The Bridegroom's Voice: September 2008

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Operation Encouragement Group Link

To Join In And Chat With Us Tonight:

Click This Link Below:

http://www.skype.com/go/joinpublicchat?chat&skypename=kmac4him&topic=Operation+Encouragement+4+Military+Families+7%3A30pm+Tuesday&blob=DDt0v9kRpvD37LfHVBSuzqdbk6bGaCdDYXrvVolTrqobTs-u9Tx_OcsLx6_6Q3fN

Monday, September 29, 2008

An Exhortation For America

Dear Servant Warriors: In Light Of What Happened In The Congress Today And With Wall Street...

Remember The Word God Spoke To Us In May Of This Year:

John 13:37-38

Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."

Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

Dear Intersection 4:41 Servant Warriors: WE cannot know our hearts; they are to a great extent prone to impiety! But God can shine His Light upon us and reveal to us what is hidden in the dark, bringing it to the power of change… in His Light! We can have pure hearts, we can glow His Glory right now!

I have been listening to the Lord speak to me a lot lately about getting my heart prepared for a season such as this one, a time such as this our Country and our World is headed into. You are my family, people so dear to my heart, so today I am going to share with you what the Lord has been speaking to me and I exhort you, encourage you greatly to take some time this summer, look at your heart and ask the Lord to reveal to you where you are rooted to this world and then decisively in His purpose and power pull up those roots and transplant them into Kingdom Soil.

Intersection 4:41 Servant Warriors, sadly… I feel our lives will be changing; yet hopefully I discern they will change drastically for good for the Bride Of Christ in the season of life upon us! Our ways are not His ways so we must get ready for a great adventure on a ride that might feel a bit like a runaway train! But we have a blessed Hope! Servants, Bride of Christ anchor yourself to the strong, enduring Promises of God; dig your life-roots deeper in the soil of God's life, love and word; choose a deeper relationship with Him and do what it takes to get to know Him more, most and best. Serve Him First! Intersection 4:41 Servant Warriors pray without ceasing for this is the will of God and intimately serve Him, completely willesss, whole heartedly loving Him… in a time such as this. Praying for us today! It is with a humble life, a heart after God that I share with you thoughts from God that I have kept in my personal prayer journal, discerment that God has asked me to share now with the Bride of Christ. Pass this on to other servant warriors that we, The Bride of Christ, might be prepared and ready for a time such as this one, a serious time, a time for seasoned servants to get extremely serious for God.

Kimberlymac

From Jesus To Intersection 4:41 Servant Warriors:

"I ask you this today: "Would your forefathers even believe what your nation looks like now? A nation that was established on the principles, power and favor of God has disowned Him; given up The Father God for a more temporary power, a political agenda that has exchanged the truth for lies; an illegitimate authority that cannot truly provide or fuel the true heart, the true passion of the spirit that has made your country a great one. The United States Of America has willfully stepped out of the Favor of God and its man-made well is about to run dry, and the light from its man-made fires is about to go out! Get ready Bride of Christ! The time of your sacrificial service unto the Kingdom of God is at hand! You are promised to Me, Servant Bride… You Wear My Name. Shine! Glow My Glory!"

Isaiah 50:10-11

Who is among you who [reverently] fears the Lord, who obeys the voice of His Servant, yet who walks in darkness and deep trouble and has no shining splendor [in his heart]? Let him rely on, trust in, and be confident in the name of the Lord, and let him lean upon and be supported by his God. 11Behold, all you [enemies of your own selves] who attempt to kindle your own fires [and work out your own plans of salvation], who surround and gird yourselves with momentary sparks, darts, and firebrands that you set aflame!--walk by the light of your self-made fire and of the sparks that you have kindled [for yourself, if you will]! But this shall you have from My hand: you shall lie down in grief and in torment.(E)

Deuteronomy 6:10-12

The Lord your God will bring you into the land of Canaan. He took an oath. He promised he would give the land to your fathers. He promised it to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The land has large, wealthy cities you didn't build. 11 It has houses that are filled with all kinds of good things you didn't provide. It has wells you didn't dig. And it has vineyards and groves of olive trees you didn't plant. You will have plenty to eat. 12 But be careful that you don't forget the Lord. Remember that he brought you out of Egypt. That's the land where you were slaves.

From The Lord To America:

"The most powerful nation in the world, The United States of America has been so because of My Provision, My Peace, My Protection and My Favor. My Father's heart grieves as I see the human arrogance and what this pride is bringing My nation, my children through! I promise even though, You America, have been unfaithful to Me, I will never completely disown You. I compel you right now by my Holy Spirit, United States Of America to step off your man-made platform of prideful, arrogant independence and humbly bow before Me. Seek My Face. I AM the rider of the White Horse! You America have replaced Me with a manikin dressed with man-pride, that waves a sword of temporary power. No nation can ride a white-horse and parade through the world without a foundation of Holy Ground beneath its feet, because the sword it yields will cause its own death."

Revelation 6:1-4 Unsealing the Scroll

I watched while the Lamb ripped off the first of the seven seals.

I heard one of the Animals roar, "Come out!" I looked—I saw a white horse. Its rider carried a bow and was given a victory garland. He rode off victorious, conquering right and left. 3-4When the Lamb ripped off the second seal, I heard the second Animal cry, "Come out!" Another horse appeared, this one red. Its rider was off to take peace from the earth, setting people at each other's throats, killing one another. He was given a huge sword.

From The Lord To America:

"Where is the Light of Your Liberty America? Where is the power You once knew in a whole hearted relationship with Me? The most powerful man in the world, Your President begs this day for oil from a foreign ungodly leader! How can that be so when the reputation of America is the greatest nation of the world? The Spirit of Americans rode for a long time with the authority of God before you and at your back; with the passion of God's heart enveloping your world from the Hand of God to the heart of mankind because of the freedom I designed, destined for you. You, my knight have not fallen off your white horse (a magnificent horse called "Favor" given to you to show My glory) you have dismounted in the name of man-willed independence! You have turned your back on My favor, provision and empowerment and you slowly bought foolish deception into your unguarded heart, it has slithered from the outside in, changing the face of your nation to a nation who creates its own man-made light, and now you are completely fueled by a depleting, temporary stockpile that will soon be gone."

"Listen to me now America! It is I… the I AM that replenishes your life supply. I and only I have been Your Provider, Your Provision…. But because of Your stubborn will, You have foolishly turned to the hand of worldly hopes, sought its dreams that are not connected to my Kingdom visions; you have become rooted in expectations of this world and you are walking by the light of man-made fires that hold you captive; fires kindled by human will power that will soon go out as you sit around thier dimming light watching the embers of their hollow, deceptive, lukewarm philosophy turn to cold ash."

