Tag: Daily Bread

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Don’t Be The Pike

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. ~ Proverbs 13:12

In 1873, German zoologist Karl Möbius placed a Pike (a voracious ambush predator found across the Northern Hemisphere) in a glass tank with a group of schooling fish. Karl Möbius separated the Pike from the group of schooling fish with a transparent glass barrier. The Pike continuously attempted to get to the other fish but kept hitting the glass barrier. After failing over and over again, the predator gave up and retreated to the back corner of the tank. Karl Möbius then removed the glass barrier, but the Pike didn’t attack when the other fish entered his side of the tank. They swam all around him, yet he didn’t move. He didn’t attempt to catch them once. Not long after, the Pike Fish died of starvation in a tank full of food. This experiment later became known as the Pike Effect.

Some of us are like this Pike. We’ve tried so many times, but failure has beaten us down. It puts us in a place of hopelessness. A learned helplessness that keeps us from trying even when the obstacle has been removed. Even when there’s nothing more stopping us, we still refuse to try because our brain has been conditioned to believe that it’s pointless. That family member that we’ve been praying for for so many years has only gotten worse. That cancer diagnosis that we’ve been praying against hasn’t changed. That relationship we’ve set before God seems to have worsened. That sin we’ve been struggling with feels like its grip has only gotten tighter. We feel helpless and broken. But we can’t give in.

We can’t give up. There is a time and season for everything. Sometimes, the enemy puts a barrier between us and what God has for us. We hit that glass so many times that we just feel like there’s no getting through. Like there’s no way around it. But we aren’t that Pike. We are children of God Most High. Sons and daughters of God the Almighty. We are not without hope. Some of us are in a time of testing that feels like it will never end. Some of us are in a Job season, and the whole world is just weighing on our shoulders. But here’s the thing: we aren’t in the tank alone. We aren’t fighting the enemy on our own or in our own power. We fight in the Name and power of our LORD Jesus Christ. And because of Him, we are never without hope. Yes, the fulfillment may be delayed for a time, but not forever. For when we call on Him, He answers. And when we cry out to Him, He runs to our rescue. You are not alone. Never let the enemy convince you otherwise.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Don’t Be The Pike.

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A Dangerous Friend

22 All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast 23 till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life. ~ Proverbs 7:22-23

I recently watched The Twilight Zone for the first time. It was an episode called “To Serve Man,” and it really just made me think, this is exactly the Church. See, this 9-ft-tall alien came to Earth to solve all of mankind’s problems. Poverty, World Hunger, as well as international conflicts. And when he followed through on these promises, mankind gave him and the rest of his people (the Kanamits) their trust. They trusted them so much that more and more Kanamits came to Earth, and in return thousands of humans went to their planet. The Kanamits end goal? They were taking mankind to their planet to cook them and eat them. They were keeping them in rooms and serving them fattening food to get them ready for slaughter like an animal.

The Kanamits were able to conquer all of humanity without a single weapon. Not one single threat. They simply offered to fix all of their problems and followed through on it. They asked for nothing in return from humanity other than trust. That’s all they asked for. For mankind to trust them. That was all they asked. Nothing more, nothing less. And because they gave mankind everything they promised, mankind in turn gave them their trust.

The Kanamits painted the perfect planet to mankind. Even sending them back letters from family members praising how amazing the planet was. A foolproof plan to manipulate mankind into willingly coming with them to become their food source. Like an ox going to the slaughter, none knew it would cost them their life. This is the Church today.

The enemy doesn’t always show up like a roaring lion prowling around seeking someone to devour. Sometimes, the enemy shows up like a friend, promising to fix all your problems. Promising that he will give you all of these wonderful things, and in return? You just have to trust him. And by the time you realize what’s really going on, he has your soul, and there’s no return. There’s no hope, but thanks be to God that He has given us an out. That He has sent His Son, Jesus, to destroy contracts and redeem us from all that we have done.

