Isaiah 42:9

Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

Today is a good day to begin again. Whatever did or didn’t happen yesterday, leave it in the past. Today you have been given a brand new day with brand new mercies, to begin again. Let God create new ideas and new ways to go forward. Today is the day for your miracle. Today is the day of Salvation. Good things are coming your way TODAY. Look up, get ready, stay steady, be prepared to receive the fullness of what God has for you, TODAY. New steps, new depths, new adventures in the grace of God. Rejoice and be glad, God is with you and for you. Be Blessed!

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God is expecting much fruit from our lives. He has imparted love into our hearts and love is saturated with life producing soil. Love is the perfect medium for good fruit to grow, thrive and multiply. Love will never produce evil things; hatred, strife, jealousy, insecurity, pride, bitterness etc. Love will never give birth to spiritual death and decay. Love will always produce fruit that will glorify God. Love will never go against the will of God. Love will always side with God no matter the latest popular opinion. Love will always offer up the most holy sacrifices and praise. Love will always honor God.

Love’s fruit is easily ingested without harmful side effects. God can trust the fruit that comes from love because it is a product of Himself. Love produces after it’s own kind. Love will never produce off-spring that looks like the world, flesh or devil.

Jesus said you will know a tree by the fruit it bears. Love leaves no question as to who it’s Father is. The fruit of love is genuine, never phony.

Jesus said God chose us to bear fruit that would remain. God has faith in love, He knows it will never compromise. Love will not settle for less than what God promised. Love will not negotiate with the enemy when the pressures of life come. God knows that what ever is produced from love will remain and it will be faithful to glorify Him forever. God knows Love’s fruit won’t turn sour and putrefy after a few years but will remain luscious and pleasing year after year after year.

LOVE BEARS THE PErFECT FRUIT!!!!

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Psalms 23:5

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 

In the 23rd Psalms, the psalmist speaks of a table. It was not just any old table but a prepared table. When someone prepares something, they generally are expecting someone to show up or something to happen. The psalmist made it clear that the one who was doing the preparing was the Shepherd.

The word prepare is defined as; to take the necessary action to put something into a state where it is fit for use or action, or for a particular event or purpose.

It is very obvious to those who know the Lord and are familiar with His character and nature that He is not a haphazard God. God is very orderly and organized. God never just throws things together and hope it all works out alright. Everything God does has purpose, power, and passion. Therefore, when we think of a table that has been prepared by God, we must think and imagine on a higher level. We must consider who is preparing this table and the resources that they have to do what they are doing.

Now, there are people in this world who have lots of money and earthly resources but they don’t have the nature of God. God is an extravagant giver. He is not stingy nor is He greedy. The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. God’s resources and supplies are unlimited; they are inexhaustible.

God is gracious and always looking for ways to bless and overflow people’s lives with abundance. God is Love and Love manifests itself through giving. God is never selfish; He is not trying to hoard things for Himself.

The scripture declares that the Shepherd prepares a table before you. Now, notice it doesn’t say “He prepares a table and sits you at the table”. No, it says “He prepares a table before you”. This could mean either that He is getting it ready as you are looking or that He put an already prepared table right in front of you.

In the natural, when you are expecting a guest for dinner, you prepare the table with your guest in mind. You particularly pay attention to what they like and also in love, what they need. The table that God prepares for us is right before us. It’s not hidden or covered…it’s right there. Now, He is putting this table in front of you so that you can benefit from what’s on it. But if you never go sit down and start partaking of its bounty, you will only be a spectator. We can shout about the table, dance about the table, tell other people how pretty the table is, yet never sit down and enjoy what’s on the table ourselves.

Whatever God puts on your table is for you. Because the Shepherd knows His sheep, your table is stacked just for you. When you sit down at your table, you will never need to look across the room to see if your neighbor got more or better things than you. The Good Shepherd will always provide lavishly for each and every sheep. There may even be something’s you see on your table that you may think surely the Shepherd has made a mistake this should be on so and so’s table not your table. But rest assured God knows exactly what He has put on your table. So don’t fret, just dig right in and start eating. Know that everything on that table is for you and that it is good.

Make sure that you don’t get distracted by your enemies that are standing around watching you partake from your table. Don’t let fear or intimidation stop you from eating. Don’t let guilt harass you into the sense realm. It will have you saying things like, “But I feel bad about prospering right in front of them and they are just standing there with nothing.” The enemy of guilt and shame will use manipulation and pity to try and make you get up from your table and serve them. God is no respecter of persons, if they are truly God’s sheep, the best thing you can do for them is to tell them to stop staring at you and go over to their own table and enjoy the things God has prepared for them.

Don’t wait for the people next to you to start eating before you start. Although that is a human courtesy, it has nothing to do with your spiritual supply. We honor God when we scoot up to the table and enjoy what he has placed before us. He has prepared and begin to dig in by faith and enjoy all that He has prepared.

There is nothing like seeing someone who is hungry set down at a table you have prepared for them and they just make themselves at home, enjoy every bite with a smile. These are those who don’t mind asking for second helpings and you always know they will be back because they were satisfied at the table. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good, you’ll always come back for more.

