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God's Kind of Life

For the past several years I have been dealing with some blood sugar issues. These issues  have really changed my life in many ways.  I am constantly working on a good "balance" in what I eat and how much.  Today I wanted to post something that I read that blessed me. It encouraged me in my stand on what the Word of God says regarding healing.  I thought that it might bless someone else. This is a short devotional regarding healing.  It is from Pastor Mark Brazee, entitled, God's Kind of Life. Enjoy!

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. —John 10:10


Where does sickness come from? I was taught for years that sickness was sent from God to teach us and make us pious and more “Christ-like.” However, if we look in the Word, we definitely see that sickness comes from the enemy—not from God. Jesus certainly didn’t get Christ-like through sickness and disease, so I don’t know why we would either.


Sickness is a satanic force. God called it a curse in Deuteronomy 28:59-61. In Luke 13:16, Jesus called it a bondage. And by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, Peter called it satanic oppression in Acts 10:38. God doesn’t like sickness; He’s totally and completely against it. He has done, and is still doing, everything in His power to get healing and health to His children.


The devil is the one who steals, kills, and destroys. Sickness steals money, families, homes—it steals everything it can steal. Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). The word life in the Greek is “zoe,” and it refers to life as God has it. Jesus was saying, “I have come that you might have the life of God.” Was God ever sick? No! Sickness doesn’t come from God; otherwise, Jesus would’ve included it in His “abundant life” package. No, Jesus didn’t come to bind us in chains of bondage. He came to set us free!


Confession: Jesus gives me abundant life—life as God has it. God doesn’t get sick, so I don’t allow sickness to stay in my body. Divine health belongs to me.

So They Hurt Your Feelings

We all make choices to be offended.  No one really offends us, we choose to "take offense".  That's the truth.  I had some notes from Rev. Keith Moore and several other ministers and put together a message on the subject of getting your feelings hurt.  Here it is.  

I want to share with you a subject that can make you get "touchy".   What we want to share is all about dealing with being offended.   Every one of us has been offended at some time or another.   But we must realize that if we are offended, it is because we yielded to the offense and we did it because we chose to do so.

Let's start by looking at a couple of scriptures that will open our eyes to the truth.   Notice what Psalm 119:165 says.   " Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."   The Amplified Translation makes it even clearer to us.   It reads, " Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble."   

Well, how many of us have had our feelings hurt?   The good news is that your feelings are going to get hurt again!   I think that all of us at different times in our lives have taken an offense.   Here's another verse in Ecclesiastes chapter 10 that speaks a lot as well.   Notice how it reads in verse four from several different translations.

The New King James: "If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post; for conciliation pacifies great offenses."

The New Living Translation: "If your boss is angry with you, don't quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes."

The Message Translation: "If a ruler loses his temper against you, don't panic; a calm disposition quiets intemperate rage."

The Spurrell Translation: "If the spirit (anger) of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offenses."

Many people in churches get offended.   I have been a part of or in the ministry for over 25 years and I can tell you I have seen people offended time and time again.   There are all sorts of reasons why people get offended.   But, the questions to ask are: Is it OK to be offended? Am I justified to be offended?

The enemy is real to our lives, and the Bible says that we need not be ignorant of his devices.   First Peter 5:8 tells us to "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."   The Bible is really clear that the devil is looking for ones whom he may devour.   The devil sets traps for us.   The word "offense" means a trap or a snare.  

A good hunter will use different types of weapons to catch or snare the prey.   The devil uses different types of weapons or snares for different people.   The devil is looking for your weaknesses.   He will prod and poke at you until he finds that sensitive spot that sets you off.   Then he will set a trap for you to fall into time and time again.  

Different things offend different people.   Things may offend you that won't offend somebody else.   What might offend someone else won't mean a thing to you.   Folks will get offended over comments made that didn't mean anything close to the way they took it.   If you are the "offended type", it seems the enemy will pick anybody and everyone around you to say something and do things that irritate you and hit your "offense" spot.   Then... you're offended!

It never fails that when people are offended, they feel insulted, hurt, and angry.   They start out feeling sorry for themselves.   Then they want to lash out at somebody.   Being offended is simply giving place to the devil.   Being angry, being hurt, and insulted is not the fruit of the spirit at all is it?  

When you are offended, get this clear in your head and in your heart... it is not someone else's fault.   It is your fault!   You are offended because you are wrapped up in your own PRIDE.  

Nobody wants to deal with PRIDE, but all of us need to deal with it.   Anybody who says they don't have a problem with pride is usually the one who will consistently yield to pride. Selfishness is the initiator of pride.

Look at Romans 6 and verse11. "Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord." He's talking about making your OLD MAN "to be dead." You can go to any cemetery and see that dead men are never lifted up in pride, no matter what you say about them, because they're dead!

