The Chiseling of the inward man!!!!!

These last seven months have been the most difficult in my life. I was laid off of my job, and this took a toll on me. I fought in prayer for understanding in why God allowed this to happen and I was renewed in good spirits he showed me my wife has a job. Time went by and things were good I was submitting applications looking for employment with no luck. Discouragement set it and it’s a nasty feeling luckily I have a beautiful wife always there to lift my spirits. Two days before thanksgiving my Wife was laid off !!! Man I was furious how could God allow this well let me tell you what I’ve learned……..
God is a God that Giveth and taketh away there were things in me God was working on and I wasn’t listening so God got my attention. I became so content with my walk with him. I failed to whole heartily trust him and him alone. There was anger built up and suppressed never really dealt with. He was chiseling the Old man away and creating a new man. The old man is patterned after Adam, the common ancestor of all mankind. Since the old man is bound by the “law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2), he cannot please God. The new man is patterned after Christ. Since the new man is free in the “law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus”
(Romans 8:2), it is impossible for him to sin. Why? Because the spiritual seed of the Father takes on His sinless characteristics
(I Peter 1:16; I John 3:5,9).
You see I was fighting myself Good vs Evil. The enemy was trying to get me and for the most part he was whooping me but through guidance from my Pastor I was equipped even more so and a spirit renewed in me. We as Christians need to allow God to work in us if not he will get your attention.
By faith, our old man is crucified with Christ, while our new man is raised up with Christ by a “new and living way”
(Hebrews 10:20), which is through His Holy Spirit. “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:11).
I know I’m talking to some body !!!!! Allow God to mold chisel and define you it is in this you shall truly carry your cross whole heartily!!! Be blessed

D.

The shattered Christian

So I have found myself in a serious valley that turned into a dark hole. I was laid off my job in June of this year and until then life was good! Kids were good marriage was good and then it happened!!!!! The overwhelming frustration of not having a job started to consume my every thought I was cranky, moody, outwardly I seemed good nobody was able to see the Hurt the pain . Inwardly I was dying slowly my spirit became vexed every little thing would upset me . I WAS MAD AT GOD! Why would he allow me to loose my job I pay my tithe I pledge I serve in ministry do you see where I’m going everything is (I) it became about me my spiritual life started to halt I didn’t feel like praying or even going to church . It wasn’t until my Wife and I got into an argument that it all became real I was falling back to square one. I have an anger management problem which I thought I was delivered from but I wasn’t I did celebrate which I learned alot but if I could compare it to an auto body shop I just put bondo on and patched it up and painted it to look good. I didn’t cut out the rust and replace it with new metal I didn’t sand it all down and really fix my problem.
After our big fight I went to bed didn’t even pray (sorry God) I was angry but God gave me a dream and in this dream I was preaching this message God showed me I wasn’t relying on him. He showed me he allowed this lay off to occur because he needed to fix me and I needed to trust him and him alone to do it. See I’m a plan B type guy I always got it figured out and if that doesn’t work there’s plan B. With me doing this I completely lost faith. This dream showed me his purpose for me it birthed a new spirit in me. It showed me that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. After what seems like a million applications I’ve submitted resumes letters of interest I realized I haven’t really been FULLY relying on God to come through for me . See God wants to be our partner on our team but there is no I in team . Don’t fall for the lies of the enemy keep pushing forward no one ever said getting to heaven would be easy but well worth the fight! What amazes me through all of this my Wife my best friend saw it all unraveling before her she allowed me to fall flat on face which I needed then sat me down and built me back up ! So if you find your self here it happens just don’t let it bottle up inside of you find some one to be accountable too. I have a few people who I’m accountable too but pride stepped in and I thought I could handle it ! I would like to thank the three people always there for me Pastor Nacho ,Woody, Ralph you three have showed a true heart for this church and it’s people never judging always there and I love ya guys and to my Queen thank you for allowing me to fail and respecting me while I did it and still love and build me back up after you are an amazing woman!

Little Sins Big Monsters

 

 

Ok so its been awhile since I have written anything! I’ve been envolved in our Armor Bearers and Youth Ministry and often try to remember when I was that age. I ask what causes kids raised in church to leave the church. I believe its Little Sins that turn into BIG MONSTERS ! Sounds crazy right? Think about it little lies turn in to avalanche sized lies, a little lust turns into you acting on it. A Little dope turns into a dope feen. The list goes on and on in every scenario! What is SIN you ask well to sum it up its an act against Gods law! The bible tells us we all have sinned and come short of Gods Glory Romans 3:23 ……. No matter how you try to measure sin its still SIN let me ask you If I steal a 25 cent piece of candy or a 25,000.00 car is it not still wrong Did God not die for all sin alike Big or small. In first John it tells us if we confess with our mouth he is faithful and will forgive us.
1 John 1:9 NIV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

I dont want this to just be another blog or topic I wanna see God impact lives. You see little sins became my big Monsters before you knew it I was spiraling out of control no respect for my parents for God for myself for no one or nothing Little sins hardened my heart once on fire for God mind you. I thought I could live a Christian life as a kid and still kick it with the homies eventually SIN SWALLOWED ME WHOLE.
So ask your self are little Sins really worth it took me 16 years to catch that revelation. The message is for kids and Parents alike . Parents we need to remember we are the examples to our kids although every action of child is not soley from a parents reflection but majority of it is. We need to have a balance between life and church and work and most importantly Family! Proverbs tells us

Proverbs 22:6 KJV

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

To conclude next time you catch your self in a little sin ask your self do you want the BIG MONSTER THAT FOLLOWS

D.

