Believe Again

I told a roomful of ladies earlier this month at a Christmas luncheon… “As you prepare for 2012… believe again.  Set out to do what you are destined to do.”  I believe this word is for everyone.  Start planning to birth and grow your destiny.  What are you waiting for?  Don’t be afraid – just try.  What’s the worst that could happen… you’ll have some experiences that will last a lifetime instead of looking back wondering what you’ve been doing the last few years.  There’s hope in the atmosphere.  Start new endeavors next year – the entrepreneur year.

Your "Isaac"

You may be asked to offer your “Isaac”, your coveted thing, your long-awaited dream.  Be obedient to what God tells you to do.  If you need to lay it down, lay it down.  Then, step back, look around, because there’s a ram in the thicket for you!

Requirement

I believe to get where you want to go a sacrifice is required.  If you had a business an investment would be required.  Just the same… you have a ministry you are trying to birth.  This requires a sacrifice.  Perhaps a 10 or 40 day fast, perhaps a monetary seed offering, perhaps a sacrifice of time donated.  God wants to see our obedience and our desire.  If this bears witness with you, then do it.  If you agree but God is saying do a different thing (not a fast, money or time) then do that because you are holding up your own destiny.  Stop saying, “God, why me or why not me?”  Get in His presence by going after Him in a fast or whatever He calls you to. 

Scriptures-no lack

Below are scriptures that Bishop Carl Smith illuminated last night at bible study…

Philippians 4:19  My God shall supply all my needs. 

Psalm 34:10  They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.
Psalm 84:11  For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

It Was A Warning

The dream I had written about in 2009 appeared to be a foretelling of the future but could actually be taken as a warning. When you receive a warning you pray, prepare and act against the warning so you can avoid the tornado. So here’s what we’ll do… we’ll start speaking, declaring and professing God’s word and place a demand on our faith so we can soar to new heights. The dream from 2009 follows…


Sunday, July 12, 2009
Dream 7-12-09
I woke up at 5am to get ready for church and was reminded of the dream I had during my sleep. I thanked God for bringing it to my remembrance. There were two storms hitting a large mass of water. Each had a funnel coming down to the water. The “tornado” (I’ll call it) on the right was smaller and had a smaller effect on the water causing ripples. The “tornado” in the exact middle of the water was much larger and its billow from the sky appeared huge, powerful and scary. As the middle tornado hit the water it was causing a tidal wave. As it got closer the waves got larger and larger. We were floating on a little piece of driftwood. The only way to minimize the effect was to stay as far left as possible in hopes that we could survive. As the tornado got closer and waves larger, we just slid by the left side and barely felt anything. It was like a small little speed bump. So I get to church and Bishop Gary Hawkins was a guest at www.newbirthcal.org and he says “You’re in it but it won’t affect you” God is so amazing. I don’t know how but I know that I know He will make a way for your and my situations!!!

I don’t just want to “slide by” I want to soar!

Timing

I keep hearing the word timing.  As we go through these weeks be sensitive to the timing of your activities.  Be led by God to be where He wants you and when He wants you there.  Also, when the water is stirring, get in.  Don’t hesitate.  It doesn’t always stir.  It’s stirring for you at this time.

Scared

Don’t be scared or as some of my friends would say “skerd.” This final quarter of 2011 will be tough but YOU WILL MAKE IT.  Use your resources.  Get creative of how to make it through these last few months of 2011.  2011 = Transition and Breakthrough.  Don't hold back tithing, serving, etc.  Keep doing what you're doing.  Don't change a thing, if anything... increase what you are doing.

Trust Me

He keeps saying, "Trust me.  Step out and trust me.  I've again proven I will cover you, take care of you, provide for you and protect you.  Go, do what you are destined to do.  Trust me."

Self-worth

When you connect to something bigger than yourself, be it a gym, a church, a company, a well-know person etc, you start to feel an increase in your self-worth.  It’s an amazing thing that happens.  You start to feel better about yourself and as a result things start happening for you.  A good way to tell if something is great … ask yourself, “How do I feel when I’m there or with them or in that atmosphere or with that person?  Do I feel good, am I increased?”  