We should reckon our old stinkin' flesh to be dead no matter what is said or done to us.   Being insulted or offended should be far from our lives. If we get offended over something, it is because we failed to reckon the old man dead.   Don't think for a minute that you will never have any feelings of being hurt or angry, or being offended, because I'm telling you right now, you will.   Feelings come to every one of us.   If your old man acted or felt dead, you wouldn't have to reckon him to be dead.   The test for you and me is that when those feelings of offense come, you resist them - don't yield to them.   Put your flesh under. Catch this one clue here, act like you love people who say and do things that are hurtful to you, no matter how you feel.   That isn't being fake, it is just the simple fact that you are choosing to yield to love.   You are choosing to walk in love.

Remember 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.   Notice what the Word says.   Look at it like you've never seen it before!

"  Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails..."

The Beck Translation reads, "Love is patient. Love is kind.   Love isn't jealous. It doesn't brag or get conceited. It isn't indecent.   It isn't selfish. It doesn't get angry.   It doesn't plan to hurt anyone. It doesn't delight in evil but is happy with the truth.   It bears everything, believes everything, hopes for everything, endures everything. Love never dies."

I've been working in ministry or been involved in ministry now for over 25 years.   I have served as an associate several times, in youth ministry, as worship leader and in the itinerant or the traveling ministry.   I have heard and seen a lot.   

People will say "the Lord led us here."   They hook up and become a great blessing.   Then all of the sudden they quit helping and even quit coming to church.   When you talk to them, they say, "We're not coming back.   So and so said this and you did this and we're just hurt and offended."   That begs the question, "If the Lord led you to come here, then what are you being led by now?"   Is my dead man showing?   Is my maturity or immaturity showing?

It is not always easy to follow what the Lord is telling us at times.   We will run into circumstances and we will run into personalities.   There will be times you will hurt all over.   But faith doesn't quit.  

Noah stood firm and followed the Lord and what He told him for over 100 years before he saw a drop of rain.   Abraham waited for years before he saw the promise.   What if Joseph had been offended in jail, would he have ever been elevated to the position God had prepared for him?   Even when circumstances are at their worst, we still find ourselves in the middle of God's plan for our lives.   You don't quit.  

Remember Ecclesiastes 10:4 again, "... don't quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes..." even your own offense. Submission will pacify your great offense.   Don't quit.   Ask yourself, "Is the Lord leading me or is my flesh just yielding to my offense?"   Many people never mature in God or go on to the things that the Lord has prepared for them because they can't cope, so they quit when it's hard.

There was a man who was in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II.   He suffered many things.   After being out, he chose never to hold a grudge.   He said that the greatest power that any man has is ability to choose how to react to the circumstances around him.   What a statement!   Think of that in reference to our yielding to an offense.   He had a ton of things about which he could have been offended.   Had he been offended, he could have died there never seeing his liberation and freedom.

Don't be forced out of a situation and miss the plan of God by your flesh and its desire to be offended.   First Peter 5:6-7 says, "Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time, casting all of your care on Him for He cares for you."  

When it comes to offenses, you will find yourself better off if you will crucify your flesh and its feelings.   You choose to put the old man under.   Be led by the Spirit and not forced out of God's plan for your life due to an offense.  

Remember, Jesus didn't just make us conquerors, He made us MORE than CONQUERORS!   We've got the victory, but we alone are the ones who choose to yield to it and walk in it.  

Prayer:   Father, I choose to yield to the walk of Love.   I choose to put my flesh under and fulfill Your plan and Your purpose for my life. I forgive and I forget, just as you did with me.   Amen. 

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Devotional: What's So Important About Church?

Recently I saw a sign that read "Home Improvement: Take Your Family To Church." Our title for this edition of "The Devotional" asks the question, "Why Church?"   Why do we go to church?   Why is it important?   Why does church set everything else apart in our lives?   What does the Bible say about attending?   What is Jesus' example?   Let's take a look and see.

Our key verse in the New Testament is Hebrews 10:24-25.  

"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (NKJV)

Notice how The Message Bible reads.   "So let's do it--full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching." (The Message Translation)

The Word of God said to not forsake our coming together.   It says not to avoid worshiping together because it spurs each other onward.   We live in a society today that chooses to magnify hurts, depression, emotional issues, and problems in general.   We live in a victim society; an issue driven society.   Sadly, that attitude has crept into the church.   The Bible tells us that some will "fall away" in the last days.   When we submit to the "world system", or the way the world is thinking, we will pull away from the things that have remained stable and sure for generations. The local church is one of those sure things.  

The world now mocks the church.   We must be careful not to allow this world system to drive our attendance habits through the cares and things of life and everyday living.   This way of thinking is completely apart from what the scriptures tell us about coming together.    We need to come together on a regular basis as believers. We need to hear the preaching and teaching of the Word of God to encourage us and help us in living a life of hope and victory.   The preaching and teaching of the Word of God helps us in having a stable focus. It helps us as believers in being accountable as well. 

