"I Did It"

Three simple words that I do not hear very often: "I did it."  The ability to accept responsibility for our own actions, decisions and choices seem to be a missing commodity. It's always someone else's fault. He did it. She did it. They did it. It's my mama's fault. It's my daddy's fault. It's my neighbor's fault. It's the dog's fault.  What about, "It's my fault. I did it?"

Accountability seems to be a lost art, a character trait that is very rare, yet very valuable. But, why is it rare, a lost art, a missing commodity? Because it's painful. It's painful to acknowledge our weaknesses, our faults and our short comings. We live in a society where people will use our weaknesses against us, a society where our conversations and life choices are broadcast on social media.

Nothing seems private anymore. Our secrets are not kept a secret, but are spread by the click of a key board or the pushing of a button. And, we don't like being exposed.  Yet, sometimes, we expose others. We wrongfully accuse others. We say, "they did it," so that we will not be exposed.  We say, "she did it," so that no one knows that we were the one who actually did it.   We say, "it's her fault," or "they made me do it," because we know what will happen if our secrets get out.  People will talk about us, make fun of us, we could possibly lose out on a promotion, lose our job, or more.  We repeat it so much, to ourselves and to others, that we begin to believe it to be the truth.

Yet, it is not the truth. We did it. We said the wrong thing,  made the wrong choice, accused the wrong (or right) person, took something that didn't belong to us.  Simply say, "I did it."  Will there be consequences? Yes.  Painful? Sometime. But, the more we accept responsibility for our own actions, right or wrong, the more we will begin to make less wrong choices, and more right choices. At least, that's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.  :)

The Earth - It Takes a Licking But Keeps on Ticking

     Psalms 119:90  Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

     God established the earth. He made the earth. It continues to be here. In spite of everything that man has done to this earth, it is still here. Man cannot destroy this planet. According to Proverbs 8, Wisdom was with God when He created the heavens and the earth.  When we operate in the Wisdom of God, Wisdom will help us establish our every endeavor.  She will help us establish our home, our business, our ministry, our schooling, etc. Whatever God (Wisdom) has established, has built, has made, it will last.  Like the earth, it might take a licking, BUT it will keep on ticking!

Don't Limit the Prophetic

     Don't limit your prophetic call to solely in the pulpit.  A prophetic friend of mind has dreams about current people and events (word of knowledge), and future events (word of wisdom). She's a professional lady entrepreneur. Together, she and her husband are successful business owners. God has equipped her with natural intelligence, spiritual gifts and college education to be a successful person, AND to help her husband be a success.  Additionally, they use their gifts and talents to win souls for Christ.  It is so cool watching God work through them in the business and professional arena. No limitations.

A Prophetic Word Still Speaks

     A number of years ago, a member of the church my family attends gave a prophetic word.  She said that everything we need is in the church.  That word was spoken more than 20 years ago.  Yet, it still speaks to me today. It's letting me know that,

1.  I will have needs.
2.  God has already made provisions for my needs to be taken care of.

     God's Word is living. It is powerful.  It never grows old.  It never dies. Hebrews 4:12 says "For the word of God is quick, and powerful..."  The word "quick" is alive.  The Word of God is alive, it is living.  I believe it.

The Compassion of God

by
Moses & Annette Price

Follow after love and desire spiritual gifts…. I Corinthians 14:1

            As church elders, we are to pray for the sick. We are to join our faith with the congregational members as they believe God for their healing.

 Is any sick among you?  Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord;  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.  (James 5:14-15)

             A person’s healing can manifest in various ways.  It can come through anointing with oil and the prayer of faith (James 5:14-15), the gifts of healing and working of miracles (I Corinthians 12:9-10), speaking to the mountain of illness and disease (St. Mark 11:22-23), laying hands on the sick (St. Mark 16:15-18), speaking the Word of God, changing our diet, exercising, medication, surgery or, a combination of any of these. 

            Recently, my husband and I took my mother to the doctor for an appointment.  The following are the thoughts that he shared with me as we waited for her.  I thought that it would be good to share them with the readers of this blog. My prayer is that you will be enlightened, encouraged and edified as you read this excerpt.

"As we set and waited for mom to finish with the doctor, I observed people coming and going from the medical building.  Some walked very slowly. Others walked with assistance from family or friends.  Some were in wheelchairs. One person was even brought in by ambulance.

            But, it was their facial expressions that captured my attention.  I saw tiredness and sadness.  It was not the normal tiredness or sadness that I saw.  It was as if those I was observing had grown weary of fighting whatever disease they were afflicted with. Or, perhaps it was the weariness from the treatment that had exhausted them and drained them of their energy and strength.  Either way, tiredness and weariness was present on their faces.

