Category Archives: Inspirational

PURSUING YOUR HEAVENLY CALLING

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Hebrews 3:1-3 (AMP)

SO THEN, brethren, consecrated and set apart for God, who share in the heavenly calling, [thoughtfully and attentively] consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest Whom we confessed [as ours when we embraced the Christian faith]. [See how] faithful He was to Him Who appointed Him [Apostle and High Priest], as Moses was also faithful in the whole house [of God]. Yet Jesus has been considered worthy of much greater honor and glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has more honor than the house [itself].

We, Christians, are possessors of the nature of Almighty God. We are heirs and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. We believe that God has a plan and purpose for our lives but yet many die without fulfilling even a fraction of that plan.

The scripture text for our blog today says we have a Heavenly calling. The plans and purposes God has for each life may not be popular, it may not even seem logical in the natural because it’s, heavenly. Jesus would have never fulfilled His earthly course if He was trying to make it fit in with natural human reasoning. Man had a different plan and course for Jesus life but He refused to veer from the Father’s plan. Natural man did not understand nor favor the course God had for Jesus, His own Son. Many people tried to stop Him and talk Him out of it but He stayed loyal to His Fathers will. Be cautious about trying to redirect other people’s lives just because it doesn’t make sense to you. If God is not directing you to tell them to go another way don’t be an accomplice to the devils plan to shipwreck or confuse someone else’s course just because it doesn’t appear right to you. After Jesus revealed to His disciplines the course the Father had given Him to fulfill, Peter piped up and rebuked Jesus.

“Then Peter took Him aside to speak to Him privately and began to reprove and charge Him sharply, saying, God forbid, Lord! This must never happen to You!  Matthew 16:22 AMP

Peter was very sincere in his human efforts to try to help Jesus fulfill his destiny but he was sincerely wrong. Every person’s destiny is very precious and vital; we should always seek God through prayer and His word before we begin counseling people about their destinies. You never want to be held accountable for someone getting off course because of what you thought their course should look like.

God has different paths and administrations of the Spirit for different people. We must let God be God. A Heavenly calling is just that Heavenly, it comes from God not man. The scripture says we are all partakers.

Once we seek God and find out what our part is in the body of Christ, we must go forward with fervor and passion not allowing other people’s opinions to stop our progress. God loves you and has a specific plan for your life but you must diligently seek Him with a pure heart. He will reveal to you what you need to know, where you need to go and any other specifics you may need to know. Just go and flow with the Holy Ghost, He is your guide! Be faithful to God and do all that He entrust to you to do, with a joyful heart. Stay excited about the things God has given you to do, so that He can fulfill His plans through your life and be glorified.

Press in to fulfill the heavenly calling in your life, today!

NURTURING NUGGETS IS AN EXTENSION OF CATHY HARRIS MINISTRIES. VISIT OUR WEBSITE @ www.detoxifyingthesoul.com

AVOIDABLE ALLIANCES

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Why would someone want to be around people they have nothing in common with? Most people even if they are not born-again don’t enjoy being around people who are always negative and complaining. No one generally enjoys being around people who are irritable and grouchy. Unless you have a similar attitude or display like behavior, these are not personality traits that people beat the door down or wait in long lines to fellowship with.

Alliance is defined as a close relationship, based on similar objectives or characteristics.