Colossians 2:6-8

Freedom From Human Regulations Through Life With Christ

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

"America, I no longer stir Your soul, I no longer am the Right Hand of power you grasp and you will lie down in torment, in the ash of the world that you so desperately sought after. I AM the Father God, I raised Jesus Christ from the dead and today, I compel You, America to break up the platforms of your human pride; the independent nature that you so casually step up on to speak of such foolish things, such political, irrational, empty promises that lack the power to become reality and lead you further away from the True Light, the True Power of the United States of America…. Such a Power as is found in The Kingdom Of God, such a power that is the fuel that Your nation needs to survive, to ignite the passion within it's liberty and preserve the spirit that anointed its freedom once and for all. I AM THIS POWER…. YOU WILL SEE ME RISE UP OUT OF THE ASHES OF AMERICAN PRIDE! I WILL BE FOUND IN THE BEAUTY OF MY UNITED BRIDE OF CHRIST, THE POWER OF HER WILLESSNESS, THE BEAUTY OF HER LOVE THAT WILL RISE UP OUT OF THE ASHES OF A MAN-MADE FIRE THAT HAS GONE OUT FOREVER, TO BE MY LIGHT OF GLORY."

Isaiah 61:2-4 The Year of the LORD's Favor

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, [a] 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

From The Lord To His Bride:

"Bride of Christ, I call you to a time of repentance, a time to cut the roots you have to this world and all you own within it. Do it now….. Just do it! Become willess to this world and deeply rooted in Me, in My Kingdom. Un-anchor your spirit from the shallow mud and mire of this world and come out into the deep with Me, being deeply anchored to My Kingdom, to My Love… for there is coming a time in your country like no other time ever has been! I declare that the pride of America will fall with its man-made podium's and illegitimate messages and its pride as a super power will be no more! I will build a new platform, a platform where the Bride Of Christ will rise up and the power of My love, My wisdom, My provision, My peace, My joy, My sustenance, My faithfulness will be sown into the Garment of the Bride Of Christ and I will use a three strand cord: The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit that will be relationally braided, intimately and with care placed around your heart; Bride of Christ our relationship will never be broken."

"Bride of Christ it is time to set down all your worldly toys, things that have stolen precious communion with Me and simply come to Me Bride Of Christ. Give up the things that keep you out of My Word! Bride… You are distracted by Ipods, Video Games, MP3 players, Computers, Reality TV, Political Venues, Media Confusion, Sports, Pleasure, Excitement, Things To Do, and Stuff… lots of stuff that eats away your time and roots you to this world, shallowly anchoring you to the temporary perspective of this world. Balance! Simply return to the basics of relationship with Me... first and foremost! I have so much more for you to see, open your spiritual eyes and use your time wisely. I have sped up time, but time spent with me is redeemed forward in My Glory! All of this man-made distraction is stealing away My glory, a glory that I intended you to take with you into the Kingdom of God. You fight to protect that which will stay here, and you so casually give up the glory that was meant to Shine forever and this is what has stained your heart, wrinkled your garment of unity and rooted your lives here.... I don't want a lukewarm relationship with You, Bride Of Christ! I want an all enduring passion, that is not burdened with your stuff, but that keeps me as Your first focus! Do what it takes to ready yourself in this way My Bride! I ask you this now! Get prepared!"

"Purify Your Heart Bride Of Christ! Pick up your tent pegs, mind-sets in this world and firmly plant your Tent Pegs In Kingdom Territory! Repent Bride of Christ, change the direction of Your Glory Glow; I ask you to make it an upward shift! If the glory-glow you bask in is rooted in this earth, it will be pulled up and burned. Nothing is bound to be the same! I am the only thing destined in your life that will be constant, forever! Be rooted in Me, My Kingdom! Be a servant warrior that brings glory from here to heaven. I want you to know My Bride that as of now, all things are subject to huge change. What is it that you are grasping so tightly to? Make sure it is only Me! I will not change. I will stay the same. I will be with you forever."

"It is My Hearts desire for you, Bride of Christ to endure until the end. I ask you to diligently prepare now, till the ground of your heart with the plow of My Word. Pull up your roots that are bound for ashes and transplant them into the Kingdom of God, therefore making You Glory Bound, Heart to Heart with Me… forever. Glow My Glory from here to there unto forever! This is My heart's desire for you, Bride of Christ!"

Rev 21:22

I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Omnipotent [Himself] and the Lamb [Himself] are its temple. 23And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon to give light to it, for the splendor and radiance (glory) of God illuminate it, and the Lamb is its lamp.^(A) 24The nations shall walk by its light and the rulers and leaders of the earth shall bring into it their glory.

Exodus 33:13

Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You [progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, perceiving and recognizing and understanding more strongly and clearly] and that I may find favor in Your sight. And [Lord, do] consider that this nation is Your people.

Deuteronomy 6:13

Deeply respect God, your God. Serve and worship him exclusively. Back up your promises with his name only. Don't fool around with other gods, the gods of your neighbors, because God, your God, who is alive among you is a jealous God. Don't provoke him, igniting his hot anger that would burn you right off the face of the Earth. Don't push God, your God, to the wall as you did that day at Massah, the Testing-Place. Carefully keep the commands of God, your God, all the requirements and regulations he gave you. Do what is right; do what is good in God's sight so you'll live a good life and be able to march in and take this pleasant land that God so solemnly promised through your ancestors, throwing out your enemies left and right—exactly as God said."

Bride Of Christ From The Bridegroom:

"Though your country has be unfaithful, you will never be disowned. I AM… I will be with You. Prepare… shake off the roots of your world, disrobe of everything you think you own, put out your man-made fires, shake off every right you hold on to and position yourself before Me, Your True Light, Your Only Truth, Your First Possession and The One Who is truly worthy of Your complete respect, honor and duty!"

"One Nation Under God is not what the heart of your nation presses towards, your nation's pride will fall and the nation of God's Kingdom will rise in great revival, strength, power…. for out of the weakness of fallen pride will rise the power of a meek, magnificent and unified Bride Of Christ, who will step up on the stage built for the pure, holy Bride of Christ, a platform positioned in My Grace for the message of My Gospel to be spoken to a broken nation, one in need of the genuine power of Almighty God.. I AM the message that does not divide forever, a message that changes forever… My Bride know this…"

Romans 11:1-5

I ASK then: Has God totally rejected and disowned His people? Of course not! Why, I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin! [I Sam. 12:22; Jer. 31:37; 33:24-26; Phil. 3:5.] 2No, God has not rejected and disowned His people [whose destiny] He had marked out and appointed and foreknown from the beginning. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?(A) 3Lord, they have killed Your prophets; they have demolished Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life. 4But what is God's reply to him? I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal! [I Kings 19:18.] 5So too at the present time there is a remnant (a small believing minority), selected (chosen) by grace (by God's unmerited favor and graciousness).