It makes the cook smile!

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2Corinthians 6:4-10 (AMP)

But we commend ourselves in every way as [true] servants of God: through great endurance, in tribulation and suffering, in hardships and privations, in sore straits and calamities, In beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless watching, hunger; By innocence and purity, knowledge and spiritual insight, longsuffering and patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love; By [speaking] the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [to attack] and for the left hand [to defend]; Amid honor and dishonor; in defaming and evil report and in praise and good report. [We are branded] as deceivers (impostors), and [yet vindicated as] truthful and honest. [We are treated] as unknown and ignored [by the world], and [yet we are] well-known and recognized [by God and His people]; as dying, and yet here we are alive; as chastened by suffering and [yet] not killed; As grieved and mourning, yet [we are] always rejoicing; as poor [ourselves, yet] bestowing riches on many; as having nothing, and [yet in reality] possessing all things.

Honor defined:

• Strong moral character or strength, and adherence to ethical principles.

• Great respect and admiration.

• Personal dignity and integrity, that sometimes leads to recognition and glory.

In the above scriptures Paul talked about some weighty things. It is never pleasant to go through temptations, test or trials yet amid them our God will never leave us nor forsake us. Paul talked about honor and dishonor. Isn’t it amazing how a person can be honored by someone one hour and dishonored the very next minute by someone else. Honor can be toxic if it is not filtered through Christ. We must not seek to be honored by others because we set ourselves up for disappointment and discouragement. When we become distraught, depressed and confused because of a lack of honor from others this only reveals that we had our priorities all wrong. When we choose to look to human-kind for approval, acceptance and validation then we spiritually disarm ourselves and like Sampson find ourselves lying on the lap of the enemy, shaven and without power.

Jesus said, “I receive not honour from men” John 5:41.

Jesus was not a slave to the opinions of people. He was not moved off course by their approval or disapproval of Him. The scriptures said, “But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.” John 2:24-25

Jesus knew the corruptness of human nature. He knew that the nature of man was selfish. A person who is controlled by selfishness will not honor you without strings attached. The honor that they give is tainted and not genuine, it is false, a mere facade. There will be times when your good is evil spoken of. There will be times when people try to defame and smear your good name to try to dishonor you. There will be times when seemingly for no apparent reason people began to despise and reject you, casting you off to the side like a dried up piece of meat. Don’t take it personal, it’s just the devil working through them trying to get you to give up, cave in and quit. The devil has trapped and shipwrecked many a soul through dishonor. Dishonor can buckle a man or woman to their knees quicker than a Karate kick to the abdomen. Dishonor has its roots in betrayal. Betrayal can leave a person feeling violated, striped, exposed, and weak both spiritually and physically.

Jesus said, “How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?” John 5:44 Seeking the honor of men is a product of unbelief. Unbelief is a sign of spiritual weakness and retardation. We are not growing properly as Christians when we harbor unbelief. Faith in God is what we need to grow and flourish properly.

When we are dishonored by others, this is a demonic attack to try to ambush our faith. But be of good cheer, God did not leave His people without a defense against such a monster.

He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Psalms 107:20

The word of God can equip you and fortify you against any attack of dishonor. The word of God in you will never back up in defeat, it will always pursue then conqueror and subdue your enemies. The word of God will establish you so that you will only seek the honor that comes from God; everything else is just a cheap imitation. The word of God will cause you to be unmovable, unshakable, and unbreakable. But in order for this to happen we must make the word of God a high priority in our lives. We must take the time to allow the Holy Spirit to download the word in our hearts. This does not just happen through brief methodical readings of the scripture. We must lock in and engage our spirit, soul and body in the word of God. We must submerge ourselves and take long soaks in the word of Life.

You are a vessel of honor don’t be disillusioned by the picture the devil is showing you in his mirror of deception. Square your shoulders back and walk tall, God will honor you before all. Keep the faith don’t give in, you win!

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2 Timothy 3:11-12

Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 

Whenever you take steps of obedience toward the plan and purposes God has for your life it won’t be long before persecution arises for the Word sake. Gods will for every born-again believer is that we grow and mature in His ways and accomplish His plan for our lives. However, God knows that when we pursue with the intent to do and follow through with His every instruction, mental, physical and spiritual assaults will come against His people. But, fear not, for Jesus foretold us that in this world we would have tribulation but be of good cheer He has already over come it and deprived it of power to harm us. God knew the things we would have to face in this earth so He saw to it that we would have everything we needed to win. God did not leave us without help as a matter of fact He did not leave us at all, He is with us in the person of the Holy Spirit who is the one that will abide with us forever.

Progress is good but not without challenges. The enemy will always challenge the believer’s authority to see if you will back down or not. He challenged Jesus’ authority in the wilderness during His earthly temptation. He also challenged Jesus during different seasons of His life and ministry, as recorded in the scriptures.

