Before you plan your 2012 goals....

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”—Phil 3:14 NIV

We are on the last days of the year---what a great time to meditate on God’s goodness and mercy the whole year.  That’s where God has had me these last weeks of the year just reflecting on His goodness toward me and my family and ministry.  As I continue to do this I also want to go before the Lord and have Him lay out His plans and purposes for 2012. Not all of them will be revealed as we seek His face in 2012 He shows us what He wants from us and for us---it doesn’t all have be revealed at once; we go from glory to glory.  What is important to keep in mind is the verse above. Whatever I press towards in 2012 let it be heaven focused and a call from God.  This doesn’t mean its all ministry related---God is a part of every area of my life. So there will be God calls on my life that will include my personal and family life.  I don’t have separate compartments anymore I am one in the Kingdom.  I am one whole person spirit filled and life breathing.  As a result when God makes calls on my life it isn’t just for ministry/church projects.  But I must know what God is calling me to and what His goals will be for me.  Let’s not get caught up in making our own plans and calling them God plans. Dive into the word and prayer!! Seek God’s will for your plans and resolutions. I don’t doubt we all have great ideas and plans but God centered ideas are better than ours!! Heavenward ideas are better than anything we can come up with or do!  Let’s be people that when we press toward the goal---we are sure this is a goal that is building the Kingdom and moving towards heaven!!  And more importantly this goal is God birthed and blessed!! In order to get pregnant there must be intimacy. In order to birth God plans we must go into intimacy with Him.  Jesus’ key to having God answer His prayers was “reverent submission” to the Father’s will (Heb 5:7).  Jesus literally even to death told the Father “your will be done.” (Mk 14:36) Even Jesus didn’t dictate His own plans He submitted to God’s plans for Him.

Be purposeful, be mindful of your time in intimacy so you can become pregnant with God plans and visions for every area of your life.  Have a blank sheet of paper, clear out the clutter in your mind—let the Master plan your year.  Let the master organize your calendar and agenda for 2012.  Let the Master breathe His approval in your decisions and resolutions for 2012. And once He has and once you are preggos with God stuff---birth it!! Then “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called you heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Adelante means push forward!!

-Bea-

Generation Glory
Iglesia Cristiana Adonai
Youth/ Young Adult/ Singles Pastor

REMEMBER....

Deut 8:1-10 NIV. "Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors.  Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.  He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.  Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him.  For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills;  a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey;  a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills. When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you."

In reading this today I simply thought of the word REMEMBER.  Remember what God is doing or wants to do; remember what God has done.  Remember what He wants out of us.  Remember how much He loves and longs for us.  Remember everything that God has given you in promises and hopes for your life.  But most importantly remember God’s purpose and reasons for things in our life.  Read the passage above…and listen to God speaking directly to our lives.  He is telling us remember---as you read notice the journey in the road to a promise or promised land. Notice how God allows and leads us through a road of humility and how unless we truly grasp this we’ll never get to our promise. Notice how even though He is leading or leads us through this road He still watches after us—He never abandons us.  Notice how in the end when and as we receive His promises He wants more praise more worship.  That’s all He’s about---and don’t stop worshipping.  No matter what you have or don’t have---there is only 4 days left in 2011---can you end them just worshiping Him and not asking?  Don’t ask any more for what you want or need—He knows already.  As you worship---remember.  Remember that if we don’t know how to worship now---we won’t know how to worship Him when we’re in the promise and enjoying of the promise.  “…He humbled you by letting you go hungry. (vs 3) Wow…what a line---this is deep and I will just leave it at that!! Let God speak to you about your unmet hungers---Would God ever not answer or “let us go hungry to humble us?” hmmm….well He did it with His beloved children of Israel.  But then He gave them manna---hmmm….I feel a lesson coming for me and a possible prayer method…(more to follow next year)…

In the meantime, REMEMBER…

If you remember may it lead you to more worship and devotion of Him!

Adelante!

Bea

Generation Glory

Iglesia Cristiana Adonai

Youth/ Young Adults / Single Pastor

Great Statement!

