Tag: Food For Growth

³⁰ Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; ³¹ but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. ~ Isaiah 40:30-31

The LORD called us to be like the eagles, but why? What’s so special about an eagle? Apparently, an eagle has amazingly good eyesight, which allows it to spot prey from a long distance away. In the same way, a praying Christian who stays in tune with the LORD will have amazing spiritual eyesight. They will see or sense danger, deceit, or the enemy when everyone else is shouting that there is peace and safety. The Christian will have extraordinary insight into the things of God and will recognize His voice.

The length of an eagle’s wingspan will depend on its environment. Now this is interesting because it can contrast with the Christian life. The wingspan of an eagle can be compared to the mountain-moving faith of the Christian. Because the environment in which the eagle lives will determine its wingspan. Eagles living in forested areas will have a shorter wingspan than those eagles living in wide open areas.

Likewise, a Christian living in a dead, legalistic, spirit of religion type of environment who say that healing is only if Jesus wills, so everyone won’t receive a healing, or that miracles and signs and wonders ceased when the last apostle died, will never expand his/her faith like one who thrives in an environment where miracles are welcomed, and sign and wonders are expected. It all depends on your environment and how wide your wingspan of faith will grow.

The LORD called us for greater and better things. Therefore, don’t remain on the ground, never reaching your full potential. Instead, seek the LORD earnestly, and He will mount you up with wings like eagles. And you will soar to new heights. For we are to go from glory to glory, never remaining in the same spot (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Soar Like Eagles.

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¹² And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. ¹³ He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” ¹⁴ And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. ¹⁵ But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, ¹⁶ and they said to Him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” ¹⁷ And leaving them, He went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there. ~ Matthew 21:12-17

Jesus entered the temple and became filled with righteous anger. He understood what was happening in the present and what happened in the past and made a connection so that we could understand why He was so upset and why He called the temple a “Den of Robbers.” If it was just about selling, then why didn’t He just use the same terminology He did earlier, recorded in the book of John? Why didn’t He just use that same wording and call it a house of trade? Because that’s not what He was talking about. Jesus was talking about going through another way than through Him. The people there understood this. We can tell by their response to Jesus driving out the money changers.

After He drove out the money changers, the blind and lame came into the Temple to Him, and He healed them. You see the connection? Jesus said in John 10 that He was the door to the sheepfold. Everybody that tries to enter in through a different way is a thief and a robber. When He comes into the temple and sees all that’s taking place, He drives out the buyer and seller, flips money-changers’ tables and seats of pigeon sellers, and then says that they’ve made the house of the LORD which is supposed to be a house of prayer, a den of robbers. When they hear this, they come into the Temple to Jesus in order to receive a healing. They understood what Jesus was getting at. They understood the point He was making. Jesus is the only way to salvation and healing. He is the supplier of all of our needs.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Go To Jesus For All Things.

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¹⁶ Then a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, ‘Come here, that I may speak to you.’” ¹⁷ And he came near her, and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Listen to the words of your servant.” And he answered, “I am listening.” ¹⁸ Then she said, “They used to say in former times, ‘Let them but ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter. ¹⁹ I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the heritage of the Lord?” ²⁰ Joab answered, “Far be it from me, far be it, that I should swallow up or destroy! ²¹ That is not true. But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, called Sheba the son of Bichri, has lifted up his hand against King David. Give up him alone, and I will withdraw from the city.” And the woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall.” ²² Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they dispersed from the city, every man to his home. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king. ~ 2 Samuel 20:16-22

Mothers, you ought to live peaceable lives, and you ought to teach your family to live peaceable lives. Lead by example. I didn’t say not to protect. I said, don’t go stirring up trouble; avoid it at all costs. See what the wise woman said in verse 19, I am one of those who are peaceable.

When war came to her city, she did not call the men to arms; she sought peace without firing a single shot. What am I talking about?

I’m saying there will be times when trials arise in the home, and it’s how you respond to those trials that will determine the outcome. Mrs. Graham (the wife of Evangelist Billy Graham) said, “A true mother is primarily and essentially a trainer.” Children learn from what they see. And a peacemaker isn’t born; they are taught. It is the peacemakers that will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9).

My wife works in IT, and sometimes she gets emails or some type of correspondence that riles her and makes her blood boil. Her policy is, do not respond right away, give it time, and write your response if you want, but don’t send it. It’s better to reply the next day. If time is of the essence to email, then have someone vet it for you. Children will have their disagreements and find ways to help them solve their disputes. Train them to learn to find solutions for their own problems, and they will be problem-solvers when they are adults.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Raise Peacemakers.

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¹³ For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. ~ Psalms 139:13

I once heard someone say that if we want to change the way we see the unborn, we have to change the way we talk about and define mothers. For the average person, a mother is someone who has given birth to a child or adopted a child, but from the moment of conception, women become mothers. The woman is protecting, providing for, and essentially growing a baby inside of their own body. What is more motherly than that?

