Do You Have A Sense Of Urgency

A couple of weeks ago one of our pastors had us spend some time looking at the story in Mark 2:1-12. It’s a story of four men who brought their friend to Jesus for healing. This story is special because these friends loved and cared for their paralyzed friend so much that when they saw that they could not get through the crowds they carried him up to the roof and then dug a hole through the roof to lower him down to Jesus.

Our pastor explained, “They didn’t want to see their friend suffering any more. They were determined to get their friend to Jesus because they were convinced that Jesus could heal him. They didn’t let the crowds stop them. They were creative. They were committed and determined to go to any length to get him to Jesus. Getting their friend to Jesus was their focus.”
Then he purposed some practical application questions to us and I purpose them now to you.

• Who has God put in your life that you need to bring to Jesus?
• Do you care enough to take initiative? Will you drive them to church, bible study, or a small group?
• Are you convinced that Jesus is the only way? If you think that there is another way then you will not have a sense of urgency.
• Are you willing to be creative?

I think that out of all of the questions above the one that hit me the most was the third question and comment. If we truly believe that Jesus is the ONLY Way, the Truth, and the Life then we should have the same desire and urgency that our heavenly Father has, that none should perish, but that they too should repent and turn to God (Jesus) for salvation. (2 Peter 3:9)

Our sense of urgency to see souls saved should come from knowing what the Word of God says is the destiny of those who refuse to believe in Christ Jesus. The Word says:

“..But whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:18)

“There will be a day of judgment for all unbelievers, those who rejected the Truth and refused to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ. They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from His glorious power.” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)

Our urgency should come from knowing that HELL IS REAL and it is where all unbelievers go when they die. (Luke 12:5 & 16:23, Matthew 10:28 & 23:33)

This urgency for saving the lost should NOT come from a condemning, judgmental, or religious spirit. It should could from a Spirit of love and patience. Our Lord was loving and patient with us as He drew us to Himself. It was His kindness, mercy, grace and PATIENCE that actually led us to repentance. We must remember that the same Holy Spirit that drew us to Him is the same Holy Spirit that will draw others around us to Him too. We are not the ones who save anyone. No one can come to Jesus unless it is the Spirit that draws them to Him. Bringing someone to Christ usually is a process. Our job is simply to be a ready and willing vessel that the Lord can use. (Romans 2:4, John 6:44)

It very important for us to remember that we are in a spiritual battle. We are battling against unseen forces of darkness that do not want to let go of these people’s souls. The Word says that the enemy has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand the message about the glory of Christ. They often times consider the message of the cross foolish. Therefore we must use wisdom and patience when ministering to unbelievers, asking the Lord to give us the Words to speak, to know when to speak, and when to keep a cover over our mouth. (2 Corinthians 4:4, John 6:44, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 2 Corinthians 2:16-17)

A close friend recently said to me, “We don’t have to cram the bible down people’s throats”. I agree, however I do believe that we can spoon feed them and allow them to taste the Word without saying all the time, “The bible says” or “In Matthew 6:25-27...” All we have to do is speak the Word of God into their lives in normal conversation and trust the Lord’s promise to not allow His Word to return void. Then we should pray over the seed, that it not be stolen, but that it would be watered and cultivated by the Holy Spirit. But no matter what we can be sure of this, that even if some refuse to obey or receive the Good News, our godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by our pure and reverent lives. (Isaiah 55:10-11, Matthew 13:18-23, 1 Peter 3:1-2)

I believe with all my heart that our lives will be the most affective witness to the unbeliever and to those who are searching for Truth. Most need to see to believe. What is that they need to see? They need to see the love of Christ flowing in our lives. They need to see us serving and caring for others. They need to hear words full of faith, words that encourage and edify. How we react to life’s problems, trials, and tests will also be a witness to them of where our faith and hope lies. When they see that in the middle of life’s storms we are immovable and still praising God regardless of our circumstances, they will be inspired and influenced by our faith. I love Psalm 40:1-3. My favorite part of these verses is the part that says, “Many will SEE what He has done and be amazed. They WILL PUT THEIR TRUST IN THE LORD.” You see it’s because of what others see that God has done or is doing in our lives that they too will put their trust in the Lord. Our friends and family remember who we were when we were in the world so our life in Christ will be the most convincing testimony of Jesus’ faithfulness to save and change those who put their trust in Him. (1 Peter 3:1-2, Philippians 1:27)

If we are convinced that the Bible is the infallible Word of God then there should be that sense of urgency that the pastor spoke of and that the four men had to bring their suffering friend to Jesus for deliverance. We should make the most of every opportunity that the Holy Spirit provides us to share the Good News with those He has put in our lives. We shouldn’t be ashamed of our faith in Jesus or minimize it because we don’t want to offend anyone or want to be politically correct. We have been given the responsibility of being ambassadors for Christ. We should never be ashamed to acknowledge Jesus. God wants to make His appeal to the lost and the backslidden through us. We are speaking for Christ when we say “Come back to God!” We are His messengers entrusted with the Good News. We know the way to have eternal life and right standing with God so we must tell others without fear of persecution. There should be a sense of urgency to bring people to Christ because we know that their souls are at stake. (Matthew 10:32, 38 & 39, 2 Corinthians 5:20, 1 Thessalonians 2:4)

Lord teach us to be living witnesses for You. Let us not be afraid of persecution. When fear or inadequacy come against us remind us that you have anointed us to share the Gospel with the world. Help us to speak boldly for Christ. In Jesus name, Amen.

Satan's Meeting

I don't normally do this but this was too good not to share. It's something to think about it..Here's a pass it along email that I received..Thanks brother Sean.

Satan's Meeting

Satan called a worldwide convention of
demons.

In his opening address he said,
"We can't keep Christians from going
to church."
"We can't keep them from reading their
Bibles and knowing the truth..."
"We can't even keep them from forming
an intimate relationship with their savior."

"Once they gain that connection with
Jesus, our power over them is broken."

"So let them go to their churches; let
them have their covered dish dinners,
BUT steal their time, so they don't
have time to develop a relationship
with Jesus Christ.."


"This is what I want you to do," said
the devil:
"Distract them from gaining hold of
their Savior and maintaining that
vital connection throughout their day!"

"How shall we do this?" his demons
shouted.

"Keep them busy in the non-essentials
of life and invent innumerable
schemes to occupy their minds," he
answered...

"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and
borrow, borrow, borrow."

"Persuade the wives to go to work for
long hours and the husbands to work
6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day,
so they can afford their empty lifestyles."

"Keep them from spending time with
their children."

"As their families fragment, soon,
their homes will offer no escape from
the pressures of work!"

"Over-stimulate their minds so that
they cannot hear that still, small voice."

"Entice them to play the radio or I-Pod
whenever they drive." To
keep the TV, DVDs, CDs and their PCs
going constantly in their home and see
to it that every store and restaurant
in the world plays non-biblical music
constantly."