            My heart was moved with the compassion of God as I sat and watched the people come and go.  I wanted to help them.  I wanted to pray with them. I wanted to ask them if they were aware of any dietary changes that could help strengthen their bodies, giving them the physical energy to continue on in the fight.  I wanted to encourage them to pray and ask God for peace of mind.  But, most of all, I wanted each of them to be whole, disease free and enjoying life. 

            I do not know any of their names.  Chances are I will never see them again. However, the compassion of God moved me to pray for them.  God knows each of their names and their addresses.  He knows what disease or illness that has afflicted each of them.  He knows what would help manifest their healing, causing them to be made whole and disease free."

            As my husband shared his thoughts with me, I could see the effect God’s compassion was having on him.  It was so strong in him that tears were in his eyes as he recounted his experience.

            I had to judge myself.  Was I allowing God’s compassion to move on me to help others, to pray for others, to let God supply their needs through me?  Or, was I so focused on myself that my bowels of compassion needed a laxative, meaning that I needed the Holy Spirit to again reveal the love of God to me? I do know one thing, I want God’s love to move me.  I want Him to use me to manifest Himself to others so that they can know His goodness and His mercy in an even greater way.

            I have decided to follow after love, to be moved by His compassion.  At the end of that flow of love will be God.

Elder Price’s Prayer:

Father God, in the Name of Jesus, I ask that You would manifest each of their healings, from the top of their heads to the soles of their feet.  I pray for them to have peace of mind and peace in their families.  I pray that You would grant any and all medical personnel who have anything to do with their treatment the wisdom to treat them expertly and precisely, in the Name of Jesus.  Amen.

           

            

…I Shall Not Want

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalms 23:1

            A number of years ago the church my husband and I attended at the time was having a special event that we really wanted to attend.  The problem was that I did not have a nice dress to wear.  My husband and I were newly married. At the time he only had a part time job, which did not pay a lot. I was doing volunteer work at our church.  We were not working with a lot of money.

            As the event drew closer by each passing day, I continued to pray that scripture on a daily basis.  Sometimes I would pray it 2-3 times a day. The only thing was, I was not praying it for the dress situation only.  I was praying it for day-to-day survival! We needed groceries and rent had to be paid!

            One day I was talking to a lady at the church and she asked me if I was going to the upcoming dinner.  I responded with a resounding, “Yes, I’m going.  The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. Not even for a dress to wear.”  She said, “Wow, Nett, when you said that I could hear your faith.”  Hear my faith?  What was she talking about, I wondered to myself?

            Two days later she called me and said that God told her to take me shopping and buy me a dress to wear to the dinner.  I was amazed! That had never happened to me before.  Of course I went shopping with her.  Not only did she buy me a new dress, she also brought me matching shoes and stockings.  Wow!  I was so excited. God had heard my prayer AND answered it by moving on someone’s heart to buy me a dress with accessories.

            But, I was still wondering what she meant by, “I could hear your faith?”  As I continued on in my spiritual growth and development, many things became clearer to me.  Many of my questions were being answered, including the unspoken question of “how can you hear someone’s faith?”

            The answer was a simple one.  The more you meditate God’s Word into your heart, the more you hear the Word preached, the more you do the Word, the Word becomes alive in you.  This will cause your faith to increase.  When you speak the Word out loud, you are speaking your faith.  God’s blessings to you and yours.

Scripture for meditation: Psalms 23:1

           

Discerning the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart

For the Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12

           

            Discerning simply means to perceive or recognize something.  God’s Word is alive and it has a lot of power, including the power to discern.  It is so powerful and sharp, in fact, that it is sharper than a two-edged sword.  A two-edged sword is a sword that has been sharpened on both sides. This allows it to be used as a deadly weapon during the time of battle. Using a two-edged sword allows its user to respond quickly to more than one opponent. 

When we have put God’s Word (the Bible) in our hearts through reading it, doing it, meditating on it and speaking it, then it has become alive in us by revelation.  God, by His precious Holy Spirit, reveals His will to us in various areas of our lives.  The revelation comes as we read the Bible, pray, talk to others, hear the Word of God preached, etc.  In other words, revelation (unveiling) can come at any time or in any place.

God’s Word helps us to know, perceive and recognize our own thoughts and motives.  Not only that but, it also helps us to be able to know, perceive and recognize the thoughts and motives of others.  I’m not talking about suspicion, paranoia or being critical.  I’m talking about a spiritual gift from God that does not come through natural means or book learning.  This knowing is from a spiritual revelation from God’s Spirit to our spirit.