Why would you want to associate with drug addicts if you don’t do drugs? What would be the draw or the common bond that encourages union? One might say well, “I’ve known old so and so for years he’s like a brother/sister to me.” So are you saying you like being around Ted the wine-o just because he reminds you of your past? Or is it a deeper bond for mere selfish purposes? You are now the CEO of a bank but you like hanging around drunks because you guys knew each other when you were children. What kind of mind set is that and how could that be productive for you? If you are trying to help Ted come up to where you are that’s different and generally does not take a close relationship to do that, you can help someone without forming an alliance with them. The truth of the matter is that it’s not really about Ted at all; it’s about you and your refusal to grow-up. The bible says, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” Your lack of spiritual discipline to cut off potentially harmful and dangerous relationships is a sign of immaturity and selfishness. You really don’t want Ted to change because if he did you wouldn’t have anywhere to go or hang-out to complain or flesh out. Ted provides you with the ungodly environment and friendship that you seek to selfishly gratify your flesh. When Ted curses and tells dirty jokes, it doesn’t bother you, because your unbridled flesh wants him too. You like being around Ted because he watches porn on TV and if anyone ever saw you looking at this with Ted, you can just simply blame it on Ted. You quickly explain, “Boy that Ted is a mess, always complaining and watching all that filth on TV, that’s why nobody likes to be around him.” But yet you are always around him, why? What does Ted do to help promote character in you? What is Ted saying that is helping you to prosper and increase in your life? What kind of mentor is Ted; would you let him mentor your children? Whose being deceived here, you, Ted or both?

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 1 Corinthians 15:32

We all from time to time have to be around people with unpleasant attitudes and undesirable behaviors not necessarily because we wanted to but because we have to.

Could it be that you are not advancing and making progress in your life toward your God given destiny because the evil root of Ted’s words have corrupted or choked the Word of God that was sown in your heart. You and Ted serve and live in two totally different kingdoms, how can you have such a close union? You are not an exception to the rules. Wake up, before you end up, in a place called nowhere!

Many Christian’s today are unequally yoked in ungodly alliances. They fellowship with people daily who consistently live lifestyles that are opposed to God’s kingdom, yet they say that they love God. Ephesians 5:11 declares, “Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them.” If you live like this around people like Ted you will either draw them to a close relationship with Christ or repel them to where they don’t want you around. If Ted likes being around you and is not being draw by the light that should be bright in you could it be that you are luke warm. Are you being a stumbling block to Ted just to fulfill your uncontrolled fleshly desires?

Remember, the Apostle Peter was warming himself by the fire of the world when he denied Christ.

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17

Ask the Holy Spirit today, to lead and guide you into Godly relationships and divine fellowships to help you grow and fulfill your destiny. Inspire to be around people who love being around God, people who have a heavenly purpose and vision.

NURTURING NUGGETS IS AN EXTENSION OF CATHY HARRIS MINISTRIES. VISIT OUR WEBSITE @ www.detoxifyingthesoul.com

WHAT ARE YOU PACKIN ??

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2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (AMP)

For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),

 

The above scriptures are speaking to born-again believers in Christ. Paul was giving us spiritual insight into the realm of spiritual conflict that we as believers face on a daily basis. We must not live our lives ignorant of the truth that we do have an invisible, spirit being for an enemy.

Now on a natural level if someone was planning an attack against you and you could not physically see, hear, touch, smell or taste them you would be at a great disadvantage. Image, someone sitting in their car driving to the grocery store and BAM, something that they never saw coming hit them right upside the head and knocks them unconscious. Their car no longer has anyone to direct it so guess what; they end up on the side of the road seriously hurt. Even if this person was not knocked unconscious, what could they do to protect themselves from something they cannot perceive with the five physical senses?

Now, you can see if Christian’s were just mere men/women without supernatural help and ability from God we would be at a great disadvantage against our naturally unseen enemy. But thank God we don’t have to be at a disadvantage when facing our enemies. God has supplied us with spiritual weapons that win. But wait, these weapons are not automatic; you must engage them in the war. They are not on timers or sensors waiting to go off while you are on a spiritual hiatus or faith break. You must actively handle and use your weapon if you desire success and victory in this life.

Sometimes people keep spiritual weapons and natural weapons in the same holster, so to speak. They reach in sometimes and they pull out the mighty weapons of God, love, joy, peace, Isaiah 54:17 (NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST ME…), Psalms 91( A THOUSAND MY FALL AT MY SIDE…) etc. and then at other times they reach in and pull out fear, doubt, unbelief, “he said ,she said you didn’t like me, ” manipulation, self pity etc. Sometimes when the pressures of life come against people they reach for food (ice cream and cookies) instead of faith.

