“I have seen that everything [human] has its limits and end [no matter how extensive, noble, and excellent]; but Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity.]”
(Psalm 119:96, AMP)
Did you know you can actually limit your life by dwelling on the wrong things and thinking God’s commands are negative? We get pulled into the game that people play that dictates life with limits and that God has an agenda to do nothing but constantly punish you, beat you down! The result for most of us is that we choose to walk thru life with a negative outlook based on what we have heard or think we know. The power of an ongoing relationship with Christ is that Gods commands become liberating, providing direction, strength, hope and wisdom for decision making! In that relationship we find trust, truth and a foundation to build on that is solid. God does His part but we have our part and that, for many of us, is learning to overcome the battle of the mind and conquer the misconceptions and the man-made limits we have placed on our life.
Thus the battle is in the mind, and the enemy knows the capabilities and potential that is within each one of us. We have the ability to be creative. We are people with imagination coupled with ability to use our ingenuity to create. Don’t forget that. Keep in mind, the mind can be a powerful tool. But fill it with negatives and our outlook gets messed up. The challenge is that we tend to gravitate to negative thoughts and in most cases negative people, and we get pulled into a downward twister pulling us in deeper. It is easy to fall prey to this because we move towards being pessimistic rather than optimistic. I find it amazing as I listen to people discuss their journey of life they tend to dwell on the negatives and miss the small but healthy things that can propel them forward. So often, wrong thinking keeps people stuck right where they are. If you think you’ll never accomplish your dreams, then your life will follow your thoughts. If you think you don’t have the talent, the connections or the funds, then you are limiting yourself. We have to remember that God’s promises are forever settled in heaven. His Word stands true throughout all eternity!
Don’t limit what God can do in your life by focusing only on what you see in the natural realm. You have to realize that you serve a supernatural God, and just because you don’t see a way doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have a way. God can bring one opportunity across your path that will launch you to a whole new level. He has his plan in store that can blast you out of where you are and into a place of freedom, positive thinking and abundance. If you’ll shift your focus from this earthly realm and start looking at God’s supernatural realm, you’ll see His unlimited possibilities for your future. Take the limits off by setting your thoughts on what He can do in your life today!
Blessings,
Joel and Terri
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Hope in What???
There are times in all of our lives when things just aren't going our way. Our relationships seem to be breaking down. Our finances take a hit with some unexpected expenses. The job or promotion you've been waiting for is given to someone else. We begin to measure our lives according to things. It begins to challenge what we believe because we get caught in the trap of the material world and what we gain. The weight scale gets out of balance and with Christmas right around the corner and it feels like this season we don’t want to celebrate, it just looks pretty bleak.
In moments like these, you can't depend on your circumstances to encourage you, and you sure can't trust your feelings to pull you through because they are constantly changing. There are truths that we can hold onto—the promises of God that come from the Word of God, not some person making them up—truths that are rock solid. We must make the choice to not allow ourselves to go deeper into a tail spin but re-evaluate the issue of hope!
FACT: In the face of it all, you can hope in God.
Hebrews 6:19 gives you this promise "… hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls" (NLT).
All hope comes from God. His favor and His goodness in our lives give us the ability to expect great things from Him, even when the odds against our dreams are huge. Our hope is not in our abilities or resources but rather our hope is in the Lord. Hope in God is our strength and for me hope in Jesus can be trusted. As I read this passage two powerful words stand out strong and trustworthy. “Strong” gives the impression of capable to sustain and support. “Trustworthy” represents dependable and factual—not a myth but proven.
Romans 15:4 says, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope”.
The word that stands out is “patience.” What I think of is that I am going through something and I can t give up but patiently press on knowing my hope is in God and I can trust Him. He has the ability to change me or the circumstances! My hope is in him and that is rock solid!
Terri and I know that we are called to plant seeds of hope wherever we are and in whatever we do. We also know that we have the God-given opportunity to plant these seeds in the hearts of people everywhere we go. We must be responsible for our part. The message is not hope in me but our hope is in Jesus!
The message of hope must be shared. This only happens when you and I partner together. We've all got to do our part. Jesus' hope was never meant to be enjoyed alone; it was intended, and will always find its greatest expression, when you give it away. This season let the message of hope be lived out by your actions then by your words.
No one should go without hearing about how much God loves them and the hope that He has for each one of us.
Blessings,
Joel & Terri
In moments like these, you can't depend on your circumstances to encourage you, and you sure can't trust your feelings to pull you through because they are constantly changing. There are truths that we can hold onto—the promises of God that come from the Word of God, not some person making them up—truths that are rock solid. We must make the choice to not allow ourselves to go deeper into a tail spin but re-evaluate the issue of hope!
FACT: In the face of it all, you can hope in God.
Hebrews 6:19 gives you this promise "… hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls" (NLT).
All hope comes from God. His favor and His goodness in our lives give us the ability to expect great things from Him, even when the odds against our dreams are huge. Our hope is not in our abilities or resources but rather our hope is in the Lord. Hope in God is our strength and for me hope in Jesus can be trusted. As I read this passage two powerful words stand out strong and trustworthy. “Strong” gives the impression of capable to sustain and support. “Trustworthy” represents dependable and factual—not a myth but proven.