The word precipitate means to make something happen suddenly and quickly. This is our enemies strategy to try to catch us off guard and over take us with the element of surprise. However, he is defeated and we are not ignorant of his devices. We have an advantage over every trap and scheme of the enemy. We are not unarmed but rather fully equipped with the whole armor of God. We can withstand him, not in our own strength and ability but by our Heavenly Father’s grace, which is sufficient for us to win every battle and walk away from every fight victoriously triumphant.

Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Don’t be weary in well doing but make progress going full steam ahead. These test and trials are light afflictions and are not worthy of your focus and/or meditation. Rise up and shake the dust from this world off you and be the victorious king and/or priest God has called you to be. Take your place, run your race with all diligence and honor. Every step you take forward in the plan of God is a demonstration of resurrection power and life that glorifies God.

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John 10:4-5

And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 

And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 

The Bible says that there are so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification (1Corinthians 14:10).

God is not expecting you to listen to every voice in the earth and follow it. He made it simple for us. Jesus said “My sheep hear my voice and they follow me.”

This makes our choices easier. When we receive instruction from God, we don’t have to think twice about rather we will follow His instruction or someone else. Our answer should always be, “Yes Lord, I’ll obey you.”

Too many choices sometimes bring confusion to the hearer. We sometimes go through life asking everyone for their opinion about our situation and never stop to ask the one who knows–God.

Jesus said as His sheep we would flee from the voice of strangers because we know not their voice. Any voice that does not agree with God and His word should be considered strange and God has given us permission to flee from it. God is the only one who will go before us and always lead us in the right direction. So as the voices of this world clamor for your attention be confident and know that the Good Shepherd has all the instruction and direction you need for a safe journey through this earth. Follow Him.

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Hebrews 12:2-4

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

The next time you think that your problems and situations in life are unfair and unbearable, consider Jesus.

Such a wonderful example of true love and endurance. Every time I remember His sacrifice and what He did for us, it brings great joy, humility and an abundance of thankfulness.

Let us homor Him this passover by forgetting our troubles and rejoicing in His triumph!

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To have something in moderation is defined as: within reasonable limits and never to excess.

In today’s society most food is served in super sized portions. It is not unusual when buying a slice of pie to be served an enormous 3 serving size slice. People actually get upset when they are served a normal portion; they think they are being cheated.

Consider this, a normal portion size of meat should be 2-3oz/per meal. The visual of that would be the size of the palm of your hand or a deck of cards.

Proverbs 23:2 declares, And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

The next time you are tempted to eat that 3rd serving of pie, consider practicing a little moderation or temperance.

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Many years ago there was a TV commercial that had a jiggle that said, “Wake up to Folgers in your cup.” The intent of the coffee manufacturer was to persuade people as soon as they woke up in the morning to fill up on their brand of coffee. They wanted their coffee to be the first thing on your mind when you opened your eyes every morning. I’m sure many were persuaded by the jiggles ever so friendly tone and homely approach. Many people across the United States woke up every morning and headed right for the kitchen and began their day with one or more cups of Folgers coffee. After many days, weeks, months and years of following this pattern of behavior many people are still practicing the same routine today. As a matter of fact they may even get upset if their daily routine of waking up to Folgers in their cup is interrupted or delayed. They become grumpy and irritable and sometimes downright hostile to others all because they did not fill their cup when they first woke up. Some people will even warn you not to talk or approach them until they have had their morning cup of choice. Now, I know you may be thinking that I am against coffee drinkers but I certainly am not, I am just making a point. If you are a morning coffee drinker be not offended :).

Cups are containers or vessels and only become useful when something is put in them. Cups can only give what they receive. Trash in, trash out. Gold in, gold out. When you put something into a cup it doesn’t change it into something else.

The scripture says in the 23rd Psalms that when God anoints our head with oil our cups run over. Oh my, what an awesome revelation! If you consider what God said here you can see the parallel. Man is being compared to a vessel or cup. The top of our head representing the mouth of the cup. God pours the oil in from the top into the rest of our being, just like you would fill a cup. Then He doesn’t stop pouring until you overflow with oil,and begin running over, Hallelujah! God did not create us to be empty vessels but overflowing wells! Isn’t it better to wake up overflowing with God in your cup everyday!

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Ecclesiastes 10:8

He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him. 

Hedge defined:

• a close-set row of bushes, usually with their branches intermingled, forming a barrier or boundary in a garden, lawn, or field

• a means of protection against something

The scripture declares that when a hedge is broken, a serpent will bite. This implies that the only way the serpent can bite is that the hedge or our means of protection is broken. The serpent in scripture most often speaks of things belonging to the kingdom of darkness, a.k.a. Satan and his demonic host.

As Christians, we must stay alert if we don’t want to be bitten by the serpent. The bite itself will initially cause localized swelling and pain, but this does not compare to the poison that was injected underneath the skin. This poison is deadly if left untreated without an antidote.

When we leave a breech in our spiritual hedge through offenses, neglect of personal time with God, not reading and meditating on His Word, and carnal attitudes and thoughts, we become vulnerable and easy prey for the enemy.

Let us keep our hedges solid and well maintained so we can live a life free of poison from the serpent’s bite.

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