To My Bride From The Lord:

"Mercy was given and the Remant remains forever with the evidence of the Light of My Genuine Truth! Yes my Bride My Heart of the Gospel is change… Repent and change the direction of your focus, making a U-turn away from the focal point on this world unto Your Bridegroom! Take this time, a time such as this one, My Precious Bride to prepare your hearts, strengthen your spirits and cut the roots you have illegitimately seeded in this world. You are in this world, never were you designed or destined to be of it forever. Your forever is with Me, I am Your Promised Bridegroom… because You are Mine, even though if you have been unfaithful, you will not be disowned. Come back to Me with a full devotion and find Your completely in Me and you will endure the time of this generation, a time such as this, in My power and through My strength."

"Your nation has turned their heart away from Me to its own ways, deeply rooted in its own soil and now when I begin to shake things up, America's pride will be laid down in tormented, restless upheaval that will tatter the reputation it has as a super power. But I will not disown America, I will once again offer Myself, My Favor, My Freedom and My Life to her. As I deal with the pride of America, pulling out the illegitimate roots, cutting back the independent branches, there will be a time in her nation like no other and those Who are mine, I will be with; I will be with all those who call upon My Name. I AM! America, America God shed Your Light in Thee… this will be the cry of your heart as you remember the One True Light that you exchanged for a man made one."

"Bride of Christ, remember Me and remind yourself continuously that I will never leave you, I have not disowned you… My mercy towards you will be new every morning and my faithfulness to you will be great! Shine during these dark times in the Light of My Glory. You will have all you need because you will be deeply rooted in the soil of the Kingdom of God where My Life sustenance forever flows a provision that is never ending! Jesus!"

Galatians 6:17-18

Quite frankly, I don't want to be bothered anymore by these disputes. I have far more important things to do—the serious living of this faith. I bear in my body scars from my service to Jesus. 8May what our Master Jesus Christ gives freely be deeply and personally yours, my friends. Oh, yes!

Intersection 4:41 Servant Warriors

A Message To The Bride

May 15, 2008

Written and Prayed By Kimberlymac

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Join Operation Encouragement

Hello Friends!

Are you in the military? Do you belong to a military family? Do you have a family member or close friend in the military? Well we have an invitation that will excite you!

You Are Invited To A Christ Fellowship Online "Life Group" Called:

Operation Military Encouragement!!

TALK IT UP!!

***********WHEN!!***********

Starting Tuesday, September 30^th

7:30pm- 9:00 pm Tuesdays EST!

7:30 pm - 7:45 pm / Chat To Get To Know One Another

7:45 pm - 8:30 pm / Main Chat: Perusing The Psalms

8:30 pm – 9:00 pm / Chat to encourage and pray for one another

**********HOW!!**********

On Skype

Go To www.gochristfellowship.com
Choose A Campus: Click On Online Campus
Click On Skype Chats: Click Download Skype
Email Me Your New Skype User Name
Kmac4him@bellsouth.net
I will add you to the group and email you a link
It is that easy, to find your way to fellowship and encouragement!

**********WHAT!!**********

Military: Perusing The Psalms Together

Hey, Operation Encouragement On-Liner!

Every week, we will be looking at a different Psalm. Your level of participation is up to you, and of course, the season of life God has you in. Some of you will be dealing with deployments and you only have enough time to come and be encouraged, others of you can come to be encouraged and to encourage. We will equip you to Dig Deeper to whatever you need and pray that all your needs are met!

********WHATEVER YOU NEED!!*********

Every Wednesday at my blog: The Bridegroom's Voice www.kimberlymac.blogspot.com,

you will find the Psalm Topic Sheet we will be using for Perusing for Encouragement for the next Tuesday we meet. (This Wednesday, you will find the Chat Topic for our first meeting On Tuesday, September 30^th) That will give you the week, if you have time to work through the Psalm. We do encourage you to use this sheet during the week, you will be amazed at the insight you will receive Perusing The Psalms as a Military Warrior or Family Member. If you do not have time for that… hey, that is totally okay, all you need is to show up and be encouraged!

Dig Deeper….Dig Deeper….Just Do It!!!!

Also, for those of you who would like to dig deeper and you have the time to come prepared to encourage someone else, We will post for you a special section called: "Dig Deeper!" Whatever your level of commitment will be to this online Christ Fellowship "Life Group", we pray that you will be encouraged and filled with the Hope of Jesus Christ as we "do" life together as Military Warriors, Military Family and Friends of Military!! God Bless You! Bob and Kimberly McCarthy

************WHAT CAN I DO!!*************

Talk It Up! Spread The Word About This "Operation Encouragement" Through:

You can still promote this Public Chat to your friends that are on Skype. Simply copy and paste this link into chat or email and they can join the chat directly from the link.

http://www.skype.com/go/joinpublicchat?chat&skypename=kmac4him&topic=Operation+Encouragement+4+Military+Families+7%3A30pm+Tuesday&blob=DDt0v9kRpvD37LfHVBSuzqdbk6bGaCdDYXrvVolTrqobTs-u9Tx_OcsLx6_6Q3fN

Glowing God's Glory,

Bob and Kimberly McCarthy

Operation Encouragement September 30th

Operation Encouragement!

Talk It Up!

Meeting Tuesday, September 30^th!

Military Families Perusing Psalm One

Psalm 1:1-6

Blessed is the one who obeys the law of the Lord. He doesn't follow the advice of evil people. He doesn't make a habit of doing what sinners do. He doesn't join those who make fun of the Lord and his law. 2 Instead, he takes delight in the law of the Lord. He thinks about his law day and night. 3 He is like a tree that is planted near a stream of water. It always bears its fruit at the right time. Its leaves don't dry up. Everything godly people do turns out well. 4 Sinful people are not like that at all. They are like straw that the wind blows away. 5 When the Lord judges them, their life will come to an end. Sinners won't have any place among those who are godly. 6 The Lord watches over the lives of those who are godly. But the lives of sinful people will lead to their death.

Perusing For: Purpose-Truth

As a person in a military family/friend what truth, what purpose of God do I see in this Psalm for me and my military warrior?

Perusing For-Promise

What is God promising my military family/friend in this Psalm? What promise can I hold on to this week as my promise for them?

Perusing For-Praise

What does God show me in this psalm about praising Him?

Perusing For-Prayer

What verse can I use as a prayer for my military family/friend this week?

Perusing To-BE His….Just Do it

As a part or head of a military family, which verse helps me to be better, to act better, to trust God the best this week?

Dig Deeper…. Dig Deeper….Dig Deeper….Just Do It!!

This Psalm shows us as Military, Military Family Members, Friends Of Military that when we depend upon God, Our Advocate in our all in all that our lives will be blessed each day by His intervention of strength, peace and courage.

Here Is A Devotional Written For Military Families From The Insight Gained From Perusing Psalm One!

"MY ADVOCATE"

WRITTEN AND PRAYED BY: KIMBERLYMAC

PRAISE LEADS THE WAY!

