Grace Partakers

Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified Bible) "For it is by free grace [God's unmerited favor] that you are saved [delivered from judgment] and made partakers of Christ's salvation] through [your] faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God"

When I was growing up, dinner time was a very memorable experience in the Fortunato household, with seven of us at our kitchen table every night.  Every one talking about their day, all genuinely interested in one another, it was something I will never forget. But wait a minute, let's back up to the beginning.  Here's the real memorable part.  We'd all rush to the table, spread bountifully with my mom's good cookin', my father would pray, then it was "every man for himself".  If you wanted to get your fill, you had to just "take it"!

In Ephesians 2:8, Paul said that we have been made partakers of Christ's salvation.  This word salvation is the Greek word sodzo, which means forgiveness, health, prosperity, freedom, protection, defense, and rescue. Notice he says that we have already been made partakers.  Partake means to take or be given a portion, to have a share or part of something, to bite, consume, feast, or swallow.

So, what do I use to partake of the meal that is set before me? Your mouth. That’s how we partake, we use our words.  The more we use our mouth the more we partake. Faith is the fork that brings what already is to our mouth.  2 Corinthians 4:13 says, "We having the same spirit of faith, we believe therefore we speak".  Faith is believing and speaking!  Believe, receive, and say "thank you".  DINNER IS SERVED!

You're Not the Only One

1 Kings 19:14 " I, even I, only am left" 

Have you ever felt like you’re the “only one” going through a certain problem or challenge in your life? Have you ever looked around and said to yourself, everyone else seems to doing just fine, what’s wrong with me?  I’m the only one not married wherever I go.  I seem to be the only one living paycheck to paycheck. 

Anytime you’re tempted to start a sentence with "I'm the only one", you need to stop.  What you’re about to say is not true.  Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again, there is nothing new under the sun". 

Remember Elijah, in 1 Kings 19, who allowed discouragement and fear to drive him from totally fulfilling his God given purpose.  Even after he had seen fire come down from heaven and consume his sacrifice, and after he singlehandedly killed 850 false prophets with his sword.  He still allowed fear to rule him, which resulted in a series of bad decisions.  

He declared in 1 Kings 19:14, "I, even I only am left".  Well that wasn't even close to being true.  In 1 Kings 19:18, the Lord said, “I have 7,000 in Israel who have not bowed to Baal".  Elijah wasn't the only one, and neither are you.  Others have endured and won, and so will you through Christ.  Wipe “I’m the only” from your vocabulary.  Reject the "I, only I” syndrome.  That's a ploy of the devil to get you to quit.  Be encouraged today, you’re NOT the only one!  You will fulfill your purpose!

Inside-Out Living

Romans 8: 11 “But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you"

Have you ever run out of clean socks, and the laundry wasn’t quite finished, so you simply turned a pair of dirty socks inside out and wore them again?  If you haven’t, you ought to try it, works for me!  Just sayin'.

What truly changed my thinking concerning the new covenant of grace, was that under this new covenant, I'm no longer living from the “outside-in”, but I'm living from the “inside-out”. This truth changed my perspective about everything.  Everything I needed was resident on the inside of my born again spirit.  It was just a matter of releasing what I already had, not hoping and waiting for the promises of God to manifest themselves sometime in the future.

Healing is in you now, prosperity is in you now, peace is in you now, freedom is already in you, unlimited resources are already in you. If it’s in Christ, it’s in you, because Christ is in you.  No more outside-in living, but instead inside-out living.  Simply begin to release your faith in the goodness and grace of God, and the finished work of the cross.  Begin to thank God for all that you already have because of the blood of Jesus alone!

Romans 8:11 tells us that the Holy Spirit is "quickening" your physical body, from the inside-out.  To quicken means to give life to, Hallelujah!!  Go ahead, turn your thinking and believing inside-out, and watch provision flow for every area of your life!

Approved for the Master's Card

Romans 4: 6 Amplified Bible  "Thus David congratulates the man and pronounces a blessing on him to whom God credits righteousness apart from the works he does" 

An envelope comes in the mail with large letters on the front that says "APPROVED"!  Inside is a letter that begins with "Congratulations you've been approved for a ______ credit card!"  Not just one letter, one time, but dozens of letters from the same company, over and over again.  They figure that sooner or later you're gonna take the offer.  After all, if feels great to be "approved".  The companies that send those letters want you to feel that "This is great, I'm approved, something really good just happened!"  Everyone wants to be approved, it validates you, it says you're ok, you're doing well.  Hey, it's better than being disapproved, right?

