Be Stong and Finish The Task

So many of us can tend to give up when we do not see change in a situation we are believing God for. Or we may tend to lay down a ministry He has called us to because we listen to the voices in our head which tell us we were not called in the first place. I have been in these places in my life and I can tell you they are not where God wants us! (I share some of these stories in my new book!)

In the book of Zechariah we see God encouraging His people to rebuild His Temple. For more than 15 years God had been using His prophets to urge the small remnant of Jews who had returned to Judah to rebuild the Temple AND their nation. God is a God of restoration! No matter where we have been or what we have done; He wants to restore us! But we, like the small group of exiles who had returned from Babylon, struggle and become discouraged over the opposition we face. We look at an impossible situation and ask how? What we must stay focused on is that our God is all-powerful and He CAN do ANYTHING! In Zechariah 8:6 God Himself says “All this may seem impossible to you…But is it impossible for me?”

I love how our Father God never gives up on us. He encourages us, loves us, and wants us to be victorious! In verse 9 of that same chapter He spoke to me some very profound words when I was “wondering how and when.” He said “Be strong and finish the task.” Here He was giving the Temple workers a little push and He was doing the same for me, and He wants to do that for you as well.

We tend to slow down, stop, or quit when we do not see something manifesting in the natural. We may allow little words of “well maybe I missed God,” or “maybe the timing is not now or it must not be God’s will.” Let me instruct you here and now, these are words from the enemy! God ALWAYS wants you to do something for Him. You are here to be His hands and feet. Think of this; if the apostle Paul would have used his circumstances to determine whether he had missed God or not, then Paul should have stopped at the first, second, or even the third time of opposition. God’s will for us to do something for Him and His Kingdom is not determined on anything in the natural. We are to walk by faith not by sight and trust that He IS God and we are His vessels. We are not to look at the lack of people responding to our ministry, whether we are too tired to go on, or the work is too hard, or when we don’t know what to do next, or there is not enough money. None of these or any other sense-realm circumstance is to determine what God can do and what He wants us to do for Him. We are to stand and know with God ALL things ARE possible and we are to be strong and finish the task for Him!

Enter Your Email to Receive a FREE Copy of Sandra’s new Book to be given away in the March Newsletter CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Who Am I Affecting?

Last year the Holy Spirit seemed to convict me about truly walking in love, and this year I keep feeling His gentle nudge leading me to watch what I say and how I say it. Maybe you are like me and you get troubled by things you have said to people – usually justifying it by what people have already said or done to you. However the Word of God tells us over and over our words can be supportive or critical. You and I both know Proverbs 18:21 instructs us emphatically – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” But listen to what Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible says “Many a one has caused his own death, or the death of others, by a false or injurious tongue.” Do we really understand the power which is held in such a small organ? Our tongues can be injurious; hurting someone (even ourselves) even to the point of death!

When we speak out words in a way in which we know to be wrong, both the person we spoke to and ourselves will pay with our emotions. We have opened the door to the enemy to come in and he begins to chip away at our thoughts until he has consumed us, overtaken us, and he will not stop until he destroys us! We then make the choice to either build a bridge or leave the vast emptiness of an ocean between the parties involved. Death CAN be physical death (when we confess sickness and disease over ourselves instead of the truth of the Word); however death is also the tearing down of a relationship to the point of its death.

Philippians 2:2-4 tells us to:

“² Fill up and complete my joy by living in harmony… ³Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves]. ⁴Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others.”

When we allow ourselves to become consumed with the negative qualities of anyone or what they have spoken to us, we then begin to lose sight of the good things. The Creator of the universe sent His only son to lay down His life for you and me. He has chosen to give us His Spirit and to make our burdens light; not difficult or hard. Therefore, He has given us the ability to honor Him in all that we do and in all that we say.

The flip side is there is LIFE in the power of the tongue! WE can choose; death or life. We can choose just as we chose Jesus to become our Lord and Savior; we can choose to speak out life. We can choose to not be offended when someone else has spoken out of their hurts or misunderstandings. We can choose life over death every time! It is our choice!

Lets take the step together: If you are presently holding onto a heavy burden then right now open your heart to Jesus and allow Him to fill you with HIS joy, HIS peace, HIS love, HIS kindness, HIS gentleness. Not yours but HIS! Take a moment to pray this prayer: “Lord, help me to be conscious that you are concerned with the way I interact with people and situations in my life. Help me to be more aware Holy Spirit of my response to what others say to me. This day I choose to commit what I say and how I say it – to you.  I put my eyes on you and ask you Holy Spirit to help me. I cast off the spirit of offense; I refuse to be offended by what others say. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

Enter Your Email to Receive a FREE Copy of Sandra’s new Book to be given away in the March Newsletter CLICK HERE TO ENTER

The Drying Pot; And The Refining Fires Necessary To Become A Vessel Used By God

Benefits – We All Want Them!

A long satisfying life, favor with God and people, a reputation for good judgment, success, health, vitality, riches, honor, pleasure, peace, protection, justice, righteousness, life itself, God’s approval, constant learning, and understanding.

If I was to ask you if you wanted these benefits in your life you would answer with a resounding YES! However, they are all benefits you and I can possess – they are all promises given to you and I throughout the Word of God.

The book of Proverbs teaches us how to attain wisdom and discipline as well as how to do what is right. The very first chapter of this book on wise living starts out with it’s purpose to teach wisdom, discipline, to give understanding and insight, to help us to live successful lives, and to do what is right, just, and fair. In verse 5 it says ” The wise also will hear and increase in learning, and the person of understanding will acquire skill and attain to sound counsel [so that he may be able to steer his course rightly.”