Psalm 119: 161-166

I've been slandered unmercifully by the politicians, but my awe at your words keeps me stable. I'm ecstatic over what you say, like one who strikes it rich. I hate lies—can't stand them!— but I love what you have revealed. Seven times each day I stop and shout praises for the way you keep everything running right. For those who love what you reveal, everything fits— no stumbling around in the dark for them.

THOUGHTS FROM THE HEART!

Sometimes it hits me hard that you and I are oceans apart! I want to be there for you. I want to walk in the same steps you walked today, feeling what you felt. I am thankful on days like these when the miles seem to disconnect our communication, that I know we both have an Advocate. Our Advocate guides our every step, keeping everything moving in the right-same direction in our lives. I know that we feel on our own, it can't be helped as you are there and I am here; but In Christ we have a Personal Advocate, Who brings out true purpose, God's best into both of our lives, even if we are worlds apart. I do feel anxious and overwhelmed at times, but that too passes, as I remember our Advocate and then my apprehension turns into joy, as I know He is watching over your very step… even now!

THOUGHTS FROM GOD'S HEART!

1 Corinthians 2:10-12

The Spirit, not content to flit around on the surface, dives into the depths of God, and brings out what God planned all along. Who ever knows what you're thinking and planning except you yourself? The same with God—except that he not only knows what he's thinking, but he lets us in on it. God offers a full report on the gifts of life and salvation that he is giving us. We don't have to rely on the world's guesses and opinions.

Nahum 1:7

The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows (recognizes, has knowledge of, and understands) those who take refuge and trust in Him)

WARRIOR PROMISE!

Jeremiah 17:7-8

"But the person who trusts in the Lord will be blessed. The Lord will show him that he can be trusted. 8 He will be strong, like a tree planted near water that sends its roots by a stream. It is not afraid when the days are hot; its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year when no rain comes; it always produces fruit.

2 Chronicles 16:9

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are blameless toward Him.

PRAYING FOR MY WARRIOR!

Lord, I pray that you would be an Advocate of Truth for ____'s mind today. Jesus our pessimistic nature assumes wrongly, so I pray that You, Oh Advocate, would show Yourself strong and refresh ____'s mind that it won't ever be a negative assumption field where the land minds of worry are waiting to erupt and fray ____'s emotions. I pray that You would show yourself strong to ______ right now and be_____'s Advocate, the Stronghold of ______'s thoughts, the courage of _____'s steps and the sturdy root of ___'s trust. AMEN!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

** reference to Warrior=Military Loved One

** If you would like a copy of the Perusing The Psalms so you can fill it in yourself, just email me at bridegroomsvoice@bellsouth.net

** This online Life Group is sponsored by Christ Fellowship Church at www.gochristfellowship.com If you need information on how to connect with this group on Skype every Tuesday night at 7:30, email the above address and we will forward you the information.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Discouragement Happens! Champions Step It Up!

Good Monday Morning! There are a bunch of us who have joined the cause: "Step It Up" found at www.facebook.com Today, I wrote this with all of us in mind who are in the process of becoming Champions IN Christ! Step It Up!

Today I wanted to say something about discouragement and how it hits you through many different avenues when you are training to be "Champions In Christ".

I really believe in eating right, I think our eating habits affect our cause to Step It Up! To take that thought further, I am thinking today along these lines: in our training to be found in Jesus, to Step It Up and become His Champions In Christ, we have to work out the disciplines of body, soul, spirit, will, mind and balance these as we run our race. I imagine this by looking at my own hand. God has balanced my/your hand with five fingers and if you hurt one of those fingers, the function of your hand is just way off balance.

I said all the above to say this: since we started in this Step It Up Cause, I have been working out all these (body, soul, spirit, will, mind) fingers! The one finger that has been a real struggle in discipline for me is the body, which I will call my "pinky" finger! My pinky wants to do its own thing! I have struggled in my eating habits my whole life and a few years ago, I decided that the only way to nip it in the bud was to make a "lifestyle change" in some of my eating habits. In my life, diets just came and went and came and went!! But a Lifestyle Change has seemed to work for me and I have changed these things in my lifestyle over a period of the last 7 or so years:

I do not eat fried foods.
I do not drink soda.
I do not eat ice cream.
I limit my intake of red meat.
I do not eat donuts or pastries.
I do not drink milk, I drink soy milk.
I drink about 6-8 glasses of water a day.
I drink at least two cups of green tea a day.
I do not eat sweets, except on the weekends.
I eat fresh fruit at least three servings a day.
I eat raw vegetables or steamed vegetables daily.
I take natural supplements daily from Arbonne.
I do not eat anything with food coloring in it, or if it is made with synthetics.
I do not eat out of a box, or prepackaged food unless it is Organic. I make my food from real food.
I eat small portions six times a day: balance of protein, vegetables, fruits, good carbs and dairy

All these things I have found work for my body, for my physical make up and following this lifestyle diet really helps me to feel better all around and be the best Champion In Christ that I can be. I guess that is what every Champion In Christ has to find out for themselves what Life Style changes benefit them, because God has made us so different. I encourage you to experiment with a life-style diet for yourself; it will make you a better Champion in Christ.

I took it a Step Up when I realized I needed something I could live with, so that I wasn't continually failing in my attempt to eat right, so I have adopted a lifestyle rule called 80/20. This has really helped me to be able to stay faithful to my lifestyle diet change, because it gives me some down time to also enjoy some of the things I really love… ie… ice cream!!! I am very disciplined with my "Life-Style Diet" Monday through Friday and Saturday and Sunday I might enjoy an occasional sweet.

I have done well with this life-style discipline except for DISCOURAGEMENT. Discouragement always lends to a flood of tempting thoughts of: Why should I bother! I should just eat what I want! Everyone else does! What difference does it make? No matter how hard I try, I am not losing weight! I got myself in one of those downward spirals this past week when I got discouraged with my weight. I had been dieting for two weeks, and I got on the scale and I gained weight!!!! IMMEDIATE DISCOURAGMENT HIT THE FAN!!!! I have to confess, I did not deal with it well. I just gave in to the temptation to be like everyone else and eat whatever I wanted and I have to tell, you I had every opportunity to do so… I wonder who provided me that!!

Ezekiel 3:13-15

I heard the noise of the wings of the living creatures as they touched and joined each one the other [its sister wing], and I heard the noise of the wheels beside them and the noise of a great rushing. 14So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away [in the vision], and I went in bitterness [of discouragement] in the heat of my spirit; and the hand of the Lord was strong upon me.

We sometimes forget that discouragement, causes bitterness in our spirit and we can go forward in our lives bearing that heat in our spirit, yet… as with Ezekiel the hand of the Lord is still strong upon us, He wants to see us succeed as His Champions, He is totally for us in our run for the ultimate prize! He is our Advocate!

