SUFFER, SHOW, WAIT, RECEIVE

Today I read through Acts 1-5 & grabbed a few goodies that I'd like to share with you!

SUFFER - SHOW - WAIT - RECEIVE 

Usually the way God works in our lives is through the 4 words written above. He allows us to go through a time of great suffering, which breaks us & shows our need for Him.
At the very pit of our suffering, we see who Jesus is. We are then told to wait for HIS timing...not our own. Two very different things!! We must always pay attention to that. Sometimes we like to jump ahead & think the timing is perfect. This is when we should wait & allow Him to guide us. It is then that we shall receive what He has promised, the power to do as He has called you do to.

Acts 1:3 - "After his SUFFERING...He SHOWED Himself"
Acts 1:4 - "But WAIT for the gift my father promised..."
Acts 1:8 - "You will RECEIVE power when the Holy Spirit comes on you..."

SUFFER-
In Acts 1:9 Was when Jesus had been taken up to heaven & left his disciples. There was some suffering there for the disciples for the loss of their friend. As well as great opposition from those around them who did not "know" Jesus personally, or did not believe Him.
 (Acts 2:13) As followers of Christ we will ALWAYS face opposition. Whenever we are called to step out in faith we will always have people in our lives thinking we are absolute fools for choosing to live our lives for God. Jesus had it, His disciples had it, we will have it! The question is, are you willing to trust that Jesus is who He says He is? That He rose from the grave as Peter explains in
Acts 2:24
"God raised Him from the dead, because it was impossible for death to keep it's hold on Him"

Especially as a leader you will always come up against opposition in whatever it is God is calling you to do or to be.
But one day, those who oppose you, their eyes will be opened. As in Acts 2:23 & 2:37
Peter explained "This man was handed over to you by Gods set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross"
Acts 2:37
"When they heard this, they were cut to the heart & said to Peter 'Brothers, what shall we do?"

There eyes were opened ready to be shown the miracle of Christ in the next chapter.

SHOW-
Acts 3 Peter heals the beggar & people are amazed at the life change when they see the man walking.
People's eyes were open to seeing the miracle performed in Jesus name by a bold disciple!
Acts 3:8-10
"He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him."

This goes to show that you don't have to go out and preach the gospel for people to see Jesus. When you meet Jesus, your life is changed & people around you see that for themselves, our job is to give praise to the one who made us new! Peter & John (& the beggar that was healed) constantly gave praise to God for all He had done! The rulers & elders of the people didn't like that.

WAIT -
Peter & John were arrested for speaking about what Jesus had done in & through them.
Thank goodness we have freedom of speech & don't have to worry about that happening to us!
No matter how bad your circumstances look, don't give up! This is the time to trust & wait.
At the time you think it's over, is usually about the time God shows up!  You can't stop Gods hand...even when His best men were in jail, still 5000 people got saved!
No matter your circumstances, Gods plan is always greater!

God usually picks those of us that are ordinary & asks us to do the extraordinary so that He may show off through it , because others are going to know that it's not us who are able to accomplish these great things! Peter & John were very under-schooled, ordinary men but they were willing to be bold & stand in the face of their opposition & live their lives for God, even in jail. While they waited, they prayed.

Acts 4:29
"Now, Lord, consider their threats & enable your servants to speak your word with great BOLDNESS"

They were willing to press on & do as God has called them to do. Not out of pressure or because they felt they "had to" but out of a response for their love for Jesus & because they couldn't help talk about all God had done in their lives & others. They asked for BOLDNESS & showed that they would be faithful to God; and no matter the circumstance they would continue to speak about Jesus & not back down.
This is when they...

RECEIVED-
Acts 4:31
"After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit & spoke the word of God BOLDLY"
They received what they asked for in Acts 4:29

God is faithful in fulfilling His promises, if you wait & trust Him.

Whatever it is that God as called you to do, know that you may feel under-schooled, incapable & not able to carry out the task. Know that God will see you through what He has called you to! He will always give what you ask for in His name according to His will. No matter how bad the circumstances look, how inadequate you feel, He's working His plan the way He wants it. You need only to stand...and give praise!

