goes by the more impossible it seems? You are in good company! This happened all throughout the Bible and time after time God fulfilled His promise to those who believed. These 6 little words really encouraged me this morning. Let them sink deep into your heart today. They will encourage you as well. Every word the Lord has spoken will come to pass! #powerofdbr @powerofdbr
We must do this daily! #DailyPursuit #RememberEveryDay #WorshipWithoutWall #powerofdbr #3wchurch
Come and see my zeal! Don’t just hear about it. Don’t just wonder if it is real. Come and see it in action! I absolutely love this statement by one of the greatest zealots in the Bible, Jehu. Jehu was the Jezebel slayer. Jehu was the fulfiller of prophecy. Jehu purged the land of Baal worship. Jehu was a man of action that demonstrated his zeal. Jehonadab was a Recabite. They were mentioned several times throughout the Biblical narrative as a people who were fully devoted to the Lord. His lineage was known for holiness. He and Jehu riding together gave a distinct signal... Israel has returned to the Lord! Zeal is something that cannot be simply spoken. It has to be demonstrated. Jehu did this in awesome fashion. He got things done quickly and with finality. He was heaven-bent on destroying evil and restoring righteousness. Are you a person of zeal? Do you smolder with godly passion? Do you hate evil and love righteousness? Can you say to others, “Come and see my zeal?” I’d love to say that I spent my life saying this awesome phrase to others who love the Lord. Let’s make it our ambition today! #powerofdbr @powerofdbr
Oh, how I love this verse! Consider Jesus! Consider the One who was crucified and raised again for you and for me! He is your chief apostle. He is your high priest. There is no name above His matchless name!! I want to draw your attention to the last phrase of this verse. He is the apostle and high priest of what? Our confession! This means He can only preside over what you say (confess). If what you say is not in accordance with His Word, He cannot preside over it. He cannot deny Himself. This means you literally render Jesus powerless to work on your behalf if you speak words that contradict His Word. Wow!! The other side of that is to speak words that directly line up with God’s Word. When you speak this way it gives Jesus the release to be your apostle and high priest. He can act to rescue, heal, deliver, and prosper when you speak words that agree with the Word of God. There is so much richness in this revelation! I encourage you today to press into this. Seek to understand and act! Speak only words that agree with God’s Word. If you are sick in your body, only speak that you are healed by the stripes of Jesus. If you are in lack, only speak words of prosperity and abundance. Jesus will move. Jesus will act. He will be your apostle and high priest! @powerofdbr #powerofdbr
This 3 word phrase says volumes. So many times we miss important pieces of the biblical narrative because they are tucked into small phrases. God’s Word can say more in 3 words than man’s word in a whole volume of books! Why is this phrase important? Because God had spoken an instruction to Elijah. He had given him a clear message to bring to the king of Israel. But the hearing of the message was no good if Elijah did not go and deliver the message. The problem often overlooked is that his life was in danger to deliver this word. Bringing bad news to a king is not good for your health! But Elijah obeyed anyway. It was his obedience that made the word powerful. It was his willingness to go that prompted the Lord to use him. I see many today who want to hear God’s voice. They want to speak for God... that is until they are given a word that is difficult or could cause them some grief. Do you still want to hear the voice of the Lord when it causes you to be rejected? Persecuted? Despised? Do you still want to hear the voice of the Lord if it endangers your life? So Elijah went. Will that be said of you? Of me? So Joel went? My prayer today for all who desire the awesome privilege of hearing God’s voice is that you would be faithful to obey and act on the word given by the Lord. That no matter the consequences you would boldly declare exactly what the Lord has said! #powerofdbr @powerofdbr
