“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”.  Ecclesiastes 3:1

     Our lives are a continuation of seasons, time and the fulfillment of purpose.  Seasons come and go in our lives and it is called “transitions”. Transition means “the process of changing from one state or condition to another”.  One of the most difficult things to deal with in life is transition. For some it may the hardest thing for a person to do is embrace the process of change. But without change there can be no growth. This is true whether it is physically or spiritually.

     Our children that God has gifted us with we so enjoy that season of them been little. But we would not want them to stay in the state of infancy forever.  But as their parents we are raising them, loving them, teaching them, guiding them through the seasons of their life. Those times that they are in transition can be hardest for them to understand.  As parents the role we play gets different as they get older but we will always be there for them as their parent. I raised my son in a  manner that he could totally one hundred percent trust me. If mom said it nothing else mattered to him. In the seasons of his life when the things were not going well I was there to say let’s learn from this. Remember son it won’t always be this way. He knew that I was not causing the not so good times. He understood that life was life and things happen. But he knew that I was there for him no matter what.

    Just as we are sons and daughters of God he desires for us to grow in our relationship with Him.  Growth happens spiritually as we embrace the seasons in life and in each season of transition learning more and more  the faithfulness of our Father God. The seasons we go through that seem the darkest is the time we lean into God knowing that we can fully trust Him.  

    Paul say in 1 Corinthians 3:18 that we we transitioning into Christ’s image from “glory to glory”.

    Life goes on and every season is a new experience.  Let us learn to embrace the seasons of life as we grow from glory to glory.

Take up the Treasures of Heaven. Have you not seen, do you not perceive that I, your Breaker have broken through on your behalf, and that I your Breaker have laid at your feet those things that you have need of.  In days of old when nations were conquered the spoil was taken and laid at the feet of the king, but I have made you more than conquerors in that I, your Breaker have won the victory and have laid at your feet the treasures of Heaven, but you must take them up and receive them to yourself. Once again, I your Breaker, do breakthrough your mindsets and traditions that have boxed Me out and boxed you in to the degree that it has become hard for you to receive or even believe that I would move on your behalf. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for I set you free from those things that have restricted so that you might enjoy the pleasures of the Kingdom.

     This Word was given to New Life last year from Jim Childs. It is time to position ourselves to receive the fulfillment of this declaration.

      Isaiah 54:2-3 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left…..  ”

     Enlarge in the Hebrew means – to grow large in influence and prosperity,  widened, to go beyond, to make more room, to increase capacity, to break out, to breakthrough, expand, go further, occupy new territories, no limits, no boundaries, thinking big, broadened, and robust.

   The treasures of Heaven have been given to us through Jesus Christ. We must now take them up. Enlarge your capacity to receive

    God called Abram to come outside the tent in order to show him what he desired to do through him. (Genesis 15:5)  God is calling us to step outside of the tent. It is too small to hold what God is wanting to do through us. This is the time we are breaking through. Our capacity is enlarging to receive!

      Abram believed in (affirmed, trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast) to the Lord. (Genesis 15:16) He enlarged his capacity to receive what God was saying by believing. He put his trust in God that do what He said he would do.

“The lamp of the body is the eye.  If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness.” Matt. 6:22-23(NKJV)

            In this passage of Scripture Jesus teaches His disciples a lesson about what we do if the illumination we receive is not “good light” but something else.  It is the same as receiving real truth or something being passed off as truth. Any “truth” that can be traced to Satan is a lie, for he cannot speak the truth.

“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” John 12:46 (NKJV)

            These are the words of Jesus to His followers.  The meaning of the Greek word used for darkness has this meaning. It means darkness, gloom, evil, sin, obscurity, night, ignorance, moral depravity.  The New Testament especially uses the word in a metaphorical sense of ignorance of divine truth, man’s sinful nature, the total absence of light, and a lack of spiritual perception.  Light equals happiness. Scotia (Greek word) equals unhappiness. Scotia as spiritual darkness basically describes everything earthly or demonic that is at enmity with God. (Spirit filled Bible-word wealth p. 1599)

            Jesus told His disciples that they were the light of the world.  The only way we can be true disciples is to shine like Jesus shined.  The only way we can shine like that is to keep our eyes only on Him. (Hebrews 12:2)  It is not our mission to create light but only to shine from the light He puts in us as we absorb His WORD.

Psalms 23:1-6 “The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me], I shall not want. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and quiet waters. He refreshes and restores my soul (life); He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed and refreshed my head with [oil; My cup overflows.Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord”.

       While studying the twenty third Psalms over the past few weeks I have learned about the special relationship between a shepherd and his sheep. As the caretaker of the sheep a shepherd loves them and always keeps a watchful eye over them. He leads them and guides them along the way they should go.There is so much we can learn about our relationship with Christ from the lesson about shepherds and sheep. Jesus says in John 10:11 “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His [own] life for the sheep”.

    Verse one in the twenty third Psalms sets the theme for the rest of the chapter. The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want. When we make Him our Shepherd we have no lack. Because He is our Shepherd we can trust Him with complete control of our lives. No matter what may come and go He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. What great comfort to know that we have the Good Shepherd who takes care of us. Whatever you are asking the Good Shepherd for in your life  know that He will always be with you. Know that He will always provide just what you need. He is the Good Shepherd and He has already laid down His life for yours.

    “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Deuteronomy 31:6

Psalms 3:4-6 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever”.

    As we continue our message today on Psalms 23 we have understood in the previous messages what life is all about walking with the Lord (Yahew) as our Shepherd. Throughout Scripture God’s people are described as sheep. The word tells us in Psalms 100:3 “Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us and we are his;we are his people, and the sheep of His pastures”.