In Romans 4:6, a blessing is pronounced upon your life, and guess what, you didn't do anything at all to deserve it!  I call this being approved for "the Master's card".  An important gift was credited to your grace account, it's the gift of righteousness.  The day you made Jesus the Lord of your life this gift was given to you and you did nothing to earn it.  

"The Masters card" has given you an unlimited account to draw upon, and the great part is, there's no payments!  Hallelujah!  No monthly reminders, it's all covered!  So what does God want us to do? Draw on His unlimited supply, no interest, and no payments.  

He has pronounced "the blessing" on you and you did nothing to deserve or earn it!  Final approval has been given through the precious blood of Jesus, all payment has already been made.  This card doesn't borrow from the future, but instead has secured your eternal future.  This card has been paid in full!  Enjoy!

Are You Listening to TSN? (the Ten Spies Network)

Deuteronomy 1:28 "Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there."

We need to choose how much time and attention we give the news on TV, radio, internet or any other source.  By nature, the world disproportionally reports more "bad" news than "good" news.  According to what we hear, we might think that this world is the worst it's ever been! 

In Numbers 13, God sent out twelve soldiers to spy out the promised land, and see for themselves the abundance and prosperity that awaited them.  As proof, in verse 23 it says that they cut down a cluster of grapes that was so big it took two men to carry.  Glory to God!  They returned from the promised land after forty days to "report" on what they witnessed.  They said in verse 27, "Surely it flows with milk and honey, this is the fruit".  In other words, the land was full of good things to enjoy.

But then, in verse 28, TSN (the Ten Spies Network) added to the report from their perspective, "Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there."  TSN gave every reason why they couldn't possess the promised land.  They focused on all that was wrong, on every obstacle, every challenge, and they concluded this doesn't look easy.

That's the same report we are hearing today..."The earth is falling apart", "the economy stinks", " we're all going to lose our jobs", "the world is in a terrible place".  But there were two other spies that saw the same thing as the other 10 men saw, but reported differently.  In Numbers 13:30, Caleb said four things that that contradicted the TSN report:

 "Lets go up at once".  
We can do this!  Let's go right now! Don't delay!  It's waiting for us!
 
"And possess it".  
Take it!  It's finished!  Done!  Healing, health, prosperity, just take it
 
"We are well able".  
We can handle these situations!  It's not as big as you think!
 
"To overcome it".  
Caleb didn't deny that there would be things to overcome, but in the new covenant of grace it's already overcome for us! 

You are more than a conqueror through the finished work of the cross.  Which would you rather give your time and attention to, TSN or the almost-too-good-to-be-true news, the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  

Keeping it Wheel

Jeremiah 18:3 - "Then I went down to the potter's house, and behold, he was working at the wheel". 

Not too long ago, I had worked a very full day and was truly looking forward to getting home.  I got in my car and started to drive out of the parking lot and heard "thump, thump, thump".  I had a flat tire.  If you've ever had a flat tire you know that it never happens at a convenient time, and this was one of those times.  I was tired, it was late, and I was over an hour from home.  And the thought hit me, "you have to change the tire to get moving".  No matter how much I stared at that tire, it had to be changed, that is if I wanted to get anywhere.

In Jeremiah 18:1-6, the Prophet is speaking about "change".  In verse 3, Jeremiah went down to the potter's house, and saw that he was working at the wheel.  A potter uses two wheels to work the pottery, a lower wheel operated by his feet and an upper wheel to mold the clay.  The word of the Lord in verse 6 says, "Cannot I do with you as this potter?  Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand". 

What is this speaking of?  "Keeping it wheel."  Being ready for change!  Just the same as my car, if I had not changed that tire, I wasn't going anywhere!  How about you?  Where do you want to go?  Do you want to move from where you are?  It's going to require change.  Most people fight change, but you can't have the "new" in your life without it.  "Keeping it wheel" is doing whatever God says to you, no matter how different it seems.  Will you allow yourself to be on the potter's wheel?  Change doesn't happen until you first submit to the change in your heart.  I encourage you to "keep it wheel" and experience God's best for your life.

