Praise Ye The Lord!

It’s a wonderful day to be a child of God. Do you know that God is faithful? In spite of what you have been through in life. Do you understand how much He loves you? Even when you did not love yourself, He still loved you. Do you realize at your lowest points of life, He has always been there for you? After all of your friends and family disappeared, He kept watch over you. When no one could be found, you could always depend on the Lord. When the storms of life were raging, God was your anchor. When the enemy attempted to destroy you, God was your protection. When your marriage, your ministry, your home, your children, or even your job was in jeopardy, God granted an unexplainable peace. He is Faithful and Just. Do you believe it?

Today, I have been commissioned to come and encourage you in the Lord. My friend, what are you facing today? What dilemma do you find yourself involved in? You have tried everything and everyone, and the results have not changed. The people you thought could be called on, failed. Your hiding place was exposed. The thing you hid behind has been taken away. You feel as though your world is crumbling down. Beloved, the Lord desires to free you from the turmoil of this life. When your surroundings seem threatening, and everything is [seemingly] against you … Praise ye the Lord! Stop complaining. Stop griping. Do you not know who your Father is? Your Father responds to praise and worship, not whining and groping. The Bible declares in 1 Chronicles 29:13 - Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. Exalt the name of Jesus Christ. Let your enemies know who your Father is.

My brother, my sister, put your head up. Walk with upright shoulders. You have no reason to walk with a depressed demeanor. God is on your side. Through every attack of the enemy, Praise ye the Lord! When your finances get low, Praise ye the Lord! When tomorrow seems uncertain, Praise ye the Lord! When your place of employment is hellish, Praise ye the Lord! When your relationship is on the ropes, Praise ye the Lord! When your friends laugh in your face, Praise ye the Lord! Prayer for Today: Father, Today I declare that You are God of all and in all. No matter what my situation looks like, I give You the praise. I know that my current situation is not greater than You. Father, have Your way in my life. In Jesus’ name … Amen!

Scripture Reading for Today: I Thessalonians 5:18

May God Bless you at Your point of need!
Minister Darrick McGhee

"Believing Faith" by: G. Craige Lewis

Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

If there is something you are believing God for, don't be tricked by the enemy to think that you are not believing when you have doubtful thoughts in your head about it. You can have doubt in your mind and yet believe with your heart and your mouth! Your mind may tell you all kinds of things, but that does not mean you are doubting. As long as you believe in your heart and confess it or speak it with your mouth, you are exercising faith! Faith is not a scary test, like some of us were taught growing up, but faith is merely believing in your heart in the unseen. The substance of things hoped for says that it is tangible even when it's only in the hopeful stage! The evidence of things not seen means that there is proof that it's coming! Impossible things are God's specialty. Either you are gonna rely on what can be attained by you or you are going to trust the most powerful God in the universe and believe that he can do all things.

The devil can use all kinds of weapons in your head and cause you to think crazy thoughts during a test or trial, but your thoughts do not have to manifest into actions. You can arrest your thoughts or bring them under captivity and say to yourself the opposite of what you were thinking. Don't think you have lost faith just because a doubtful thought came into your mind. Just speak what you believe and you are exercising faith regardless of what the enemy tells your mind! I have had bad dreams about things, bad advice given to me about things, and crazy ideas in my head, but I would have to get the bible and sort out what is biblical and what is imagination. And whatever was biblical, I would stand on it, but my imagination cannot be trusted! I trust God and I believe that by faith, I have things that are not seen yet or evident yet! That's faith and that's what we should stand on. Keep believing people of God and know that what God said is gonna come to pass. Know that your mind can play tricks on you and your gut can send you superstitious signals, but if you keep speaking it and believing it, by faith, it will come to pass.

