Don't give up on your dreams

As we pray, we know that patience and trust are needed, because not everything we pray for is answered right away. Often we need to wait and keep on praying until we see an answer come. Some times this goes well and other times not so well, and we might find ourselves praying something like, Lord, give me patience and give it to me NOW.

This applies to the dreams and the promises God gives to us, often they take a long time to come to pass. Sometimes the wait is because God is working in our lives or in others lives and this process can not be rushed. But hang in there, it is worth the wait.

In Genesis there are a couple examples of those who waited. It was a 25 year process for Abraham to see a son born. Joseph had dreams at the age of 17, but had to wait till he was 30 to see them come to pass. I may be reading between the lines, but both Abraham and Joseph were people like us, so I am sure there were times that they were ready to give up. Yet, God was faithful and the dreams were realized.

You may have a dream of being a missionary, or of having your own business that can also be a ministry. Our dreams can also be for others, to see them saved, to see the Lord bring them into a particular situation or ministry, or to see something happen in our community or country. Many parents have faithfully prayed for children for years before a dream or promise come to pass.

God shows us things so that we can pray for them and see them happen – so don't give up. There may be some of you who have laid some dreams and hopes aside or have almost forgotten about them because it has been so long since the Lord first put them in your heart. Be encouraged to stir up those dreams and to start believing again for the promise He has showed you. It may take a long time for some things to come to pass, yet when they do, it can make an eternal difference for many.

God bless you all.

Abiding in Christ - Key to Answered Prayer

Our relationship with Christ is vita, and so is our relationship with His word. Here is a verse that addresses both being in Christ and His word being in us.

John 15:7If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. (NKJV)

The word "abide" here means to dwell and to be at home with, it speaks of an ongoing and developed relationship, not a quick or casual one. As we are in love with Jesus and keep in close relationship with Him, and as His word dwells in us, we are told that our prayers will be answered. Being in sync with Him and His word helps to keep our focus and perspective right.

One more thing about this verse; His "word" is the Greek word rhema (Strongs #4487) which is the living and inspired word. This is the fresh word or today's manna, that is a wonderful benefit of a close personal relationship with the Lord.

Here is this verse in three other translations;

But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. (Message)

If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. (Amplified)

But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! (NLT)

May the truth of this verse be an inspiration to us all and help us become closer to and deeper in relationship with Jesus Christ. And may answered prayer flow as never before.

God bless you all – be enriched in Him.

National Day of Prayer - May 3, 2007

This coming Thursday is the National Day of Prayer. Join with Christians across the Nation in praying together for the Lord to move powerfully in land. See http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/ for more details on the National Day of Prayer, including locations where rallies and prayer events are being held in your area.

The 56th Annual National Day of Prayer will take place Thursday, May 3, 2007. The theme for this year is "America, Unite in Prayer" and is based on the verse from II Chronicles 7:14 which states: "If my people, who are called by my name, will 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."

God bless you all.

A Living Sacrifice

The Lord is calling us to Himself; He wants to know us in a close relationship. He is not only interested in our intercession; He is also interested in us. Yes, we are called to pray, but our relationship with the Lord is so much more than our prayer requests. He desires fellowship and communion with us. We are His family and friends, He longs to be with us and spend time with us.

Rom 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

We are exhorted to present ourselves as living sacrifices, which are holy and acceptable to God. The Lord has made us holy (and is making us holy), we are acceptable to Him. Heb 10: 19-20 tells us that the blood of Jesus opened the way to God for us; we can enter in boldly because access has been provided. The phrase “reasonable service” is not about work; in fact this can be translated as our spiritual worship – which is something that He delights in. You can find this in the Greek and also in the Amplified Bible translation.

The point is that our spiritual devotion, presenting ourselves as living sacrifices, is well pleasing to the Lord. Not only does He accept us, but He works in us. We are transformed and He renews our minds. He changes us and demonstrates His love to us.

God bless you and may you enjoy a new depth of experience as you come to Him.

He Cares for us

Today I rejoice in the faithfulness of the Lord. As you know I have written some recent notes about encouragement and what a blessing it is to hear God and bring encouragement to another.

Well, I am thanking Him this morning as I have been the recipient of some wonderful words of encouragement and hope, mixed with some wisdom.

Prov 25:25 tells us that news (communication) from others can be refreshing, as a cool drink of water on a hot day.

I encourage all to a moment to pause and listen to the Lord, and see if the Holy Spirit has given you something to share with another. When it’s God’s word and His timing, it does not have to be a big word, or something that you have to make just right. You can simply share what He gives you, for He cares for all of us more than we know.

Jesus has the words of life, and as His ministers we are able to deliver these messages of love and hope to those around us.

God bless you all

A Living Hope

On this Easter Sunday we celebrate Jesus Christ. Let us join together in prayer that the message of the resurrection would resonate in and through all of God’s people, and be heard to the very ends of the earth.

The words of Peter provide a powerful declaration of this event.

1 Peter 1:3-5

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Blessed be the Lord!

By His mercy – because He loves us, and He keeps on loving us!

A living hope – for He’s not dead, but He is alive!

The Resurrection from the Dead – He triumphed over principalities and powers, the grave could not keep Him down, and hell could not hold Him captive!

An incorruptible and undefiled inheritance – this is what has been provided for us through the resurrection of Christ!

Kept by the power of God – His power that works mightily in us!

God bless you all, have a blessed Easter and Resurrection Sunday

He is Risen

As we come into Easter we can all remember, and rejoice together, that Jesus was raised from the dead. The power and might of God was demonstrated by the resurrection, nothing could keep Jesus from rising from the dead. He triumphed over death and hell and sin – the grave could not hold Him down.

The empty tomb and the living Christ testify to the power of the resurrection. It is no longer us who lives, but it is Christ who lives in us. We now know the mighty power that works in us, the power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at the right hand of God in the heavenly places. And in us dwells the living hope, the hope of glory, Christ Himself.

Not only can we remember and rejoice, but also we can proclaim the new life we have in Christ. We can reach out with a message of hope and new life, to a world that is full of people without hope and who do not know the freedom and new life there is in Christ.

It is my prayer that all of us who are in Christ, who know His life and hope, will be able to reach those around us with the good news of the resurrection. The message of Easter, the empty tomb and resurrection, is too powerful not to share. Lord give us boldness, and let those we come in contact with be hungry and ready to hear of this message of new life and freedom in Christ.

God bless you all