The Tarzan Experience

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come, The old has gone, the new is here" NIV

The children's movie Tarzan, is a perfect illustration of what a huge difference it makes in life when you have the right belief about yourself.  As the story goes, Tarzan was born in the jungle, and when he was still a baby, his mother and father died.  A female gorilla found him and brought him back to her home, and “raised” him as her own.  He soon walked, and talked, and ate like a real gorilla.

Then one day as he got older, he and his gorilla brothers came across some human beings as they were exploring the jungle. They all laughed at them, thinking that they were strange looking creatures.

Then one day, as Tarzan went down to the lake to drink water, his life was forever changed.  As he bowed down to drink, he saw his own image in the still waters. WHAT? He ran to find his mother. Comparing his own hand with the hand of his gorilla mother, he understood the truth about his birth for the first time in his life. He was not a gorilla!  He was a human being, just like those he had seen visiting the jungle.

Now he had a choice to make, would he continue living as a gorilla, or start living like who he really was?  He made his choice, and gradually he started to walk talk and eat like a human being…to become who he really was.

Real transformation happens when we discover who we really are.  Right believing produces right living.  As we look into the mirror of God’s Word, we too will discover who we really are.  Then we need to make a daily choice, to live who we really are.  The new creation has come, the old is gone!  1John 4:17 says, "as He is so are we in this world".  Who is the He?  Jesus.  As Jesus is, so are we in the world…victorious, healthy, prosperous, and living the abundant life.  

Jesus' Nickname

Mathew 11:19 " A friend of tax collectors and sinners"

I don’t know about you, but when I was younger (a long time ago), we had nicknames for everyone. Rarely was anyone called by their real name.  For me, my nickname was “Forch”, short for Fortunato.  "Hey Forch, how's it going”, “Forch, let’s go play baseball”.  You don’t hear too many nicknames anymore, but when you do, hopefully it’s something that characterizes a person in a positive way.

Not so with the Pharisees.  They gave Jesus a nickname that they intentionally wanted to be seen as a negative.  But their plan had the exact opposite effect.  They said that Jesus was “a friend of tax collectors and sinners”.  Oh my, how scandalous!  But instead of a negative, this became a positive because the name revealed the heart of God for all people.

As a friend of sinners, they came to Him in big numbers. However, they did not remain the same. The unconditional love and unmerited favor of Jesus changed their lives.  Luke 15:1 says, "Then all the tax collectors and sinners kept drawing near to Him to hear Him".

Imagine if every church had the same nickname, “The friend of sinners”. How do you think the sinners would feel?  I can just imagine where they would go, and to whom they would go to if they needed help in their lives.  Jesus was honored by that nickname, it said who He really was. Let’s make that our nickname too, shall we!

You've Already Got It

Philemon 6 "That the communication of your faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus"

You've already got it!  Everything that you will ever need for this life has already been provided for you. Your healing has already been provided.  Your deliverance has already been provided.  Financial prosperity has already been provided.  You’ve already got it!

Where is it?  It's IN CHRIST JESUS!  Philemon 6 say's that if you're in Christ, then every good thing is already in you, in your spirit!  It's like a water well, and the pump is activated by "acknowledging every good thing that's already in you”.  In Christ Jesus you are now living from the inside out, not the outside in.  Peace is in you.  Joy is in you.  More than enough is in you.  Start declaring it.  Why?  Because you’ve already got it!

One definition of faith is - a positive response to what Grace has already provided!  God didn't provide healing the day you got sick, HE provided it 2016 years ago.  God didn't provide finances the day you got that bill in the mail.  He provided it 2016 years ago!  God didn't provide deliverance the day you fell into bondage or addiction.  He provided it 2016 years ago!  

If you’re born again, every good thing is already in you, you've already got it!  All that you need is not “out there” somewhere, or in your future, you don’t have to go get it from God.  Simply release the healing that is already in your born again spirit.  Release the finances that are already in you through the finished work on the cross.  Release the peace that is already in you, a fruit of the Spirit.  

Go ahead, “Abound and overflow in thanksgiving” as in Colossians 2:7.  Halleluiah!  Whatever you need, you’ve already got it.  It is finished!

You Want a "Peace" of Me?