Pride minus help equals man!!!!!

So let’s be real for a moment. We all can have pride! Pride I think is one of the biggest down falls to Gods people. In order to fulfill your destiny God has laid out for you we need help from others ie; Your Pastor, accountabilty partner, church leadership etc. and most importantly from GOD.

Scripture says

Proverbs 13:10 NIV

Where there is strife, there is pride,
but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

I love this scripture! It breaks it down for you. Strife is a bitter, angry disagreement which causes PRIDE.  Now once PRIDE enters the situation we as fleshly people shut down. 
No one can tell us anything even if we know its the truth we still rebel and claim to be victorious and not hearing what others might try to reveal to you or even worse what God is trying to reveal to you.

The bible states again pride equals no wisdom

Proverbs 11:2 NIV

When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.

I found this to be the hardest thing to be delivered from. But I believe having a personal relationship with God and your Pastor wisdom can be given to over come this. I believe if your real regardless of how embarassed or ashamed you maybe is the only way to receive help and correction in your life.

The bible is our manual and tells us how God frowns upon PRIDE

Proverbs 21:4 NIV

Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.

Proverbs 16:5 NIV

The Lord detests all the proud of heart.
Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

So to conclude this blog is to encourage people to Pray to God to deliver you from this evil Spirit called pride to engage with God pleading to him to help you maintain a pure heart! Go to your Pastor, Church leadership, or accountability partners Let them impart wisdom in you and the best place to go is the Living word the sword of the spirit the HOLY BIBLE

Waitng Room

The Waiting room!  When I hear that I cringe automatically I think of a  Dr’s office waiting forever for a 2 minute visit. Well folks this is the Doctor of all Doctors God!
How many times do you find yourself praying to God but never really allowing God the time to answer ur request!

I was reading Habakkuk and was imediately inspired one passage reads

Habakkuk 2:1-3 NIV

I will stand at my watch
and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
and what answer I am to give to this complaint. Then the Lord replied:
“Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come
and will not delay.

This is powerful!  This tells us to set forth our requests to God and and that He will reveal as he  sees fit for that appointed time!!!!!! God is awesome he is like our Master Architect
Building and creating Master piece after Master piece !!!!
But God can only perfect his works in us if we allow and I have found personally on many occassions I have set forth my prayers n requests and got up was done praying went about my business!  One day I was pleading to God asking him what his problem was….. the nerve of me huh!!!!!!!! And all I could see was the word WAIT!  His timing is always perfect. What we call adversity God calls opportunity! We are a quick fix a microwave type of people give me give me we are fast paced acting on impulse we must slow our selves to speak and quicken ourselves to listen.  God has all the answers you just have to be willing to hear them. Take self out of the picture and everything will become clear

Little Sins Big Monsters

Ok so its been awhile since I have written anything! I’ve been envolved in our Armor Bearers and Youth Ministry and often try to remember when I was that age. I ask what causes kids raised in church to leave the church. I believe its Little Sins that turn into BIG MONSTERS ! Sounds crazy right? Think about it little lies turn in to avalanche sized lies, a little lust turns into you acting on it. A Little dope turns into a dope feen. The list goes on and on in every scenario! What is SIN you ask well to sum it up its an act against Gods law! The bible tells us we all have sinned and come short of Gods Glory Romans 3:23 ……. No matter how you try to measure sin its still SIN let me ask you If I steal a 25 cent piece of candy or a 25,000.00 car is it not still wrong Did God not die for all sin alike Big or small. In first John it tells us if we confess with our mouth he is faithful and will forgive us.
1 John 1:9 NIV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

I dont want this to just be another blog or topic I wanna see God impact lives. You see little sins became my big Monsters before you knew it I was spiraling out of control no respect for my parents for God for myself for no one or nothing Little sins hardened my heart once on fire for God mind you. I thought I could live a Christian life as a kid and still kick it with the homies eventually SIN SWALLOWED ME WHOLE.
So ask your self are little Sins really worth it took me 16 years to catch that revelation. The message is for kids and Parents alike . Parents we need to remember we are the examples to our kids although every action of child is not soley from a parents reflection but majority of it is. We need to have a balance between life and church and work and most importantly Family! Proverbs tells us

Proverbs 22:6 KJV

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

To conclude next time you catch your self in a little sin ask your self do you want the BIG MONSTER THAT FOLLOWS

D.

God Speaks

 

So I am having surgery tomorrow and I thought this was an appropriate topic! Many times through out my Christian Walk I have encountered God in different ways. Through the Prophetic, dreams, even words of encouragement. You have to tune in to the right channel ! We as Christians are equipped with many attributes God has given us!
Rev 3:22 (NIV) “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

God speaks to us through our minds and hearts. God occasionally speaks audibly to His children when He has placed them in situations that require great faith. Thus, the miraculous aspect of a physical voice coming from nowhere allows us to believe in situations that are beyond us.

Often we ask God to speak to us, only to hear back, “if you are so interested in what I think, then why didn’t you do the last thing I told you?” Obedience is the response that keeps the dialog going. If we refuse to do what God tells us in the little things, we risk deafening our spiritual ear. If we refuse to do what God speaks in the big things, we risk his active rebuke.

Jer 6:10 (NIV) “To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.”

Mat 17:5 (NIV) While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

The key is to actually listen when he speaks to us. It can be wierd when you hear walk up and pray for this man he is ill. Give this person/or business a donation. Talk to this guy he needs to hear encouragement. Our carnal flesh often will have us ignore Gods prompts. We have to humble our selves to be obedient so we may hear Gods voice. Next time you hear him respond by obeying.