Your Victory Today

17)Though the fig tree does not bud

   and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

   and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

   and no cattle in the stalls,

18) yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

   I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19) The Sovereign LORD is my strength;

   he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

   he enables me to tread on the heights.

                                    -Hab 3:17-19 NIV

These words from Habakkuk are meant to be a song—at the end of the chapter is the footnote “For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.” So not only does it tell us its meant to be sung but its meant to be sung with a stringed instrument I prefer a guitar.  What a song!! What a praise and worship.  Habakkuk hasn’t received the best of news!! He’s just been told by God that Babylon will come and pretty much invade the people as a judgment.  And Habakkuk believes God. He foresees the disaster and invasion.  Fear even comes over him in vs. 16 he says, “I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled..”  He sees the reality of this moment and his human reaction is everything human!! But then at the end of vs 16 he also says, “Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us.”  Even in his fear there’s hope. Hope in the words God has spoken.  The book of Habakkuk is a dialogue between Habakkuk and God.  Habakkuk asks and God responds. What a relationship!! Now that’s intimacy!! Habakkuk asks God when will you administer justice? Your justice? How long will you put up with wickedness in these people?? God responds in chapter 1 vs 5 and says the following famous line: “Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.”  That is God’s response to describe the devastation that Babylon will bring upon the peoples.  What is interesting is many times we use this verse alone and out of context.  We use it to say something big and good will happen to my life.  I don’t disagree God can use a verse to speak but its important we read the verse in the context of the text.  How is it being used?? What is being said? And what is God talking about in this particular case?? And well the Word of God is the word of God He can use it how He sees fit!! However we must be careful to use it within the text and not give it our own human twists.

What led me to read Habakkuk was I received an email with this verse (vs 5) as the verse of the day. I read it and thought what a nice verse when read by itself! J  Let me see why God is saying this and who He is saying it to etc. Not that it can’t apply to me but I wanted to understand it better.  And that’s how I read the book of Habakkuk today!!  If you read all of chapter 1 you will find vs 5 isn’t so much a beautiful promise from God but a dreadful prophetic word of a devastating judgment.  God was going to judge the heck out of them people!! And it was going to be so bad no one would believe it if they heard it.  Wow what a different meaning it takes when we put it into context.  So rest assured if you got this vs texted to you today God isn’t going to slam the life outta you. LOL. You’re in good God hands!! What I did take away from chapters 1-3 is Habakkuk’s response to God’s words: WORSHIP AND SINGING.  Wow…what a man of God.  What a great man of God.  What an example.

Habakkuk doesn’t forget God always enjoys a good song.  And although His heart is troubled and worried He has time to pick up a guitar or a stringed instrument and sing some praises to God.  Its during this worship he receives the strength He needs as evident at the end of the chapter and book.  “The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.”  What started out as a man fearful and shaking in his boots of upcoming events turns into a man strong enough to “tread the heights.”  He was low in spirit with fear now he’s climbing mountains. How’d he do that?? Worship took him there!!

Let’s worship the heck out of our situations that want to burden us today!! We’ll end up climbing great heights before the day is over! Your victory today will be found in worship.

Adelante!!

I'm a Lover

“Because he[b] loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;

   I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;

   I will be with him in trouble,

   I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him

   and show him my salvation.”