Thank You, LORD, that You have always given us a way to return to You. That from the beginning of time You were working to our Salvation. To our redemption. Thank You for sacrificing Yourself for me. For redeeming me from darkness. Please forgive me for each time I’ve given in to temptation and fallen short. Please open my eyes that I might have the Spirit of Discernment. That I might discern the attacks of the enemy. That I might see his schemes before I fall prey to his traps. Teach me how to discern between good and evil. Righteousness and unrighteousness. Please help me, LORD. Cover me in Your precious and holy blood. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Look Past The Cute Unicorn

24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” ~ Matthew 13:24-30

Parents are currently taking their young children to see a new movie without even checking to see what it’s about first. Now, you may be wondering: what’s the big deal if they don’t research every single movie before taking their kids to see it? The film they’re taking their young children to see is a horror film. It’s a dark what-if spin on Barney. How is this happening?

Parents see a cute unicorn in a show with some smiling kids that gives the same feels as Barney did, and so they take them to see it. No checking first. No reading what the film’s about. Nothing. Just looking at a cover image of the film and thinking it looks cute. Christians are a lot like this. Having the appearance of goodness doesn’t make something good. Having the appearance of innocence doesn’t make it innocent. It’s not about the outside alone, but about the inside.

We are spiritual beings living in both a physical and spiritual world. We can’t just live our lives by, it looks safe, so it must be safe. No. We have to research. We have to pay attention. We are in a spiritual war right now. It doesn’t matter how good the beat sounds or how catchy the song is; what do the words say? What are the people singing that song saying? We, as Christians, have to be like the LORD, especially when it comes to discernment. We don’t just look at outward appearance, but we look at the heart.

We don’t just take someone’s word for it, we look at their fruit. We pay attention to what is being sold to us, and we don’t always have to buy everything they try to sell to us. Our enemy disguises himself as an angel of light; why would his followers not do the same? We have to stay awake. We have to stay vigilant. We have to pay attention and be watchful, for evil is sown while good men sleep.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Look Past The Cute Unicorn.

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Let Him Dig Deeper

9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. ~ 2 Kings 5:9-14

Sometimes worship doesn’t heal the wounds; sometimes worship does the opposite. It deepens them. When we pray, when we worship, we expect an immediate healing every single time. A quick fix so we can get back to life as usual, but not every wound is fixed by one prayer and worship session. Sometimes that one session opens the wound deeper, not because God is cruel or the wound is too great for Him, but because God is getting to the root of your wound. Sometimes, there’s something bigger, something deeper going on that we don’t even see or realize. Something buried so deep it’s become hidden from our conscious mind. So, it takes God digging deeper in us to reveal all that’s holding us back. All that’s keeping us from moving forward in life.

So, what are we to do? We keep peeling back the layers. One prayer. One worship session at a time. We dig and dig until we get to the root of the wound. The root of the hurt. The root of the pain. And once we get to the root of all of these things, that’s where we’ll find peace. That’s where we’ll find our solace. That’s where we’ll find our healing.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Let Him Dig Deeper.

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Identify Then Guard

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! ~ Psalms 139:23-24

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same LORD; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills. ~ 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

David was the prophesied king who was a man after God’s own heart. A man who was to lead Israel in the ways of righteousness, but he fell over and over again. He looked out at Israel and sinned by numbering them. He didn’t go to war with his men, as their king and leader, and ended up not only impregnating one of his men’s wives, but having that same man carry his own death note. David had a gift of leadership. A gift of worship. A gift of knowing how to come in and how to go out, but the enemy tried to corrupt that. He tried to take that away from him.

See, each of us is given a gift from God. A gift that will propel you into your God-given call. Because of that, your gift can often be the inspiration for Satan’s attacks. Here’s what I mean. I know someone who has a gift of encouragement, but every now and then, words just fall out of their mouth that tear others down. I know another who can see the spiritual battle we’re in with their own eyes but struggled so badly with fear that they didn’t sleep at night well into adulthood. See, if the enemy can keep you from using your gift, then He can keep you from fulfilling your God-given call.