“Unless we are burning we can never set anybody else on fire. We can be so orderly, doing everything with dignity and decorum but … without fire! Correct but cold. On Mount Carmel the pagans laid everything correctly on the altar ready for the sacrifice but the devil could not bring a spark from hell to light it. Elijah then rebuilt the altar, stones, wood, sacrifice, everything according to the book, and called down fire from heaven. And it came! And it comes!”-Reinhard Bonnke

Very true---we can do everything correctly and even by the good book—but if it lacks fire—it lacks impact! I’ve been someone who has done both---I’ve done things by the book and with no fire and I have done things on fire because I’m on fire---I rather do the 2^nd!  Be on fire and light others up---catch the fire and burn!  Sometimes during my talks with God I tell Him I’ve tried everything else and it doesn’t work what else is there?? And here’s the answer—the fire.  To keep the fire burning takes daily fire maintenance.  Exodus 30 says the Aaron was to light the fire every morning he was to tend the flame---which means I can’t burn one day and burn w/ the same flame the next day.  This is another bad habit I broke at the end of last year---living on old fumes!  I realized to burn I had to light up every day.  With one day I don’t light up I won’t burn! Simple as that---and well let’s be leaders, teachers, friends, daughters, wives, and future wives that live on fire! 

Adelante

Bea

Generation Glory

Iglesia Cristiana Adonai

Things must start before they can end...

This morning I heard the following verse: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”—Col 1:15

This is a thought as it relates to Christmas time.  Jesus didn’t start or begin in the manger in Bethlehem…Christmas didn’t begin there…Christmas began since creation! That’s what the passage above says…Jesus started when the invisible God (invisible to us) created everything. The plans for Christmas (Plan B) was in place since Adam and Eve sinned---God had all these things planned and were invisible until the right time came and when Jesus came to earth that was the fulfillment of all of this plan.  There are 2 reasons I share this with you today so you can be blessed and edified:

1.     First, think about what things are invisible to you from the invisible God, but that are at work---things for your favor and advancement in different areas of your life.  Just because we don’t see them or know what they are doesn’t mean they aren’t at work.  Things like what Jer 3:29 says and Eph 3:20.  Remember the Word reminds us what faith is---the evidence of things not seen.  In the Old Testament faith was believing a Messiah would come.  Believing He was eventually coming as everyone went through trials and tribulations and even imprisonments and bondages.  Faith in the New Testament was believing the Messiah HAD come born of a woman and died for the sins of the world.  Believing this even though a different Messiah was expected---one not so much meeting the qualifications of Jesus the Messiah.  Every generation has had its own reasons to NOT believe and doubt, but then that’s why that isn’t faith.  Do we have faith to believe the invisible God who has been at work since creation is at work in our life today??

2.     Secondly, think about the growth and changes you have wanted this year.  I don’t want to overuse the word but it’s the word of the year for me: breakthroughs.  When did they start for me? Not this month.  My process of breakthrough started in the summer of 2010. It started with me realizing my current spiritual condition needed much revision from God and the Holy Spirit.  Then came a process.  For us to expect certain results and we haven’t had a beginning is almost foolish.  God is a God of instant power, but Jesus loved processes. And everyone went through their own.  Processes don’t have to be bad and hurt.  They only hurt when our flesh and will rebels against it. When our spirit is aligned with God’s spirit, we are right in line with what He is doing in us and for us.  Just like Christmas didn’t begin in Bethlehem our breakthrough isn’t going to begin somewhere it has never started---some of us need to first allow a process to begin.  Others need to realize what the process is and allow God to continue it.  Some need to be in faithful expectation of results of the process. Eric Johnson from Bethel shared the following: “Let some time go by before you measure yourself…you don’t grow in 24 hours.” He was sharing how his daughters used to want to see how tall they were everyday etc.  Sometimes we’re like this---we make a determination on Monday and come Friday we’re anxious to see answers!! Hey let’s wait on God---let’s be in expectation and preparation of His work.  And we need to take action---here’s a thought for you:  "The complacent sit by the fire and are warmed with information. The consumed step into the fire and experience transformation." - R. Worley  We must be experiencing transformation in our spirit every day!! And only a life consumed by Spirit and Spirit things will be there….if you didn’t see the spiritual growth and experiences you wanted in 2011 ask the Lord why? There may be some things you are holding onto that are getting in the way.  Hidden areas that need to be exposed in prayer by the Lord.  Don’t just be filled with information experience transformation!