    David must have wrote the twenty third Psalms later in life. He seems to be writing from experience of knowing who his Shepherd was. David sets the theme in verse one for the rest of the Psalms by stating that the “Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want. Shepherd meaning “one who directs or guides in a particular direction”. The best translation of the word “want” is “I shall not lack”. With God as his Shepherd (protector), David knew he would not lack anything he needs.

   We like David should settle in our heart that the Lord is our good,good Shepherd. He wants only the best for His sons and daughters. He leads we follow and He begin our good, good Shepherd will always provide for the journey!  

Happy Mothers Day!

    In the very nature of GOD, there is a mother’s heart.          There is a Greek word “storge” which means a strong natural affection. This “storge” love is that which nurtures and comforts us in tenderness and compassion. This has been present since the beginning of time, even in the creation of the world. The church has looked at the masculine qualities and that seems to be what has been portrayed a lot of over the years but God said, “Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them” (Gen. 1:26-27)

      It takes both parts the masculine and feminine nature of God to give us a complete image of who He is. Today God wants us to know and experience His tender gentle loving nature and see fully who He is.

      His name is El-Shaddai, means all -breasted One, which is a prophetic picture of our God being a place of comfort and nurture. Jesus came to reveal the Father to us and He dwelt in the bosom (in the intimate presence) of the Father.

       John 1:18 No one has ever gazed upon the fullness of God’s splendor  except the uniquely beloved Son, who is in the bosom of the Father.  Now he has unfolded to us the full explanation of who God truly is! The word bosom speaks of the breast, close to the heart, kindness tender affections or embrace.

      Many will not be able to celebrate Mother’s day with a joyful heart for various reasons. Your mother may have not been there for you or there was never a mother figure in your life. But God has never abandoned nor has He forsaken you. If you will allow Him, He will pour “storge” love into the barren, wounded areas of your soul.

      Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;your walls are ever before me.  Isaiah 49:1-16

     Embrace not only the masculine heart of God but the feminine heart of God.

       Psalms 23 1-6 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

     The Amplified Bible Psalms 23 as, “ The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me], I shall not want”. To “not want,” or to “lack nothing,” is a result of God being our Shepherd, Who loves us, cares for us, and provides for us.

      Want comes from the Hebrew word “chacer”

meaning-to lack, lessen, be abated, bereaved, decrease, (cause to) fail, (have) lack, make lower.
      David is stating that because God is his Shepherd, he will not lack or have want of anything; he will not decrease or become bereaved; God will not fail him as the Good Shepherd. God will uphold him and keep him from diminishing to a lowly state. David is  proclaiming his faith in God as his Shepherd to provide for all of his needs; he has all he could ever want because he trusts in God, and his God will never fail him.

      David tells us in Psalms 37:25 “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging for bread.”

PSALMS 32:8 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”

     At one time or another I have been turned around or needed directions to find my way to somewhere. I have found it that is no different with God’s will for our lives. Road signs are given to give us directions to get were we need to be going without getting lost. We need to be looking for the road signs that God places in our lives so that we will not get lost.

     The Word tells us in Psalms 32 8 – I will instruct you – train you, direct you, give you information. (to pile upon, put in order, to receive facts). I will guide you – to point out the way, advise you, lead you, to show you the way by one who is thoroughly familiar with the course and through his continuous presence or direction along the way.

    He already given us the map (His Word) but we must allow Him to navigate through the road called life. The Word has been given to protect us not to put us in bondage.

What are you celebrating?

“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon, or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” Colossians 2:16-17

“One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike.  Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who “does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it.” Romans 14:5-6  Who are you to judge another’s servant?

            Don’t misunderstand what I am about to say in the following paragraphs.  This is not a defense of any practice of the Church but a simple explanation of how things are perceived by different people.  It is interesting that many people seem to get more religious two times a year than during the rest of the year. Easter and Christmas are times when many people, including many Christians, go all out to emphasize their reverence with a display of spiritual ideas.  I like to celebrate holidays as much as the next person. Church tradition is entirely responsible for observance of Church Holy Days and seasons. By this I mean there is not Biblical instruction to observe either Christmas or Easter. The only thing Scripture admonishes us to remember and celebrate is Communion.

            At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus.  At Easter we celebrate His death and resurrection.  What do we celebrate the rest of the year? Or, do we celebrate anything?  I believe it is appropriate to celebrate the Life of Jesus Christ the year round.  I am talking about the Life He lives since His resurrection. That is the life we should be living every day of the year.  Spend the years celebrating what He gave you! Paul puts it this way, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son Of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.  I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”( Gal. 2:20-21) “…which is Christ in you, the hope of Glory.” Col. 1:27 AMEN!!!

   Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

    Jesus was sent by the Father to restore “that which was lost.” “What is “that” which was lost?” The above Scripture says, ‘that which was lost-not those which are lost.” I don’t think this is talking about those that are lost in sin and are in need of a Savior. I believe it is talking about that which was lost through the rebellion of Lucifer in heaven and by humanity because of the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden. When man fell they lost – connection with their source of life before they experienced death – their dominion over the earth – their freedom and became slaves in the kingdom of darkness under satan’s control – their intimate fellowship with God – the glory of their righteousness before God. Lost means – something that has been taken away.

     The work that Jesus came to this earth to accomplish was to return, to restore to its original condition that which was lost in the Garden. When He died on the cross and cried out “it is finished” He had accomplished the purpose He had been sent to do. He had redeemed humanity from under the penalty, He had reconciled humanity to fellowship with God, He restored humanity to a state of glory by giving them His righteousness as a gift, He restored man’s dominion over the earth. And there is so much more.

    Save means – deliverance, preservation, soundness. Prosperity, happiness, rescue,general well-begin. The word save in the New Testament is used for spiritual well begin.

     He has come to give us life of nothing missing or nothing broken. This is our year of recovery!