Philippians 4:7 - “the peace of God, which passes understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Is there something that's trying to take your peace away?  Here’s some advice, don’t give your peace away.  There was a time many years ago, whenever I heard some bad news, instantly I could sense anxiety and fear trying to rise up in me.  In the middle of the night, in my sleep, God spoke to me and said, “Don’t let anything take your peace away”, and then He said, “Don’t give your peace away, and you can have peace that passes understanding”.  Wow!

Whatever you’re going through or in the midst of today, you can have peace that passes understanding, inner tranquility, and inner confidence that exceeds what you can figure out or even comprehend.  It goes past our knowledge and all reasoning.  Remember, in the kingdom of God, 2+2 can equal 2,000,000, God and you make up the majority!

Here are six simple things to remember when something wants a “peace” of you!... 

·         As soon as anxiety or fear tries to come, say “No fear here!” and begin to invite God into the situation through prayer and thanksgiving.

·         Make a “definite request” to God regarding your situation, which is a prayer or petition that is in total agreement with God’s word. 

·         Don’t let anything or anyone “take a peace of you”.  Keeping and maintaining your peace is a decision and a choice you make, not based on an emotion or feeling. Being in peace is a key to your daily walk because it helps you to keep focused and sensitive to God.

·         “Peace that passes all understanding” doesn’t try to understand everything.  God can show you anything at anytime and as much or as little as He chooses, so stay in peace until He does.

·         “With thanksgiving” means to give thanks for what has been “given” and is an “evidence of things hoped for”.  A thankful heart is a supernatural force of your faith and brings results.

·         Don’t tolerate worry.  Worry is sin because it borrows from the future.  Don’t worry about tomorrow, God is already there!

Next time someone or something wants “a peace of you”, say NO WAY!

Almond Joy

Jeremiah 1: 11 (Amplified Bible) "Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying Jeremiah, what do you see?  And I said, I see a branch of an almond tree [the emblem of alertness and activity, blossoming in late winter]"

When I was a kid I loved candy bars, my brother and I shared a room together on the second floor of our home.  In the winter, we would buy candy and put it right outside our bedroom window, which just so happened to be the roof of our house. It was in the back of our house so no one ever saw our stash.  It was awesome.  We would simply reach outside the window and, boom, an instant snack whenever we wanted.  Of course my parents never knew.  We loved Reese's peanut butter cups, Mounds bars, and of course Almond Joy bars galore!

n Jeremiah 1:11, a Word came to Jeremiah speaking about an " almond tree" as an emblem of the end of winter and the beginning of new life and spring.  Guess what folks, in Christ you have entered a life of "almond Joy".  A life of new beginnings, new opportunities, and the end of winter (barrenness, cold, despair, and futility). 

Almonds are the first fruit in the east to appear that signifies that the long, cold, dead winter is over!  Praise God!  Verse 12 says, “Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.”  God is watching over His Word to perform it in your life!  It's time for “almond joy” in your life!  Sweet!  Enjoy!

Get the Crimps Out

Proverbs 4: 23 Amplified " Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance for out of it flows the springs of life" 

There is nothing like Springtime, it's such a great time of newness of life.  The birds are singing, the leaves on the trees are turning green, flowers are blooming.  I enjoy this time of year so much.  Well, all almost everything about this time of year.  Outdoor chores are…not my favorite.  Have you wrestled with your garden hose lately?  You turn the faucet on, you can hear the water, you know it's on, but there's only a trickle of water coming out of the hose.  Then you look behind you and see it's all crimped up and making a hissing noise.  You get all the crimps out and BAM, the water is flowing!

The same thing happens to us sometimes as believers.  In Proverbs 4:23 it tells us why things don't flow as freely as they should.  I mean, the word is on the inside of us, we know it's there, but where is it, why are just a few "drops" coming out?  Because we live from the inside out, not the outside in.  The problem isn't what's going on on the outside.  The problem is what going on on the inside that's flowing to the outside.

What can crimp our spiritual "hose"?  Worry.  Fear.  Anxiety.  What else?  Strife definitely crimps the hose. Along with bitterness and unforgiveness.  So let's get those crimps out!  Let's get rid of anything that's stopping the flow of the springs of life.  Let's straighten out our thinking, let's let some things go.

Make a decision today not to worry, not to fear, not to lose sleep.  Get the crimps out.  There is a never ending flow of rivers of living water on the inside of you.  Release it.  Allow it to flow into and saturate every area of our life.

