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

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