Are You FAT?

(Prov 23:9 NLT) Don't waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.

This morning we continue in the book of Proverbs - This is the 10th Saying: an Admonition on Wasting Words on Fools. Have you ever tried to reason with a fool? There are three different Hebrew words translated "fool" in Proverbs and each has a slightly different meaning. The one used in this verse, which is the most common of the three, means: one who is thickheaded and stubborn. I am sure you have had your fair share of fruitless encounters with this type of fool. No matter how much you attempt to help him and no matter how sincere your effort is, he flat-out rejects or seeks to argue with everything you say.

This reminds me of something Solomon told us back in chapter 9. Solomon said: "If you reason with an arrogant cynic, you'll get slapped in the face; confront bad behavior and get a kick in the shins. So don't waste your time on a scoffer; all you'll get for your pains is abuse. But if you correct those who care about life, that's different-they'll love you for it! Save your breath for the wise-they'll be wiser for it; tell good people what you know-they'll profit from it."

That pretty much sums it up. Solomon warns us about wasting our breath of fools, while at the same time urging us to teach, correct, and impart wisdom into those who have a teachable spirit. The point about being teachable takes us all the way back to the first chapter, where Solomon said, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and discipline" (1:7). Those that fear the Lord will receive what you have to say, but those that don't will despise Godly counsel and there is nothing you can do to force them to receive. That's why Solomon calls it is a waste of time and breath.

So what does this mean? A few things:
1. Be led of God when attempting to correct someone: If you attempt to correct or even share wisdom with someone who thinks they know it all, or are hardheaded and stiff-necked, not only will they reject the correction, but they will despise you for attempting to share it with them. So make sure you pray before you attempt to share divine wisdom with others. If you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you, then He will lead you to the right people and He will bless the conversation, but if you attempt to go around correcting people - even if you are using scripture - and the Lord is not leading you to do it, then all you will do is cause unnecessary 'drama' for you, them, and all those around you.
2. Correcting the right people helps all parties involved: If you correct those the Father leads you to, then not only will they receive it, but they will respect you for caring enough about them to share what you did with them. Your correction of them will help them to make the course corrections they need to make, to stay on the path God wants them to take. Additionally, they will have an elevated opinion of you, because you were the tool God used to provide the correction/instruction they needed.
3. Be a F.A.T. Christian: When I became a Christian my Pastor taught me that I needed to be F.A.T.; which stands for: Faithful, Available, and Teachable. Never be the person who is not teachable. Be wary of the person that will not receive instruction or correction from anyone. That person has become the god of their own lives and they will soon find themselves spiraling out of control. If there are two things I have learned over my 13(+) years of Christian life, they are: 1) there is a God and 2) I am not Him!

Father, I thank You for taking the time to document Your wisdom in a book that is made available to me. When I read the Bible I get to sit down, one-on-one, with Your wisdom and I am thankful for it. Your Word teaches me and I receive it. I am also an open to receive from Your people. As you send people to me, I shall be faithful, available, and teachable. And then, as You teach and prepare me, I know I will get to the point where You will share through me, what you have shared with me. As You seek to use me as a tool to share with others, I declare that I will be careful to hear from You first. If I step out without Your leading I know I can stir up contention, confusion, and strife. Therefore, I will only approach those You lead me to approach, so that You can be glorified through me. Use me Father, today, for Your glory! In Jesus' name. Amen.

This is Today's Word! Apply it and Prosper!

Build Your House Upon a Rock

(Prov 24:3-7 GNB) It takes wisdom to build a house, and understanding to set it on a firm foundation; It takes knowledge to furnish its rooms with fine furniture and beautiful draperies. It's better to be wise than strong; intelligence outranks muscle any day. Strategic planning is the key to warfare; to win, you need a lot of good counsel. Wise conversation is way over the head of fools; in a serious discussion they haven't a clue.

This morning we continue our series. There is too much in this passage to cover it all in one day, so I am going to break this up into three parts: the home, the battlefield, and leading. We will start with 'the home' today.

I will address this topic from the natural and then the spiritual. Naturally speaking, it does require wisdom to build a house well. Solomon describes a house that is well designed, solidly erected, seated upon a firm foundation, and beautifully furnished.

The house is a representation of the thoughtful planning, tireless labor, and care of it's owners. Yes, it does take a certain level of wisdom to have a beautiful house, and moreover, it takes the wisdom of God to make the house a Godly home. When you have a Godly home it serves as a sanctuary and refuge from the hustle and bustle of life. Within its walls you find rest, your hope is restored, your body is rejuvenated, your mind is at ease, and your heart is at peace. It is here that your children are nurtured, educated, and corrected; your family bonds are strengthened, and the fire of your marriage is rekindled.

This is a description of a natural home that is dedicated to God as an edifice where He is welcome, where He is acknowledged as Lord, and where He communes with a family who enjoys communion with both their God and one another. I pray that I just described your home. Actually, it's the home I want, the home my husband and I strives to establish, and the home I believe the Father wants us to live in. Yes, it takes divine wisdom to establish this type of home.

Spiritually speaking, one could interpret what Solomon is describing as our own life. It takes divine wisdom to build a solid life, one set upon a firm foundation. Most of us are familiar with the story of the man who built his house upon the rock and the one who built his house upon the sand. Jesus described how both faced "the storms of life." When the rail fell, the flood flowed, and the winds blew, the house that was built upon the sand came crashing down, but the house that was build upon the rock stood and it stood strong! So you might ask: how do we build our house upon the rock? Jesus answered that question by saying that we must hear His words and then put them into practice. If we do so, we will be wise and our house will withstand any storm we face in life.

So what does this mean? Two things:
1. Naturally: Pray for divine wisdom so that you can build a home that will serve as a sanctuary for both you and your family. You need a place where God can minister to you, you can minister to Him, and where you and your family can find rest, peace, encouragement, restoration, and rejuvenation from the rat-race of life.
2. Spiritually: Ensure you are building your life upon the rock of the Word. Don't just read God's Word (countless people do that), but settle in your heart the fact that you will live what you learn. This way you can be sure that you are prepared to withstand the storms of life and to continue to grow into the person the Father has destined, designed, and desires for you to be.

Father, both naturally and spiritually, I build my house upon a firm foundation. Naturally, I establish an altar in my home, making it a place where You are always welcome and where You reign as Lord. When my family and I come home we are able to enjoy supernatural rest. Within the walls of our home dreams are encouraged, hopes are nurtured, passions are fed, faith is grown, and discouragement is displaced. Our natural home is awesome and we thank You for it. Spiritually speaking, I am committed to build my house upon the Rock of Your Word. I read, listen to, receive, and apply Your Word daily. Your Word is the foundation upon which my life is established and because of it, I am able to withstand the storms of life. No matter what comes my way, I am ready to take it and to triumph over it - by faith. In Jesus' name. Amen!

This is Today's Word! Apply it and Prosper!

No Super Powers Required

You call out to God for help and He helps — He’s a good Father that way. But don’t forget, He’s also a responsible Father, and won’t let you get by with sloppy living. Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God.” (1 Peter 1:17, The Message).

Some knuckle head somewhere back in time coined the phrase, “God helps those who help themselves.”

I suppose the guy was a parent that was trying to motivate a sluggish child to get with the program. But whoever it was and whatever their motivation — the statement is false.
The truth of the matter is this — God does NOT help those who help themselves. He helps the helpless. He helps those who call out to Him. The good news is there are no super powers required to live this new life in Christ. God has all the power necessary, and He releases it in us and through us as it pleases Him.
God is not interested in helping us do our own thing with His assistance — for it will still be “our own thing.” And apart from the perfunctory acknowledgement to The Man Upstairs — He receives little or no glory for our achievements. We keep it all for ourselves.
God helps those who want His help, need His help, and ask for His help.
But, being responsible, He expects us to take the help He provides and become the best we can be in whatever it is we are doing. Knowing at all times, and in all things, that all the glory belongs to Him.
Do you need some help today? Ask God….and just watch what happens! And then be sure to give Him all the glory!
Love you all Have an awesome weekend !!!