This 2011 year marked so many blessings in my Spirit life.  I had many internal breakthroughs as well as some external visible to the eye.  Best of all I came closer in my relationship with the Lord. Can I stop? Should I stop? Of course not!! God didn’t stop with Jesus in Bethlehem…His work continued until today and will continue into eternity.  I can always grow more, learn more, get rid of more, pray more, read the Bible more, be in intimacy more---it will never be enough.  When we start to cut back and allow ourselves some slack is when the enemy has convinced us we’ve done enough and it hasn’t worked---no he is trying to steal your breakthrough. 

I believe in 11^th hour breakthroughs---that is answers and God movements the last month of the year.  The year isn’t over yet.  But what we must understand is the year had to have started before it ended. Something has to have a beginning.  

When is your beginning coming? Have you begun? If so, what else can happen?? Don’t stop or become complacent---step into the max zone.  The zone where even though you’re tired and convinced nothing more needs to be done you DIG DEEPER!! You will be more than shocked at what you find not only in you but in the Spirit realm.

Adelante!!

-Bea Z

Generation Glory Pastor

Iglesia Cristiana Adonai

Going Through the Process

“There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.  After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.”—Mark 7:32-35 NKJV

Wow What a passage!! So much revelation for me here------- this is the 2^nd Word from the Scripture that confirms what God has been teaching to my Spirit this whole year and what I’ve been sharing to some and speaking on Thursdays at our sessions.  WOW…God is good!!! I am praying 11^th hour breakthroughs meaning breakthroughs right at the end of the year and confirmations from God are right on!!!  Read the text above---the people “begged Jesus to place his hand on him.”  They were begging Jesus to work a miracle---Jesus not only worked a miracle He did it HIS WAY!! And His way was nothing like what the people were “begging” for.  The man didn’t do anything wrong it’s just Jesus had another method in mind!!

Jesus first pulled the man aside where no one saw… “away from the crowd.”  Jesus breakthroughs won’t always be in my typical prayer request mode---Jesus will expect and need me to spend time alone with Him to see His power.  Once alone Jesus touched the man, what the crowed asked him to do,  but in an odd way.  His fingers in the man’s ears?? Spitting? Touched the man’s tongue?? What a gross healing process.  What a way to work---and then He simply says, “Be opened.”  Why not do that right from the beginning?? Because He had a process!! And He wanted to see how wiling this man was to be healed---would He get in the way of the process?? Would He question it? Would He complain or murmur? Would he have an attitude? Or compare himself to other healings..well the others weren’t healed this way?? Why me?  It was Jesus own thing---He could do as He pleased and well the man just wanted a breakthrough.

 How bad do we want to see God answers in our life??? Some of us want results but we at the moment a process of God starts in our life start with the complaints, suggestions, and analyzing.  We quickly get in the way of what God wants---in the summer I had a moment of interruption. I almost got in the way of a God process and I wanted to rebel and quit.  I wanted to cut back because I felt I was doing the same thing over and over.  I felt God had something for me and why should I have to invest so much?? Well that was and is God’s process for me.  Would I have stopped I would have interrupted my own process.  Why the spitting Jesus?? Nothing more gross than that?? Who likes to be spit on? Jesus was humbling this man into a breakthrough.  God knows if we were to receive the fullness of Him we’d get so puffed up. Sometimes with the little God lets us see we feel we’re God’s gift to the church. LOL….well maybe that’s a little exaggerating but you get me.

At Jesus command the man was able to speak and hear.  That was some spit!!  Trust God’s touch and process---He knows what He’s doing.

 It says Jesus looked up to heaven---and sighed----wow---Jesus was involving heaven.  Any process from God to bring us a bigger blessing and revelation is from heaven.  Any breakthrough is from heaven.  Any unexpected answer comes from heaven.  Luke 3:21 says Jesus prayed and heaven’s were opened---what was He praying?? 