Church Mission

For a few weeks now God has been saying, “It’s not about getting yourself to the world or you fulfilling your destiny.  It’s about reaching the community around you.  It’s about meeting the needs of the local people.  From there I will birth forth the fulfilling of your destiny.  Get about serving the local people and watch Me open doors.”  Last night Bishop Smith confirmed this by saying we are to serve the community.  Thank you Lord!  That’s what the church is to do, help people.  We receive teaching, teaching and more teaching and we need to grow up and start helping others.  Through the local outreaches God will bring unity among the body of Christ.  That’s the common ground between believers.  Stop dealing with all these little political church issues.  They are a distraction.  Then, don’t put your suit on and go to the streets.  Put your jeans on or the like to be able to reach those on the street.  We have to get away from our lofty ideas and just get about the needs of the people outside our walls.  God you’re so awesome.  Please provide opportunities, ideas and protection as we go forth.  Watch this!  www.newbirthcal.org

Marriage

If your loved one starts acting strange, distant, wants to play video games all night or watch TV for hours and gets angry at the slightest things then there is a deeper issue.  Some part of their life is causing them so much stress they can’t cope.  They would rather “check-out” for the evening by playing video games or watching TV.  For hours they leave their reality and escape.  What do you do?  The natural and easy response is to lash back or find your own ways to “check-out.”  However, since God brought you together and you are his helpmate then you must do what seems like the hard thing.  Love him.  He’s being bratty… love him.  He’s really screaming for help.  He doesn’t know or understand his stress to be able to communicate it and perhaps doesn't want to appear weak by sharing.  Love him, pray that God will reveal the issues to him and pray for him to have strength to be the man God has destined him to be.  We underestimate the stress on people today.  There’s pressure to perform at work, wrong thoughts from co-workers and bosses coming at you all day, there’s constant mountains to climb, pressure to produce money, to provide, bills weighing, children needing you, wanting to be a good dad example, wants you don’t think you’ll ever get and lost hope.  Plus, some men are trying to birth something and just the weight of carrying the “baby” is too much because the vision and dreams are so large.  These are just a few examples of stress in people’s lives.  Be gracious to one another and choose to go through life together.  The key is love and prayer.  You can make it.

Positioning

We are in a time of positioning or as T. D. Jakes would say "Get Ready, Get Ready, Get Ready."  Even though you know good things are coming to you, you can't just sit and wait for them to fall in your lap.  You have to be in a "position" to receive them.  Golden State Warriors example:  The ball just doesn't go flying into the net.  The players get in position for the ball coming to them so they can pass or shoot.  BUT, even before that they have prepared for game day so they are trained and ready.  Are you in position to pass or shoot?  What can you do to get in position to receive what your believing for?  What daily choices should you be making to get you to your destiny?  Don't miss the ball when it comes your way!  Get in position.

Foggy Discernment

The downside in getting too close to people is you find out their personal desires and this causes foggy discernment. Meaning… you may have difficulty speaking into their lives because your heart gets in the way of your hearing from God. Key to prophets: choose wisely whom you will be close to and know there will be few.

Platforms, doorways...

This came one day last week at 4:15 a.m. and I wasn’t going to share it until I heard Pastor Rod Parsley yesterday morning saying, “The word isn’t just for one person!”  I knew He was talking to me.  Here it is… There are platforms, doorways, alliances, million dollar ideas and honor being bestowed upon the believers of Jesus Christ.  Key:  you need to be ready!  If you sing, increase your rehearsal time; if you write, carry a recorder or pen and paper everywhere;  if you are a business person get your company operation and finances in order; if you preach or are a public speaker get some sermons/speeches ready and in your heart and mind so they flow from your inner being; if you need a job, get up early seek the Lord, volunteer and pay your tithe and offerings; if you have been overlooked and treated poorly, then be humble and upright of good report because honor is coming to you.  Remember this… Prayer is of utmost importance, also being of godly character so you won’t be passed.  Be careful, the person that looks like a bum could be a billionaire or better yet an angel from God.