Everyone Who Seeks Finds

It is not hard to recognize one who has spent extended time at a newsstand: his conversation overflows with the drama of current affairs. And, it is not hard to discern a person who has come from a sporting event, as their face reveals the outcome of the game. Likewise, people can tell when an individual has spent extended time seeking God. An imperturbable calm guards their heart, and their countenance is radiant with light, as with the morning dew of Heaven.
Beloved, to seek and find God is everything.

The Eternal Imprint

It is to our shame that, in our era, church services do not focus more on actually seeking God. Yes, we do honor God and thank Him for what He has done. We hear a sermon and, perhaps, enjoy a time of fellowship with others. Yet only rarely do we depart a congregational meeting with the fire of eternity reflecting off our faces. Instead, we fill up with information about God without actually drawing near to Him. Most of us are still largely unaware of God's presence.

While we rightly need church programs, fellowship, and times for ministry training, we must not automatically assume that religious indoctrination is the same thing as actually seeking God. And while I am often blessed listening to contemporary Christian music, even godly entertainment is no substitute for my own worship encounter with God.

Therefore, let us ask ourselves: Is there a place and a time set apart in our spiritual lives where we can give ourselves to seeking God? What if the Spirit of God actually desired to manifest Himself during our worship service? Would the Lord have to wait until we finished our scheduled program? I respect and recognize the need for order; we need the scheduled times for announcements and the defined purposes that currently occupy Sunday mornings, but have we made room for God Himself?

"He Knew Not That His Face Shone"

When we first determine to draw near to God, it may seem we have little to show for our efforts. Yet, be assured: even the thought of seeking God is a step toward our transformation. Still, we often do not notice the first signs of our spiritual renewal, for as we grow increasingly more aware of God, we simultaneously grow increasingly less aware of ourselves. Though we may not see that we are changing, others certainly will.

Consider the experience of Moses. The Lord's servant had ascended Mount Sinai, and there stood before the living God. The eyes of Moses were actually filled with God's sun-like glory; his ears actually heard the audible sound of the Lord's voice. Yet, when Moses returned to the people, the Bible says he "did not know that the skin of his face shone" (Exodus 34:29). When the Israelites saw the fire of God's glory on the face of Moses, "they were afraid to come near him" (v. 30). They saw he had been with God.

The Church needs more people who have, like Moses, climbed closer to the Almighty, people who have stood in the sacred fire of God's presence. Instead, we exhaust ourselves arguing over peripheral doctrines or styles of music in our song services.
Perhaps there are benefits to constantly debating the nuances of our doctrines, but are we not more truly thirsting for the reality of God?

Our goal is to, day by day, draw nearer to God. He has commanded that we come boldly to His throne of grace. To receive the help we need, we must arrive at His throne. Remember also that our confidence comes from Christ Himself. He promised,
"Everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened" (Matthew 7:8).

We are seeking a lifetime of increasing devotion, though it may certainly begin in a season of drawing near. In spite of natural and spiritual obstacles, as we persevere, the Lord assures us, "How much more will your Father who is in Heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:11).
If we do not cease seeking and knocking, we will discover unfolding degrees of intimacy with God. Even now, He's drawing near. The Lord promises, "Everyone who...seeks finds" (Matthew 7:8).

Are You Ready for 2010

We wish you a very happy New Year from the entire Fraticelli family and Women of Destiny Life Group

(Prov 15:33 MSG) Fear-of-GOD is a school in skilled living—first you learn humility, then you experience glory.

This is the last message I will send out this week and this year. Entering into a new year is always a special time for me and I try to make it a special time for my husband and my close friends. We take the time to reflect back over the past year and to pray for vision for the next. I often talk about God’s desired end for our lives, or put another way, fulfilling our life’s purpose.

When the Father begins to reveal things to us about our future it gives us vision (which is more insight than it is sight). Once we are equipped with Godly vision we have a ruler by which we can judge every decision. This is very important, because in many respects, our life is a grand-sum-total of our decisions. We are where we are today because of the decisions we made in the past and we will be wherever we end up tomorrow because of the decisions we make today.