 What are you “begging” God for?? How long have you been begging Him?? How about you stop begging and start being part of God’s process for you?  Do you know what that is?? Have you had enough insight to see it? Sometimes everyone around us can see it expect us!!  The process won’t be revealed until you get alone with Jesus daily. Until you let Him take you away from the crowd---

 God is good and His mercy is great---- 

Adelante!! 

Bea

Generation Glory

Iglesia Cristiana Adonai

My Nothings vs His Somethings--

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”-Jn 15:5

Paty shared a message about this yesterday and I kept chewing on it throughout the day.  One of the things she said really rang deep inside my heart—she said when we first get saved we are immediately connected to the vine.  We don’t have to remain there---we aren’t forced to stay there but if we want to bear fruit and survive we must continue to be connected etc.  Although this may sound simple its actually very deep and profound.  Why? Because sometimes we assume we’re connected but the fruit we bear is fruit of our own strength and wisdom.  Not bad---we are smart, strong, and intelligent individuals.  But what happens is although we’re bearing fruit like Paty shared yesterday its not fruit pleasing the king!! Especially because He is pleased by His own fruit production.  As seasoned Christians how do we know if we’re producing Spirit fruit or man-made fruit?? You all have heard of Castaic Lake—that’s a manmade lake.  But its still nice and good for boating and swimming. I love going going boating on lakes---especially Castaic. Its close and it has these coves where the boat can go into and almost feel like there’s no one else on that lake.  I have swam and done or attempted to do some water sports on that lake and its real water.  I have had wonderful days spent on the lake and I wouldn’t care if its manmade or a natural lake.  I have driven by Lake Isabella heading towards Bakersfield.  It’s a huge manmade lake---how can you tell? You can see trees come up to the surface meaning there was life there---I believe Lake Shasta is also man-made I am not sure---but all these bodies of water are still good for fun activities.  Meaning just because its man-made doesn’t take away from its use and beauty!! But God isn’t looking for man-made ministry or fruit!! He wants spirit produced!! He tells  us look you can’t do ANYTHING apart from a daily life of devotion and worship!! Whatever you do on your own is basically NOTHING.  Because He says, “apart from me you can do NOTHING.”  So what I can do apart from Him is nothing!! Leads to NOTHING. .Results in NOTHING. And Will have a value of NOTHING in eternity! This doesn’t mean the “nothings” aren’t beautiful, fun, and entertaining…but I want fruit that lasts!! Its easy to assume we are doing things for God under the direction of God but if there is no Spirit fruit in the mix then let me look at my ingredients again.  A lot of times we function on robotic mode.  God doesn’t want spirit robots---He wants a pure intimate lifestyle.  The fruit is evident in my worship, words, life, actions, decisions, offerings, love, humility, willingness, obedience---man the list goes on. My own strength doesn’t like to submit, pray for long periods of time, fasting etc.  Just because I show up to a prayer meeting doesn’t mean I’m connected---its what is inside.  Am I passionate and awake to prayer in my lifestyle? Am I putting and saying no other things so I can devote myself to prayer?? Jesus was so deliberate about praying He would many times leave the group to retreat with the Father. He would leave ministry to focus on the Father and their time together. It showed in how He spoke:  Jesus said “apart from me you can do nothing.”  The Father said in Is 43 “I am the Lord apart from me there is no savior.”  See the similarity?? The evidence of time spent with the Father was Jesus’ imitation of His father in words, life, and devotion!!  May our words and worship be something that comes out of a result of our devotion. 

Apart from Jesus my nothing is nothing! I don’t want to live in nothings---I want somethings!! Its 4 weeks away from the new year.  I am waiting on God for some 11^th hour breakthroughs.  I realize these will be Jesus somethings not my nothings!! Yesterday I told Jesus---if I have been getting a little disconnected because I’ve been so busy I’m totally plugging myself in and tightening the connection!! I realize I need to be superglue connected to see somethings in my life!

God bless!!

-Bea

Youth/ Young Adults/Singles Pastor

Generation Glory

How Can I Get Him To Answer Me?

Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing.” Luke 23:8-9 NKJV
Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about him and had been hoping for a long time to see him perform a miracle. 9 He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer. NLT

Man how much more clearer could the lesson be for me? For us??  How many of us are expecting a miracle or miracles from God? Ones we’ve never seen Him do in our life.  Ones we’ve only heard about Him doing for others? We’re right at the place Herod was…but we don’t have to remain there.  Herod didn’t know how to get Jesus to “open up.” He thought that by questioning Him or just having conversation with Him Jesus would do something or say something.  His intentions weren’t bad because He wanted to truly see a miracle. He just went at it in the wrong manner.  Simply praying isn’t enough anymore—simply having a conversation with Jesus about what we need and want isn’t cutting it right?? Hmm…sound like Herod??  Herod questioned Him with “many words.” Sometimes in our mundane prayer life we just use “many words.” That doesn’t do anything.  We sometimes question God.  That doesn’t do anything---how about instead of doing the same thing over and over we tap into something new and different? What’s worked for others? What are they doing that I’m not doing?? I have been experiencing answers to prayers and open doors in  my prayer life.  I know what and how I’m asking and I know what is working.  Its not that God loves me more or that God doesn’t want to help others. It’s all about approaching Him in a different style than Herod.  Herod’s style was very light---it was a simple approach. I want to see a miracle because I heard about how great you are---but I am not going to invest myself into getting to your heart first. I just want to come and with my words and conversations get a miracle.  Jesus actually gives key insights in the Gospels on how to ask and how to tap into miracles.  There are prayers in the Old Testament that also unlock these miracles in our life.  But if we are like Herod rushed for time and wanting to see miracles we won’t find these hidden gems.  If we are like Herod as well and only engage Jesus in conversation about my miracles and with the purposes of seeing my miracles happen that won’t hurry Jesus any sooner.  “…Jesus refused to answer.” Wow…nothing is more hard to swallow than that line right there. It’s not that Jesus didn’t have the power, ability, opportunity, or heart to do a miracle He simply “refused to answer.”  Why?? Could be a variety of reasons: Herod’s heart wasn’t in the right place, his intentions weren’t right, he was being selfish in his request, he wasn’t approaching Jesus’  heart but rather His power, he didn’t know Jesus so he didn’t know how to ask, his life wasn’t going to be edified or built up by Jesus doing one miracle there, maybe the miracle would have boosted his ego---I don’t know why---but all I know is Jesus refused to answer!!

Do we know how to get Jesus to “open up?”  Do we know how to get answers/miracles from the Father? I know these things aren’t earned because of how good we are---but there are methods in the Bible to unlock blessings.  These methods are sometimes very obvious or sometimes very hidden.  A person diving deep into the Word and prayer will be a person who unlocks such mysteries.  Its also a matter of humbling ourselves…what do I mean by this?  If I see somebody is experiencing and living in answers to prayer I am going to ask them what and how they are praying?? What are they doing?? But this requires humility. Its beyond me some of you NEVER ask about achieving certain breakthroughs in prayer or our spirit life. Why? I don’t know. But I don’t want to be like Herod.  Spending my time in conversations with God that don’t produce any results. God is a God of love and He understands us…but He also puts people in our path to guide us. How I take advantage of that is up to me…but its not like God isn’t trying to teach us. Its just we think we are too spiritual to ask---or we know what we’re doing.  Herod thought he knew was he was doing---he was after all Herod!  Jesus had all the power to do one miracle but He wanted more than just a conversation from Herod.  Jesus wants more than what we sometimes give Him.  He knows our heart’s intentions and motivations. He knows why sometimes we pray harder than other times, He knows how much time we can invest in Him but choose to focus on busywork.  So knowing all that He can choose to not answer.  He can choose whatever He wants—after all He’s after our heart not our prayers!!

 Why would I waste my time with something that isn’t bringing results???? God doesn’t want to waste my time…I’m not saying prayer is a waste of time.  Not at all. I’m saying just because we approach God with the intention of talking to Him doesn’t mean that in itself will release miracles.  Herod was glad to see Jesus. We can say we like praying---its more than “praying.” It’s a lifestyle of fervent and passionate prayer/worship.  Today I read a quote from Greg Laurie that says, “If we put so little heart into our prayers, we can’t expect God to put much heart into answering them.” This quote confirmed what God had spoken to my heart last night---you don’t have to change anything about what you’re doing or approaching God.  But take a look at your results.

