CHOOSE

CHOOSE MERCY TODAY & CHOOSE VICTORY…

This time of year always warms my heart and reminds me of many wonderful holidays spent with family and friends. But, I’ve found that if I’m not careful, I can find myself getting wrapped up in the busyness of the season, things to do, people to see and gifts to buy. I think this is true for most people. Many people live life “maxed out” before the holiday season even starts, and then adding just a little extra stress on top creates a recipe for frustration, hurt feelings and strife.

The Bible warns us in James 3:16 that when strife comes in, it opens the door for “every evil work.” We have to close the door on strife and use wisdom when planning our days. We have to consciously make the effort to receive God’s grace, extend mercy to others, and hold on to peace.

Grace is God’s supernatural favor, mercy and empowerment upon you. It’s His ability working in you to accomplish what you need to. When Jesus left the earth, He said, “I may be going away, but I’m sending One who will never leave you—the Holy Spirit will reside in you and teach you all things.” When you align yourself with the Spirit of God, you will be equipped for every good work by His grace. His grace will empower you to love others and help you navigate the holiday season!

When you receive God’s grace, it empowers you to extend mercy. Choosing mercy means choosing victory because mercy triumphs over judgment! That’s why Jesus showed mercy everywhere He went. Scripture tells us that Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, denied Him three times after He was arrested to be crucified. Do you know how Jesus responded? When He rose from the dead, He appeared to Mary at the tomb and said, “Tell everyone that I’ve risen…and go find Peter!” Jesus singled Peter out because He wanted him to know that he was still loved, valued and forgiven. Jesus didn’t hold a grudge. Instead, He extended mercy to Peter and restored him. He extends that same mercy to us every day, and we can extend it to others this holiday season!

Maybe the holidays don’t bring back good memories for you. Maybe you’ve been hurt, denied or rejected by someone. Maybe you are working through some pain right now. Remember, Jesus gave us an example of mercy, and He has equipped us by His grace to overcome. It’s easy to take offense. It’s easy to hold on to the hurt and pain of the past. But the best way to move forward is to give all that pain to God and let Him heal you. Receive His grace so that you can show mercy this holiday season and every day of the year!

“Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.” (2 John 1:3, NIV)

BLESSED

WITH THE EXCELLENT AND THE PLENTY

Deuteronomy 28:4 – “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.

Would you want to buy a chair that Jesus made? I would, even if it cost US$1,000 because it would be of superb quality. Whatever Jesus did, He did it with perfect excellence.
And because Christ is in you, the things which you produce will be of exceptional quality too. That includes your children, who will be champions. Deuteronomy 28:4 says, “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks”.

God was using terms that the Israelites understood since they were farmers and shepherds. Today, “your ground” is the place of your work. This means that “the produce” of your work shall be of excellent quality.

That is not all. God promises that quantity will always follow quality because Deuteronomy 28:11 says that the Lord will “grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body,” which means that you will have plenty of children, “in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground,” which means that your business will flourish and you will be a leading producer in the area of your specialty.

My friend, your excellence and plenty do not come by your efforts. They come by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who paid for you to have divine provision—“though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich”. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Jesus was made destitute of all material things at the cross. He had nothing! As He hung on the cross, He watched the Roman soldiers gamble for His robe. His last possession on earth was gambled away. He became poor, so that you could be blessed with the excellent and the plenty!

Thought For The Day
Jesus was made destitute of all material things at the cross, so that you could be blessed with the excellent and the plenty!

CHRIST-LIKE-NESS …

‘We share in His sufferings…that we may also share in His glory.’ Romans 8:17 NIV

God’s number–one goal for you isn’t comfort, it’s Christ–like–ness! And to reach it you’ll have to undergo some of the same experiences that Jesus went through—like being misunderstood by your family, ridiculed by church members, rejected by the world, and disappointed by the people who say they love you. The Bible says we’ve been called to ‘share in His sufferings…that we may also share in His glory.’ So how do we do this? In three ways:

(1) Stay focused on God’s plan, not your pain. ‘Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.’ (Hebrews 12:1–2 NLT) Corrie ten Boom said, ‘If you look within, you’ll feel depressed, if you look without, you’ll be distressed, but if you look to Christ, you’ll be at rest.’