However, if we want consistent victory we must be consistent in our weaponry. We must clean house and rid our holsters of every weapon that is of the flesh; retaliation, jealousy, envy, low self-esteem etc. These are all weapons that come from the enemies arsenal shed. The enemy has rigged all those flesh and blood weapons to help him win, not you.

So the next time the unseen enemy knocks at your door, have your spiritual weapons loaded and ready, aim and hold steady, as you destroy every trace of their desired place in your life! WE WIN!

 

NURTURING NUGGETS IS AN EXTENSION OF CATHY HARRIS MINISTRIES. VISIT OUR WEBSITE @ www.detoxifyingthesoul.com

THE SERPENT’S BITE

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Ecclesiastes 10:8

He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an 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, through unforgiveness and carnal attitudes and thoughts, etc., etc. etc., 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 serpents bite.

NURTURING NUGGETS IS AN EXTENSION OF CATHY HARRIS MINISTRIES. VISIT OUR WEBSITE @ www.detoxifyingthesoul.com

TODAY

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Psalms 118:24

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. 

Today is a special day. Why? Because God created it. God created today with a unique purpose. This day was made so that you could express joy and be glad. God did not create this day so that bad things could happen to you. He did not create this day so that you could experience hardships and be tormented with fear. God did not create this day for accidents and tragedy to destroy families and friends. God is love. There is no darkness or evil in love. God is merciful and kind. God is always seeking to bring good to all.

God is the author of the dawning of each new day. Today is a day neither you nor I have ever seen before. Although today may seem very similar to yesterday, it is not yesterday, it is a brand new day. You may think that there is nothing special or different about today but it is.

STOP! LOOK! LISTEN!

You are experiencing something you have never experienced before. You are experiencing, TODAY! Come on, think about it, and let it sink way down on the inside of you. You and I are so special and loved of God that He would create another day just for us. God brought forth another sun rise and another sunset just for you.

Today was not here yesterday, but it showed up right on time today. Rejoice and be glad!

Just think God creates everyday just for you so that you can rejoice and be glad in it. Joy needs a place of expression. Today you have 24hours to demonstrate and participate in the fullness of the joy of the Lord. This day was created for joy! Go ahead, rejoice and be glad in your today!

NURTURING NUGGETS BLOG IS AN EXTENSION OF CATHY HARRIS MINISTRIES. VISIT OUR WEBSITE @ www.detoxifyingthesoul.com

ARE YOU OVER WEIGHT ?

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Hebrews 12:1

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 

Overweight defined:

• To give too much emphasis or consideration to something.

• To weigh something down with an excessive load.

In today’s society many people are consumed with weight lost and/or weight gain. They are so focused on food that it has become an idol. People target food as the culprit for their lack of spiritual discipline and self-control. They reason, “Oh, those snickers keep putting all this weight on me, I tell you they are no good for you.” In all actuality is the snicker bar really the problem or is it your lack of restraint in eating them. I am not advocating snack foods by any means; my point is the problem is not the food.

However, as you can see from the definition of overweight above, my focus in this blog will not be physical weight gain or lost, we can discuss that another day.