"This will jam their minds and break
that union with Christ."

"Fill the coffee tables with magazines
and newspapers."
"Pound their minds with the news 24
hours a day."
"Invade their driving moments with
billboards."
"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail,
mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and
every kind of newsletter and promotional
offering free products, services, and false hopes."

"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the
magazines and TV so their husbands
will believe that outward beauty is
what's important, and they'll
become dissatisfied with their wives. "

"Keep the wives too tired to love their
husbands at night."
"Give them headaches too! "

"If they don't give their husbands the
love they need, they will begin to
look elsewhere."

"That will fragment their families
quickly!"

"Give them Santa Claus to distract them
from teaching their children the
real meaning of Christmas."

"Give them an Easter bunny so they
won't talk about his resurrection
and power over sin and death.."

"Even in their recreation, let them be
excessive."
"Have them return from their recreation
exhausted."
"Keep them too busy to go out in nature
and reflect on God's creation.
Send them to amusement parks, sporting
events, plays, concerts, and movies
instead."

"Keep them busy, busy, busy!"

"And when they meet for spiritual
fellowship, involve them in gossip and
small talk so that they leave with
troubled consciences."

"Crowd their lives with so many good
causes they have no time to seek
power from Jesus."

"Soon they will be working in their own
strength, sacrificing their health
and family for the good of the cause."


"It will work!"
"It will work!"

It was quite a plan!

The demons went eagerly to their
assignments causing Christians everywhere
to get busier and more rushed, going
here and there.

Having little time for their God or
their families.

Having no time to tell others about the
power of Jesus to change lives.

I guess the question is, has the devil
been successful in his schemes?

You be the judge!!!!!

Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?

Please pass this on, if you aren't too BUSY!

"You Are Gifted For Your Calling!"

Dear brothers and sisters,

I have been a busy bee with WeUsed2bu Ministries and I have not been able to write as often as I’d like to. The Lord is expanding our territory and I am humbly at a new learning curve. So keep me and WeUsed2bu Ministries in your prayers. I am going to try to do at least one posting a week here until I can start writing regularly again. You are always on my heart and in my prayers. Thank you for reading Consecrated To Him.

“You Are Gifted For Your Calling!”


Each of us has a God ordained purpose in this world. We are divinely placed right where we are at for such a time as this. It is not an accident that we are who we are. We were destined by God to be us. Our personalities, talents, and skills were given to us by God to bring glory to Christ Jesus. While we were being formed in our mother’s womb the Lord knew us and determined how He wanted to use us in the body of Christ. He gave each of us spiritual gifts which would help us fulfill His calling to become servants of the Most High God. We are a gifted people. (1 Corinthians 12:7)

"To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.” 1 Corinthians 12:8-11

I want you to receive this deep inside of your spirit “You are gifted for your calling.” “We are gifted for our calling!” We are empowered by God to change the world around us. This is awesome! Knowing this should encourage and motivate us to move forward and work towards fulfilling the vision that God has put in us. You know what I’m talking about. The Spirit of God has put a vision in you to do something. Whether it’s to start a Christian band, pastor a church, lead a bible study, feed the homeless, become a foster parent, or open your home to missionaries; what ever the vision is He has equipped you to do it. You will never have to do it alone. I promise.

Not only does the Spirit of God empower us to do our part but then He also brings others along side of us with the same vision and heart that we have to fulfill the vision. Let us not forget that we are all together Christ’s body, and each of us is a part of it. You will see that if you just step out and put your faith to action the Lord will bring other gifted people to help you along the way. Trust me..I have seen this happen in my own ministry. I am so blessed that I am not alone. (1 Corinthians 12:27)

Often times we allow the spirit of fear to come in and talk all up in our ear. We start to listen to fear telling us how inadequate we are for our calling. We begin to focus on how weak we are and how we still have so much more room for growth. Before we know it we have given up before we ever got started. We talked ourselves right out of stepping out in faith. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Brothers and sisters remember that our Lord did not give us a spirit of fear. The Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind is what we have residing in us. We need to remember that and walk in the Spirit. When the spirit of fear comes we are not to give it our ear. Instead of listening to all the negative junk that only serves to keep us from making progress we need to chose to listen to the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God will encourage us and bring us back to Truth. This is the Truth…

None of us has reached perfection. We will be imperfect for as long as we are here in this imperfect and sinful world. But praise God that we can be certain that God, who began a good work within us WILL continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. In the mean time.. Our Lord has saved us and equipped for every good work that He has called and ordained us for. It is ok to feel inadequate. Our Lord can work with this because feeling inadequate reminds us that we are dependant on the Lord to see the vision through. When we think that we know it all or we think that we are standing strong we are in danger, be careful not to fall. When we are humble our Lord will exalt us and expand our territory. When feel weak it is ok because His grace will be all that we need. His power works best in weakness. So be glad that you are weak, because when you are weak He is strong and that is worth boasting about. (Philippians 3:12, 1:6, Ephesians 2:10, 1 Corinthians 10:12, 1 Peter 5;6, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Few of us were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called us. The world might look at us and consider us foolish, but God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think that are wise. And He chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. So be excited! We are perfect for our calling. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)

Go out into the world and fulfill your destiny knowing that you are gifted for your calling. Be strong and courageous. Let your confidence be in Christ Jesus. Meditate on the Word day and night and then you will prosper and succeed in all you do. Our Lord is with you and in you helping you. We have everything we need in the power of the Holy Spirit to serve Christ Jesus and fulfill the calling that Christ Jesus has put on our heart. Don’t be afraid any more! (Joshua 1:8-9)

Share Each Other's Burdens

“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

Last week I wrote the posting ‘Do You Want To Be A Follower?' based on the scripture verse in Matthew 16:24. A comment came in from one of my blogging friends that ministered deep inside of me. He said, “The cross is heavy and I want to lay it down... being selfless is very difficult although I do my best. Thank you Lisa, for helping me carry it.”

I did not realize that I was helping my brother carry his cross, but I praised God immediately and gave Him glory for allowing me to edify and encourage my brother and anyone else who receives from Consecrated to Him. Then immediately the Spirit of the Lord reminded me that Jesus did not carry His cross alone, He had help too. Remember Simon from Cyrene? As Jesus was being led to be crucified they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. That immediately encouraged me because I realized that our heavenly Father knows our needs and in His mercy and grace he puts people in our path when we are at our weakest point or in desperate need of relief to help us carry our cross. Praise God! He never leaves us alone without help. (Matthew 27:32)

The Spirit of the Lord has directed each of us to share each other’s burdens and in doing this we will be obeying the law of Christ. The law of Christ is that we love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, our entire mind, and all our strength. Also, that we love our neighbor as our self. (Mark 12:29-31)

Sharing each other’s burdens is a selfless act of love and it shows that our faith is real. Carrying each other’s burdens is practically helping your brother and sister in their Christian walk and also caring for their needs. Here are some practical applications to help others carry their cross.