  

The local church is a life source for all of us. We individually need it. We see it in the book of Acts.   The church was the place where "it" was happening.   It was exploding with growth, excitement and the power of the Holy Spirit.   The church of today should exemplify that same excitement and growth. Excitement breeds excitement. How you come to church affects the service.   When you come to church, come excited and ready, and just see what happens and what the Lord will do.

Look at some other verses here. 

Psalm 122:1 "I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD."   (NKJV)

Psalm 42:4 "When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast." (NKJV)

Notice being glad to go.   Going with the multitude.

If you just do a word search of the Bible with the words "temple" and "Jesus" you'll find that Jesus was there, in church, over and over and over.   It was a part of His life, not just His ministry.   One that I love is this one.   Luke 4:16 , "He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read."  

The Apostle Paul had "customs" or "habits" too! Notice Acts 17:2,   "As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures."   

Acts 5:42 says, "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."

There are many, many references to coming together throughout the Word of God.   Being in the sanctuary, the temple, the church, needs to be a part of our lives for so many reasons.   Let me give you some straight points as to why it's important to you as an individual.

1. Important for family relationships and life

The Local Church is a very important place for family and relationships.   Strong, godly relationships "spark" you.   "Iron sharpens iron."   (Proverbs 27:17)   Families and individuals learn about life and how to live it.   We learn about walking in victory and being happy.   We learn about giving to our fellow man through outreach and community projects.   We learn as a family the power of walking with Christ living big in our lives.

2. It's a community of faith

In this community of faith is where we gain a revelation of Jesus Christ.   Church is about growing up and maturing, not about what level you're on.   It's where you have a Pastor who ministers the Word of God to you so that you can run and step out in faith and be a doer of the Word.   Your Pastor and the other relationships that you have are there for you in a tough time or to celebrate the joys of your life.   It's a place where we develop personal and lasting friendships and relationships that endure a lifetime.  

3. It's a Non-threatening Place.

There are no perfect people, but we are a people who have a perfect God.   In this place you don't have to put on a performance.   Jesus loves and accepts people the way they are.   Church is that kind of place.   It's a place where people find empathy, not sympathy; a place to be lifted up and encouraged to live for Christ. 

4. It helps people face the difficult and conflicting areas of their lives.

While dealing with struggles, sins of the past, lack of self-confidence, and more, we learn that the precious blood of the Lamb has been given for our freedom. It's a place where there is comfort in a time of loss or need; a place where Jesus' arms are spread wide through the love of a congregation of family and friends.

5. A Place of Spiritual strength

Church is a place where people can find out who they are in Christ and grow in the things of God.   It is a place where your giftings from the Lord can be developed and shine.   It is a place where you are encouraged and uplifted to step out and serve the Lord.   It is a place where you can be sent out to do the calling of God that's on your life.

6. A place of accountability.

At church we learn about life and that we are accountable to the Lord.   We establish relationships where we are accountable to one another.   Church helps in establishing accountability in our personal walk of life and to the Word of God, by fostering healing, evangelism, deeper faith, family roots and more. Plain and simple, it helps keep you from becoming "flaky"!   When you are off on your own, your imagination about what's spiritual and what's not, can go to all sorts of places that can mislead you at a time and place in your life where you need "your" pastor and "your" church family for life, encouragement and rock solid consistency. 

  

7. Marriage, Family, & Home.

You can be on your way to church and arguing about what seems huge, but when you get to church and are in the middle of worship, the Holy Spirit deals with you.   The message seems to be just like the Lord was personally talking with you.   It changes you and changes your home.   It brings the two of you closer as a husband and wife. 

It works on your kids.   They're learning how to live for God and not just play like it.   They learn that a relationship with God is a personal experience and that it's real. 

The Bible says to, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."   Proverbs 22:6  

As a parent, your responsibility is to plant those seeds of training in your kids. If church isn't important to you, don't expect it to be important to your kids.   If praying is not important to you, don't expect it to be important to your kids.   If giving is not important to you, don't expect them to be givers either.   You train them up... they will follow.   Your emphasis will be the foundations for not just you, but for generations to come.   Fear breeds fear.   Joy breeds joy.   Godliness breeds godliness. 

  

Dads need to set that example.   Moms too!   What you tolerate in moderation, your kids will tolerate in excess.   The seeds that are sown will produce when they are older.   Psalm 78 tells us that these things also pass down to their kids, your grandkids. Generation to generation! Think and do what's important to you, and your kids will do it too, good or bad.   Galatians 6:6 says that you reap what you sow.  