DO YOU WANT TO HEAR GOD’S VOICE? Hearing the voice of God has been a pursuit for me since a young age. I always wanted to hear the voice of God. Thank God for the Word of God that gives us the clearest and easiest way to hear God’s voice. But there is more. There is the ability within every believer to hear the voice of God whisper deep in your heart. For some it is a knowing. For others a feeling. For some, a distinct impression. This type of hearing comes very difficult I’ve seen many good believers who, in frustration at not hearing the voice of God in the way they desire, decide it is not that hard and just start hearing “things” constantly. This type of cavalier approach is reckless and produces bad fruit. The truth is, the voice of the Lord is not easy to hear. It is always distant and hard to discern. Those who hear it the best often miss it. Why is this? Because we are all in a fallen world and still have to deal with our flesh nature. The more crucified the flesh nature, the more you are open to hear His true voice. Another aspect of hearing the voice of God is waiting and stillness. Elijah was alone for 40 days and nights and then had this encounter. Most people are not willing to be alone for 5 minutes! This is a big reason many do not hear His voice. I know in my own life there are times where I will literally spend days waiting on the Lord and worshipping Him in almost complete isolation. When coming out of these seasons, His voice is many times crystal clear in my spirit. My spiritual ear is attuned to the frequency of His small, still voice. Nothing is more exhilarating. Do you want to hear God’s voice? Start with the Word. Then pursue His voice in stillness and waiting. There is no other way. Moses modeled it. Elijah modeled it. Jesus modeled it. Paul modeled it. John the Revelator modeled it on the isle of Patmos. There is no other way! #selah #powerofdbr @powerofdbr
**Prophetic Word** Elijah was in a season of crisis much like right now in the pandemic. He was provided for by the Lord at the brook. Everything he needed was there. The children of Israel were in the same place while in the wilderness. The manna fell from heaven every day and sustained them. Thank God for His sustaining grace! The issue is that we can become comfortable in the sustaining provision and miss out on the abundant provision. This is where God begins to move in a way that we don’t like but is absolutely necessary for us to experience His greater goodness. The brook dried up for Elijah. The manna stopped falling for the Israelites. Your season of sustaining grace is coming to an end. You may be holed up in your house with sustaining grace. Don’t be surprised, in fact count on it, that this season is coming to an end... and sooner than you think! As people of faith, it is important that we don’t get upset by the brook drying up. it simply means that the lesser good of a brook is being replaced with the greater good of rain. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to live my life on the sustaining brook. I want to live in the abundance of God’s showers of blessing! I hear the Lord saying today, “Don’t be fearful or disheartened at the brook of provision drying up. The rain is on the way!” @powerofdbr #powerofdbr
WHAT GOT YOU HERE WON’T GET YOU THERE! Have you removed God from your journey? As a leader, have you gotten good at doing your thing without daily counsel and intervention from God? Tucked in this obscure verse is a powerful principle... the way the Lord used to get you where you are will not be the way He uses to get you where you need to go! So many times we try to keep using the same paths that got us to where we are to get us where God promised. This, of course, does not include reading your Bible or praying. We are talking about methods. Maybe you led a certain way, preached a certain subject, arranged the chairs in a certain way or a million other things that you can attribute past success to. It is our nature as humans to look for patterns and follow the patterns we deem as the reason for any success in our life. This removes God and faith from the equation. The answer to this is to constantly seek the Lord about His plan for your life and/or ministry. Seek His direction for right now. Don’t fall back on the methods of yesterday. Don’t allow yourself to get comfortable in the things you’ve grown good at in your own ability. Faith will always be required to please God and to accomplish His will. The prophet here would have preferred to travel back the way he came. He knew the road. But the Lord directed him differently and you and I can learn from it today! @powerofdbr #powerofdbr “For the Lord gave me this command: ‘You must not eat or drink anything while you are there, and do not return to Judah by the same way you came.’”” 1 Kings 13:9 NLT https://www.bible.com/116/1ki.13.9.nlt