Personal Message

I wanted to take a moment to share with you some of my story. I remember receiving Christ into my life. Going through the 'regular' routine like we all do of being taught the scriptures. Learning more about who Christ is and what He has done for me. I strived "working" so hard to find out more about the truth so I could tuck it underneath my belt and "know it," memorize it so it could be "life" to me and I could "help" others get on the "right path." A few years ago I began to discover who I really was and what I had become. I had become someone who lives by the letter of the law instead of realizing my relationship was not built on a book but on a Father in heaven who loved me. He tells us, "you didn't choose me, I chose you." It is so easy to become a worshipper of the Bible rather than a worshipper of God through His precious Son Jesus.

I forgot the Word within the Word. I forgot the author was a person who cared, loved and accepted me just the way I am. Why? Because I didn't choose Him, He chose me. If I chose Him, He could have easily rejected me and said, "no thanks. This inn is full." But He chose Me just how I was, which means, He takes out what needs to be taken out of me. He does the cleaning, not me. I just yield my mind over to Him to let it be renewed. But please remember like I said earlier, He chose Me! Just how I was and truly I was a mess!

I see how others forget that the kingdom of God is relational not doctrinal or traditional. It is built upon covenant more than anything else. I watched a very close friend of mine of over 10 years, who knew this principle but somehow by the influence of others in the system, go back from relational and covenant to word bound. So now, she will not speak to me, she speaks to me only by giving me scripture. What happens when we lose ourselves with speaking not from our heart to love, accept, comfort and show compassion; instead we skip the heart and only "speak the word." Have we forgotten the Jesus behind the "word" (Bible)? The same Jesus who didn't throw scripture at people but loved people. Jesus spoke scripture to the enemy when He was in the desert because He knew the word could be used as a sword in battle to defeat.

But when the woman who was caught in adultery saw Jesus, He didn't say, "the Bible says, 'Thou shall not commit adultery!'" He looked at her and said, "I don't accuse you." It wasn't even the fact that she was caught in the midst of it. No repentance. No remorse.....just caught! But because He LOVED her and desired to build a relationship with her, he told her, "I don't accuse you." Could she go back to living in adultery? Yes. Was Jesus guaranteed that she wouldn't? No. But He still desired to love her and wanted a better life for her but He still did not turn His back upon her! He still did not say, "let's put her through a time of 13 years of recovery." He just wanted relationship with her.

Let me talk to you about the kingdom of God for a moment. What is the kingdom of God? It is built on covenant, not doctrine, not tradition and not how spiritual we can be. It is supernatural! Let me give you an example. If you went to your natural father and told him something about you that he would not agree with, what would he do? If he truly has a father's heart he would say something to the effect of, "I might not agree but you are still my child and I love you." AS most of you all know my natural dad and I do not always agree with things we believe but the idea that my dad would cast me out and say, "you're no longer my child" would be nothing I have ever known since my dad has a father's heart to say, "you're my daughter and nothing will ever change that fact."

Probably many of you, maybe like my friend, never had a dad who had a father's heart. Maybe many of you feel your natural "father" because he is a doctrine or tradition worshipper does not possess a true father's heart. Please hear me now! YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN IS ABOUT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS CHILDREN.....ALL OF HIS CHILDREN. He does not care about your doctrines, your traditions or your opinions. He wants your heart. He wants his son or daughter to say, "Good morning daddy”.

I have said it before and I will say it again. I love all people! I told my friends and family years ago that I would never leave them but many will leave me. I have seen it with a close friend of mine of over 10 years and many others just like many of you out there have because relationship and covenant are so important to me. More important than if we agree or disagree, if you believe in the rapture or no rapture, if you believe this or that.

Take a look at your life for a moment. How many people have you hurt or kicked out of your life over doctrines and beliefs? The Jesus in the word is still wanting nothing more than relationship with His children. Are we mature enough to say, "I love you.....regardless?"

If there is something God wants to work out in them, let Him do it. When we become people who use His precious word to hurt, "straighten up" or even massacre, we become Pharisees. Someone who uses something that is meant to heal, deliver and comfort as a tool to pound, beat and hurt. I am a grace woman. It's sad that people hate people that display grace to all. But ask yourself this question: "When you approach the throne of God one day, will God say, 'well done, you used my word to straighten people up, you told others who did not line up with what you believe that they are not welcome, come on in you wonderful servant.' Or do you want the Lord to say, 'well done thy good and faithful servant. You loved those who were hurting, different from you. You allowed everyone and anyone into My house to pray to find the way for a better life for them. You kept on loving them, humbling yourself to love and show them grace. Because if you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to Me.'?"

Please note, I love every one of you. I stand with you and for you no matter who or what you are because I see Jesus in you. I love you and your Daddy in Heaven loves you too.

Your in HIM,
Paulette Fraticelli

A Word from the Fathers Heart

Ladies you are living in a very exciting time in history when that which was spoken of by the Prophets of old is happening right before your eyes.

The Holy Sprit is saying “All that I have said I will do. Do not look to the left or to the right but look to Me the One who created you in your mother's womb. The earth is transitioning; even nature is crying out and reacting, sometimes violently longing for My return. Remember what I have spoken I will do. The line has been drawn in the sand, the plumb line has been established, nations are transitioning, the future of nations is being determined.”

“Allow Me to lead you into your destiny, I know the plan that I have for you and it is a plan to prosper you and not to harm you. Come forth! Come out from among the world, let the people see Me manifest in you. This is a time of unprecedented miracles, allow My glory to flow through you and see the Kingdom of God take dominion in the earth. I will restore the land that man by his actions and deeds has cursed. I will restore what the locust has eaten. The demons go across this land like a lion seeking (where they are allowed) to incite fear and bring destruction but I have come to bring life in abundance, far above your measure and need.”

“Prepare the way for the return of the King, look up to Me and do not believe all that you hear. I speak to those who know Me, those that don't know Me cannot hear what I am saying so be careful who you are listening to and taking council from. Soon you will see My glory manifest upon this earth. Be conformed in Me by the renewing of your mind.”

Protect Your Heart

(Prov 24:1,2 GNB) Don't be envious of evil people, and don't try to make friends with them. Causing trouble is all they ever think about; every time they open their mouth someone is going to be hurt.

This morning we continue this is the 22nd Saying: an Admonition against the Envy of Evil Persons. This is not the first time Solomon has given us this type of warning. Actually, not too long ago, with the 15th Saying, Solomon said, "Don't envy sinners, but always continue to fear the LORD. You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed." The emphasis there was on us, on our ability to keep our hope in and on God. The emphasis here is on the evil person.

Solomon wants us to know that their heart is simply not in the right place. All they ever think about is causing trouble, strife, discord, dissension, and conflict. It's like they get some sort of perverted pleasure from seeing others unhappy. Another translation says, "The purposes of their hearts are destruction, and their lips are talking of trouble." I am sure we all know people who fall into this category. Solomon's message to us today is to stay away from them and by no means should we actually envy them or pattern ourselves after their wicked ways.

Way back in chapter one Solomon talked about this as well. He said: "My child, when sinners tempt you, don't give in. Suppose they say, "Come on; let's find someone to kill! Let's attack some innocent people for the fun of it! They may be alive and well when we find them, but they'll be dead when we're through with them! We'll find all kinds of riches and fill our houses with loot! Come and join us, and we'll all share what we steal." My child, don't go with people like that. Stay away from them. They can't wait to do something bad. They're always ready to kill. It does no good to spread a net when the bird you want to catch is watching, but people like that are setting a trap for themselves, a trap in which they will die. Robbery always claims the life of the robber-this is what happens to anyone who lives by violence" (1:10-19). There is a lot we can draw from this passage. Solomon warns us about this type of person and he tells us to stay away from them, making it clear that they will ultimately receive their reward.

