Praying through

Praying hard is like praying through and God will come through, but God's way, God's will.  The widow in Luke 18:1 was the prime example of how she begged the judge, constantly, consistently, fervently and the judge heard her pleas.  The judge in this case was God. and wants to answer our pleas, but we give up before he gives us justice.  Just a little more, pray through and God will give me justice, but in accordance to his will.  But it is also a whatever takes approach where I have to sacrifice, no matter how long it takes, God will light the way.  

Multiplication Anointing

As I read the through one of the chapters the past several weeks I noticed how I think lateral.  I call this lateral faith because I only see 1+1=2.  But God does not work this way.  He works in ways that he wants to bless me more than I can imagine, but prayer this the key to this.  Am I praying small or big?  How big are my prayer circles and do I believe God is going to multiply my prayers?  I know people like this who have prayed big circles and God had answered, but I want to look back at my life.  I prayed circles for the person I would marry, he multiplied that.  I prayed for a job, he multiplied that.  I prayed to be fruitful, he multiplied that.  God is multiplying my prayers, but I still am drawing circles like self-employment, having twins, growing in my relationship with God.  God is going to multiply these as well.  God is a God who gives more than I can ask for or imagine and I believe he hears me. 

Surrender before the cross

In Matt 26:36-46, our Lord was going through something that probably made him feel more human to me than any other time.  He was fighting for surrender.  In knowing he would be separated from His Father because of sin he would carry.  He would be alone because not only God but his friends would abandon him.  Surrender is a challenging prospect to think that we would have to do in our lives, but sometimes it is easy for us to surrender.  Some of us it may take a long time and the truth is a few of us will go to the grave, never surrendering your life to God's will for your life.  I have been praying a lot for surrender.  For the past several months, I have had insecurities about my job situation.  My contract was to run out next year and I was not sure if we would live here.  I have had a number of interviews, one even being in my hometown and one recently, about 2 weeks ago for a position here.  I never heard from the one in Abq, but I heard on Tuesday for the one here, not only was more money, more responsibility, but it came at the perfect time when my heart was surrendered. I know I could have this surrender because I have the example of Jesus going before the cross.  

Prayer Circles

I decided a few days ago to pick up a book that my wife had been reading called Prayer Circles. It opens up talking about a man named Honi, a Jew in first century B.C., that drew persecution from the prayers he supplicated to God.  Like Jesus, he was persecuted for his devotion to God, but the Lord heard his prayers.

As I continued to read the book first several chapters, I learned how specific prayers need to be.  Like Honi, Elijah and many other prophets, prayers were very specific and God heard those prayers, but so many of us, quit asking because He does not answer quickly.  I have been a participant in this.  I don't get the answer I want or no answer at, and I don't ask anymore or I forget to ask him, but I especially love praising through.

 Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. In Joshua 6, it says

2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.

The Lord had yet to physically give the city of Jericho into the hands of Joshua, but He already did.  He had "delivered" Jericho already into their hands even though he still needed to march around the city.  Isn't this the way God works in our life?  He has delivered us already from some special event that we prayed for, but we still pray for it?  God has shown us that we if pray through, believe that it has happened already, God will bless us with our faithfulness.  

Christ king response

I love the way that God never drew attention to himself, even when he came down as a man he was so simple, so humble, from birth to his death.  I ask myself do I do things to get attention or to get noticed? I believe for the most part I don't, but I do feel I want to be appreciated sometimes. 

God wants us to be grateful all the time. Through everything that Jesus went through I never saw the scriptures where he was not grateful,  This is convicting and it challenges my heart to not be self-focused.  Lord help me to see clearly your lordship, selflessness and the why you do things.  

Christ-Like Leadership

I have learned Christ-like leadership always begins with others in mind, a deep agape love for people, service and never about self.  The character to be more Christ-like always begins with daily time with the Lord and building fidelity in being like him everyday. Christ immediately set the standard by making it about others(Matt 4:19).  Christ continued to nurture to build his relationship with others and was never relational leadership. This also means believing in the purpose of which I was sent and instilling that into others, effectively enabling them to fulfill that same purpose.  

The Walking Dead response

Life is tough and challenging ,But through God these challenges should Be just bumps in the road.  Who doesn't wanna live a great life but I know as a christian living for god is rewarding, special, and everlasting.I want the everlasting reward set out for me.being a walking dead, or spiritually dead, is not an option.   As paul was talking about in romans one where people sought out their selfish desires,they engulfed themselves in their sin and forgot about the living god. It is so easy to be selfish, believe me I can be the most selfish person, but that's not me anymore.  I live for God and his righteousness. God has given me victory over many areas in my sinful nature, but I know it's still there it's so easy put me back to where I was before if I don't walk with God. I do live a life worthy of his calling and I wanna continue to do so.

