I am one of the millions of people around the world that loves to make New Year's Resolutions. But as I get older, I realize they are just words on a page without a plan. Isn't that the way life is, we have big dreams, make big statements, but do not think about the steps to make it happen.
Or we make a plan without going to God first. So this year, I am going to pray first before making my resolutions. In fact, I may only make one or two.
One thing I am definitely doing is a fast to start out the year. I started this three years ago and it has been life changing. The key to being successful in a fast is two fold. First, plan ahead and make sure you have the food you need to succeed for a longer term Daniel Fast. Even if you are only fast a meal or a day, plan ahead and make sure you have juice, water etc. Also, pray and ask God to help you and show you what you are to learn.
Also, the Lord is teaching me much more about self discipline and the benefits of being more organized. The more complex life becomes, the more this has become necessary for me. But I want more time and energy to learn God's word, pray and worship more with my family and alone.
So, maybe I can sum up the start to this year.......fasting, planning and memorizing God's word!
Blessings, So what are your resolutions for 2009.
Never forget that God is our strength. Have you called upon Him lately? How is your faith? Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Be blessed by this word. Do not fear as God takes hold of your hand.
Isaiah 41
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
13 For I am the LORD, your God,
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
14 Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob,
O little Israel,
for I myself will help you," declares the LORD,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
Recently the Lord impressed upon my heart that I should not get into a spiritual rut. For those that are spiritual, you know what I mean. I pray everyday, read scripture, but am I truly seeking revelation for my life. The Lord told me a long time ago that I should not live off of someone else's revelation and he would give it to me directly.
I found this article on speaking in tongues and it is great. I came from a very legalistic non pentecostal background and my experience of becoming baptized in the Holy Spirit was miraculous and did not happen in a church ( I had not really heard tongues when I received the gift).
So I encourage you to seek revelation of God's word for yourself. Ephesians 3:20
THE BENEFITS OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES
By Andrew Wommack
One of the things that happened when the baptism of the Holy Spirit first came was that all the people who were there spoke in tongues. Acts 2:4 says that on the Day of Pentecost, they were filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Consistently all the way through the book of Acts, there was a manifestation of God’s presence when the people received the Holy Spirit. Of course, there is much more to the Holy Spirit than speaking in tongues, but it is one of the important manifestations. First Corinthians 14:13-14 says, “Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he might interpret. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.” When you pray in tongues, your spirit prays. Once you speak in tongues, pray that you interpret so your understanding will become fruitful.
You have to understand that this was back when I was in a denominational church. He didn’t know what had happened to me and I wasn’t sure. It scared us both. But it was the power of God in manifestation, and He used it supernaturally. That is what this means: When you pray in tongues, it’s your spirit praying. Your spirit has been born again, has the mind of Christ, and knows exactly what to do. It has an unction (anointing) from God so that you know all things, and there is no limitation in your spirit. If you could walk in the power and revelation of your spirit, it would transform your physical life. One way of doing that, though not the only way, is to just start speaking in tongues. Recognize and believe that when you do, you’re building yourself up in your most holy faith, that your spirit is praying the hidden wisdom of God, and the perfect revelation of God is coming. Then, according to 1 Corinthians 14:13, pray that you can interpret. That doesn’t mean you have to stop praying in tongues and pray in English to interpret; it just means your understanding becomes fruitful.
It should be a part of everyday life. It is a way to communicate directly from your heart to the Father, bypassing your brain with its doubts and fears. It builds you up in your most holy faith and releases the hidden wisdom of God. I just pray that all of you will be able to flow in this, release your faith, and receive the full benefit of speaking in tongues.\
Unique fan support lifts Gainesville State players’ spirits
GRAPEVINE — The Gainesville State School Tornadoes’ spirit line stretched halfway across the end zone. The players — all 14 of them — ripped through the paper sign that read "GSS Go Tornadoes" as the line turned toward the playing field, then extended past the 30-yard line.
The Tornadoes sprinted through the tunnel of 300 cheering fans. The players’ black and white uniforms contrasted with the fans’ red sweatshirts and T-shirts that read "FAITH LIONS."
Gainesville State coach Mark Williams jogged outside of the spirit line. He raised his hands head-high and clapped. "Thank you, thank you," he said to anyone who could hear him.