My question is: why is this even an issue? Why should Solomon have to tell us to stay away from people like this? I believe it is because we (yes, even believers) sometimes develop a sort of wicked affinity for the wrong things. A great portion of our modern entertainment-whether it be movies, novels, plays, etc.-is based on wickedness, evil, and violence. For whatever reason audience members have a perverse attraction to, and even an affection for, mischief.

My husband and I are both big "action movie" fan, but unfortunately many of the action movies today are so filled with filth that I can't stand to watch them. While violence is bad enough, I can stomach the violence, what I can't stomach is excessive cussing and unnecessarily long sex scenes. I have had to walk out of several movies. Not long ago my co worker asked me why I refused to watch a certain movie and I told him it had too much cussing in it. He did not see a problem with it until I explained how what you allow through your ear and eye gates actually gets down into your heart.

So what does this mean? It simply means that you must protect your heart. Don't allow yourself to be overly exposed to the wrong things. Too much exposure to the wrong things will lead to you becoming the wrong person!

Father, I protect my heart with all diligence. I know that the course of my life will be determined within the recesses of my heart. If I allow my heart to get polluted with perverse thinking, then I will make poor decisions and reap the repercussions of them. I shield myself from the wrong influences, I surround myself with positive and Godly people, and I feed on a constant diet of the Word and positive input. By protecting my heart I am protecting my life, the lives of my family members, and my legacy. I want to make the impact You birthed me to make, therefore I will do all that I can to receive the type of input that will lead me down the path You desire for me to take! I declare this by faith. In Jesus' name. Amen!

This is Today's Word! Apply it and Prosper!

Continue in the Word

"But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb. 5:14).

Reading, studying and listening to the Word of God is vital to walking in the spirit. Fellowship with God through His Word opens the door to your heart so the fruit of the spirit can flow out of it. They're listed in Galatians 5:22-23 and are a part of your new nature as a believer.

When you think about it, you can easily understand why. The Word is spiritual food. The more of it you put in your heart, the stronger your spirit becomes. If you'll continue to feed on the Word, eventually your spirit will be so dominant that it can overcome your flesh every time (Heb. 5:14).

The opposite is also true. If you spend your time feeding on soap operas, romance novels, and the six o'clock news, your flesh will grow stronger and your spirit will weaken. And though you'll still have the inner desire to be loving and kind, the flesh will bully you into acting like the devil!

If you're especially wanting to strengthen your spirit in the area of one particular fruit of the spirit, one of the wisest things you can do is feed on what the Word has to say about that particular fruit. If you've been running short of joy lately, for example, make it a point each day to read and meditate on what the Bible has to say about joy and rejoicing. Build up your spirit in that particular area. The moment light comes, faith is there.

Jesus said, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32). Continuing in the Word will help the fruit of the spirit to flow, to make you free from the bondages of the flesh. "Walk in the spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16).

Speak these Words: I will continue in God's Word and walk in the spirit, and I will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (John 8:31; Galatians 5:16)

Dangers of Alcohol

Dangers of Alcohol

(Prov 23:29-35 NLT) Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks. Don't gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down. For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper. You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things. You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast. And you will say, "They hit me, but I didn't feel it. I didn't even know it when they beat me up. When will I wake up so I can look for another drink?"

While Solomon has already spoken to us about the dangers of alcohol, these verses present the longest and most articulate warning in Proverbs against drunkenness. Solomon starts off with six rhetorical questions, hoping that the drunkard would see himself in each answer. Unfortunately for me, I know the devastating affects alcohol can have on a person. When I read these questions I don't have to search far for visuals of each. I have experienced the anguish, felt the sorrow, observed the fighting, heard the complaining, and seen the bruises and bloodshot eyes.

My ex husband is an alcoholic. Drinking, along with other vices, wrecked his life while I am not God, I would venture to say that he did not maximize his purpose or potential in life. I too was and alcoholic, I thank God that I was set free and delivered of that awful addiction because I know that when I was drinking I was another person altogether. Unfortunately I hurt a lot of people including my parents and my children. Had I not changed I know that my life, like that of my Ex husbands, would have been ruined by the bottle.

After giving my life to Christ is was a 'no-brainer'. There is no way I can imagine pursuing my purpose and seeking to maximize my potential, while intoxicated. While I don't attempt to make the case that a Christian should never take a drink-because I believe you must have a conviction in your heart about it-there is no question that the Bible is clear that a believer should never be drunk. So if you want to play the "I am going to drink, but not get drunk" game, and you are not convicted of it at all by the Holy Spirit, then that will be between you and God. But make no mistake, alcohol is dangerous. It has wrecked countless lives and it can wreck yours. Like Solomon says, it goes down smoothly, but in the end it bites like a poisonous snake.

So what does this mean to you? It means that you have been warned, by God, Solomon and me. Alcohol can destroy everything both you and God have worked so hard to establish. Is a few moments of intoxication worth taking the risk of the damage it can cause? That's a decision you must make. But also remember this: you are an ambassador for Christ. If you call yourself a believer then people are watching you. That's why Paul said, "Abstain from all appearance of evil" (1st Thes 5:22). If people are following you, then not only can alcohol wreck your life, but it can also wreck the lives of those who are following your example. Take that into consideration the next time you contemplate taking a drink.

Father, I thank You for this warning. Your Word protects me from all sorts of poor decisions. I am convinced that being a slave to alcohol is a poor decision, therefore I decide not to be a slave to anything. Jesus died so that I could be free and I declare that no vice has any power over me. I walk in the liberty wherewith Christ Jesus died to make me free, I abstain from all appearance of evil, I represent You well daily, and I allow Your light to shine through me so that others can come out of darkness and into Your marvelous Kingdom. I don't have to be bitten by the snake of alcohol to make a wise decision concerning it. I learn from You Word, I heed Your counsel, I am led of Your Spirit, and I make a quality decision to do what is right in Your sight. In Jesus' name. Amen!

This is Today's Word! Apply it and Prosper!

I will never leave you, nor forsake you.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5)

In times when our world seems to be defined by nomadic relationships and shallow commitments it is more than wonderful to know that there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
The writer of Hebrews records God’s never never ever promise – “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
There is an emphatic dynamic embedded in this particular verse of Scripture, which the English translation from the Greek does not adequately capture or convey. Students of the Greek language know it to be a double negative, which is designed to strengthen the statement – removing it far beyond all doubt.
The Amplified Bible perhaps says it best: “For God Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down; nor relax My hold on you! Assuredly not!”
In other words, “I will never, never, never leave you; never ever! And that’s a promise.”
But, sometimes the nearness of His presence is not always felt. There are times when it seems as though the Lord is no where to be found. We cry out, and there is no answer. We seek desperately for some token, and find none. Yet He is still there. And often we do not realize it until after that season of silence has passed.
It is then we discover just how near He was to us. Perhaps, like the Psalmist, we may view such seasons as our having been “in the shadow of His wings.” Yes, He is near; even when it seems so dark.
Consider this brief “fly-over” of a few high summits in the mountain range of God’s Faithfulness:
Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” (Genesis 28:15)
Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. And the LORD, Heis the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8)
No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses,so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. (Joshua 1:5-6)
For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people. (1Samuel12:22)
And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. (1Chronicles 28:20)
I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. (Psalm 37:25)
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ (Isaiah 41:10)

Summing it all up in one sentence — “I will never, never, never leave you; never, never ever — and that’s a promise!”