Selflessness vs selfishness

After going through some lesson this morning about selflessness, I realize how selfish I want to be. This morning I woke up and i'm so tired. I don't know if it's from last night, how I slept, or whatever it is, I just wanna sleep. In my studies would selflessness the scripture that keeps coming up no matter what I read is philippines to where it says do nothing out ofSelfish ambition or vain conceit. I really like what the sky was saying about when somebody in his family becomes too self-centered "This is not about you. "  It should never be about us or myself but about how I could serve others. What will I do today? Will I think about others will I think about myself? Help me O God to crucify myself and to serve others the way yourSon did.

selfless prayer

as I have thought about yesterdays lesson, the man that was crying out to Jesus Was selfish. He wanted something that only Jesus Could provide. I thought about was guy as persistent in prayer as a j ew before Jesus came to earth Or was it this time Only When he saw the Son of man did he realize his Need for the Lord.  Mark 10 : 46-50.  I dint Know but from what I Can see, he believed in Jesus and he cried out to him.  He showed his need for Jesus and he healed him .  Prayer is My need for God . Yhis is where it becomes selfless because I realize that I can not do it On my Own.  I can not doit on my own I Need the Lord !  Lord hear my cries and plea ds just like B artilmeo.

What would it be like?

I was contemplating this morning what would he be like in the world if people were selfless. If we thought about others the for ourselves. What would I be like if I was more selfless? What's up a marriage what I have?
Galatians 5:13 For you, brothers, were called to freedom. Only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity to gratify your flesh, but through love make it your habit to serve one another.

At some point in are day We do use our freedom to gratify our sinful nature, or at least I do a lot. For me, this is through spending time by myself or getting caught up with things that don't really matter. I do feel likeI'm starting to realize a lot more my selfish acts because I've been studying so much about selfishness. We have freedom to do so much why not become selfless? It is so challenging to break from the mold of being self-serving to the example of being selfless serving. But through love make it a habit to become selfless. Being able to love is a selfless act.  My challenge for mySelf this week is to ponder more but do something about beingSelfless.

Selfless Love

I was reading an article this morning on Selfless love and two words caught my eye from the scripture 1 Cor 13:4-5, irritable and rude. These words are total opposites of what love is.  I know for myself my growth is going to come from how surrendered I am in my frustration and when I am frustrated, not acting out on my frustrations, especially with my wife. But I also see this with others, especially when I feel like I am being bugged about something that should be simple to solve.  You know what...maybe it is for me, but it is not for others.  I may not belligerently act rude, but in my heart, I feel stuff that is not loving the way God wants me to love others or to have selfless love.      

Empty myself

Jesus was a man who emptied himself. If you look at Philippians 2: 5 through 8, he made himself nothing taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men. He made himself nothing. This is really hard! This past weekend work has been very challenging. I've been going to training and yet after the training, which is 8 hours, I go to my regular job to fulfill my duties. I feel like I'm empty myself, but in my empty myself for God? Jesus emptied himself comma gave up everything his glory, his Divine attributes, his eternal riches , everything.  The most important thing he gave up was his relationship with God the Father. Matthew 27: 46. When God forsaken because he took my sin.  I want to empty myself the Lord my God. 

Be resolute in my selflessness!

Jesus was a focused man. When he Resolute Lee set out for Jerusalem comma there was nothing that can stop him. Luke 9 51. It actually seemed like he was trying to push people away but yet he was resolute trying to find the people that would follow him wholeheartedly. He was resolute to be selfless because his Focus was on the kingdom of God. I know from experience that when I'm focused on helping others on my wife building up the kingdom comma it is hard for me to be selfish. What am I focused on today? How am I being resolute to be selfless? These are my questions today

Looking at myself

As I looked  at my week, I always reflect on my reactions and I thought about this scripture.  

Matt 20:28 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."

I was thinking about this scripture because I feel like I messed up and my actions were non-verbal selfish.  I can't see Jesus like this, but only with the mindset and heart to react in a way that was going help this person get to heaven.  I did not think so.  I quickly apologized and did my best rectify the situation.  How can I have that heart of Jesus, where I give my life as a ransom for many and my actions reflect that?

Crucifying my selfishness

I'm so grateful to be doing this blog.  It really helps me to look at my inner self and see how selfish I really am.  My wife says I have grown, but I still see a lot of selfish actions. 

Beginnings of selflessness

To become selfless is tough.  It is something that can not be done in my own strength or power.  For myself, I think about the little things I do and how it affects my relationship with my wife.  Yesterday, my simple reaction to an incident where my wife was indecisive got me a little frustrated and she sensed it and then she reacted maniacally.  I didn't realize my simple reaction could hurt her that much and make her react so much.  Actually, I do, but this was a part of my character where God has blessed and molded me more into his image.  But I messed up profusely, and I immediately repented. One of the scriptures on my heart:

New International Version Prov. 12:16
Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.

I look at Jesus and through all the piqued times, he did not retaliate but was blameless through it all.  I don't want to

I Won't Be Shaken

I started this blog because I don't like to write in journals.  Maybe I need to work on my handwriting, but I have so many journals that I started and not finished.  So let's get started on my journey to draw closer to Him through technology, to have deeper faith and convictions that won't be shaken because what it comes down to...it's just my God and me.  

Psalm 30:6
Now as for me, I said in my prosperity, "I will never be moved."

Psalm 62:2
He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.

Psalm 62:6

Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.