Then Faith’s fans began making their way to the stands. Half went to the home side, half to the visitors’ side.
Gainesville State is a maximum-security correctional facility with a population of about 290 males ages 12-19. Every game is a road game for the Tornadoes, and their only fans are the ones they bring with them. Friday night at Faith Christian School in Grapevine, for their season finale, they brought 20 faculty members and staff.
Faith coach and athletic director Kris Hogan wanted his school to show support for the Gainesville State players, who had earned their spots on the team by serving at least half of their sentence, passing their classes and committing no behavior incidents.
Hogan e-mailed Faith parents during the week requesting that they form a spirit line for their opponents, then asking for some to sit in the Gainesville State stands during the game and cheer the Tornadoes as though they were their team.
Hogan said he wanted to "make sure the kids knew that there were more people on their side than just their faculty at Gainesville State School."
About 200 Faith fans — possibly more than were seated on the home side — stood and cheered the Tornadoes when their kickoff return team took the field to start the game.
When No. 80 (players are not named in this article because of the school’s confidentiality policies) was tackled on the return and the offense took possession, Faith’s junior high cheerleaders started a "Way to go, Tornadoes, way to go!" chant from the Gainesville State sideline.
Faith fans on the visitors side groaned when Gainesville State fumbled the ball away on its first possession. They groaned again when their Lions scored a touchdown four plays later.
"Let’s get a drive going!" a Faith father yelled from atop the bleachers when the Tornadoes’ offense returned to the field.
"Hey, come on guys! Let’s go!" another added.
On the first play, Gainesville State fumbled again. Faith converted the turnover into another touchdown for a 13-0 lead less than five minutes into the game.
"Block that kick!" a fan yelled. The Tornadoes did, and the Faith fans on their sideline cheered.
It was that way all night, with Faith parents encouraging players they knew only by their jersey numbers to tackle their own sons, and with teachers and administrators rooting for the team playing against their students.
Karen Bates, Gainesville State’s recreation director, has been with the football program since it began in the early 1990s. She said many schools through the years have presented gifts and meals to players. But never, she said, had a school gone so far as to provide this many fans.
Gwan Hawthorne, the school’s superintendent, talked from her seat about the players’ excitement she could see throughout the game, and about how she appreciated Faith Christian making it possible for the team, for one game, to feel like any other high school football team. She was interrupted by a touchdown.
It was the Tornadoes’ second touchdown of the night. They had scored two all season before this game. But a day after three of their teammates had been released to return home, and after trailing 33-0 at halftime, the Tornadoes had reached the end zone twice.
Their fans for a night cheered. Players looked toward their stands as they came off the field and raised their index fingers. They may not have been No. 1, but they felt like they were.
The Lions won 33-14. With an 8-2 record, they’ll start the playoffs next week. Gainesville State’s season ended at 0-9. But this loss felt nothing like the others.
After the teams met at midfield for a postgame prayer and returned to their separate sides, Tornadoes players grabbed Gatorade squirt bottles filled with water and gave their coach a postgame shower.
Williams ducked, but he didn’t run. Just as he had when he turned to the visitors’ side after the first touchdown and "raised the roof," just as he had when he high-fived the Faith junior high cheerleaders after the prayer, just as he had when he exchanged greetings and shoulder pats with Faith parents leaving the field, Williams wanted to soak it all in.
His players, Williams said, were "one step from heaven."
"A lot of these kids don’t have hope because they’ve taken a wrong path, somebody’s told them that they’re going to be negative," he said. "They’re not negative. They were very positive tonight. They were just like the other kids."
Outside the locker room, the team’s quarterback — "No. 7," many Faith fans had called him throughout the game — reflected on the last game of his high school football career.
His sentence at Gainesville State is about up, and he plans to attend college. He hopes one will give him a chance to play football. Whether or not he plays another game, he’ll never forget the night the other team’s fans provided him a spirit line to run through.
"I couldn’t really believe people cared about us that much," he said.
When the Gainesville State players were ready to leave an hour after the game had ended, they boarded their bus in groups of five under the close watch of guards. Their hosts were sending them back to Gainesville with a postgame meal and a bag of goodies that included homemade cookies, a handwritten letter from a Faith player, a Bible and a devotional.