ARE YOU CONTENT??? Food and clothing. Clothing and food. The first level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. This is all we need to be content according to the Scripture. In a day where there is mass panic over toilet paper (TP), how far our society has come from this verse. Even sadder is the way that many believers have acted in this season. Today I am convicted by this verse. Food and clothing seem like a given in this day of unparalleled prosperity. Food and clothing seem have been made a right in in our society and in our minds...I know it sure has in mine. I’m asking the Lord today to strip away all entitlement. To strip away all ungratefulness. All complaining. All grumbling. And replace it with pure gratitude that leads to contentment. Where are you today in this pursuit? Has Covid-19 exposed some things in your heart like it has mine? Are you bringing things to the Lord and asking Him to work them out so you can be more like Christ? Finally, I’m reminded of the words of our Christ, “Birds have nests, foxes have holes, but the Son of Man has no where to lay His head.” Jesus modeled this perfectly! @powerofdbr #powerofdbr
Lord, confirm your word! This is something you should pray and say continually. Confirm Your Word, Oh Lord! Why do you need to ask the Lord to confirm His Word? If God said it, why doesn’t He just do it? What could you possibly add to the equation? The answer to this is FAITH! It takes faith to remind God of His promise. It takes faith to believe God will perform what He has spoken, even when it looks like it is not going to come to pass. Why faith? Because God can’t be pleased without it. Asking God to confirm His Word is one of the greatest acts of faith. It says to God that you actually believe His Word. This greatly pleases Him. Solomon gave us a great example here. Remind God of His promises over your life to save your family, heal your body, prosper your finances, and deliver you from evil. Remind God over and over again... even if nothing seems to be happening. Keep reminding Him. He is pleased by your faith and will perform His Word in the moment that brings Him maximum glory!!! #powerofdbr @powerofdbr
The battle for faith rages day after day in this life. Paul said you are to fight the good fight of faith. It is your faith that the enemy hates most. It is your faith he challenges at every turn. One of the greatest ways your faith is challenged is whether or not you believe the Lord hears you in your distress. For me that has always been a battle. In moments of despair it seems like God is a million miles away and heaven is silent. The enemy says, “See, God isn’t listening to you. He doesn’t care about you.” The accuser is always standing by to accuse God of being an absent Father. To accuse Jesus, Faithful and True, of being unfaithful and not true. What will you believe today? Will you believe the Lord hears you in your distress? Will you allow the enemy to convince you that God doesn’t hear your cry for help? Will you allow the enemy to take past experience and twist it into a case of deceptive shadows? As for me, today I will choose to believe God hears my cry. Tomorrow I will have to choose all over again and the next day after that. This is the walk of faith. This is your battle! #powerofdbr
David was a man after God’s own heart but he was not a good leader. The ways in which his leadership proved terrible are many but this passage teaches us as leaders a valuable lesson. David valued the one over the many. He was loyal to those who had rejected him over those who had risked their life for him. He failed to control his emotions when the situation demanded he take a different posture than what he felt in his emotions. Yes, Absalom was his son but he also was a murderer, rapist, and led a mass rebellion against David. He would have killed David and his entire family without a second thought. Why did David risk losing the loyalty of all those around him for this reprobate son? David allowed himself to be ruled by his emotion. He did what no good leader can afford to do in crisis, lead from your feelings. Your feelings rarely lead to the right decision. A big lesson I’ve been learning in my leadership is to weigh out my feelings in light of the leadership responsibility I’m facing in the moment. David could have grieved for his lost son in private at another time. No one is saying he shouldn’t have grieved. It was, after all, his son. But the way and timing of his grief were completely inappropriate for the role of king. How can you learn from this insight today? Have you allowed your emotions to override your judgment in certain situations? Have you allowed feelings to replace greater virtues like loyalty and gratefulness? #Selah #powerofdbr
It is easy in difficult times to think you have it bad. The truth is, we live in the lap of luxury no matter what is going on in our world compared to the eternal destruction awaiting all those who “disobey the gospel.” Somehow the enemy of our souls has convinced much of the church that there is no hell. For those who believe in hell it seems as if no one will really be sent there because of God’s love. Even fewer are those who still proclaim the reality of eternal destruction and the wrath of God. Even saying that sounds odd in our modern day context of gospel proclamation. How much do you think about the wrath of God? How thankful are you each day for salvation in Christ? How much are you burdened for the lost, knowing they are headed for unspeakable torment forever and ever? Does the reality of hell offend your American sensibilities? Why? It is time we let go of everything that would not compel us to believe and rejoice in the justice of God and the amazing redemption bought on Calvary! @powerofdbr #powerofdbr
