Before You “Unfollow” – A Life Inspired!

 

“Jesus did not unsubscribe to people’s lives because they had issue. He did not look at the woman at the well and think, “There is just too much drama there. I think I will go elsewhere for water.” Jesus engaged her and I believe He asks the same of His children.

We need to engage those that believe differently. We need to engage those that are difficult and messy. We need to minister to those God puts into our lives, to demonstrate love to all people- enemy and friend”.  From A Life Inspired!

 

 

I opened my email to find a weekly faith-based newsletter in my inbox. I originally signed up for email updates to support my friend that writes for their organization. I am sure there are those that follow me simply because of the friend card (thanks for the support buddy!). Yet, the more and more…

via Before You ‘Unfollow’ the Annoying Friend….. — A Life Inspired

Rotten Apples! Miracle In Disguise!

Like 10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

I saw this picture of a container with rotten apple spilling over with the above caption – scripture, about 72 or so hours ago and I have not been able to take my mind off it.  Picture speak a thousand words I heard. What is the use of harvesting a rotten apple? A sour one!.

rotten apple

Well I don’t know much about farming, however I would assume that the farmer will find a use for even the most rotten ones. It could be used to feed other farm animal or as fertilizer I suppose.

In the Kingdom of God, what does a basket of rotten apples look like? What are the characteristics and criteria for categorizing rotten apples? I would say that rotten apple means different things to different people. Rotten apples could refer to those afflicted, infirmed, poor, bound, outcast, disadvantaged, and you know what? Depending on where you are seated, your perspective, don’t we all fall into one or more of this category before Christ found us and even now?

I noticed though that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ reached out to all but especially to the rotten apples of His days. All the miracles Christ performed were mostly amongst those that society termed rotten apples. The blind, the lame, the deaf, the leprose, the dead raised, the sick, the poor fed, the demon possessed man of Gadara, prostitute, adulterer, tax collector, and after His death on the Cross of Calvary and resurrection, Christ reached out to a murderer named Saul, now called Paul. Read Matthew 20:29-34, Mark 7:31-37, Luke 17:11-19, Mark 5:21-43, Matthew 9:32-33, Luke 8:26-39, Luke 9:37-43, and many more.

apples

Okay! Where am I going with this? Well, those rotten apples, those people hungry for a touch from God that comes across our paths, how many of such have we pushed back, out and outrightly rejected?. This endtime Church has deviated far from the works of Christ! We have allowed the world to influence the Kingdom of God. We have set up a modern day well equipped hospital, but we do not want the sick in there! How can that be?

Jesus said in Luke 5:31 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

We want those in perfect health to come to the hospital? It is the sick that will come, receive their healing, be made whole, become and also bring in others to receive healing and be! Peter was like most of us, in Acts 10, when the Lord showed him those unclean animals. Of Course he refused to eat – Acts 10:14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”15 The voice spoke to him a second time, Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

harvestThat recovering alcoholic, that poor and infirmed family, the lame and blind in our congregations, yes, those people we pass by without seeing, they may be the ones Christ wants to manifest His power through for all to see. The Gospel attest to it! Christ ways is absolutely not our ways! We must look to Him to find The Way! The Only Way!

Just imagine a lame person, a barren woman, blind and deaf, receiving their miracles in your ministry. The old people being on fire for the Lord! Raging storm ordered to be calm! Imagine that alcoholic set free from bondage in your fellowship! The broken vows restored in your home, the barren conceiving and bringing to birth, love in the hearts of married couples rekindled! Singles united in holy matrimony, broken walls rebuilt. Dead situation receiving life! Can you just imagine the spiral effect of that, miracles!!!!!!!!  Yes, God backs up His words with miracles, signs and wonder! Miracle still happens today, we just need to open our hearts and see Christ at work! The demon possessed renouncing the devil and been set free, the bound set free, the sick healed, long standing issues been resolved, oh what better way for our community to know that there is a God in Israel.  AlwaysLookAgain

Father, we honor and worship you. Thank you for loving us. Forgive us Oh Lord in every way we have displeased you. Have mercy and help us to please you in all our ways. Direct and teach us Father, give us discernment, enlighten the eyes of our hearts Daddy that we might see wondrous things in your word. Enlarge our hearts so we may care for each other. Please show us a reflection of our ways, just a glimpse so we may amend our ways. Look upon us through the blood of your dear Son Jesus Christ. Help us Lord we pray in Jesus Christ mighty name. Amen!

Shalom! Shalom!

I Am Redeemed!

