Church Leaders who meandor in the pool of mediocrity

It is God's intention for us to be blessed and successful in all that we do. God thinks about us daily and has a plan for our lives. This is what He said through the writer Jeremiah in chapter 29 and verses 11-14 "For I know the plans I have for you, "says the Lord." "They are plans for good and not for disater, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you", says the Lord. "I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land." It's time for you to look up for your redemption time is here! Stop going in circles in the pool of mediocricy wondering Lord what should I do? Lord am I worthy to work for you? Lord I how can I do your work without money? We worry, worry, worry about everything and listen to the words of men that bring no life or hope. I say again, it is time to look up, hear the word of the Lord our God and gather with the eagles of God!

I am reminded of a story I heard that goes like this - I dreamed I was in a row boat and it was night time, so foggy that I couldn't see where I was going. In my mind I was trying to reach the shore but could not see it because of the fog. I rowed and rowed all night and as the sun came up and the fog lifted, I saw that the boats anchor was still in the water and I had been rowing in circles all night thinking I was moving ahead. (Author Unknown)

How many of us are still going in circles thinking we are O.K. and moving ahead but are not. Church Leaders, it's time to wake up from our dreams and do something to make those dreams come into being. Look up to God, come into alignment with Him and His plan for your life and ministry, believe that God can and will make it happen for you, then take a step of faith to show God that you believe in Him. Now watch what God does next. What are you waiting for? Sometimes we think we are waiting on God but in reality, it is God who is waiting on us to take that first step of faith. Remember the story of the blind man who was blind from birth, noted in John 9:1-7 ? Jesus happened by one day and picked up some dirt and spit in it and made a paste and rubbed it over the blind mans eyes, then Jesus told him to go and wash his eyes in the "Pool of Siloam" (Siloam means "sent"). So the blind man went and washed and came back seeing! Sometimes we need to go and do what God is telling us to do even if it sounds crazy to us before we get our breakthrough. Is this you? Have you put off something God has told you to do because it sounded too crazy to be from God? Come on Church Leaders, believe in God and trust Him, then see what results will come from it. Pull up the Anchor and stop going in circles. What worked in the past will not work for this new season of ministry! God is going to do a new thing in you and in your ministry!

We are closing out the old year and season and starting a new year and season in September it is time for you to rise up now and shake off the dust and move into the river of new life and a new season of ministry. Remember, all things will be made new. It will be different from the past. New direction, New Worship style, New Prayers, New connections, New people, New vision, New season. "How long will you wander, my wayward daughter? For the Lord will cause something new to happen - Israel will embrace her God." Jeremiah 31:22 NLT

"The Spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord's favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. They will revive them, though they have been deserted for many generations. Foreigners will be your servants. They will feed your flocks and plow your fields and tend your vineyards. You will be called priests of the Lord, Ministers of our God. You will feed on the treasures of the nations and boast in their riches. Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. For I the Lord, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be recognized and honored among the nations. Everyone will realize that they are a people the Lord has blessed. I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For He has dressed me with the clothing of Salvation and draped me in a robe of Righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels. The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world. Everyone will praise Him! His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere." Isaiah 61 NLT

Church Leaders - Capture One Thought

You have grown complex in your thinking and your ways, it is time now to Simplify! Start with One Thought and then advance forward. Think on this passage in Isaiah 55:8,9 (NLT) - "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts", says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." We so get caught up in our own thoughts and ways of doing things that we get away from the basics of God's foundation and the Bibles teaches us in Ecclesiastes 10:8 that when a wall or foundation is cracked or broken down that there could be a snake to bite you. The devil loves to take advantage of our weak places to invade us and polute us with his thoughts and ways. "Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death, but letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace." Romans 8:5,6 NLT We must choose life. Read: II Corinthinans 10:3-6

"By your patience possess your soul." Luke 21:19 (NKJ)
"By standing firm you will gain life." Luke 21:19 (NIV)

This is now the time for you to stand up and possess your own soul and make it in right standing with God. Keep the faith and you will win your soul. If you possess your soul and keep in right standing with God you will possess the field that you are working in. You will walk in it and say, "This is mine, and I command you Satan in Jesus' name to restore it all to me now! Possess that One Thought and the Lord will rearrange and reorder everything you are doing to come into alignment with His great plan. Simplify! Start with capturing that One Thought that Jesus is Lord of my life, the restorer of the breach and the keeper of my soul. I believe that God will speed you into the spoils of battle! You will find yourself picking up the spoil of the enemy and then twelve baskets later, you will say, "I'm taking back what the enemy has been taking from me! I am learning to multiply! Take your field first and capture that One Thought and then advance ahead to take back what the enemy has stolen from you. I hear the sound of a marching army, I hear the sound of the marching feet! It's the army of God coming to take back what belongs to them. Praise be to our God, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.