I wanted to share this with you all I hope that it will set whom ever this is for free.

I used to worry a lot. The more I fretted, the more proficient I became at it. Anxiety begets anxiety. I even worried that I worried too much! Ulcers might develop. My health could fail. My finances could deplete to pay the hospital bills.

A comedian once said, "I tried to drown my worries with gin, but my worries are equipped with flotation devices." While no longer a drinker, I certainly could identify! My worries could swim, jump and pole vault!

To get some perspective, I visited a well known, my mentor who listened as I poured out my concerns and then she said, “you need to learn to wait to worry."
As the words sank in, I asked her if she ever spent time fretting. (I was quite certain he wouldn't admit it if she did.) To my surprise, she confessed that in years gone by she had been a top-notch worrier!
"I decided that I would wait to worry! She explained. "I decided that I'd wait until I actually had a reason to worry-something that was happening, not just something that might happen-before I worried."

"When I'm tempted to get alarmed," she confided, "I tell myself, you've got to wait to worry! Until you know differently, don't worry.' And I don't. Waiting to worry helps me develop the habit of not worrying and that helps me not be tempted to worry."

I frequently ask people what they were worried about this time last year. I get a lot of laughs, because most people can't remember. Then I ask if they have a current worry - you see nods from everybody. Then I remind them that the average worrier is 92% inefficient - only 8% of what we worry about ever comes true.

Most of us want to be positive. It's advantageous to possess a sunny outlook. Doors open to optimists. They make friends, earn respect; produce loyal friend, and others enjoy and want to be like them.

Charles Spurgeon said it best. "Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength."

So lets give God all our worries and cares!!!

Love you all,
Paulette

Godly Standards

(Prov 23:27,28 NLT) A prostitute is a dangerous trap; a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well. She hides and waits like a robber, eager to make more men unfaithful.

Prostitution is known as the world's oldest profession. Here Solomon warns us against opening the door to illicit sex. He explains how the prostitute and the promiscuous woman-which other translation call a "loose woman" or "adulterous woman"-unashamedly allure men and how the men who succumb to the allure wind up in a dangerous trap. Countless leaders, both within and without the church, have fallen to sexual sin.

Back in chapter six Solomon said the following of the divine counsel that we receive from our parents: "For their command is a lamp and their instruction a light; their corrective discipline is the way to life. It will keep you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of a promiscuous woman. Don't lust for her beauty. Don't let her coy glances seduce you. For a prostitute will bring you to poverty, but sleeping with another man's wife will cost you your life" (6:23-26). That's a clear warning to stay away from prostitutes and adulterous/loose women.

The problem is that live in a society today where 'anything goes.' As a people we have made several poor decisions that have led to the deterioration of the moral fabric of our nation. We allowed someone to convince us that taking the Bible and the posting of the 10 Commandments out of schools was a good idea. That somehow, for our kids to read, "Thou shalt not kill," or "Thou shalt no steal," was wrong. Someone else said our little girls could have abortions, without even telling their parents, and we let it slide. Someone else said that since our boys 'will-be-boys,' that we should allow the school system to give them as many condoms as they want, even without parental consent or involvement, and we said, "Okay." We let some supposed expert tell us that we should not spank our kids and we said, "That's right. Spanking is old fashioned." We also said that what you do in private is your business; that your private life should be separate from your public life, and that it simply does not matter, even if you are holding public office. And then, in some states, we allowed two men or two women to come together, legally calling it a marriage, an we said, "What they do is their business." Lastly, our television and radio airwaves are now convoluted with filth; what would never have been allowed 30 years ago is now commonplace today.

I love our nation and pray for her all the time. We should pray for our President, his staff, the Congress, the Supreme Court; state, local, and city officials at every level; for the protection of our borders, the safety of our children, the status of our education system; our economy, and etc. God has and I pray He will continue to bless America, but we are fooling ourselves if we think that we can continue to call wrong right without any consequences.

So what does this mean? It means that we need to get back to Godly standards. The message this morning is clear: sexual sin is wrong. Sex is reserved for marriage and a Godly marriage is a one between one man and one wife. Any sex outside of marriage is wrong - period. Don't allow yourself to accept the low standards of society. God's standards have never changed. Don't make concessions for sin and stop calling wrong "right."

Father, I thank You for the reminder this morning. Jesus died so that I could be cleansed from the filthiness of sin. Jesus' blood cleansed me and left me white-as-snow. I refuse to disgrace what Jesus did on the cross for me, by continuing in sin. I take a stand for what is right today. I am holy, because You are holy. I am righteousness, because You have declared me righteous. And I shall live in purity all the days of my life. I abstain from even the appearance of evil. I shine as light in the midst of darkness. I become divine love in the midst of selfishness. I stand for what is right and refrain from participating in what is wrong. I reserve the intimacy of sex for the purity of the bond between my spouse and me; and I declare this by faith. In Jesus' name. Amen!

This is Today's Word! Apply it and Prosper!

Who do you Pattern yourself after?

(Prov 23:17,18 NLT) Don't envy sinners, but always continue to fear the LORD. You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.

How should we react when persons who clearly live against God's Word, will and way seem to get ahead and go unpunished? If we are not careful, we might allow the enemy to plant seeds in our heart and mind that would suggest that their ends justify the means; that since things are seemingly "working" for them, that their lifestyle must be acceptable. But let me take it a step further, if you allow yourself to think that their lifestyle is "acceptable" just because things seem to be working for them, then what's to keep you from wanting to emulate them and start to copy what they are doing? Don't allow yourself to fall into this trap. Regardless of how things may seem, but bottom line is that sin leads to death (see Romans 6:23, 1st John 2:15-17, 1st John 5:16-17). Solomon tells us that eventually the sinner will be disappointed and the hope that he had will dissipate, while we have a hope that does not disappoint (Romans 5:5), because our hope springs eternal, both in this life and in the one to come.

So what does this mean to you today? A few things:

1. If you want to pursue something, pursue love. Instead of pursuing the lifestyle of the ungodly, seek to pursue spiritual gifts. In 1st Corinthians chapter 12 Paul lays out 9 gifts of the Spirit and he urges us to pursue them. But then, at the end of the chapter, Paul said: "So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all" (1st Cor 12:31). In chapter 13 Paul goes on to teach about the Love of God. God's love is the "best of all" pursuits. If you want to chase after something, chase after that!

2. If you want to imitate someone, imitate God. Instead of imitating sinners, the Word teaches us to imitate the Father Himself. In Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus he said: "Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children" (Eph 5:1). Just like my four year old attempts to imitate me, my mannerisms, speech, and ways, we are to attempt to imitate our heavenly Father. The more you learn about Him in the Word and through life experiences, the more You should attempt to be like Him. Attempt to walk, talk, and be like Him daily! That's how we truly honor Him!

3. If you want to pattern yourself after someone, pattern yourself after your Spiritual leaders. The writer of Hebrews said: "Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith" (Heb 13:7). There are no lone rangers in the Body of Christ. God has established a system of local churches where each believer can receive the example of a Pastor and other Spiritual leaders. As believers, if we want to pattern ourselves after anyone, it should be those who are making a difference every day by living their lives in accordance with the Word and their life-purpose. Follow the example of those the Father has set before you.

Closing: Father, I thank You for blessing me to have the right desires. I develop in You and I only desire those things that are pleasing in Your sight. I desire Your love. I want to be more and more like You. You are love and You are in me, therefore I will be love to all those I come in contact with today. I imitate You in all that I do. I am Your child, You are my Father, and I pattern myself after You. I also pattern myself after those Godly leaders You have set before me. I observe them, listen attentively to Your teaching through them, and I follow the example of their faith. I declare by faith! l In Jesus' name. Amen!