• Pray and intercede for them – We all need prayer and it is an encouragement to us when we know that others are going before the throne of God on our behalf. We can pray with our brothers and sisters, touching an agreeing on one accord. Then we should also go into to our prayer closets and lift them up to the Lord, thanking our Father for His faithfulness and provisions in their life, and asking Him how we can serve them in their time of need.

• Give of your time – I don’t know about you but my schedule is always full between my 5 children, ministry work, and caring for my home. However, we need to be good stewards of our time and ask the Lord to help give us wisdom and balance in this area. We have to willing to make sacrifices and lay down some of our leisure time to minister to the needs of others. Maybe it’s as elderly, sick, or handicapped person who needs help cleaning their house or just needs company. Perhaps it’s a single mother or married couple that need a break, offer to babysit. Maybe it’s volunteering in the children’s nursery at church for a season. Take time to listen to others. Sometimes when they respond “Everything’s good” it really isn’t. Take the time to care. Be sensitive to the Spirit in this area.

• Give of your resources – Resources is just your money, its you’re your stuff too. Take a look around your home. What is there too much of? Clothes, shoes, handbags, blankets, or sheets? Whatever it is share it with others. It’s ok to sell your stuff if you’re in need, but it’s even better when you just give it away. We have 5 children in our home and every time we have gotten pregnant we have always handed down all of our baby stuff between pregnancies to others who needed it more that our storage closest did. When the time came for the next child the Lord faithfully provided everything we needed and more. Whoever tries to hold what they have what little bit they have will be taken away. Whoever gives even more will be given back to them.

• Laugh or cry together – There is a time to laugh and time to cry. Be there for your brother or sister in either season. We all need someone to share these intimate moments with.

• Encourage one another – Lift up your brother and sisters with words of encourage. Be positive and speak words of life and power that will help them press forward in their walk. Let them know that they can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens them. Also let them know you are there to help them too. We need to know that we are not alone in our suffering or troubles.

• Edify one another – Speak the Word to one another. Sings praises together. Share your revelations and visions. Tell them what the Lord is doing in your life personally. Testify to them about God’s faithfulness in your life and see if they are not edified.

• Correct, warn, and exhort – Many people have allowed the world to put it in their minds that what others are going through is none of our business. This is a lie from the pits of hell. If you see your brother or sister going down a destructive path or about to make a bad decision you should speak up in love and warn them. Give constructive criticism and godly counsel. Help your brother or sister to stay on the narrow road that leads to life. We should be our brother’s and sister’s keeper.

Let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. (1 John 3:16-19)

May the Lord help us to think of others as better than ourselves. May we learn to truly love our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Let us be full of a desire and passion to serve them and to help them carry their cross especially when times get tough. We are all part of the same body and we need one another. Father unite us together just as You and Jesus are united with the Holy Spirit. In Jesus name…Amen.

Do You Want To Be A Follower? Then...

Jesus said to His disciples, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24

Turn From Your Selfish Ways - “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” Philippians 2:3-5

Before we can take up our own cross and follow Jesus He tells us that we first have to turn from our selfish ways. The amplified version of Matthew 16:24 says, “If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests]”

We have to die to our self-centered desires which come from our old nature that fulfills sinful pleasures, has a “what about me attitude”, longs for the pleasures of this world, and is self serving. Immediately the Word that comes into my heart is Galatians 2:20 “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” What Paul is saying here is that he died to his old self and desires when he came to faith in Christ. Christ and advancing the kingdom of heaven became his priority. That is exactly what we have to do, die to our old sinful and selfish desires and start putting others and the cause of Christ first. No more me, myself, and I attitude.

Leaving our selfish ways is about becoming others minded, loving them, looking out for their interests and well being (physically, spiritually, and emotionally). We voluntarily become a servant to others knowing that we labor not for our own glory but for the benefit of the Kingdom of God. Turning from our selfish ways is to become kingdom minded losing sight of our own will and instead accepting, desiring, and fulfilling God’s will here on earth. Once we lose sight of self then we can carry our cross.

Take Up Your Cross – “And if you do not carry your own cross and follow Me, you cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:27

Jesus’ journey through this world that led Him to the cross was marked with suffering and persecution. He was lied and talked about, the religious people of that day tried to trick Him and make Him stumble in His ministry, His family thought He was crazy, He was beaten and tortured, they called Him names and mocked Him, and He was betrayed by one of His own disciples and deserted by the others when He needed them most.

Our Lord and Savior suffered for us. He counted the cost for the salvation of our souls and determined that we were worth it. He set the bar by loving us to the point of carrying His cross. Now we must also count the cost of following Him and take up our own cross of suffering and persecution for the kingdom of heaven. (Luke 14:25-35)

The more we serve Jesus in Spirit and in Truth the more we will be hated, talked about, and persecuted. People will try to discredit and destroy our testimonies. They will hate us because we bring the sword (The Word of God) which cuts through them. Many love the darkness and our light shining on them reveals the sin that they love to keep hidden.

Here’s what our Master has said..

“All nations will hate you because you are My followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 10:22

“Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted Me, naturally they will persecute you.” John 15:20

“Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of My household will be called by even worse names!” Matthew 10:25

“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are My followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.” Matthew 5:11-12

Follow Me – “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give your life for Me, you will find it.” Matthew 10:39

Becoming true followers of Christ is more than just believing in Christ Jesus and being saved. A follower by definition means one who subscribes to the teachings or methods of another; an adherent. If we are to be followers of Christ Jesus then we must be subscribed to His teachings (The Word of God) and His methods of serving and loving others. We need to adhere to His will and His Way of living (pure and holy). Here in Matthew 16:24 Jesus is telling us that if anyone wants to be His follower we must turn from our selfish ways, take up our own cross, and follow Him (The Word of God).

