BLESSED FROM THE BEGINNING

Genesis 1:27-28 GW  So God created humans in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female. God blessed them and said, "Be fertile, increase in number, fill the earth, and be its master. Rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that crawl on the earth."

Genesis 5:2 GW  He created them male and female. He blessed them and called them humans when he created them.

According to scripture, from the beginning, God's intent was for His people to live blessed. He spoke blessing into the very DNA of man when He created them (male and female).

However, because of the fall of mankind as recorded in Genesis chapter 2 & 3, the blessed and worry free life originally purposed by God for man changed dramatically. Everything became a struggle. 
Yet, God in His wisdom already had a plan in place to ultimately restore fallen humanity through His beloved Son Jesus. Still before Jesus came in the flesh as a man, God made provision for His people to live blessed lives. Deuteronomy 11

The wonderful thing about God's blessing, is that it not only pertains to material gain, but extends far beyond to include man's spirit, soul and body.

Ephesians 1:3 GW  Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Through Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing that heaven has to offer.

God has provided tremendous blessings for us in the heavenly realm and in the earth. He does not withhold any good thing from those who love Him, while willing to trust and obey His Word.

Choose to receive and live the blessed abundant life Jesus came to give. John 10:10

Be Refreshed!

NOTHING IS WASTED

Every so often, I am reminded by the Holy Spirit that "nothing is wasted". This is significant because the Lord hears, sees, and remembers His people. Since we are very VALUABLE to Him, no tear cried; heartache felt or trial experienced in the past, present, or future is for nothing. God will utilize all of these things to bring glory to His name. He faithfully rewards those who love Him and obey while persevering through every situation.

Believe it or not, we are halfway through 2013. Continue to persevere and embrace your value. Allow yourself to dream big! Expect the godly desires of your heart to begin manifesting before the end of the year. However, I encourage you (myself included) to seek the face of God by spending time in praise, worship and prayer; not just seek His hand to get more things. Then we will have confidence that when we ask, the Lord will help us apprehend the things He has placed in our hearts to not only benefit ourselves, but others as well. Let's stay in faith believing He will show us each step to take as we move forward.

Be Refreshed!

CHOOSE WISELY

Genesis 1:27 GW So God created humans in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female.

Genesis 2:7 KJV  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

God created man/human-beings in His image. He formed the body of man from the dust of the earth, but man didn't become alive, conscious and aware with the ability to speak until God breathed into his body. The King James version states that man became a living soul. The soul involves the mind/intellect-the ability to think and reason; the will- making choices and decisions; and emotions- how and what we feel.  

Our ability to speak, reason and make choices sets us apart from God's other creations. However, there are always consequences when we exert our will to make choices. If we yield to positive godly influences we will make wise choices being in position to enjoy God's best for us. On the other hand, if we yield to negative ungodly influences our actions will be foolish and create unnecessary hardship not only for ourselves, but unfortunately those connected to us.
(Read Genesis 2:3-3:24)

Choosing to obey the Lord is always a wise decision!

Be Refreshed!

What Makes Us Tick ?

On our continued journey to developing and maintaining a positive self-image, we need to understand our nature as human beings; in other words, know what makes us tick.

We all have needs. As discussed in my book VALUABLE, a well known psychologist, Abraham Maslow, had a theory called “Hierarchy of Needs”.   This theory consists of five levels of human needs from one being the lowest, to five as the highest. In his model, physical needs serve as the base with the other category of needs building upon the satisfaction of prior needs.

In this hierarchy, the needs second to the highest, are esteem. These needs consist of: self-esteem, personal worth, social recognition and accomplishment. Feeling appreciated and valued is something all people want to experience and need. Unfortunately, the methods used, depending on what they are to meet this need, can cause more damage than the need going unmet by others. Even so, as air, food, and water are necessary to sustain the physical body, self-esteem is necessary to one’s mental well-being; but where does it come from? How do we attain and hang on to our self-esteem? The answer for some is total reliance on human willpower, natural ability, and external accomplishments. However, as we navigate through life, there are situations we encounter that are too big to handle with sheer willpower in our own strength.

I don't believe God ever intended for us to face these situations nor live life apart from Him. I have come to realize that, despite great human potential, exceptional ability and determination, we definitely need God’s help to actually reach our full potential.Everything that makes us healthy functioning humans, including our potential, desires etc., God our Creator placed in us to become our best selves. I am so glad He knows and understands exactly what we need and is willing to meet those needs when we ask Him. Let Him meet your needs today!

Be Refreshed! 

Discovering Your Value Part 2

Proverbs 12:18 GNB
Thoughtless words can wound as deeply as any sword, but wisely spoken words can heal.


Typically, when reading this scripture the assumption is that it pertains to the words that we speak to and about others. However, on the journey to discovering our value, it is worthwhile to take inventory of the words we speak not only to other people, but to ourselves as well. 