To give too much emphasis or consideration to something is considered to be overweight. When I first read this definition the first thing I thought about was someone worrying about something. Many times if we are not spiritually awake and alert in our day to day lives we can place undue emphasis on things, giving place to anxiety, fear, doubt, unbelief and things of that nature. We can become so bogged down with the weight of a situations (person, place or thing) that it consumes are mind, will, emotions and our physical body. In some people’s lives physical weight gain is a result or outflow of unhealthy spiritual weight gain. Stagnate dreams and dwarfed destinies can rob people of vigor and zeal. The enemy begins to frustrate their purpose causing a back-up of spiritual progress which results in spiritual and physical sluggishness. When people become idle they lose focus and begin to drift in the wrong direction. They begin to let old mind-sets and carnal behaviors creep back into their lives. Ungoverned feelings and emotions begin to dominate their spoken words and manipulate their choices. They become so spiritually overweight they can barely make it up the stairway of prayer and it hurts (easily offended) when anyone attempts to offer or exercise spiritual discipline( Godly correction) in their lives. When they look in the mirror of their own mind and imagination, not the mirror of God’s Word, they see a distorted picture of spiritual progress that they don’t truly possess. They see themselves mature when they are still acting like a child. They see through defective lenses so what they perceive to be spiritual growth is really not spiritual growth at all. The excess they see is carnal not spiritual.

Just like in the natural many times people who are obese do not see themselves as being that large. They have an image in their minds of the way they use to look, they begin to mentally block out the truth of their condition and state of health. They have become so accustomed to seeing themselves overweight that they reason with themselves saying, “50 more pounds is no big difference,” even though they have gone up 4 dress/pant sizes. That is self-deception. I know many of you are probably saying, Cathy, that’s not nice of you to say things like that about people, you may hurt someone’s feelings. Waking someone up to see that they are destroying their own life through a life-style of selfishness and self-deception is not mean, it is love. Being mean is to continue to see someone destroying themselves through various dysfunctional behaviors and vices and not stopping by and sitting them down to be a Good Samaritan, helping to save their life and destiny. But because people are more ruled by carnal feelings they become cowards and accomplices to shipwrecked lives and unfulfilled callings.

Being spiritually and physically overweight can be a burden to your entire system causing undue stress on the natural/spiritual body. Chose today to rid yourself of all the excess weight and baggage that is trying to abort your destiny and live with new focus, clear direction and Godly purpose. Shed those unwanted pounds and run your race to win!

 

NURTURING NUGGETS BLOG IS AN EXTENSION OF CATHY HARRIS MINISTRIES. VISIT OUR WEBSITE @ www.detoxifyingthesoul.com

PRE–MEDITATED FUTURE

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Jeremiah 29:11 (AMP)

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

Most plans are made with earnest expectation to be fulfilled. The plan can be for good or for evil.

Plan defined:

• A method of doing something that is worked out in advance.

Plans are most generally pre-meditated, something that has been thought out. Even when people plot to do harm to others it is conceived from something they have been meditating on. People make plans to cheat, steal, commit adultery, kill and perform various kinds of ill will. But on the other hand people maKe plans to help, protect, build, encourage and cultivate, bringing blessing and increase to many.

The scripture above reveals to us that God has a plan for our lives and that He has been thinking or meditating on them. God never haphazardly does anything He is very focused and direct in His operations. The plans that God has for your life were not just something He thought of on the spur of the moment. God knows every detail and specific part of His plan for you. God’s plans are good and not evil, they are for peace.

So make every effort to press in and pursue with passion the plans and purposes God has for you. You will never regret the final outcome!

NURTURING NUGGETS BLOG IS AN EXTENSION OF CATHY HARRIS MINISTRIES. VISIT OUR WEBSITE @ http://www.detoxifyingthesoul.com

FOLLOW THROUGH

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Proverbs 15:4

In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 

Integrity defined

• The quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards.

Boundaries are established through integrity. If a person’s word is no good then the boundaries and standards they set up in their lives will always be compromised. Sometimes we fail to see the long term problems that come with not keeping our word even to ourselves. We tell ourselves we are not going to do such and such or that we are not going to go here or there and before the sun sets we have compromise or faltered on what we have spoken. We reason that it is okay because it was a personal promise and did not involve anyone else but little do we realize we our establishing a pattern of mistrust and lying to ourselves and eventually others.

Christians should be people of their word regardless of who the word was spoken to.