Dec 29 I will be sharing my 2nd part of the Breakthrough message God gave me 2 weeks ago that I shared at GG. God is good; Jesus is good too---they both want to do miracles but they want something more---its up to you to figure out what…once you figure it out—DO IT!

Adelante!!
Bea Z

Generation Glory
Iglesia Cristiana Adonai
Youth/Young Adults/ Singles Pastor

Rest In Peace

A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.  She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.  When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,  because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”  Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering…. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”—Mk 5:24-29, 34.

A very public miracle of a very private condition.  When we all meet and congregate whether in a prayer meeting or service there are many “women with flow of blood.”  Meaning women and men who have private sometimes embarrassing requests of the Lord. God honors them in that they are never made public. The woman is never shamed by Jesus He never discloses what her personal request of Him was---what healing it was etc.  But He acknowledges there has been a miracle.  How?? Telling her: “go in peace.”  Part of my everyday living is resting in God’s peace that He has already done something. Sometimes I am not seeing it or can touch it yet but being in peace that He is at work.  This woman touched the edge of Jesus’ garment---barely the tip. But nonetheless it was powerful and enough!! Sometimes I think I have to pray x way or y way---but just asking in Jesus name is enough. Now the 2^nd part—believing He is working and has it under control.  This is the most difficult part!!  Maybe Jesus knew the woman was going to on the way home question if she was really healed so He wanted to assure her she was healed…being at peace in the midst of a unanswered question is the most difficult thing. It’s the most humbling thing. It’s the most life lesson teaching thing and the most Faith act with God!  Being at peace means I am sure He is doing something. Being at peace means I know He is working in my favor.  See why the enemy doesn’t want us to be at peace?? See why he brings attacks against us by way of doubt and fear and anxiety?  When we give into these temptations we step away from God’s peace.  All of a sudden fear and panic robs us of God’s answers.  The miracle was instant for this woman.  How many instant miracles has Jesus done and I am not even aware? Why not aware? Because I haven’t crossed the and time and fulfillment of His answer.

Just because I don’t see the answer doesn't mean I didn't receive one. That’s not faith!! Faith is the evidence of things not see says Hebrews 1:11. I must rest in His peace---like this woman the answer and peace came together.  If I believe God has answered my request and is with me I must be at peace.  And there’s the daily challenge but with every daily challenge comes daily victories! 

Rest in peace my friends!!

-BZ-

Preparing for a Breakthrough

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“Then Manoah prayed to the LORD: “Pardon your servant, Lord. I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born.”—Judges 13:8 NIV

I started reading Judges 13 last night---I was brought to this passage when I read vs. 19 the Lord did “an amazing thing” while Manoah and his wife offered sacrifice to God---what was so amazing that God did?? He literally showed up in the flame (this is another topic on worship and God showing Himself during worship).  But as I read the whole chapter God brought this lesson to my heart.

There are promises and prophetic words spoken to us either in the Bible or through a person or preaching.  We take in these words and believe God for them.  We don’t know when and how they will happen but we accept them.  Maybe some of us forget these words and never pray them into existence but Manoah does something that tells us he really has believed the prophetic news.  Keep in mind his wife was barren—no sign or possibility of them getting pregnant.  Manoah asks God—bring back the angel who brought the message not so I can believe or see if its true but basically so you can tell us how to raise our future child.  Wow!! What great faith!! What a statement of faith and humility.  Why humility?? Because Manoah was recognizing he didn’t have any experience or knowledge on how to raise a child. In my Christian walk and background I run into believers of all kind---I most commonly run into believers who when they have finally achieved a success of the Lord whether through a promotion, marriage, financial blessing, or answer to a petition the last thing they do is ask God “ok now how do YOU want me to handle this?” “What should I do with it?” these are rare questions. The believer assumes hey it was promised to me so it’s mine for the taking and enjoying…but God might have indications of what and how you are to handle that promise that has now been fulfilled….I know we don’t like asking for instructions especially us older adults.  We know what we’re doing we have knowledge and experience---yeah well how old were Manoah and his wife?? I’m pretty sure they had babysat and cared for other kids in the community and family members. But that wasn’t preparation enough for what God had in mind. They knew if God was giving them this special promise then He must have a specific way He wants us to raise the child.  And boy were they right!! From the moment Manoah’s wife receives the prophetic words she understands this aint no common baby---this is going to be a special child. God hands her some lists of things she is to do while pregnant....and she’s wasn't pregnant yet!!  God’s promises aren’t about when we actually receive them they are about preparing to receive a promise. Preparing years, months, days in advance.  Our preparing tells God many things—tells Him we believed Him, tells Him we realize we are not ready yet for it, tells Him we are depending on Him for it, tells Him we are in expectation of it etc.