Suggested Reading: Heb. 11:1, Rom. 14:23, 1Cor. 15:58, 2Cor. 10:5

"Make More Room"-by: G. Craige Lewis

1Tim. 4:14 be not careless of the gift in thee, that was given thee through prophecy, with laying on of the hands of the eldership

Why is it that things we desire to do for God are many times neglected?We keep wishing, wanting and praying for great things of God, but we are still in the same spiritual rut we were in 5 years ago? Well, God works as he is allowed to in us. You see, God will move according to your ability and space to receive. In some cases, the person you have made your spiritual "head" can sometimes block your progress! Many times we belong to churches and ministries that limit us because of heretic teachings or their desire to play God in our lives rather than teach us the Word.Just because mama and grandma grew up in that church does not mean that's where God wants you. Even though your pastor may be the bomb to them, that doesn't mean that he will allow your personal ministry to be birthed! Even though you know everyone there and it's a real comfort zone for you does not mean that God will ever use you there. We cannot get caught up in the old fashion mindset where you die in the church you were born in! If you are being limited, you must go where you can be blessed of God. Of course, everyone will not do great things in the Kingdom. But many of us have the desire and the call, yet we are limited to our surroundings.

If you are packing for a trip, and everything does not fit in the suitcase you have, which would you rather do? Take things out and leave them behind, or get a larger suitcase and keep everything you had in it? Well, imagine that's your life. Are you leaving things out? Are you putting your dreams and purpose aside because they don't fit where you are, or are you making room for what God has given you? Don't sell yourself short because you are apart of the wrong fellowship, and please don't get caught up in the lie that you should never leave a church! Leave and find the right church if you have to and don't look back. You must protect your family, your call, and your purpose and you cannot be concerned with what people think about you or will say about you. Find your place in God's Kingdom and stop wasting time.God wants to use you, but you must make room for him.

Suggested Reading: Psa. 37:23, Psa. 112:5, Prov. 13:22, Matt. 12:35

The Word Is There

"Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice." Matthew 26:34

We are always wanting "a word" from the Lord. We pray for a word, we seek out a word through others, we read the Bible hoping for a word. We want the Lord to talk to us and tell us what to do, give us direction and guidance, reassure us and comfort us. There is no lack of desire or want for a "personal" word. But when He does give us a word, what do we do with it? Do we ignore it? Do we disobey it? Do we turn a deaf ear to it? Or do we heed it?

Jesus gave Peter a word and Peter did two things with it. He protested it- "Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples." (v.35) We may want a word from the Lord, but that doesn't mean that the word He gives us will always be the word we want to hear. When it isn't, do we protest against it as if the Lord "missed it"; as if He doesn't know what He's talking about; as if He doesn't understand the question. Or do we accept it and do whatever we need to do with it?

Secondly, Peter ignored the word. "Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?" (vs.36,40) Had Peter not ignored, or forgotten about it, he would not have been sleeping, he would have been praying. Had he taken Jesus seriously, he would have spent the time praying that Jesus' words would not come true. He would have taken heed to His words and prayed for strength to stand, grace to not deny, power from on high to resist the temptation. He would have followed the example of Jesus and spent the time in prayer.

The Lord speaks to us more often than we realize, but what are we doing with what He is saying. Are we ignoring it? Are we believing what He says? Are we taking Him seriously? Are we acting upon His word? If not, why are we asking Him to say something else when we are not heeding what He does say?

Have a great day. When the Lord gives you a word, what are you doing with it?

For further reading:
Matthew 26: 31-41; 69-75; 11:15
James 1:22

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

Room

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:7

I was thinking about an old hymn this morning- "There is Room At The Cross". The chorus goes like this: "There's room at the cross for you. There's room at the cross for you. Tho millions have come. There's still room for one. Yes, there's room at the cross for you." As this song played over and over in my mind, I thought about making room for Jesus. This earth did not make room for Him at His first coming. There was no room for Him to be born in- He was born in a stable. There was no grave for Him to be buried in- He borrowed a tomb. Even now He still doesn't find room in the lives of multiplied millions of people. And sadly, even among His own children is room seldom made for Him in their daily activities.