Words, whether orally or written are powerful! They create images in the mind, evoke strong emotions, and attach memories to good and bad experiences, past and present. Words guide the course of our lives in a positive or negative direction. They can build up or tear down; hurt or bring healing; instill hope, faith or fear.     (James 3: 2, 5-6) 


What are you saying and thinking about yourself? Are you building yourself up with your words or tearing yourself down? Are you speaking words of faith or fear?

Self-talk words convey the thoughts and opinions you have of yourself which equate to your self-perception. Our self-perception whether positive or negative affects the way we interact with others which in turn influences the way others see and treat us. So, as it is important to speak positive words to others, it is also important to speak life and blessing over yourself.

Remember,you have been fearfully and wonderfully made created in the image of God. (Psalms 139:14, Genesis 1:26-27)  He has nothing but good things to say about you, so get in the Word and find out for yourself. You are VALUABLE!

Be Refreshed

DISCOVERING YOUR VALUE PT. 1

In an earlier blog I wrote that we have seasons when we experience a great deal of problems. These problems are packaged in different ways. They can involve finances, health, career and relationships.  

Dealing with life's issues and problems can be challenging. It is difficult to feel good about yourself when it seems like you just can't get it right. The mistakes of the past still linger.

During those times it is important to know that your issues past and present do not diminish your value. No matter where you are in life, God sees you as a:
Victorious Accepted Loved Understood Affirmed Blessed Liberated Expression of His Grace. You are VALUABLE. 

Whether or not you do everything right does not not cause God to love you any more or any less. Know that you are valuable because God loves you and has spoken well of you. Get to know Him  and discover your value through His Word.

Be Refreshed

What Is Your Level Of Trust?

 At the beginning of 2013, I wrote about the significant role obedience to God would play this year in our experiencing His manifested blessings in our lives.

However, the Holy Spirit revealed that it is very difficult to obey someone you don't really trust. Then the trial of Job came to mind.

There are different thoughts regarding the cause of Job’s trials. One is that he opened the door to the devil (Satan) through fear. (Job 3:25 ESV)  For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me. From this verse it is clear that although Job worshipped God, he definitely had issues with fear. Another is that God brought Job to Satan’s attention. (Job 1:8 ESV)  And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?"

From this passage God did indeed invite Satan’s scrutiny of Job, but as commendation to Job’s right standing with Him being unlike the other people of his time. God considered Job to be blameless because his lifestyle was one of reverence to Him.

Satan’s argument was that Job only worshipped God because things were going extremely well in his life and family. Satan contended that Job would turn away from God if all the blessing and prosperity were taken away. As a result Job encountered seriously trials. Yet, despite all of them Job asserted and maintained His trust in God. (Job 13:15a CEV)  God may kill me, but still I will trust him…. Job was not privy to the conversation God and Satan had. He was unaware that Satan contrived his misery. The only one Job was aware of was God. Job knew that God was sovereign. If you read Job’s account for yourself, you will find that Job rides an emotional roller-coaster. (I think we have all been there at some point in our walk with the Lord.) Still, through all of the horrendous events, Job’s stand was to trust God regardless of what his wife and friends thought.

To me, the point of our looking into Job’s life, is to be inspired to develop an unshakeable faith and trust in our Heavenly Father no matter what challenges we face. As demonstrated at the end of the book of Job, God rewards those who put their trust in Him. This is a recurring theme in the Bible. Satan’s purpose is to harm us, but God’s plan and purpose is for us to be well and prosper. So, what is your level of trust? Are you willing to completely trust in God’s sovereignty and absolute goodness in spite of what you see, think or feel?

I pray that you are.

Be refreshed 

Blessings for the Obedient

This is a new year and I believe the people of God have an opportunity to walk in His blessings as never before, despite the social and economic crises all around in the world. 

 

While some may see the number as 13 representing something negative, for followers of Christ Jesus, 2013 can be a year of double blessing. But what will it take to experience God’s goodness/blessing being doubled in our lives? It will take determined obedience.

 Psalm 37: 18-25

 18 Those who obey the LORD are daily in his care, and what he has given them will be theirs forever.
19 They won't be in trouble when times are bad, and they will have plenty when food is scarce.
20 Wicked people are enemies of the LORD and will vanish like smoke from a field on fire.
21 An evil person borrows and never pays back; a good person is generous and never stops giving.
22 Everyone the LORD blesses will receive the land; everyone the LORD curses will be destroyed.
23 If you do what the LORD wants, he will make certain each step you take is sure.
24 The LORD will hold your hand, and if you stumble, you still won't fall.
25 As long as I can remember, good people have never been left helpless, and their children have never gone begging for food.

Psalm 37 reveals many things. It reveals that God takes care of those daily who obey Him regardless of what is happening in the earth; it reveals that the character of the obedient displays goodness, integrity and generosity; it reveals that God orders the steps of His obedient ones and even if they stumble, they will not crash and burn. God also makes provision for the children of those who are obedient.

These are awesome promises of God!

Let this year be a year of drawing close to the Lord through prayer, praise/worship and obedience to His Word. Then watch Him accomplish great things in our lives as only He can.

That’s my plan. What is yours?

Be encouraged and refreshed!