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Your Author and Finisher!

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  …looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:2, NKJV Your Author and Finisher God is the author of your life. He breathed life into you. He chose you to be here. He gave you a purpose, an assignment, something to accomplish. He’s not just the author, He’s the finisher. He’s going to keep making you, molding you, giving you grace to come up higher until He finishes. Now, the key is don’t give up in the middle. Don’t get discouraged while you’re being changed. He’s in control. As long as you’re being your best, you don’t have to perform perfectly. You have a heart to do what’s right. Then you can be assured when it’s time to change, all the forces of darkness cannot stop you. But notice that there’s a requirement for this to happen. You have to look away from all that will distract and look to Jesus. Focusing on your flaws will distract you from your purpose. Magnifying your weakness, what you don’t like about yourself, will keep you from your potential. Lo...

God’s Favor at Work!

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  God’s Favor at Work Lamentations 3.24 : Daniel 1:9, NIV “Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel…” Daniel is a prime example of the kind of person God is looking to use. Daniel’s heart was fully committed to God. He always sought the will of God, and he let his light shine before his peers without fear. As a result, God used him in mighty ways that will echo into eternity. On numerous occasions, God caused officials and even kings to favor Daniel. God revealed secrets to Daniel. Because of God’s favor, Daniel was elevated to the highest levels of power, position, and wealth in the world system of his day. God’s favor rested big time on Daniel. There is great opportunity for us to see the hand of God at work in our lives. He creates in us a God-given, God-driven desire to please him. “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” (Hebre...

Further Faster!

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  Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea. Acts 8:39–40, NKJV Further Faster In Acts 8, Philip was directed by an angel into the desert to meet the treasurer of the queen of the Ethiopians, who upon hearing about Jesus immediately believed and wanted to be baptized. When they came up out of the water, the Scripture says that the Spirit of God caught Philip away and he was found in Azotus, where he began preaching again. One moment he’s in the water, and the next moment he’s twenty miles away. That defies logic, except that God had an obvious purpose for Philip to accomplish quickly. God has times when He will purposefully propel you ahead. It may not be to another city, but God may propel you in your career or health or a relationship. He opens a door, gives you id...

How to Develop a Vision of Life!

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  How to Develop a Vision of Life Scripture: Proverbs 29:18, KJV 1900 and Psalm 90:12, NIV “ Where there is no vision, the people perish: But he that keepeth the law, happy is he. ” (Proverbs 29:18, KJV 1900) “ Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. ” (Psalm 90:12, NIV) In Kingdom of God, we emphasize the wisdom of converting the perishable time, talent and treasure of this world into the imperishable values of the real world to come: eternity. In Psalm 90:12, we are taught to number our days in order to gain a heart of wisdom. The time will come when we will turn in the temporary body we are “leasing” during our life on earth. We do not have unlimited time to make decisions. How many people do you know who have no purpose? Failure to develop a personal vision of life will result in a disaster from an eternal standpoint. Proverbs 29:18 says that people without a proper vision of life perish. There is one appointment none of us will miss. That is the time w...

The God of Restoration!

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  “But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 30:17, NIV The God of Restoration We all go through disappointments, difficulties we didn’t see coming. It’s easy to accept it and think that’s the way it’s always going to be. We went through a breakup, so we’ll always be lonely. We had a setback in our business, so we’ll always struggle. We came down with an illness, so we’ll always have to deal with it. Voices will whisper, “This will never change. You won’t get out of this.” No, God says that when we go through challenges or loss, we’re still going to come out with nothing missing. He’s a God of restoration. You may have lost your health, lost your joy, or lost a position, but that’s not how your story ends. Don’t judge your situation too soon. God sees everything you’ve lost. He hasn’t forgotten about you. The loss is only temporary. It’s just a season. You’re going to get it all back. Your health is coming back, your confidence is coming ba...

Give Generously!

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  Give Generously Scripture: 1 Chronicles 29:14–16, NIV “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. ” We can take to heart the remarks King David made as he neared the end of his life. David summarizes exactly what our situation is, and the perspective we should have. He acknowledges that God is the source of all wealth. Everything comes from God, and any giving we do is returning what has come from his hand. “ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. ” (De...

Ezekiel 43:1-12!

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  Introduction Ezekiel 43:1–12: Today’s reading is from a section describing Ezekiel’s final vision, which includes a detailed description of the restored Temple in Jerusalem (see chapters 40–42). Ezekiel sees the Lord’s glory returning to the Temple. Today’s Key Verse: Ezekiel 43:5 GNT The LORD’s spirit lifted me up and took me into the inner courtyard, where I saw that the Temple was filled with the glory of the LORD. Read 43 The man took me to the gate that faces east,  2  and there I saw coming from the east the dazzling light of the presence of the God of Israel. God's voice sounded like the roar of the sea, and the earth shone with the dazzling light.  3  This vision was like the one I had seen when God came to destroy Jerusalem, and the one I saw by the Chebar River. Then I threw myself face downward on the ground.  4  The dazzling light passed through the east gate and went into the Temple. 5  The Lord's spirit lifted me up and took m...