We want the best of God and we want petitions answered but it takes more than just asking God for them---it takes a heart preparing to receive our promises. This couple was to prepare starting from the moment they receive the promise. They believe God so they start living as if its already there (the promise).  They don’t wait until they are pregnant—they offer a sacrifice to God immediately following the promise.  This sayss they were ready---this told God they were ready. I wonder how many times God has tested our readiness to receive a promise?? And we haven’t passed the test. We’ve failed and haven’t even realized it. Only God knows.  How many times has God wanted to give us that one thing we are asking for but He sees we still haven’t even bothered to prepare our spirits for it.  Maybe God has seen we’re not in the right mindset yet or our pride level is too high or maybe He knows this answer will separate us from Him and He loves us way too much.  Some promises and blessings from God can kill us. I’ve learned this and boy is it true.  I’ve seen things God has for me and others and why they don’t come---many times I’m able to see why some in the church don’t have a specific promise yet but I keep quiet because this is a sensitive topic and better God to reveal this.  All I can do is pray Eph 1:17 over unanswered prayers.  But I see and learn from Manoah one thing the Lord loves is humility before a promise.  Asking Him, inquiring of Him.  God’s promises aren’t just to make us happy they are to bless others and achieve His plans.  But if we don’t ask or inquire of Him we’ll never know.

Next time your breakthrough comes instead of enjoying it on your own involve God in it---after all He brought it about.  Sacrifice something to God; give Him your attention.  He might have specific instructions for you. That breakthrough isn’t meant to draw you away from prayer and service to God if it does---then don’t call it a breakthrough from God.  I’ve heard of believers who finally receive the promise from God and they forget about God.  Or others who receive a blessing from God only to allow that answer to be their idol.  They cut back time given to serving God and use the excuse of the actual blessing from GOD!!  I don’t think that’s what God’s breakthroughs should look like--Just the promise not even the actual fulfillment of the promise caused Manoah and his wife to offer sacrifice. How much more when the baby was actually born?? Let’s not devote ourselves to God for selfish reasons only to when we finally achieve a breakthrough start cutting back from our devotion.  Let’s be people who can ask God what do you want me to do with "X"  blessing? How should I handle it?? It might be God’s breakthrough has more demands from Him—and hey He can demand anything after all its His blessing and His answer!!  We who have ears to listen---let’s hear what God wants from us.  God wants our worship and anything that He knows will rob us of our worship He will not tolerate. He is jealous of me.  Loves me too much to let me focus on someone or something else.  Now imagine if I haven’t yet developed my worship of Him and something else comes to distract me---Yikes God must get nervous  so He does what He knows best—works in His will!! And His will always prevail!! God is good!! Too Good to loose me!

Vs. 9 starts with “God heard Manoah..”  God hears any humble heart needing instructions and directions from Him.

I know this is long but whomever read it...God bless you...and you'll probably hear this from me in person.

Adelante!!

Bea

Iglesia Cristiana Adonai
Generation Glory
Youth/Young Adults Leader

Praise Him in front of other gods.