This is Today's Word! Apply it and Prosper!

Godly Mentorship

Prov 23:26 GNB) Pay close attention, son, and let my life be your example.

Most believers are familiar with the phrase "follow me as I follow Christ." This is actually a quote from 1st Corinthians 11:1 where Paul urged the believers in Corinth to follow his example. Another translation of this verse reads: "And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ" (NLT). I would venture to say that many of you had a negative reaction to reading the second version of Paul's statement, because the word "imitate" seems to be a bad word in today's society. Furthermore, many today would consider it arrogance for someone to actually say that we should imitate them. But there is nothing wrong with following the example of another. This is not about imitation in the extreme sense of the word, but rather as a form of mentorship. Paul could not have a personal relationship with every member of the church in Corinth, but he was well aware of the fact that they were aware of his life. Paul's point was that there is goodness in following the example of someone who is already at the point that you want to be. That is what the disciples did, that's what Paul did, and that's what we should do. Solomon cuts no corners and makes no excuses when he tells us, his readers, to allow his life to be our example. In other words, Solomon is welcoming us to be mentored by him, even though he lived his life thousands of years ago.

The writer of Hebrews said: "Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith" (Heb 13:7). Another translation says, "Imitate their faith." When we have Godly leaders, who are willing to share with us what they did to get to the point where they are in life, then we would be fools not to learn from their example and imitate their faith. We all need a mentor, we all need someone like Paul.

Actually, I believe we all need three categories of people in our lives. We all need a Paul: a mentor, guide, someone who already is where we want to be, and who is willing to invest in us. We all need a Timothy: someone we can mentor, who wants to be where they already are, and who is open to being poured into. We all need a Jonathan: someone on equal par with us, who we can share life experiences with, who we can sharpen and who can keep us sharp! I have in my life a Paul, Timothy and a Jonathan.

So what does this mean to you A few things:
1. You don't know it all. Realize your limitations and allow God to develop you through mentoring relationships.
2. Select Godly mentors: Mentors enable us to do much more than we can alone. Select your mentors wisely and grant them 'right of passage;' giving them access to speak into your life.
3. Follow the mentors in scripture: In addition to the Godly mentors we have in the earth today, we can be mentored by the heroes of the faith in scripture. Follow their example and imitate their faith.
4. Maximize every learning opportunity. When you sense God has put you in the presence of someone who can teach you something, then put yourself in "receive mode." If their experience far exceeds yours and they are willing to teach you, then the greatest thing you can do is listen. Don't blow the opportunity by doing all the talking.

Closing: Father, I intentionally choose to follow the example of the righteous. I learn from those who are walking examples of Your goodness in the earth today and also from those who have gone before me in scripture. I allow my living mentors to speak into my life. I grant them 'right of passage' to my soul. I also allow those who have gone before me in scripture to mentor me through their life experiences - both failures and successes. Who you desire for me to be is far too great for me to attempt to become it alone. I welcome the development You want to provide me through others, I follow their examples, and I imitate their faith. I am not a lone-ranger, nor will I attempt to be one. I thank You for blessing me to have great mentors and I allow them to mentor me! In Jesus' name. Amen!

This is Today's Word! Apply it and Prosper!

Perfect Love

So therefore my friends I ask you are you Stupid In Love with the groom? In Matthew 22:37-38, Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." Is Jesus the very first thought when you awake with in the morning? Is He the last thing you think about before drifting off to sleep? Is He the one you turn to before you walk into that important meeting with your supervisor? And do you give Him praise when you realize that He went before you, and caused all things to work together for your good? Do you consult Him before you purchase your vehicles, your home, or make that move? I can tell you from experience that when you do these things you will fall more and more Stupid In Love with Christ. He cannot be anymore in Love with you than He already is. For He is perfect Love, is He not? We certainly can Love Him more, can we not?

I'm reminded of a scripture that is often read at wedding ceremonies you may be familiar with it. Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1st Corinthians 13:4-8) The Lord Loves you today with an unending Love. He is patient to see His marriage through to completion. Read this scripture over again and again and mediate on Christ. Christ is Patient. Christ does not envy. He does however boast and is very proud of you, His bride. He is only self seeking in your Love. He is slow to anger, He keeps no record of your wrongs, and He delights only in good and truth. Christ will always protect what is His (you). He will always have hope in you, He will always persevere and will never never fail (you). Amen!

Arise today, don your wedding garments for the groom is ready. Not only to Love but to be Loved. May you walk, talk, and smell of the Love of Christ today and everyday. Forgetting not to share this Love with everyone you meet along your journey. And now may the Love of Christ and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit Be with you Now and Forevermore

God is Monitoring Your Progress

(Prov 23:15,16 NLT) My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice! Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right.

This is the 14th Saying: an Expression of Hope by the Teacher. Not only is God our heavenly Father, but He is also our divine teacher. He is parent and teacher and we are child and student. He is to lovingly instruct us and we are to lovingly and humbly receive it, even when the instruction is comes in the form of correction. His role is to pour into us from His own heart and immeasurable wisdom and our role is to receive it, apply it, adhere to it, and welcome the transformative power of it, so that we can literally become more and more like God daily.

The goal of discipleship is development. The goal of parenting is maturity and the fulfillment of our children's life-assignment. The goal of our heavenly Father and divine teacher is nothing less than His best for our lives. The more I read this verse the more I am enamored with God.

David asked the question: "What are mere mortals that You should think about them, human beings that You should care for them?" (Psalm 8:4). Did you get David's point? David was amazed that the God of the universe, the creator of all things, the one who sits on the circle of the earth, the one who has all things in and under control, the one who spoke to chaos and created order... who spoke to darkness and created light, that God, the only true God, actually spends time thinking about you and me. Not only does He think about us, He has gone to the extent of planning out His best for our lives. Jeremiah said, "For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope" (29:11).

The more I think about the fact that God actually takes time to think about, plan, prepare, and then care for me, yes me... I am astounded. And this verse takes it a step further. Not only does our heavenly Father think about and plan for us, but like a natural father and teacher, he literally rejoices when we do good. He is all knowing and we are not, but this verse tells us that He rejoices when our heart is developed in His wisdom. His words are utterly powerful and ours (outside of divine inspiration) are not, but this verse tells us that He celebrates-yes, literally celebrates, throws a party-when we speak divine wisdom from our lips. I don't know what his does for you, but I can tell you that while I am writing this I am being overwhelmed with God's love and grace. Knowing that He cares enough about me to teach me, parent me, and then actually celebrate when I do good gives me hope for today and tomorrow.

So what does this mean to you? A few things:
1. The Creator of all things actually takes the time to think about you daily.
2. Our heavenly Father wants to Father you; to literally parent and teach you in life.
3. The God of the universe takes the time to celebrate your successes.
4. The reality that God is monitoring your progress and throws a party in heaven when you represent Him well in the earth should give you all the motivation you need to glorify Him today and every day!

Closing: Father, You are awesome! The fact that You take the time to think about me, to plan out my life, to teach me daily, and then to watch over me to monitor my progress is amazing. The fact that You love me enough to watch me and actually celebrate my successes is mind-blowing. This revelation gives me supernatural motivation. I am excited about today. I am going to give You a reason to throw a party. Your wisdom will flow from my lips and my heart. I will represent You well in every meeting, conversation, and activity that I engage in today. Get ready to celebrate Daddy, because I am getting ready to bring glory and honor to Your name! In Jesus' name. Amen!

This is Today's Word! Apply it and Prosper!

The Royal Power

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14:17)

When jewelers want to show the exquisite beauty of a diamond, they always set it upon black velvet under bright lights. That way, the only thing that can capture and refract the light will be the jewel, making it appear in its fullest luster. I will attempt to do a similar thing right now as it pertains to the Kingdom of God. I want to illustrate it by way of contrast.