Isaiah 49:26 I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh;
    they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine.
Then all mankind will know
    that I, the Lord, am your Savior,
    your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” 

 

by Apostle Gabriel Cross The word is REDEEMED. Meaning you’re cleared by the blood, you’re recovering what you lost, you’re exchanging your sorrow for His joy, you’re discharged from your past and loosed to fulfill your future. You’re released and restored from captivity, and delivered from sin and its consequences by means of Christ’s sacrifice. Therefore, […]

via Redeemed! — Pure Glory

Turn Away From Evil!

The blood of Jesus cleanses from all unrighteousness, making you and I sinless and joint heirs with Christ Jesus. We are brand new, born again and complete in Him, nothing missing. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Friends, the fact still remains that some will taste that the Lord is good and will still go after the desires of their flesh. I want you to know that it is a terrible thing to neglect such a great gift given by the blood of Jesus Christ – The Salvation of your soul and still rebel against that which is of His great pleasure. Disaster will fall upon the rebellious -everyone seeking after his own ways and not the Lord’s.

Jeremiah 5:2 Though they say, ‘As the Lord lives,’ Surely they swear falsely.”O Lord, are not Your eyes on the truth? You have stricken them, but they have not grieved; You have consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to return. Therefore I said, “Surely these are poor. They are foolish; for they do not know the way of the Lord, the judgment of their God. I will go to the great men and speak to them, For they have known the way of the Lord, The judgment of their God.” But these have altogether broken the yoke and burst the bonds.

repentJeremiah 8: Why has this people slidden back, Jerusalem, in a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit, they refuse to return.I listened and heard, but they do not speak aright. No man repented of his wickedness, saying, ‘What have I done?’  Everyone turned to his own course, as the horse rushes into the battle. 7 “Even the stork in the heavens knows her appointed times; and the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the Lord“How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us’? Look, the false pen of the scribe certainly works falsehood. The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken. Behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord; So what wisdom do they have? 10 Therefore I will give their wives to others, and their fields to those who will inherit them; because from the least even to the greatest everyone is given to covetousness; From the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely. 11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace.

Hosea 11:7 My people are bent on backsliding from Me. Though they call to the Most High, None at all exalt Him. God in His infinite mercy is not willing that any should perish but to come to everlasting life. Repent therefore of your many sins and be cleansed. Examine your ways and make necessary correction today. Our Lord is a merciful God, He will show mercy!Hosea 14:4“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, For My anger has turned away from him.

2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.

Most High God we thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you Jesus Christ for the ultimate sacrifice on Calvary’s tree. That sacrifice is what enables us to come to the throne of grace to receive mercy even right now. For everyone of us that have lightly esteemed what you wrought on our behalf and for us, we ask for mercy Lord, forgive us, our unbelief, doubt, disobedience, rebellion, and the desire to chart our own course away from you. We repent today Lord Jesus and ask thy will be done in our lives. In every way that we have hindered your move in the midst of your chosen one, Lord forgive us. We yield ourselves to your will, have your way Holy Spirit, move us to will and to act in order to fulfill your good pleasure in US. Thank you Lord for loving us even in our unfaithfulness. We bless your Holy Name oh Lord, be  magnified, for in Jesus Christ name we pray. Amen!

Shalom! Shalom!

Allow Christ In!

In today’s Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, Christ has released an open invitation for all burdened and heavy laden to come unto Him and He will give them rest – Matthew 11:28. “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool – Isaiah 1:18.

Once you answer this call and come to Christ He will wash you with His blood for without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin –Hebrew 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Christ Jesus cleanses us all from all our sins and gives us a clean slate. We become a brand new creation. It does not matter the magnitude of your sins, witchcraft, adultery, fornication, murder, lying, false accuser, evil schemers, disobedience, rebellion, no matter what you have done or not done, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all unrighteousness.

sinners prayer2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  You and I are brand new, spotless without any sin or traces of it, I mean totally clean and complete in Christ. What a privilege and honor to find love so real, for Christ to die for us while we were yet sinners. Why then my friends will anyone neglect such a great Salvation. Hebrew 2:3 how shall we escape (damnation/judgment) if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,.

Will you come to the throne of mercy today to receive the gift of a brand new life of peace, joy, victory and much more?. Will you ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life today? Friends, remember that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Everyone needs redemption that is Christ Jesus. Go to Christ today to have your sins washed away so you can begin to live a brand new life.

Jesus loves you friends!

Shalom! Shalom!

Many Are Hungry! Can I Help?

God showed Peter a sheet filled with all kinds of animals. Peter refused to eat unclean animals and Christ said, ” call not unclean what the Lord has cleansed.
Friends many are hungry for the gospel, the harvest is ripe, are we ready to bring in the harvest?