                                    -Ps 91:14-16 NIV

This Psalm has been my motto and prayer this entire summer---today as I once again prayed it back to God I focused on these last parts of this great Psalm.  The reason I stopped here is because I was telling God how because I love Him He rescues me.  Then I thought back to a time I didn’t know if I loved God. A time when the enemy had me question my love of Him and not only that but my devotion. It got to a point where I realized I was never in love with God. Let me explain I thought it was love or not even that—it was religion and in religion there is no love.  There is only following a set of rules and regulations but no room for love.  No room to fall madly, deeply, passionately in love with God. No room to fall in love with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. No room for it because we’re busy doing religion we’re busy following the list. And there we go marking the list of things we “need” to do for God to love and answer us.  And then here comes Ps 91:14---God says, “Because Bea loves me I will rescue her.”  Wow!! All it takes for Him to listen and rescue me is me loving Him!! The thing with me was He knew I didn’t love Him and that I was only going through the motions. Would I have loved Him I would have done and not done many things.  If there were love I wouldn’t be counting down the things I did for Him.  I wouldn’t be demanding my ways and desires over His.  I wouldn’t insist on many things of the flesh and I wouldn’t put priority over the flesh rather than the Spirit.  It wasn’t until the end of last year I was able to say the 3 little words to God---and mean them!! It was the best and happiest moment of my life when I realized I loved God and JC His son!! It was almost surreal and then the feeling that came with it even more surreal.  When I go before the Lord in prayer and worship in my devotional hour and time I always feel that same thing I did like when I first realized I loved God.  Its funny because God’s love or my love towards Him makes me feel so special like I’m walking on clouds!! And so that’s why the enemy didn’t want me to find this true love. He wanted to take away the promises that God’s love draws to my life.  There are so many of them but Psalm 91:14-16 is good enough for me.  IF all I had was this promise it would suffice!!  Look at them promises:  protection, God listening to me, help in time of trouble, long life, God honoring me, me receiving salvation from God---wow!! All activated by me loving God!! Sounds so simple but yet its so complex because some of us have been living in false love. I don’t want to burst your love bubble but it wasn’t until I had this revelation that I was able to step into a real love relationship with God. Maybe you were once in love well Rev talks about that kind of relationship with God. One where the “first love” is lost and we’re called to return to that first love. So this means its possible to fall out of love with God (us with Him) but never God. He will never stop loving us!!

I’m activating my love promises today with God.  I need His help and refuge!! And its good to know loving God doesn’t come with nothing. And even if it did with everything I’ve experienced of His love so far its more than enough!!! One of the things I was never able to do is tell God “I love you.” Why? Because I knew it wasn’t true. I loved being busy at church, clapping, singing---but it wasn’t coming out of my real love for Him but rather a desire to please others and look good to others.  When I started doing things out of my real love for Him not only was my service better but others were coming to a better relationship with God. There was no room for pride and ego n love but a lot of room for it in religion and religious pattern. Even my language changed especially my language of prayer and worship.  Wow I sit back now when I’m worshipping and I say I better write this stuff down because its good!! I never used to worship God—my busywork didn’t let me.  Falling in love changed everything.  It changed everything including my service and priorities even in the ministry.  Through me falling in love with God others came to this love---so it worked both ways. 

I want us to really ask ourselves…do I love God? Can I tell Him those 3 words?? If so, where are those words coming from? A heart that truly loves or a desire to love? Only we can know the truth.  Let God lure you with His word and help you fall in love with Him.  He won’t disappoint. 

Adelante!

-Bea

Generation Glory

Good Quote

“If you’re waiting on God for unfulfilled promises, you’re in good company; Jesus also has promises from Abba for which He’s waiting.”-Bob Sorge

This confirms something I was learning yesterday in my devotional time---Jesus is more like us on purpose.  He is the human side of the Father---the side that most relates to us. So when we face different circumstances we know and trust Jesus can represent us to the Father well. He’s not sitting at the right hand of the Father for nothing!! Psalms declares with His right hand we can rise up and move forward. Whenever the Psalms speaks of His right hand it means strength and wisdom.  And then He holds me by my right hand. And who is at the right hand?? Jesus!  So Jesus is my right hand and the Father’s right hand…interesting---when we know the hope for which we have been called we HAVE HOPE.  When we know what is what and who is who---we can call on the right person.  I need Jesus to hold me by my hand and then carry me to the Father.  Once I’m in the presence of the Father I can then go to the Father with what I know and need…and the Father who knows all things---knows what is best for me.  So next time we’re in a season of waiting and waiting—remember Jesus is also waiting on the Father.  We’re not alone!! We’re in “good company.”  The best thing we can do while in “good company” is praise and worship the “good company.”

Adelante---PUSH FORWARD

Loving to remain Holy.