Have you ever been impulsive, and done things bitterly out of the heat of your spirit because of a discouragement? I know I have. I realize that it doesn't do much for you, except push you down further into the despair of discouragement. Today, I don't feel well physically because my "pinky" ate whatever it wanted to in response to the heat of my spirit, therefore the rest of my hand is way, way out of functional balance today!! I slept in instead of getting up at my normal time. I felt sluggish in my spirit this morning, my will felt beat up by the struggle this past week, my mind is not clear but filled with temptation to eat things I don't need to eat and my soul is discouraged and caused me to opt out of my exercise today. But… because the Lord's hand is strong upon me, because He has a plan, purpose and vision for my life… and because He knows I have a heart after Him, He is still right there with me in my struggle with my "pinkie" and working towards getting my hand fully balanced and functional!!

God and I have talked this morning and I shared with Him my frustrations and He taught me some good wisdom. I need to stay off the scales!! My weight will fluctuate being a female in the season of life I am in! I need to be faithful to the Life-Style that He has called me to and leave the rest to Him! I repented and I asked for forgiveness for my "pinky flesh fit" and I realize that Today Is A New Day! I fell down, but I can get up and I still can compete as a Champion In Christ today. God has offered His Mighty Right Hand and my will is bent toward obedience, so today I take His awesome hand of reconciliation and pull myself up and out of that pit of discouragement! I know the consequences of my "bitter binge" will be with me for a few days, but I also know that God is with me! It Is A New Day and I am still actively pursuing Him, desiring to being His Champion IN Christ!

Dig Deeper…. Dig Deeper….Dig Deeper….Dig Deeper….Just Do It!!!!!

Equip Devotional by: Dr. John Maxwell: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

Heart of a Champion

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 (NIV)

There is an old saying: Champions don't become champions in the ring - they are merely recognized there. Boxing is a good analogy for leadership development because it is all about daily preparation. Even if a person has natural talent, he has to prepare and train to become successful. One of the most famous quotes of President Theodore Roosevelt uses a boxing analogy: "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause."

"Bitterness is a habit that can seriously hinder our spiritual journey. When life becomes difficult, when it doesn't seem as if God is providing for our needs, when we're not getting what we want when we want it, we have a decision to make. We can hold onto our faith and trust that God has an answer in mind, or we can gripe and moan and complain and let our souls become embittered. Expecting an oasis, but finding a bitter stream? Don't lose sight of the grace of God. - (Beside A Quiet Stream)"
Quote By: Penelope J. Stokes

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

No Blame! Be-Better, BE NOT LAME!

John 4:41 His Servant Warriors! Intersection 4:41

John 4:41Then many more believed in and adhered to and relied on

Him because of His personal message [what He Himself said].

John 4:41 Our Hope-Our Prayer-Our Purpose!

Psalm 69:8-14

My brothers shun me like a bum off the street; My family treats me like an unwanted guest. 9 I love you more than I can say. Because I'm madly in love with you, they blame me for everything they dislike about you.

Hello Intersection 4:41 Servant Warriors! God Bless Your Day With His Purpose, Provision, Protection and Peace!

In praying for us today, God spoke this exhortation to my heart this morning:

No Blame! Be-Better, BE NOT LAME!

Blame puts you in a cycle of pain where the purpose of God is never wholly gained until He breaks you free! I don't doubt He can break anyone free, because of what I have seen and as I remind myself about Calvary; but He won't breach your will and blame really engages it full force. One of the greatest servants of the Old Testament left us a living legacy of life wisdom to learn from when it comes to not being a person who blames:

Jeremiah 17:9-10

"The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked.

Who really knows how bad it is? 10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve."

Take the Blame, You have so much good to gain.

Lay It At The Feet Of Jesus, DON'T BE-LAME!

Deal with Christ in your own heart, never be the same!

Be-Better, BE NOT LAME!

Grow in Christ, this being your central aim,

Never allow yourself to fall and BE-LAME,

Don't play into satan's deceptive blame game!

Be-Better, BE NOT LAME!

The human heart is wicked, when filled with shame!

A broken foundation is the life of the Be-Lame!

A circle of life where pain stays the same!

Be-Better, BE NOT LAME!

Be-Lame and wear bitterness and inner shame,

setting a course of woundedness as your internal frame,

positioning your soul in dark passion, for a Be- Lame maim!

Be-Better, BE NOT LAME!

The wounded heart, lame in Blame, strikes out in the same!

Offended in heart, wounding becomes your fame.

Turn Your Heart To Jesus, Don't Be-Lame

His Heart, Being Your Heart, ONE IN THE SAME!

Be-Better, BE NOT LAME!

Written by Kimberlymac

September 16, 2008

Blame is true blindness to God! It is Being-Lame In Your Spiritual Sight!

John 9:2-5 True Blindness

Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, "Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?" 3-5Jesus said, "You're asking the wrong question. You're looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over. For as long as I am in the world, there is plenty of light. I am the world's Light."

God has a purpose for everything that touches your life and in this purpose, we are positioned! Yes even when things look bad, worse as can be, His goodness will eventually thrive if we keep our hearts before Him instead of strewn out on the path of the spiritually blind blame.

It is so easy to blame someone else for your problems; it is the broad way of life. When things are always someone else fault, we never look at our own hearts and we never experience the joy in the fulfillment of the purpose of God in that situation.

Be-Lame…Blame is a pit that the enemy would like every servant to fall in because it binds you up in bitterness and wounds your soul; instead of being a servant unto Kingdom Purpose you become a wounded warrior unto the dictates of your soul, therefore become a injured person who hurts others instead of helping them. Isn't that the goal of our enemy? Guard Your Hearts Servant Warriors! Blame puts you in a cycle of pain where the purpose of God is never wholly gained, until with your bent will He breaks you free! I don't doubt He can break anyone free because of what I have seen and also as I remind myself about Calvary; but He won't breach your will and blame really engages it full force. One of the greatest servants of the Old Testament left us a living legacy of life wisdom to learn from when it comes to blame:

Genesis 45:3-8

Joseph spoke to his brothers: "I am Joseph. Is my father really still alive?" But his brothers couldn't say a word. They were speechless—they couldn't believe what they were hearing and seeing. 4-8 "Come closer to me," Joseph said to his brothers. They came closer. "I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt. But don't feel badly, don't blame yourselves for selling me. God was behind it. God sent me here ahead of you to save lives. There has been a famine in the land now for two years; the famine will continue for five more years—neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me on ahead to pave the way and make sure there was a remnant in the land, to save your lives in an amazing act of deliverance. So you see, it wasn't you who sent me here but God. He set me in place as a father to Pharaoh, put me in charge of his personal affairs, and made me ruler of all Egypt.