Jesus said it. Paul said it. The early church experienced it. Now we are experiencing a small taste of it. What is it? Affliction! No, we are not being fed to lions or thrown into dungeons, but nonetheless afflicted. This virus is the first type of real affliction the Church has faced in our generation. Stock market crashes and overseas wars have not really affected the Church. This virus most certainly has. The theology of many is being shaken to the core. Empty promises of endless prosperity and a virtual utopia here on earth have been judged foolish. Promises of a better life as reason to dedicate your life to Christ are exposed as hollow and false. It is time for every believer to wake up and realize that affliction is part of the walk we are called to here on earth. Jesus said you would have trouble...and He meant it! This doesn’t mean we go looking for misery around every corner to feel more spiritual! It simply means that you must embrace any discomfort or even persecution for the name of Jesus as part of the promised walk with Christ. After all, how can you “take up your cross” if everything is always peachy? A cross is a not a party favor, it is the symbol of suffering and affliction! Don’t allow yourself to feel sorry for yourself today. Don’t act as if something strange were happening to you. Recognize the fulfillment of Scripture and join with generations of believers who faithfully walked with Christ. Endure like a good soldier! #Selah #powerofdbr
There is a dividing line between believers and skeptics. Between true Christians and those who are cultural assenters to the idea of Christianity. It is whether or not you believe the Word of God is the word of God or the simply the cleverly orchestrated words of man. If it is the words of man, you can take what you want and leave what you want. You can disagree and overlay your opinions. You can twist things to fit your present desires or the lifestyle choices you have made. When it is the Word of God, you have to align yourself with it. You have to obey it. You have to treasure it. You have to esteem it above all else. You see it as the foundation and container of all truth. You heed its warnings and believe its precious promises. What side of this do you fall on today? Are you a believer or a skeptic? Are you fully persuaded or still on the fence? I am continually finding and ferreting out areas of my life that don’t believe the Word of God is truly from God. My mind questions certain promises. Certain stories and passages offend my ideas of who God should be and how He should act. This has to bow in the light of the divine Word of God! Is there an area of the Word where you question its validity or don’t like the implications? Move toward the truth. Move toward the light. His Word is TRUE!!! #powerofdbr @powerofdbr
You have a choice. Eat with the King or do your own thing? Of course, you would say, eat with the king! The caveat here is there is a price to being at the king’s table. You have to accept that you cannot go wherever you want and do whatever you desire. If you want to be fancy-free then don’t expect to be at the table of the King! The story of Mephibosheth teaches us a powerful lesson. The people who enjoy the endless feast and fellowship of the King are those who have crippled themselves to all desires other than His presence. You can’t come and go as you please. You either come and stay or do as you please and remain outside the banquet of the Great King. Please note this is not a lesson about grace or salvation. This is about dying to your own desires in order to position yourself to fulfill His desires. Jesus told Peter that when he was old (or mature) he would not be able to go where he wanted or do what he desired. The sign of maturity in Christ is that you no longer want to go anywhere or do anything outside of His divine will and fellowship. Let’s learn from Mephibosheth today that endless fellowship with the King is ours in Christ but will require us to sacrifice the freedom of our flesh! #powerofdbr
He is our dwelling place! 🙏 "Even the sparrows find a home there, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young- at a place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God!" #3WChurchathome #WorshipWithoutWalls #PowerofDBR #Dailybiblereading #3WVerseoftheday