But I have good news this morning. Even though we seem to find no, or little, room for Him, He has made room for us. He made room for us by coming to earth-- He took the time to reach down to dying humanity in order to give us the opportunity to receive eternal life. He made room at the cross for whoever would come to Him in repentance-- the space at the foot of the cross is not limited, there is always room for one more. He has also made room for us in His house-- He couldn't find a place here on earth, but He has made sure that we find a place in heaven. "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:2)

He is preparing a room/place in heaven. This place is for those who will give Him room in their lives here on earth in return. Is that you this morning? Are you giving Him room in your life? If so, how much room does He occupy? If you aren't, why not? Or do you give Him room when it is convenient or only when you need His help? When He comes desiring to spend time with you, does He often walk away having found no room- not even a "stable"? You are the desire of His heart so He has made room for you. If He is your desire, you will make room for Him.

Have a great day. He has made room for you, are you making room for Him?

For further reading:
Matthew 6:33
Psalm 31:8
John 14:1-3,23

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

Reaping

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Galatians 6:9

Yesterday we planted a small garden. Even though it is small in size, it was still hard work. There are many steps to planting a garden- breaking up the ground, removing the grass, making the rows, planting, fertilizing, covering the seeds, watering. Each step is important and can't be neglected.

Our lives are like a garden, we are always "planting" something in them. There is one thing to note about planting- when you plant, you will reap. Do you ever feel as though you aren't reaping good things? There are three reasons for this that I want to discuss.

1) What are you planting? Perhaps you aren't planting something good. You reap what you sow. You can't plant lemons and expect to get apples. "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." (Galatians 6:8)

2) Are you getting tired of planting? After breaking up the ground in the garden and de-grassing it, we could have quit and not gone any further because we were tired. But just because the ground was prepared if we didn't plant seeds nothing will grow. This is what our scripture is referring to- don't get weary, give up or stop in the planting process. You have to continue until you have planted something.

3) Impatience. Sometimes we just don't wait long enough for our planting to produce. My garden is finished but I can't go out there this morning and expect to pick beans. There is a time element involved- some things that we plant in and through our lives don't produce overnight. "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." (Hebrews 10:36)

There are no short cuts to sowing if you expect to reap. Each step is all part of it, and each step is important. So don't give up, don't get weary in the planting process you will reap in due season if you don't quit.

Have a great day. Keep planting and keep waiting.

For further reading:
Matthew 7:17,18
Hosea 10:12
Psalm 126:5
Proverbs 22:8
2 Corinthians 9:6
Galatians 6:7-9

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

"Seasons of Discipline"-by: G. Craige Lewis

Matt. 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

With all the money messages and the prosperity sermons out there, you would almost be inclined to believe that no matter where you are in Christ, you should be financially rich! Many preachers sound as though they have been rich all their lives and you should be able to ask God for any amount of money you want and it will magically appear in your mailbox!! But it's so peculiar to me how everyone of them had to go through a season of discipline before they ended up in their season of plenty! You see, God did not immediately give the children of Israel the promise land. He took them through 3 seasons. A season of not enough, a season of just enough, and a season of plenty. I believe that we as believers face these seasons today. Why?Because this is how God disciplines us. Now, you will rarely hear this on TV or in conferences where a man that has gotten rich off the people of God is making you feel less of a Christian if you don't have enough money to to plant a huge seed! They call it a curse! But its probably not a curse, it may just be your season of testing. I don't believe God will cause us to go totally without, but I do believe that God will take us through a season of testing just as he did his chosen people in the wilderness. Their every move had to be dictated by God because they had no direction. That is how God wants us that are chosen by him in the beginning. He totally blocks our sense of direction and sometimes cuts off our supply so we will depend totally upon him to work our own ability out of us. Just as a child depends upon his parents, so must we depend on God. Then, we move into another season of God giving us enough. We learned from the previous season, so now we can have more. And after that, once he has trusted us with what he has given, he moves us into our season of plenty!

But this kind of teaching messes with a lot of people's perception of God.We are now being taught by many tele-evangelists that we should always have more than enough because God has more than enough. But i refuse to believe that God would spoil his children by sparing the rod of discipline. Why would he give us everything all the time? He cares too much about the big picture to bypass discipline and correction! I just refuse to preach a prosperity Gospel like that because Jesus didn't preach that. Jesus said that if you seek the kingdom, things will be added! Now, in math, adding started out with a numeric figure and that figure got bigger and bigger right? Well, I believe that the more you walk with Christ, the more he adds to you.