Strength to Share

There are times when we need someone to stand along side of us. Someone who, just by them being there seems to encourage us to continue to move forward. Seem like just having them there makes us feel better about things and we feel stronger in our spirit. Jesus' was noted for this very thing as well. Remember the woman in the crowd who thought to herself, "If I can just reach out and touch the hem of his garment, I know I will be healed." As she reached out and touch Him, Jesus turned and said "who touched me? I felt the virtue go out of me." (Mk 5:30) This virtue is that strength we need, God's anointing to cover us and heal and bless our lives.

"And the whole multitude sought to touch Him; for there went virtue out from Him, and healed them all." Luke 6:19

The Hebrew word for this virtue is gevurah, meaning "miraculous power" or "strength". In the book of Revelation that strength is miraculous power manifested in God's people:

"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ; for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." Revelation 12:10

It is the same in the earth today! Think about it. When God's Holy Spirit is present with us today, shouldn't there be enough strength to share with those around us who need lifting up? Yes of course there is. That's why it is so important for us to keep prayed up and filled up with God's Holy Presence at all times, so we will have "Strength to Share" with others that need lifting up. Let God's Holy Spirit empower you today and lift you up with wings as a Eagle so you can spiritually soar above all lifes problems and fears and see through the Father's eyes. There is hope for your future and purpose for your life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel

I believe in God and His Holy Spirit that resides not only with us but in us. I believe with all my heart that God sent Jesus Christ His Son to die on the cross as a substitute sacrifice for you and me, to forgive or pardon us of our trespasses or sin, so we could be restored to relationship with God the Father. I believe that God sent His Holy Spirit to dwell within us to empower us to be healed, to learn and to do service for Him. I believe that through our belief in God and His Son Jesus, repenting of our sins and accepting Him as our Lord and Saviour we recieve forgiveness, salvation and hope for our future. I believe that God has sent His Holy Spirit into us as a gift and that His Spirit will will help change us to be like Him in nature. We are so blessed to recieve this gift of the Holy Spirit which is the power of God.

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes." Romans 1:16

"I cannot help but believe that there are many Christians who want to be more efficient in the Lord's service. It is from the Holy Spirit that we may expect this power."
D.L. Moody

Action and Reaction

This is a first for me, writing in a blog. We all have have to start whatever it is that we are wanting to do with some kind of action to initiate it. This is it for me, I have started writing and sharing my thoughts. How are you going to respond to it? Action and Reaction is something that go hand in hand. There is the Action in begining what you want to do and then there is the Reaction in how you and others respond to what you have begun. If it is going to be successful, the response you give it must be possitive. If we respond to things in a possitive manner it gives us hope and momentum to advance forward with that which we have begun. What if no one responds to what you have begun? How are you going to respond to that? Are you going to allow yourself to become discouraged and quit or are you going to look at the long term goal of what it will become and accomplish in the future? All things start with an idea and then we take action on that idea and manifest it into reality. You plant the seed, cultivate it to get the weeds and bugs out, water it and shine God's light on it and watch it grow. If God is in it, it will grow and be a blessing to all. Keep the faith, have hope and respond in a possitive way to everything that you do and to everything that happens in your life and you will see God's handi-work turn that thing into something good for His glory!

Beginnings

We all have to start somewhere. I said to my friend, "I feel like I would like to share my experiences and thoughts with others who might benifit from them and maybe even write a book." He says to me, "The first thing you need to do is start writing down your thoughts." So here I am starting this blog. I hope that someone will find it helpful and respond back to me. What is your advise to me as I begin this journey of sharing with you all?

Pastor Larry