Acts 5:39

"But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God"

Prayer for your husband

For those of you who are married, dating, or even waiting on the future spouse God has promised you, here is a prayer I found that would help you pray in specific ways for him, from head to toe.

Men, you can modify for your wife also.

Maybe you can use it to pray over someone that you are already dating to see if he lines up with what God wants for you.

Lysa TerKuerst also wrote a blog with some great advice. Here is the link: http://lysaterkeurst.com/category/made-to-crave/

It was written in regards to teaching teenage daughters, but you can use it to see if you are on the right track with whom you are thinking about committing your life to.

Lord, I pray for my husband, from head to toe:

•                His Head –That he will look to You as Lord of his life. (1 Corinthians 11:13)

•                His Mind - That he will have the mind of Christ and think as the Holy Spirit would lead him and not the flesh. (1 Corinthians 2:16)

•                His Eyes –That You will keep his eyes from temptation and that he will turn his eyes from sin. (Matthew 6:13, Mark 9:47)

•                His Ears - That he will hear Your still small voice instructing him. (1 Kings 19:12, Psalm 32:8)

•                His Mouth – That his words will be pleasing to You. (Psalm 19:14)

•                His Neck –That he will humble himself before You and be strong, courageous, and careful to do everything written in Your Word so that he will be prosperous and successful. (James 4:10, Joshua 1:8-9)

•                His Heart-That he will love and trust You with his whole heart. (Deuteronomy 6:5, Proverbs 3:5)

•                His Arms-That You will be his strength. (Psalm 73:26)

•                His Hands-That he will enjoy the work of his hands and see it as a gift from You. (Ecclesiastes 3:13, 5:19)

•                His feet – That You will order his steps and that he will walk in Your truth. (Proverbs 4:25, Psalm 26:3)

What is wise?

The greatest difficulty isn’t in choosing between good & bad, it’s choosing between good & best. ~ Experiencing God

Have you ever had to make a decision that felt like the most difficult thing you’ve had to do because what you had to choose between wasn’t anything bad?

Those are probably the toughest decisions for me to make. I pray & pray and get nothing. I read scripture & it could go either way. I go back & forth and end up so confused that I don’t do anything…then I procrastinate & try to put it off & fear stands there taunting me “What if you make the wrong choice?” “What if you regret it?” “What if you are missing out?” what if, what if, what if…

Procrastination builds fear & then I’m sitting there paralyzed by making the wrong choice, that I don’t make ANY choice at all.

Marc Driscoll once said

“No decision is to make the wrong decision”

So what do you do?

It’s easier to move when you think God is asking you to do something…then you just have to build up the courage to take the first step…but what do you do when you feel as though God isn’t answering & is waiting for you to make a choice?

Sometimes God is quiet in those times because He is waiting for you to use the wisdom He has taught you to make a WISE choice before He moves.

A few questions I’ve asked myself as I make this kind of decision.

Is it honoring to God?

A year from now how will this choice effect me? 

Is it a selfish flesh desire?

Or is it something God wants for me?

Is it reckless or wise?

Examine my values & priorities, what’s most important to me? Jesus or “this”

God wants you to take risks & walk by faith not by sight…but He wants you to be wise in doing so.

God is not a carrot dangling God, he is not sitting in a corner tempting you with something great ready to take it away when you make your decision.

Sometimes the BEST choice is the hardest and the GOOD choice is the easiest.

Do you want Gods best for your life? If so you’ve got to be bold & courageous, making Him a vital part of everything you do. Stand for what you stand for, believe & trust that God has gone before you, He already knows what choice you will make & has already got a plan to cover you once you make it.

Don’t procrastinate, push past your fear & do what you feel is the WISE choice.

Proverbs 3:13 “Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding”

Toxic Thoughts & Gods Truths

Who will you choose to believe?

Sometimes our mind gets the better of us, I know mine does much more often than I’d like. Something I want to be able to do is start taking my own thoughts captive and replacing them with Gods truth. Pastor Craig Groschel preached at our Church this weekend about his book “Soul Detox” how toxic thoughts can control you. I know we all struggle with these, not just women, EVERYONE!

