DIRECT YOUR FOCUS

 When coaches are searching for potential hurdlers they are not looking for the tallest, the fastest, or the strongest athlete but instead the person who is not afraid of hard work, has a good attitude, and is committed to the sport.  Hurdlers need to put their minds and bodies through some tough lessons to learn the techniques associated with jumping. The coach realizes most beginners, no matter how dedicated, experience the same weaknesses. Although the hurdle is an inanimate object; it just sits there- many new athletes fear it. It begins to grow in their minds eye and they lose their focus. Once the athlete stutter steps as he makes the approach, the jump is compromised, and he ends up knocking the hurdle down, disqualifying him from the race.

Although I'm not an athlete per se; I am a hurdler in a spiritual race, and totally understand this concept since life if full of obstacles. We are told in the bible to, "Fear nor, for I am with you; Be not discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10 NIV) As a spiritual athlete in training, the Holy Spirit began to teach me how to successfully jump life's hurdles.

The first thing I needed to learn was how to condition my mind and emotions daily in order to make them strong. The best way to develop spiritual muscle is by soaking up the word of God. This might seem like hard work in the beginning but when you stick with it, studying the word energizes you. The second thing we need is a good attitude so we can "mentally" approach a hurdle without fear. When we focus on our problems they seem bigger than they really are and we forget our God is with us. My coach taught me not to look at the hurdles in life as obstacles to be avoided or stressed out over. These temporary problems are used as training tools by God to strengthen us so we learn to trust and rely on him. The last thing a spiritual athlete must do is stay committed to the race. As believers, our growth in the Lord takes time, effort and prayer.

Once I learned to deliberately direct my focus on God, I began to have a steady stride that propelled me forward in faith. No matter what hurdle you might be running toward in your life God promises to be with you, to strengthen you, to help you, and to uphold you.

WAITING FOR A MIDNIGHT MIRACLE

  

It's Christmas again and this year you might feel the magic and wonder of the season has faded, leaving you empty and disillusioned.

Maybe your life has taken a nose dive and you find yourself skidding out of control into the midnight hour, that black hole of hopelessness, where even your last chance has disappeared into a dark and disappointing future.

 We have all experienced setbacks from time to time that leave us feeling depressed and defeated. It's at that critical point of despair that we need a reminder that "nothing is impossible for God." Allow me to tell you a true story of a man who lost all hope and hit rock bottom.

Steven Lavaggi was a successful graphic designer, with a beautiful wife and young son. He was up and coming in the competitive business world with tons of talent and plenty of potential. He was a rising star until his life fell apart. One day, Steven's wife unexpectedly left him for a Rolling Stone magazine writer. Steven was left to raise their son alone, who was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes.With the challenges of caring for his child, Steven lost his edge and his budding business. As bills mounted, his life began swirling out of control. In desperation, Steven turned to God for help. He was abandoned, broke, and filled with worry; only a miracle could put his life back together.

So one night, sitting on his bedroom floor, he began searching the Bible for answers. As he read about God's love and His gift to the world ( His only son Jesus,) Steven Lavaggi gave his life to God. In that moment he was forever changed. As he began to follow God's plan for his life he developed a passion to create hope for people around him. Since he lived without hope for a while, he knew how powerful hope could be when it came flooding in. After reading Psalm 91:11 ("for He will give his angels charge over you, to guard you in all your ways.") he used his talents to paint an angel.

A friend encouraged Stephen to make the angel three dimensional, so he worked with a sculptor to cast the image. The first edition of those sculptures were an instant sensation, but God had an even greater plan. Later, while speaking in South Africa as a guest of Parliament, Steven held up one of the angels to a crowd of 3,500 people. The sculpture had a black patina finish, and when the audience saw it they jumped from their seats in joy. He was told that a few days before a preacher declared, "One of the things we need is for international artists to express the love of God through art, perhaps even painting angels' in black."

When he heard this Lavaggi grabbed a white angel and held it over his head and said, "These angels were created to be like brothers and sisters, as we are supposed to be." Later, as he thought about that moment , he decided to call the sculptures The Angels of Reconciliation. That set of angels was sold at auction and were presented as a gift to Nelson Mandela. Today, Steven is known as the "Artist of Hope", and his work is seen all over the world.

God has a plan and purpose for each one of us. Your problems may be mounting along with the bills but God is bigger than anything you might be facing in your life right now. ANYTHING. Luckily for us, God does not sleep during the dark midnights of our lives. He does some of His best work when all hope is gone. Every day is a new beginning with God and the possibilities are endless. Miracles' still happen to ordinary people like you and me. The thing is, we stopped expecting them.