So, what do we do? Identify, then guard. First, identify your gift, then guard it with all your heart. See, your enemy knows you better than you even know yourself. He will try to corrupt, distort, and stop all of the good the LORD has in store for you to do by attacking who you are. Your gifts help make up who you are. Who you are in Christ and who you are to the world. Your testimony is precious; it’s a weapon to fight darkness. Don’t ever allow the enemy to take it away from you.

11 And they have conquered [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

Revelation 12:11

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Identify Then Guard.

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Learn The Full Truth

11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. ~ 2 Corinthians 2:11

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ~ 1 Peter 5:8

Every good legend or even every good lie has some kind of truth to it, but just because there is a little truth in something doesn’t make it truth or reliable. See, when Satan tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, he didn’t fully lie to her. He told her truth mixed with deception. He said, ‘You won’t die but become like God knowing Good and Evil.’ That wasn’t a lie with no truth in it.

Satan was telling the truth; Eve wasn’t going to die in the natural sense, but in the spiritual sense. She didn’t understand that she was being deceived. That she only knew part of the truth. This is how the enemy still works today. He’ll give you some truth. Partial truth. Half truth, but not the full truth. Not all that it entails. Jesus loves you. God loves you. True statements. But there’s more to it. It’s not just a full-stop. It’s not just a do-whatever-you-want free pass. We must remain in His love. But Satan doesn’t push that part of the truth.

When He tempted Jesus in the wilderness, used Judas, used Peter, etc. all the same MO. The same pattern of behavior. Paul told the Corinthians that we are not unaware of Satan’s schemes. Peter says we have to be watchful because Satan is a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. We have to know the Word in order to combat half the Word being spoken to us. If we don’t pay attention to the past and implement it into our present, it’ll become our future.

One of my favorite verses that I think really sums this up well is God’s judgment in Hosea.

6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge
because you have rejected knowledge,
I reject you from being a priest to me.
And since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.

Hosea 4:6

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Learn The Full Truth.

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Keep Swimming In Circles

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. ~ Proverbs 13:12

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

One of the greatest painters of all time is Vincent Van Gogh, yet while he was alive, he sold only a single painting. One single painting. He was depressed. Down on himself. He lost hope. One day, he had a manic episode of sorts that caused him to cut off part of his ear. It was so bad that he had no memory of doing it. He died less than two years later at the age of 37. He struggled with the fact that he had sold only one painting in his 37 years, and he couldn’t find the light at the end of the dark tunnel.

Van Gogh, however, wasn’t alone in this. His brother, Theo, supported him and encouraged him. He believed in him, but it just wasn’t enough for him. Theo died just six months after Vincent Van Gogh. Many believe it was from the heartbreak of losing his brother, who died from a gunshot wound. Theo’s last words were, supposedly, “the sadness will last forever.” Two brothers who died way too young, I believe, suffered from the same pain: hopelessness.

See, without hope, we are consumed by pain. We are consumed by the darkness that surrounds us. Theo believed in his brother. He was his biggest supporter. His biggest cheerleader, but it wasn’t enough for Vincent Van Gogh. This kind of pain is one of the most dangerous holes to fall into because this kind of pain, specifically, feeds off of hopelessness, so it fills you with hopelessness. The immense danger? The only way to overcome it is hope.

If it can remove hope from you, there’s no way out. It’s won. It’s completely consumed you. They did a study on rats on this very thing. They put each rat into a body of water without a way out. They all drowned very quickly. They then did the same study with another group of rats, but this time they saved them before they drowned and put them back in the bucket. This time, they had hope of being saved. So, what happened? They swam. They kept swimming in circles for hours. They refused to give up because they had hope that they would be rescued.

Our lives are filled with moments that feel helpless. That feel like there is no way out. But we have to keep swimming, even if we don’t see a safe haven. Even if all we see is open water surrounding us, we have to keep swimming. We can’t give in to despair.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Keep Swimming In Circles.

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Prepare For The Hour of Trial

28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. ~ Luke 21:28NKJV

I believe that we are living in the last days. The days leading up to the Second Coming of Christ. I know people who disagree, not because they don’t see the signs or times, but because every generation has thought they’d be the generation that sees Christ. This isn’t an argument. This is an ostrich. This is someone who puts their head in the sand and ignores all that’s going on around them in hopes that it’ll somehow make it go away.