Paul said, “Everything is permissible for me–but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me–but I will not be mastered by anything” (1st Cor 6:12 NIV). Another translation of that same verse reads: “Just because something is technically legal doesn't mean that it's spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I'd be a slave to my whims.”

Vision gives us the foundation for disciplined decisions. The quality of our decisions is often contingent upon the quality of our information. Once God reveals His plan for our lives, we can make quality decisions that will direct us towards our destiny.

With that in mind, please take a few moments to ask yourself some soul-searching and course-checking questions. As you close out 2009, ask yourself:

• Am I making progress?
• Did I accomplish in 2009 what I set out to?
• Where am I in my overall life’s plan and more importantly, God’s plan for my life?
• Am I prepared for 2010?
• Do I have a plan to make time to receive and lay out the plan?
• Am I leading my family the way that I should?

I know we are all busy, but I pray that you take the time to slow down long enough to consider some of these questions with yourself and God. If you are not careful you can rush your way through days, weeks, months, and even years without ever slowing down long enough to take self-inventory.

The transition into a new year affords us an opportunity to look back, in order that we might look forward. The last verse that we will read in 2009, from this current series, is very appropriate. In this verse Solomon tells that the fear of the Lord actually enables us to live a skilled life, and that is what we are looking for. We want to skillfully maneuver our way through life’s challenges.

Solomon also tells us that the first thing we will learn with God is humility – as He consistently reminds us that we cannot do it all ourselves – and after we are reverent and humble, He allows us to experience His glory. It’s awesome to me that the last words from the last scripture that I share in this series for the year are “experience glory”. I am now ready for 2010 and I pray you are as well.

Father, I look back to look forward. I thank You for everything I experienced in 2009: victories, failures, and all. I slow down over the upcoming days and weeks long enough to hear from You for vision for 2010. I know that I will not arrive at my overall destination in 2010, but I also know that there are things that You desire for me to accomplish that will take me incrementally closer to Your expected end for my life. As You reveal to me the things You desire for me to do in 2010, I declare, by faith, that I will lay them out as goals, establish plans for bring them to pass, and then put the appropriate action behind the plans to bring them to completion. As I do, I will be that much closer to becoming the person that You desire for me to be and to my overall destiny. I skillfully maneuver my way through 2010 and beyond and I do it all BY FAITH! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Are you willing to be Developed?

(Prov 15:32 MKJV) He who refuses instruction despises his own soul, but he who hears reproof gets understanding.

This morning we continue our current series. This verse flows in the same vein as the last. In yesterday’s message Solomon told us to be open to constructive criticism. Why? Why would, or should, someone willingly submit themselves to critical feedback? The obvious answer is so that they might grow.

Those that are serious about developing as a person and a believer and about maximizing their purpose and potential in life before their die, will need the feedback of God and others.

However, Solomon teaches us this morning that NOT everyone will be open to that type of feedback, because everyone is not serious about their development. People that don’t want to be developed or disciplined are people that despise their own soul; they don’t have a true desire grow.

I have met many with this laissez-faire attitude and I when ask them about what they want to do with their lives, what they want to become, what impact they want to make, or what their life’s purpose is, I often get answers like, “I don’t know,” “I don’t care,” “We’ll see,” or “Whatever happens, happens.”

But for the rest of us, for those that want to live and not just exist, we must be willing to receive and respond to the feedback we get from God and others about our progress or lack thereof.

For the word translated as “instruction” in this text, other translations use the words, “discipline,” or “correction.” The actual Hebrew word Solomon used is mucar. Mucar occurs 50 times in the Bible, mainly in Proverbs. One of the major purposes of the wisdom literature (the books of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, (some) Psalms, and Song of Solomon) of the Bible is to teach God’s wisdom and to provide mucar.

Mucar is a form of discipline that comes in verbal instruction and warning, so as to keep the person who is being taught from experiencing the repercussions of bad decisions.

Mucar teaches a believer how live correctly in the fear of the Lord and we would become wise in learning from God’s (and His people), heeding the warnings without actually having to live through the harvest of bad seeds. This type of Biblical instruction is training for life, but it is not always something we want to hear.

No one likes to hear correcting or piercing words, but the truth is that we all need them.

