The year of the standup leader.

Biblical numerology gives us the number 12 as a representation of order and perfection or completion. Governmental perfection or completion in particular. This government in mention is not isolated to the state, local or federal government. This is the year that God has chosen to prioritize and structure the lives of leaders. Leaders in the homes, jobs, churches, and anywhere else leaders can be found. This is the year that unsuspecting leadership will flourish. Those whom we have least appreciated and even disregarded will be set up in a position of power and authority. This year God is extending an unusual and particular grace toward the structure of the lives of His leaders. This will be the year that what has always come apart will come together in the lives of the obedient. Those who incline to His word diligently will be used for the up building and benefactors of this unusual grace. Those who do not will not receive this grace but judgment. God has been dealing with us all in some particular areas in our lives revolving around order. To not take head will be received as rebellion and you shall receive the fruit thereof.

Covetted anointing.

Sometimes I feel lost within myself. Buried in my own thoughts of how I would like to see myself. Free from the hands of the enemy and his Jedi mind tricks. Doesn't exclude the desire to be like someone else. Let me explain. While I no longer deal with the everyday all day torment from the spirit of drug addiction. I still battle within my own esteem. When I come into the presence of men and women I know to be of great anointing, I sometimes feel out of place. I want the favor of God that they seem to have. I wanna be able to cast out demons, or lay hands on the sick. I really would like to walk in the gift of prophesy. More than all that. I would love to be encouraged. I don't mean by someone else. I wasn't it in my own spirit. My own assurance, from a confidence that is just in me. I hate to think that people see right through me. I hate that I just held an entire conversation with you and have no idea of what we said because I was trying so hard to look genuinely happy and at a place of perfect peace so you would think everything is well in me and couldn't see that behind my eyes all I could think about was how I wanted your ministry. How I covett your relationship with God because it seems so much more fruitful than mine. I wish that I could pray like you. Why can't I preach like that. No I don't want your troubles, I've hash own. Mine didn't seem to do to me what yours did for you. I know that God has called me but I often wonder what did He call me to.

Is this what God feels like? We say Lord I'm sorry. And then we do the same all over again. He tells us how to keep our noses clean but we don't listen. We press our way to do things that will not be pleaseing to his sight, time and time again. And then we top it off with an I'm sorry. I can imagine He feels a little disregarded. Maybe even to a point that he would rather us not apologize, but would prefer that we just get right. If I say to you, "It hurts when you do that". I really have little interest in why you felt it was justified that you did it. It hurt! Should you continue to do the same it will hurt even more, there is no time that I truly become numb to this. And at some point I'm going to wonder if you care that it hurts or is it your intent. Have you become so insensitive that you don't even realize that you are doing the same thing over and over again. I thank God that I'm not him. I can't imagine being the creator of all things and disregarded or treated as an option. Yet He still finds it in his heart to forgive us. Right now God, this is where my battle is. Give me the heart to forgive when I don't even want to. Help me to see this situation as you would see it.

I'm sorry...

Fellas,

Even when its not you.... It has to be you first. Over the last few years of my life I have been in several situations where at least in my mind I was not the one wrong. At the end of the day I had to decide which was more important between me being right or the peace returning to the situation. Arguments and disagreements can cause some serious tension between loved ones. The fact that the parties involved can call each other loved ones suggest that there is invested emotion and intimacy in the relationship. This alone adds to the heat of the battle at hand. At some point in this intense fellowship (arguing), facts and specifics go out the window and if you are not careful what develops is an emotional battle. Each party feeling a certain way about the situation, usually different, begin to either stand their ground or just decide not to deal with it all together. Both of which becomes dangerous to the situation. Standing your ground can sometimes display an insensitive approach to the other party involved. For some a feeling of inadeqacy comes in and for others could be a myriad of other emotions. This often takes the appearance of a lot of finger pointing and accusing. Usually the accused can liken this experience to an attack. This is increasingly dangerous because of its nature in itself. When you continue to attack an enemy one of a few things will happen. The enemy will either attack back, retreat or die. Neither of which is acceptable for a healthy relationship . To not deal with it all together suggest that the other parties feelings are not worth your time. While I agree that some battles are just not worth fighting, when it comes to a loved one nothing should be taboo of conversation. To disregard places the entire ordeal in the others lap and says deal with it. Both attitudes are insensitive and can be very detrimental to the relationship. The Bible teaches us to deal with each other in love. Love is never disregarding. In both common approaches to an argument, disregard is present. Any disagreement should end with understanding and agreement. Sometimes this is not an easy place to reach in particularly wen both parties are adamant in their regards. This is why relationships are work. There is no cookie cutter solution for problem solving within a relationship, but there has to be understanding. When one party is either not talking, or doing all the talking, understanding has no place to set up shop. understanding has no foundation without compassion. Compassion in a relationship is vital.