Romans 15:4 says, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope”.
The word that stands out is “patience.” What I think of is that I am going through something and I can t give up but patiently press on knowing my hope is in God and I can trust Him. He has the ability to change me or the circumstances! My hope is in him and that is rock solid!
Terri and I know that we are called to plant seeds of hope wherever we are and in whatever we do. We also know that we have the God-given opportunity to plant these seeds in the hearts of people everywhere we go. We must be responsible for our part. The message is not hope in me but our hope is in Jesus!
The message of hope must be shared. This only happens when you and I partner together. We've all got to do our part. Jesus' hope was never meant to be enjoyed alone; it was intended, and will always find its greatest expression, when you give it away. This season let the message of hope be lived out by your actions then by your words.
No one should go without hearing about how much God loves them and the hope that He has for each one of us.
Blessings,
Joel & Terri
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Aware of the New
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:18-20 NIV)
I find it amazing that we attempt to control our spiritual journey facing giant issues and expecting the Lord to respond to us while we keep doing the same old thing the same old way! It’s like we have actually convinced ourselves that if we keep doing the same thing we'll get new results. If we get into a routine relationship with the Lord where we limit who He is, we may miss the new thing He's trying to do in our lives. Sometimes we go through the motions, just doing something out of habit but missing out on the passion. It's like someone who eats at the same place, having the same meal every weekend. They tired of the same food, but are too timid to try something new. The mundane is not what Jesus had in mind for us.
Our God is a creative God who can create out of nothing and cannot be limited. And when we expect that from God, we begin to journey a spiritual adventure filled with passion, hope, encouragement, and clear direction! The choice is not to limit our God! To see change take place, we will have to trust Him and follow the word. "As for God, His way is perfect! The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him." (Psalm 18:30 Amplified Bible) We trust the Word and keep our eyes on Him, preparing for what comes our way. Be prepared for a new business idea, promotion, new friendships, or new understanding. If God gave the idea, He'll see it through. New things may cause us to break some old molds and walk into the new. Get ready for His best to come our way! “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV) Friends I pray we make the choice to recognize we won't get extraordinary results from doing the same old thing!
Blessings,
Joel & Terri
I find it amazing that we attempt to control our spiritual journey facing giant issues and expecting the Lord to respond to us while we keep doing the same old thing the same old way! It’s like we have actually convinced ourselves that if we keep doing the same thing we'll get new results. If we get into a routine relationship with the Lord where we limit who He is, we may miss the new thing He's trying to do in our lives. Sometimes we go through the motions, just doing something out of habit but missing out on the passion. It's like someone who eats at the same place, having the same meal every weekend. They tired of the same food, but are too timid to try something new. The mundane is not what Jesus had in mind for us.
Our God is a creative God who can create out of nothing and cannot be limited. And when we expect that from God, we begin to journey a spiritual adventure filled with passion, hope, encouragement, and clear direction! The choice is not to limit our God! To see change take place, we will have to trust Him and follow the word. "As for God, His way is perfect! The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him." (Psalm 18:30 Amplified Bible) We trust the Word and keep our eyes on Him, preparing for what comes our way. Be prepared for a new business idea, promotion, new friendships, or new understanding. If God gave the idea, He'll see it through. New things may cause us to break some old molds and walk into the new. Get ready for His best to come our way! “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV) Friends I pray we make the choice to recognize we won't get extraordinary results from doing the same old thing!
Blessings,
Joel & Terri
Saturday, November 6, 2010
You're Invited...
Matt 14:28-30 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
This journey we call life is all about change going on all around us but the most important change is what is going on inside! Our character—who we really are, what lies within us—comes out in crisis, emerging from the classroom of life, standing out for everyone to see. Character is developed, it just does not happen. We will face ups and downs but knowing He is working in us maturing us thru those tough times (Ephesians 3:10). This is a place that is uncomfortable and the crazy part is that we forget our God is more than capable of directing our steps and guiding me! Powerful place to be because we have chosen to leave what is safe to us and trust Him and allow Him to work in us. Not living in fear and constantly reacting and being disappointed with what we do and say but choosing to make changes from the inside out and let character have its way. Then let us take the step out of the boat we think of and established as our security and walk to Him and He will transform us!
Matthew 14:31-33 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
Blessings,
Joel & Terri
This journey we call life is all about change going on all around us but the most important change is what is going on inside! Our character—who we really are, what lies within us—comes out in crisis, emerging from the classroom of life, standing out for everyone to see. Character is developed, it just does not happen. We will face ups and downs but knowing He is working in us maturing us thru those tough times (Ephesians 3:10). This is a place that is uncomfortable and the crazy part is that we forget our God is more than capable of directing our steps and guiding me! Powerful place to be because we have chosen to leave what is safe to us and trust Him and allow Him to work in us. Not living in fear and constantly reacting and being disappointed with what we do and say but choosing to make changes from the inside out and let character have its way. Then let us take the step out of the boat we think of and established as our security and walk to Him and He will transform us!
Matthew 14:31-33 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
Blessings,
Joel & Terri
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