Some of the toxic thoughts Pastor Craig listed were

1.     Negative Thoughts

2.     Fearful thoughts

3.     Discontented thoughts

4.     Critical thoughts

I wanted to list some thoughts that may cross our minds, but with a truth to follow. Print them out and put them on your mirror to help you fight the battle and eventually it will become second nature. Those truths will be buried in your heart and God will bring them forth when your mind tries to tell you something different.

Thought: I’m not good enough

TRUTH: For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

TRUTH 2: The Lord is my shepherd; I lack NOTHING. Psalm 23:1

Thought:  I don’t like my body and feel ugly

TRUTH: I am fearfully wonderfully made, His works are wonderful I know that full well – Psalm 139:14

Thought: I can’t do this

TRUTH: I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength I need – Phil 4:13

Thought: I am so stressed out and worried

TRUTH: So refuse to worry and keep your body healthy. Ecclesiastes 11:10

Thought:  I’m scared to do that

TRUTH: God did not give us a spirit of fear or timidity, but of power, love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

Thought:  I wish I had a better…

TRUTH: Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. Philippians 4:11

TRUTH 2: Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment. 1 Timothy 6:6

Thought:  I’m just not satisfied

TRUTH: You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

Thought: This situation sucks

TRUTH: Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Thought:  No one appreciates me

TRUTH: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. Colossians 3:23

TRUTH 2: Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men. Ephesians 6:7

Thought: I do all this stuff & no one notices

TRUTH: Am I now trying to win the approval of man, or God? Or am I still trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

Thought: No one loves me

TRUTH: For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son; that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but will have eternal life. John 3:16

Thought: I can’t do it all; this is too much

TRUTH: Now to Him who can do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20

Thought: I don’t have enough money to give 10%

TRUTH: Honor the Lord your God with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to over flowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10

Thought:  I’m so stressed out

TRUTH: Don’t panic, I am with you. There is no need to fear for I am your God. I will give you strength. I will help you. I will hold you steady and keep a firm grip on you. Isaiah 41:10

Thought:  I have nothing left; I am empty

TRUTH: He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Psalm 23:3

Thought:  I feel so betrayed; I want to get revenge

TRUTH: He will send help from heaven to rescue me, disgracing those who hound me, My God will send forth His unfailing love and faithfulness. Psalm 57:3

Thought: I don’t ever make enough money

TRUTH: He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.

TRUTH 2: Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

Thought:  I don’t have a purpose

TRUTH: For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Thought:  I’m too tired

TRUTH: I will refresh the weary & satisfy the faint. Jeremiah 31:25

I read this somewhere & not sure where, but I want to share it with you:

“The most important opinion you have is the one you have of yourself, and the most significant things you say all day are those things you say to yourself”

Not just a healer

God spoke to me pretty clearly this morning… I read a bible study last night and it didn’t mean a whole lot to me…until this morning. Something happened that turned me to lean on God & He reminded me of what I read last night in John 15:11.

I have copied certain sections from the scripture that point out the main parts of the story.

11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

35 Jesus wept.

36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead

38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

The reason Jesus didn’t heal Lazarus & allowed him to die, wasn’t because He didn’t love Lazaras. It was because He knew Mary & Martha KNEW He could heal…They knew Him as the healer. Jesus wasn’t being hard hearted or selfish to allow Lazarus to die, no, he wanted to wait until all thought it was too late.

Lazarus had been in the tomb FOUR DAYS… to the point that there was a bad odor. Everyone thought it was the end, he was dead & there was nothing anyone could do about it. They got on Jesus because they knew that if He was there, He could have healed Lazarus…so why wasn’t He there?

Jesus wanted to show Mary & Martha a different part of His character. He wanted to show them that he is the resurrection & the life. That He can do what you think he cannot. 

