Thanksgiving

Count
Your
Blessings
Every
Single
Day

One of my good friends email states, cybesd@(Dont you wish you knew).com. After seeing this and realizing what it meant thanks to my girlfriend’s mother, it really got me thinking.

What is a blessing?

Blessing
n.

1. The act of one that blesses.

2. A short prayer said before or after a meal; grace.

3. Something promoting or contributing to happiness, well-being, or prosperity; a boon.

4. Approbation; approval: This plan has my blessing.

Blessings are from the one who can bless, and are contributed to happiness.

What is happiness?

Happiness

adj. hap·pi·er, hap·pi·est

 

1. Characterized by good luck; fortunate.

2. Enjoying, showing, or marked by pleasure, satisfaction, or joy.

3. Being especially well-adapted; felicitous: a happy turn of phrase.

4. Cheerful; willing: happy to help.

Happiness brings Joy, laughter, strength, and pleasure.

Nehemiah 8:10
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

The Joy of the Lord is a blessing, and can be attained at any moment. Paul tells us in his writings to be joyful and patient in affliction. Christ says trial’s will come but to have hope and remain in him. He reminds us that ONLY in him can we find blessings, joy, and peace.

So the blessing’s I can count on everyday is like my good friend Javie always says, “I thank the Lord for just giving me life this morning.” Oh how right you are my friend, about counting our blessings as simple as waking up. There are countless blessings that we miss everyday. Why not thank God for the blessings you never even saw, and the trials he protected from ever getting to you? What if that sickness, car accident, death, or tragedy was supposed to hit you, but by the mighty hand of ALMIGHTY God YOU were protected, and never even saw a glimpse of what it was. God loves you, least we can do is chin up, and count our blessings when we’re down.

Like Nehemiah says, “The JOY of the LORD is my strength.” Let’s give him thanks for all our blessings this thursday!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Amazing weekend

Went to a Christian retreat this weekend and got to have a front row seat in watching 27 young men’s lives get radically changed in 3 days. With the hype of the weekend i got a total of 6 hours of sleep, but had an awesome time. I learned that God can do miraculous things, and was able to see those things carried out. Two of my best friends went through, and was changed, inspired, and touched by the only thing that matters most, Jesus! My personal experience and growth was in petition chapel. I got to really experience cleansing, and felt as though my petition to the Lord was heard. I now await the answer anxiously, but still with Faith that he will move mightily.

Valley of Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37:2-3
He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”  I said, “O Sovereign LORD, you alone know.”

Sometimes we find ourselves feeling as this valley! I know for me i run into places where I feel as though I am dry, and incomplete. I can’t hear God nor do i find myself trying to hear him. I find myself getting “lazy,” and feeling dry with my walk with the Lord. I fell like God ask me that question, “Son of man, can these bones live?” My answer is that like Ezekiel, “O Sovereign LORD, you alone know.” When i find myself in these valley’s where I find myself not even wanting to read my word or pray, I feel as though I’ve lost a very vital life source.

The Greatness of God is so BIG, that when I’m here sitting in the valley of dry bones, he does something miraculous.

Ezekiel 37:8
I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

He clothed these bones and began to give them life again. God takes who I am all of my brokenness, and begins to put life back in. He takes my inadequacies and makes them adequacies. He takes weakness, and begins to create wonderful strength. He takes who I am and makes it wonderful for his Glory. Later on in this passage he goes on to breathe life into the bones. He breathes life into me each morning, and when I’m dry he grows me into something stronger than ever.

Only when your in the desert is when you really notice “water,”  and only when you see a homeless man do you appreciate all you have, and only when you see how dry it could be without God, do you see how amazing his breathe of life is. Not only does he show me these thing but he also promises me:

Ezekiel 37:14
I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.’ “

Lord I know that you are there, and believe you can do the impossible. Father your son ask to simply be filled with you again! Thank you for giving me life, and life with a purpose!

Carried to the Table

Carry- To hold or support while moving; bear:

Table- : a piece of furniture consisting of a smooth flat slab fixed on legs  : a supply or source of food : an act or instance of assembling to eat : meal <sit down to table> : a group of people assembled at or as if at a table.

Carried to the Table- Leeland

Wounded and forsaken
I was shattered by the fall
Broken and forgotten
Feeling lost and all alone
Summoned by the King
Into the Master’s courts
Lifted by the Savior
And cradled in His arms

I was carried to the table
Seated where I don’t belong
Carried to the table
Swept away by His love
And I don’t see my brokenness anymore
When I’m seated at the table of the Lord
I’m carried to the table
The table of the Lord

Fighting thoughts of fear
And wondering why He called my name
Am I good enough to share this cup
This world has left me lame
Even in my weakness
The Savior called my name
In His Holy presence
I’m healed and unashamed

You carried me, my God
You carried me

I was carried to the Table! I was brought to the “Family” of the Lord. I am his son, and no one can take that from me. My dreams are brighter, and my worries shattered! God has reconciled me and protected me as his son. I don’t see my brokenness I see his Glory shining through. This song really spoke to me and is one of my favorites. I praise God that he takes all of us, and seats us at HIS table where WE don’t belong.

