Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, and David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.” 1 Samuel 30:7-8 David took the time to inquire of the Lord. There are seven times in 1 and 2 Samuel that tell us David “inquired of the Lord” (1 [...] Read more »
Waiting on God Strengthens You in The Lord
on August 5, 2011 · 10 Comments
Why, O Jacob, do you say, and declare, O Israel, My way and my lot are hidden from the Lord, and my right is passed over without regard from my God? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might [...] Read more »
Praying in the Spirit Strengthens You in the Lord
on August 3, 2011 · 5 Comments
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Jude 1:20 (New International Version) A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally 1 Corinthians 14:4 (New Living Translation) Did you ever notice Paul wished everyone would speak in tongues? Read 1 Corinthians 14:5 a little slower, and stop at the first comma. If you jump up to the verse 4 you’ll see why… because the ones who speaks in tongues [...] Read more »
How Pastors Can Help People Hope
on August 1, 2011 · 1 Comment
Now I want to share something with pastors. I know it’s not easy to compete with TV, radio, and now internet speakers. You’re people can watch amazing speakers on Youtube that you can only quote. I want you to know that God doesn’t expect you to compete with anyone in the Kingdom. You’re to do the best with the gifts you have. But please, only share the words of life. What are the words of life? They are the words [...] Read more »
Where You Can Find A Life-Giving Church
If you’re in a town and there is no life giving church, and it’s impossible to drive to a life giving church, there are other alternatives. But before I share with you an alternative I need to be clear – I’m not saying if you’re upset with the pastor or if you’ve been hurt by a friend this alternative is for you. Iron sharpens iron and if you’re running away from what God wants you to take to the cross, [...] Read more »
6 Things We Do with Others that Strengthens Us In The Lord
on July 27, 2011 · 2 Comments
You know I have a pastor’s heart, so you know I’m going to try to find a way to tell you “The coal goes out when it’s removed from the embers, but it burns bright when it’s close to them in the fire.” And you’re right, as I studied the Word I found some verse that seemed to fit together to expand on meeting together for encouragement. Here is what Scripture says strengthens us: 1. Grace Do not be carried [...] Read more »
The Word of God Strengthens Us In the Lord
on July 25, 2011 · 6 Comments
Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders. My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Psalm 119:27-28 (New International Version) When you need hope, pray the Psalms. Start reading anywhere and read until you get to one that speaks to your situation, then camp out there for a while. In the Psalms God has given us a language to pour our hearts out to Him. Take Psalm 13 [...] Read more »
Praise and Joy Strengthens Us In The Lord
on July 22, 2011 · 21 Comments
The Bible promises: Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” Psalm 50:14-15 (New Living Translation) Praise defeats the enemy. It’s something anyone can do. Children are even powerful when they choose to praise: From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the [...] Read more »
Hope Strengthens Itself in the Lord
on July 20, 2011 · 5 Comments
David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God. 1 Samuel 30:6 In the middle of the tragedy, when his men were talking about stoning him. David strengthened himself in the Lord. When you’re in the middle of tragedy – when the phone call comes that takes your breath away, when you cry out to God [...] Read more »
How to Be Healed of the Inner Wounds
on July 18, 2011 · 6 Comments
To live unoffended at God, it’s not simply a matter of willing our minds to think different thoughts. Wounds are where the strongholds in our thinking take root. We need to be healed of these wounds. If you don’t know why you’re offended, but you know you are because your admittedly standoff-ish with the Father, or you don’t like hearing other’s testimonies or you’re quick to take offense at others, ask Him to show you the root wound using these [...] Read more »
Understanding the Power of Testimony
on July 15, 2011 · 4 Comments
A tool to help us focus on the positive is testimony. Testimony is telling the truth about God to others. It is talking about His goodness and sharing about His greatness. It is reminding ourselves of the good things He’s given us and done for us. When you talk about the good things God is doing, you’re inviting Him to do it again. When you hear about a miracle He has done, grab it, it’s for you. I’ve told you [...] Read more »
A Prayer Against Depression – By Ignatius of Loyola
on July 13, 2011 · 16 Comments
People have been asking me to pray for them going through difficult times. I found this prayer by Ignatius of Loyola. It’s a good one. O Christ Jesus, when all is darkness and we feel our weakness and helplessness, give us the sense of Your presence, Your love, and Your strength. Help us to have perfect trust in Your protecting love and strengthening power, so that nothing may frighten or worry us, for, living close to You, we shall see [...] Read more »
3 Steps to Choose to Live Unoffended at God
on July 13, 2011 · 4 Comments
Here’s how we can choose to live unoffended at the Father: 1. Agree to live without what He withholds. Agreeing to live without what God withholds does not mean we create theology from our experience. We can’t say, “It’s not God’s will for me to be healed.” Because we know His will is done perfectly in heaven and we know in heaven there is no sickness so we know it’s not His will for anyone to be sick. We cannot [...] Read more »
What is Living Unoffended at God?
