Faith Pursues!

April 25, 2011

I've been meditating much on the word faith. "Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well." Scriptures like these (Matthew 9:22) entice me to spend more time considering...what type of faith is this that so pleases the Lord? I once read...if you were hiring a quarterback for your football team, would you want someone who was "open" to making a touchdown or someone who would passionately pursue a touchdown believing it possible? Have I been merely open to the things of God? If so, I don't believe this is faith. Faith pursues. Faith passionately pursues. Faith goes after the impossible. Faith cannot exist when I am inward focused. Faith ignites in a heart of one who chooses to believe, " With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." (Mark 10:27) Faith takes risks. Faith may require leaving behind the comfortable. A life of faith produces Kingdom fruit. Faith rests in, relies on, and rejoices in the promises of God. Faith requires knowing the voice of the Father and obeying Him. In HIM all things are possible!

Recently I became a fan of the turtle :). In order for a turtle to move forward, it has to take a risk by leaving the security of its shell. Apparently, "Do not fear" is written 365 times in the bible. Everyday we need to be reminded because fear is faith's deadly opponent. It keeps us from moving forward. We need to remember...Without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]. (Heb. 11:6)

Let us not fear but move forward by earnestly and diligently seeking Him today!! Faith pursues!!

He answers prayer!

April 15, 2011

There are four ways God answers prayer: 1) No, not yet; 2) No, I love you too much; 3) Yes, I thought you'd never ask; 4) Yes, and here's more.

A. Lewis

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.

He has a perfect plan for each one of us!!

Great faith sings!

April 14, 2011

Little-faith says, "It is a rough road, beset with sharp thorns, and full of dangers; I am afraid to go;" but Great-faith remembers the promise, "Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; as thy days, so shall thy strength be:" and so she boldly ventures. Little-faith stands desponding, mingling her tears with the flood; but Great-faith sings, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:" and she fords the stream at once.

charles spurgeon

Anticipating His voice!

April 13, 2011

"The heart of abiding faith "leans into God," anticipating His voice, looking for His next move. Like Jesus, we are to be able to say, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me" (John 4:34). I am strengthened in hearing God speak. I am nourished through my own obedience to His voice. The situations of life take on meaning and purpose because of the abiding faith to follow Jesus. Hearing from God is the essential element of the Christian life, for "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4). His voice is our life." Bill Johnson

Fresh Revelation!

April 12, 2011

"We cannot afford to live only in what we understand because then we don't grow or progress anymore; we just travel the same familiar roads we have traveled all of our Christian life. It is important that we expose ourselves to impossibilities that force us to have questions that we cannot answer. It is a part of the Christian life, which is why the Christian life is called "the faith." The normal Christian life is perfectly poised between what we presently understand and the unfolding revelation that comes to us from the realm of mystery." B Johnson

What impossibilities are you facing today? Let's pursue the knowledge of the Lord concerning them and then walk in faith!! (Hosea 6:3) Remember David faced the impossible when facing Goliath. Having received revelation of God's power, David responded in faith which resulted in victory!

With God!

April 11, 2011

"It's the Presence of God that links us to the impossible. His presence makes anything possible!" B Johnson

2 Corinthians 3:17

¹⁷Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Psalm 16: 11b

In Your presence is fullness of joy!

Mark 10:27

²⁷Looking at them, Jesus said, "With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."

With God!! Amen!

He satisfies!

April 8, 2011

"Oh, that men (and women!) would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness." Psalm 107: 8-9

Oh Father, thank you for Your goodness! May our hearts burn for You for You alone satisfy the longing soul!

A Model for Us

April 7, 2011

"Many believers think miracles and power are for extra-special anointed people of God. Many get hung up on the idea that Jesus did miracles as God, not man. In reality, Jesus had no ability to heal the sick. He couldn't cast out devils, and He had no ability to raise the dead. He had set aside His divinity. He did miracles as man in right relationship with God because He was setting forth a model for us, something for us to follow." "This is the nature of our call- it requires more than we are capable of." B Johnson

John 5:19

Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself' He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does."

Father- please reveal what You're doing today and what You long to do thru us by the power of Your Spirit!!

Repentance

April 4, 2011

"Re means to "go back." Pent is like the penthouse, the top floor of a building. Repent, then means to go back to God's perspective on reality." B Johnson

What is God's perspective for you today?

His Word for me today:

Proverbs 3:5

I will trust in the LORD with all my heart today

and lean not on my own understanding;

in all my ways I will acknowledge Him..His presence, His power, His grace, His wisdom, His forgiveness, His Sovereign loving hand...

and He will make my paths straight! Amen!

A greater form of humility...

April 3, 2011

"Doesn't it honor Him (God) more when His children no longer see themselves only as sinners saved by grace, but now as heirs of God? Isn't it a greater form of humility to believe Him when He says we are precious in His sight when we don't feel very precious? We must rise up to the high call of God and stop saying things about ourselves that are no longer true. Maturity comes from faith in the sufficiency of God's redemptive work that establishes us as sons and daughters of the Most High." B Johnson

By His glorious grace!!

I am God's child ~ John 1:12

As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ ~ John 15:15

I have been justified ~ Romans 5:1

I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit ~ 1 Corin. 6:17

I have been bought with a price, and I belong to God ~ 1 Corin. 6:19-20

I am a member of Christ's body ~ 1 Corin. 12:27

I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child ~ Ephesians 1:3-8

I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins ~ Colossians 1:13-14

I am complete in Christ ~ Colossians 2:9-10

I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ ~ Hebrews 4:14-16

I am secure...

I am free from condemnation ~ Romans 8:1-2

I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances ~ Romans 8:28

I am free from any condemnation brought against me, and I cannot be separated from the love of God ~ Romans 8:31-39

I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God ~ 2 Corin. 1:21-22

I am hidden with Christ in God ~ Colossians 3:1-4

I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me ~ Philippians 1:6

I am a citizen of Heaven ~ Philippians 3:20

I have not been given the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind ~ 2 Timothy 1:7

I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me ~ 1 John 5:18

I am significant...

I am the branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life ~ John 15:5

I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit ~ John 15:16

I am God's temple ~ 1 Corin. 3:16

I am a minister of reconciliation for God ~ 2 Corin.5:17-21

I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm ~ Ephesians 2:6

I am God's workmanship ~ Ephesians 2:10

I may approach God with freedom and confidence ~ Ephesians 3:12

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me ~ Philippians 4:13

We leak :)

April 2, 2011

"The baptism in the Holy Spirit is not a one-time event. In Acts 2, we find 120 being baptized in the Spirit in the upper room. Yet, in Acts 4 we find some of the same crowd being refilled. Some have put it this way: one baptism, many fillings. Why? We leak." B Johnson

What am I convinced of?

April 1, 2011

"We are often more convinced of our unworthiness than we are of His worth. Our inability takes on greater focus than does His ability. But the same One who called fearful Gideon a Mighty Warrior and unstable Peter a Rock has call us the Body of His beloved Son on earth." BJohnson

The Brown's Banterings