When things are not right in a relationship it is unfair not to address it. How and when you address these things are an art that no man or woman has mastered. It is almost inevitable that one day you will get it wrong. We have to make sure that even though our approach was off that we don't continue in that path. A quick recovery is wise. Calm the situation. I am learning the hard way that texting and email are not always effective methods of communicating this kind of need. Your tone or mood can be difficult to read. Even though a straight to the point soft toned approach in person may be effective, those same words when typed will almost always come across as an attack. Gentlemen, NO ONE LIKES TO BE ATTACKED!

Be prepared to be apologetic. SERIOUSLY....Don't just say I'm sorry. Some where in this process you were wrong. Conduct a personal inventory and find that wrong or in many cases the multiple offenses and make them right. In many cases (more than not) you are going to be the one to apologize first. This is not a weakness men, even though it may feel like you are giving in. In all honesty you are setting a tone. This is a mark of leadership. It says to the atmosphere that the fighting is over. It removes the Devil from the situation and begins the peace restoration process. Yes it is submissive. True it is humiliating. It is supposed to be. When the man reacts in order it sets the tone for the atmospheric response. It moves you back into the favor of God, because you have submitted to peace. You have allowed peace of God to rule. Collosians 3:15. There are several scriptures that come to mind in regards to peace. The book of Proverbs hold a few of them listed here: 11:12, 12:20, 17:28. When your objective is to restore peace and reach a resolution to what ever the issue is, this is the way to go. If you only want to be right about it, your putting your foot down and that's your final answer check out this link: http://mrbraan.blogspot.com2011/04/this-one-is-for-the-husbands-and-husbands.html

Just my meditation this morning.... I pray it helps someone.

.

Pride...

He who humbles himself will be exalted and he who exalts himself will be humbled.

Humility is the key to promotion. But it comes with a price. It’s almost like beating yourself into submission. If we truly want to reach our full potential in Christ, we must take our eyes off of our plan and work God’s mission for our lives. One must realized that they are nothing yet highly important at the same time. To wrap your mind around the concept that God created you for a purpose yet you are incapable to fulfill it, is a hard pill to swallow. It is imperative that we acknowledge God in all that we do and give Him the glory for it all. True our destiny has our name on it, however we are not necessary to fulfill the mission of our destiny. Christ is the key. Christ is the lock and even the door. We are nothing. True we may be needed to put the key into the lock to open the door; we have to realize that any hand can do that. Our hand in particular is not at all essential to the opening of the door. We as fleshly being tend to take the mere fact that God has chosen to use us to the extreme. We begin to view ourselves as the only person capable of handling the task. We become a celebrity in our own mind. This mind set is dangerous. This mindset is the onset and sometimes the fruit of cockiness. Cocky is spelled P.R.I.D.E. God hates pride and men find it hard to deal with proud persons. The Bible says that pride comes before the fall. This truly is the order of events. First pride takes over everything from the way we think to the way we deal with people. This is sometimes able to hide under the appearance of humility, while pride lies in the heart. Next the life begins to crumble because the pride in the heart of man leaves no room for God. Man begins to operate on his own outside the will and direction of God. Man will promote himself based on his own thoughts of himself. Solomon teaches us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and to lean not to our own understanding. Paul urges us to not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. Paul himself was humbled before God on the road to Damascus. Paul, formally Saul, thought so much of himself; that he believed it to be right to persecute those who proclaimed Christ. He was blinded on the way to do harm to even more of Gods people. God removed his physical sight and still sent him on his way. A blind Paul received instructions from God. He had no choice but to rely on the almighty to reach his destination. This was Paul’s beating into submission. Being humbled will hurt. God will remove the you that you think you are and leave you with the incapable you that you are. Life becomes like trying to win a boxing match with no arms. At some point you will realize that you alone won’t get through it. If there is no one on your side to throw punches for you, you will sooner or later find yourself in a posture of submission. Submission is never involuntary. Even though you may be beaten to a pulp you must chose to submit. Moses’ moment of pride kept him out of the promise land. Pride can lead us into a judgmental spirit. Thinking too highly of ourselves will usually leave us looking down on others.