Dads, how you treat Mom is contagious. Moms, how you treat Dad is contagious.   How you both treat spiritual things is contagious too.   Being in the local church helps all of the family to grow and mature and send a message to the next generation.   As a parent, we are sending a message through our children, into a time we will not see. 

The local church is so very important to all of us.   Being around those of like faith can spark us to greater things in God.   Plug in, be active, and be excited.   Church is what we each make it to be individually.   Plug in as they did in the book of Acts and let excitement breed excitement. Today is here and now, but the seeds of today will produce tomorrow!   Amen.

Prayer: Father, I know that your Word says that a threefold cord is not quickly broken.   Being together with a local body of believers, fellowshipping around your Word, building relationships is a source of strength and a faith builder for my life.   I choose to make time to be hooked up with my local church family. Amen.

Pastor’s James' Tips For Managing Stress During The Holidays

This Sunday, I ministered on "Stopping The Christmas Heart Attack".  As the service closed I gave out 25 quick points to "keep your heart" during the Christmas holiday. "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23 NKJV
 This is from Rev. Tony Cooke.  Be sure to check out his website at tonycooke.org.  

Pastor’s James' TIPS FOR MANAGING STRESS, THE BLUES, AND GRIEF DURING THE HOLIDAYS (From Rev. Tony Cooke)

1.   Plan ahead – this involves not only time, but also money (a budget)

2.   Prioritize and decide how much you can actually do, how much you can (and should) actually spend, etc. You don’t want to start the new year with bills that you can’t pay. Do your best to create an atmosphere that focuses on "doing" rather than "having."

3.   Don’t be afraid to say, "no." There may be some things you can do to reduce some of the demands on your life and time.

4.   Pace yourself. People tend to overextend themselves and to commit to doing more than they possibly can in the limited time they have. Be careful during holidays not to over-commit. Don't take on more than you can comfortably handle, and stop trying to be Superman or Superwoman by doing it all yourself.

5.   Be realistic! Unrealistic and hyper-idealistic expectations set you up for disappointment.

6.   Examine traditions – which ones do you want to keep? Is it time to establish some new ones?

7.   Realize that people are unique. What is enjoyable and fulfilling for one person is stressful and unpleasant for another.

8.   Some solitude is OK, but avoid excessive isolation. Reach out to people and make it a point to be with others. Especially seek out people who are supportive and care about you.

9.   Reach out to an old friend you’ve lost contact with.

10. If you have some specific needs during the holidays, tell others. Don’t expect others to be mind-readers. Realize that others may not respond to or meet all of your needs.

11. Find a way to serve and help others. "I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found a way to serve." - Albert Schweitzer

12. Take care of yourself. If your tendency is to take care of everyone else and neglect yourself, do some special things just for you, and don’t let yourself feel guilty about it.

13. Be proactive. Don’t wait for something to happen. Make something happen. Ask yourself about the kind of holiday experience you’d like to have, then ask, "What can I do to make that happen?" Don’t accept a victim’s mentality – you may be experiencing some circumstances you wouldn’t have chosen, but there are things you can do to make the holidays better for yourself and others.

14. Give yourself permission to grieve if necessary. Give yourself permission to enjoy the holidays as well. Journaling can be a healthy and helpful way of identifying and expressing feelings.

15. Remember the wisdom of the Serenity Prayer – "Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

16. Don’t focus on the past.

17. Don’t dwell on what you don’t have.

18. Moderation! Avoid the temptation to dive into extremes.

19. Take care of your health – Eat right, get plenty of rest, and exercise regularly. Common stress reactions during the holidays include headaches, over-eating, and difficulty sleeping.

20. Put some humor in your holidays. Laugh a lot! Rent a funny movie! A merry heart does good like a medicine (Proverbs 17:22).

21. Make a list of all the FREE things that can be enjoyed at Christmas… light displays, church services, community plays, etc. Partake of some of these.

22. Be honest about your own emotional health and your own personality tendencies. Do you need to address anger? Perfectionism? A tendency to blame others?

23. Focus on the spiritual aspects of the holidays.

24. Maintain or even increase your spiritual disciplines.
 Philippians 4:6-7 (The Living Bible) 6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don't forget to thank him for his answers. 7 If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.

25. Live a "Christmas life," not just Christmas day.
 Is it possible that part of our problems around the holidays is that we are trying to cram a year’s worth of love, celebrating, remembering, etc., into a mere month?

Special Guest: Joseph Morris

So much is going on in the world right now and especially in the Middle East.  I believe that Jesus is coming again.  One of my favorite ministers is Joseph Morris.  Each week he shares an "End Of Days Update."  It's always powerful. You can sign up and receive and email each week when he post a new update.  This is todays update, October 31st, 2012.  Joe is a great friend and has been at our church before.  After you watch this, take some time and read my blog on the "End of Days: The Four Specifics."