Is there something in your life that you feel if God moved now; in a way you know that He CAN…things would be OK!? And the fact that He’s not, you’re thinking it’s too late… It’s never too late, God wants to show you a different side of Him, He wants to show you that He is the great I AM & He can do immeasurably more than you could ask or imagine! Just wait… My favorite line in this chapter is:

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

Believe Him, trust Him, come with an expectant heart & watch what He is about to do…

Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets. You do not know about things to come. – Jeremiah 33:3

POTENTIAL

I got a glimpse today of how God must feel when He looks at me sitting in doubt, discouragement & fear; standing in my comfort. Because when I look at people & see the GREATNESS that’s inside of them & then see the place that they live from… I want EVERYTHING in me to grab them by the face & tell them “Look at yourself! Look at how great you really are… you have so much inside of you, EMBRACE IT!!!! Live in it!!!! Walk in it… stop bowing down to fear and letting yourself do meaningless stuff to try and fill that void and just allow Jesus to pour into that hole & make it whole!... “

I think to myself “If only they could see what I see in them…” Then my next thought is… Well God must look at me that way when I think I can’t do something. He knows what He’s placed inside of me, because He created me! Who am I to tell him who I am or am not!? What I can or cannot do!?

Since I have started walking with Jesus, I have allowed others to speak into my potential; I have allowed HIM to be my rock & guide when I feel as though I can’t do something. He did not give me a spirit of fear! He made me to be fearless!!!! My emotions should not control my actions.

Ezra 3:3

“The people who built the alter were afraid of the nations that were around them. But they built it anyway”

…But they built it anyway

That’s a bold statement… They pushed past their fear; they didn’t allow their emotions to control the way they acted. They pushed against what was natural & did the unnatural with the strength of the Lord. He put something in them that if they let go of their fear & keep their focus on HIM, He will use what’s inside of them to accomplish what needs to get done!!!

Our natural tendency is to stay where it’s easy & comfortable… It’s hard to step out of your comfort zone & do something that scares the life out of you…but when you do, God will unlock a place in your heart & free you from a fear that has been holding you back!

Face that fear today, reach inside to grab a hold of that which you didn’t know you had & do what you have never done before…so that God can show you things you’ve never seen before.

You are better than you think you are. 

SO SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS SATURDAY!!!! ABOVE IS THE FLYER THAT A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, ERICA POTTER, DESIGNED WITH THE HELP OF HER HUSBAND!!

As I sit here soaking in all God has done in my life in less than 4 years...I am blown away, it's crazy!
I started out at rock bottom 3 & 1/2 years ago... absolutely couldn't have gotten any worse... and He has restored me, lifted me up to where I never thought in a million years I would be. 

~I am the founder of a non-profit (WHAT!?) 

~I am a part of a phenomenal movement (Elevation Church) right in the middle... and I mean RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. I get to learn from the best & as intimidating as it may be to be placed in the middle of these people, I am right where I am supposed to be. God is using them to help prepare me for what He has prepared for me! 

~I have the most amazing friends! More than I could ask for and better than I could ever ask for! 

~He has created a team of people for SOUL 139 to walk along side me...and they are incredible! INCREDIBLE!!!!! 

~I even got asked to guest blog on YouAreC13.com ...now 4 years ago...I not only hated reading, but didn't like to journal & sure as heck didn't know how to blog... God has completely given me a new passion to read, soak in knowledge and an ability to put it into words to share with others how He moves in my life. 

~I have the best job & couldn't work at a better salon! I have been there 6 years and still love it like it was my first week. He has given me the gift of cutting hair and I get to go to work everyday to a job that I LOVE.

I AM GRATEFUL

I would love to write a book on my life, coz God would be made HUGE through it... If He can change my life around the way He has done, He can change anybody's.

I was too shy to even talk on the phone when I was 18.... now I get to stand up infront of people and speak.

I used to get nervous meeting new people... now He placed me in a job where I meet new people every 30 minutes...He also placed me in a MASSIVE Church where I knew NO ONE...and when I look around me, realize that He somehow filled my life with amazing people. 

He took me from the lowest of low to the best place I could ever be... and it only gets better! If this is what He's done in less than 4 years...what the heck is He capable of in 10!?!?! 

To all who are a part of this journey with me...I'm glad I get to do this with you & I cannot wait to see how God moves from here on out in your life, mine & those around us!

If you don't have your tickets yet for Saturday...better get them FAST!!! You don't want to miss out on this one!!! We have prepared the way for God to move in a BIG way!!!!! Keep your eyes open!