Pride is a two sided devil.





The other side of pride is insecurity. This side however, is rarely thought of as being prideful. It too often takes on the appearance of humility. This is possible because an insecure person doesn’t typically force his or her way to the front but will reluctantly be forced behind. This battle goes on in the mind and is often over looked by outsiders. This personal battle, much like cockiness, will also leave a person focusing on self. The danger of this mindset is the constant struggle to feel worthy. Persons with this sort of pride are addicted to being accepted. They often will wonder why they don’t fit in but feel that they should. Because of the nature of this person, while inwardly screaming, “HELLO” they are sometimes quietly overlooked in a crowd. Because of the needy nature of this demon, when given any sort of accolade it only creates more of a need for such. This then becomes the drive of everything they do. All this is done to edify self and to fill a void in life. Instant gratification is all this person needs. However gratification won’t usually come instantly. Life becomes either an over exertion of vain efforts or destruction by slothfulness. All this is done without God. There is no reliance on God. Every thing done is to be seen and rewarded by man. But only what you do for Christ will last. The way they see themselves is not how God sees them. The Psalmist writes that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. However, being focused on self always seems to magnify everything that we don’t like about ourselves. Again we find isolation because of not acknowledging God. One of the grave dangers of this sort of pride is the destructive nature that it can cause. Much like a balloon is able to withstand only so much air. This person can only take on so much ridicule and seclusion. Because this demon demands to be seen, it results to acting out for attention. It takes a very strong person to hold him back. Once a person driven by such has reached their pinnacle, an explosion of sorts is almost inevitable. These acts of course will grant the sort of attention needed by the demonic forces within, but will not satisfy the flesh. People will normally be turned off by this outrageous behavior and begin to reject the person even more so. Now that the demon within has gotten what it wants, the flesh of man is left even more confused and left out. Thus, beginning the process all over again.

This is not an original of mine, but a GREAT read. I had to repost this from http://makinghome.blogspot.com/

Sex in a Christian Marriage
The benefits of marriage (over serial dating, cohabitation, and divorce situations) have long been studied: it's pretty much agreed upon that married people have healthier kids, a longer lifespan, & healthier lives. A book was even written about it in 2001, called, "The Case For Marriage: Why Married People are Happier, Healthier, and Better Off Financially."

And what about sex? Various research will tell you that married people do it more, less, better, or worse than their unmarried counterparts. Though you can find various viewpoints, research more frequently supports the notion that married people have considerably more sex and better sex than sexually-active singles.

I've written previously on freedom within marriage, and freedom in the marriage bed. But today, I want to examine and debunk the myths and feelings that can and do harm Christian marriages. Here are some of the common ones. Though not often spoken, these underlying beliefs negatively affect sexual intimacy between couples.

(1) "Sex is sinful."
This belief ultimately stems from a faulty view of God.... namely, that He didn't design, intend, and bless the sexual union of a married man and woman from the very beginning.

Satan did not come up with sex. God did. In fact, Satan has never come up with anything good. He is not a creative being. He is created. The only thing Satan has ever done is pervert and twist God's designs. In the beginning, the Holy God designed a beautiful garden; Satan perverted it into a power-struggle and convinced humans to defy God's laws (namely, "don't eat the fruit of that tree") and see for themselves what God was withholding from them. All they got out of it was death, shame, and broken fellowship with the Creator. The Holy God designed a beautiful garden of pleasure for husbands and wives to enjoy together; Satan has perverted it into a recreational activity and convinced humans to defy God's laws (namely, one man, one woman, for life) and see for themselves what God has been withholding. But all we get out of it are death (of spirit and sometimes body), shame, and broken fellowship with the Creator, as well as the possibility of broken fellowship with our spouse.

We must stop viewing sex as sin, and instead view it as a special gift, a set-aside package meant to be opened by two people, together, at an appointed time.

(2) "Men want it, women don't."
This can be the case at times, for chemical reasons, particularly as a woman nears the menopausal years. But the reverse of this can also be true, as it is often the case that a woman's sexual drive heats up about the time the man's sexual drive is cooling down.