Our Father supported, lifted, and brought us to his table. He placed us before his presence because his grace abounds, and his love surpasses all understanding! We eat with our father tonight and forever more, Praise be to God in the highest!!

Prayer Vigil Knock Out

Prayer Vigil was WAR time! Had an awesome night we had great fellowship, worship, bible studies, and even saw God move in a powerful way that i have NEVER seen before in my life! Amazing night, and am so thankful to serve the God serve he is amazing, and am blessed to have him love me the way he does!!

Did a study on Daniel Chapter 10 Look it up, and see how Spiritual Warfare plays into prayer life!

Thanks for loving me through impurities father

Prayer Vigil- Nov. 13, 2009

Two years into hosting Prayer Vigil’s at Grace Family and it never gets old!! Tonight we glorify all ABBA has done for us, and to intercede for our city, and nation. Will report back any praise reports of the night! We will be praying for all of you as you sleep!

Night All

Accountability and Friendship

Ecclesiastes 4:10
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

What a powerful statement Solomon has shown us! We can’t walk though life alone, and we always need someone to helps us through the tough times. We pity the man who has no one to help him up. What a lonely feeling when I read this statement.

I am eternally thankful to my friends, family, mentors, and pastors who have been there for me to catch me when I’ve fallen. Accountability is a VERY important thing for Christian’s especially now in these times. The economy is taking a plunge, and many are becoming unemployed. Tensions are rising, and wisdom seems to be fading.

Blessed is the man who has friends to lift him when he struggles through life. When we are caught in a storm do we have anyone that can pick us up, helps us on our path, and be there for the ride? Christians ALWAYS have Christ through every step or the way on our journey. He promises in Jeremiah 29:11 that he will never “leave us or forsake us!” Christ will always hold our hand without failure and restore us back to his righteousness., but we must also have good Christian men or woman to hold us accountable to the things we do!

Christians should have a support system for it is said “a cord of three is not easily broken.” When we have someone to help us through life we stand firm, and courageous. We were made with this desire to never be alone, this craving for acceptance from those around us, and the desire for purpose, belonging, and love. God all three in one is the only one that can provide that to the fullest. We must reach out and grab hold his hand as we walk through the storms of life. I am blessed to have accountability that when I do fall and reject the hand sent to pick me up, they never leave and will stand stubbornly waiting to bring me out of the pits!!

Burnt out

Lately I’ve been feeling like I’m running in 100 direction’s trying to accomplish all God wants me to do. I try to rest in him, and push through the trials set before me, but every so often i get burned out.

I remember a friend of mine using this analogy “We are all like candles when our wick is new we flourish and our light is brighter than ever. But after time wax starts to build up in and around the candle. The candle will begin to flicker and leaves us with two choices, the wax can either run over the side of the candle to the bottom or build up inside with no escape. If it pours out the light shines bright and is restored, but if it stays in the candle first it flickers than it burns out. “

It felt so clear we all go through candle stages. We have the fire and passion of a new freshly lit candle, and the aroma of sweet love. But after we are filled we MUST have somewhere to pour out all God has shown us, or we build up and burn out. When you hit that “flicker” stage, you can either begin to pour our to others so God can use you, or your light turns out and must be restored. Our light can also flicker if we pour out too much and have no way of getting poured into. We must diligently be seeking Christ daily to be effective in his work.

The center of the flame is the hottest part of any flame. When we fill ourselves with the Lord, and pour out into others we have found the “center” of the flame. Shine bright for Christ today, and be the man/woman he has called you to be! I wish to be the brightest servant he can ask for, USE ME OH LORD! Praise be to Jesus that when I flicker he restores my flame!

Hebrews 1:7
In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.”

Good for those who Love God

Romans 8:27-28
^“27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

He searches my heart and knows the mind of the spirit within. The Spirit intercedes for us, even when we don’t realize it. We the people are his saints, and his spirit intercedes for us. He protects us from the tragedies that we never knew would happen because he protected us. The accident or health issue that never occurred because he protected it from ever happening.

He not only intercedes but then can reassure us that when bad times do come, that he will work it for his glory. Even when the storm is so great, we must rely on him to calm the sea. If your like me than you know when tragedies and issues are all around its hard to see his glory and love in it. We need to grow and sometimes our growth is through tremendous pain, and endurance. When I hurt, and my heart breaks for HIS SAINTS i have to believe in Romans 8:28 that ALL will work good for those called, and who love him. He will never leave us or forsake us, in fact I think he’s CLOSER IN A STORM!

Lord help me see your plan, your glory, and your will in the midst of the storms set before me!

Psalms 9:1-2

¹ I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart;
I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
² I will be glad and rejoice in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

Time to gather my thoughts!

I recently feel the urge to come back to blogging and writing all the Lord is doing in my heart. I read some of my old posts and saw how amazing it is how we forget how awesome God (ABBA) has been to us. I pray that the urgency in our hearts begins to cry out. I find myself having to remind myself how God has NEVER let me down. Like the disciples we have the tendency to forget his great works and promises he’s fulfilled in us. When the “issues” of life seem to consume our thoughts, we need times like tonight where I’m reminded my God has never let me down! EVER! Praise be to our God on high! The Alpha and Omega.

2 Kings 6:16

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”