I now contrast a most exquisite and resplendent crown jewel - the Kingdom of God.

In the Kingdom, it is righteousness, peace, and joy - brought about by the Holy Spirit working in our lives.

The Kingdom is the royal, ruling power of God present now in our world; pervading all things with its redeeming influence; healing and transforming lives, homes and communities. And everything goes according to God's plan, as long as man doesn't try and make it become a religious thing.

Paul writes, "The kingdom of God is not meat and drink," meaning that God never intended for us to sit in judgment against others over matters of eating and drinking, or a host of other things all designed to divide us from one another.

Jesus brought the royal, ruling power of God into our world to make things right, not religious. Righteousness means set right with God and man. The immediate result of righteousness is always peace, for we are no longer striving to control one another into doing something the way we suppose it should be done. And the result of peace, is always joy - the happiness of healed relationships.

Live your life in the pervasive presence of the Holy Spirit - for He is the one who produces the work of the royal, ruling power of God in our lives.....and through our lives for others.

Godly Parents

(Prov 23:13,14 GNB) Don’t hesitate to discipline children. A good spanking won’t kill them. As a matter of fact, it may save their lives.

This is the 13th Saying: an Admonition on Discipline of Children. This has been a reoccurring theme in Solomon’s writings. The Bible is chock-full of divine counsel for all areas and aspects of life and I am Godly thankful that the Father did not leave out counsel for parents. Parenting is no small task. Our heavenly Father entrusts us with the lives of our children. We are to love, nourish, protect, care for, teach, instruct, train, rear, and yes… discipline them. To do all these things, while seeking God about your children’s God-given assignment in life – so that you can prepare them for what God wants them to do, not what you want them to do – is a full-time job. And if all we ever focus on is their pleasure (making them happy), then we might fail to prepare them for their purpose; which at the end of the day is the most important thing.

This brings me back to our passage this morning. To be clear, Solomon was not advocating child abuse. Another translation of this verse says, “He will not die.” This does not mean that we should beat out children to the point of death. While there are some sick people in the world, who get some sort of twisted satisfaction from abusing a child, that could not be further from what Solomon is teaching us. The point here is that children are foolish and they will do foolish things. In the last chapter Solomon said, “Children just naturally do silly, careless things, but a good spanking will teach them how to behave” (22:15). You want to correct the foolishness while your children are still children, because foolish children who are not corrected grow up to be foolish adults and the consequences, at the adult stage, are much more severe. In chapter 13 Solomon said, “Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them” (v.24). That’s strong language, but the Bible does not pull any punches here. If we love our children we must correct them when they are going astray. And we cannot wait until it’s too late either.

Here’s the bottom line: our Heavenly Father parents us (spiritually) and He expects us to parent our children spiritual and naturally. While parenting can be very rewarding, because you have been entrusted with the well-being and developmental responsibilities of other human beings, it can also be a time consuming, emotion stirring, and heart draining experience. But we, as Godly parents, we must parent, no matter the cost in time, energy, and effort. A Father must do more than just have children. He raises his children to become mature adults. It is a painful, costly, time consuming, life draining, “stay up all hours of the night” type of relationship. It is not always a joyful experience for the Father or the Son. The cost is everything a Father has within him. The benefit is a son who will honor his Father.

So what does this? A few things:
1. If you love your children you will correct them; a failure to correct is a failure to love.
2. If you parent your children God’s way, then you will correct them while they are still teachable and impressionable.
3. The pain inflicted through discipline is nothing compared to the pain both you and your children will experience later in life if you fail to discipline them now.

Father, thank You for giving me the wisdom and insight to provide my children the training, correction, and discipline they need to develop into the men and women You have called them to be. I love my children JUST they way they are, but I also love them too much to leave them without correction. I declare, by faith, that you give me creative ways to reach my children, so that they can understand right from wrong, so that they prepared them for their life’s assignment, and so that I am able to stand before You with clean hands. I will not neglect my part in their development! I will parent my children, no matter the cost! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!

God is our refuge

God is our refuge and our strength; a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1).

If you had your choice, which would you pick:

1) to have God’s presence with you, or
2) to have God’s presence really, really with you?
If your smart, you’ll choose number two. But, you must realize that by making that choice, you are accepting the fact that there’s going to be trouble.

God is with us always, but He is really, really with us in trouble.
Trouble? What exactly are we talking about here? The Hebrew word means tightness. The kind that is caused by adversity, anguish, distress, or tribulation. It refers to a situation or a time of extreme discomfort, any affliction which comes for many different reasons.

God delivers His people from this condition.

“God is our refuge and our strength; a very present help in trouble.” It was this verse that led a tried and harried former Augustinian monk named Martin Luther to pen his famous Reformation hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” Its message is timeless and its encouragement unceasing.
Jacob built an altar at Bethel to “the God Who answered me in the day of my distress and was with me wherever I went.” (Gen.35:3). Job’s friend, Eliphaz, assured him that “from one disaster after another He delivers you; no matter what the calamity, the evil can’t touch you” (Job 5:19). David tells us that God is “a sanctuary during bad times” (Psalm 9:9).

Jesus is there for you — just when you need Him most.

Lets Bloom

“I am writing to the exiles scattered to the four winds. Not one is missing, not one forgotten.” (1 Peter 1:1, The Message).
In this Scripture we have a new point of view set forth for our consideration. From one point of view we see a national disaster — for hundreds of thousands of citizens have been uprooted from their homes by an occupying army, and driven like cattle into the highways and byways; scattered to the four winds, and now known only as exiles.
That’s a rather bleak picture.
But from another point of view we see something altogether glorious. The word for scattered in the Greek New Testament actually means “to be sown as seed.” In other words, while they may be viewed by man as exiles from their country; they were seen by God as seeds planted in new fields of glory.
If we would learn to always see our shifting circumstances from God’s point of view, we would not be caught up in the shift and drift of a culture that stirs up strife and debate over things that inconvenience us. Rather, we would live as thankful people, praising God for His faithfulness in all things at all times — and we would bloom where we are planted.
God knows who you are, where you are, and what His plans for you are.
If you will but humbly acknowledge that He is in control, a shift will occur in your heart and in your outlook — sunshine will break through the dark clouds, and your life will sprout with new purpose and great effectiveness.
You will bloom where you are planted — and may thus discover that God has in fact brought you to where you have always wanted to be!

The Greatest Attorney

Prov 23:10-11 GNB) Never move an old property line or take over land owned by orphans. The LORD is their powerful defender, and he will argue their case against you.

This is the 11th Saying: another Admonition on Moving Boundaries. With the 5th saying, in the last chapter, Solomon said, “Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by previous generations” (22:28). When teaching on that verse I explained how the land of Canaan was divided up and parceled out to each Tribe, and then each within the Tribes. The families then put up boundary markers to identify their parcel of land. The warning was against succumbing to the temptation of moving the boundary markers in order to enlarge one’s territory unlawfully. To ensure the people knew right from wrong, the Lord, well before the Israelites arrival onto the land, said the following through Moses: “When you arrive in the land the LORD your God is giving you as your special possession, you must never steal anyone’s land by moving the boundary markers your ancestors set up to mark their property.” (Deut 19:14).

The first line here basically repeats what the Lord said in 22:28. But the second line shifts the emphasis from “your fathers” (or previous generations) to “the fatherless” (or orphans). The fatherless had no human kin to stand up for their rights if their boundaries were moved unlawfully. It’s bad enough to steal from an adult, but to steal from a child, and a fatherless child at that, is doubly disgraceful. Solomon makes it clear that while the fatherless may not have a human father to take up for them, their Heavenly Father is more than adequate at taking up their defense. The LORD Himself, their powerful defender (also translated “redeemer”) will make the case against you and will ensure justice is performed. Well before Moses warned the Israelites against stealing someone land by moving the boundary markers (Duet 19:14) he said: “He [the Lord] ensures that orphans and widows receive justice” (Duet 10:18).