“He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.”—1 John 2:9-10 NKJV

We’ve all read this passage before and if you’re like me they are passages I skim through and maybe don’t meditate on or use to evaluate my place in the Kingdom.  Certainly when I started into the Kingdom lifestyle I didn’t dive into this passage and didn’t make my way towards this kind of meditation.  The writer is talking about me (a believer) or someone who claims to be a “believer or in the light.”  Then he adds a “but” statement….if you claim to love God but don’t do this then it means that.  Here is some tough truth!! Some pruning from God---is needed for growth.  If you’re like me and want to excuse myself out of this verse you say, “But I don’t hate this person….I just dislike them” or  “I just don’t like being around them.” Or “I just rather not associate myself with them.”  If we allow the Holy Spirit to speak we can’t deny the fact this verse most certainly applies to us no matter how much we try to excuse ourselves.  It all comes down to this---If I don’t love my brother or sister no matter who they are---I am in darkness. If I don’t love my brother or sister in Christ I will STUMBLE!! Imagine that??? Not loving a fellow brethren can make me fall into fornication?? Can make me fall into immorality? Can make me fall into any horrible sin?? YEA!! What?? Why? How? Read the verse above---“…there is no cause of stumbling in him.”  Meaning if I do NOT love my brothers and sisters there WILL BE “cause for stumbling.”  

 The NIV says, “Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.”  This clears it up a little more…the stumbling opportunities are inside of me not the other person!!  Why is this?? Because if I live in the light I can see my own faults and sinful lusts etc.  If I am in darkness like when I hate my brethren I can’t see sin inside of me.  So I fall into it.  Sounds very simple but it’s very complicated!! Why complicated?? Because there are so many issues and divisions that arise within the church.  There are different personalities and reactions---different ideas and perceptions. And we just love to hate!! That’s it right there---we love to hate those who don’t agree with us, we love to hate those who are different, we love to hate those who don’t live like us---I speak from experience. Truth be told God is still molding me in this area, but I am coming out victorious. Today I heard Pastor Bill Johnson talk about how when God prunes us it’s an opportunity to grow. And how it’s not punishment but rather a growth opportunity. I am most definitely being pruned in my love towards the brethren.  Now we know we are to love others even those who don’t know the Lord but this is focusing on my brothers and sisters (the church).  There are many out there who love to hate the church and they are believers.  I agree there are past hurts and bitterness’ but when it comes down to it---those who hate will stumble!! Loving and forgiving my brethren is more for me than them---so I won’t stumble so I can grow so I can be perfected in love. 

 What happens is if I don’t love the church (God’s people)? I won’t grow. I won’t see His glory! Because He manifests himself in the body (the church).  He will work in the body as a whole!  He is coming back for 1 bride (body). So if I can’t come to peace and love with them…it will be hard to be “caught up” with them.  

I will be talking about this and sharing my experience in this area this Thurs. 

Adelante---see you all at 7 on Thurs!

Bea Z.

Generation Glory

What a Night!!

What an amazing opening night last night---God was definitely on our side. I could feel the new of what God is going to do in each one of us. I am excited to see and meet new faces as well as old faces.  It was a night where we committed to allowing the love of God to shine in each of us. If you have any pressing needs or prayer requests please email us we have leaders available to pray for anything and everything. Next week is going to be even more exciting because we’re going to hear testimonies of what He is doing this week.  If you want to share something please approach me and ask!! I want to give everyone the chance to share.  Sharing is caring ;)

As I went to bed last night I was so pumped up I could hardly fall asleep.  In my heart rang the words: Generation Glory! What does this mean?? This means the glory of God is inside each and every one of us. God wants to display His glorious power in our meetings, worship, life, and relationships. He won’t limit His power! He won’t hold back.  There is a song Jesus Culture covers that says, “you won’t relent..” This means God won’t stop  until He has our hearts---our love. He won’t relent until we give Him all our special little things that make us special.  He can take those things and use them for His power. In our weakest moment God comes shining through.  There’s nothing that can limit His power and glory.  If you left last night without a chance to invite Jesus into your heart say a prayer: Just say Jesus I invite you to come into my life; I accept you as my Lord and Savior. I open the door of my heart to you!  That’s all it takes!! The past is history the future is exciting!!

This weekend we have our Friday and Sun services; won’t you join us?? Bring your parents and little brothers and sisters. There’s something for the whole family.  Remember we’ll be there again next Thurs and ready to meet your friends and fam who are in school or out of school but still single and ready to meet other young people!

May God’s favor rest upon you this week and until we see each other again.

In His Hands,

Bea