Joseph was a great example of a person who lived his life not blaming others or God for the extremely hard season of life God had him in. Joseph realized the true promises of God, because He did not assume through blame that his brothers were the cause of his situation. He grew in whatever situation God allowed in His life and he restored unity to his family; in fact he saved his family because he refused to blame them, he rejected blame and was not Lame even though his situation was awful. He went from a pit to the palace because he didn't stay in the ditch and decorate it with blame, bitterness and woundedness. He fell in the pit and He brought the Presence of God in it with him. He did not blame, nor was He lame, even though he was in prison for a very long time in this pit not of his making. He walked in the purposes of God and realized the provision of God for his whole family; and for a whole nation because he kept his heart free from blame. Blame did not usher in woundedness in Joseph's situation it was the opposite! He was dependent upon God and the purposes of God were fulfilled not the strategy of the blame game that satan hoped would.

When we get into the blame game, we become Lame, we become wounded; the wounded looking for someone to wound instead of the Promised fulfilling the purposes of God. Blaming others causes us to stalk their souls with the bitterness of ours and look for ways to hurt them the way we feel or assume we have been hurt by them. Blame is an independence of dysfunction that stirs up our soul and we begin to impulsively serve it, leaving God's purposes behind.

Bitterness becomes another scene of the play called BE LAME and is acted out by the characterization of vindication from a heart that is desperately wicked, looking for someone to blame and maim. Be Lame… I pray today that we Servant Warriors are not, that we look to God and keep His Purposes as our center focus and as His servants do, remembering to guard our hearts and stay positioned in His grace at all times.

Beware and be careful Servant Warriors of God! Blame is being Lame… staying wounded in your spirit and it leads to wounding others. You take the focus off your own heart, your own walk with God and you hurt others as you continue to BE LAME! Blame hurts everyone and it always escalates into the person who is Being Lame, looking to take vengeance out on someone else and causing a lot of havoc in the lives all around!

1 Samuel 22:21-23

Only one son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped: Abiathar. He got away and joined up with David. Abiathar reported to David that Saul had murdered the priests of God. 22-23 David said to Abiathar, "I knew it—that day I saw Doeg the Edomite there, I knew he'd tell Saul. I'm to blame for the death of everyone in your father's family. Stay here with me. Don't be afraid. The one out to kill you is out to kill me, too. Stick with me. I'll protect you."

Job 1:20-23

Job got to his feet, ripped his robe, shaved his head, then fell to the ground and worshiped: 21 Naked I came from my mother's womb, naked I'll return to the womb of the earth. God gives, God takes. God's name be ever blessed. 22 Not once through all this did Job sin; not once did he blame God.

Job showed us some really good wisdom about blame. Blame is sin. It separates us from the fellowship and Presence of God, therefore it is a very bad pit we can fall into! Blame is an assumption, that becomes spoken as half-truth, presuming on the purpose of God and spoken into our reality as illegitimate truth. The truth is that God is working in the unseen for our good, we are in a Holy Alliance with Him and everything that touches our lives cannot be someone else's blame. God's purposes undergird all of our ways and don't always come into harmony with our understanding. Job did not blame God for his situation, he did not blame anyone, therefore He fulfilled the promise and purpose of God through his trial and God blessed him tremendously in the end.

JOB SAYS IT ALL: DON'T BE LAME! LOOK AT YOUR OWN HEART! SEE GOD AND BE ONE IN THE SAME!

Job 19: 21-22

"Oh, friends, dear friends, take pity on me. God has come down hard on me! Do you have to be hard on me, too? Don't you ever tire of abusing me? 23-27 "If only my words were written in a book— better yet, chiseled in stone! Still, I know that God lives—the One who gives me back my life— and eventually he'll take his stand on earth. And I'll see him—even though I get skinned alive!— see God myself, with my very own eyes. Oh, how I long for that day! 28-29 "If you're thinking, 'How can we get through to him, get him to see that his trouble is all his own fault?'Forget it. Start worrying about yourselves. Worry about your own sins and God's coming judgment, for judgment is most certainly on the way."

BE DEPENDENT UPON ME, DON'T LEAN ON WHAT YOU KNOW, THAT IS BEING LAME! GOD SAYS DON'T BE-LAME, TURN TO ME…. THERE IS NO ONE TO BLAME, IT IS MY PURPOSE, THE NAME OF THIS GAME!

God's Second Set of Questions I Want Straight Answers

JOB 40: 6-14

God addressed Job next from the eye of the storm, and this is what he said: "I have some more questions for you, and I want straight answers. 8-14 "Do you presume to tell me what I'm doing wrong? Are you calling me a sinner so you can be a saint? Do you have an arm like my arm? Can you shout in thunder the way I can? Go ahead, show your stuff. Let's see what you're made of, what you can do. Unleash your outrage. Target the arrogant and lay them flat. Target the arrogant and bring them to their knees. Stop the wicked in their tracks—make mincemeat of them! Dig a mass grave and dump them in it— faceless corpses in an unmarked grave. I'll gladly step aside and hand things over to you— you can surely save yourself with no help from me!

BE HEALTHY, BE WHOLE, DON'T BLAME, IT IS NOT GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL! MAKE DEPENDENCE UPON GOD YOUR ONLY GOAL! DON'T BE LAME, BE A LIVING LEGACY JUST LIKE JOB AND SERVE THIS WORLD WHOLE AND WITH GOD'S NAME AND YOUR LIFE LIKE JOB'S WILL END IN THE FULFILLED PROVISION, PURPOSE AND PROMISE OF GOD.

JOB 42:9-17

They did it. Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did what God commanded. And God accepted Job's prayer. 10-11 After Job had interceded for his friends, God restored his fortune—and then doubled it! All his brothers and sisters and friends came to his house and celebrated. They told him how sorry they were, and consoled him for all the trouble God had brought him. Each of them brought generous housewarming gifts. 12-15 God blessed Job's later life even more than his earlier life. He ended up with fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand teams of oxen, and one thousand donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. He named the first daughter Dove, the second, Cinnamon, and the third, Darkeyes. There was not a woman in that country as beautiful as Job's daughters. Their father treated them as equals with their brothers, providing the same inheritance. 16-17 Job lived on another 140 years, living to see his children and grandchildren—four generations of them! Then he died—an old man, a full life.

Dig Deeper…. Dig Deeper….Dig Deeper….Just Do It!!

Hosea 10:11(MSG)….it's time to dig in with God, Until He arrives with righteousness ripe for harvest!

Lamentations 3:38-40

Troubles and good things alike come to people because the Most High God has commanded them to come. 39 A man who is still alive shouldn't blame God when God punishes him for his sins. 40 Let's take a good look at the way we're living. Let's return to the Lord.

Jonah 1:6-8

The captain went down to him and said, "How can you sleep? Get up and call out to your god for help! Maybe he'll pay attention to what's happening to us. Then we won't die." 7 The sailors said to one another, "Come. Let's cast lots to find out who is to blame for getting us into all of this trouble." So they did. And Jonah was picked. 8 They asked him, "What terrible thing have you done to bring all of this trouble on us? Tell us. What do you do for a living? Where do you come from? What is your country? What people do you belong to?"