In today’s society the culture that lends itself to plentiful lawsuits has created an environment where many attorneys are well-known and high-priced. Within the legal arena there are some lawyers that you simply don’t want to go up against, because you know their defense will be thoughtful, meticulous, and well constructed. But no matter how good an attorney is down here, Solomon makes it clear that the Lord Himself is the ultimate advocate. When the Lord takes the case of an orphan who has been done wrong, then you can rest assured that He will be on the winning side. And to make matters worse, if the Lord takes the case against you, then not only will he be the prosecuting attorney, but He is also the Righteous Judge. The case is basically over before it ever gets started.

So what does this mean? A few things:
1. The Lord expects you to be upright in business.
2. If you do someone wrong in business the Lord will be against you, but if you cheat the defenseless then He will personally take and make the case against you.
3. There is no way you can win when you are on the opposite side of God’s justice.
4. Do what’s right, because it’s right, and then do it right—every time!

Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for making Your standard explicitly clear. I seek to represent You well today and every day. I make sure that all the business I do I above-board, every time. I never do anything that will dishonor, discredit, or disgrace Your name. I know You will personally take the case of the cheated and make the case against their cheaters. I know better than to get on the wrong side of Your wrath. You are a God of justice and You will ensure that justice is done. While this may be bad news for some, it is great news for me, because I walk with You daily. You personally see to it that justice is done in my life. I thank You Father for being my advocate, for taking my case, and for defending me when I am done wrong. With You on my side, there is not way I can lose! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!

Goals

People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, they make them.

Well, it's pretty apparent, isn't it? And every person who discovered this believed (for a while) that he was the first one to work it out. We become what we think about.

Conversely, the person who has no goal, who doesn't know where he's going, and whose thoughts must therefore be thoughts of confusion, anxiety and worry - his life becomes one of frustration, fear, anxiety and worry. And if he thinks about nothing... he becomes nothing.

How does it work? Why do we become what we think about? Well, I'll tell you how it works, as far as we know. To do this, I want to tell you about a situation that parallels the human mind.

Suppose a farmer has some land, and it's good, fertile land. The land gives the farmer a choice; he may plant in that land whatever he chooses. The land doesn't care. It's up to the farmer to make the decision.
We're comparing the human mind with the land because the mind, like the land, doesn't care what you plant in it. It will return what you plant, but it doesn't care what you plant.

Now, let's say that the farmer has two seeds in his hand- one is a seed of corn, the other is nightshade, a deadly poison. He digs two little holes in the earth and he plants both seeds-one corn, the other nightshade. He covers up the holes, waters and takes care of the land...and what will happen? Invariably, the land will return what was planted.
As it's written in the Bible, "As ye sow, so shall ye reap."
Remember the land doesn't care. It will return poison in just as wonderful abundance as it will corn. So up come the two plants - one corn, one poison.

The human mind is far more fertile, far more incredible and mysterious than the land, but it works the same way. It doesn't care what we plant...success...or failure. A concrete, worthwhile goal...or confusion, misunderstanding, fear, anxiety and so on. But what we plant must return to us.

You see, the human mind is the last great unexplored continent on earth. It contains riches beyond our wildest dreams. It will return anything we want to plant.

Hold on tight to your dreams.

“And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.” Genesis 44:14
This short verse captures that defining moment when Joseph’s dreams came true. Some thirty years earlier when he was still a boy at home Joseph had said, “Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.” His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. (see Gen 37:6-8).

And now, after an epic journey filled with betrayal and a sequence of severe injustices, the very thing Joseph had seen in his dream actually happens before his very eyes.
Dreams surely do come true. Though a man may be immature and unseasoned in the things of God when a dream first comes, and speaks beyond the boundaries of prudence, thereby stirring the hearts of others with disdain or envy; and though much trouble may arise over the course of time and challenge not only the validity of the dream, but also the sanity and credibility of the dreamer — nevertheless, know that a dream from God will surely come true.
Therefore, wait for it; wait for the appointed time when the Lord brings to pass that which He promised in the tender days when you took your first fledgling steps of faith. Between the promise which God has made and the fulfillment of it in your life there may await a pit, a prosecutor, and a prison — yet always the palace is indeed towering in the distance. Stay the course, for you shall enter in and find full vindication from God, and satisfaction in the things He has ordained.
“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)
Hold on tight to your dreams.

Faith

(Prov 22:17 & 18 AMP) Listen (consent and submit) to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge; for it will be pleasant if you keep them in your mind [believing them]; your lips will be accustomed to [confessing] them.

Yesterday I introduced you to these verses and we dealt with the process of mind renewal. I told you that when we hear something from God that is contrary to what we believe, that we must then make a decision to either stand by our old beliefs (even though they are clearly against God's way) or submit to the process of mind renewal so that we can experience true transformation. Getting our mind programmed to think God's way is extremely important for the believer. Unless we learn to think God's way, we will never truly experience all that God wants us to experience in the earth.

Getting our minds programmed in the first step and once our minds are renewed our words will follow, because what's in us abundantly comes out of us eventually. The way we think and the words we say have a great deal to do with the life we live and whether or not we will experience God's best.

Let me explain it this way: Paul said, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Rom 10:1,10).

This passage is commonly used for salvation. The Holy Spirit through Paul teaches us that if we confess Jesus as Lord with a believing heart we will be saved. Think about that for a moment. We use our mouths (what we say) and our hearts (what we believe) to make a confession unto salvation. To get a better understanding of this we need to look at the original language. The word translated "confess" in v.9 and "confession" in v.10 is the same word. It is the Greek word "homologeo." This is a compound word. It comes from "homo," meaning the same as; and "logeo," where we get "logos," meaning the written Word. In this case, it is a reference to the written Word of God. So, in context, to confess with your mouth is to literally say the SAME AS the Word of God concerning... whatever you are confessing. In the case of salvation it is saying the SAME AS the Word of God about who Jesus is and who He is in your life. Once you confess Him as Lord, with your lips, from a believing heart, He becomes your Lord and Savior and you are translated out of the kingdom of darkness and into the Kingdom of God. You are saved by speaking words with a believing heart. Or in other words, speaking words that you believe!

If words spoken from a believing heart can change your eternal destination, then doesn't it stand to reason that the same would apply to other areas of your life? If speaking believing words that agree with God's Word kept me from going to hell, then I have to believe (and I do) that speaking believing words that agree with God's Word will keep peace in my marriage, warmth in my home, obedience in my children, health in my body, success in my career, and etc. But remember, I am not speaking of empty words, I am speaking of words that you believe - words spoken from a believing heart!

So what does this mean? It means that you must have faith in two places: your heart and your mouth. Confessing and believing (together) is what kept your life from hell and this same combination can keep hell from of your life. Solomon teaches that once you get God's Word in your heart, your lips will be accustomed to confessing it and your life will never be the same!

Father, I have faith in my heart and in my mouth. My words come out of the abundance of my heart. I fill my heart with good things, so that my words will be words of blessing and not cursing, good and not evil, life and not death. Once my input is pure, my heart is right, and my words are righteous, I cannot help but be blessed. My heart is filled with Your Word and out of my lips come words that line up with Your Word, spoken from a believing heart, and because I speak faith-filled words, and I believe what I am saying, You are able to use me for Your glory daily! I speak words of prayer in the morning, in faith, and I backup my words of prayer with faith-filled words (spoken from a believing heart) all day long! In Jesus' name. Amen!