There are 6 functions of the Word of Christ: 1. Dwell- the first function and the catalyst for the rest of the function is that the Word of Christ dwell in your heart. This happens through reading, meditating, quoting out loud, and even proclaiming the Word to others. 2. Teach- the word of Christ is meant to teach us first and then others. Sadly, this seems to be the only function anyone is aware of any more. 3. Admonish- yes, the word of Christ is meant to correct us in the areas where we have wrong thinking or wrong actions. 4. Wisdom- Everything in the created world is governed by wisdom. Your health, relationships, finances all require godly wisdom to function properly and flourish. 5. Singing- the word of Christ should both make you sing and give you the words to sing. Anyone who genuinely stores the word in their heart will have a song in their mouth! 6. Thanksgiving- the pinnacle of the word of Christ is when you are thankful for their fulfillment BEFORE they come to pass. Do you praise the Lord for His Word coming to pass before you ever see any result? Let the words of Christ dwell in you today!!! #powerofdbr “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16 ESV
Where is the warning in the Body of Christ today? Where is the cry loud and spare not? Where is the hope of heaven and the riches of redemption highlighted by the severity of God’s judgment? There is a deep cry in my heart for the return of the warning voice to the Church. This warning is not for the lost. We proclaim the gospel to the lost (and certainly that means warning of the judgment to come). This warning is for believers who have become apathetic in their walk. For so-called believers who scoff at holiness and the righteous lifestyle that is proof of a transformed life. The warning for all who continue to live in sin while professing Jesus as Lord. For those who disregard the clear, foundational teaching of Scripture. For those who dare to “move on” from the ancient writings of Paul and the apostles. Warning always precedes danger. There is grave danger ahead when people neglect warnings that have been posted. But what happens if the signs are removed? What happens when there is no warning lights and gates on either side of the train tracks? Innocent people come directly in the path of the ongoing locomotive! How is the warning restored? When believers once again crave both warning and teaching and not just teaching. When ministers of the gospel stop seeking man’s approval and popularity among crowds and speak the truth of the Word. I’m asking the Lord today to examine my heart and remove anything that would resist the warning of the Holy Spirit as to the judgment to come. Lord Jesus, purify Your Bride till she yearns for both warning and teaching!!! #powerofdbr
Where is the warning in the Body of Christ today? Where is the cry loud and spare not? Where is the hope of heaven and the riches of redemption highlighted by the severity of God’s judgment? There is a deep cry in my heart for the return of the warning voice to the Church. This warning is not for the lost. We proclaim the gospel to the lost (and certainly that means warning of the judgment to come). This warning is for believers who have become apathetic in their walk. For so-called believers who scoff at holiness and the righteous lifestyle that is proof of a transformed life. The warning for all who continue to live in sin while professing Jesus as Lord. For those who disregard the clear, foundational teaching of Scripture. For those who dare to “move on” from the ancient writings of Paul and the apostles. Warning always precedes danger. There is grave danger ahead when people neglect warnings that have been posted. But what happens if the signs are removed? What happens when there is no warning lights and gates on either side of the train tracks? Innocent people come directly in the path of the ongoing locomotive! How is the warning restored? When believers once again crave both warning and teaching and not just teaching. When ministers of the gospel stop seeking man’s approval and popularity among crowds and speak the truth of the Word. I’m asking the Lord today to examine my heart and remove anything that would resist the warning of the Holy Spirit as to the judgment to come. Lord Jesus, purify Your Bride till she yearns for both warning and teaching!!! #powerofdbr
