The Difference

 The Difference

Thursday, February 27, 2025

6:53 AM

There are such huge differences between those who follow God an those who chose not to.  In Galatians 5 we find a list of those differences.

Those who chose the acts of the flesh choose:

Sexual immorality

Impurity

Debauchery

Idolatry

Witchcraft

Hatred

Discord

Jealousy

Fits of rage

Selfish ambition

Dissensions

Factions

Envy

Drunkenness

Orgies

And the like.

Those who choose God choose the fruit of the Spirit:

Love

Joy

Peace

Forbearance

Kindness

Goodness

Faithfulness

Gentleness

Self-control

What a huge difference in the choices made in life by the two different beliefs.  No wonder we live in a world so filled with an evilness that shows in every day.  How did so many make the choice not to live a happy, joy filled life?  Why would they not want a peaceful, happy life?  Why would they chose evil over good?  

To me, it all comes down to self.  The love of self, more than anything else in the world.  I have been selfish before.  I have chosen me over others before in my life.  Each time I made my selfish choice I have had to pay a price.  Most of my selfish choices were done when I was younger.  But praise God, He continued to call me back and continued to forgive me of my sins.  As I grew older I learned to not be so selfish.  I learned to deny my selfish thoughts.  I learned to do good not to do evil.  I learned to please God, not myself. 

Those who continue to choose evil over good will pay the price of their own souls.  They will forfeit their soul for all eternity and never be in the presence of their Creator.  They will suffer for eternity for their selfish choices.  There are only two choices. Good or evil.  God or the devil. Yes or no. Belief or unbelief.  Each human being has a 50-50 chance in making the most important decision of their life and their afterlife.  Choose wisely.  

Gifts Of The Spirit

Gifts of the Spirit

Thursday, February 20, 2025

6:26 AM

As we grow in the Lord we learn about the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to all believers.  Everyone who comes to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and savior do so by the gift of faith.  That gift of faith is used every day that we seek God , pray for others and live a life focused on God.  When someone says they do not believe in the gifts of the Spirit remind them of the gift of faith as stated by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12: 9.

"The same Spirit give great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit give the gift of healing."

There are hundreds of books written about the gifts of the Spirit and how many there are.  Some of the listed gifts are classified or categorized as power gifts, inspirational gifts, revelational gifts, and congregational gifts.  It's important to remember these are all gifts from the Spirit of God to be used by His people whenever and where ever He leads.  God is using you and you are not using Him.  If you try to use any of the gifts for personal gain or personal reasons it will not work.  

When thinking of the gift of healing don't we almost always think of Jesus when He healed the lepers, healed the blind, healed the lame, raised the dead to life?  Do we remember that He also cast out the demons that were tearing apart the lives of those possessed?  They were also healed! 

Today we have a society that needs healing from some type of demonic possession.  Hatred is rampant in the world and even within the churches that call themselves "Churches of God".  Hatred is a sickness just like cancer.  Are you praying for your neighbor to be healed from the cancer of hatred?  I hope the answer is yes.  But hatred is not the only sickness inside the world today.  There is the sickness of apathy, selfishness, greed, power, pride, lust and so many other worldly desires of the flesh.  We need to be praying for these people to be healed and released by the power of the Holy Spirit.  

In John 14:27 Jesus says, 

"I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.  So don't be troubled or afraid."

Just as with the gift of faith, we have each been given the gift of peace of mind and heart.  Both of these gifts we have to willingly use them on a daily basis.  Use your gift of faith.  Use your gift of peace of mind and heart.  Use your gift of prayer and your gift of healing together.

 

What Is In A Name

What Is In A Name

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

6:18 AM

At one time in my life I was ashamed of my birth name.  My mother chose to spell my name Debra differently that in the Bible.  The O and the H are missing.  In grade school the boys picked up the spelling of my name and called me "The Bra".  To a 10 year old girl with red hair and freckles it was the final humiliation.  When Junior High rolled around I was just Debbie.  Since there were 5 of us Deborah's in my small class we each seemed to pick an alternate spelling of our Debbie.  Mine was Debbi without the E at the end and there was no BRA in my name for the boys to tease me about.

Later on in life I did a name search for each of us in the family.  Everyone has nice, sweet, powerful meanings of their names.  Jerald was "Spear Wielder".  Christopher  was "Christ Bearer". Dena was "Lily of the Valley". The name Debra (Deborah) was "The Bee".  I was so disappointed.  Why was I a bee?  A buzzing little insect. I was expecting more and was broken hearted. I thought I was something special, something better than an insect. No. I was "the bee".  It was a stinging realization and I decided names mean nothing and besides, when I stand before the Lord He will give me a new name.

I don't remember how long after all of this sadness that it  turned to revelation when the Lord spoke to me.  "You are a bee."  He said. "A bee is a pollinator.  A bee flits from flower to flower spreading the pollen from one flower to the other so that the fruit can come. You are my pollinator.  You are my bee."  As I listened to Him speak these words of encouragement to me my heart lifted.  I am a bee.  I do a lot of flitting from one thing to the next.  I land for a short period of time and then move on.  I have many interests but not one that I am focused on. There are not merely one or two things which interest me but many, many things do.  

I am perfectly named and I am a bee.  I am a pollinator of people.  Everywhere I go I speak the name of Jesus in my conversations.  I am here to help with spreading the good news of Jesus, the only One who saves us and offers every single person a new life and an eternal life with Him in His kingdom.  I happily keep buzzing and flitting through the days knowing my little part in this life is a good part, a worthy part.  Someday when I stand with Jesus He will show me the fruit I helped with. 

Refuge

 Refuge

Monday, February 10, 2025

7:54 AM

The word this month for Power of Twelve is refuge. 

Psalms 142:5 - I cried out to You, O Lord : I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living."

As we read this new scripture and verse I could hear my spirit within ask, "What does this mean and why are you having us dwell on the word refuge for a month, Lord?"  I began my search.

A refuge is a place where you go for shelter.  It is a place of safety and trust.  A place where we can seek the Lord and hear His words of love and encouragement when the storms are raging in our lives.  It is a sanctuary of safety where we can dwell when life gets to be too much and we need to find peace and comfort with our savior.  In the refuge of our Lord, He can speak to us and guide us onward.

All around the world there are animal refuge areas set aside where certain animals can have a safe place to come to rest, eat and regain their strength for the journey.  Africa has huge refuge's for all of the wild animals that are hunted and killed for their skins, horns, tusks, heads and just for sport.  These areas are protected by laws and are guarded from the human predators that seek to kill them.  The animals have learned to run to these places when they fear the hunter.  There are bird refuges or sanctuaries that allow huge flocks of migrating birds to come and rest during their migration journey.  No hunting allowed.

This Psalm tell us that a refuge, a place of comfort and peace, is our portion in life.  The word portion means it is our right and our inheritance.  It is our right to escape to the refuge and our place to find the strength to get back on track and continue the journey.  God says He gives this refuge to us so that we can endure the days that wear us down as the devil is roaming about seeking to destroy and kill us.

Whenever we find ourselves lacking in strength to go another hour or another day we should run to our refuge, the arms of the Father.  He will protect us, feed us, speak words of love to us, and give us the strength to go one more day.

Don't walk, run!  Run to the arms of Jesus, for the hunter, the destroyer is hot on the heels of every believer in this day and age.  But have no fear for we already know the devil has been defeated by the cross! Go into the refuge and be renewed and refreshed as the journey moves forward.