I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise.—Ps 138:1 NIV

As you know God’s been teaching me to worship and praise this whole month---and wow…so much to share and apply. But I wanted to pass this little bit of learned wisdom from God today.  Read the verse above---it’s very self-explanatory.  God wants our worship and praise to not just be at church or HOP meeting. He wants us to sing His praises in front of others; other gods it says here! What was David doing in front of other gods??  He says he would worship before them too!! Maybe he couldn’t help but be surrounded by false gods.  Today we can’t help but be surrounded by false gods or unbelievers. They are everywhere!! And are we singing His praises in front of them?? Are we worshipping God in front of unbelievers?? This is something I was challenged to!! Imagine if we can’t even step outside the comfort zone at church with worship…well we’re not going to do anything out there!! Worship to God doesn’t just involve and isn’t limited to the church building. Psalms is full of passages that says I will praise God anywhere and everywhere! I will ascribe to Him glory and honor. This means I will attribute many miracles and works to Him.  I will point the finger to Him when I tell people of what I have and receive!! Today while you work, drive, play, rest---worship God. When you’re in the presence of other gods worship God!  When you’re in front of the ones who don’t believe God is good sing His praises!!

This morning I received an unexpected gift from God! I needed a monitor to use at home with a computer that was gifted to me. My boss gave me a brand new monitor that had been gifted to him from someone else he didn’t use…brand new never used! Great way to start the week—God giving me something unexpected but I’m not going to wait for Him to answer or give me to praise Him. My morning started with praises, my night (last night) ended with praises, my week ended and started with praises---don’t wait for answers to praise! Praise Him in the doubt and uncertainty of any situation. Paul and Silas did---so can you!!

Adelante!!

PS.
Areli shared with me this morning how she awoke to Psalm 16 and I read it right after and check this out vs. 4 (NIV)

Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips.

Right on with my experience below on previous email.  Not only should I praise in front of other gods but also why even mention their names? That is a form of me worshiping them. We as believers praise movies, actors, sport stars, worldly musicians more than the real God! Why even mention them? Why praise their works. Think about whose works you praise more?? Who do you give more credit to?? That is a form of worship.  Worship the true God.  Some may ask themselves…are we only to talk about God and Godly things?? Ummm…YEAH!!! At least me!! Why? How? It’s that thing called LOVE!!! Its that thing called OBSESSION!!

That’s what the Psalms are about---an magnificent obsession of one man and musicians obsession with the one true God.

Don’t worship the world anymore---enter into a new dimension of worship. One fueled by fasting and prayer and Word!

It’s the only way to stay afloat today!

ADELANTE!!
-Bea

Iglesia Cristiana Adonai
Generation Glory
Youth Young Adults Leader

Worshipping Breakthroughs

“Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.”—2 Chron 20:22 NKJV

God had already in previous verses promised He would be with the people and give them the victory. He had promised the enemy would be defeated; He had promised to fight the battle for them.  All of these promises were stirred into action by worship and praise.  It was when they began to sing and praise the Lord that He went to work. I love this!! There are promises from God for our lives in His word---promises spoken through prophetic words; when Lord is always our question.  But maybe we need to sing them into existence. We need to praise them into existence. The people could have kept asking and praying and worrying---but the promise of God was already there. Now came time to believe Him and act on that belief.  The next morning the people could have kept praying and asking God to help them or they could have believed Him and headed towards the enemy praising God for what was going to happen. They chose to do the second: they believed and praised God.  And God did what He does best---went to work!!  The enemy was defeated through worship and praise. True worship and praise defeats enemy opposition; true worship and praise opens doors to blessing; true worship and praise to God brings breakthroughs. True worship and praise answers prayer!! I have experienced this---but its difficult to be consistent in this because we always want to present our cause before the Lord. We at least want to feel we’ve told God what we need---and so we revert back to asking and seeking in prayer. Not a bad thing but we overlook God’s need to be praised and worshiped.  What if God told us we could only worship Him?? What would we do? Not an easy task but training oneself in this area is def ego busting, pride stomping, and totally God dependent challenge.  But God has promised to give us the victory. Psalm 118:7 tells us we will see our triumph.  When? I don’t know in the meantime worship and praise God in spirit and in truth. Worship Him to honor Him not to receive---worship Him because He loves it! 

Adelante!

-Bea

Generation Glory Leader