Hosea 4:3-5

That is why your land is in mourning, and everyone is wasting away. Even the wild animals, the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea are disappearing. 4 "Don't point your finger at someone else and try to pass the blame! My complaint, you priests, is with you.[a]

Lamentations 3:38-40

Proverbs 19:1-3

It is better to be poor and to live without blame than to be foolish and to twist words around. 2 It isn't good to get all stirred up without knowledge. And it isn't good to be in a hurry and miss the way. 3 A man's own foolish acts destroy his life. But his heart is angry with the Lord.

Psalm 101:1-3 Psalm 101 A psalm of David.

I will sing about your love and fairness. Lord, I will sing praise to you. 2 I will be careful to lead a life that is without blame. When will you come and help me? I will lead a life that is without blame in my house. 3 I won't look at anything that is evil. I hate the acts of people who aren't faithful to you. I don't even want people like that around me.

Psalm 69:8-14

My brothers shun me like a bum off the street; My family treats me like an unwanted guest. 9 I love you more than I can say. Because I'm madly in love with you, They blame me for everything they dislike about you.

Psalm 26:1-3

Lord, when you hand down your sentence, let it be in my favor. I have lived without blame. I have trusted in the Lord. I have never doubted him. 2 Lord, test me. Try me out. Look deep down into my heart and mind. 3 Your love is always with me. I have always lived by your truth.

Psalm 15:2-4

"Walk straight, act right, tell the truth. 3-4 "Don't hurt your friend, don't blame your neighbor;

despise the despicable.

Job 12:4

I'm ridiculed by my friends: 'So that's the man who had conversations with God!' Ridiculed without mercy: 'Look at the man who never did wrong!' It's easy for the well-to-do to point their fingers in blame, for the well-fixed to pour scorn on the strugglers. Crooks reside safely in high-security houses, insolent blasphemers live in luxury; they've bought and paid for a god who'll protect them.

Job 5:1

[Don't Blame Fate When Things Go Wrong ] "Call for help, Job, if you think anyone will answer! To which of the holy angels will you turn? The hot temper of a fool eventually kills him, the jealous anger of a simpleton does her in. I've seen it myself—seen fools putting down roots, and then, suddenly, their houses are cursed. Their children out in the cold, abused and exploited, with no one to stick up for them. Hungry people off the street plunder their harvests, cleaning them out completely, taking thorns and all, insatiable for everything they have. Don't blame fate when things go wrong— trouble doesn't come from nowhere. It's human! Mortals are born and bred for trouble, as certainly as sparks fly upward

Praying For All Of Us Warriors Who's Kingdom Trade Is Being A Servant Of The Living God!

No Blame! Be-Better, BE NOT LAME!

Friday, September 12, 2008

Life Groups… Being Found In Christ… Together!

1 Peter 1:18 Your Life Is A Journey You Must Travel With A Deep Consciousness Of God….

I think sometimes that our generation deals with a great enemy and it is called: Isolation! We have separated ourselves from each other, living at the surface of our relationships. God lives in us, yet isolation keeps us from the heart of His Gospel… which is change. Maybe we could be the generation who is called to break free from this grip of isolation and begin TALKING IT UP! God's Voice, God's Truth, God's Promise, God's Hope, God's Life Is In Each Of Us! Let's stop being "human doers" isolated by the busyness of our generation and start using the tools of communication of our time: saying Hi to your neighbor, inviting people over to dinner, being a part of a small group, encouraging people every day by: Internet, Facebook, phones, Skype, online chats, blogs, cell phones and let's be the chatty generation who is known for breaking down the wall of isolation that holds back The Heart of The Gospel from being a point of change from person to person, heart to heart and spirit to spirit!

Psalm 34:2-3

I will honor the Lord. Let those who are hurting hear and be joyful. 3 Join me in giving glory to the Lord. Let us honor him together.

A lot of churches have small group opportunities. Take those opportunities to TALK IT UP! My Covenant Community Church has them and I attend a Women's Small Group weekly. My Christ Fellowship Online Church has Life Groups, it is their way of connecting the Body of Christ, breaking down the wall of isolation and getting us to TALK IT UP… the life, truth and promise of Christ Jesus in us, so that we can grow together in God! What is really cool is that they have stepped it up a bit and they have Life Groups that are online and it totally meets the needs of those of us who are traveling through life and have not managed to stay put!! Which is a picture of my life married to a man who builds hotels, we move every 8 months or so to a new job site!!

So, I have the privilege of growing, changing together with my group of women when I am in town here and then consistently with my online Life Group at Christ Fellowship. I know you probably are saying: "How can that happen online… well.. here is my Life Group testimony of how the Heart of The Gospel is Change and how God even uses online Life Groups to connect people heart to heart!!!

My Life Group, We Are Being Found In Christ, For Each Other! Growing Together And Realizing The Reality That "The Heart Of The Gospel Is Change…. I Am A Life Changed By Being Found In Christ, In A Life Group!!

Written after my Life Group met Thursday Night! God Changed Me!

Have you ever picked up negative assumptions and made a run with them only to slam into a dead end brick wall!??? I have!!! Too many times!!

Last night was a good discussion for all of us! I think we all took something from it as we shared God's wisdom and our personal experiences with one another. I realized that assumption is my own fault. I can't blame the enemy. It is me. I know better. If it was my first time to be tricked by it then maybe I could blame the enemy, but God has taught me better!! I have been tossed to and fro by assumption for years and it makes me sooooo impulsive and I find that when I pick up assumption and run with it…. it usually leads to an impetuous run in the flesh to a dead end and it is not very pretty; it is usually me slamming into a brick wall that I did not even see!! OUCHY AND MESSY!

When things don't go my way, in fact when they go far from what I can even understand or wrap my mind around, I know I have a choice to make; either I will be listening to God's truth or listening to the enemies stinky mire! From God's truth I get promise and hope that helps me patiently wait for the heavenly hindsight that will come!! From the enemies taunts I pick up deceptive assumptions that grow into an impulsive anxiety, fear and doubt and cause me to lose my focus on Jesus, On His Truth, On His Promises and His way set before me.

At times, I have gotten so wrapped up in negative assumptions in my mind that I don't even see the brick wall ahead of me… until smack… there it is…. Ouchy… and then I have to deal with all the consequences that ensue from that collision course of my will and flesh in action!!! Right now in this season of my life, things are not going the way I thought they would in Bob and I's life. In his work there has been betrayal of a work owner and false accusations that could really hurt his reputation in the construction industry; a good reputation that he has earned over 35 years of hard work. We can't figure out the why or what is happening, no clue… it is like being in a fog that suddenly overwhelms your sight!

