Setting the table, setting the stage

As you prepare for Thanksgiving please be reminded that it’s not just about the food and fellowship.  God wants to restore families this season but He needs you to be in unity with Him.  God forgives us, we need to forgive others.  When you are gathered together for the holidays, remember, you can be the one God uses to bring peace, change, healing to relationships, order to your household and salvation to the lost.  Set the stage for these things to take place by praying now for God to use you.  Be prepared to forgive.  Have a new mindset that people do change because you did.  Be ready to welcome them lovingly.  Be available to coach them on the road to recovery and righteous living.  Then, praise God for what He has done.  You are not just setting a table for another holiday dinner.  You are setting the stage for God to do the miraculous.

If "my" people

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)

¹⁴ Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

As Christians we sometimes judge other people’s sin/behavior by saying or even thinking how awful what they are doing is.  However, the scripture clearly says… if MY people turn from their wicked ways/repent.  It is in our hands to repent, be humble, pray and seek Him.  Then He will restore our land. 

Luke 24:47 (NLT)

It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’  (NLT)

Disciplines

So we’re chatting with some parents and they tell us their kids have a different schedule during the summer.  Their morning starts out with 30 minutes of bible reading, 30 minutes of prayer and then household chores.  They must spend 30 minutes a day practicing their musical instrument.  If they want to watch T.V. or play a video game (that the parents have approved) they must run or swim a mile for each hour of game time.  This is brilliant!  It not only teaches discipline, brings health, causes the child to have an understanding of scripture but postures them for success in life.  It's said that it takes 21 days to form a habit.  What would 10 to 12 years do?  They will keep these practices throughout their entire life.  This will also aid in ushering in the promises of God.  God honors obedience and readers and doers of the word.  Lord bless these parents abundantly!

Voice brings direction

In the simplest example… Let’s say you have a few friends over and they walk into your living room and one says… what if you put the couch in that corner and the grandfather clock over there and so on.  They proceed to give you several ideas for arranging your room.  You never looked at it or thought of it that way.  You jump to do it realizing it’s a great NEW idea.  They voiced a thought and caused you to get a new visual of what COULD be.  Here’s another example… you hear that Google purchased a FREE app from a company for one million dollars.  This gives you hope to believe that it could happen to you or you begin to think and dream BEYOND what you’ve heard.  My point is this… ideas that are voiced, thoughts and words are powerful.  They can give your dreams wings by creating visual direction.  We should purpose to dream, speak life-words and visions.

Need joy?

Don’t just read this.  Meditate on His words.  They will bring you joy, life and peace.  John 15:10-11 “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”  (NIV)

Power of Things

Strangest thing the power “items” have in our lives.  As we walked into Macy’s, just “window-shopping,” about 20 feet ahead of us was a pair of hot pink patent leather fluorescent heels.  Our eyes did not even glance at any other object in the store.  The hot pink heels pulled us as if we were tiny little magnets and my hand reached out and grabbed them.  I began to investigated their shape and shine, my eyes big as a full moon, checking them for cushy and comfort (as if that mattered).  The magnet lost its grip on me when I realized I don't really even like pink yet I stood there gripping these pink patents.  Wait, rerun that, how did I get here so fast?  In this wanting and wishing state of mind?  Really, they drew me there!  But how?  Makes me think… if “things” have that kind of power then what kind of power do people have?

Validation

People all over with a "call" are waiting to be "validated" by man.  God already validated you when He chose you, when He saved you.  Be assured He has called you, you're not inadequate.  He has and will continue to equip you.  Go forth in your calling in 2012, keep Him first, keep your ear in tune to his voice and proceed.  Validation from man will come when God appoints someone.  Until then... use your gift.