Following the Word is a matter of laying down our life because we love Christ Jesus because He first loved us. We trust Him and we know that His Word is true. He died for us and we desire to give our lives in return as living sacrifices to be used by Him to bring glory to God the Father. We are not ashamed of the cross and the gospel message so we share the Word of God not only through our words but through our actions. His love in us gives us a passion like our Master’s to see the souls of men redeemed from the hands of the enemy so we imitate Him by preaching, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” (Matthew 4:17)

As followers we find our true life in serving Christ Jesus. We know that our Lord created our new life in Christ Jesus for such a time as this so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. Let us be determined now more than ever to become followers of the Word and truly be about our Father's business.(Ephesians 2:10)


Father please help us to surrender our selfish ways and lay down our lives to follow you. We know that we will find our true lives in serving you and sharing the Truth of the Word of God. Thank you for the good work that you have started in us. We trust you and abide You. In Jesus name..Amen

A Test Of Faith-Carrie Prejean

Crosspost from www.WeUsed2bu.com

Written By Beloved By Him

The Miss USA pageant was in its final event as Carrie Prejean, Miss California 2009, faced the judges and prepared herself for her question on Saturday night. But did she have any idea that she was actually entering into a spiritual battle of great significance? The judge who presented the question, Perez Hilton, asked her if she thought that all the United States should follow Vermont’s example and legalize homosexual marriage. In response, while she did say that she was proud to live in a country that supported freedom of choice, she went on to assert that she believes that marriage should be between a man and woman, and that was the standard by which she was raised. The crowd roared, whether in support or disagreement, and Carrie, who seemed to be the front-runner, lost the competition and became first runner-up, partially due to the fact that Hilton apparently gave her a score of “zero” for her response. Hilton later went on to his weblog and, in an outrageous example of disrespect, called her by an obscene name and ranted against her personally. She was also criticized by people from both the Miss USA and Miss California pageants for not being supportive of gay marriage. Without question, Carrie paid a price for taking a stand for the righteousness of God.

Carrie will get much more than she paid for, however. Not just the negativity and criticism from those who hate God’s ways. Besides the outpouring of support from others who share her beliefs, and the opportunity to speak to various media sources and continue to talk about her faith, Carrie has also invested in the kingdom of God, which the Bible likens to a pearl of great price. Matthew 13 explains how her sacrifice is ultimately her reward:

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid, and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Matt. 13:44-46)

Carrie shared with Fox news that she believed that the Lord was testing her character and her faith. In her heart, Carrie knew that there was nothing, no title, no earthly crown, that could ever compare to her Lord and her place in His kingdom. She could have sold out her beliefs and given a more politically correct answer, and maybe she would have gone on to win. But as she told Matt Lauer on the Today show the following Tuesday morning, then she wouldn’t be there with him. She knows that she has been given an opportunity by her testimony to show that God, and her faith in Him, is more important to her than anything she might temporarily gain here on earth.

On a platform that was viewed by millions of people, Carrie Prejean showed the world an example of a woman who is beautiful not just because she is pretty and poised, but because she is strong and fearless, gentle and wise. She may be attacked by those who would see God’s laws trampled underfoot, but their words will not stand—His will. Instead, because of God’s faithfulness to use for good what the enemy means for harm, Carrie and her testimony are like the kingdom she represents—a priceless pearl.

“All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Is. 40:6-8)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Beloved By Him

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Don't Be Lukewarm!

“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! Revelation 3:15-16

When I feel led to write these types of messages I tend to want to resist the Word that is on my heart. This comes from a fleshly desire to be liked, not to offend anyone, or to hurt feelings. Most of all I do not want anyone to feel judged. However, I must be obedient to this prompting because I desire more to please God. I pray with all of my heart that the Spirit of the Lord would convict your heart if you are in need of correction. May this be a loving nudge to get you back on to the narrow road. May His Word which is alive and powerful, sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cut between our soul and spirit, between joint and marrow and expose our innermost thoughts and desires. May He give us a willing heart to receive His correction remembering that our Lord corrects and disciplines everyone He loves. In Jesus name amen. (Galatians 1:10, Matthew 7:13-14, Hebrews 4:12, Revelation 3:19)

Christ is not weak when He deals with us. He may be slow to anger and slow to wrath but He does get angry. Just look at what He says to the lukewarm Christians above in Revelations 3. Does He sound pleased with their behavior? He is a God of justice and order. He is pure and holy and we are supposed to be just like Him. We must live as God’s obedient children. Not slipping back into our old ways of living to satisfy our own desires. We are called to be imitators of our Father and imitators of Christ Jesus. We are in a time of grace. He is allowing people time to repent and turn back to Him. That is why He has not returned yet. His kindness is meant to lead all of us to repentance. (2 Corinthians 13:3, Exodus 34:6, Isaiah 61:8, 1 Corinthians 14:40, Matthew 5:48, 1 Peter 1:13-17, Ephesians 5:1, 2 Peter 3:9, Romans 2:4)

Our Lord has gone to prepare a place for us. We can not even imagine the good things He has prepared for us. In the meantime we as Christians (followers of Christ) are supposed to be about our Father’s business preaching the Gospel, sharing our testimonies, and glorifying Christ Jesus with our words, actions, and good deeds. That is our purpose in this world. That is God’s will for us. If we are not doing this then our faith is dead. ( John 14:2-3, 1 Corinthians 2:9, Matthew 28:19-20, James 2:26)

He gave us His Word so that He could teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip us to do every good work. So are we making the most of every opportunity to do good works? Are we being careful how we live our lives? Are we being about our Father’s business? ( 2 Timothy 3:16, Ephesians 5:15-16)

There are many believers that are neither hot nor cold. They have become complacent in their walk. They have allowed their contact with the world to taint them. Now they justify their sin and compromise their faith to fit into to society. They have become stumbling blocks to others. They love the world and the things it offers them. They are more committed to serving their own physical selfish desires than serving Christ. They have forgotten that when we love this world we do not have the love of the Father. We are not to love this evil world! (Romans 12:2, Romans 14: 13, 1 John 2:15-17)

We need to examine ourselves. Examine if our faith is genuine. Test ourselves. And how can we be sure that we belong to him? By looking within ourselves: are we really trying to do what he want us to? Someone may say, “I am a Christian; I am on my way to heaven; I belong to Christ.” But if he doesn’t do what Christ tells him to, he is liar. But those who do what Christ tells them to will learn to love God more and more. That is the way to know whether or not you are a Christian. Anyone who says he is a Christian should live as Christ did. (2 Corinthians 13:5, 1 John 2:3-6)

How did Christ live? Christ taught the people God’s Word, preached “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near”, He made disciples, healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead, encouraged others, corrected and rebuked, prayed and fasted, feed the poor, loved and had compassion for people, and laid down His life for His friends. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works..” Are we doing these works? What kind of fruit are we producing? (John 14:12, Matthew 7:15-20)

It was evident in Jesus’ life that He loved God because of the works that He did. He has given us the same Holy Spirit that gave Him power and ability so that we could be doers of the Word, not to just say that we are believers. Believing is useless without doing what God wants us to. Faith that does not result in good deeds is not real faith. Anyone can see where our faith lies by the way we act. How are we acting? Are we doers or just hearers? (James 2:20, James 2:18)

Our Lord’s return IS near and we are supposed watch and be ready for his return with our lights burning bright for Him, our lamps full of oil, and properly managing all that He has entrusted to us. We must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. Until then He expects us to be faithful servants diligently serving Him and bringing glory to His name by the way that we live and treat others. Are we faithful servants? (Matthew 5:14-16, 25:1-13, 24:45-51)

So let us be diligent and turn from any indifference. Let us be filled with the Spirit and full of the Word of God. Let us fan into flames the gifts that the Lord has given us to build up the church and preach the Gospel to the lost. Let us not be lukewarm but instead let us be on fire for Christ Jesus. Let us feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, invite a stranger into our home, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit those in prison. Let us live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let your life be an offering to God the kind that He can accept, pure and holy. (Revelation 3:19, Ephesians 5:2, 2 Timothy 1:6, Matthew 25:31-46, Ephesians 5:2, Romans 12:1)

Don't Panic..The Lord Has Gone Before You

I pray that upon reading this that someone will be delivered of anxiety, fear, and worry. May they be encouraged and truly receive in their heart that our God is truly faithful. May the Lord give you eyes to see and ears to hear what the Spirit is saying..