But I am of the opinion that far too many women rely on this pervasive belief to beg off from intimacy, when really, a little good conversation would warm them up quite nicely. Oftentimes, the problem lies in a lack of communication. Women often need to tick off their mental list before they can relax in the arms of the one they love. Sharing these thoughts (which Shaunti Feldhahn likens to a pop-up window that won't shut down until it's dealt with) helps a woman feel connected to her husband, and more likely to be "in the mood." So if men can learn to be good listeners, and women can open up and share their heart with their husband, belief #2 will no longer be a reality.

For women, sharing their hearts leads to physical intimacy, for a lot of men, physical intimacy is a primary way that they share their hearts. So 'a little less talk' doesn't necessarily lead to 'a lot more action' in reality. Instead, more talk can lead to more action.

We also need to be aware that many, many marriages struggle silently with the opposite of this issue. Despite the increasing frequency of prescription drugs that target helping men boost their libido, there is still a difficulty for men in our culture to admit to just not wanting it. They've been told all their lives that that's "all they think about"... so when they don't want it all the time, it can lead to all sorts of problems in a marriage. Both partners have no framework for how to deal with this particular issue-- they've never been told it could be a difficulty. If not dealt with, it can lead to shame, bitterness, and as 1 Cor. 7:5 tells us, a stronghold for attacks from the enemy.

No matter which partner is "not wanting it", it needs to be addressed and overcome (whether through biblical counseling, medication, or just sheer determination) so that both partners do not feel deprived.

(3) "Christians have boring sex." (a.k.a. "Good Christians can't have good sex.")
I've elaborated on this in the other posts (referenced above), but let me just sum up here with a little parable: when you're in your own backyard, playing with your best friend, there are no limits to the fun you can have. Fenced in, with complete freedom, there is ultimate safety and ultimate privacy that awaits you in this most incredible and sacred place. That's how God designed it. So, play (be intimate) to your hearts' content, with your best friend (husband or wife), within the fence (boundaries) God built for you.

(4) "Sex is to be enjoyed when you're young, and should taper off after the first couple years of marriage."
In what other arena of life do we hold this to be true? Do we really think that a tee-baller could play in the major leagues? I mean, technically, they're playing the same game, but the technique and talent are vastly different!

Why have we as Christian men and women bought into the lies of the world that only swinging singles can have good sex? That sex can't get better over time? We need to realize that, just like baseball, chess, or gardening for that matter, the longer you do it, the better you are, and the better you are at it, the more fun it is! And like playing doubles in tennis, the more time you spend playing with that one partner, the better you'll be together! When we marry, to harken back to the earlier analogy, God has given us a backyard that's more fun than Six Flags- full of delight, surprises, and thrills- and He's given us a lifetime pass. Why not explore the whole park, ya know what I'm saying?

(5) "I __________ before I was married" (fill in the blank with whatever it was: fooled around, was molested, raped, had sex), "and I'll never be able to forgive myself or get past it."
This one affects more women and more marriages than we realize. Some statistics set the number at 1 out of every 4 women that have been sexually victimized. And with reports showing that 95% of Americans engage in premarital sex, sexual history is, more than ever, an issue that Christian marriages must face.

Concerning the person who has the history (of being raped, molested, or having been promiscuous), whether it is the man or woman, this has the potential to greatly affect their views of intimacy with a spouse.In cases of promiscuity, it can put flashbacks or pop-ups in the mind of that person that can significantly interfere with intimate moments in the marriage relationship. In the cases of abuse, it can taint or even eliminate the physical pleasure because of the mental and emotional associations with intimate touch.

Coping With Past Sexual Sin
I'm no psychologist, and I don't even play one on TV, so I'm not going to try to examine all the possible problems that can arise from this kind of sexual history. But while it is of a more personal nature than most difficulties one faces in life, and certainly can affect someone throughout his or her life, as a Christian, it doesn't have to. Our God is the Great Physician, and that's not just for physical hurts... Our God is the Comforter and Counselor... and as our Creator, He knows each of us better than anyone else ever could! He is trustworthy and we can pour out our deepest hurts and the scars of our souls to Him and rest in His faithful arms. We can be healed of bad memories, painful abuse, or any other sexual issues that we have.

The Bible tells us to take each thought captive in obedience to Christ Jesus. If we are intentional about taking each thought, each memory, each picture in our minds captive, in order that we might instead have a joyful marriage relationship and keep the marriage bed undefiled, God will honor that obedience on our part. He will give aid when we need it. He will purify our minds, over time. He will turn sadness or pain into joy, if we are faithful to ask. That's the kind of redeeming God we serve.