He sent His word and healed them

He sent His word and healed them

Your Bible will do you no good if you leave it on your bedside table, gathering dust. It will do you no good if you hold it like a teddy bear when you are facing your “giants”. But God’s Word will do you a lot of good when you receive it as truth and speak it as truth! Then, you will see your healing and deliverance from every evil condition that has been sent to destroy you!


The Bible says that “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions”. Now, when God wants to heal you, what does He do? He sends His Word. Before God delivers you from your destruction, He sends His Word.


Are you still waiting to experience the blessing of healing that Jesus died on the cross to give you? Don’t feel condemned. Your Father in heaven loves you and wants you well. But how does your healing come? By you receiving His Word on healing that He has already sent you. His promises of healing are all there in your Bible. But have you received them?

Pastor Joseph Prince once said that during one of his church services, a lady took out her cell phone and started sending text messages of every scripture and almost every key point that he was preaching that day to her friend who was at home dying of cancer. He was telling the congregation to keep confessing the healing scriptures over their bodies, no matter how bad their conditions were. He used Isaiah 53:5, which says, “By His stripes we are healed.” He said that the lady got so excited that she told her friend to keep believing and confessing it every day!


He went on to say that her friend, continued on reading the text messages, simply received the Word of God and confessed it by faith. That very same week, when she went back to the doctor, the doctor could not find a single trace of cancer in her body!


Never underestimate the power of God’s Word. The lady’s friend was healed because she received God’s Word by faith. She gladly read the messages that her friend had sent her, was encouraged by the Word, confessed it and received her miracle. God sent His Word and healed her, and saved her from her destruction!

Avoiding Sexual Sin

(Prov 22:14 AMP) The mouth of a loose woman is a deep pit [for ensnaring wild animals]; he with whom the Lord is indignant and who is abhorrent to Him will fall into it.

One of the clear advantages of reading through, applying, and being transformed by God's wisdom literature (like the book of Proverbs) is so that we can develop and maintain Godly discretion -the ability to judge critically and to distinguish between Godly right and wrong. We need divine discretion because the attacks from the enemy are endless. Our enemy is a deceiver, a conniver, and he will do everything he can to get us to go down the wrong path, to stray from God's best.

One of satan's most successful tactics is sexual sin. Here Solomon tells us about the dangers of a loose woman's (man’s) mouth. Some translations list her as an adulterous woman. Whatever the case, this is obviously a woman (or man for that matter) with which the reader has no right to legal/marital sex. Back in chapter five Solomon warned us about her, saying: "For the lips of an immoral woman (man) are as sweet as honey, and her (his) mouth is smoother than oil. But in the end she (he) is as bitter as poison, as dangerous as a double-edged sword" (verses 3 and 4).

This woman (man) comes with sweet words that drip off her lips like honey, and therein lays the danger. She (he) may come to you with smooth, sweet, and flattering words; she (he) might paint a picture of sensually enticing bliss; he may look and sound very tempting and that is exactly his aim. He is telling you what you want to hear. He is appealing to whatever remnant of lust and illicit desire remains in your heart. In our text Solomon tells us that those who are against the Lord fall right into his trap. But the sad reality is that many Christians have fallen into this trap as well. Why? Because they get drawn away by their lusts.

Not only does sin leads to death, but sexual sin is extremely dangerous. Sexual sin can quickly destroy the bonds of a family; it can tear apart husbands and wives, father and sons, mothers and daughters. It can erode a person's desire, will, and ability to love. It strips a marriage of intimacy. It degrades partners to mere objects. It can lead to disease and unplanned children. It can be awfully destructive and that is exactly why the enemy uses it so much. Sexual sin, perhaps above all other forms of sin, has caused the fall of many church leaders who were impacting lives for Christ. When the leader of a church falls to sexual sin it causes some to question their walk with God, some to make concessions for sin, saying "Well, Pastor such and such did it," and then - and probably the worse of all - it causes some to avoid the church and God altogether, claiming that Christianity is not but a gathering of hypocrites.

So what does this mean? It means that you must develop and operate in the divine discretion. Paul told us not to be ignorant (2nd Cor 2:11) of the devil's schemes, tricks or ways. The enemy will always seek to paint a rosy picture of sin. He will make every attempt to lure you from God's best. His temptations may start off sweet as honey, but they end with the debilitating power of poison and the sharp edge of a sword. When you operate in divine discretion, with spiritual discernment, you are able to see right through the smoke screen of the enemy and to resist the temptation of sin. So walk closely with God, by led of the Spirit, remain consistent in prayer, and you will be able to develop the discretion you need to avoid the pitfalls of the enemy!

Father, I declare by faith, that I walk with You and You walk with me today and every day. I am led by Your Spirit, governed by Your Word, and ruled by Your law. I operate in spiritual discernment and I am able to distinguish between divine right and wrong, between God and satan, and between blessing and cursing. I am not tricked by sweet lips of honey. I walk in righteousness, holiness, and purity, and I do it by faith! I am determined to arrive at Your desired destination for my life and I am equally determined to make the impact You desire for me to make along the way. So I avoid, even the very appearance of evil, so that I can shine as light in the midst of darkness. In Jesus' name. Amen!

Yield to God

(Prov 22:17 & 18 AMP) Listen (consent and submit) to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge; for it will be pleasant if you keep them in your mind [believing them]; your lips will be accustomed to [confessing] them.

While we have been doing a verse-by-verse study of this book, I had to join these two verses today, because they were joined when Solomon originally penned them, under the unction of the Holy Spirit. The Lord Himself speaks through Solomon in first person and tells us to listen to the words of the wise. The Amplified translation adds the words "consent and submit," so that we can get a clear understanding of what the Lord is saying. The Father does not want us to merely listen to the words of those He has imparted His wisdom into, He literally wants us to give way to them. To consent is to agree with and to submit is to yield to. When we receive divine wisdom - whether in the pages of the Bible or from the lips of Godly people - we are to:

1) agree with what God is saying, and most importantly
2) yield to the wisdom.

When we chose to submit to what God is saying, especially when it is contrary to what we had been doing, it means that we are willing to actually CHANGE! Reading the Bible, going to church and hearing a good sermon, attending a great Bible study, or having a prolonged session with a Godly-wise person are all great, but they won't accomplish much in our lives if we are not willing to apply what we learned. Information without application does not instigate change.

We must be willing to turn the corner from information to application.
We must be willing to take what we have learned and put it in action. We must be willing to DO what we have HEARD! James said, "But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves."

The reality is that we will never submit or give way to divine wisdom if we are not willing to transform our thinking. When we come to God our soul is already conditioned to think, feel, and choose a certain way. Most of us came to God with a soul that was not conditioned to think, feel, and choose in ways that are pleasing to Him. Paul said it this way, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect" (Rom 12:2).

So what does this mean? A few things:
1. When you came to God you already had a mindset established.
2. When you receive divine wisdom (in the Bible or through others) it often stands directly against what you believed (your beliefs, values, ideals, attitude) in the past.
3. When there is a conflict between what you believed and what God is saying to you, you must make a choice to either stand by your old beliefs (even though they are clearly against God's way) or to submit to the process of mind renewal so that you can give way to transformation.
4. The more you are willing to submit to (yield, give way) to God's instruction over your old beliefs, the faster you will become the man/woman God has designed and destined you to be!

Father, I won't fight the process. I know that I came to You with a system of values, beliefs, and ideals that were not all consistent with Yours. Day-by-day, as You expose me to Your wisdom, both in Your Word and through others, I declare, by faith, that I will submit and yield to it. Whenever there is a conflict between what I used to believe and what You are telling me, I shall yield to You every time. I welcome the process of mind renewal. I want to be changed. I want to learn to think as You would have me to think. I want to see things the way You do. I want to take Your side on every position. I want to be more and more like You. I submit to the process and I shall be changed! I declare this by faith! In Jesus' name. Amen!