Anything in life that we put our hands and heart to do requires stamina. Stamina is something you must work up to BUT an emphasis on the word "work".
You start off small and the small becomes doable. Then you push yourself past doable and take on a new level. That level then becomes comfortable until you realize you are ready for much more. You have built stamina!
Without stamina we tire out way too soon, we have the focus of a five year old, and our spiritual capacity can accomplish only at the level we are at.
All good things worth having require physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional energy.....and I'm afraid many just don't want to put the effort out to do so. Some are operating at the same level they have for months or years and getting the same results. We find it easier to blame it on our circumstances or the people we are surrounded with than to have courage to make some BOLD moves to another level (ourselves).
Joyce Meyer says, " new levels mean new devils" and I agree. This new level would require strength and stamina but the good news is YOU COULD GO THERE IF YOU REALLY WANTED TO! God (and you) know the level you are at and He doesn't expect anything more....until you've built stamina and are ready for the next level. It's really not that hard but we make it hard because we want to start off as a spiritual superman and if we can't then there is no point in making any effort. Your prayer life should look different today than it did 6 months ago. Your parenting and marriage should be at a stronger level than it was 3 months ago. Your conversations should sound way different today than they did a year ago.....are you getting this?
I want to be like that of the African Dog. This animal goes after its prey by sheer stamina. It can run and run until its prey just tires out AND THAT'S HOW he goes for the kill.....Pure Stamina!
The same could be said of you. You could pray and study and love and encourage and forgive and build up and pray and study and love and encourage and forgive and build up until the enemy just tires out and you get the victory!!!!! The victory is already yours but you have to take it....it's not just going to fall in your lap.
Proverbs 21:22 says,
"A wise man scales the city of the mighty and BRINGS DOWN the trusted stronghold."
It's in you....start today!
Building Stamina,
The Mrs. Pastor
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Up, Up, and AWAY......
You have got to know that you were created with purpose, for purpose, and with abundance in mind.
Why does it not always feel that way? First, you don't live by your feelings....yes, those feelings were given to us by God but not meant to be our foundation. Secondly, There are things that are in our control and things out of our control.
" The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
The enemy has his mission: kill people physically, spiritually, emotionally. Steal every God appointed opportunity, and destroy all relationships, dreams, goals, and efforts to further God's kingdom.
The Lord has his mission: that people would have a relationship with him and live abundantly here on earth and in eternity in heaven.
We should have a mission: to have the mind of Christ and do His will.
How can we make that happen?
1. Be like Him. As life happens....focus on responding to life through His eyes. Focus on your spirit man and what it can control. There are plenty of things that are in your control: how you respond, how you interact, how you pray, how you prepare, how you work, how you give, how you serve, how you love, how you forgive, how you inspire, how you get up after a fall.......
2. Get rid of sin and your human (flesh) nature. The bible says to "strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up, and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us" (Heb. 12:1).
Did you catch that? It's slowing you down! God wants you to move Up, Up, and AWAY for HIM. He wants you to live in abundance! He's given you the tools, the resources, the people, the places....IT'S YOU MY FRIEND that needs to do your part!
POWER CONFESSION:
I declare that I was created in His image. I was created for purpose to do powerful things for Christ. The gifts and talents He has given me, I will use with the greatest responsibility. I will not take for granted the people, the resources, the opportunities, the day to day activities that He has put before me. I will be a thankful, grateful, encouraging person. I will surround my self with good and have courage and discernment to know when to walk away from unhealthy situations. I will know my mission and live that mission!
Up, Up, and Away,
The Mrs. Pastor
Why does it not always feel that way? First, you don't live by your feelings....yes, those feelings were given to us by God but not meant to be our foundation. Secondly, There are things that are in our control and things out of our control.
" The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
The enemy has his mission: kill people physically, spiritually, emotionally. Steal every God appointed opportunity, and destroy all relationships, dreams, goals, and efforts to further God's kingdom.
The Lord has his mission: that people would have a relationship with him and live abundantly here on earth and in eternity in heaven.
We should have a mission: to have the mind of Christ and do His will.
How can we make that happen?
1. Be like Him. As life happens....focus on responding to life through His eyes. Focus on your spirit man and what it can control. There are plenty of things that are in your control: how you respond, how you interact, how you pray, how you prepare, how you work, how you give, how you serve, how you love, how you forgive, how you inspire, how you get up after a fall.......
2. Get rid of sin and your human (flesh) nature. The bible says to "strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up, and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us" (Heb. 12:1).
Did you catch that? It's slowing you down! God wants you to move Up, Up, and AWAY for HIM. He wants you to live in abundance! He's given you the tools, the resources, the people, the places....IT'S YOU MY FRIEND that needs to do your part!
POWER CONFESSION:
I declare that I was created in His image. I was created for purpose to do powerful things for Christ. The gifts and talents He has given me, I will use with the greatest responsibility. I will not take for granted the people, the resources, the opportunities, the day to day activities that He has put before me. I will be a thankful, grateful, encouraging person. I will surround my self with good and have courage and discernment to know when to walk away from unhealthy situations. I will know my mission and live that mission!