There are emotional issues that may come up when your spouse has a difficult sexual history, and questions may surface like, "do you compare me to him when we're together? " "Did you do this with her?" "When I do this, does it make you remember ____?" And while this, too, can be very difficult, as Christians, we have options as to how we face such difficulties. Jesus told His disciples to forgive seventy times seven... we are to be forgivers. That is not to say that these things ought never be talked through, but a good marriage is made up of two good forgivers, and this is very true of past sexual sin.

However, let me say, there is no biblical reference that tells us to forgive ourselves. Once a human being has been forgiven by God (and sought human forgiveness if there is a need), there is no higher authority who can hold sin against him or her. Not even ourselves- we do not sit in the judgment seat. God does. And if we have confessed our sin to Him, "He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) Once we have been cleansed of sexual sin, we must walk in that purity and not allow the enemy to dredge things up from the past that have been forgiven by God Almighty.

ULTIMATELY, YOUR BODY IS NOT YOURS ONLY
The Bible tells us that, in marriage, we are not to deprive one another of our bodies (1 Corinthians 7:4-6) except for instances of prayer (and that even then, we are to reunite quickly so that Satan will not tempt us in our lack of self control). We are not to claim ownership rights over our own body, though modern psychologists, feminists, and talk show hosts would have us believe that we should. When you choose to become one with another person by entering into marriage, your body does not belong only to you, but now it also belongs to your husband or wife.

Our marriages can be a way that others see Christ in us. The old song says, "they will know we are Christians by our love", and this biblical principle can play out in our marriages. The way we love each other will show our unbelieving friends and neighbors just how good God is.

Just think! He can take two broken people, with possible abuse and sin, and turn their physical relationship into a gleaming example of intimacy. The sexual union of two Christians can give a glimpse into what it will be like when Christ raises Christians up to spend eternity with Him. When we turn our thoughts and our hang-ups over to Christ, stay within the boundaries He's given us, and remember that our body is not our own, our sexual lives can honor God and bring joy and fulfillment into our marriages and our individual lives. May it be so for you.

???HUH???

You look a little confused
Oh' no that's me looking at you...
Looking for my savior,
But I just cant see past you...

Like murky water,
Filthy from within it,
Yet willing to take the form of anything willing to contain it...

Having a form of Godliness,
But too dirty to perform with,
The power that comes with,
The breathe that He spit, in you...

Within you is power you cant see,
Cause its two sides to you,
But only one to integrity...

Truth be told this same battles within me,
Some fight where some won't,
Cus complacency's easy...

Yep, no stretch needed when living defeated,
Conceited,
Too prideful to even admit it...

Backslide through new mercies,
We live in our past,
God spending his grace on our sorry @--...

Yeah true is sufficient,
But how long shall it abound???
We tell God we love Him,
Yet hold our man down...

Living life as a stumbling block,
Calling it your right,
"I should be able to wear whatever I like"
And you like to be seen,
Is that paint or is dem jeans?
"I'm a married man away from home and y'all ain't helping me"!!!

I know fellas is not easy when she teases or means it,
But just cus she willing don't mean you must beat it...

Since open this is better than loving in secret,
I rebuke the hell out you man where is your ring at?

Christ is not pleased with these discrepancies,
Just a few among many,
But we look jus like seeds,
That's been planted,
And grown into trees,
with no fruit...

This could be my last season,
I ain't taking no boot...

Satan, you hear me I know I rebuke you,
For every lie that you've told,
There's a truth to dispute you...

You defeated foe,
I command you to go!!

I HATE YOU,
CANT STAND YOU!!!!
I WON'T LIVE FOR YOU NO MO!!!

My live has been covered by the blood of the lover of my soul,
His red blood has washed me whiter than snow...
He reformed me y'all my mind was like WHOA...
When these broken pieces became one beautiful whole.

If only you knew....

If only you knew my faults,
Would you still call me Bishop?
If you knew my darkest secrets,
Would you still trust my council?
What if you knew that I don't always practice what I preached,
Would you still listen to my teaching?
If my inward battles were revealed and you got to see the me that only God knows,
Would you believe I knew Him?
We all know I'm not perfect, but some times I'm not even good,
So why do you look up to me?
If you knew my dirt,
Would you bury me in it?
This thing called life has me by the throat at times and I smile as if I'm not hurting.
What if you knew what I really thought of you,
Could you understand how I still smile in your face?
If only you knew the stuff I meditate on from time to time,
Would you still inquire of my thoughts?
What if I told you I was a hipocryt at times and that I live outside the scripture,
Would you undertand why still preach?
I don't dot every "I" nor cross every "T", sometimes perfection is not even a goal to me. I look for short cuts and take the easy way out.
I lust after things I should know nothing about.
Do you trust me?
Am I still this beacon of wisdom you want to draw from?
Am I still this great husband you look for guidance from?
What if you knew all of me,
Would you love me?
Would you judge me?
Would you embrace the the me that in all this feels guilty,
Or would you treat me as an infadel and banish me to sea?
What if you knew the whole me,
To you who would I be?