We need to be corrected when we are on the wrong road. We all stray from time to time and we ought to be thankful to God that He takes the time to speak to us in prayer and to send people our way that will help to get us back on His desired path for our lives.

So what does this mean to you? It means that you should love yourself enough to want to be discipled by God and His people, however, you must realize that true discipleship requires correction and discipline. Don’t fight the process. If you hate discipline you actually hate yourself. The more you allow yourself to be developed the more you open yourself up to the possibility of becoming the person the Father desires for your to be.

The space between the person you are today and the person you desire to become will be spanned faster once you determine to grow by any means necessary; discipline included.

Father, I love You and I love myself. I love myself enough to want to grow and develop into the best me I can be. I don’t have a nonchalant attitude about my life. I am determined to live my life on purpose. I want to maximize my purpose and potential before I die. Therefore, I declare, by faith, that I will submit to the process of discipleship. I will allow myself to be discipled by You and by those You have assigned to teach me. I won’t fight the process, but will rather submit to it. Even when the process is painful, and I need to hear things I don’t want to hear, I will submit to it because I know that You and those You send my way are there to help and not to hurt. Since I am willing to allow You and others to make a mark in me, I know that in the end I will be able to leave a mark in this world that will not be erased! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Receiving Constructive Criticism

This is my friend Cindy who I can trust to always give me Constructive Criticism that is so appreciate.

(Prov 15:31 NASB) He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.

I trust that you enjoyed your Christmas. I pray that it was a great time of fellowship, family, and fun. We will pick up this morning where we left off in our current series. In this verse Solomon – the wisest man in the land – teaches us that those who are wise are so, in part, because of their willingness to learn from others, and not just those who are like-minded. Yes, the wise have an ability (and even a willingness) to dialogue with, and learn from, people with both supporting and opposing views. Most people welcome supporting opinions, but Solomon tells us that it is wise to open yourself up to different perspectives and quite possibly even criticism.

The New Living Translation of this verse brings this point out clearly, as it reads: “If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.” One of the main reasons why we should welcome constructive criticism is that sometimes the person with the opposing view is actually right. If we would be honest with ourselves we would admit that we are sometimes (if not often) wrong!

From time to time I listen to an old sermon or look over old life group teaching outlines and I realize that while I was completely sincere as I shared what I thought were timeless truths, but time and experience have taught me that I was sincerely wrong. I would have never realized the error of my ways had I not opened myself up to honest and enlightening dialogue with people of opposing opinions.

The wise are so because they know that they don’t know it all. The wise are ever learning and ever eager to learn more. Back in chapter 9 Solomon said: “Anything you say to the wise will make them wiser. Whatever you tell the righteous will add to their knowledge” (9:9).

Don’t ever get to the point where you are no longer teachable. It’s dangerous to think that you are always right and that others are always wrong; that’s a recipe for disaster. And don’t be quick in attempting to destroy those who oppose your views, because from time to time, you will find out that you are the one of the wrong side of the issue.

This reminds me of a book I finished a couple of weeks ago. The book spoke of the lives of four Leaders. All four have held leadership positions in a very powerful organization and all four did so with different perspectives and measures of success. The book mentions a point, a few of years ago, when things in this Organization were not going as well as they are today, when a CEO who had already done reorganize this organization twice previously and was on his way to his third, wrote an article that criticized the leaders in charge and their handling of the finances of this company. While one of the Leaders chronicled in the book welcomed the criticism and even reached out to the Leader of the company, to let him know that his criticism had not fallen on deaf ears, another of the District manager admitted that he could not stand reading the entire article.

Taking criticism is not easy, but it can prove extremely beneficial.

So what does this mean to you? It means that your character should be like that of the wise man who is willing to be reproved, if it means that he will learn something from it. Don’t close yourself off to people of opposing opinions. If you are willing to have open dialogue with a person of an opposing view then at least one, if not both of you, will benefit from the exchange.

Father, I thank You for the sobering reminder this morning that I do not know it all. I welcome constructive criticism and I enjoy open dialogue with people of both like and opposing views and opinions. The more I converse who people of different perspectives, the more I broaden my perspective and the wiser I become. I want to be the man/woman You have called, destined, designed, and desired for me to be. I declare, by faith, that I will participate in the process. I will learn all that I can, from all those that I can, as long as I can, so that I can pour into others all that You desire to pour into me! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

This is the last message I will send out this week. I am enjoying a special time with my family and I pray you are enjoying time with yours as well I pray that the Father would give you His grace and peace during this Christmas season.