I may have shared in the past that I used to have bad panic attacks. I was full of worry and anxiety. I would allow myself to become so unsettled when I could not figure out how things were going to work out in my life. I would fret over everything and anything. I had no peace and joy because I was consumed with unsettling and nagging thoughts of not having enough. I was concerned about bills, gas, food, clothes, our home, and so much more. I wish I would have realized then that our Lord is faithful to care for all of our needs and that my excessive worrying did not resolve anything but only resulted in unhappiness, panic attacks, weight loss, and other physical manifestations. If only I would have really trusted Jesus Words in Luke 12, I would have saved myself a lot of unnecessary drama.

Luke 12:22-31 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

“Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

“And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

Little faith is what I had. It was not until I really began to meditate on God’s Word that my faith increased. Our faith increases by hearing the Word of God. (Romans 10:17) Our faith grows strong when we see in God’s Word how faithful He truly is. Reading stories of how our Lord delivered, healed, and restored those that believed in Him should give us hope because we should remember that our Lord is no respector of persons what He did for them He will do for us too. Those that believed His Word were changed forever. Their faith made them whole. Our faith will make us whole too. (Romans 2:11, Mark 5:34, Mark 10:52)

His Word encourages and reminds us that He did not give us a spirit of fear but instead He has given us a Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7) The spirit of anxiety and fear are meant to torment us and keep our minds in bondage. If we panic when are standing in front of a mountain of problems then that fear will keep us from telling the mountain. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." (Matthew 17:20-21)

He does not want us worrying about anything. He wants us to trust Him in everything. He wants us to know that He is faithful. I believe that sometimes He allows things to get tight and difficult in our lives so that we can see that He IS an on time God. Difficult times and hardships teach us to preserve. It teaches us to rely on Him as our Provider, as our source of peace and strength. James said it perfectly when he said..

“Dear brothers and sisters, when trouble comes your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. (James 1:1-4)

We have to know with all of our heart that Our Lord is constant, dependable, loyal, and faithful. He is faithful to His Word and His promises. He goes ahead of us and makes a straight path for us. We do not need to be afraid of how things will turn out because His Word says, “So be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

So don't panic brothers and sister the Lord has gone before you and He always makes a way out of now way. Just trust Him in everything. Reject and rebuke fear and anxiety trust in the Lord with all of your hearts and meditate on His Word instead of negative thoughts that go against God's Word. Be blessed..

To be continued..

Spirit Filled Women of God Needed

Calling all Spirit filled women of God blessed with the ability to give wise counsel who have a heart to train young women and teen girls to live wisely and pure lives. (1 Corinthians 12:8, Titus 2:4-5)

The WeUsed2bu ministry team is currently looking to expand out reach! We plan to begin marketing extensively to area churches, social services and centers, and commercial businesses that might be willing to let us post and distribute our materials at their locations. We want to see our information in the hands of as many young women and girls as the Lord will allow, so that they can utilize our services. Our ultimate goal is that they would know the Lord, and grow in their relationship with Him, and we are committed to that vision and purpose.

In order for this ministry to be successful, we are actively seeking volunteer counselors and contributing writers to join the team. These would be women who are willing to commit their time, talents, and spiritual gifts in service to the Lord and to the young women who visit the site. We need counselors to answer anonymous questions that come in from our readers and writers who want to share their godly insight on issues that pertain to Christian living. Each position requires a minimum monthly commitment, a high level of personal accountability, and a heart to help young women struggling with the difficulties of life in the current state of the world.

That doesn’t just mean locally; the site is being accessed all over the globe. The ministry has reached the continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe, as people find the site and are utilizing its resources. It’s exciting to see how the Lord can use WeUsed2bu in that way, but we especially want to be a benefit to our local area, where we know that there is an untold number of young women who are in need of God’s hand in their lives.

If you are interested in coming alongside of us please contact us for more details at advice@weused2bu.com . Please forward this on to any godly woman that you think may also be interested. We are trusting the Lord to raise up the right people at the right time, and are looking forward to co-laboring with them in His name.

P.S.

If you are a blogger or have a site that you feel could help us reach out to potential counselors or writers please feel free to cross post this on your site. On behalf of both the WeUsed2bu ministry team and our readers, many thanks.

Will You Be Obedient & Tell Them?

“When the watchmen sees the enemy coming, he sounds the alarm to warn the people. Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die. They heard the alarm but ignored it, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives. But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn't sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths." Ezekiel 33:3-6

There will be times that the Lord will prompt you to speak a loving word of correction, warning, or even rebuke to others. Perhaps it is a brother or sister in the Lord that is not living a life worthy of their calling or has strayed off the narrow path. It could be a lost soul that needs to know that Jesus died for their sins and if they do not confess and repent of their sins and believe in Christ they will die and go to hell. My question to you is will you be obedient and tell them or will you say it’s none of my business Lord? It's not my place.

Don’t allow yourself to be conformed to the world’s way and its customs. (Romans 12:2)The world does not care about the eternal souls of men. They do not have the Spirit of God and the love of Christ in them so they do not understand the things of the Spirit. But we do and we must watch out for one another and also hold each other accountable. We must speak the truth of God’s Word to each other. It is our responsibility as servants of the Most of God to be watchmen and watchwomen for one another, helping each other to stay on the narrow road. This does not mean that we are to become sin spotters going around trying to spot sin in our brothers and sisters lives to call them out on it. No..what I am talking about is lovingly watching each others back. If you see your brother or sister slipping away from the truth, being drawn into sin or disobedience and the Lord tells you to talk to them then go quickly and address the situation in love. Don't wait when the Lord tells you to go.