GET UP!!!

Philippians 4:12-14
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Get up!!!

Much like myself, the Apostle Paul realized that there was so much more in him than what he knew of. There was more to his purpose than what he had already achieved. He knew that he had not yet completed his journey. Destiny at this point had yet to be reached. Paul knew within himself that he had not yet become all that he could be. Even with all the accomplishments that had been attributed to Paul, he knew that not only was there more to do, but that his past was nothing to hold on to. Paul wrote in the 7th chapter of Romans about the struggle of man. He identified with all of us right here. Even though we want to do the right thing, we don’t. And when we desire to do good evil is always lurking. Paul illustrated the reality that as saved, sanctified and filled as we are... we are still subject to fall. At some point in this journey we will miss the mark and fall flat on our face. At some point we are going to find ourselves right smack in the middle of where we don't want to be. It is impossible to succeed without failure. How would we know what it was to gain if we had no idea what a loss was. How do we know to climb without knowing you’re not at your highest? Paul wrote to the church in Philippi that even though I have made it this far I still have farther to go. But had Paul focused on his failures, he would have missed the blessing of success. Many of us know that where we are, is not where we are supposed to be and instead of moving forward we highlight, and underline, and magnify, and sit and sulk in the fact that we have fallen beneath our expectation. We have not maintained the focus needed to win and along the way we fell off course. Well the great apostle tells us what to do here. He, as great as he was, as gifted and anointed as he was, told us that even he has yet arrived. We look at where others are and assume that since they had the same opportunities and chances as you that you should be in the same place. We measure our success to others and begin to gauge ourselves unfairly. See what God has for you is for you and no one else. God is not only trying to bless you but he intends to use you. And until we are willing to make him priority we cannot operate in the capacity that He himself has chosen for our lives. Some of us measure ourselves not against the state of others but against the state of ourselves. "I should be better than this; I can't believe I failed again". "Woe is me".... Regardless of why you are not where you should be the Apostle Paul writes to you That this one thing I do, FORGETTING those things that are behind me, my successes, my failures, my ups, my downs, what people said, what they thought, where I used to be....Paul says I PRESS toward the mark. See at this point its clear we have yet to hit the mark....... This race is not yet over. Don't count yourself out. Oh no its time to GET UP. Shake the dust off. Roll your sleeves up, tie your laces and get back in the fight. Nowhere in Scripture did it say once you have fallen you can’t get up. Peter found himself in a pretty interesting situation. Walking on water was not at all common to man. Naw in fact it was a little frightening to the disciples to see a man walking on water towards their boat. Little did they know the only reason the seas began to rage their boat began to rock in the first place is because Jesus was getting closer. See when we draw close to God, He gets closer to us. The devil can’t stand this so before you actually get close enough to touch God, all hell breaks loose in your life. Every test and trial becomes over whelming, nothing seems to go right. Too much going on in life to stay focused on your relationship with God. Satan has no intention of allowing you to actually connect with God. And the more determined you are the more he fights. We have to start telling the devil just who he is. Remind the accuser that he is a liar, tell him he has no control and mean it. Peter while looking out in the water recognized The Christ was in route to his location, and said Lord if this is you, bid me to come. See Peter knew that regardless of this storm he had to get back with Jesus. Peter walking on water, doing the unthinkable, reaching the unreachable, revisited his pride and the Bible says he considered the waves. Yes his pride told him that what was going on around him was for his consideration. His pride led him to look at the stuff and wonder how to handle it. Family we cannot handle the storm it’s not for us to consider. The situation began to overwhelm Peter and instead of staying focused on just getting to the master he began to sink. That’s why we are where we are today. We have lost sight of the mark. We have allowed life to steal our focus. And Christ wants us back. Brother, Sister I know you have fallen, but it’s time to get up. When peter again realized that the waves were too much for him, he reached out for the master crying lord save me and the Bible says that Jesus immediately stretched out his hand, and caught him. My brothers and my sisters it time to get up. No more sinking. As Jesus told the man at Bethesda, Rise, take up thy bed and walk. Get up...... Amen

This one is for the husbands and husbands to be

Know that your actions, provisions, reactions, responses, (basically your obedience to God's word) plays a significant part in your wife's sanctification. Santification is a process that we all must go through. We all must go through this process for ourselves but we can not do this by ourselves.