I’m in debt to Bill Johnson for giving me biblical words to express how we need to relate to God when things happen that just don’t make sense in light of His nature or character. John the Baptist declared the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, knowing the anointed one would release the prisoners. But then he sat in prison and doubt started to set in. He sent his disciples to ask his cousin if [...] Read more »
Living Unoffended at the Father
on July 8, 2011 · 4 Comments
The second key to avoiding bitterness as you hope at the end of the rope is living unoffended at the Father. We can so easily become offended at God. Many times when we stand before God will a broken dream, unfulfilled vision or loss of a promise and it feels just like the plant we tended so carefully has just gone dry and withered. It has. But don’t let the seed go to waste. Until a seed is dead, no [...] Read more »
How Do I Forgive Myself?
on July 6, 2011 · 13 Comments
I was being interviewed by someone on his internet radio show and we got on the topic of forgiveness. He mentioned his need to forgive himself. He saw it as a noble cross to bear. It help him realize how depraved he truly was. I interrupted him. He was justifying living under condemnation. I told him, “Listen, there is a way to get past those overwhelming thoughts.” For a long time my response to this question of “do I need [...] Read more »
Do I Have to Forgive the Person Who Has Done Nothing to Deserve It?
on July 4, 2011 · 2 Comments
We’re continuing the story of a friend who was seeing demons who asked us to come and help. We found out he wouldn’t forgive his wife who betrayed him or his father who was harsh with him. This was based on a lie that someone in authority told him. “If God doesn’t forgive us until we ask for it, we don’t forgive others until they deserve it.” That’s not what Matthew 18:21-35 says: Then Peter came and said to Him, [...] Read more »
Do I Need to Forgive If the Other Person Doesn’t Ask for It?
on June 29, 2011 · 10 Comments
The next story took place after we had returned from New Zealand. We had a friend who asked Karen and I to come help him with some spiritual problems he was having. He was seeing demons in his house and asked us to come and cleanse the property. There was an oppressive presence in the house as we prayed around the rooms. We really sensed the open door was in our friend. So we asked if we could take him [...] Read more »
How The Two Stories of Forgiveness Ended
I’ve been sharing stories about two women I knew at the same time. Here’s how both stories ended. Six months later I notice a visitor in our service. She kept smiling throughout the sermon. She was a beautiful, physically gorgeous person. After the service I went to greet her and she ran to me and gave me a hug. “Nice to meet you.” I said, followed quickly with, “Have you met my wife?” I did not recognize her. She told [...] Read more »
More Questions About Forgiveness
on June 24, 2011 · 2 Comments
About the same time I was counseling this lady, another women came with questions. She was skittish and nervous. She sat away from the window with her back to the wall. With bags under her eyes and jumping at every sound she explained her husband was trying to kill her. She had a button she could press that would bring the police to her position within two minutes. But her husband was an expert marks men and she knew if [...] Read more »
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