The scripture above states that we should be willing to keep our word even if it hurts. Temporary inconveniences are a small thing compared to the consequences of a broken promise. When we likely esteem our own words we devalue the importance of words thereby opening the door to deception. Words are very important. We must remember the power of life and death are in our words. Lets us all endeavor to come up a little higher in our integrity by keeping our word even if it is to our own hurt. If you don’t plan on doing it then don’t say it.

 

NURTURING NUGGETS IS AN EXTENSION OF CATHY HARRIS MINISTRIES. VISIT OUR WEBSITE @ www.detoxifyingthesoul.com

HAVE YOU HEARD

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1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Now also we would not have you ignorant, brethren, about those who fall asleep in death, that you may not grieve [for them] as the rest do who have no hope [beyond the grave].

For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him through Jesus those who have fallen asleep in death].

For this we declare to you by the Lord’s [own] word, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall in no way precede [into His presence] or have any advantage at all over those who have previously fallen asleep [in Him in death]. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first. Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord! Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these words.

Have you heard? Are you even aware, that Jesus could come today? He is coming again to usher in the end. The Lord is faithful to His word like He promised. He’s no Peter or doubting Thomas. He will come in an unknown hour full of Glory and power. He will rapture up His church. Will you be prepared to meet Him in the air and reign with Him forever. Well if you are, know that He’s not far from coming for His bride. Be encourage, stay hot, He’s coming, He coming, He’s coming!

NURTURING NUGGETS IS AN EXTENSION OF CATHY HARRIS MINISTRIES. VISIT OUR WEBSITE @ www.detoxifyingthesoul.com

THE MASTER HAS NEED OF YOU

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Mark 11:1-3

And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples, And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.

I want you to see this picture in your mind, there sat a colt tied probably to a tree or something strong enough to keep it from getting away. There was probably nothing special about the way he looked, the color of his hair, the shape of his body, the way he walked, he was just a normal, average everyday colt, ………to the untrained eye. However, Jesus knew he was there, Jesus knew that colt had a divine purpose. That colt had a part to play in God’s plan and no part of His plan, not even the smallest detail is insignificant to God. That colt was getting ready to fulfill destiny. He was getting ready to walk into what he was born for. The scripture said no one had ever even sat on this colt, Glory to God! He was just sitting there all tied up until Jesus spoke and said loose him and bring him to Me. Without God’s voice life is meaningless and mundane, it is fruitless and stagnant, it is wasteful and dry. That kind of reminds me of our lives before we were born again, there we sat in darkness all tied up until Jesus called our name and set our Divine Destiny into motion. He called us out of darkness into the marvelous light; He established our going and gave us understanding of our purpose. Jesus made it plain, He said if any man say unto you, “why do ye this?” say the Lord hath need of him. Did you not know that when God calls you unto Himself, He has need of you. You were not called into the Kingdom of God just to sit and look pretty/handsome; the Lord hath need of you. God needs the gifts and anointings He has put inside of you for the fulfillment of His plan. You are vital and strategically placed in the body of Christ; you have a part to play, you have been loosed for the Masters use. God knows the treasure that He has placed inside of you and He wants it to be in full operation for all to profit.

Many time people don’t benefit from others gifts and talents because they are too busy looking at the outward man. They don’t value the treasure God has placed in each and every one of His children therefore they forfeit the blessings that person’s gift could have added to their life. Jesus valued the colts God given assignment and loosed him to fulfill it.

Competitive jealousy and fleshly comparisons bring division and destruction to what could have been a wonderful union of divine relationships. Divine relationships always bring an element of, “I have need of you and you have need of me.” There is a peaceful understanding that God brought us together to help one another fulfill His will. I like something that Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:6-8, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.”

The rope that use to keep you tied to the fence of “I can’t” is broken; you have been loosed by God to fulfill His purpose. So jump to it, you can do it, in Christ Jesus. Remember the Master have need of YOU!

NURTURING NUGGETS BLOG IS AN EXTENSION OF CATHY HARRIS MINISTRIES. VISIT OUR WEBSITE @ www.detoxifyingthesoul.com