Ephesians 5:25-27 (NLT) For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.

In order for your wife to submit to you, you must first submit to her. Humility breeds humility. Pride breeds pride. This is bigger than but yet as simple as you get what you give. In submitting to her you are not showing a sign of weakness but instead displaying great stregnth. In doing so, you facilitate an environment where you the husband (gardner) can till the ground. You will be able to plant seeds that produce the fruit that are required for you both to live a life pleasing unto God. Contrary to popular belief women were not made to submit. They must be taught this. When God created (before he formed) woman, He gave her the same dominion that He gave man. She is just as royal as you are. You have to understand this to understand what you have. With that said, no woman will submit to a man who does not display the characteristics of one who understands his dominion.

No gardener destroys his crops. Instead he nurtures them. He gives them what they need. He understands that what he has on his hands may very well be no more than good ground. Husbands understand that if God gave you this woman, He gave you good ground. With this good ground there will be work. You must plow, de-weed. We have to be willing to work through and pull out all the weeds and junk that her past may have planted. If we don't take the time to understand and pull the weeds out, they will grow and take over, starving every good seed we plant.

Fellas this is a process. Much like the woman with the issue of blood, when she touched the hem of Jesus' garment she was instantly made whole. No doubt that after bleeding for twelve years she was still a little bloody. Meaning she still not only displayed the same outward appearance, but she was still used to dealing as if she was still a castout. To bring it home... She still felt like she had to run the house. She still was a little on edge. She still felt the need to prove and assert herself. We Have to be willing to deal with that in a spirit of meekness.

Don't be mistaken men even though it sounds like the end result we are looking for here is a good wife. Its not that at all. When you do these things it doesnt only yeild a better wife. It first makes you a great husband. One who will provide for her, facilitate an environment of growth, one who will be patient, and kind. This will require that you bear the fruit of the spirit. It means that you will pray for her. This will mean that yes you may be angered, but you sin not. This will require you to be faithful, understanding and loving. You will learn to lead her without forcing her to follow. Bottom line it rquires you to love her as Christ loves the church. When we get in line.... and stay in line, everything else has no choice but to fall in line. In then end God gets the glory because of the fact that He get it throughout.

Trusted with Trial

Why do I have to be the one who is so strong. How come I always have to endure so much. Yes I know that God, you will not give me any more than I can handle. But Why am I the one who has to handle so much all the time. It seems like its always one thing or another. One trial after the next. If this is what it takes to be so anointed then maybe I don't want it that bad. It hurts God. It hurts..... IT HURTS to always be the one ridiculed, it HURTS, to always be ostrisized, IT HURTS to never fit in. Yes I know I'm not supposed to fit in. BUT WHY NOT.... Why must I be talked about behind my back. Why am I always under the microscope. Why is it that I know the Word says I'm victorious, yet I feel like such a failure. How do I teach about a God who can take the pain away while I'm drowning in my own tears. I really do want what yu have for me, but why does this process hurt so bad. If by now I should be stronger then why does it hurt so much. God I have given it to you but it seems like you won't take it. I have forgiven everyone but they keep coming, Lord I need your peace. I can't hold this alone. I can't do this without you. I will take what you give me in order to be what you require of me. But does it all have to hurt so bad. I'm tired of holding the tears. I am so tired of standing on the outside. God I hurt..... My heart is heavy for a people who care nothing about me. If your joy is my stregnth God then I really need some more. I feel so weak, and I know you better than to think this is your intent. God I'm crying in the desert for you. I need you soooooooo much. Sooooo much. i hav no desire to attempt this life with out you. I'm tired of the pain though. I cant quit but I honestly want to. I know that when I feel this way I'm right next to break through. This wall seems so much tougher than before. Because you have allowed me to see this I know I can get through it. I know we can get through this. I know that this will not be what kills me. I now that you have greater and in my process you have trusted me with trial. I won't leave you Lord. I won't abandon your will. I am hurting but there is a balm.