We all know it is not easy to give someone a word of correction, warning, or rebuke but our heavenly Father said through Ezekiel that we are to warn others when we see the enemy coming. We are to sound an alarm to warn the people. The alarm is our mouth. I plead with you don’t turn your back on your brother or sister when you see that they are heading down the wrong path and are in disobedience to God. Don’t say it is not your business, because IT IS! Lovingly remind them what the Word of God says about their situation, circumstances, attitude or actions. If they refuse to listen and ignore the warning then they will suffer the consequences. But if we see that someone is surely headed for destruction or is even only ‘a little’ involved in sin or disobedience and we don’t warn them then we are responsible for their bondage and even their spiritual death. (Ezekiel 33:6) Remember also that it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. (James 4:17)

Imagine how the prophet Nathan felt when the Lord had him go to King David and talk to him about the murder of Uriah. He presented a story to the king about an injustice that was done to a poor man and King David became angry at the offender in the story and said that he deserved to die. He ordered for the poor man to be repayed for what was stolen. The Prophet Nathan immediately revealed that the man in the story was King David himself. He rebuked King David and told him that his sins were rooted in dissatisfaction with God's blessings. David just couldn't be satisfied with what God had given him (his own wives) he had to take more (another man's wife). King David repented immediately and Nathan the Prophet encouraged him by saying his sins were forgiven, although there would still be consequences for his disobedience and sin (the death of their unborn child and rebellion in his household). (2 Samuel 12:1-15)

It’s not easy to tell another believer that they are sin or are compromising their faith. Perhaps it is not easy because we don’t want to offend anyone. We want to be liked. We may even fear that the person will get angry with us, but we can not fear what man will say or do, instead we must fear the Lord and do His will at all times. We can not try to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people is our goal then we will not be able to be Christ’s servants and responsible watchmen. (Galatians 1:10)

If our Lord says, "Please tell them that their foul and abusive language, telling obscene stories and coarse jokes and foolish talk are not for them", then tell them in love.(Ephesians 5:4). If our Lord says, "Please tell your sister that her life of fornication and adulterous relationships is not pleasing to Me. This sin is against her own body and Me. Leave this lifestyle and turn back to Me", then do it promptly. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20, 7:1-2) Do it immediately when the Lord says, "Share the love of Christ and tell this thirsty soul about the life giving water of Jesus Christ. Tell them that they will thirst no more if they will drink from the Living Water, but if they continue down this destructive path they will surely die in their sin."

Do not hesitate trust the Lord. We can be sure that whoever brings a sinner back will have saved that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins. (James 5:19-20)An open rebuke is better than hidden love! (Proverbs 27:5) Love will move you to point out a person’s failings because you know the consequences. Your love for them will want to see them living in the light. The rebuke will benefit the recipient, whether they seem to have received it or not. Our job as watchmen is to sound the alarm. It’s up to them if they heed the warning or not. (Ezekiel 33:4-5)

May our Lord help us to watch out for one another. May we be obedient and go at once when prompted by the Spirit to speak the truth in love. Give us eyes to see when we and others are under attack. Help us to sound the alarm with all the Love that you have put in our hearts for the truth of God’s Word. Help us to do your will even if that means being rejected or persecuted. In Jesus name..Amen.

Because You Believed It Has Happened!

“And because of their unbelief, He couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place His hands on a few sick people and heal them. And He was amazed at their unbelief.” Mark 6:5-6

Our Lord wants to work mighty miracles in our lives. He wants us to receive healing and restoration in every area of our lives. However sometimes he can’t do the mighty miracles He desires to because of our unbelief. This greatly sadness and grieves our Lord. After all that He has done for us and revealed to us. Still there is so much unbelief in the body of Christ. There are many believers that do not believe that Christ will heal or restore them and therefore they remain broken and hindered by their unbelief.

The people of Nazareth heard Jesus preach the Word of God with authority and boldness. They were amazed at His wisdom and power to do miracles. Still they refused to accept Him for who He truly is, their Messiah and Savior. They saw Him as just a carpenter, the son of Mary. They saw Him as just an average man. Their perspective of Jesus hindered their ability to receive from Him. He couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place His hands on a few sick people and heal them. (Mark 6:1-6)

All throughout the Gospel there are stories of people receiving healing and restoration from Jesus. These people received their miracle because they believe and had faith in Christ Jesus.

• To the Gentile woman Jesus said, “Dear woman, your faith is great. Your request is granted.” Matthew 15: 21-28
• To the Roman officer who asked for healing for his daughter Jesus said to His followers, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” He then turned to officer and said, “Go back home, Because you believed, it has happened.” Matthew 8:5-13
• To the woman with the issue of blood who believed that if she could just touch the hem of His robe she would be healed He turned and said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” Matthew 9:18-22

What is your perspective on Jesus? Is He everything to you that the Word of God says He is? Or is He Jesus who healed people and did miracles back in the bible days. Do you believe that the Word of God is the same yesterday, today, and forever? Do you believe that He can and will heal, deliver, and restore you? Your perspective on Jesus affects your ability to receive healing and deliverance, as well as the ability to manifest His power.

Remember Peter when he walked out on the water to Jesus. He began to sink when we started looking around at the wind and the storm and took His focus off of Jesus. He allowed His faith to decrease to the point that He started sinking. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him and said, “You have so little faith. Why did you doubt in Me?” (Matthew 14:22-36)

Then there is also the time when the disciples tried to heal a demon possessed boy and couldn’t. When they asked Jesus why they couldn’t cast the demon out Jesus replied, “You don’t have enough faith. I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’, and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”

It is time for us to meditate on all the miracles that we have seen the Lord do in our lives. It is time to sit with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to show us the Jesus of the bible. Get in the Word of God and do not get up until you receive a revelation of how Powerful and Awesome God is. Then look at your own life and remember how He has delivered you in the past. There were times where you thought that everything was going to come tumbling down on you and just before you couldn’t handle it any more our Lord reached out and grabbed you. He did not let you fall even though you may have stumbled. He is faithful! That is what we have to remember. That is how you stir up your faith.

Stir up the Holy Spirit in you. Stir up your faith and believe once more that you serve God Almighty. He is not limited by your problems or circumstances. They do not bewilder Him. He has already made a way of escape. Put all of your faith in Him and receive your miracle. Do not walk by sight. Instead walk and be lead by the power of the Holy Spirit. Walk in faith and rebuke doubt and fear. Remember that He has not given you a spirit of fear. You have the Spirit of Christ in you which is full of power and ability. It is that same power that raised Christ from the dead.

Get up now and keep pressing forward. Your faith has made you whole!

They Too Will Believe

Psalm 40:1-3

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
And He turned to me and heard my cry,
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
Out of the mud and the mire,
He set my feet on solid ground
And he steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing.
A hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what He has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.

I love this Psalm! It’s the story of my life. I was a mess before Jesus. Then one day I realized it and I cried out to Him for help. That was the day my life changed forever. He began lifting me up out the terrible mess that I had made of my life. He drew me closer to Him with the hunger He put in my heart for His Word. That is the solid ground that I walk on today, His Word. He truly has steadied me as I walk on this journey through life with Him. He is there holding my hand so that when I stumble I do not fall.