We all want the benefits of God and believe me they are plenty. However, are we willing to seek after Him; to seek after the wisdom He instructs us to place our hearts and minds on. Wisdom is the principle thing according to Proverbs 4:7, one translations says ” it is the wisest thing you can do!” Proverbs also tells us wisdom is to help us to make wise choices and keep us safe. When evil people come against you, Proverbs assures us wisdom will save us!

I for one want to be wise; I want wisdom beyond my years and my training or education. But I must do more than just want it. I can want to make a million dollars but if I never put the steps into place to work towards making a million dollars it will not happen!

So how do we get wisdom  James 1:5, says “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James makes it very clear to us that if we want wisdom we are allowed to ask God for it and He will give it to us liberally and without reproach or fault! God does not stand there and say “well let me see whether you have earned the right to have wisdom.” NO! He gives it freely and ungrudging!

So we know we are to ask God for wisdom and in our asking we are allowed to seek wisdom in ALL areas of our lives; how to be a better spouse, mother, father, employee, employer, whatever you do in life, whoever you are to someone else, you need wisdom to be that person! And you must ask God for the wisdom.

And again the writer of the Proverbs states clearly that if we desire wisdom then we should study the book of Proverbs. Webster’s Dictionary says study is application of the mind to the acquisition of knowledge, as by reading, investigation, or reflection. We must first read the Word, then we are to investigate or seek out what else the Bible says about the topic we are studying, and we are to reflect on what we are reading by seeing how it applies to our lives right now.

Solomon wanted to impart to others; regardless of their age, sex, or position in society the wisdom on how to live accordingly. These wise sayings in the Book of Proverbs give you and I practical wisdom for daily living. We are to study them and apply them to our lives, THEN we can expect the benefits they promise.

Enter Your Email to Receive a FREE Copy of Sandra’s new Book to be given away in the March Newsletter CLICK HERE TO ENTER

The Drying Pot; And The Refining Fires Necessary To Become A Vessel Used By God

The Difference Between Mercy and Grace

Grace and Mercy are best shown in the salvation that is available to us through Jesus Christ. What we truly deserve is judgment for the sins we have committed, however if we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior, we instead receive mercy from God and He delivers us from judgment. We receive this gift of grace through salvation; our sins are forgiven, we are given an abundant life (John 10:10), and a promise of eternity in Heaven!

So what is the difference between grace and mercy? Many of us have heard it quoted that grace is unmerited favor to us from God. And though mercy and grace are somewhat similar they are also different. We obtain mercy from God when He does not punish us for our sins, as we deserve. And grace is God giving to us or blessing us even when we do not deserve it. Mercy is the deliverance we get from God’s judgment. And grace is God extending His kindness to us.

So, who exactly needs mercy and grace? A very simple answer to that question is we ALL need mercy and grace! It is through God’s mercy that we are granted favor, forgiven of our sins, and restored to right standing with God – a state of righteousness. It is through the grace of God, our Heavenly Father, that He gave us the ultimate gift -the gift of eternal life and salvation; not because we deserve it and certainly not because we have earned it. He has freely given it to us, all we have to do is believe He has it for us, ask Jesus to be our Savior, and accept we indeed have been given it.

Because of the mercy and grace God gives to us, we should fall on our knees in worship and give thanks to Him for all He has done and all He has given us. Hebrews 4:16 (Amplified) so wonderfully promises us: “Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].” We have Him and His mercy and grace to help us in our time of need. All we have to do is approach Him and accept what He freely gives to us! (If you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior do it now!)

Now you can get this Dose of Inspiration right in your very own Email, Messenger, Skype, or Twitter! Click Here to subscribe for FREE!

Is It True We Are What We Eat?

With New Year’s resolutions nearly half way through the first month it is time to do an assessment of where we are. I know one of the top of everyone’s “To Do” is lose weight. We all know the old adage “you are what you eat.” I believe that is true in the natural but I totally believe that is true in our spirits as well. As we “eat” the Word of God every day we are feeding our spirits.

We all are made up of a soul which contains our minds, our will, and our emotions. Our souls live in our physical bodies and we are a spirit. Our spirit is who we are inside of our “coat” of a body. Our spirit is what will leave this earth when we die. Just as we feed our natural body for nourishment we must also feed our spirit. And whatever we are feeding our spirit is who we become; hence “you are what you eat.”

Think of this, over the course of this day how many times did you eat or drink? Now how many times did you eat of the Word of God or drink of Jesus’ living water? What does your physique look like in your spirit? Are you skinny, average, or fat on His Word?

Deuteronomy 11:18-25 instructs us to put His Words as signs before our eyes on the doorposts of our homes. There are several ways you can increase your amount of Word in your daily “diet.” You can download podcasts of teachings to your ipod and listen through the day, on  your commute, or your lunch break. You can write on index cards or sticky notes scriptures to put on your desk, in your car, on your mirror, and you computer. No matter how you get the Word of God in, just do it! Think of it as “grazing” all day long. Spend time praying through out the day as well, acknowledging the presence of the Holy Spirit. He lives within you and He is trying to speak to you. So take the time each day to listen, pray, and feed on the Word of God.

Now you can get this G.I.R.L.S. Daily Blog right in your very own Email, Messenger, Skype, or Twitter! Click Here to subscribe for FREE!

Sign up for our Email Newsletter

For Email Newsletters you can trust