 PRAYER...
Lord God and Heavenly Father, I come before you today broken and afraid. I turn my life over to you and trust that you have made a way for me through the darkness. I'm open to your plan, even if it's not what I envisioned because I believe nothing is too hard or wonderful for you to accomplish in me.
In Jesus name. Amen

Scripture reading
John 3:16
Psalm 3:2-6
Luke 18:35-43
Psalm 91

PREDICTIONS 2016

It's that time of year again when we look to the Newsroom Psychics to tell us what they see in our future.

The "experts" have an opinion on everything from tech, finance, politics, religion and culture. We even allow Nostradamus, a 16th century philosopher, the privilege of holding a standing forecast of what will transpire in our lifetime.

What is it that draws us to the bright light of their crystal ball?
 
With so much uncertainty in the world it's no wonder we think looking beyond tomorrow, at the big picture, we might gain an edge and avoid some unseen future pitfalls. Who doesn't want to feel they have a little control over the good and bad omens the media flaunts in the news each day. Most of us don't put much stock in everything the political soothsayers tell us but we stress and pray some of their conjecture will pull us out of the turmoil we find our country in at this point in time.

What has all their talk and conclusions given us?  The number of people treated in hospitals for stress has risen by seven per cent in the last year. Stress related illnesses, physical and mental, are on the rise in American

  Jesus said, "Do not be anxious or worried about tomorrow, for the future will have problems of its own." God gives us enough grace for one day at a time. One day at a time! Only God knows what tomorrow may bring into the lives of each one of us. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:34 to meet each day's challenges as they come and not to borrow trouble from tomorrow. God created us to overcome...but He instructs us to take life one day at a time.

We can avoid so much stress and burnout if we would learn to take the creator's advice; relax and let God be God. When we learn to put these principles into practice God's grace will be available to us in sufficient supply to help us face and overcome whatever may occur in our lives and the world around us in 2016 and beyond.

 

Christmas wars?....BRING IT ON!

As we move through the "Battlefield" formerly known as the Christmas Holidays my heart is heavy by the spirit of anti-Christ that is growing in our country.

 I can turn the other cheek against Zombie Nativity scenes, the new billboard with Santa saying "Go ahead and skip church" (courtesy of the American Atheists), and words like "Christmas" and "Hanukkah" completely banned from use in public schools. My thought is, "Bring It On."

Jesus Christ is greater than wooden creches and holiday tradition. Christianity is rooted deep in the fabric of our nation's values and the Bible is grounded in our hearts. Jesus said, "God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers." Matthew 5:11 NLT

There is only one way to lose this war, and that is when we give unbelievers the power to push our buttons. When we react in anger we miss an opportunity to SHINE. We should stand up to the growing opposition against the Gospel but let us never bring shame to the name of the God we serve. Instead, we need to keep focused on the task at hand which is gathering a harvest of lost souls.

 It's time to take back stolen ground by lighting the candle within our hearts with the love of Christ and carry that flame into the darkness that surrounds us. We need to hit the streets with renewed passion for the multitudes who live in confusion. We meet broken and hurting people every day at work, in the subway, at school, and the neighborhood grocery store who need someone to light their dark and cold heart with the flame of faith.

 Each of us can reach past our barriers with a kind word to the frazzled store clerk, a large tip to the angry waitress, or a cup of Starbucks coffee to the heckler at the office. Love is a great neutralizer and can win the respect of our toughest opponents.

Let's get ready to show the world what Christians are really made of. Take your candle and go light your world.

Merry Christmas

       

 

PRAYER DOES MATTER

Each of us has an opinion on what we believe our country's future holds. Presidential candidates tickle our ears with their words of wisdom hoping to entice us to jump on their bandwagon. Like many Americans, I'm wishing for a miracle before our nation crumbles before our very eyes.

As a christian I know we can debate our political views all we want but without faith in the one true God and a desire to pray nothing will change. Unfortunately our current situation in this country will get worse unless we stand united as One Nation Under God. Below is a prayer for our government. Each sentence is taken from scripture making this a prayer for all denominations. If God's people (You and I) will humble ourselves and pray, and seek God's face, turning back to Him and realizing our sin He will forgive us and heal our land. Please pray the following prayer often, our future depends on it. 