When all this hit the fan, I immediately began walking through this trial with God as my center focus; my hand in His Right Hand and I kept in step with Him at first! But as time went on and on and things did not get better and I could not see my way ahead, I began entertaining the pessimistic thoughts that were hitting me hard each day and I started picking up negative assumptions. I let go of God's hand, I wanted to try it on my own, try to see ahead more and try to figure it out quicker and fix it! My will began to lead my way and I began speaking impulsively and move quickly ahead of God into unchartered territory, which pretty much left me feeling very confused, discouraged and completely lost!

Thankfully I have you guys, my cfonline life group and we had a divine appointment last night where I could hear God's Voice, His wisdom and because of that, I did not hit that brick wall this time… (so sorry satan, your plan did not work this time!) I dropped the negative assumptions last night, got rid of them!! I got myself quickly repositioned back in God's grace and promise and I realized that even if this situation looks very awful, that doesn't mean it is automatically bad; it means that God is working in the unseen for our good for a great outcome and I have to wait on Him, trusting in Him and leaning not on what I can see but on His Promise for us.

Matthew 18:19-21

"Again, here is what I tell you. Suppose two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for. My Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 Where two or three people meet together in my name, I am there with them."

Thanks special online friends… or should I say family… I am related to you by the Blood of Jesus Christ, so in essence you are my LIFE GROUP! I am a life changed because of Jesus online at Christ Fellowship!!! In our Life Group the heart of the Gospel is change and that is our reality!! Thankfully… I did not hit that dead end wall… and I plan to make that a permanent change in my status… no more slamming into walls… no more negative assumptions…. I can work on that… God's Presence has made that learned wisdom an upfront thing in my life now… God has said "enough" to my wall slamming and I am growing through this season of my life, together (which is a nice way to do it) with you guys and Jesus! Thank goodness!! Love ya all!!

PS: Looking forward to "Joshua" and growing and changing with you all!!

If you are interested in joining or hosting a Life Group you can find out how at: www.gochristfellowhship.org! You can also attend their online services Saturday at 6pm or Sunday at 9 or 11 am and join in on the Skype Chats that happen each week!

Whatever you do, be found in Christ and be together with someone of like heart, mind and will and grow together in Christ. Break the isolation in the Bride of Christ, lets come together and TALK IT UP! God Bless you Much! Like Jesus said… Come lets' reason together, letting His life change us more and more to be like Him!

Dig Deeper…. Dig Deeper….Dig Deeper….Just Do It!!

Isaiah 1:18-19

"Come. Let us talk some more about this matter," says the Lord. "Even though your sins are bright red, they will be as white as snow. Even though they are deep red, they will be white like wool. 19 But you have to be willing to change and obey me. If you are, you will eat the best food that grows on the land.

Jeremiah 24:6-8

My eyes will watch over them. I will be good to them. And I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up. I will not tear them down. I will plant them. I will not pull them up by the roots. 7 " 'I will change their hearts. Then they will know that I am the Lord. They will be my people. And I will be their God. They will return to me with all their heart.

Romans 12:1-3 Living for God

Brothers and sisters, God has shown you his mercy. So I am asking you to offer up your bodies to him while you are still alive. Your bodies are a holy sacrifice that is pleasing to God. When you offer your bodies to God, you are worshiping him. 2 Don't live any longer the way this world lives. Let your way of thinking be completely changed. Then you will be able to test what God wants for you. And you will agree that what he wants is right. His plan is good and pleasing and perfect.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Now the Lord is the Holy Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, freedom is also there. 18 Our faces are not covered with a veil. We all display the Lord's glory. We are being changed to become more like him so that we have more and more glory. And the glory comes from the Lord, who is the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:41-47

Those who accepted his message were baptized. About 3,000 people joined the believers that day. The Believers Share Life Together 42 The believers studied what the apostles taught. They shared life together. They broke bread and ate together. And they prayed. 43 Everyone felt that God was near. The apostles did many wonders and miraculous signs. 45 They sold what they owned. They gave each other everything they needed. 46 Every day they met together in the temple courtyard. In their homes they broke bread and ate together. Their hearts were glad and honest and true. 47 They praised God. They were respected by all the people. Every day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.

Psalm 34:2-3

I will honor the Lord. Let those who are hurting hear and be joyful. 3 Join me in giving glory to the Lord. Let us honor him together.

Matthew 18:19-21

1 Corinthians 3:8-11

The one who plants and the one who waters have the same purpose. The Lord will give each of us a reward for our work. 9 We work together with God. You are like God's field. You are like his building. 10 God has given me the grace to lay a foundation as a master builder. Now someone else is building on it. But each one should build carefully. 11 No one can lay any other foundation than the one that has already been laid. That foundation is Jesus Christ.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

September 11th 2008! God Is Faithful!

September 11th 2001! 7 years ago! I still have not forgotten! I still treasure the freedom our military fights so hard to defend and preserve! I cling to the Future and Hope I have In Jesus Christ and I remember His Faithfulness!

A United States Marine Wrote This Poem On September 11th 2001; it was his response to a very overwhelming day! Today, it shows us some awesome "Heavenly Hindsight"! OUR GOD IS MIGHTY TO SAVE! OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL! REMEMBER HIM TODAY!

FREEDOM

One heart - one blood - one soul

Freedom is our ultimate goal!

Freedom from terror and fear

Freedom that we now

feel is not so near

Freedom from the

anguish and the grief

Freedom from that terrifying thief

We have all felt the terror

and shock that he brings

From the poor, to those rich as kings

This tragedy has touched

us all first hand,

there is sorrow and grieving

throughout the land

We must now fight

for the freedom we once had

We must bury the hatred

and take the good with the bad

This course in our life has been set

What took place that day

we will never forget

But don't be dismayed

for true freedom comes from within

It is a battle that we will always win

The broken hearts will eventually mend

And justice will prevail in the end

Be strong for our loved ones that are gone

And with our strength America will live on

9-17-01

Written By

Sergeant Christopher McCarthy USMC

The Bridegroom's Voice

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Operation Encouragement Group Link

Monday, September 29, 2008

An Exhortation For America

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Join Operation Encouragement

Operation Encouragement September 30th

Monday, September 22, 2008

Discouragement Happens! Champions Step It Up!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

No Blame! Be-Better, BE NOT LAME!

Friday, September 12, 2008

Life Groups… Being Found In Christ… Together!

Thursday, September 11, 2008

September 11th 2008! God Is Faithful!

Cling To Jesus Christ

Followers

Twitter Updates

#{title}

Blog Archive

Blog Hits

About Me

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Monday, September 29, 2008

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Monday, September 22, 2008

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Friday, September 12, 2008

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Cling To Jesus Christ

Followers

Twitter Updates

#{title}

Blog Archive

Blog Hits

About Me

Kimberlymac.blogspot.com