(2) Don’t give in to short–term thinking. Look at Jesus, ‘Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross.’ (Hebrews 12:2 NLT) Keep your eye on the finish line. You don’t get the trophy until the race is over, so make up your mind to ‘stay the course’ and finish strong.

(3) Start praying the right way. When you understand that God’s objective is to make you more like Christ, you’ll start praying fewer ‘comfort me’ prayers and more ‘conform me’ ones. Instead of asking, ‘Why me, Lord?’ you’ll ask, ‘What do You want me to learn, Lord?’ James writes, ‘Let the process go on until…you have become men [and women] of mature character.’ (James 1:4 PHPS) That’s how you become more Christ–like.

ARISE AND SHINE!

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. – 2 Corinthians 1:20

Beloved, because of Jesus’ perfect finished work at the cross, all of God’s promises of provision, protection and good success are yes and Amen! Meditate on this unchanging truth. Say these words out loud:

I declare that I am special in Jesus’ eyes, and He loves me unconditionally. I have an awesome destiny. Jesus has equipped me with gifts, talents and abilities. Today, I receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness to reign in life. I give thanks that His favor surrounds me like a shield and opens doors of opportunities for me. Because of Jesus, I shall be the head and not the tail, above and not beneath, the lender and not the borrower. I shall not suffer lack but be surrounded by His abundance, His wisdom, His peace and His protection.

Thank You, Jesus, for Your finished work at the cross for me. I receive a fresh revelation of Your love right now and thank You that everything my hands touch shall be blessed! I believe with all my heart that I am greatly blessed, highly favored and deeply loved! Amen!

God’s promises are eternal, and what He has said in His Word cannot be altered in any way (Psalm 119:89). That means that every good thing He has promised you, MUST come to pass!

NEED HEALING AND MIRACLES FOLLOW THESE  INSTRUCTIONS
http://youtu.be/qth2CNaXPbU

Free Christian Ebooks http://walthope.tripod.com
https://walthope.wordpress.com

CHOOSE

CHOOSE FAITH OVER FEAR

This is my command — be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. – Joshua 1:9, NLT

Did you know that fear works just like faith but in the opposite direction? Faith opens the door for God to work in our lives; fear opens the door for the enemy to work in our lives.

The Bible says that fear has torment. Fear has no mercy. If you act on fear instead of acting on faith, it will keep you depressed, miserable and lonely. So many people today are missing out on God’s joy, peace and victory because they keep giving in to fear. They feed fear by what they watch on TV or at the movies. They worry and dwell on all the bad things. Don’t let that be you! Romans tells us that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. The more you fill your heart and mind with God’s Word, the stronger you will be so you can stand against the powers of darkness.

Remember, the power that is in you is greater than the power of fear. When thoughts come that say, “You’re not able,” choose faith by saying, “I can do all things through Christ!” Choose faith today so you can overcome fear and live in the freedom and victory God has in store for you!

ARE YOU JEALOUS?

‘Jealousy is like cancer in the bones.’ Proverbs 14:30 NLT

Christian educator Henrietta Mears said, ‘The man who keeps busy helping the man below him, won’t have time to envy the man above him.’ Doctor Seuss wrote hundreds of children’s stories. One of his most famous is about the Grinch, a cartoon character who gets so jealous of others that he ends up biting himself. Jealousy does that. It targets others, but ends up consuming you. God blessed King Saul and lifted him from obscurity to the highest position in Israel. But when David slew Goliath and won the adulation of the people, Saul started acting insecure and threatened. Instead of rejoicing that God had sent David to help him, he grew resentful and became ‘David’s enemy from that time forward.’ (1 Samuel 18:29 NRS) The Bible says, ‘A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.’ Jealousy is malignant; left unchecked it can destroy every relationship in your life. It poisons your attitude by making you compare yourself with others. It robs you of joy and contentment. You become ungrateful and self-centred. It makes you assume that God’s resources aren’t sufficient for Him to bless others and still bless you. Saul’s jealousy cost him his throne, his family, his respect in the eyes of the people, and ultimately his life. Don’t let jealousy do that to you. Repent before it robs you of your destiny. God made all of us His children when none of us deserved it. So when you feel resentful of somebody else’s blessings, ask God to remind you of the many ways in which He has blessed you even when you didn’t deserve it.