Heavenly Father, I give thanks for our government......1 Tim. 2:1
I pray for all men and women having authority over us in any way........1 Tim. 2:2
Pour out Your Spirit upon them and make Your Word known to them.....Prov. 1:23
Cause them to be men and women of integrity, obedient concerning us.....Ps. 25:21
that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty......1 Tim. 2:2
Let wisdom enter their heats, and let knowledge be pleasant to them....Prov. 2:10
Let discretion preserve them and understanding keep them.....Prov. 2:11
to deliver them from the way of evil and from evil men....Prov. 2:12
Make their hearts and ears attentive to godly council.....Psalm 1:1
doing what is right in Your sight....2 Chron. 20:32
Let the upright dwell in our government.....Prov. 2:21
Cause there to be a shaking in all areas....Heb. 12:27
Let those complete and blameless before You stay....Prov. 2:21
and cut off the wicked. Let the unfaithful be rooted out....Prov. 2:22
Bring to light what is hidden in darkness....1 Cor 4:5
and expose the secret aims of the heart....1 Cor. 4:5
Let this nation remember from where they have fallen, ....Rev. 2:5
repenting and returning to doing their first works....Rev. 2:5
setting their hearts and their souls to seek the Lord...1 Chron. 22:19
humbling themselves, praying, and turning from their wicked ways....2 Chron 7:14
Then hear them, O Lord, and forgive their sin and heal our land....2 Chron. 7:14
Open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light....Acts 26:18
Soften the hearts that are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin... Heb. 3:13
Deliver them from their destruction's..... Psalm 107:20
Father, You have been long suffering toward us....2 Peter 3:9
not willing that any should perish....2 Peter 3:9
but that all should come to repentance...2 Peter 3:9
Raise up a standard in this nation....Isa. 49:22
Cause the rains of the Spirit to flood this land....Zech. 10:1
and revive Your work in the midst of us.....Hab. 3:2
Raise up intercessors for this nation....Isa. 59:16
to pull down strongholds over this land....2 Cor.10:4
And let the glory of the Lord be revealed!!!!.Isa. 40:5

Print your own copy at prayinginvictory.com

DEBTS PAID

     June 18th of 2015 began the first day of Ramadan which holds profound meaning for the world's 1.5 billion Muslims. This sacred one month fast is actually for the same purpose Christians occasionally fast: the desire to know God in a deeper more intimate way.

Year after year, Muslim's and Christians realize their need for forgiveness and this Holy Month is a reminder to people of all faiths of our common humanity and commitment to justice, equality, and compassion.

I would like to take this opportunity to ask God's blessing on my Muslim brother's and sister's and as a Christian I would like to thank the ONE who paid my debt and set me free.

Lessons from Nature... GROWING PATIENCE IN LIFE'S GARDEN

Remember Veruca Salt, the spoiled rich kid in the movie
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory?  I hate to admit when it comes to having patience, I totally understand her.  She wanted everything life had to offer and she wanted it NOW, and if she didn't get her way ...look out.

We live in an "On Demand" world and want life to operate like the click of a remote button.  Truth be told, I allow this same attitude to spill over into my prayer life, and when I have to wait on God I can get anxious, impatient and discouraged. 

Unfortunately, God does not operate on Central, Pacific, or Eastern time zones so if you  are waiting for a prayer to be answered you might as well take a lesson from nature.

The amazing Chinese Bamboo plant starts from a tiny seed, just like most plants, but here is where the similarities end.  You water it, protect it, and care for it and nothing happens.  Nothing.  Not the first year.  Nothing the second or third year.  Nothing the forth year. 

But WAIT.  The fifth year the little seed begins to grow.  In fact, it grows 90 feet in just 6 weeks!!

Life often works in similar ways.  We can pray and work for years on a dream, a relationship, a job and nothing seems to get better.  Instead of having faith we start to second guess ourselves.  We might be tempted to dig up the seed and plant it somewhere else, wondering if all our nurturing is worth it.  We begin to think our hope will be realized in greener pastures.  HOLD ON! 

Realize you can trust God with your most heartfelt desires if you don't give up.

God promised Abraham and Sarah a child in their old age but they had to water their bamboo seed for 25 years before God answered their prayer. They waited long past the time where this miracle was biologically possible.  A young shepherd boy was anointed to become a king but David watered his bamboo plant 20 years before he finally sat on the throne of Israel.

  God loves us enough to want us to grow deep before we grow tall.  Like any good parent his main concern is what is growing within our heart so when our prayer is answered we are mature lacking nothing.  Patience is not easy to grow and cultivate but if you want God's best you will learn to wait patiently and keep watering your bamboo seed.

Scripture Reading: 

 Isaiah 40: 28-31
Psalms 25:  3-5