Speaking Life Amidst Death

I had made my mind up last night that no matter what I faced today I’d praise God
and speak life into my dilemma of having our house robbed and burned out.

It’s hard enough dealing with the reality of a smoked out home, let alone being treated as a suspect and a criminal.

I had a 9am insurance audit (for our business insurance) meeting to start my day. I got up with faith in my mouth! I had to rush out to the house before the meeting to let another team of investigators into the house. These were people from our insurance company and they handled things much different than the county.

As I was driving my car to the house, I turned the channel to the station I used to work at (WWEV-FM91.5)to catch the end of a powerful rendition by Martha Munizzi of “Say the Name…Jesus”. If you don’t know the song,it has a line that says something like when you are in the midst of a trying time and don’t know what to say, just say
the name of Jesus.

Good stuff to fuel my commitment to speak faith!

I was saying the name JESUS as I pulled into my drive way being greeted once again by a packed driveway of cars with “investigators” in them.

I did go back out there after my audit meeting and had to answer more questions. But…The lady who is handling the investigation for the insurance was so reassuring and instantly put into motion the insurance side to helping us.

By the end of the day, I had been contacted about finding another motel with a bigger room to stay in until THEY find us a place to live for the next few months. I was also told I could find financial aid to pay for basic things like food and items we need.

I had some time in the Word earlier on too that was very comforting. And then I got this e-mail that blew me away.I had to share it…IT is long…but it was a NOW word for me and is a NOW Word for so many people I know.

Ok…Thank you to so many who have shared and helped me with prayers and support. I’ll be in touch. I hope you’ll do the same.

************************************************************************

By Jack Weinzierl

“I have a rather short, but powerful message to share this
morning having to do with getting back what the enemy has
stolen. I don’t know about you, but I want my stuff back.
How do we get our stuff back? Through a lifestyle of
praise. And we are not talking about just a song here. We
are talking about putting God first. Numero uno. Read 2
Chronicles 20 today and you will see how King Jehoshaphat
led the army of Judah and put God first appointing singings
to walk ahead of the army. By the way, Judah means praise.
The other armies attacked and killed each other and King
Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. The
Lord gave them victory over their enemies. He is no
respector of persons and will do the same for us.

And make no mistake, the thief’s purpose is to steal and
kill and destroy and His purpose is to give them a rich and
satisfying life….not my words but Jesus’ words in John
10:10.

And also make no mistake, if satan can get your praise, he
can get your stuff.

Our attention needs to be on God. David’s was in 2 Samuel
6:21 when he talks about dancing before the Lord and he
says in verse 22 that he is willing to look even more
foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes.

This message is as much for me as anyone on the line this
morning. It is not to beat you up, but to encourage you.
His grace covers us all. The Bible says that a righteous
man can fall 7 times and gets back up.

We need to not let our emotions be our guide as they will
usually mislead us…let the Word lead you. We need to be
filled up with God’s Word so we have joy in the midst of
trials. Devil, you are not getting our stuff and in fact,
you need to repay us up to 7 fold for what you have stolen.
In Job 42, Job received double for his trouble. In
Proverbs 6:31, the thief has to pay back seven times what
he stole.

And Fear is the greatest thief of our future.

Satan comes to rob us from expectation, joy, peace and our
future.

Why does Satan come to attack our praise? He was the
worship leader in Heaven. When he stopped praising God, he
lost everything. That’s why he wants you depressed. And
praise is not just a song. Praise is giving Him the
rightful place. When He is #1, we are covered. We can’t
just shout on Sundays, and then doubt on Mondays folks.
When we just try to fit him in, we give the enemy place to
get in. We can’t fit in God. The bumper sticker that says,
God is my Co-pilot. Well, folks, we better move over and
let God be our pilot as He can drive a lot better than we
can, amen? He needs to be pre-emminent. Praise is a
lifestyle. Is He Lord of our attitude? is He Lord over my
body? I don’t do certain things, because I want to honor
God and the motivation is not what the world may promote,
but to glorify Him. Is Jesus Lord over your finances? Are
you honoring Him?

OK Jack, you had me until you talked about finances. Then
folks, that may be a specific area that you need to make
Him Lord over, amen.

So how do we get our stuff back?

1) Praise is the first thing.

God is too big to be fit into our lives, we need to fit
into His. Praise is the anedote. We have to stop
complaining and criticizing. You cannot complain and praise
at the same time. Say I praise you Jesus 3 times right
now.