MEDIEVAL MEAL

How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! —Psalm 119:103

A while ago I attended a conference on the Middle Ages. In one seminar we actually prepared several foods that would have been common in medieval times. We used pestle and mortar to grind cinnamon and fruit to make jam. We cut orange rinds and broiled them with honey and ginger to produce a sweet snack. We crushed almonds with water and other ingredients to create almond milk. And, finally, we prepared a whole chicken to serve as a main dish with rice. As we sampled these dishes, we enjoyed a tasty culinary experience.

When it comes to spiritual food for our souls, God has given us a varied menu that we can chew on and savor. In doing so, we can be filled and satisfied. The historic books, poetry, wisdom literature, prophecy, and other parts of the Bible strengthen us when we are weak, give us wisdom and encouragement, and nourish us for the day’s journey (Ps. 19:7-14; 119:97-104; Heb. 5:12). As the psalmist tells us: “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Ps. 119:103).
So what are we waiting for? God has set before us a banquet of delectable spiritual food and calls us to come and dine. We are all invited!

Thank You, Lord, that You call me to Your table to feast on Your Word. I know that I need it for my spiritual nourishment and to grow close to You. I open my heart to You now.

The Bible is the bread of life, and it never gets stale.

“Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience [into which those in the wilderness fell]” (Hebrews 4:11, AMP).

“Laboring to enter into the rest” sounds like an oxymoron, but it means to do what we need to do in order to believe. Entering His rest simply means we resign from trusting our own human abilities to succeed in life. Instead, we trust His ability.

The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man (Genesis 39:2).

Beloved, have you ever wondered what was it about Joseph that made him successful? The Bible says that even when he was a slave in Egypt, with not a cent to his name, he was a successful man. Success is not defined by what you have today, but who you have! You may not have the necessary academic qualifications, natural connections with the right people or a bank account filled with money, but when you have Jesus, you have everything! Just like Joseph, because the presence of Jesus is with you, you are already a success.

JESUS COMMANDS US TO LOVE AND TO GIVE

Too often we look only at what other people are doing for us instead of what we are doing for them. However, the Bible instructs us to look out for the needs of one another, to look for ways to serve others, and to walk in love with each other.

In John 13:34-35, Jesus commands us to love: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Love is so important, because every person needs love. People in the world are hungry for love; they’re looking for a source of real, genuine love. Proverbs 19:22 tells us that What a man desires is unfailing love.

We, as Christians, have an opportunity to give that love, which the world desperately desires. So instead of wondering why you’re not getting the love you should get, decide to give the love you should give.

Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height —
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

BE JOYFUL AT ALL TIMES

Jesus promises that we will suffer. In Matthew 10:17-18, Jesus warns his followers, “Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. “Although that quote may seem distant or irrelevant to Christians today, the point remains that, in the words of Christ, “if the head of the house [Jesus himself] has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!”

Not only does Jesus promise that believers must suffer, the Apostle Paul assures us that the path to being an heir of God demands sharing in the sufferings of Christ (Romans 8:17). Similarly, Paul writes this to those in the church at Philippi: it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him (Philippians 1:29).

Clearly, we, as Christians, will not be spared affliction. (In addition to the Scriptures above, see Acts 9:15-16, Philippians 3:10-11, and 1 Timothy 1:8-9.)

Despite being assured affliction and suffering, Christ-followers can be joyful nonetheless.

We can be joyful not by creating a bubbly-faced facade of happiness to hide reality but rather by confidently knowing that, in the face of immense sin and suffering, we are secure in Christ. Why fear and be saddened by those who can only kill the body when you’re protected by Him who can keep you from hell (Luke 12:4-7)? Or, to put it positively, rejoice that you have received the Holy Spirit, who guarantees your eternal salvation—and thus, your eternal joy (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).