Casting Your Care

1 Peter 5:7 " Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you"

Several weekends ago, my daughter took my wife and I hiking in a beautiful park in nearby Pennsylvania.  It was awesome!  We were amazed at the beautiful scenery, wooded landscape, winding trails, along the picturesque Schuylkill River.  As we were walking we saw a dad and his two boys in the shallow part of the river fishing.  We stopped to watch them as they "cast" their lines in pursuit of golden trout and bass.

In 1 Peter 5:7 Peter says, "Casting all your care upon Him".  Interesting.  Care is defined here as "a suffering mind", or "a disquieted state of mixed uncertainty, apprehension, and responsibility, anxiety, also defined as worry".  Sound familiar?

If yes, Peter tells us exactly how to deal with "care".  He says to cast our care upon our Heavenly Father.  Cast means to "cause to move or send forth by throwing, to throw off or away".  Sound too simple?  

God is inviting us to cast ALL our care, worry, anxiety, burden on Him.  Now I'm not implying that you just sit home and do nothing!  You play a part too, and that is to simply listen to God and then do what He says.  This seems too simple for most people.  We feel the need to help God out!  We feel compelled to DO something.

What we need to DO is cast our cares like a fisherman out, throw the weight of them off of us and onto God.  To put the burden where it belongs, on the Maker and Creator of Heaven and earth, the One who cares for us affectionately.  And then quiet yourself and listen.  Listen as if you were standing with us by the river bank, as all we heard was the sound of the peaceful flow of water and quiet stillness of the woodlands…God is ready and waiting for you to cast all your care upon Him.    

You're a Know-it-all

1 John 2:20 " But you have an unction from the Holy One, and you know all things."
 
Have you ever been around a know-it-all?  Are you a know-it-all?  In a negative sense, it's someone who thinks they know everything, they know more than other people, or they don't need anyone's advice, they simply think they "know it all".
 
According to 1 John 2:20, if you are born again and filled with the Holy Spirit, did you know that you have a huge advantage?  The apostle John says something very, very powerful in this verse.  You have the One that knows all things right there on the inside of you, in your born again Spirit-filled spirit!  That's awesome!
He says that you have an unction, that's a word that means something smeared on as a scented ointment.  In the context of this verse, the unction refers to the Holy Spirit Himself!  Everything that you need to know is in your spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:10 says, " But God reveals them unto us by His Spirit", and 1 Corinthians 2:12 says, "We have received the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things freely given to us of God".
 
Verse 13 tells us exactly how to draw out this "knowing" - "which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches". Praying in the Spirit, or praying in tongues is powerful.  When we pray in tongues, we hear the mind of Christ for any specific issue or problem we are facing.  1 Corinthians 14:13 says, "wherefore let him that speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret".  That's where you "know it all", through Him.   
So whatever question you have today, you have an unction, and you know all things by the Spirit of God living on the inside of you.  Ask God for the interpretation, and you'll get the answers that you need, and God's plan for your life.  See, even know-it-all's can never know it all without God, but aren't you glad YOU know the One who knows it ALL!  
 

When in Trouble, Call 911

Psalm 91:1 " He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty"
 
In America, when you dial 911 on any phone, you are immediately connected to an emergency dispatch center, which can send emergency responders to you in a time of crisis.  In 96% of the US, the emergency dispatch center can also immediately identify the caller's location.  What a comfort knowing that help is only "three digits" away. 
 
Here's another number to remember in crisis...better yet, before crisis comes knocking at your door...Psalm 91:1, from "the Psalm of protection".  From beginning to end it speaks of God's divine defense for every possible attack on the child of God.
 
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty".  Wow!  There is an actual place of complete protection from every attack, sickness, and trouble - the secret place.
 
But here's the key.  Verse 2 starts out with "I will say of the Lord".  Psalm 91 is a voice activated system.  This is God's system for you to speak and declare His promises of protection and safety in your home, job, and church.
 
These exceeding great and precious promises are yours because of the finished work on the cross.  Don't panic over what's going on in the world.  Just like the three young Hebrew men in Daniel 3, it may feel like you're in a fiery furnace right now, but the fourth Man, Jesus, is with you and in you. 
 
Declare today over your family, neighborhood, city "No fear here!".  Call on Psalm 91:1.  He knows your name, He knows your address, you're divinely connected, you're in the secret place, under the shadow of the Almighty, under His protection! 