Did you complain when you were praising Him? You can’t.

2) Devil, give me my stuff back, give me my stuff back. We
are not waiting and we are not going to let the Devil get
my stuff any more.

So we need to praise God first, then we need to take action
and demand our stuff back and,

3) We need to encourage ourselves in the Word.

No one can do this for us. In 1 Samuel 30:6 David was
greatly distressed. perplexed, confused, and felt defeated.
His own soldiers talked about stoning him. The very people
you counted on will not be there to encourage you at times.
We have to encourage ourselves in the Word.

If you need encouragement, look to Matthew 9:2 Our sins
are forgiven…I am encouraged

Matthew 14:27 Take courage as I am with you

John 16:33 I have overcome the world

Acts 27:22 Take courage as there will be no loss

Yes, you may be thinking, well he already took everything
and that is temporary. Whatever the devil thinks he got,
you are getting it back. I know I am getting it back. Paul
said, I believe God vs I believe in God. Even the devil and
demons believe in God.

Isaiah 35:4 Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong,
and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your
enemies. He is coming to save you.”

Vengeance is His. God will show up with
vengeance–recompense…we are going to be repaid, amen.

How…

1) Speak His Word

2) Job 9:27 Forget your complaint–wow this is a tough one
for me

Leave off my sad countenance. Forget what people have
done…that is not forgetting what our needs are. No room
for whining and complaining. Fast from complaining.

Again, this is as much for me as anyone on this line. I
have allowed the thief to steal in our lives long enough.

3) Sow a sacrificial seed and encourage ourselves

Devil, I demand my stuff back. Loose my stuff in Jesus’
name.

I am going to close this call in prayer and open up for any
comments, but before I do, I want to read a personal
confession and if you have a copy of this, you are welcome
to read along with me. It will be in my notes from this
morning.

This is a new day. Be encouraged and here are some personal
confessions that you are welcome to print and leverage this
next week and every day.

I set the course of my life today with my words:

I declare today that I will not be defeated, discouraged,
depressed or disappointed.

I am the head, I have insight, I have wisdom, I have ideas,
I have authority.

I exercise my authority today with my words and I decree a
thing and it is so.

Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world (1
John 4:4)…the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the
dead, lives in me… (Romans 8:11)

As I speak words today, they come to pass (Job 22:28); they
go before me, they bring the things to pass that I desire;
and they stop all attacks, assaults, oppression, and fear
from coming to my life.

God is on my side today and, therefore, I cannot be
defeated.

His favor surrounds me today as a shield. (Psalm 5:12 ). I
expect favor today from heaven and from the earth.

Jesus had favor with God and man (Luke 2:52 ), and as He is
so am I on this earth. (1 John 4:17)

Therefore, I have favor today with God and man.

I expect and receive favor in my home, favor in my job,
favor in my business, favor in my ministry, favor with my
finances, favor in every deal I am involved in.

I will think the right thoughts, say the right words and
make the right decisions in every situation I face today.

My mouth speaks wisdom and my heart is filled with
understanding. (Psalm 49:3)

I ask for, and receive, an abundant supply of wisdom and
understanding today from God (James 1:5)…wisdom from
above, wisdom that is pure, peaceable, gentle, unwavering,
willing to yield, without hypocrisy. (James 3:17)

Wisdom and understanding are better than silver and gold
and nothing I desire can compare with them; therefore, I
make it my ambition and desire to have understanding and
wisdom; therefore I know I will have all of the other
desires of my heart. (Proverbs 8:10-11)

My words go before me in securing my divine health and
healing…

I will not be sick today; I will not be sad today; I will
not be broke today; I will not be confused today.

I have health today; I have joy today; I have all the money
I need in the name of Jesus.

My steps are ordered by the Lord… (Psalm 37:23)

I have a covenant with God and by the blood of Jesus I
release my divine protection and divine provision.

I expect to have divine appointments today, to run into the
right people, and to be delivered from the wrong people.

Any adversity, attack, accidents and tragedies that were
headed my way are diverted right now in Jesus’ name.

Now I speak to:

every mountain of fear

every mountain of discouragement

every mountain of stress

every mountain of depression

every mountain of lack and insufficiency

And I say, “Be removed and cast into the sea in Jesus’
name!” (Mark 11:23 ) I expect the best day of my life
spiritually, emotionally, relationally and financially
today in Jesus’ name.