I want to share a poem I wrote many years ago entitled, "The True Christmas Story." I pray it blesses you.

It started in the Garden of Eden, one man and one woman, that's all,
They walked with God and He with them, but this was before the fall,
They had dominion and authority; they ruled and reigned with strength,
But because of the original sin, all of their power and glory just left.

God judged the serpent, the woman, and the man, His judgment was quick and true,
They were expelled from the garden and they lost His righteous virtue,
An un-crossable gulf was created, between both God and man,
We then needed a repairer of the breech, someone to bridge the gulf's span.

In the meanwhile God setup a shadow, a system not truly His best,
It started with a man named Abraham; the Holy Spirit would become their guest,
He lived in the Holy of Holies, in the center of the temple, alone,
Man remained fallen; God remained ruling, as He sat upon the throne.

The High Priest could only visit God's presence, on the Day of Atonement, once a year,
The veil separated God's Spirit from everyone else and it stood without a tear,
But God's eternal plan was still in motion and it would begin to manifest one day,
When the angel Gabriel came to a young virgin, whose name was Mary.

She became with-child by the Spirit, a supernatural event for sure,
He was born just like you and I, a human life He chose to endure,
He walked the earth a sinless man, with pure blood running through His veins,
They hung Him high and stretched Him wide, my sin He would sustain.

They brought Him down and buried Him in someone else's tomb,
satan thought he had won, but this death would be his doom,
Three nights and three days would have to pass by,
He's alive! He's not there! Would be the woman's cry!

The veil was torn from top to bottom and the Holy Spirit was released,
So that we could be Born-Again and our old man could be deceased,
And that's what Christmas is all about, so please don't miss it my friend,
This is the Christmas message and I will preach it until the end.

Salvation came to the world, through a cross on Calvary,
He now shines ever-so-brightly, through us, for all to see,
But He could not have died a man, if He had not been born a child I say,
So please remember this as you and your family celebrate on the upcoming Christmas Day.

Positive Change

This is Debra


(Prov 15:30 GNB) Smiling faces make you happy, and good news makes you feel better.

This morning we continue our current series In this verse Solomon tells us something that is both simple and profound. There is no deep revelation in realizing that smiles are contagious or that good news has a positive effect on people, but the more you think about it, the more you can see how God can use you as an agent of positive change in the earth.

The Father expects us to be the light of the world (that shines in the midst of darkness, see Mat 5:14) and the salt of the earth (that serves as preserver of our environment, see Mat 5:13). However, we cannot be light and salt if all people ever see in us is doom and gloom. Peter said, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1st Peter 3:15), but no one will ever ask to you give them a reason for your hope if they cannot SEE it.

If all others ever see in you is problems, then they will never come to you, because the world is full of problems. They need to see something in you that they do not have. They need to be drawn by the difference in you.

The lost are looking for light, salt, and hope and God is looking for men and women who will sign up to be just that for Him in the earth; agents of Godly change, vessels of Godly hope, conduits of eternal love.

I was drawn to the person who led me to Christ Debra because of her beaming countenance; I always arrived with a frown on my face and a negative attitude in my heart. Debra was already positive, smiling, and ready for the day. I remember thinking to myself, “What is wrong with this lady?” But I could definitely tell that she was different. She had something that I did not have and when it came time for me to search for God, I did not have to look far. I found God through Debra because she was willing to be the light I needed in a dark time in my life. She was the conduit through which God exposed His love towards me

Debra and I are still friends to this day and she is still as positive now as she was then. She has not changed, but I sure have. I have become for others what she was for me. I have come across countless people who have told me how much they appreciated the fact that I always carried myself in a positive way. I arrived at our office each morning with a smile on my face, a spring in my step, and a song in my heart. Why? Because my morning starts ay 8am and by then I had been up for hours. I would get up at 5:30am, pray, write Today’s Word, and then prepare for the day. By the time I arrived at work I was on fire and ready to be used of God for His glory.

