The 3-Strand Cord

Given July 30, 2007
We've been hearing a series of teachings at church on the power of our words and it has been very enlightening. The things we say every day have an impact on our lives. There is a relationship between our words, the Word of God, and our faith. The following image shows what I mean:
The Bible says, "A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT". Do you see this? God's Word is absolute truth, our words must line up with that truth, and be woven in with our faith. Look at that cord, it cannot be easily broken, if at all.

For whatever situation you're praying about, find out what God's Word says about it, agree with that, add your faith, (unwavering, James 1:6), and speak words of victory and see it come to pass!

Come To Jesus

Given June 7, 2007
Come to Jesus. This is an invitation that has gone out to all. People who are not "churched" or haven't been brought up in church may not know all that it means. We've heard that there is salvation; we get to go to Heaven, that's the main thing. There's forgivness, some blessings and many other "benefits" we may not know about.

Jesus said about entering into life, "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:14". I guess that's because the other road, the one to destruction, is wide, easily traveled, and has tempting billboards along the way. God gave me a vision about that small gate on this day.

I go to technology conferences in a certain classy hotel occasionally and I remembered a small, unobtrusive door down a side hall of this hotel. It's not very inviting but when you open it and go in...you are in the gigantic ballroom! That plain little door leads to a fancy ballroom with an abundance of opportunities.

The door to life is the same way. If we get on the narrow path and go through the plain little door, what we'll find on the inside is fabulous. And Jesus will be in there waiting to greet us.

You Are God

Given August 23, 2007
During morning prayer, I was asking God what lies ahead for me. I want to know what He's got planned for me in the near future. I've been asking this for awhile and am getting the message that I'm not quite ready yet and must keep learning and doing what I already know. In my spirit, I heard God say to me, "Keep doing the little things. Minister to individuals." I remembered this verse, "His lord said unto him, `Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Matthew 25:21".

I thought, "It's not about me, it's about God; it's what's important to God and everything is on His schedule." I prayed, "Thank you God, you are supreme, you are almighty." Then I said, "You are, and I'm not. What He replied brought me to tears. He said, "You ARE too. Get up here Son."

The Bible says, "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6". I was reminded that God is my Father and I'm His boy. I have an inheritance and am a co-heir with Jesus. I will continue to do the little things and be patient for what my father's got waiting for me. What a family!

Stumbling Block

Given August 15, 2007
First, I'd like to apologize to any who've noticed I've not posted in awhile. Adjusting to retirement has had me extremely busy but I hope to be back to regular posting now.

I pray each morning for the Ministering Angels, (Psalms 91:11, Matthew 4:11, Hebrews 1:14), to give me and my family direction around dangerous obstacles. Recently, I took a load of tree limbs to the dump and one small log fell out of my truck onto the road. Cars were slowing down and maneuvering around the obstacle so as not to hit it and possibly damaging their car. If someone had not noticed the log, they may have had trouble.

It made me think that that small log would be a big problem to someone on a bicycle but nothing to a large truck. The obstacles the devil drops in our path can affect us in different ways. The key is what we're driving, so to speak. It's the condition of our lives that make the difference. Luke 10:19 says we can "trample on serpents and scorpions" and "nothing shall by any means harm us". If we're prayed up and strong, a little log thrown in our path by the devil will be nothing to us; we can trample it!

I remember when I drove a school bus and, around Halloween, kids on my road would put logs and debris in the road as a roadblock for a prank. If I was driving my small car, I'd have to get out, remove the debris, and go on as the kids laughed from their hiding place in the bushes. But when I was driving the big bus, I'd just run right over it and go on to the disgust of the perpetrators.

When the devil puts something in my path to deter me from what God's called me to do, I want to be in the big vehicle and run right over Satan's plans. It drives him crazy!

His Workmanship

Given August 1, 2007
I was driving through town around noon on this day and noticed a worker eating his lunch next to some beautiful stone work. I had seen this stone wall in progress and some similar projects in other parts of town but never knew who was responsible for building them. Now, I saw this guy sitting there and knew these attractive stone facades were his workmanship. I had the feeling God was about to reveal something to me. So I asked, "God, what are you trying to show me here?"

He said, "You've admired these stone walls around town and wondered who's work it was. If you see some shoddy work, you wonder who's responsible for that mess too. Today, you saw the man responsible for the beautiful work and realize his workmanship reflects on him. Bill, you are My workmanship. How you look and act, whether good or bad, reflects on Me.

Wow! "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10". I am God's workmanship and so are you. People are looking, noticing, forming opinions and I want them to say, "Nice work", and God get the credit for what He made. Think about it when you're "on display".

"I've Already Done It"

Given August 1, 2007
During my prayer time this morning, God reminded me of something that is probably obvious but I needed to be reminded of it again. As I was going down my prayer list of needs, I asked God to bless the people and thus, the church financially. He said, "I already have." I had to say, "Oh yeah, you have haven't you."

Then I looked back over my prayer list and realized that many of the other things on there He had already made provision for. The problem is we hadn't received them yet. As far as financial blessing goes, God says, "Give and it shall be given unto you...Luke 6:38". The key is for us to be cheerful and extravagant givers. If we do that, God's plan, which is already in place, will work!

And, it's the same with many other needs or requests we have; salvation for loved ones, healing, wisdom, etc.. God has already done His part and, if we want results, we have to do our part. "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11". That's good news!

So, God reminded me today and I pass it on to you. He's already done His part, let's do ours and see His purposes fulfilled in the earth.