Dear Heavenly Father, I know I have not always had you as
my first priority and I thank you for your grace. We want
to honor you in all we do and I am committed to not just
fitting you into our busy lives….but making and keeping
you as the priority in our lives. Thank you for your love
and your protection and for the authority you have given us
as a believer as your sons and daughters. We pray for our
enemies this morning that you touch their hearts and minds
and heal them, in Jesus name, amen.

What Are You Sowing?

I came across a rather somber verse in an even more somber book in the Bible in Amos 8:7:

“They sow in the wind, and reap the whirlwind…

The verse made me evaluate quickly my actions of sowing and reaping, especially in light of goals to be a godly wife and mother, to get out of debt, be a successful coach in ministry marketing and to help others to find the freedom they need in Christ.

What is sowing in the wind?

These things came to mind:

Planting on shallow, rocky ground.

That can be as simple as tithing to a ministry that is bearing no fruit! God trusts us with the discernment to sow our tithes and offerings into ministries that are impacting the world for HIS glory…and not just the glory of a preacher or ministry.

Sowing to our flesh

Not much more needs to be said here. When we let our flesh, worldly desires, the “I want it and I want it now” mentality rule, we quickly can find ourselves captive to debt, sorrow, and emptiness.

Sowing to a fantasy

Lots of temptations assault us everyday with this one. From lottery tickets to get rich quick scams, the carrot of riches dangles in front of us in many forms.

I think of this verse in Proverbs on this issue: “He who tills his land (tends to his business, works in proven methods of attaining wealth)
will have plenty of bread. but he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough.”

So this made me ask myself the question: “What are you sowing?”

I prayed and asked God to help me with this listI

I need to sow:

*Time in the Word, prayer in my intimate relationship with God

*Time with my husband serving him and his needs.

*Sowing mercy and love in all my relationships, especially as I groom my two children into vessels of honor for God.

*Finances to ministries that are producing a good crop of people finding Jesus, being discipled, feeding the hungry, providing for widows, and serving faithfully God’s Kingdom.

*Sowing in the spiritual realm through fasting and praying for others.

*Time spend studying and developing personal development, maybe even a new skill, that is needed as part of God’s destiny for my life. It might mean reading a book instead of watching television. Spending money to go to a Dani Johnson seminar, instead of season tickets to see a favorite sports team.

This little verse definitely made me think long and hard this morning.

I desire to continue on a path I believe God has made even more clear in the past year.

I pray what I sow remains and is not just dust in the wind.

What Do You Say When….

What do you say to someone who is facing a tragedy.

What do you say to someone who’s prayers go unanswered?

I start my work day (from home) today with word of a friend whose 20 something year old son died in a motorcycle accident.

Right after that call, another one from a friend facing another month, another year with no answer to her prayer to have a baby.

What do you do? Rather, what do you say?

I know there is only so much you can say without sounding trite or abrasive. My brain wants to pummel them with verses from the Word. My heart wants to reach out and just comfort them.

I believe a combination of both, minus the pummeling, can help. God’s Word does not return void.

So to the friend who lost his son, I ask him if I could pray for him right at that moment as I talked on the phone. I said a quick prayer with the verse “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34). He sobbed and said “thank you.”

I can only trust God that was enough.

For the friend who was longing for a child, listening was the best course of action. And then a gentle word simply re-assuring her that God does know the desires of her heart. She said she could relate to Abraham and Sarah in the Bible. That brought an opening to share Romans 4…specifically encouraging her to be like Abraham…”Who did not waver at the promises of God through unbelief, but was strengthened by faith knowing that He who promised was able to accomplish what HE had promised….”

In times like these, I am so thankful for the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.

For with His Word and His Spirit, we can be broken bread and poured out wine. We can weep with those who weep. We can be “Jesus with skin on” to a lost and hurting world, or simply to those around us.

My encouragement to you?

As you face the punches of life, and the unfair curve balls that hit your gut, learn to allow the “God of all comfort” be your source of hope and solace amidst your pain.

I know “soaking in His Word” during those terribly painful times have been my only hope. The Word can be like the “Balm of Giliad”, which not only takes the sting away but also makes the wound whole again.

So as you allow God to comfort you, you in turn are able to comfort others.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

Be Jesus with skin on to someone today.

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