A good example of this can be found in the book of Matthew 9:1-8.

And He entered into a boat, and passed over, and came into His own city.

And, behold, they brought to Him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed; and Jesus, seeing their faith, said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, this man blasphemeth.

And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, Why think ye evil in your hearts?

For which is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

But that ye many know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins (then saith He to the sick of the palsy), Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

And he arose, and departed to his house.

But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, who had given such power unto men.

Jesus discerned the thoughts of the religious leaders who were around Him.  Not only did He discern their thoughts but, He also responded to them as if they had verbally proclaimed them!  He was neither afraid nor hesitant at boldly and courageously exposing the hidden motives and intentions in people’s minds and hearts. 

We are to be the same way.  When God reveals to us the hidden motives of others, we should not shrink back from responding the way He tells us to respond.  If He says to keep silent and pray for that person, then keep silent and pray.  Tell no one. If He says to privately talk to that person, then privately talk to that person. If He says to confront, don’t back down, stand your ground then, confront, don’t back down. Stand your ground.  Whatever He tells you to do, do it. Obey Him.  Just make sure it’s Him and not your own imagination or hidden desires and motives.  You will know it’s Him giving you wisdom by the fact that it will line up with His Word, the Bible.

I would like to encourage you to have a time set aside each day to pray and read your Bible.  As you study His Word, you will learn the voice of that Word.  When you hear that same voice speak to your heart in everyday situations, you will immediately recognize it and obey it. God’s blessings to you and yours.

Scriptures for meditation: St. John 10:1-5  God’s sheep know His voice.

           

           

                

If You Can Eat Your Way Into Your Illness...

Walking with husband and grandson after church

“If you can eat your way into your illness, then you can eat your way out of it,” my boss said.  Her simple statement had a profound effect on me.  It seemed to reverberate throughout my very being.  

I work at a doctor's office. It was the physician assistant that made this profound statement to me and a coworker as we ate lunch. 

I need to lose weight.  I am what the medical community would consider morbidly obese.  My BMI (Body Mass Index) is greater than 39.  I know what that could possibly mean.  I stand a greater chance of developing diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), heart disease, a stroke, cancer, arthritis and other diseases.

Here I am, believing God to be whole in my body the way that I am whole in my spirit.  I am born again.  I know that I am because I have believed in my heart and confessed with my mouth that God loved me so much that He sent His son, Jesus, to die for my sins.  I am fully persuaded of this fact.  No one can convince me otherwise.  

On the other hand, my body is not whole.  It is sick.  It is morbidly obese.  I need to be made whole.  I have finally made the decision to lose my excess weight so that the diabetes that is knocking on my door will stop knocking and go away; the hypertension that has a foot inside my front door will back up and slip right back out; the arthritis that wants to curl up and go to sleep in my knees will no longer feel wanted and will run screaming in horror from my body.

I have been praying for the root cause of various diseases in my body to leave my body. I have confessed the Word of God concerning healing over my body for years.  I have even successfully lost a few pounds.  However, I have not maintained the weight loss.

Consider the Ant

Why consider the ant?  Because there are a few things we can learn from the ant. 

…..The ant is small yet wise.

…..The ant does not have a leader, supervisor or ruler yet she still manages to eat food in the summer.

….. The ant has the wisdom to know when it is harvest time.

…..At the time of the harvest, she knows she needs to gather her food.

What can we humans learn from one of God’s smallest creatures?

.....If I am lazy I can get wise by watching, studying and imitating the ant.

…..I do not need someone telling me what to do in order for me to be productive.  I have the innate ability to be productive.  Productivity is on the inside of me.

.....I need to know when it's time to eat and when it's harvest time.  In other words, I need to know the different seasons.

.....I need to work when it is time to work and eat when it is time to eat.

.....If I do not learn this lesson, poverty will be my constant companion and, I will always be in "want" mode.

.....Poverty and the constant "want" mode will rob me.

Scriptures for meditation: Proverbs 6:6-11

Where Ae The Prophets?

            God has set prophets in local churches to help guide and mature the saints. 

And He gave some apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelist; and some, pastors and teachers;

        For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ,

        Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

        That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive.

Ephesians 4:11-14

But, where are they?  How has sin gained such a prominent place in the lives of the saints, in the lives of the pastors and church leadership?  Where are the prophets that see the sin coming and sound the alarm to that particular local body?