His praises..Well I am always singing praises to our Lord. I love worshipping Him. I lift my hands up and close my eyes knowing with all my heart that I am in His presence. I can be in a crowded church and I don’t care. I sing and worship Him with all of my heart.

This is something that the old Lisa would have never have done. Today I am new creation in Christ Jesus. The old has gone and the new has come. What the enemy tried to use to destroy me the Lord turned for my good and for His glory. I now stand on the Rock. He is my source of hope, strength, wisdom, and determination. He is the new song that I sing. Many have seen what He has done for me and are amazed. They too have put their trust in Him.

When I read these verses in Psalm 40 I receive comfort and confirmation that I need not be ashamed to share my testimony. You see I know that I am not the only one who was a mess and had to cry to Jesus for Him to lift them up out the pit of despair. Many people today are in despair and our drowning in the mud and miry clay. They are stuck.

What can give them hope and faith? Our testimonies can. Our lives can. We are to be living testimonies for all to see.

“Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.”

It doesn’t get much clearer than that. Others need to know that they are not alone in their mess. They need to know that we were in the pit also at one time but that we cried out to Jesus for salvation and He saved us. Then they will understand why we try to live our lives pleasing to God. Then they will understand why the name of Jesus is always on our lips. Then they too will believe and be saved. Your life can give others hope. So live to glorify Him and be ready to share your story of deliverance. If someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it and do it as a representative of our Lord. (1 Peter 3:15)

“You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

“Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Colossians 4:16-17

Don't Be Afraid of the Vision!

"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives." Psalm 37:23

I have spent years reading the Word of God. I was hearer for so long until I realized that it was not enough to just hear the Word but I had to begin to really do what the Word said. As I began to walk in the Word the Lord began to confirm what He had implanted in me many years ago when I first got saved. I had this knowing deep within that I was called to be His servant and hand maiden. I knew that He had a divine purpose for my life that involved being more than just a Sunday and Wednesday Christian. I knew that all that I had gone through in my life would some day bring glory to Him. I have been sitting at His feet learning, growing, and longing to go and fulfill the visions that He has given me. Now the time has come.

Over the past year I have stepped out in faith like never before. I have trusted His Word above all else. This is why I believe that I have seen our Lord do mighty things in my life and in those around me. My ears and eyes have been opened like never before and the visions I have are much clearer. In fact at times I feel overwhelmed and honestly even fearful. I often times feel incapable of fulfilling these great dreams that He has shown me.

Has our Lord given you a great vision? Whether it is to start a business, get of debt, lose weight or start a ministry; whatever it is you can do it because He does not call us to do something that He has not equipped us to do. He will direct out steps and make provisions along the way. Trust Him and don’t be afraid of the vision even if it seems so big.

I want to share with you what He spoke to me last night:

“You were trained for such a time as this. Your growth can only continue through exercising your faith now. The time is near for My return and there are still many souls that need to truly receive a revelation of My love and sacrifice for them. It’s through My obedient and faithful remnant that I will be able to show them that I have always loved them.

You will tell them that they are never alone and without hope, if they put their trust in Me and lay their lives down at My feet. I will empower you with faith and ability to fulfill your destiny and calling. It’s by My strength that you will succeed. You truly have no idea what I can do with your willingness to serve Me. You can not truly imagine the good things that I have planned for you.

Remember My servant Moses. He too was afraid and concerned about his abilities. But I gave him power, authority, and wisdom to lead My people. It was My Spirit that led them day and night. It was My Spirit that spoke to Him on the mountain.

Put your trust in Me not in your own ability. I chose you because I know that I can be glorified through you. Don’t be afraid of the vision! I will be by your side the whole way, guiding and leading you.

I have already gone before you and given you favor. Many will stand in awe of what will happen through your faith in Me and your willingness to obey Me. Generations will be changed. There will be empowerment. There will be salvation. So don’t be afraid of the vision.”

"Well Done Good and Faithful Servant!"

“Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys. Matthew 25:21 Amplified Bible

This is what Jesus says to us when we are good stewards of all that He has entrusted to us. I have been seriously evaluating my life and I have asked the Lord to help me properly manage all areas of it. I want to be a better mother, wife, sister, friend, and teacher. I want to manage our money properly. Sow our financial seeds when and where He says to give. I want to help harvest and labor wherever He wants me to be. My gifts and talents are His to do with as He pleases. I just want to hear Him say these words to me, or something like it, “Well done good and faithful servant. I have expanded your territory. Begin the joyous tasks that I have assigned to you”.

Well we can hear those words one day if we are responsible with everything that the Lord has entrusted to us. Remember that all that we have belongs to our Lord. We do not own anything. We are merely caretakers of our Master’s stuff. Our gifts, special abilities, money, and material possessions have been entrusted to us by Jesus. Our increase is really His increase for the kingdom.

He expects us to use what we have wisely. Each of us has received our proportion according to the ability that we have to manage what we have been given. For those of us who use well what we have been given we shall be given even more, and we shall have abundance. But for those who are unfaithful, unfruitful, and abusive with what the Lord has entrusted to them, even what little they have will be taken away from them. Then because of their own irresponsibility and self-centeredness they will be subject to punishment. (Matthew 25:29-30)

So how do we really become good caretakers of the blessings that the Lord has given us and entrusted to us?

1) First and most importantly I think we have to remember that everything that we have comes from Jehovah-Jireh-God our Provider. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him. He is the one that gives us the ability to obtain wealth. He is the one who has blessed us with wisdom to do our jobs and ministries. He is our Source and our Provider. If we will remember this always then He will always have first place in every area of our life. (James 1:17)
2) Honor the Lord by giving Him the first part of all your income. DO NOT give God your left overs!!! When you give the Lord the first 10% of your income you are showing that He truly is first priority in your life and that you trust Him to provide. Tithing is putting action to your faith. The purpose of tithing is in fact to teach us always to put God first in our lives. (Proverbs 3:9-10, Deuteronomy 14:23)
3) Become a willing and cheerful giver. Look for opportunities to give and help others. Remember that our Lord has blessed you so that you can be a blessing to others. I am not just talking about financially, although you should be willing to give above your tithe and offerings if the Lord leads you to. God is able to make it up to you by giving you everything you need and more, so that there will not only be enough for your own needs, but plenty left over to give joyfully to others.