A dozen or so Faith fans waved goodbye. Gainesville State players crossed the aisle on the bus to fill just about every available spot in the windows facing the fans. They were smiling and waving.
As the bus pulled away from the fieldhouse, one player near the back motioned to the fans with his right hand, as if to say, "Come with us."
10 Ways to Pray for Barack Obama
Whether you are happy about this week’s election results or not, all Christians must unite in prayer for our new president. Please don’t forsake this responsibility.
It’s over. We’ve reached the end of the longest,
angriest and most nerve-wracking presidential campaign in American
history. Finally the “I approved this message” ads have ceased. The
endless robot phone calls have stopped ringing. The debates, and the
annoying post-debate comments from “experts,” are history—until the
next election cycle.
| "But when I got up this morning, I turned all my attention to the fact that Jesus Christ is still on the throne. His government is what is most important." |
J. Lee Grady is editor of Charisma.
The passion around this election is a wake up call and reminder that people are looking for a savior. It is a shame that people are not as passionate about Jesus Christ as they are about Obama. The song that is coming to my mind is "I will trust in the Lord my God, I will trust in the Lord who saved me."
Many years ago the daughter of a pastor said, "We cannot trust in man but only in God." While I am very passionate about my beliefs and the candidate I supported, John McCain, I have never put trusting in a president above trusting in God. Of course, I have prayed that the president would seek the Lord's face but at the end of the day I worship the King of Kings and not man.
Praying a lot these days. Much to pray about. Very sad about all the division around the political campaign. Too bad people are not willing to be humble and seek God's will. God has taught me a lot about humility. There seems to be a lot of sadness and fear right now. God has taught me to have peace during very hard times, even when there were things I didn't fully understand.
I learned a long time ago that there are no shortcuts to a spirit filled life and being close to God. If you are struggling, doing well, or just wondering what to do and want unconditional love, be faithful to God's work, His leading and never give up!
I have heard this song a few times on the radio. It is about seeking God for answers. One true word from God for you life can last a long time.
I saw this You Tube video and was truly blessed. There is no better place to be than in the middle of God's will for your life.
A sister on this blog and I were both brought to tears when we read of John McCain's nominee. I heard she was a Christian and I am excited to share she attends Church on the Rock in Wasilla, AK. It is a spirit-filled church that loves to worship and loves Jesus. She is a beautiful, smart, articulate Christian mother and political up and comer.
She knew from early in her pregnancy her baby had Down's Syndrome and she CHOSE LIFE, knowing God had a purpose for her child.
I am very excited about her nomination. For the first time in my 40 year life, I am going to proudly put a political bumpersticker on my car. I was not overly excited about any party these days but I am excited about this ticket. She doesn't bow down to business as usual for good ole boy Republican or Democrats. I am not naive, but I believe that God has a powerful plan for this woman, and we get to watch it all unfold.
God, you are so awesome, so cool.
I am actually excited about this Presidential race. I have committed to fast for 40 days prior to the election. It will be a Daniel fast, one meal a day or giving up something I love (coffee/sugar, etc).
Let's press in and pray for God's Will to Be Done.
Blessings.
Carol
One of my favorite pastors and authors, Mark Batterson, has released his new book, Wild Goose Chase: Reclaiming the Adventure of Chasing God.
One of
the main reasons I like Mark's books is he puts forth very thought
provoking statements and questions that require action on my part. Mark is living a life of
adventure with God, so let's join him!
If any of the question below resonate with you, then Wild Goose Chase is a must read for you.
- Have you ever been stressed out trying to figure out God's will for your life.
- When you don't know where you are going, do you worry or think "this is an adventure."
- Is your life boring or are you ready for a breakthrough?
- Do you follow the Spirit or do you ask the Spirit to follow you?
- Are you trying to tame God because you want things to be predictable?
Lord, spare me from a mediocre life, make my life count for something!
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have as we put our pursuit of God's will for our life first! Every decision you make should line up with this pursuit.
Check out the intro to the book below.
Summary:
Most of us have no idea where we’re going most of the time. Perfect.
“Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit–An Geadh-Glas, or ‘the Wild Goose.’ The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it’s like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something….
Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know
that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name:
Adventure.” --from the introduction.
You can purchase the book from any of the retailers listed below.