Prophets provide direction to local churches. They provide a biblical standard for the body of Christ. Where are the prophets that provide the righteous standard for their particular local body?  Are they in hiding? Are they running from their call?  Regardless of the answer, I CALL THEM OUT OF DARKNESS AND INTO THE LIGHT OF THEIR CALL, IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

What Do I See?

The Coming Confrontations Between Good and Evil

          I see coming confrontations between good and evil, between the powers of God and the powers of satan.  Men and women of God will stand up boldly and began to confront satan and his false doctrines and false teachings.  They will begin to boldly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.  These confrontations will take place both publicly and privately.  They will occur at meetings, at grocery stores, at churches and at schools.  They will occur anyplace and every place where people are located.

          The confrontations will be similar to the confrontations between Moses and the magicians of Egypt in the book of Exodus. Men and women of God will begin to boldly proclaim the Word of God.  This will anger satan and he will try to match God’s people word for word, vision for vision, miracle for miracle.  However, this will not be successful.  God will win. 

As His people boldly and courageously speak His Word, do what He says do and go where He says go, you will see courage rise up within them.  You will see signs following them as the Holy Spirit work with the people of God to confirm the Word of God. 

But, prior to this happening, God’s people must pray and seek the face of God. They must be gap standers, standing in the gap for their families, neighborhoods, cities, government leaders, church leaders and all that God lays on their hearts .  God’s people must take the time to pray and seek His face.  Then, He will hear from heaven and heal our land.  Intercession is the key.  (II Chronicles 7:14)

If My people, who are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

How Does The Call of Ministry Come? Part 2

Nehemiah

(Nehemiah 1)

          Nehemiah’s call into ministry came a little differently than Noah’s.  Nehemiah was at work one day.  His friend, Hanani, and some of the other brethren, decided to pay him a visit.  As they talked, Nehemiah asked how things were going back home.  The report was not a good one.

And they said unto me, The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach; the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire. (Nehemiah 1:3)

          When he heard the report from his friends, Nehemiah sat down and cried, his heart was so full.  He then fasted for a number of days.  As he fasted, he prayed to God. 

          Nehemiah’s prayer revealed one very powerful thing about him: he knew the Word of God and the God of the Word. 

          He began his prayer acknowledging Who God was and how great He was. In other words, Nehemiah worshipped God before he asked him for anything (verse 5).  He then confessed the sins of his people, the nation of Israel.  

Not only did he confess the sins of the nation of Israel, but he also confessed his own sins (verses 6-7).  He continued on by reminding God of what God had said to Moses (verses 8-9).  He reminded God that Israel was His and that He was their Redeemer (verse 10). 

          By the time he had finished fasting and praying, Nehemiah had received direction from God on what he was to do.  How do I know that? verse 11,

O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who delight to fear thy name; and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.  For  I was the king’s cupbearer.  (verse 11)

How Does The Call of Ministry Come?

Genesis 6

The call into the ministry can come in various ways.  It depends on how God chooses to reveal His mind to an individual.  One of the ways a call came can be found in Genesis 6.

          As man began to multiply on the earth, people married and were given in marriage.  Men saw how beautiful the women were and married whomever they wanted to (verses 1-2). There are those who say that the “sons of God” mentioned in verse 2 were fallen angels. Either way, this was not very pleasing to God (verses 3-4).

          As man’s wickedness spread and increased in the earth, giants were born and man’s thoughts were continually wicked.  Of course, God saw this and it displeased Him that He had made man on the earth. It grieved Him at His heart (verses 5-6).  He decided to do something about it.  He was going to destroy “man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth Me that I have made them” (verse 7).

The Call of Noah

          Noah found grace in the eyes of God (verse 8). He was a just man and walked with God (verse 9).  But, the earth was still corrupt and filled with violence (verse 11).  This sounds like the times that we are living in now.  Violence has overtaken some neighborhoods, cities and even countries. Be assured: this grieves God tremendously. He hears your cry. 

What do I see for 2012?

I see…

…Many have left their first love. In 2012, God is calling His people to return to their first love. The good that we do does not prevent us from receiving the consequences of our disobedience.  Repent and do the first works.  Revelation 2:1-7.

…God’s people need to make a choice on who they will serve, the Living God or false gods. If you choose God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, He will help you carry your choice through. Make a choice that you and your entire house will serve the LORD.  Joshua 24:15.

                                                                                           

…God’s people need to have an ear to His mouth.  Answer the urge on the inside of you to spend more time praying, reading your Bible, and worshipping Him.  That urge (unction) is from the Holy Spirit.