Give your time to help someone else move, do repairs in their homes or car, visit someone in prison, a hospital, or a retirement home. Share your house and car by inviting others over for dinner, use your home to host a bible study, drive someone to church or work. Giving is about sharing your material belongs, gifts, and talents with the body of Christ as well as the unbelievers. (2 Corinthians 9:6-15)
4) Be willing to use your spiritual gifts generously and immediately when you are prompted by the Holy Spirit. Do not hold back. The Holy Spirit has given each of us gifts and powers as a means of helping the church. Whether you have the ability to give wise advice, have the power to heal, are especially good at studying and teaching, have special faith, or the power to prophesy and preach; dedicate your gifts to God’s service not for your own personal gain. (Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
5) Remember that you are the temple of God, so give yourselves to Him completely. Your body should be a living sacrifice, holy-the kind He can accept. Exercise, eat right, and do not pollute your body with drugs, alcohol, and smoke. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind by reading the Word of God. Beware of what you watch on TV, movies, and what you read. The Holy Spirit which lives in you will prompt you when He is grieved, don’t ignore Him. Be a living testimony, it is the least we can do after all our Lord has done for us. (Romans 12:1-2, Ephesians 4:30)

Our entire lives belong to Christ Jesus. Everything we have is His and meant to be used to advance His kingdom. We were saved to bring Him glory. He has gone to prepare a place for us and He has promised to return one day. May our Lord come back and find us diligently doing our Father’s work so that we can all hear Him say, “Well done good and faithful servant!”

From the Archives:Not Now Lord!

The Lord been tugging at my heart trying to get me to come out of my comfort zone and step out in faith. I know I’m not the only one. Each of us has a calling on our lives. Our purpose is for such a time as this. We are being trained and prepared daily for the service that He has called us to. He is helping us restructure, restore, and renew all areas of our lives making us living testimonies bringing glory to Him and the name of Jesus.

We all desire for our Lord to bring us from glory to glory and victory to victory. We should want to be mature in our faith and constantly be growing in the knowledge and love of Christ. However, this requires commitment to the Word of God. Not to just be hearers but doers of His Word. Therefore our faith must be tested, exercised, and made strong. Our faith has opportunity to grow when we are challenged to rely strictly on the Word of God and His promises denying what we see, feel, fear, and what our critics say.

We pray and ask Him to change us, make us more like Christ, and to use us. Then he asks us to do something, to change, to go, to stay, to write, to help, to surrender, to forgive, and to love but so often times we respond with “Not now Lord.”

“Not now Lord I’m not ready”
“Not now Lord I’m too weak.”
“Not now Lord I’m scared.”
“Not now Lord we don’t have enough money.”
“Not now Lord what if I’m rejected?”
“Not now Lord they don’t deserve my forgiveness.”

What’s up with all the excuses full of selfishness and fear? If we allow fear to have its way it will come in and squat in our hearts and minds claiming ownership refusing to leave? We must serve our flesh and fear an eviction notice today! “Fear this is not your residence! Get out in Jesus name!”

Remember that we are not in this alone. The Lord would never call us to do something that He has not equipped us for and already prepared a way. He will be our strength, comfort, guidance, hope, and provider. His Holy Spirit will give us the courage and wisdom we need to fulfill our calling. We just need to be sold out and obedient to the Word of God. The Lord desires obedience more than sacrifice.

“Obedience is far better than sacrifice. He is much more interested in your listening to him than your offering the fat of rams to him.” (1 Samuel 15:22-23)

“Sacrifice and offering You do not desire, nor have You delight in them; You have given me the capacity to hear and obey [Your law, a more valuable service than] burnt offerings and sin offerings [which] You do not require.” (Psalm 40:5)

Obedience to the Word of God shows that we love and trust Him. We need to leave our excuses for those who have no faith and remember that we serve a Mighty God. Instead of “Not now Lord” we will say “Ok Lord..I trust you to see me through this. I can do this through Christ who strengthens me. Here we go...”

Lord, forgive us for making excuses when you’ve called us to step out on your Word. We trust you and know that you have made a way for us to accomplish all that you have for us. We know we are not alone. Thank you for your Holy Spirit and all of your provisions. In Jesus name. Amen.

Reflecting On This Past Year

As this new year quickly approaches I feel the need to sit back and reflect on the blessings, revelations and miracles that our Lord has done for me and my loved ones. He has been consistently faithful and merciful to us. His provision is always right on time. He is my Loving Father who is always quick to forgive and bestow his grace and mercy on me. Instead of criticizing and complaining about my faults He has encouraged me that I can do all things through His Son. It is our Lord that has put this desire on my heart to live my life pleasing to Him and fulfill His calling. He has opened the windows of heaven and poured out His blessings on our family just as He said He would. My cup is overflowing because I am His. I truly am not deserving of any of this.

This year I have seen mountains moved and hard hearts softened. I saw several family members believe in Christ our Lord, repent, and confess their sins before the altar. Others rededicated themselves and were baptized. Close friends are starting to seek Him and question their purpose in this life. My immediate family has endured trials and hardships resulting in the strengthening of our bond with one another and increased faith in our Savior. This year I attended a wedding that the enemy tried to keep from happening, but the Lord had another plan. Now what He has joined together let no man separate.

Ministries were born and founded. 2008 was the birth of WeUsed2bu Christian Girl Advice site and Consecrated to Him – Real Christian Talk. It is His Spirit that has given me the courage and determination to trust Him to use these sites to help edify and encourage both believers and unbelievers. My husband and I also had the privilege of becoming two of the founders of Out of the Miry Clay Prison ministry formed by ex-offenders for ex-offenders. It has been a very busy year of reaping and sowing.

I wish I would have jumped off the fence sooner and submitted to His Word. It has become very apparent to me that our Lord truly does have a wonderful plan for our life just like the Spirit said through the prophet Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 29:11-13) I have also received a clear understanding that it is not enough to just hear the Word of God, but that we HAVE TO be doers of the Word. That is how we truly know that we are His because The Word/Jesus Christ is truly Lord of our life. (James 1:22, Matthew 7: 21)

I am excited to see what 2009 has to bring. Even now as I write this I am full of excitement and hope because I know that this next year is going to be full of breakthroughs and miracles. Lives and generations will be changed forever. We will see territories expanded and more given to those who were faithful with what Jesus has already given them. He will use those believers/workers who are self controlled, committed, and determined to help reap from the harvest that is ripe and ready.

In preparation for 2009 I will continue sit back and reflect on this past year. I will not be posting any new articles, instead I will repost articles from the archives that have really impacted my life or that I may just have to revisit. Lol..During this time I will continue to write what I feel inspired to share, however they will not be posted until the New Year.

To my faithful Consecrated to Him readers. I am asking you to please pray and intercede for me and the ministries that are listed above. My heart’s desire is to help encourage and edify you with the love of God and the truth of His Word. So pray for the Lord to continue to use me as His conduit. Also, please prayerfully consider becoming a partner with me in this ministry by not only praying and interceding but by sowing a financial seed. Consecrated to Him is just the beginning of a greater vision that the Lord has given me and your contribution will help bring this vision to pass. I assure you will be sowing into fertile ground.

Blessings to you all in Jesus name…Keep your eyes on Jesus this Christmas season and don’t allow the cares of this world to come in and choke the joy and peace that this season of celebration should bring.

I love you all..

Christ’s handmaiden,

Lisa aka Trophy of Grace