All pregnant women aren’t soon-to-be mothers; they are expectant mothers. The role of a mother starts from conception because from that moment on, a mother’s attitude, emotions, diet, and even her spiritual journey will directly affect and impact her unborn child because they are directly connected. And that connection can never truly be broken.

So, to every mother out there, strive to do what’s best for your child from the moment of conception to your last breath. If God is forming your child in your womb from conception, then every action you make after conception directly affects that unborn baby. A mother is a role that can’t be left void and empty. Always be someone who protects, provides, and grows their child in a way that is right before the eyes of the LORD. And fathers, always be someone that holds up the mother.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be A Mother.

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¹⁶ Then a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, ‘Come here, that I may speak to you.’” ¹⁷ And he came near her, and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Listen to the words of your servant.” And he answered, “I am listening.” ¹⁸ Then she said, “They used to say in former times, ‘Let them but ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter. ¹⁹ I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the heritage of the Lord?” ²⁰ Joab answered, “Far be it from me, far be it, that I should swallow up or destroy! ²¹ That is not true. But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, called Sheba the son of Bichri, has lifted up his hand against King David. Give up him alone, and I will withdraw from the city.” And the woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall.” ²² Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they dispersed from the city, every man to his home. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king. ~ 2 Samuel 20:16-22

I want you to notice how the Scripture describes the city. “You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel.” This city wasn’t just any city; it was considered a mother in Israel. That changed all the rules of the game. The people of Israel looked to this mother city for wisdom, advice, and leadership. This is where they went to inquire. As soon as danger raised its vicious head, this mother in this mother city sprang into action. The Mama Bear was released.

The woman in the story is not named; she is merely called a wise woman. One of the attributes of a wise woman is to avert danger, especially critical danger, as what was about to happen to Abel.

What had happened was Sheba, the son of Bichri, saw his opportunity to seize power while the kingdom was right at the end of the civil war led by King David’s now-dead son, Absalom. Sheba blew the trumpet in an attempt to try to rally the previous rebellious troops against King David and make himself ruler. But King David nipped that in the bud right away by sending Joab, the general of his army, to take care of business.

Sheba took refuge in a city named Abel of Beth-maacah. The city was a walled city with locked gates. So, Joab prepared to tear down the wall to get Sheba. But a wise woman, a mother in Israel, stood up to the mighty Joab, and with great wisdom, she averted the great and pending danger.

Mothers, that is your job as a mama bear to avert danger from your family. I would probably be a lot better off financially if I had heeded my wife’s subtle warnings. Husbands, even though you are the head of the wife, please understand that she isn’t there to just serve you and your needs. She is also used by God, filled with wisdom, understanding, and instinct in order to serve the Kingdom of God and her family. When you have a wise wife or mother, listen to their wise judgments. Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be A Wise Mama Bear.

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²⁸ When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” ²⁹ And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to Him. ~ John 11:28-29

Lazarus had been dead in the tomb for four days when Jesus finally showed up. When Mary and Martha heard Jesus was on His way, only Martha got up and ran to Him, but Mary remained morning in the house. After speaking to Jesus, Martha returned to get Mary. That’s when Mary got up and went to Jesus.

See, Martha was grieving her brother as well, but she could handle it. She could deal with it. She still had faith in Jesus regardless, but Mary was struggling. She only got up because Jesus called her. Sometimes, we have to be Martha. Situations and circumstances happen that will attack our faith, but if we remain strong, we must help our brother or sister.

Martha knew where her hope was. She knew in whom she trusted. So, after speaking to Jesus and being renewed, or at the very least comforted by the Comforter Himself, she left her safe place and went to get her sister so that she could also get to a place of safety.

This is our job as Christians. We’re to hold on to Jesus, but we’re also to go help our brother or sister and lead them back to Christ when they stray. This is why we’re the body of Christ. We are to help our brothers and sisters fight when they can’t fight anymore. We’re to help encourage, lead them back to the Master, and help them find green pasture. We’re never to leave our brother and sister behind without trying to help them.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Call Mary to The Teacher.

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²¹ I have not sent these prophets, yet they run around claiming to speak for me. I have given them no message, yet they go on prophesying. ²² If they had stood before me and listened to me, they would have spoken my words, and they would have turned my people from their evil ways and deeds. ~ Jeremiah 23:21-22^NLT

Not too long ago, I was having a conversation with someone who said, “After all, we weren’t created to judge. The Bible tells us not to judge.” I responded, “That’s debatable.” Her posture then straightened, and she got noticeably annoyed as she said, “Well, I wasn’t created to judge.” This is the average Christian today. We’ve been brainwashed from childhood that making a judgment on whether something is right or wrong is not only wrong to do, but it’s hateful. Why?