Don’t stop where you are. Don’t give up and sit down. This virus lock down is not a sprint. It didn’t end in days or even a few weeks. You have to press on toward what the Lord wants to do moving forward! The next phrase says, “Let those of us who are mature think this way.” It takes maturity to think ahead in times of testing. It takes maturity to keep going and really act like things are going to change. it takes maturity to trust God and know that things will work out for our good if you will simply keep trusting Him. Are you pressing for the prize today? Have you gotten weary or remained reactive to the circumstances in your life? Pick your head up today and begin to press again. Get dressed. Do some exercise. Get out a journal and begin to dream. Write out plans for your future. There may be a business launched. A venture formed. A new direction for your life that would never be birthed without the present difficulty! #powerofdbr
You may be in a place today where you feel like heaven is silent. Maybe you lost your job and it seems heaven doesn’t care. Maybe you are super lonely and you’ve cried out to God to send companionship and it seems like nothing is happening. Maybe you are out of money and heaven seems silent. This is a moment of testing for you. This is a time where what is in your heart will come out. Nothing can quickly reveal your heart like the feeling that God is not there for you. Do you respond in anger? Do you put up walls toward Him? Do you make inner vows to never be in a position of relying on Him again? I know I sure have done all these things when the Lord didn’t come through when I thought I needed Him! David, the man chosen to replace Saul, spoke over and over again of waiting patiently for the Lord. He knew that no matter what happened, God is never without a plan. He may not be there when you want Him but He will always move on His time table and fulfill His plans. Choose today to trust the Lord. Choose today to wait. Choose today to believe that if Jesus died for you that He will take care of your temporal needs. #EASTER #powerofdbr
When you read the Word it can many times be distant and disconnected from your daily life. This verse could easily fall in that category. Paul is talking about his imprisonment 2000 years ago. Only the precious Holy Spirit can come and make this alive in your heart! What if the situation you find yourself in today is for the purpose of advancing the Gospel? What if the Lord wants to realign our perspective to see what everyone is going through right now with this virus is something that could greatly advance the cause of Christ? From what I am seeing every where I look this is happening before our very eyes! What if this whole ordeal gave you an opportunity to speak to a neighbor, love on a stranger with food/financial help, or have a meaningful conversation with a close relative about the Lord Jesus? There is no greater time than Easter to bring up the issue of redemption and share the Good News that Jesus saved every person from their awful fate of eternal destruction through His sacrifice on the Cross. I believe this will all work out for the advancement of the Gospel!!! #powerofdbr
Yesterday my wife was telling me of a reality tv star who boldly confessed she was a Christian to the watching world and then proceeded to commit open fornication with not just one but two men! How could anyone be so foolish as to think they are “saved” and yet blatantly disregard the clear teaching of Scripture? This is not as much a problem with the young lady who did this as it is a problem of preachers today never speaking of the wrath of God! Notice in this verse it speaks of empty words before it mentions the wrath of God. Many sermons today are empty words. They fail to address the most serious of issues like sin, eternal separation from God, and even the divine wrath of God. His wrath is equal to His love. This is why He is just. I used to tell my preachers in training that every message should contain two words, Jesus and hell. Yes, hell! This represents the ultimate love of God found in Christ and the wrath of God found in eternal damnation. What is your experience with hearing of the wrath of God? Does your view of God line up with the Bible and include a God of wrath who will sentence most of mankind to an eternal, literal hell or do you have a fairy tale god that will “feel sorry” for everyone and let them into heaven (with maybe a few exceptions like Hitler)? Selah #powerofdbr
This is the time for the Church. This is a strategic moment for us to show the world the wisdom of God. How is that accomplished practically? By walking in love for each other and the world. By not panicking or giving in to fear. By not getting self-focused and showing that we “love our neighbor as ourself.” Don’t think of the Church as some huge entity that exists somewhere out there. Think of the Church as the Body of Christ for which you are a part. Each plays his/her part. Your part is vital! Approach today with the mindset of allowing the Holy Spirit to demonstrate the wisdom of God through you. When each of us does the small things prompted by the Spirit, the whole Church is advanced and displays the wisdom of God. Go forth today and demonstrate the wisdom of God!!! #powerofdbr