Jesus said we would know when to look up. He said we would know when our redemption was at hand. Never before have we been able to video call someone across the world from a tiny device that fits in our pockets. Never before have we had artificial intelligence that not only can think and learn, but is self-preserving. Let that sink in. AI is now doing whatever it takes in order to not be shut down, every time they (their creators and owners) run simulations that threaten that very thing. They are acting with what can only be perceived as emotions.

There has never been a time like this. No other generation of the Church has lived with these signs. With these situations and scenarios. These aren’t just little things. These are signs. Signs that the end is coming and it’s close at hand. Now is the time to seek the LORD and build your spirit man. Now, while there is still relative peace. While there is still relative freedom. Don’t wait for the end to come upon you. Don’t wait for the end show up like a food to seek the LORD. Seek Him now. Seek His face. Seek His presence. Seek His strength.

There is a time of great tribulation that is coming on the earth, a time that will proceed the Second Coming of Christ. A time that the days must be cut short for the sake of His elect. A time that is unlike anything experienced, nor will ever be experienced again. How will we stand if we can’t stand now, in freedom? In peace? Jesus is coming back soon, but the Great Tribulation will be even sooner.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Prepare For The Hour of Trial.

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Pay Attention To The Words

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. ~ Proverbs 18:21

The 1611 King James Bible is often believed to be the one true English translation. I’ve even seen pastors who preach that you can use the King James to correct the Greek and the Hebrew. That no other English Bible translation is as pure or uncorrupted as the King James is, especially the 1611 version. That it’s the one true English translation kept and preserved by God Himself.

What I’ve also noticed is that it’s often the Bible choice of those who have tainted belief systems, such as Oneness, no women teachers or preachers Baptists, Black Hebrew Israelites, Hebrew Israelites, etc. Could it be that the King James Version is corrupted itself?

Here’s what I mean: they translated ‘You’ when referring to God as ‘thou.’ No big deal, right? Who cares? The people of the time did. Why? ‘Thou’ is the word used for someone beneath you. It was used for servants, children, never for God. The people of the time period actually protested against it because of this. After the King James publication and push, you can actually see the decline of the Church in power, influence, etc. It gave way to the Age of Enlightenment, which led the hearts of men away from the heart of God.

Words have meaning, even if we don’t realize the weight of said words. Our understanding of the word has no impact on the word itself. It doesn’t change the actual meaning of the word. God created the earth and all that’s in it with just His Word. Words are powerful, and they are important. Jesus said that we’d be judged for every careless word we speak. Therefore, be careful with the words you allow into your life, soul, mind, and the words you allow out of your mouth.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Pay Attention To The Words.

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Remain Faithful In Silence

18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ~ John 14:18-19

During the 400 years of silence, a new scroll with new beliefs and teachings came into being. A revelation during the years of no revelation. This new teaching was the Book of Enoch (Enoch I). Teachings of deeper understanding of the secrets of Genesis. Teachings filling in information that was not given to us. Teachings that have continued throughout the generations and even found itself in the teachings of the Church today.

How can we receive revelation from God if God has been silent? The silence was so intense that the coming of John the Baptist shook the entire nation. There was no prophet, revelation, or spirit coming down and resting on anyone after Malachi until John the Baptist, yet we have this appearing of the Book of Enoch. And because of it, the entire salvation plan has been corrupted. When we ignore Scripture and seek out Truth in anything else, we corrupt the Scripture just as the Pharisees did with their traditions.

As Christians, we can’t afford to have our faith tainted by false revelations. Sometimes, God is silent, but if we try to force revelation, we will only turn ourselves and others away from Him and His Truth. Away from True revelation. So, what do we do in times of silence? We seek God in the Scriptures we have. In the Scriptures we know are from Him.

As we study, seek, and wait, God will show up. See, God promised us that we have not and will not ever be abandoned as orphans. Never forsaken because we are His children. He is with us always, even though sometimes He is silent for a period of time, waiting for the perfect time to reveal Himself to those seeking Him.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Remain Faithful In Silence.

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