Because the enemy knows that if we correct people and show the Truth, Light will begin to penetrate the darkness. More people will be saved. The more righteousness will be done on the earth and the less souls he will be able to claim. To judge simply means to deem either right or wrong, and the most important part for a disciple of Jesus is that it’s not our own opinions; it’s God’s. God has had His Word written for us so that we don’t have to guess what’s right or wrong. So that we didn’t have to guess whether we were living in sin or for Him. God’s Judgment gets rid of the guessing. He’s laid it all out for us in Scripture. So that we might live and not die.

If we want to live in eternity with God, then we have to live on this earth for Him. We have to judge between what’s right and what’s wrong. What’s good and what’s evil. What’s true and what’s false. How can there be Light in the darkness if the Light is forbidden from judging between the Light and the darkness? The Light in this world will continue to dwindle unless men and women of God stand up for righteousness and begin to righteously judge with love and compassion.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Judge Between Light and Dark.

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⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. ¹ My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. ~ 1 John 1:9-2:1

I believe Repentance is an ongoing thing. We are instructed not to sin, but if we do sin, and I am not talking about deliberate sinning, the kind where we are now taking advantage of God’s grace but honest mistakes, we have Jesus as our Advocate. We confess, repent, and endeavor not to commit the same sin again and again. Otherwise, we will be crucifying the Son of God over and over again. No one who has repented, or changed their worldview, continues to willfully sin just because they feel they can repent for it later because of grace.

Grace isn’t a license to sin. It’s not an indulgence. When you get saved, a temptation will come. It will be a really good opportunity, one that you feel you cannot pass up, because it’s a chance of a lifetime, at least you feel it’s a chance of a lifetime. A chance like Joseph had to sleep with the master’s wife, but it’s a lie, DO NOT FALL FOR IT. Look out for temptations by the enemy. Be on guard.

John told us that Jesus is faithful and just to forgive anyone who asks Him to, and we can rest assured in that promise. So, we endeavor not to continue living in the flesh, or in other words, we stop willfully sinning. Why? Because you change in pursuit of dwelling forever in the presence of the LORD.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be Aware of Temptations By The Enemy.

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²¹ And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise Him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His steadfast love endures forever.” ²² And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. ²³ For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another. ~ 2 Chronicles 20:21-23

The king did not send out spies, nor did he set up his battle lines, nor did he arrange the artillery of longbows to volley arrows. He doesn’t even set a plan B, just in case. Just in case Brother Jahaziel had gotten it wrong. What he did was; after taking counsel with the people, he appointed singers. Praise and worship leaders in holy attire to go before the army.

These were not men who were all tatted up and looking like the world with their pants hanging off. They weren’t dressed in torn-up jeans and worn-out T-shirts, nor were they dressed in Bermuda shorts and shoeless. Their toes weren’t grabbing the grass. They weren’t flipping dirt with their big toes. No, they were dressed in their Sunday best, not in their Saturday worst. It was in holy attire singing:

“Give thanks to the Lord, for His steadfast love endures forever.”

I want you to understand something. The word Judah means “Praise” or “Praise Yahweh.” Now, Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are always associated with occult and idol worship, and they were always hostile to Judah. Judah was the tribe of singers, worshippers, and praisers. That was who they were. That’s what the LORD intended our worship leaders to be today. He didn’t intend for us to look like the world; instead, He intended for us to come out of the world. For the world to know who we are, which is why the world doesn’t accept us but hates us.

Yes, God can use all people, regardless of their outward appearance or their past. Yes, we are to come as we are, but we aren’t to stay as we are, nor are we to try to imitate the world in order to intrigue the world. We are to be a light in this dark world because we are to guide those in the darkness to the light. To God. To Jesus. We are to mimic Christ, not mimic the world.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Mimic Christ.

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⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ~ John 15:7-8

Jesus is making a covenant promise to us. He said all you have to do is to abide in Him and let His words abide in you, then you can ask whatever you wish, or whatever you desire, and guess what? He will do it for you just because you have asked Him. Why? Because we have a covenant relationship, and I am a covenant-keeping God.

Now I want you to notice that the granting of our prayers and petition is directly connected to bearing fruit. It is directly connected to the harvest and to the increase. Why? Because the Father is glorified every time we have answered prayer because every time we have an answered prayer, we increase and bear fruit, and it leads to the Father being glorified.

I want to challenge you to take Jesus up on His offer of you abiding in Him and His word abiding in you. Then ask whatever you desire and see the Father glorified.

LORD Jesus, please show us what it means to abide in You and Your word to abide in us. Then give us the faith to receive what we ask for in prayer, that we might glorify the Father, for it is in Your name that we pray, amen.

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