"For Pete's Sake'

Genesis 39:5 "From that time that he made him supervisor in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the Lord's blessing was on all that he had in the house and in the field"
 
According to the dictionary, the phrase, "for Pete's sake" is a euphemism of "for goodness sake" or "for mercy's sake". It literally means that someone is favored and successful because of the presence or the participation of someone else.

In Genesis 39, the reason for Joseph's success is found in verse 2 "and the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful and prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master".
 
I like the Amplified Bible translation that says, "and the Lord was with Joseph, and he [though a slave] was a successful and prosperous man".  Though he was raised in a wealthy home, he stood naked, a slave on an auction block, with nothing to his name. Yet God calls him a blessed and prosperous man.  How can this be?
 
Joseph's success wasn't based on his outward conditions. God doesn't measure success and prosperity the way the world does.  In God's kingdom, you are a success because of who you are in Christ, not because of what you have, what you drive, where you live, or what your bank account says.
 
You are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.  When you truly grasp who you are in Christ, eventually who you are on the inside will make its way to your outward condition.

In verse 5 it says that from the moment Joseph was put in charge, everything was blessed.  The blessing of God was on Joseph, no matter where he went, whatever he put his hand to prospered.  The same goes for you.  The business you work for is blessed and successful because you're there!
 
For Pete's sake!  Wherever you go things are better.  The blessing is on your community for your sake, your family for your sake, your job for your sake.  You are a blessing going someplace to happen!
 

Go to the Source

Romans 3:4 (NKJV) "Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: ‘That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.’” 

Does this scenario sound familiar… Someone says to you, "Did you hear what so and so said about you? They said that you were angry with them, and you ignored them at work the other day?"  Immediately you say to yourself, "I have no idea what they’re talking about”.  Then you try to think of anything that might help you remember your last encounter with that person.  

If yes, what was your response?  Did you delve into a conversation with that person, and get more details, or plead your case?  If yes, here’s a strategy for next time this happens.  Definitely do not talk to the person who just gave you the second hand information.  Instead, go directly to the source themselves.  If you hear that someone is saying terrible and negative things about you, don’t believe it immediately!  Again, go to the source first, and ask the person if this is what he or she really meant, and then proceed.  So many people allow precious friendships and relationships to become fractured because they don’t take the time to seek the truth, from the source.  

In the same way, in the world we live in, there are all kinds of wrong belief and rumors circulating about God…that God is angry with you, that He’s disappointed with you, that He would never forgive you for that terrible thing you did, that He is allowing all these negative things to happen to you because He's punishing you for something.  

Family, please do not believe gossip about God!  Go to the source.  In order to get our believing right, we need to first discover what the "right beliefs" are based on a solid foundation of God's Word. Romans 3:4 says "Let God be true".  You may have heard that God causes accidents to put people in the hospital so that they could get saved, or spend more time with Him, or get their priorities straight.  That is the most ridiculous, worldly logic you'll ever hear.  

Go to the source of God's Word Himself.  Let God be true and every negative rumor or lie be false.  Here's the problem, most people are just plain too lazy to go to the source, and so they just believe anything.  Some people are so steeped in tradition, that they would rather go with what their denomination says and not “rock the boat”.  Or perhaps they like their own belief system, they think it’s working for them. 

Folks it's time to go to the source of God's Word and destroy every lie and every false rumor about God's love and grace for you in your life.  Are you ready?  Let’s go to the source!

No Farmers, No Food

2 Corinthians 9:10 "Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;” 

Living in farm country, as we do in southwest New Jersey, it’s no surprise that as I was driving along one of the backroads the other day, the car in front of me had a bumper sticker that read, “No Farmers, No Food”.  

Wow, “No Farmers, No Food”.  This simple truth has a profound effect in our daily lives. If we don't plant anything we don't have anything.  Especially in the area of finances.  

Years ago, I learned about giving but had never been taught about sowing or planting a financial seed, or any other seed for what I was believing God for in my life. I had been taught to tithe but I didn't understand that there was a difference between giving my tithe and planting a seed.  Then I heard a message by Kenneth Copeland on sowing seed and giving your seed an assignment! 