This enabled me to make the positive impact in the lives of others that the Father desired for me to make. The Father was able to use me to minister to many of those that I worked with, because I allowed Him to shine through me. Will you to the same today?

So what does this mean to you ? It means that when a person exudes God’s goodness – in both verbal and non-verbal ways – God is able to reach others through them. Allow God's light and love to flow through your face and lips today.

The Father can make a profound impact in the lives of others when You submit yourself to be used of Him as an agent of positive change.

Father, I know that I represent You daily. Therefore, I declare, right now, by faith, that I will represent You in a positive way. I allow Your light and Your love to flow through my face, heart, and lips. I will maintain a smile on my face, a spring in my step, a song in my heart, and a positive Word in my lips. I am an agent of positive change. I am here to BE a blessing and I will BE just that today and every day. Use me Father to share Your goodness with all those I come in contact with! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Prayer

(Prov 15:29 NIV) The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

This morning we continue our current series, Solomon has already made it clear, in several ways, that the Father is against the ways of the wicked. Jehovah loves the sinner, but He hates the sin, and since the sinner refuses to enter into covenant with Him and walk in His ways, Jehovah stands by with loving arms, waiting for them to do so.

What Solomon points out here is that while Jehovah is waiting for the sinner, He is NOT inclined to answer their prayers. Earlier in this chapter, in the eighth verse, Solomon said: “The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but He delights in the prayers of the upright.” The Lord won’t even accept the sacrifice of those who are not in covenant with Him. It is not because He is mean; but rather because they have refused to enter into relationship (communion) with Him.

This is the choice of the creation, not the creator. It is not God’s will for any man to perish. He desires for all to repent and enter relationship with Him (2nd Peter 3:9). But unfortunately, many will not and it will not be because of God. Many simply reject God and while they do, He is resigned to stand by with loving arms and a willing heart, desiring for them to turn towards Him. Since the wicked has chosen to reject God he has no right to receive answers to prayer. Peter reiterated this in the New Testament when he said,

“The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and His ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns His face against those who do evil” (1st Peter 3:12).

So what does this mean to you? A great deal. The message here is not negative at all. While the Father does not hear the prayer of the sinner, He will hear yours. Since you have Jesus as your Lord, you are in covenant with Jehovah and you have a right to answered prayer. Let me share something with you that Jesus told His disciples just before He left them that will drive this home. As Jesus prepared the disciples for His impending departure, they grew more and more concerned. Jesus had been their leader, guide, friend, and source for over three years. Jesus made sure they had everything they needed. Once He left, who was going to fill the void? Jesus knew their concerns and said:

“At that time you won't need to ask Me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and He will grant your request because you use My name. You haven't done this before. Ask, using My name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy” (John 16:23,24).

Let’s take a closer look:

1. Jesus told the disciples that they could make their petitions directly to the Father. Jesus had done all the praying to the point, but He now expected the disciples to pray for themselves; no mediator required.

2. Jesus wanted the disciples to use His name. When we pray to the Father, in the name of Jesus, we are reminding the Father that we are coming to Him directly, because of the relationship we have with Him THROUGH His Son.

3. They had not done this before. There had been prayers recorded all throughout the Bible, but no one had ever prayed to Jehovah in the name of Jesus and Jesus was establishing a new form of prayer, one that was sure to work. This surety would give the disciples confidence when they prayed.

4. They would receive and have abundant joy. The Father is not wicked. He does not want to force us to ask for things, only to refuse them. He is not looking to play games. He is a loving, caring, and sharing heavenly Father that desires to bless His children (those in covenant with Him) so that their joy could be complete. Your heavenly Father wants you to have and enjoy life IN HIM!


Father, I thank You for hearing my prayers. I thank You for inclining Your ear to me daily. I have accepted Your Son Jesus as my Lord and I am in covenant relationship with You. I pray to You, in the name of Jesus, and You hear my prayers. Not only do You hear them, but You answer them and manifest Yourself to me daily. Thank You father for being there for me when I call. I pray with confidence, because I know that my prayers are heard and answered by my loving, caring, and sharing heavenly Father! In Jesus’ name. Amen!