Up, Up, and Away,
The Mrs. Pastor
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
A Better Version of You
I would think most people can relate to technology getting an updated version. Some people like it....having the latest and greatest...... and some people get frustrated because they just got comfortable with the last version and NOW they have to adjust to something new. UUGGGHHH!
We serve a God that is constantly pushing His children to an uncomfortable place, a better version if you will, only to rely on HIM. He knows what's best; the best plan, the best path, the best strategy, the best timing, the best words to use, the best place to be, the best opportunity, the best scripture we need to guide us. His word does say that "His ways are higher than our ways" (Isaiah 55:9)
Bottom line: A BETTER VERSION OF YOU!
This eliminates excuses of what you are comfortable with, what your personality is, what your strengths are, what feels good and what is a struggle. He is the potter and we are the clay. If He doesn't like what He sees, He has every right to change it. If He wants to add or take away, He can do this.
And Yet, the beautiful and challenging thing is, that most of the time He gives free will. Of coarse, He ultimately has the final say if He chooses, but He lovingly speaks and hopes for His children to do it themselves. Similar to us as parents, we have the ultimate say, but how much more beautiful and fulfilling when we see our children grab ahold themselves and take ownership?
This upgrade can only happen with daily intimacy in the Word of God. Not reading a devotion, a scripture, or even a spiritual blog post....BUT digging in the word of God and letting it speak to you, taking notes, praying those words, and actually applying that to your daily activity!
Hebrews 4:12
"For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit (this means your personality versus your spiritual man) and of joints and marrow, and is a discernment of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
*did you catch the words that conflict our flesh man (soul...aka personality) versus our spirit man. We can not make any more excuses regarding people's "personality". God loves His children. He created them in HIS image with all types of personalities. It takes all kinds to make the world go round. The problem is that people don't want to grow and change more into HIS likeness. They want to claim and grab ahold of "their personality" and not move.
If God wanted people to just stay in one state their entire life He wouldn't have given us creation, in front of our very eyes, to see the seasons change and plant life growing and dying and flourishing and struggling. He has given mankind the knowledge how to make things healthier, better, safer, and even more productive.
Don't over-think this.....just take on His likeness and He will use you where He sees fit!
In His Word,
The Mrs. Pastor
We serve a God that is constantly pushing His children to an uncomfortable place, a better version if you will, only to rely on HIM. He knows what's best; the best plan, the best path, the best strategy, the best timing, the best words to use, the best place to be, the best opportunity, the best scripture we need to guide us. His word does say that "His ways are higher than our ways" (Isaiah 55:9)
- He pushed Joshua to be the lead man when he was ok and comfortable being under one of the greatest leaders in history and couldn't imagine filling those shoes (or sandals ;)
- He challenged Esther's courage and boldness in an environment that was rigid and hostile.
- He convicted (not condemned) Peter to recognize his fears and disobedience and equipped him with the Holy Spirit to get the job done.....NO EXCUSES.
- He spoke to a women with a colorful past to think differently and see that there is a better way.
- He patiently spoke to new followers of Christ and taught them a different way of thinking....a better way. It was challenging not to live by the law when that's all they've ever known.
- He asked some to leave everything and go far away to teach people.
- He told some to stay but to teach the people to put themselves last....an unpopular message still today.
Bottom line: A BETTER VERSION OF YOU!
This eliminates excuses of what you are comfortable with, what your personality is, what your strengths are, what feels good and what is a struggle. He is the potter and we are the clay. If He doesn't like what He sees, He has every right to change it. If He wants to add or take away, He can do this.
And Yet, the beautiful and challenging thing is, that most of the time He gives free will. Of coarse, He ultimately has the final say if He chooses, but He lovingly speaks and hopes for His children to do it themselves. Similar to us as parents, we have the ultimate say, but how much more beautiful and fulfilling when we see our children grab ahold themselves and take ownership?
This upgrade can only happen with daily intimacy in the Word of God. Not reading a devotion, a scripture, or even a spiritual blog post....BUT digging in the word of God and letting it speak to you, taking notes, praying those words, and actually applying that to your daily activity!
Hebrews 4:12
"For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit (this means your personality versus your spiritual man) and of joints and marrow, and is a discernment of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
*did you catch the words that conflict our flesh man (soul...aka personality) versus our spirit man. We can not make any more excuses regarding people's "personality". God loves His children. He created them in HIS image with all types of personalities. It takes all kinds to make the world go round. The problem is that people don't want to grow and change more into HIS likeness. They want to claim and grab ahold of "their personality" and not move.
If God wanted people to just stay in one state their entire life He wouldn't have given us creation, in front of our very eyes, to see the seasons change and plant life growing and dying and flourishing and struggling. He has given mankind the knowledge how to make things healthier, better, safer, and even more productive.
Don't over-think this.....just take on His likeness and He will use you where He sees fit!
In His Word,
The Mrs. Pastor
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