“Strip yourselves of your former nature which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;

And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],

And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4: 22, 23   Amplified

I think the Word speaks for itself.  If a person assumes something that is not true they are considered delusional.  The way you change that in your life,  if you are in fact believing a lie, is to change your mental attitude!  That metamorphosis happens when you realize you are created in God’s image, not the world’s, and that you are righteous IN HIM.

It is not something we could do for ourselves, Jesus did it for us.  Our duty is to renew our mind so that we can have a fresh mental attitude and see ourselves as He sees us. The only way to do that is to constantly immerse yourself in what He says about us.

Don’t believe a lie so long that it presents itself as truth.  The truth of the matter is:

“Yet grace (God’s unmerited favor) was given to each of us individually [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and bounteous] gift.”  Ephesian 4:7 Amplified

Don’t believe a lie!  Verse 27 says to ”leave no room or foothold for the devil.”  When a delusional thought rises, take authority over that thought, replace it with the truth of the Word of God and possess a fresh mental attitude.

Please share with us how you have believed a lie in the past but have gained victory and have accepted the truth of the Word of God.

Deb

We planted a small pecan tree, two small pine trees and a crepe myrtle bush. Looking at these trees today, one might say, “whoa, you must have taken great care of these trees.  You must have labored and stayed up at night watching the process.”  Actually, all we did was plant the seed in the ground and make sure in times of drought that some water was supplied to the trees.

Then I was reminded that there was a period of four (4) years that due to remodeling at the church, I never went in my backyard.  That’s the TRUTH!  Oddly enough, the trees were growing during this time.  I remember the first time I went into the back yard after those years and the trees were huge!  Magnificent, I said to myself!  When did this happen?

You see, one of the fundamental laws of God was taking place in my back yard; the “Genesis law”.

And He said,The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed upon the ground, and then continues sleeping and rising night and day while the seed sprouts and grows and increases-he knows not how.  The earth produces [acting] by itself-first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.   Mark 4:26-28

Get it?  We plant the seed and water it……..HE DOES THE REST!  Man doesn’t know how the process happens but it is a LAW and it happens everyday in the earth.  Just plant the seed and let God’s law work for you.  Every seed we have planted on the earth will produce.  Have faith in God.

Deb

Come visit us Sunday for our Word of Life Christian Center’s 17th Anniversary Celebration!

Before the mountains were born, or Thou didst give birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.  Psalm 90:2 NASB

He is God who created all things, who sent His Son to be the acceptable sacrifice for our sins and whom we shall share  life for all  eternity.  We can be assured that when we teach the next generation about Him and all He has done, that they can with full assurance find the faithfulness of God just as we have.  What a legacy to leave for the next generation.

Thank you, Father God in the name of Jesus for Your faithfulness!

Debbie

Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)  That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.   Ephesians 6:2,3

Today, March 5th, I am remembering my mother-in-law, Elsie, who was promoted to heaven three years ago on this day.  I am remembering that her prayers were instrumental in my husband’s (Pastor Dave)  spiritual eyes being opened and seeing himself as a sinner.  He repented, confessed his sins, and was given eternal life.  He will see her one day, his dad, his father and mother-in-law and his daughter.  He will also see some dear friends, Bro. A L Ford and Bro. Roy Rolling and many who have already passed into the celebratory part of their lives.  Their assignment was complete on this earth and because of their decision to accept Jesus they not only received eternal life but we will see them again.

I would like to take the space and time to honor their commitment to God and their families.  They believed and because of their belief, we are serving Christ today. Would you like to share about someone who has been promoted but still is influencing your life today?  What an influence they had on us.

Please post a comment on this “honor wall”  today.

Debbie

“Ye are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden”.  Matthew 5:14,  NASB

It is impossible to hide light. Think of walking into a dark room. You turn on the light to illuminate the area so that you can see where you are going.  That is the cry of the sinner…help me….it’s dark and I can’t see.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to draw the sinner to Him but don’t be surprised if He chooses you to be the light. That was His plan.  Scary, isn’t it?  He (Jesus)  left us to be the light of the world.