The faith that justifies is the very same faith that satisfies. Saving faith satisfies us by weaning us from the short-lived satisfaction of sin to ultimate satisfaction in Christ.
Thus, despite the fact that suffering will come even—or, perhaps, especially—to us who profess faith in Christ, we can have great joy not because we are spared affliction but because we are completely satisfied in Christ.

NEED HEALING AND MIRACLES FOLLOW THESE  INSTRUCTIONS
http://youtu.be/qth2CNaXPbU

Free Christian Ebooks http://walthope.tripod.com

https://walthope.wordpress.com

Gordon Williams http://gordwilliams.com/september-2014.php

Fair Use Notice: There is some copyrighted material on this site, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in an effort to our efforts to advance understanding of serious issues. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit for educational purposes.

 

CHOOSE

CHOOSE TO BELIEVE …

Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. – John 12:37-40

This could be interpreted as the ultimate teaching in predestination. That interpretation would be that these people were never given the opportunity to believe because of Isaiah’s prophecies. However, the Word of God makes it clear that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13); “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20); and “whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17). No one has ever been denied the opportunity to accept salvation (Ti. 2:11).

Mark 6:5 says that “he (Jesus) could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.” In that instance, it is evident that the reason Jesus couldn’t do any mighty work was not because He didn’t possess the power, but because He chose not to use that power against a person’s will. He couldn’t perform the mighty works because of His decision to uphold our freedom of choice.

Likewise, these Jews could not believe because of their choice to reject Jesus. They could not believe because they chose not to believe. “They stumbled at the stumblingstone” (Rom. 9:32), which was Jesus.

Isaiah did not predestine them to this fate. Rather he saw that very few would receive the report (Isa. 53:1) about the Messiah, and therefore would be kept from the knowledge of salvation because they rejected Him in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found (Col. 2:3). This is what Isaiah prophesied, and it came to pass. Be careful what you choose.

RIGHT LIVING IS A RESULT OF RIGHT BELIEVING

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he… – Proverbs 23:7

Preaching about right living will not result in long-lasting or permanent change in people’s behavior. It’s time for us to go after the root, and the root is not in preaching right living, but in preaching right believing. Believe right and you will live right. The opposite is also true: Believe wrong and you will live wrong.

My friend, Christianity is not about behavior modification. It is about inward heart transformation. So start addressing the root instead. Get hold of good teachings that are full of God’s grace and that reveal His righteousness that comes by faith in Jesus.

When you are anchored on these unshakable foundations, your outward behavior will come in line with His Word and you will begin to be transformed into His image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).

So today, meditate on God’s grace toward you and how you are made right by Jesus’ finished work on the cross. You will produce the fruits of righteousness and reign in life!

THE 12 WELLS AND 70 PALM TREES …

Exodus 15:27 – Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters.

Would you like to know an important biblical key to divine health? It is found in todays verse, which comes right after God says, I am the Lord who heals you. He said this to His people after He brought them out of Egypt. (Exodus 15:26)

The wells of water and palm trees speak of refreshment. They paint a picture of an oasis in the desert. The Israelites rested and were refreshed there. But why the numbers 12 and 70?

There are no insignificant details in the Bible. The 12 wells of water and 70 palm trees represent anointed ministries that refresh you with Gods Word. So if you want to know Jesus as the Lord who heals you, sit under anointed preaching of Gods Word because when His Word goes forth, it will heal you. His Word is medicine to all your flesh! (Proverbs 4:22)

How did I make that connection? Let the Bible interpret the Bible. Matthew 10:1 says that when Jesus had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. He sent out the 12 and said to them, And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons… (Matthew 10:78)

Then, in Luke 10:1, the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. He also said to the 70, And heal the sick there, and say to them, The kingdom of God has come near to you. (Luke 10:9)

In other words, Jesus anointed the 12 and then the 70 disciples to preach Gods Word and heal the sick. Today, if you want refreshment, if you want health and healing, don’t sit under ministries that tell you that God doesn’t always want to heal and that He sometimes gives you diseases to teach you lessons. Instead, sit under anointed ministries that preach the good news and practice healing the sick. My friend, that is how you can begin to walk in divine health!

Free Christian Ebooks
http://walthope.tripod.com
https://walthope.wordpress.com