Featured Image -- 5311My neighbors are seniors in their sixties. We chat every now and then. A while back when the  brother was diagnosed with cancer she came to me and we prayed. I did not follow up since then only to just happen to be at a picnic with other neighbors and I heard her giving the testimony of that prayer in the hallway. I prayed with her that day but was I expectant? If I were, I guess I would have followed up and the likes eh!

For the last three years that I’ve had this couple as my neighbor, I have not once asked them to come to Church or spoken about my faith with so much passion. Then a few days ago, my neighbor came over and asked for the address of my Church, I gave it to her, showed her the website and the likes, but did I look out for her on Sunday,  if she came as she had stated she would come? No! I did not remember to look out for her and on my way home after stopping by here and there, she called me to ask if I was in Church! I was surprised outrightly and felt uneasy! Why am I not showing as much interest as this retiry? She invited us over for chit chat, she spoke about attending bible class on Friday, browsed through her individually handwritten American Bible and went back home.

Of course I knew God was speaking to me through these interactions but I wasn’t getting it until I stopped by a dollar store on Tuesday, quite a distance from home and met my neighbor right in front of the store on their way home. They stopped the car, said hi and  they went on to tell me that they came by to get some note pads and highlighters for bible class at Church. I was stunned by their eagerness,  yearning to learn more about the Lord, and here was I, Pastor/ evangelist/ apostle/ woman of God, without so much a flicker of enthusiasm! What has gone wrong for I was never like this? Is my joy cooling off or what?

Brethren, the harvest is plenty and there are not enough laborers. It is not enough that we go to Church, neighbors know us as Christians, we should disciple all. Many people are thirsty and hungry for the Lord, and if we do not speak and act with conviction like that servant girl in Captivity in Syria, the many Naamans out there would never know that there is a God in Israel.

Lord forgive me for allowing the cares of living to distract me from the purpose for which you have commissioned me. You said go ye into the world and preach the gospel, baptizing in the name of the Lord….
May I henceforth be a true ambassador and be a light to show the way to the yet unsaved in Jesus mighty name Amen.

Determined? Absolutely! All The Way!

les-brown

How hungry are you? How thirsty are you to be filled with the living water? How determined are you to fulfill your God given destiny? How expectant are you to see the change envisioned? Yes! Manifest before your very eyes!

You must be doggedly committed come rain or shine, low tide, high tide, all the way to bring your dreams to life, all the way, by the help of the Holy Spirit. “Too many of Us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears” quoting Les Brown. Start living your dreams right now!

Keep at it! Trust Jehovah and lean on The Rock totally!

Shalom! Shalom!

Help Me Lord Jesus!

Oh! How much I want to pour myself out, all the love, joy, peace that I have bottled up, the grace bestowed within me. The treasures hidden in this earthen vessel! How I long to shower Christ like love on more as I come in contact with them, leaving a fragrance of Christ behind. What then is holding me back? Why am I not doing what I am created to do full fledged? Fear or what? Come on Lioness, rise up and go in the capability of the Lord’s ability.

helpThe Lion within is awakened, even, amongst all chaos and bent on fulfilling destiny. Who can stay His movement? Who can quieten His roar? The Holy Spirit is having His way, who can question Him.The greater one inside is at work, who can stop Him? The still small voice is clearly audible, who will silence Him?

You see, I am one of those heaven gifted with an eye for beauty, love and kindness. Intuition you may say, but heaven does send some to just be there for another, just to be whatever is required at any point. A voice to speak words that sustain the weary, to encourage, a listening ear, a helping hand, a shoulder to lean on, cry on and cradle another’s head, a strong mind disciplined to hold unto truth and fair play. A generous heart to give even when it is starving.

Lord Almighty, I humbly come before you to ask for help. I desperately need your help on this journey of the fulfillment of your plan and purpose. You have been faithful thus far Lord, thank you! I cannot afford to make a blunder Lord, you know what I mean. You have called and chosen me to be one of your beloved, am honored and grateful. May I never grieve you Lord. May my ways be a delight to you. You know me more than I know myself, for you formed me before I was conceived in my mother’s womb. Will you please help me Lord! Help me Most High God in Jesus Mighty Name!

Are you at the end of your rope friends? Have you done all you could, or maybe not, like me and many more. Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Allow the Holy Spirit to have His way in your heart. Trust Him all the way! Let the love of Christ Jesus calm, soothe, and give you hope. Christ has got you covered all the way!

Shalom! Shalom!

Timeless Quotes!

rejection

Wayne Dyer/Quotes
If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.
When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.
You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with.
Conflict cannot survive without your participation.
Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice.
Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into.
Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life.
Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don’t know anything about.