Hey, remember that you usually need a light when it is dark, not when it is well-lit.

Deb

It is very important that we obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit so that not only our destinies will remain in Him but that the destinies of others will also reap the benefits.  Think about it…God…you know the one that created the heavens and the earth…knows the end from the beginning and in His Hand is our destinies.

Share with us a time in your life when through obedience you were blessed.

Deb

Aw, a good, strong cup of coffee!  It tantalizes the taste buds to bring satisfaction and pleasure.  The coffee beans have been roasted and the smell comes alive in our kitchens. The beans were planted, watered, cared for, and then harvested for our pleasure.  They were even transported to Polk County and all we had to do was to purchase, prepare and enjoy the cup of java.

But, forgotten for the moment, the cup sat alone and the liquid  got lukewarm and bitter.  Why? It was to be consumed when at its hottest temperature and before it became stale.  It is still coffee with the same properties that it had when it was planted and harvested.  The caffeine charge is still there; but the presentation is no longer as appetizing as when it was first poured.  Don’t make a new cup.  Drink it because even though it is not enjoyable it will produce the same results.

Any thoughts?

Deb

“Why are you so downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God,  for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.”

Sometimes the cares of life can sidetrack us from the reality of how powerful and wonderful our God really is.  I would like to state the truth about who He is…

He is Wisdom.

He is Holy.

He is Righteous..

He is Good.

He not only cares for us, He made provision for us to be with Him forever.

He is Longsuffering.

He is Faithful.

My job is to praise Him and let Him be God.

Would you tell me something great God has done for you?  Let’s hope in HIm.  Let’s tell of His greatness.

Deb

When someone makes a sacrifice for you, there are usually conditiions to the commitment.  In a marriage commitment it is understood that the two have become one and no one outside of Father God is allowed in the marriage covenant!

“The body is not meant for sexual immoratlity, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.  By His power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.  Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself?  Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute?  Never!  Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body?  For it is said, “‘The two will become one flesh.”‘  But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

Flee from sexual immorality.  All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.  Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body.  (I Corinthians 6:13-20 NIV)

Every person will look at this blog and the above passage differently.  If you need it literally, I mean if you are thinking about sexual immorality, STOP!  God says NOT to be involved in immorality because it will hurt your body.   If you are taking this passage and using it as an allegory in the church (body) of Jesus Christ; then we must be careful not to succumb to the temptation to defile the  ”church” body. If you are looking at this passage and the Holy Spirit is gently reminding you that your body needs proper nutrition and exercise ( Yikes!), whatever way it is taken today…one thing is known. WE NEED TO BOW TO WHAT HE IS SAYING BECAUSE HE PAID THE PRICE FOR US AND WE CANNOT DO WHATEVER WE WANT WITHOUT SEVERE CONSEQUENCES!

I would love to hear from you about what the Spirit is saying to you today.  If you don’t want it published, just say so, but my desire is to help you in anyway that I can.  See you at the morning service as we share His body and blood together.

Deb

Pastor Dave is asking us to pray with focus together as a body using the prayers found in Ephesians 1 and 3.

“Father God in the name of Jesus, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.  I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.  I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”  Ephesians 1:15-23 NIV

Put your name, my name, your children’s name and whomever you desire and let’s focus on praying in unity one for another and see what power and authority will be made available to us.

If your problems are trying to be in your “sight” right now, take every thought captive and refocus looking in the “sight” praying the Word of God and what HE says and watch the change that takes place.  (I have taken my liberty with using the word “sight” as if I was a master with a gun; I am not; just remember that when my brother would try to teach me to shoot;  I concentrated more on the “kick” and pain I would get once the gun was shot so I could never focus and hit the target…..food for thought).

Blessings to you and your families as we focus on Him,

Deb