In 2 Corinthians 9:10, it says that God provides both bread for eating and seed for sowing, and will multiply your seed sown.  Warning!  If you want to reap a harvest, don’t eat your seed for sowing!  When He gives you seed to plant, He says not mistake it for food and eat it.  Why? "No Farmers, No Food".   Could you imagine life without farms?  We'd have no fruit or vegetables, no feed for cattle, no cotton for clothing, and on and on.  

Today, if you’re lacking resources of any kind, start planting and sowing seed.  Give your seed a specific assignment - to produce exactly what you are believing God for.  Releasing your seed releases faith to access what you need and to “increase the fruits of your righteousness”. 

I believe a seed is an offering above your tithe (the tithe is the first ten percent of all your increase).  When it is released in faith it produces.  Praise God that He's given us a strategy to see things manifest in our life, "seed, time and harvest".  It works the same every single time!  Start planting today! 

e-Unity

Psalm 133:1 (The Living Bible) “How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers live together in harmony”. 

Online dating services have exploded since the mid 90’s when the first official sites began.  Since then, finding a companion online is no longer “out of the ordinary” as it once was.  It is becoming increasingly common and seems only destined to grow.  In America, over 50 million people from all walks of life have at one time visited an online dating site! 

The commercials for this billion-dollar industry depict happily married couples who have “found” their perfect match, smiling and looking dreamy eyed.  What they don’t show is the morning breath, no make-up, few extra pounds here and there, and the occasional “heated time of fellowship”.  In other words, “Love is blind, but marriage is an eye-opener!”  

Unity in any relationship, family, group or church takes a big amount of a small word called “work”.  But it’s worth it.  Matthew 18:19 says “if two of you shall agree as touching anything…it shall be done”.  The word agree means to harmonize or to “strike a chord.  Psalm 133:3 – “there (in unity), the Lord commanded the blessing”.  

Is it any wonder that the enemy likes to stir up trouble wherever he can?  All he needs is someone who will cooperate, and bang, there goes the unity, answered prayer, AND the blessing.  Don’t let anyone fool you, unity is something that must be intentional, and the pursuit of it must be relentless.  Ephesians 4:3 says “endeavor to keep the unity”, which means to work or labor.  

Years ago, my wife and I desired to purchase an investment property, a condominium in Florida.  We harmonized together, and along came a “God-idea”, and we had the property.  Then God provided a renter who said, “Would it be alright if I paid the whole year’s rent up front?”  I didn’t have to think twice about that one!  God blessed us with $13,000 in one day!  But it all started with harmony and unity!!   

Whether it be in a relationship, on the job, at church, in your neighborhood, at school… the place of agreement is the place of power.  Subscribe to e-unity today, simply go to Psalm 133:1 and make it intentional, and the new normal in your life!

Reach Out and Take It

Mark 5:27 – “When she heard of Jesus, came in the press behind and touched his garment”

I think many believers, when they hear of this scripture, imagine this woman gently touching Jesus’ robe.  That couldn’t be further from the truth, this word “touch” really means to fasten to, or literally to grab and to take hold of.  In other words, this woman who had suffered 12 years with an issue of blood tried everything else, spent all she had, and was not getting better.  Finally, she said to herself, "My answer is right here, right in front of me, and I’m going to barge my way in through this crowd and take it into my hands".

When our daughterwas 11 years-old, she played in a community basketball league.  The girls were so cute and truly enjoyed running up and down the court!  Well, Joy played point guard, which is the person that guards the ball handler dribbling down the court.  Most of the time, she put her hands and arms forward guarding the ball, but with her feet she was backing away, trying to be polite.

When I saw this happening, after the game I said to her, “I’ll tell you what, the next time you play, every time you reach out and grab the ball and take it away, I will give you a dollar”.

Sure enough, the next game she immediately stuck her hand out, took the ball and scored within, literally, the first five seconds of the game.  Then her opponent dribbled down and again, boom!...she stuck her hand out, grabbed the ball and took it in for another lay up.  Within 30 seconds…two takeaways, four points!  Each time she scored, she looked at me with a big smile and held up a finger for each dollar that I owed her.

Everything you need is right there in front of you!  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has [past tense] blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3).  All you need to do is “take it”!  Don’t gently touch, but “grab hold” of it, it’s yours.  That woman in Mark 5:27 was more tenacious that a pit bull at a mailman’s convention!  What are you waiting for?  Whatever it is, healing?  Victory?  A new job? It’s yours, take it!